"We have to go. We can't just sit here and wait to die."

Lin Shiwei: "Hm?"

Du Yu lowered his voice, "We already know the cold is coming out from beneath the Twin Trees, so there's a good chance there'll also be Demon Beasts from the Bottomless Pit coming out from under the trees!"

You and I both know that the Twin Trees and Bottomless Pit are connected underground."

Lin Shiwei's expression turned a bit grim, and she nodded silently.

Du Yu continued, "With our team's strength, venturing through the Newbie Realm is no problem. But for those Celestial Treasure Race Cold Beasts crawling out from under the trees, their power tier is impossible to predict.

Now that the alarm in the Twin Tree Realm has gone off, it means things are already very serious!

We don't have a shred of information right now. We don't know if the Twin Trees can hold up, let alone if things are going to get better... or even worse.

What I'm really afraid of is a Demon Beast from the Bottomless Pit finding us before the Demon Spirit Squad does."

Indeed, nobody knew the exact situation with the Twin Trees.

Even less did anyone know if the cold would only get stronger, or gradually fade away.

Lin Shiwei pondered for a moment, listening to the blaring alarm, her voice low and steady: "The alarm is probably coming from the Demon Pet Center.

If we choose to leave, we can head toward where the alarm is coming from. At least that gives us a direction. But..."

Du Yu: "What?"

Lin Shiwei turned her head slightly, gesturing toward the Demon Beasts huddled for shelter in the cave.

They were trembling, a mix of many species, now all clumped together, doing their best to stay warm and comfort each other.

On any other day, would you ever see a wild Thunderlight Leopard and a Cloud Brocade Lamb snuggling together?

It's a sight you'd never even dare imagine...

Du Yu was silent for a moment, then spoke: "We're taking them out with us!"

If we abandon them here, these Demon Beasts are already doomed!

Their minds will be eroded by the cold, and they'll be lost for good.

Lin Shiwei suddenly looked down, and at her boots she saw a few fluffy Flower-mouse crawling over.

The little critters still wore their "floral collars," but instead of trying to shake dirt off onto the girl's shoes, they huddled by her feet, desperately seeking a bit of safety.

To them, the underground isn't safe either—the endless cold seeps into everything, more like a virus, and once they're touched by it, they'll lose themselves forever.

Only these few Human Race members in the cave were their sole hope for survival.

Lin Shiwei breathed a silent sigh, then slowly crouched, and as if pulling up radishes, she plucked the shivering little mice from beside her boots.

She stood, tucked the Flower-mouse into her coat pocket, and asked in a soft voice, "How are you doing?"

Du Yu: "I'm fine. The Shadow Gu Tower keeps replenishing my Demon Breath at all times. I recover quickly.

Once Xiaoyan masters the Celestial-level Demon Skill, and with that kind of firepower at our side, we'll leave."

Lin Shiwei: "Mm..."

Meanwhile, far away at Ancient Pine Tower City—Xishu Garden.

"Ding~"

With a gentle chime, the elevator doors slowly opened.

Yang Qingqing stepped onto the 16th floor and, seeing the empty hallway, was swept by a touch of nostalgia.

The click of her high heels echoed in the corridor as she walked, step by step, toward her former home.

Behind her, the Firethorn Tree was moving along, root by root.

It stretched out several branches, each like a walking cane; its huge flowerpot rising and falling as it trundled after its mistress.

The whole sight gave off a strong air of indomitable determination.

After Yang Qingqing stepped into her old home and looked around at the empty rooms, her eyes shimmered with memory.

"Here, the usual spot." Yang Qingqing came to the northeast corner of the living room and pointed casually at the wall.

The Firethorn Tree rolled its flowerpot over and, seemingly at home, settled right in.

Yang Qingqing crooked her finger; a wave of Firethorn Branches rolled forth, passing her a card and a ballpoint pen.

"No one's cleaned here in forever. When I'm gone, remember to help tidy up," Yang Qingqing said, in a pretty good mood, writing something on the card as she smiled and reminded it.

