In the afternoon, Du Yu rode an express bus and arrived at the Demon Spirit Realm in the south suburb of Ancient Pine Tower City.

When he first got here, Du Yu thought he'd entered a forest park. Even though there weren't many people around, all sorts of buildings were here in full force.

Demon Pet Center, Demon Pet Hospital, Demon Pet Store... there was even a Demon Pet Beauty Salon? The dazzling variety of shops made Du Yu linger and admire them for a good while.

Eventually, Du Yu spotted a standalone wooden cabin-style building all the way to the right.

Demon Spirit Bookstore!

This was an official, nationwide chain under Great Xia—a workplace for many Demon Tamers hoping to make a living.

Du Yu walked over and saw, just below the signboard, a line of tiny characters: Ancient Pine Tower South Suburb Branch.

With two bows strapped to his back, Du Yu pushed open the door and entered; the bell on the door chimed, and the guy behind the counter stood up.

Even though Sixth Brother Du was cloaked, hood pulled low, carrying two bows, the counter guy didn't bat an eye—he just smiled and nodded, "Demon Spirit Student?"

Du Yu took out his ID and handed it over.

"Oh, an unofficial student. Here's hoping you make it official soon." The clerk handed the ID back, grinning from ear to ear. "Anything I can help you with?"

Du Yu took off his hood and curiously sized up the bookstore interior. Two floors; he couldn't see all of the second floor, just a few shelves.

The first-floor hall felt more like a café—super chill environment. A few Demon Tamers were lounging, feeding their demon pets.

"First time here?" The clerk spotted Du Yu's fascinated expression and chimed in, "Want me to give you an intro?"

"Sure."

The clerk said, "Upstairs is the reading room, computers and all, all free to use for reference. Down here's the lounge, with simple meals for Demon Tamers and Demon Pets.

The Demon Spirit Bookstore's main job is to hand out tasks. The points you earn from tasks work at the Demon Pet Hospital, Demon Pet Store, you name it."

The clerk sidestepped and pointed to a little blackboard on the wall: "All today's bounty tasks are up there. Take as many as you want, but watch the deadlines—if you hand a task in late, you'll lose points instead.

The names and phone numbers on the side board are people looking for teams. See, most of them are here for the sixth task."

Du Yu glanced at the "Social Board" and then looked over at the task board.

There were 6 tasks—4 copper-level, 2 silver-level.

Honestly, just calling it a "Copper-level Task" would do, but the board insists on writing "Heroic Bronze" like everyone's really out here being superheroes…

"This is a newbie Demon Spirit Bookstore. Only three types of tasks: collection, intel, and combat. Check out the details."

One: Collect 1 piece of Beard Tree Vine over 3 meters long.

Task Level: Heroic Bronze. Deadline: 10 days. Reward: 1 Point.

Two: Collect 8 Demon Plant Fruits, any type.

Task Level: Heroic Bronze. Deadline: 10 days. Reward: 1 Point.

...

Five: Last night, huge insect cries were heard in Zone 1 of the Demon Spirit Realm. Investigate the source, collect accurate intel, and provide clear video evidence to the Demon Spirit Bookstore.

Task Level: Unyielding Silver. Deadline: 7 days. Reward: 5 Points.

Six: In Zone 4 of the Demon Spirit Realm, a Double-leaf Grass Snake corrupted by Cold Qi has appeared—vicious and violent. Estimated power: Peak of Mortal Level.

Kill the Double-leaf Grass Snake, collect its Cold Qi-polluted Demon Crystal, and turn it in to the Demon Spirit Bookstore.

Task Level: Unyielding Silver. Deadline: 10 days. Reward: 10 Points.

Du Yu asked curiously, "Let's say I don't take a certain task, but while I'm out training, I just happen to complete it. Can I come back and hand it in directly?"

The clerk nodded right away, "Of course—as long as that task's still posted on today's board."

Du Yu nodded hard, "If it's not up that day, I'll just camp out here and sleep till it comes around again!"

The clerk just laughed: "Trying to spam tasks, eh? Each task can only be completed once a day, you know. Also, what if the next day it's still not the task you want to hand in?"

Du Yu: "Then… then I'll just keep sleeping here 'til it shows up?"

The clerk: "..."

Du Yu blinked, "I'll pick 100 Beard Tree Vines all at once! Then sleep here for a year, surely I'll get 100 Beard Tree tasks popping up, right?"

The clerk let out a long sigh, trying to be gentle: "First, you probably can't carry 100 Beard Tree Vines at once. Second, my young friend, your time is actually worth a lot."

Du Yu waved his hand, "Ehh~ what's that supposed to mean! Oh, right, how much can I get for 1 Point?"

Clerk: "1 Point gets you 50 Yuan."

Rip-off! 50 Yuan for all that legwork?

Plus you're risking your butt, might be running around in the Demon Spirit Realm for days, and in the end you have to surrender what you collected!

Honestly, I'd make more money just doing food delivery in my official gear with Xiaoyan tagging along.

Besides, maybe I'd get some nice tips from lady customers…

The clerk saw Du Yu's annoyed face and chuckled, "You trade your point for 50 yuan? Out there, you'll get one premium boxed lunch. But if you use 1 point to purchase here…"

Du Yu blinked, "What can I buy that's tasty?"

The clerk held up two fingers, "Two boxed lunches!"

Du Yu:"..."

At this point, Du Yu almost wanted to break into song: "Thank you, because of you, the world is so much more beautiful!"

After thinking a bit, Du Yu ended up picking five tasks, skipping the last one—he wasn't about to take on a Peak Mortal Level beast just yet.

There's still a small tier gap in the way. With how rich the Demon Breath is here in the Demon Spirit Realm, he'd have time to grow.

