I Have a Golden Crow

Du Yu stood dumbfounded on the spot, eyes glazed over, not moving for a long time.

The withered branches of the Divine Tree had long since withdrawn, and the Twin Trees once again returned to their usual tranquil state, yet inside Du Yu, waves surged tumultuously.

Gazing up at the waterfall-like cascade of twin flower leaves, he steadied his spirits and stepped forward.

Coming before the towering Twin Trees, Du Yu placed a hand upon the withered giant trunk: ”Can you tell me what shackle I’m supposed to burn away?”

The spiraling giant tree gave no response. Its lush branches swayed gently in the breeze, exuding a fresh fragrance.

Around the giant tree all was silent—even the playful Demon Beasts stayed outside the flowerfall’s boundary, their raucous sounds unable to reach here.

As the leaves rustled softly, Du Yu withdrew his palm, and in his mind, asked quietly: ”The Twin Trees just passed a message to me, roughly saying I should burn away some shackle. Little Fen Yang, do you know what that’s about?”

”Shackle?” Little Fen Yang sounded confused. ”Is it telling you to break through and advance a stage?”

Whether as a Demon Tamer or Spirit Master, each advancement of power tier was, naturally, a repeated breakthrough, a smashing of shackles.

”Hmm...” Du Yu was not quite convinced by this explanation. He silently raised his palm, only to feel his palm burning hot.

”Du Yu, you’re amazing~” Little Fen Yang’s voice carried a trace of excitement. ”Hurry and absorb and convert Spiritual Qi, fill the Spirit Ruins Acupoint. Later we’ll go look for the Dust Spirit Deer and exchange Spiritual Qi for their orbs.”

”Okay.” Du Yu, still looking deeply troubled, began to try drawing in the Spiritual Qi of heaven and earth.

Though it was the same world, the same environment, before and after entering the Spirit Taming Profession, the difference was obvious.

Du Yu’s perception of this world had grown much keener. He sensed things ordinary Demon Tamers could not detect.

And yet—

Just as Master Qing had said, even though Du Yu was standing right before the Divine Tree, even pressing a hand to the withered giant trunk, his speed of absorbing Spiritual Qi remained excruciatingly slow.

The total amount of Spiritual Qi released by the Divine Tree was just far too little. How could such a cultivation environment allow a Spirit Master to achieve anything?

Du Yu slowly sat down, shrugged off his backpack, leaned against the withered giant trunk, and took out his phone, dialing a number.

”Brrr... brrr... brrr...”

After a long wait, the call was finally answered—a nasal voice replied: ”Mm.”

Through the receiver, Du Yu could faintly hear people talking in the background.

He spoke: ”Master Qing, I’d like to talk to you about the Twin Trees. Is this a good time?”

On the other end, a woman’s clear, cold voice came, as if she already expected what Du Yu would ask, only her voice was pressed even lower: ”You succeeded?”

Du Yu: ”Yes, I’m in the North Suburb Demon Spirit Realm. Just now...”

Before he finished, Yang Qingqing interrupted: ”Focus on your cultivation. Don’t put the cart before the horse—wait till you’re home to discuss it.”

Du Yu hesitated for a moment, then obediently replied: ”Yes, Master Qing.”

At that moment, Yang Qingqing was seated at a massive conference table. She picked up her phone, set it casually on the table, and continued watching the man across from her giving his report.

”Fellow teachers.” The man in a suit put down his stack of papers and looked toward several teachers from the Demon Spirit Academy, his manner very respectful. ”What do you think of the difficulty level of this test? Is it suitable for assessing the Paper Crane Disciples?”

The teachers seated on the same side as Yang Qingqing were all Divine Level, each one extremely reserved.

Seeing none of the teachers replying, the man cautiously prompted, ”Esteemed teachers?”

”Xiaoyang.”

”Director Pei.”

”What do you think of this plan?”

Yang Qingqing thought for a moment and nodded slightly. ”It’s feasible. Getting some battlefield experience is necessary.

However, the slogans put forth by the study and cultural bureau aim to help newcomers better understand the history and culture of the Demon Spirit world. I suggest the thematic focus be more prominent.”

Yang Qingqing spoke rather tactfully, suggesting the other side commit fully to the act.

Even so, in her professional demeanor, her aura remained intimidating—absolutely unlike the gentle Master Qing she was at home facing Du Yu.

The suited man, for a moment, seemed to return to his student days, responding to his mentor with all due formality: ”Understood, Master Qing.”

Suddenly, another suited woman spoke up: ”Master Qing, I heard a disciple of yours is also a Paper Crane Disciple. He’s reportedly quite outstanding. Could you share a bit about his current strength?”

Yang Qingqing: ”Hm?”

The woman smiled. ”It’s been ages since our study has issued a ring, after all.”

Yang Qingqing: ”Demon Warrior.”

”As expected from a Paper Crane Disciple! He’s already a Demon Warrior!” the woman sighed softly, clearly quite focused on Du Yu. She continued, ”So, how is his Heterochromatic Demon Pet’s growth?”

”Earth Level. Demon Power and Intelligence Attribute are particularly strong.”

The man clutched his papers, carefully inquiring, ”Master Qing, since your disciple is so outstanding, could we perhaps have him play a role in this test?”

Yang Qingqing: ”...”

Meanwhile, far away in the North Suburb Demon Spirit Realm—

With a crisp ”snap,” Du Yu jumped, startled, and quickly turned his head, only to see, not far away, the Twin Trees’ branches lash the grassy ground.

Two rowdy young calves faced one another, eyes glaring. After a standoff of several seconds, neither dared cross the boundary set by the Twin Trees’ branch and both turned to leave.

