After picking up the furniture from Mr. Li, Du Yu and the others entered the Mountain and Sea Bell and carefully arranged the ancient house.

In the following days, Li Mengnan and Lin Shiwei stayed in the Sea Realm, focusing on cultivation in preparation for the final exam.

Du Yu had the Shadow Gu Tower, which already put him on par with the Mother of the Demon Spirit Realm, so he didn't need to rely on the Fire Phoenix Tree or Shatang Tree.

So, he remained in the real world.

It wasn't until July 14th that the school and the bookstore's official website released an announcement. After downloading the document to his phone, Du Yu activated the Mountain and Sea Bell and entered the Sea Realm.

"Splash~"

Listening to the sound of waves crashing on the shore, Du Yu couldn't help but look into the distance, to the place where the sea met the sky.

It was always the same scene here: blue sky, white clouds, and clear, sparkling sea.

Every time Du Yu stood on the rocky beach, he felt a deep sense of peace.

"Hmm?" Du Yu narrowed his eyes slightly.

Staring at the boundless sea, the farther he looked, the calmer the water seemed.

Because of that, the creature floating way out on the surface looked somewhat out of place.

"Sea-devouring Dragon Turtle." Du Yu murmured, his spirits stirring.

"Where? Where?" Little Fen Yang was instantly summoned, large orange-red eyes merging with Du Yu's gaze.

A creature with the head of a Cyan Dragon and the shell of a turtle came into sight.

Cyan!

Such a beautiful color! Gentle, elegant, tranquil, natural.

The longer he looked, the more Du Yu was mesmerized.

"That's not the turtle I remember," Little Fen Yang muttered quietly. "I recall that turtle was earth-brown, like a little hill."

Earth-brown—how can that compare to the style of cyan...

Du Yu pressed his lips together, then his face suddenly froze.

The Dragon Turtle on the sea suddenly turned its head toward the beach.

For a moment, man and dragon stared at each other across the distance.

Du Yu's eyesight was incredible. He could see the Dragon Eyes clearly, even read a sense of emptiness in them.

No trace of emotion.

Du Yu even wondered: was it still alive?

He slowly crouched, bracing one hand on the rock, watching even more closely.

However, the Dragon Turtle quietly slipped into the sea.

Like a drop of cyan ink, it blended into the vast ocean, vanishing without a trace.

"The turtle ran away~ Du Yu, Du Yu!"

"What?"

Little Fen Yang whispered, "Don't space out here! It's dangerous, hurry, let's get to the island."

"Its eyes were empty, like there was only a shell—no trace of life at all." Du Yu stood up, gazing at the calm sea.

Little Fen Yang: "So, are you going to swim and play with the turtle? Wanna bet it won't eat you?"

Du Yu: "..."

He jumped down from the rock and strode toward Begonia Bridge. "With that gorgeous cyan look, if it ate me, I'd be afraid of dirtying its mouth."

Little Fen Yang: "Nonsense, Du Yu isn't dirty!"

Du Yu: "..."

Little Fen Yang sulked inwardly: "How could the place I live be dirty!"

"Alright, alright." Du Yu scratched his head awkwardly. "By the way, what do Dragon Turtles like to eat?"

"No idea, ask Shatang?"

"Good idea."

Man and Demon Pet chatted idly, quickly walking into the woods on the island.

Far out on the sea behind Du Yu, a dragon head slowly surfaced, silently watching the young man's departing back.

After crossing the long Begonia Bridge, Du Yu arrived at the door of the ancient house.

The plaque above the grand entrance was still blank, waiting for Master Qing to inscribe it.

"Creak..."

The Shatang Tree reached out a branch and slowly opened the door.

In the center of the distant courtyard, a short-haired girl sat beneath the Shatang Tree, bathing in surging Wood Demon Breath, quietly cultivating.

Hearing the door open, Lin Shiwei immediately opened her eyes.

When she saw Du Yu step inside, she stood up, dense demon breath surging out in all directions like a tide.

Du Yu grinned, "How does it feel to be a prisoner?"

Lin Shiwei shrugged with nonchalance, "Quite good, actually. No distractions, just cultivation."

Du Yu pouted. Alright then~

This prisoner isn't scared at all—she's enjoying herself?

You really make it hard for your king to do his job...

"I've advanced to Peak Stage." Lin Shiwei suddenly declared.

"That's great, breaking through just before the finals—perfect timing!"

Lin Shiwei turned and pressed her slender fingers to the Shatang Tree, gazing up at the deep red leaves spread across the sky. "Shatang helped me so much."

Indeed, even meditating under the Twin Trees was never this efficient.

After all, the Twin Trees are the Mother of the Demon Spirit Realm, meant to bless all living things.

Lin Shiwei is the same as any other Demon Beast or Demonic Plant—just one of Twin Trees' children, not specially favored.

But Shatang Tree was different. Ever since Du Yu asked, Shatang especially cared for this Human girl.

Du Yu stepped forward and patted the Shatang Tree, "Thank you."

"Shasha~" In the distant sky, the Shatang leaves rustled.

Who knows if that was a response, or just the sea breeze blowing.

Lin Shiwei glanced sideways at Du Yu's profile. Of course, she knew all of this was arranged by Du Yu.

But she didn't say any more words of thanks.

Du Yu: "The exam notice is out."

"Oh." Lin Shiwei snapped out of her thoughts, turned away, and subtly shifted her gaze. "I'll go get Mengnan. You wait inside."

"Alright." Du Yu had been planning to walk to the backyard, but at her suggestion, he gladly agreed.

Lin Shiwei had chosen to live in the Shatang Courtyard's West Wing.

She mainly cultivated in Wood and Fire Dual Element, and most of her Demon Pets were Wood Attribute, Fire Attribute, or both.