"Here's a map of the Demon Spirit Realm. Since you're a newbie, you get one free bottle of Healing Potion."

The clerk handed him the goods: "Just apply it on your wounds—it'll ease elemental damage caused by any sort of Demon Breath. Works on both Demon Tamer and Demon Pet."

"Over there are free lockers; sort your gear if you want. You're taking all four collection tasks, so you'll need the backpack space."

Du Yu weighed the palm-sized red potion, thanked him, and went off to the lockers.

While packing, Du Yu casually asked, "By the way, how do you get one of those Library Rings?"

Getting a Demon Spirit Bookstore's ring would let an unofficial student make the jump to official, but for 99.99% of unofficials, that's just something on the board for show.

Every Bookstore's ring is super hard to earn.

The Library Ring isn't just a badge of honor.

If Du Yu actually got one, he could enjoy store discounts everywhere in this Demon Spirit Realm neighborhood—sometimes even freebies, like regular human food!

If he really got that ring, he'd never have to stress about food again in his life.

As for the ring's origins…

Not every bounty gets solved perfectly.

For any task that's been up for 3 years without completion, if you really nail it, after a serious review by the Bookstore, they might grant you the ring as a reward.

The clerk smiled—he'd seen tons of newbie Demon Tamers and was used to their wild ambitions.

He pointed toward the shop entrance: "There it is, hanging up."

Du Yu looked over. Above the door hung a little blackboard, with a task written on it: "In Zone 5 of the Demon Spirit Realm, there are two Twin Ancient Trees that flower in summer and bear fruit in autumn.

Task objective: Pick a whole Twin Tree Flower or a whole Twin Tree Fruit.

Task level: Glory Gold. Reward: Demon Spirit Bookstore—Ancient Pine Tower South Suburb Branch Ring."

When Du Yu asked about it, the whole (scattered) handful of students in the quiet shop looked over at the board above the door.

The clerk got a bit nostalgic, "I've worked here for 7 years. When I started, this task was already up—and it's never been erased.

At a table, a girl holding a Wolf Lake Dog asked, "With all the experts in Great Xia, no one can get a Twin Tree Flower or Fruit?"

Clerk: "This Demon Spirit Realm only allows Demon Tamer Prentices to enter. Higher-level Demon Tamers can't get in.

Also, there are soldiers guarding the Twin Ancient Trees, so your power level, how you get the flower or fruit—people see everything. No cheating."

The girl nodded, gazing longing at the task on the board.

The clerk grinned at Du Yu, teasing, "No rush for this one. No matter when you come, that task will still be waiting."

Du Yu nodded, "Guess I'll never finish it, then."

The clerk consoled him, "Don't feel bad. It's pretty much impossible—regular folks just can't do it."

Du Yu shook his head, "No, I mean I'm leveling up so fast, I might become a Demon Tamer Journeyman in a few days and get locked out of here."

Clerk: ???

He looked at Du Yu, sighing, "That task's up there for a reason. Frankly, even if you're a Demon Tamer Journeyman, you still wouldn't be able to do it.

Didn't you see that it's a Glory Gold level task?

The Bookstore's difficulty ratings are legit—you'd need to be a Third Level Demon Tamer just to have a shot."

Du Yu didn't say more. After stowing his stuff and traveling light, he waved farewell to the clerk.

"Du Yu, Du Yu~" As soon as he stepped out, Little Fen Yang's voice piped up in his head.

"Hm?"

Little Fen Yang sounded super excited: "Are we going to strip bark off trees now?"

Du Yu: "..."

My little loli's fate is definitely tied to tree trunks in this life!

He thought it over, then warned, "Be careful in the Demon Spirit Realm—there are soldiers patrolling, so you have to keep hidden."

Little Fen Yang sounded a bit indignant: "Mmm… fine…"

Du Yu made a beeline for the entrance, backpack a lot lighter, bringing only Demon Soldier Silver Fire.

Technically, the Demon Soldier Black Wood could be reclaimed—still 20-odd days left on the lease.

Though Du Yu was strapped for cash, he had no intention to sell it; the Black Wood Bow was the MVP that helped him become an outstanding student, after all.

Once he's earning more and has a place of his own, he plans to hang this Merit Demon Soldier on the wall as a keepsake.

With his unofficial student card in hand, Du Yu passed through the gate easily, inhaling the fresh scent of grass and wood, looking a bit intoxicated.

Little Fen Yang suddenly said, "So many trees."

Somehow, Du Yu had the sense that without his supervision, Little Fen Yang would probably strip every tree in this whole forest bare!

As for why she wasn't interested in the trees back during the assessment—very likely because those were just regular trees?

With that thought, Du Yu took out his phone, turning into a tourist snapping photos everywhere.

"Beard Tree. Earth and Wood dual-element Demonic Plant.

The naturally hanging branches are called 'beards.' Basic demonic plant material, widely used.

Assessing power level…

Mortal Level: Initial Stage to Minor Achievement Stage. Actual power will vary—Encyclopedia measurement for reference only."

Du Yu's jaw dropped—these trees were stripped clean, not even a branch left, just a bare hunk of log standing there. Where are the beards supposed to be?

Wow~ My Demon Tamer Prentice friends really go hard! Look at what they've done…

Poor Beard Tree, couldn't you have grown somewhere else? Why right at the front gate?

Du Yu walked up and gave the Beard Tree a sympathetic pat, then casually peeled off a little strip of bark.

Little Fen Yang cried out in delight, "Mmm~ so happy! Du Yu is the best!"

Du Yu: "..."

If you find any errors ( broken links, non-standard content, etc.. ), Please let us know < report chapter > so we can fix it as soon as possible.