I Have a Golden Crow

Du Yu dropped to one knee, placing Hu Xiaoyan gently on the ground. ”Our opponent is really strong. Get ready to focus!”

Xiaoyan: ”Ying!”

Du Yu chuckled, rubbing her head with one hand and sending through Demon Soul communication: ”Alright, alright, when we get home I’ll cuddle you in the king-size bed.”

”Ying~” Content, Xiaoyan turned and looked off toward the distant Wind Glutton Dog.

”Woof!” The Wind Glutton Dog let out a loud bark on cue.

The Wind Glutton Dog species isn’t actually big—even at Demon General Level, its body length tops out at two meters, shoulder height about 1.4 meters.

Skinny—that’s its signature.

Thin waist, thin legs, thin neck, combined with its pointed snout and long face—at a glance, you might mistake it for a Little Deer.

Beichen Ye: ”Let’s begin, Xiaodu, step back a bit.”

”Alright.” Du Yu quickly retreated to the rear.

Wang Zongying spoke up at just the right time: ”Both sides ready... Assessment begins!”

”Woof!” The Wind Glutton Dog let out a harsh roar, and a wildly spinning Wind Pillar burst from its mouth, shooting straight at Prince Yan.

Demon Skill·Tearing Wind Beam!

Hu Xiaoyan gave a nimble tap with her hindlegs, nearly skimming along the ground as she dashed sideways, letting the slender Wind Pillar graze past her side.

Du Yu communicated via Contract: ”Don’t go head-to-head—Fire Cloud Tail!”

Xiaoyan was just about to gather a Spark Splash, but on hearing this, the tip of her tail instantly burst into flame.

Endless fire swept outward, and as Xiaoyan ran, layer upon layer of flames rose up like a firewall, lingering long on the spot, refusing to dissipate.

Du Yu cast a glance at the electronic screen.

Xiaoyan’s attribute values were all climbing, especially the Intelligence bar.

It really works?

In Du Yu’s mind, knowing the opponent was strong, if the weaker party chose to play cunning instead of head-on, the Intelligence score should naturally increase.

But the question is—how does the system judge whether it was the Demon Tamer’s decision, or the Demon Pet’s own?

Eh... whatever, if it adds points, I’ll take it.

In the blink of an eye, the battlefield had become Prince Yan’s home turf. Her petite figure was well hidden, making it impossible for the opponent to track her down.

”Woof!” The Wind Glutton Dog responded move for move, a sudden blast of wild wind sweeping through the field.

Demon Skill·Little Wind Blow!

”Whoa~” Du Yu shielded his face with one hand, hurriedly retreating.

He was a solid 20 meters away from the arena, but he still felt the effect.

The flames in the arena, in just an instant, were blown apart and scattered.

Xiaoyan’s four long tails jabbed swiftly into the leafy ground.

The golden tail tips pierced the tangled twigs, allowing her to use the terrain to stabilize her body.

”Whoosh~”

Another slender Tearing Wind Beam shot over, and Xiaoyan dodged with a side-leap—this time, Du Yu didn’t interfere with her decision.

A Spark Splash gathered intensely above her brow.

Meanwhile, on the electronic screen, the Demon Power attribute suddenly spiked!

50...70...90...95...99...

”Woooo~!” Prince Yan let out a Fox Cry and unexpectedly charged at the Wind Glutton Dog.

The Wind Glutton Dog raised its head high, seemingly unfazed by such a huge Fireball.

In fact, it looked even prouder, waiting for Prince Yan to come closer.

”Ying!” The Spark Splash whipped toward the Wind Glutton Dog like a missile.

”Whoosh~”

A massive Tearing Wind Beam flashed across the arena, heading straight for the Fireball.

Compared to those earlier thin Wind Beams, this time the Wind Glutton Dog had clearly boosted the output quality of its Demon Skill.

”Boom!”

The Wind Beam and the Fireball collided, blowing the Fireball to smithereens.

”Ding~”

Out of nowhere, an electronic tone chimed.

Du Yu instinctively turned to check the scoreboard—only to see the Demon Power attribute bar maxed out?!

Ever since the score hit 99, the number had increased only by fractions.

But with that Spark Splash explosion, the bar rocketed to the limit: a full 150 points!

In the Heavenly Level assessment, bonus points are only 20, but in the Spirit Level assessment, each stat gets a hefty 50 points more.

After all, Spirit Level marks the divide between regular and Divine Beast.

At this stage, every unique attribute of a Demon Pet gets vastly amplified. Demon Tamers also focus ever more on reinforcing those strengths.

