I Have a Golden Crow

Winter in Ancient Pine Tower is very cold; the days are short and the nights are long.

When Du Yu arrived at the South Suburbs Bottomless, snowflakes were drifting gently down from the sky.

"Hoo." Du Yu exhaled a puff of white mist, using Fire Demon Breath to warm his body as he pushed open the door of the Demon Spirit Bookstore.

"Ding ding~"

Behind the bar, a young soldier looked up.

Seeing a familiar face, Wang Dabao broke into a smile: "You haven't been here in a long time."

Du Yu nodded: "Yeah, I was busy advancing to Demon Tamer."

"Oh?" Wang Dabao gave Du Yu a once-over. "Congratulations."

As he spoke, he had already extended his hand.

Du Yu, practiced at this, handed over his ID, propping his elbow on the bar as he gazed at the empty lounge in the distance: "Still nobody willing to come here."

Wang Dabao silently registered the entry information, offering no response.

For a moment, silence filled the bookstore again.

It wasn't until Wang Dabao picked up a headlamp and headphones, placing them on the table, that he finally spoke: "If you encounter danger, be sure to call for aid in time."

"Don't worry, my master has ordered that I'm only allowed to operate within the first five layers." Du Yu put away his ID, casually picking up the gear. "I'm off now, Brother Bao."

"Be careful."

"Mm..."

Du Yu fastened the headlamp, striding to the Bottomless Gate. Amidst swirling frost and snow, the two soldiers standing at attention by the gate saw someone coming and finally got to move a bit.

As the heavy stone gate creaked open, wisps of cold mist spilled outward.

Du Yu unhooked the Demon Soldier Linked Beads from across his body, gripped them in his hand, and stepped down the stairs.

It was the same familiar corridor again, the same familiar battlefield.

Only after the stone gate behind him closed tightly did Du Yu consciously walk several paces forward, then stop: "Little Fen Yang."

"Mm?"

"Can you still sense Demon Fire?"

"It's here, it's here. It's being very good."

"That's good." Du Yu strode on. This Demon Fire felt like the home he once had in Xishu Garden.

It seems unreachable,

But Du Yu believed he would get it soon.

Maybe... when I reach Great Demon Tamer Stage?

Hoo~

A swirl of Demon Breath gathered on Du Yu's forehead, and a round little thing tumbled down, only for Du Yu to catch its little butt with one hand.

"Ehn?" Little Tai Sui looked half asleep, rubbing its eyes with tiny bear paws, peering around in confusion.

But in just a few seconds, Little Tai Sui's demeanor flipped and it instantly sobered up.

Clearly, it did not like it here!

This place was gloomy and cold, the air thick with wisps of gray mist, the nose filled with a damp moldy smell.

"Get ready for battle, Tai Sui." Du Yu set the little fellow on the ground. "This floor is yours—anything you see is the enemy."

Little Tai Sui couldn't fully understand human language yet, but the quality of their contract was high; Du Yu's intent came through loud and clear.

Shing!

A Red Bamboo Stick silently materialized, grasped in Little Tai Sui's paw.

Unlike Xiaoyan and Ghost Firefly when they first entered the battlefield—though those two Demon Pets had also loyally protected Du Yu—they were nowhere near as excited as Little Tai Sui, nor so brimming with fighting spirit!

"Very good, full of energy!" Du Yu nodded in satisfaction. "Let's go!"

"Ehn!"

Du Yu strode forth, Little Tai Sui wiggled its little butt, clutching the Red Bamboo Stick and scampered after its master.

It was just too tiny, yet reaching Du Yu's knee, so for every stride Du Yu took, Little Tai Sui's stubby legs had to pump frantically to keep up.

Du Yu was already intimately familiar with the map of Bottomless Floor 1.

Once they were well away from the entry zone, Du Yu heard those familiar sobs again, faint and indistinct, tugging at the heartstrings.

Water Charm Illusion Spirit?

Du Yu walked a few paces forward and peered left at the crossroads.

In the distant corridor, shrouded in faint gray mist, stood a female soldier, face buried, body trembling.