"Shasha~"

The Firethorn Tree's leaves shook, up and down, almost as if nodding yes.

Not only that, but the Firethorn Tree even tied a red ribbon around a branch, making a bow for itself.

It was treating itself like a present—and had finished its own gift-wrapping.

Yang Qingqing laughed and tucked the card into the dense branches: "The squad called two days ago. Your new master did a great job on her mission—she might come back any time.

You'd better hurry up and clean the place."

"Dong~dong~dong~"

Suddenly, from the distant balcony, came the sound of someone knocking at the glass.

Yang Qingqing took two steps back and looked over—only to see a flower stem hanging down from upstairs, layers of leaves wrapped around a phone, rapping against the window.

The Firethorn Tree instantly extended a branch, opened the window, and snatched the phone, passing it to Yang Qingqing.

The flower-leaves upstairs withdrew, clearly not daring to mess with the fierce Firethorn Tree.

In fact, ever since the Firethorn Tree moved downstairs, most of the Demonic Plants on the 17th, 18th, even the 19th-floor rooftop, let out a sigh of relief...

That little tyrant was finally gone!

At last, the house might actually stay a bit quieter.

Yang Qingqing answered the phone, but before she could speak, a voice—urgent—came through the receiver.

"Hm?" Yang Qingqing frowned, her good mood instantly vanishing. Her voice grew grave: "What do you mean, the Twin Trees have tilted?"

"Half the roots snapped? Cold Qi, Cold Beasts... Where is my apprentice?"

As the questions tumbled from her lips, Yang Qingqing sped to the balcony, threw open the window—and, incredibly, jumped straight out!

The Firethorn Tree's branches swayed restlessly. It seemed to understand, but could do nothing except 'watch' its mistress leave.

Outside, Yang Qingqing didn't fall from the 16th floor, of course.

She stood in midair as a swirl of Wind Demon Breath gathered at her forehead; a massive Wind Trace Steed silently emerged, majestic and stunning!

Yang Qingqing sat side-saddle on the Wind Trace Steed and pointed south-west: "Full speed ahead."

"Neighhh~" The mighty Ghostly Steed let out a ringing cry, resounding throughout Xishu Garden, and galloped wildly through the skies.

Yang Qingqing was tall—about 177 centimeters.

Even so, her small Human Race frame looked comically mismatched on that huge Wind Trace Steed—like a child perched on a warhorse.

Under the setting sun, Ancient Pine Tower City was abuzz, people and traffic streaming endlessly.

The citizens gawked up in amazement, watching as the horse blazed overhead, with a woman in a long dress riding above.

The Ghostly Steed sprinted in the open air, as if it had real footing beneath, faster and further with every stride.

Such a Demon Beast was already remarkable enough.

But the woman sitting side-saddle above it was even more dazzling—long hair drifting, skirt swirling in pale green, as ethereal as a Banished Immortal.

"Mommy, look, what's that?"

"That's...that's a Demon Tamer. Maybe you'll be one someday."

"That horse is huge!"

"But you better not act like that big sister. In regular society, Demon Tamers can't just act wild—otherwise, they'll get arrested."

"Okay."

...

"Yip!" In the bear den, Xiaoyan let out a sharp fox cry. Her three fiery red tails fanned out at her left, right, and across her back.

The gold-tipped tails all pointed straight ahead, firing thick blazing lines of flame, lightning-fast!

Clearly these were all made of fire, but they glowed so fiercely they looked like blinding beams of energy!

The three firebeams converged on a distant wall—then exploded in a burst of noise!

"Rumble!"

After the blast, the wall had a gaping pit blown clean through it, rubble flying everywhere.

Glory Gold· Fox Tail Flame!

The Demon Beasts in the cave scattered away, curling up and trying to put more distance between themselves and Xiaoyan.

In the Two-tailed Fire Fox's arms, the Little Fox stared up at the Three-tailed Xiaoyan with awe, scrambling to its feet, "Yip~"

Momma Fire Fox lowered her head and pressed the little one flat again, afraid it would bother the mighty Heterochromatic Race stranger.