So, on a max of 100, Spirit Level throws in an extra 50 points as bonus.

On the sidelines, Chen Lingxi couldn’t help but silently praise.

The bar for Spirit Level appraisal is outrageously high!

After all, the standards are all set for Divine Beasts.

Even so, Xiaoyan just needed one Spark Splash to completely detonate her Demon Power attribute...

Meanwhile, Xiaoyan’s Intelligence attribute was also skyrocketing.

To hone a Demon Skill to this point clearly shows some serious smarts.

”Woof!”

”Ying!” Hearing Xiaoyan’s response, Du Yu was momentarily stunned.

Xi Gou... was that trash talk?

Is this part of the assessment too?

”Woof!” The Wind Glutton Dog wasn’t just arrogant in posture—its eyes fairly dripped with disdain.

Ever since seeing the size of Prince Yan’s Fireball, the Xi Gou was in no hurry to attack.

It actually seemed curious—just what kind of splash could this troublemaking Four-tailed Demon Fox make?

Du Yu couldn’t understand dog-speak.

But judging by Prince Yan’s emotions, the other’s words sure didn’t sound friendly!

”Ying!” Demon Skill·Fox Tail Flame!

Xiaoyan brought all four tails to her sides, four dazzling beams of fire surging directly at the Wind Glutton Dog who looked down on foxes.

At that very moment, the Wind Glutton Dog let out a high-pitched roar: ”Woof!”

Demon spawn!

Are you not going to surrender without a fight?!

Hu Xiaoyan tensed up; sharp as always, she noticed the Wind Elements nearby were suddenly hyperactive.

”Swish!”

A ripping sound streaked through the air as a Little Wind Blade appeared out of nowhere on Xiaoyan’s left, hacking fiercely down.

”Ying~” Xiaoyan instantly abandoned Fox Tail Flame and dodged to the left.

With a crisp ”crack”,

While Prince Yan was sliding sideways, a Wind Blade gathered at her landing spot and slashed right into one of her long tails.

”Ying!” Xiaoyan let out a tragic Fox Cry as her Demon Breath Battle Robe was shredded clean through!

The beautiful, fluffy tail now sported a shallow wound from the cut.

Xi Gou still held its head high, short of a cold snort.

Dealing with a demon spawn like you—easy as pie!

Besides, I’m not even going all out—I toned down the attack, you know!

Xuan Platinum·Wind Killing Array!

This Demon Skill is one even Li Mengnan’s Wind Witch can learn—it’s a Heavenly Level move.

The Wind Killing Array can churn up wild gales over a set area, turning them into countless Wind Blades slashing in all directions.

Which means, the endless Little Wind Blades inside the array are uncontrollable.

But there’s so many blades, moving so fast and so dense that no matter where Prince Yan dodges, she could get carved up by one.

Under attack by this Demon Skill, the first priority for anyone trapped is to escape the blade zone as quickly as possible.

The Wind Glutton Dog’s Demon Skill·Wind Killing Array wasn’t at full power, but this time, its duration was longer and its area much bigger.

It formed a circle a full 20 meters in radius!

Prince Yan has no defensive Demon Skills, so how can she possibly escape this formation?

Well... with Du Yu!

The truth is, her greatest reliance was always her master—Du Yu!

”Swoosh!”

From afar, Du Yu’s eyes flashed bright as time slowed to a crawl!

Eye of Burning Sun·Hunting Moment!

”Head low, move left, little jump.”

No words—just willpower. With their Contract link, Hu Xiaoyan responded instantly, no delay.

Du Yu was like a gamer holding a controller, operating his avatar on screen.

”Left, raise your tail, back.”

Move left—a Wind Blade zipped past the right side.

Raise tail—the tip of a Wind Blade swept just below her long tail.

Back up—a vertical Wind Blade flashed dangerously close past Prince Yan’s nose.

”Holy shit!” Wang Zongying was floored!

As a government study house worker—a well-read, cultured manager—it was rare for him to swear out loud.

And right in front of his own director too!

Even his boss Beichen Ye looked a bit dumbstruck.

Normally, after a Wind Killing Array like that, the Four-tailed Fire Fox ought to be a mess of wounds.

Which means her Constitution and Endurance stats would also get some extra system scoring.

But the thing is...

”Heh.” Chen Lingxi clutched her chest, her gaze following a fiery silhouette, watching it dance on the tips of blades, spinning with a dazzling flourish.

The beautiful fox leapt and twirled among the dense Wind Blade array, weaving left and right!