For a fleeting moment, Du Yu felt as if he were back at the previous assessment trial.

Ever since the Bottomless assessment ended, the place had returned to normal—Water Charm Illusion Spirit was no longer the main threat.

But running into one again now, what a coincidence...

"Woo-woo~ Waaaah!" Water Charm Illusion Spirit spotted the enemy at once. Sobbing and shaking, she charged over like a madwoman!

"Go, Tai Sui!" Du Yu pointed ahead.

"Ehn~" Little Tai Sui whimpered, tinged with fear. It sure loved to fight, but it was still just a child.

Against normal foes, Little Tai Sui had no fear.

But faced with this ghost-girl shrieking and lunging madly, Little Tai Sui was truly intimidated.

What even is this thing?

She's... she's so scary...

"Woo-woo~" Water Charm Illusion Spirit wailed hideously, barely even noticing Little Tai Sui, lunging straight at Du Yu.

Du Yu reflexively raised his Demon Soldier Bow, but paused for a heartbeat.

Then, his left hand lowered the bow and his right arm lifted.

"Tss!"

Water Charm Illusion Spirit's ghostly claws tore viciously at Du Yu's arm.

But Du Yu's Demon Breath Battle Robe was utterly unscathed—not a single tear or scratch!

Demon Tamer's Demon Breath Battle Robe!

Du Yu felt not an ounce of tremor from the robe; the Water Charm Illusion Spirit hissed and spat cold breath right in his face, but he stood calmly where he was.

Like a divine being who's wandered into a horror film set.

"Woo-woo~ Aaaah!" Water Charm Illusion Spirit shrieked piercingly, but that was the extent of it.

The difference in level was like a Celestial Chasm, unbridgeable between man and demon.

Du Yu seized Water Charm Illusion Spirit's wrist, gave a push, swinging her half a turn until her back was to him.

Against absolute power, Water Charm Illusion Spirit had no hope of resistance.

Du Yu, meanwhile, felt complicated—uncertain whether to be happy or disappointed.

In Master Qing's eyes, me and this Water Charm Illusion Spirit probably aren't much different.

"Aaaah! AAAAAAAAH!" Water Charm Illusion Spirit howled in agony.

With her body turned, Du Yu gripped her by the nape; as he lifted his arm, she was hoisted clean off the ground.

"Tai Sui, don't be afraid—I've got your back." Du Yu didn't crush the Spirit's Demon Breath Battle Robe, merely held her by the neck and tossed her forward casually.

"Ehn!" Little Tai Sui let out a bear-cub cry!

The young one was learning to adapt to the battlefield, training to become a true warrior.

With Du Yu cheering him on, Little Tai Sui hefted the Red Bamboo Stick and leapt forward, thwacking Water Charm Illusion Spirit right on the knee!

"Crack!"

The Demon Breath Battle Robe shattered with a bang!

"That's right, you can do it." Du Yu encouraged. "She's only scary-looking, that's all."

The first lesson on the battlefield: overcome your fear!

All along, Du Yu was more patient with his Demon Pets than most.

You can't expect an innocent cub to slaughter enemies on its very first battlefield.

Du Yu still remembered his own state the first time he saw Water Charm Illusion Spirit.

Back then, there were dozens of us facing her together, and even so, that ghost-girl scared us out of our skins.

"Smack!"

Though Little Tai Sui was tiny, not even reaching the Water Charm Illusion Spirit's knee, he was fierce, beating her relentlessly with his stick!

The more he fought, the more confident Little Tai Sui became!

"Smack!"

Try scaring me again!

"Smack!"

Bad monster!

"Smack!"

Take that!

"Woo-woo~" Water Charm Illusion Spirit was pathetically weak, seemingly only capable of swiping with her claws.

She could only kneel on the floor, trying to tear at Little Tai Sui due to their height difference.

"Smack!" Stick swings take out a swath!

Little Tai Sui swept the Red Bamboo Stick sideways, not only knocking away her grasping hands but tipping her whole body off-balance.

"Ehn!" Little Tai Sui gave a little bear roar, leaping up with effort.

