The next morning, Du Yu enjoyed a hearty breakfast. After repeatedly stopping Teacher Li Hong from seeing him off, he grabbed his bedding and headed downstairs.

Du Yu found a charity donation box by the street and donated everything he could.

He still had some confidence in himself, believing that he'd be able to buy new clothes and bedding in the future, and even rent a little place of his own.

With his tactical backpack on and Demon Soldier Black Wood in tow, Du Yu boarded the No. 65 bus amid the envious glances of bystanders.

At a quarter past eight, he arrived right on time at Xishu Garden.

Honestly, Du Yu originally thought this was some sort of park, but after checking online last night, he learned that it was actually a fancy residential complex.

Looking through the neighborhood gate, he saw nothing but lush greenery, and couldn't even tell where the paved road led.

"Hello, are you looking for someone?" A security guard in uniform by the gatehouse noticed Du Yu peeking around and immediately approached to ask.

Du Yu nodded, "Teacher Yang Qingqing asked me to meet her here; she's a teacher at Demon Spirit Academy."

"Ms. Yang did tell us in advance. Please show me your ID."

"Here." Du Yu handed over his provisional student ID, with his personal ID tucked inside.

"Alright, please come with me." The young security guard called someone over to take his place, then brought Du Yu aboard an electric cart.

Du Yu had never seen this kind of scene before. Riding in a little covered cart felt just like visiting a tourist spot. On the way, he even saw gazebos and lakes?

After a good while, the cart finally stopped in front of a tall building. The security guard personally escorted him and even helped swipe the elevator card for the 17th floor before bidding him goodbye.

Du Yu stared in silence at the electronic display as the numbers ticked upward, feeling pretty nervous inside.

Why did she ask me to come to her home?

Is this some sort of "getting familiar with the place" kind of thing?

"Ding!"

When the elevator doors opened, Du Yu was completely dumbfounded!

What the—Is this a botanical garden?

Du Yu wasn't even sure if he was in the corridor or had already entered someone's home. Looking around, all he could see were plants everywhere.

Few flowers, lots of leaves.

Even the walls on both sides of the corridor were covered in lush vines and foliage.

"Please wait a moment." A faint, cool female voice drifted over.

"Ah—yes, okay." Du Yu quickly replied, following the voice to the left. After passing through the leafy, flower-covered corridor, he finally entered the "botanical garden."

Du Yu wore a strange expression; at least he could tell the room was a living area, given all the furniture and electrical appliances.

But other than that, everything was buried in a sea of green leaves—more so than outside, in fact—leaving Du Yu utterly baffled.

Does Teacher Yang Qingqing actually live here?

High on oxygen during the day, suffocating at night?

While he pondered, a little tree in a massive flowerpot by the living room TV suddenly moved, producing a pleasing rustling sound.

Du Yu fixed his gaze on the tree's thick branches and leaves, half-expecting some demon pet to pop out.

But after staring for a while, Du Yu realized the little tree was moving by itself?

The drooping, dense branches swayed gently, moving with no wind at all. This…

Du Yu hurriedly pulled out the school-issued phone and opened the Demon Spirit Atlas, aiming the camera at the leafy little tree.

After a moment's scan, the Demon Pet Atlas displayed line after line of information:

"Firethorn Tree, dual Fire Element and Wood Element Celestial-level Demonic Plant.

Produces a red fruit called Firethorn Fruit, a high-level Demon Spirit Material. The fruit is highly nutritious and loved by Fire-type Demon Pets.

Assessing power level…

Celestial Level·Minor Achievement Stage to Celestial Level·Peak Stage. Actual power subject to real situation; atlas detection is for reference only."

Du Yu's mouth formed an "O"!

Mortal Level, Earth Level, Celestial Level, Spirit Level…

This little tree is actually a Celestial-level Demonic Plant?

Unlike demon beasts, demonic plants can't be contracted or stored inside by Demon Tamers.

And yet, this Celestial-level plant is just sitting in Yang Qingqing's living room…as a houseplant?

Du Yu obediently stood still, not daring to move a muscle.

He stopped moving, but the Firethorn Tree stretched out branch after branch, growing longer and longer.

With a gentle rustling of leaves, the branches stretched across the vast room, gradually closing in on Du Yu.

"Y-Yang Teacher!" Not liking the look of things, Du Yu called out hastily.

"Hm?" Footsteps sounded from the wooden staircase in the distance.

Moments later, Yang Qingqing descended in a pale green nightgown, her face covered in a foamy facial scrub, shuffling along in slippers.

Du Yu pointed at the branch about to reach his face and blurted, "It—it…"

"Go ahead and play with it for a while. Wait for me." With that, Yang Qingqing turned and headed back upstairs.

Du Yu: ???

Aren't you worried it'll play me to death?

As Du Yu silently grumbled, the Firethorn Tree's branches began winding around his body—but they were much softer than he'd imagined.

Du Yu quietly said, "Hey there?"

Unlike demon beasts, demonic plants like the Firethorn Tree had no face—no eyes or mouth, not even feet, since its roots were firmly planted in the big flowerpot.

The Firethorn Tree gave no reply, but suddenly Little Fen Yang's voice rang in his mind: "Let's peel its bark."

Du Yu jumped, quickly arguing in his head, "No, no, Little Fen Yang, you've got the wrong tree! This absolutely isn't the one you fought before."

Little Fen Yang only grumbled quietly, "Don't like trees. Hate trees."

"C'mon, this is someone's private property—we can't afford to pay for it! I'll get you some more sandwich cookies when we leave, okay?"