In the blink of an eye, the Fire Fox wasn’t just dodging. Her four long tails quickly inflated, puffing up as big as footballs.

Demon Skill·Chained Fire Tail!

”Ding! Ding! Ding!”

A string of crisp clangs as the hardened Chained Tails met the rushing Wind Blades head-on!

Hu Xiaoyan was absolutely killing it out there.

Sometimes dodging, sometimes tanking the hits.

In the extremely punishing Wind Killing Array, Hu Xiaoyan had taken the Warrior’s battlefield instincts to the max!

Endless Wind Blades meant endless choices.

And with each split-second decision, Prince Yan—she got them all right, every single time! Not a single mistake!

”Ying!”

Wind Blades churned up a rain of shredded leaves, as the fiery silhouette skidded sideways in one final slide.

All four paws splayed on the ground, those burning fox eyes staring intently at Xi Gou.

The Wind Killing Array—a full 20 meters in radius—Hu Xiaoyan just charged straight through!

”Hiss...” Wang Zongying sucked in a cold breath, sliding a hand over his goose bumped arm.

Insiders know the real deal.

A Four-tailed Fire Fox escaping the Wind Killing Array—luck had nothing to do with it.

It was pure ability, sheer grit that got her out!

How’s that for battlefield instincts? How’s that for reaction speed?

Shit!

Good thing I didn’t trust Du Yu’s nonsense. If the Blade Armor Earth Rhinoceros had gone up against this Fire Fox...

This kind of speed, this kind of reflex!

Even if the study house tower got smashed by the rhino, the Earth Rhinoceros still might never lay a hoof on the Fire Fox, right?

”Ding!”

This time, it wasn’t Fire Tail versus Wind Blade—it was the electronic screen signaling a new chiming sound.

The Agility Attribute bar soared to 150, filling up faster than anyone could react.

The arena fell dead silent.

The Wind Glutton Dog finally lowered its haughty head, starting to truly look at this Demonic Fox.

But unexpectedly, Xiaoyan suddenly turned toward Du Yu.

Her expression changed instantly—gone was the anger from the duel, replaced by the look of a pitiful waif:

”My king~”

Du Yu rubbed his eyes. ”Hmm?”

Hu Xiaoyan extended one of her long tails, pointing at the faint wound on it.

The lovely red fur had been parted where that first Wind Blade cut through.

Xiaoyan whined miserably, ”It hurts.”

Du Yu: ”Then hit back.”

Xiaoyan perked up. ”Then I’ll change, okay?”

Du Yu: ”Yeah. Do it.”

It was about time to show some real strength.

Prince Du was soft-hearted—he couldn’t stand seeing Princess Consort Yan being bullied.

Man, being a Foolish Monarch is pretty sweet!

”Woof!” From far away, the Wind Glutton Dog howled again, sounding quite ticked at the Four-tailed Demon Fox.

Getting distracted in battle?

Ran off to whine to your owner again? What kind of Demon... huh?

Xi Gou was clearly stunned.

And honestly, so was everyone else watching.

A swirl of flames wrapped around Xiaoyan, and in the burn, her body grew massively!

Originally one meter long, one meter of tail.

Now, under blazing fire, she transformed into a Four-tailed Fire Fox over two meters long, tail over two meters too!

A pair of pure golden fox eyes replaced her former gold-brown ones—noble and incomparably beautiful.

Xiaoyan gracefully stretched her neck, four long tails swaying lightly, her fox cry echoing across the battlefield: ”Woooo~~~”

Ancient Bloodline·Ancient Yan!

”Ding!”

Before, no matter how well Xiaoyan performed, her Power Level stat bar sat motionless.

Now, it rocketed straight to 100!

”Ding!”

Ancient Yan only had to show up—she didn’t even need to fight!—and her Physical Attribute bar soared close to 150!

”What is this?” Beichen Ye finally spoke up.

Du Yu smiled. ”The Demon Pets of the Paper Crane Disciples are always a little different.”

No, seriously.

At this stage, the Paper Crane Disciples’ Demon Pets are dominating the Celestial Lists of every Earth Level City in Eastern Great Xia. Each one more savage than the last, constantly pushing people’s image of what a Celestial-level Monster Beast can do.

And now, as First Disciple, Du Yu was storming right for the Spirit List!

”Rrrr...” The Wind Glutton Dog crouched low, throat rumbling with danger.

Demon spawn—pretty flashy, aren’t you?

”Ying!” Ancient Yan’s face switched in a flash, glaring at Xi Gou with fury in her eyes.

You foul-mouthed Broken Dog...