"Amazing," Li Mengnan said happily, squatting down to look at the elegant, beautiful Three-tailed Fire Fox in front of her. She couldn't help but open her arms. "Come, Xiaoyan, let me hug you."

"Yip~" Xiaoyan spun around, head held high, racing straight for Li Mengnan.

"Eh?" Li Mengnan froze.

She couldn't catch Xiaoyan in midair. Those burning fox paws landed right on her head, using Li Mengnan as a springboard for another leap.

Li Mengnan: "..."

The girl looked wronged. She turned her head—only to see Xiaoyan leaping into Prince Du's arms.

Xiaoyan's two tails twined around Du Yu's neck, while the third one gently stroked his cheek, snuggling close and cooing: "Yip~"

Du Yu patted Xiaoyan's head, then looked at Li Mengnan. "Let's go."

Just then, Li Mengnan barely had time to feel jealous; she was surprised: "Go?"

Du Yu nodded. "Yeah, we're in District One, really close to the border. As long as we keep heading south, we'll leave the Demon Spirit Realm."

Once they reached normal society, it was without a doubt the safest spot. Du Yu trusted Great Xia—danger in the Demon Spirit Realm was one thing, but the Demon Spirit Squad would never let Demon Beasts rampage through regular society. As long as they found a squad, they'd be safe!

Li Mengnan stood up and looked at the terrified Demon Beasts in the cave. "What about...them?"

Du Yu's voice was steady and serious: "Xiaobai, tell them—we'll take them out with us!"

"Nai!"

"Let's go, Mengnan." Lin Shiwei came forward, hugging the girl's shoulders. "Right now, the Otherworld is shrouded in cold fog, blocking our line of sight, but also hiding us from the soldiers.

If we wait here for rescue, who knows what could happen—better we get out on our own. We have no idea what's happening with the Twin Trees. The sooner we leave, the better."

"Mm... Okay!" Li Mengnan nodded.

She couldn't judge perfectly in this situation—if her second brother and third sister had decided, then they'd break out together!

"Nai!!" Xiaobai let out a clear deer cry, urging on the hesitant Demon Beasts.

Du Yu strode over, climbed onto the deer, grabbed her antlers, and slowly shifted their direction.

Then, the boy and the deer walked out of the cave.

One, two...

With the Deer Fox's persistent calls, the Demon Beasts slowly shuffled forward, trembling, one after another, toward the cave's mouth.

Looking out over the billowing gray mist, it felt like standing in a different world altogether.

Lin Shiwei also mounted her deer. As they traveled, she reached overhead and snatched up the floating Electric Little Star, tucking it carelessly into her pocket to keep the Flower-mouse company.

"Hiss..."

"Roar!!" From within the mist, the vague roars of Demon Beasts echoed. Cloaked in bitter cold, those that hadn't escaped had already lost themselves, transformed into something else.

Outside the girl's coat pocket, the world was a horror movie, an apocalyptic nightmare.

Meanwhile, inside that soft little world, the Flower-mouse stared wide-eyed at the glowing Electric Little Star, all sniffing curiously.

"Go, quick." Lin Shiwei urged in a low voice.

"Nai!" Bai Lu called out too, pushing the Demon Beasts to bundle together and charge into the masses of gray fog.

Li Mengnan checked the cave to make sure nothing was left behind, then took two big steps and leapt onto Bai Lu's back, one arm fastening tightly around Lin Shiwei's waist.

"We will make it out," Lin Shiwei said softly, patting Li Mengnan's hand in reassurance.

"Mm..."

Was this really the right choice?

Truthfully, Lin Shiwei had no real confidence, either.

She glanced across the shivering horde of Demon Beasts and saw the boy ahead, riding the deer.

Following the torchlight in his hand, Lin Shiwei gently tapped Bai Lu's antlers. Her deer lowered its head and pressed forward, each step taking them deeper into the fog of the Otherworld...

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