"Mmm, alright."

While they bickered, the Firethorn Tree's leaves brushed up against Du Yu's face, each like a tiny hand gently stroking his cheeks.

Every inch of skin was caressed, as if recording Du Yu's features.

When Yang Qingqing finally came downstairs bare-faced, she couldn't help but chuckle.

The spot where Du Yu was standing was now buried completely by leaves—from outside, he looked just like a cocoon.

"Alright, that's enough." Yang Qingqing casually spoke, and the Firethorn Tree—sensitive to its owner—began to unwrap and withdraw its branches, bit by bit.

With a practiced grab, Yang Qingqing reached into the leafy depths and plucked two fiery red fruits.

"Hah..." Du Yu drew in a deep breath, finally released and able to see the teacher in front of him.

"It's memorized what you look like—you two are friends now. Consider this its welcome gift to you." Yang Qingqing tossed the two Firethorn Fruits to Du Yu as she spoke.

Du Yu hurried to catch them, barely containing his excitement!

A single Firethorn Fruit could make so many sandwich cookies, and Teacher Qingqing just gave me two whole raw ones?

Yet the fruits were about ping-pong ball size—kind of hard to swallow raw.

Just imagining biting into the fruit and gulping it down already had Du Yu's stomach acting up…

"You're clear on the yearly trial objectives, right?" Yang Qingqing asked, gesturing casually.

"Yes." Du Yu wasn't sure what the teacher meant, but suddenly saw all the green leaves crawling up the walls start to bubble with excitement!

Clumps of foliage surged forward, arranging themselves into a leafy square table right in front of Du Yu.

"Sit." Yang Qingqing took a seat on a leaf-woven chair. "During this year's trial period, as long as you achieve any one objective, you'll officially qualify. Do you have any questions about these tasks?"

Du Yu glanced behind him and spotted a leafy chair as well. He carefully sat down.

The phone issued to students didn't just have the Demon Pet Atlas—it also listed the trial period's targets.

There were six in all:

1. Advance one demon pet to the Peak of Earth Level.

2. Advance the student to Demon Tamer·Peak Stage.

3. Obtain a low-level or higher Breeder qualification certificate.

4. Complete 100 copper-level task bounties.

5. Acquire at least one Demon Spirit Library Ring.

6. Make major contributions to the Demon Spirit cause, including but not limited to: discovering new demon beast species, demon spirit fruits, developing new demon skills, etc. Final interpretation and authority reserved by the Demon Spirit Academy.

Du Yu spoke with confidence, trying to show his best side in front of the teacher: "I should be able to manage both the first and second goals."

"Confidence is good." Yang Qingqing tapped the leaf table lightly, aware that Du Yu was a bit special. After all, according to Gong Cheng's reports, Du Yu had already reached Demon Tamer Prentice·Minor Success.

As Yang Qingqing drummed her fingers, the branches and leaves delivered a longbow onto the table.

The leafy tide receded, revealing the bow's true form.

Despite being wooden, it was completely silver, yet in a dull, matte way.

"This is your custom Demon Soldier. You'll use it for about half a year—the teacher has sealed a unique Demon Arrow Array inside."

The leaves on the table rippled, pushing the wooden bow toward Du Yu.

Du Yu reached out and touched the longbow gently. "Demon Arrow Array?"

Yang Qingqing tapped the grip, where a slightly recessed flame crest was engraved. "Activate the Demon Arrow Array and you'll gain a new attack mode."

Du Yu glanced at the flame mark with curiosity and quickly asked, "What kind of attack mode?"

"You can try it." Yang Qingqing shifted slightly, while a dozen meters away, a heap of leaves assembled themselves into a leafy wall.

Du Yu picked up the dark silver longbow and immediately stood up.

His hand gripping the bow felt the odd material of the Silver Bow—a dry, scratchy texture, very unique.

Yang Qingqing: "Channel the Fire Demon Breath in your body until you light up the Demon Arrow Array."

"Yes." Du Yu instantly drew the bow and nocked an arrow.

Whoosh~

As his fingers pinched the bowstring, a Fire Arrow's fletching quietly formed and burst into flame. From tail to tip, a Fire Arrow assembled almost instantly.

Yang Qingqing couldn't help but raise an eyebrow.

She had already noticed those bright eyes. But when Du Yu actually drew and nocked his arrow, entering battle mode, his whole aura shifted again.

Those burning eyes… were surprisingly beautiful.

While Yang Qingqing admired him in secret, Du Yu focused on channeling his Fire Demon Breath.

With a Demon Soldier guiding him, there was no need for any fancy control—just keep stuffing Fire Demon Breath into the bow.

Whoosh~

In the next moment, the flame-shaped mark embedded in the grip between Du Yu's fingers suddenly lit up!

And then, the scarlet Fire Arrow was wrapped in a dark silvery sheen?

Beautiful!

Stunningly beautiful!

But Du Yu started worrying. To shoot an arrow like this, the consumption of Demon Breath was actually more than three times that of a normal Fire Arrow!

"Swish!"

With a flick of his fingers, Du Yu sent a dark silver Fire Arrow speeding into the leafy wall, driving deep into the layers of leaves.

Whoosh~

Du Yu's eyes lit up!

He watched as the silver flames automatically spread across the leaf wall, slowly creeping outward, conquering everything, as if trying to consume every inch of leafy territory…

Yang Qingqing rested her chin in her hand, not turning back, simply watching the strange reflected light through Du Yu's eyes:

"Demon Soldier, Silver Fire."

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