No wonder human Demon Tamers only dared set camp outside the Twin Tree’s range. Even knowing the Twin Trees were Guardians, maintaining order, they could still injure bystanders by mistake.

But Du Yu simply leaned against the withered trunk and slowly closed his eyes. It was hard to say whether he was being carefree or just resigned to his fate.

As he sluggishly absorbed Spiritual Qi, waves of weariness swept over him, and he gradually drifted into sleep.

Totally exhausted, Du Yu could only cling to the belief in advancing his Ghost Firefly Fire Types, then immediately rushed to the Twin Trees, determined to unlock the Spirit Taming profession.

Now, at last, he relaxed and quickly fell into dreamland.

The ever-floating Ghost Firefly Torch drifted left, drifted right before its master’s face. Seeing him asleep, Little You Ying pondered, then snuggled into his arms, bringing Du Yu a touch of coolness.

The scene was quietly beautiful—peaceful and serene.

He slept on until sunset in the west...

”Snap!”

Startled awake, Du Yu’s eyes flew open. Disoriented, he looked around; once more two Demon Beasts, fired up from play, were separated by the Twin Trees, and the sound of the lash had become Du Yu’s own alarm clock.

”Crap.” Now fully awake, Du Yu felt a jolt inside. ”I slept right through, didn’t absorb a bit of Spiritual Qi.”

Hmm?

Du Yu checked his body, and to his shock, discovered the Fire Spiritual Qi in his Spirit Ruins Acupoint had greatly increased, nearly filling the entire acupoint.

”Heehee~” Little Fen Yang’s adorable voice chimed out in his mind. ”When I sleep, Du Yu keeps watch for me. When Du Yu sleeps, I help you absorb Spiritual Qi~”

Du Yu: ???

Feeling the Fire Spiritual Qi burning to the left of his chest, he asked inwardly, ”You can cultivate Spiritual Qi, too, just like the Dust Spirit Deer?”

”Hmph~ I’m the Burning Sun Golden Crow!”

Du Yu scratched his head, puzzled. ”Is that so...”

”Heehee~” Little Fen Yang snickered, delighted by its own mischief. ”Actually, I’ve always been helping you absorb Demon Breath—then suddenly noticed the nearby Spiritual Qi started coming, too. So, I just escorted it into the Spirit Ruins Acupoint.

Your constitution’s different from before. Now you can sense the Spiritual Qi around you, and your body has opened up an Acupoint Home for it. With me around, they’re only too happy to come in~”

”Hmm...”

”Come on, come on, let’s go trade some orbs with the Dust Spirit Deer,” Little Fen Yang urged in a whisper.

But Du Yu wore a strange expression. So from now on I just need to absorb Demon Breath?

After all, the Spiritual Qi would come into his body on its own. All he needed to do was consciously safeguard it as it entered.

The Demon Breath and Spiritual Qi released by the Twin Trees were attributeless; there was really no conflict between them. Only after entering Du Yu’s body could Fire Demon Breath possibly burn away Spiritual Qi.

Thinking it over, Du Yu packed up his gear and walked out from the Twin Trees’ range.

He had no idea that everything that happened beneath the Twin Trees had been witnessed by the Demon Spirit Soldiers. While Du Yu slept, his true identity had already been thoroughly uncovered.

After all, the sudden partiality of the Twin Trees—the withered tree in particular—was truly exceptional.

At least, none of the soldiers guarding around the Twin Trees had ever seen a Demon Tamer shown such favor.

The reason no one had disturbed Du Yu all along, and the reason he could leave so smoothly now, was entirely due to orders issued from up top after layer upon layer of reporting.

Ordinary soldiers couldn’t figure out what exactly had occurred between Du Yu and the Twin Trees, but the orders from above were explicit, so naturally they kept their distance.

Bathed in the sunset, Du Yu headed straight north along his way.

When first taking the mission, Miss Tang Dun had specifically told Du Yu the territory of that Dust Spirit Deer herd.

They lived near the Twin Trees; so, aside from searching in the deep woods, Du Yu could also try his luck near the nearby cliffs.

On cliff faces grew a kind of Demonic Plant called Wind Cotton Grass, which the Dust Spirit Deer greatly loved to eat.

”Du Yu, Du Yu~”

”Hm?”

”Keep your eyes on the road—why did you suddenly space out?”

Without stopping, Du Yu trekked through the desolate mountains and wilderness, slowly raising his palm.

”Whoosh~” Entirely self-taught, a tiny flame suddenly ignited at Du Yu’s fingertip.

So this is what it felt like to be a Spirit Master?

No need to rely on Demon Soldiers—he could control wind, fire, and thunder at will.

”Hey, don’t use up all the Spiritual Qi—we still need to trade for orbs! Silly Du Yu, don’t you want to sleep in a big bed, eat drumsticks?”

Du Yu muttered softly, ”We’re dealing with pure Fire Spiritual Qi; the Dust Spirit Deer are Wind Demonic Beasts. Will they even want to eat it?”

Little Fen Yang: ”Come on, it’s a new era—having food is good enough~”

Du Yu pondered, then nodded in agreement—there was some truth to that.

He continued asking, ”By the way, do you know what kind of skills a Fire Spirit Master can perform?”

Little Fen Yang: ”A powerful Spirit Master possesses a vast array of techniques, enough to destroy heaven and earth—they’re virtually human-shaped Demon Beasts.”

Hearing this, Du Yu couldn’t help but feel his heart pound with longing.

Though he knew it was out of reach, his heart still yearned for it.

”But you can forget about that,” Little Fen Yang softly sighed. ”Those are all ancient myth and legend now.”

From the moment the Divine Tree withered,

it signaled the arrival of the Twilight of the Gods.

After an indescribably tragic history of blood and tears, in this new era, there’s no place for the old gods anymore...