The classic—bonk from above!

Little Tai Sui's stubby legs actually managed a full split as he brought the stick down hard on the Water Charm Illusion Spirit's head!

Her form burst apart, dissolving into threads of water vapor, dissipating like an illusion into thin air.

"Ehn?" Little Tai Sui looked around warily.

In his first battle against a Water Charm Illusion Spirit, he was a true Little Hanhan—he didn't even know he'd already won, thinking this was just some monster trick.

Du Yu glanced at the ground—sure enough, no Demon Crystal.

"Come on, Tai Sui! There are more enemies waiting for us!"

"Ehn!" Realizing his victory, Little Tai Sui stretched his stubby legs, scampering after his master's stride.

Until man and pet's silhouettes faded into the distance, the heavy walls of the battlefield suddenly slid open a secret door.

Two soldiers stepped out, staring down the corridor; their expressions were priceless.

"Is that... a Chi Bear?"

"Must be. Looks just like the pictures."

"Anyone else in Ancient Pine Tower City who could qualify to contract a Chi Bear?"

"Better report to superiors—and ask the bookstore who came in just now."

...

Du Yu and Little Tai Sui swept through wave after wave, battling their way to the entrance to the second underground floor.

"Huff... huff..." Little Tai Sui leaned on the Red Bamboo Stick, lowering his furry head, breathing heavily, fluffy tummy rising and falling—it was quite a sight.

"Downstairs isn't a battlefield you should touch yet." Du Yu knelt and scooped Little Tai Sui into his arms.

"Ehn?" Little Tai Sui blinked his gleaming black eyes, tossed away the Red Bamboo Stick, and nuzzled his furry head into Du Yu's chest.

"You did well. In the next few days, every time we enter Floor 1, I'll call you out to fight."

"Ehn!" Little Tai Sui looked up at Du Yu and nodded.

Except for the initial scare the Bottomless Battlefield gave him, all the Celestial Treasure Race Demon Beasts they'd faced after—though their eyes were also blood-red—honestly weren't that terrifying.

"Come back now, get some good rest." Du Yu gently bumped his forehead against Little Tai Sui's, channeling a burst of Fire Demon Breath into him.

Once the Shadow Gu Tower absorbed the Demon Soul, Little Tai Sui would grow even faster.

After Du Yu pressed the button, the stone gate slowly opened—this time, no old friends were waiting.

He descended to the second floor, closed the gate, and hurried toward the third underground floor.

On the way, though, Du Yu inevitably bumped into a Cold Beast.

"Ooo!" A shrill cry rang out. Du Yu turned to see a cloaked doll—Wind Wizard.

Judging by its build, it must've just advanced to Earth Level.

Whether for Du Yu, Xiaoyan, or Ghost Firefly, there was no point to this battle.

Little Tai Sui had just fought a bunch; no need for him to risk himself against a higher-level foe.

Hoo~

The Wind Wizard spun rapidly, its cloak whipping into a disc as it darted straight for Du Yu.

Demon Skill· Tornado Blade!

Du Yu strode forward, suddenly lifting his right hand and grabbing the Wind Wizard by its little head.

"Tss! Tssss..."

The spinning cloak gradually slowed, and on Du Yu's battle robe at the wrist, there was only the faintest scratch.

And that was all.

Feeling the little guy struggling in his grip, Du Yu hesitated a moment, but didn't crush its head.

Master Qing had said that the Cold Beasts on the first ten floors were carefully selected and placed by the Demon Spirit Squad.

This was nominally a battlefield, but essentially, the first ten floors were a training ground.

If the enemy had been Heavenly Level, Du Yu would've gladly taken the chance to challenge himself.

But for a mere Initial Earth Level opponent...

Without stopping, Du Yu flung the Wind Wizard down a side corridor as he passed.

He continued on, the Black Rock Tree Coat trailing behind as cold mist rolled frantically away before him.

Maybe Du Yu aimed too high—before Master Qing, he was still a fragile thing.

But when it came to the regular Demon Taming World, the way he related to this world had thoroughly changed...