To quickly improve her power, it was natural to pick the Shatang Courtyard—Shatang Tree.

Du Yu had no objections to that.

Staying out of the Firethorn Courtyard was good, too—the Firethorn Tree was still giving lessons and noisy as ever.

Du Yu went to the West Wing and pushed open the door.

The spacious room was divided by a screen into living room and bedroom, with furniture full of ancient flair.

With the stress of building a house over, he had spent the rest of the budget on furniture.

To match the style of the ancient house, Du Yu had put a lot of thought—and money—into it.

He plopped down in front of the Eight Immortals Table. Through the open wooden window, he looked out at the lush Begonia Forest, his face unconsciously breaking into a happy smile.

This is it,

This is just the right vibe.

Soon after, Lin Shiwei came in, bringing Li Mengnan with her.

Compared to the calm and quiet Lin Shiwei, Li Mengnan was sweating, her face flushed red.

Clearly, she'd been fighting with the Fire Phoenix Tree—a battle as much as cultivation and skill-honing.

Li Mengnan was even carrying a jug of spring water. The modern touch was a bit jarring.

"Exam announcement is out?" Li Mengnan asked, but before Du Yu could answer, she tipped the jug up and gulped down water.

"Glug, glug, glug..."

Du Yu looked at her strangely. "Yeah, and you almost didn't make the list."

"Pfft!" Li Mengnan jerked her head away, clearly choking. "Cough—cough."

"Drink slower." Lin Shiwei reached out to pat her back.

"I almost didn't make it?" Li Mengnan's eyes went wide as she glared at Du Yu. "That can't be! I'm that good!"

Du Yu: "The exam combines four provinces—each picks 25 people. Shaohai Province's picks are the top 25 in the last provincial exam."

"Oh." Li Mengnan looked awkward. "So you only needed top 25? That's cutting it close."

Back in the first half's provincial college exam, Li Mengnan was 23rd.

"Which four provinces?" Lin Shiwei asked curiously.

Du Yu took out his phone, opened the downloaded doc, and handed it over: "Shaohai, Guandong, Shandai, and Hening."

Du Yu had figured out roughly where he lived.

On the old world's map, Shaohai Province sits above the Bohai Sea.

Guandong Province, north of Shaohai.

It's vast, rich in resources—basically merges the old three provinces in the northeast into one.

Shandai Province, south of Shaohai.

It's home to Mount Tai—a super clear geographic marker for Du Yu.

Hening Province, east of Shaohai.

On the old map, Hening was probably the birthplace of civilization, maybe the origin of the universe.

Of course, in this world, Du Yu felt no mockery or condescension toward Hening People.

Because they're all Great Xia People, speak the same language, share the same blood, and are all part of the same Twin Trees culture—no difference at all.

"Guandong, Shandai. Now this is a real exam..." Li Mengnan sidled up next to Lin Shiwei, peering at the phone and muttering.

Du Yu asked, "What's wrong?"

Li Mengnan looked at him like he was an idiot: "Do you have any idea how many people are from those two places?

Top 25 from those provinces—imagine how strong they must be?"

It's simple: More people, more Demon Tamers. More Paper Crane Disciples means fiercer competition.

Lin Shiwei's lips curled as she glanced at Li Mengnan: "Stronger than your second brother?"

"Erm." Li Mengnan thought for a beat and shook her head decisively. "No way!"

She looked at Du Yu and blinked. "My second brother is unbeatable!"

Seeing she was about to go on, Du Yu quickly said, "Stop!"

But when has the eldest ever managed to silence her?

Li Mengnan spoke even louder: "My third sister pinned my second brother to the wall and beat him!"

Du Yu: "..."

Lin Shiwei laughed and gave Li Mengnan a playful glare. "Not anymore—she can't pin him down now."

Li Mengnan replied matter-of-factly, "But we could, before!"

Du Yu: ???

Well, damn~

Good thing I never lost to Li Mengnan when I started out.

Otherwise, you'd never let me live it down.

"Ahem." Du Yu cleared his throat theatrically. "Let's check out the exam site."

"Ancient Wilderness City?" Li Mengnan looked at her phone. "Why does that sound so familiar?"

Lin Shiwei: "Ancient Wilderness City is in the northwest of Guandong Province, a very famous Demon Spirit Realm."

"Oh, right! Now I remember." Li Mengnan's eyes lit up. "Ancient Wilderness Hammer?"

"Mhm, it's the Demon Spirit Realm created by Divine Weapon·Ancient Wilderness Hammer." Lin Shiwei frowned. "Normally, you need to be at Great Imperial Demon, Master Level to enter Ancient Wilderness City."

Du Yu: "But since this is the final exam, the school and the bookstore must have arranged everything—no way they'll just send us to die."

That made Lin Shiwei smile wryly. "Are you sure?"

Du Yu: "Huh?"

Lin Shiwei: "The Great Xia Bookstore has always pushed us to grow up fast.

Looking back, every event they host pushes us into the battlefield—to get used to that environment."

She sighed deeply: "Only the top 25 from each province—just 100 people. That really is the elite of the elite.

This exam is going to be no cakewalk."

Li Mengnan agreed, her expression complex.

"Don't worry, you've got me." Du Yu offered a gentle reassurance. His smile calmed Li Mengnan a bit.

At this moment, Du Yu really did have swagger to spare!

Never mind the Demon Beasts wandering around Ancient Wilderness City,

even if the Divine Weapon·Ancient Wilderness Hammer itself showed up and picked a fight with me for real...

I'll just pop the Mountain and Sea Bell and chuck the hammer into the Mountain Realm!

The Thunderous Bull above the dark clouds is probably dying for a worthy opponent~

But it probably won't come to that—it's just the final exam of our freshman year, after all...

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