In a daze, Du Yu was carried by Fu Jianzhou all the way into an empty military tent.

Du Yu didn't struggle, because he was busy observing the world inside his body.

The wisp of breath that Little Fen Yang called "Spiritual Qi" was now but a tiny trace, shivering amid the vast ocean of Demon Breath.

And the Demon Breath that permeated all through Du Yu's body seemed to want to nuzzle up close to the Spiritual Qi, getting all affectionate.

The Black Gold Rune Bird conjured by Little Fen Yang stood firmly by the Spiritual Qi, not letting any Demon Breath come near.

To Du Yu, this scene was like watching a movie.

Demon Breath: "Hey little bro, you're here?"

Spiritual Qi: "..."

Demon Breath: "Come here, come here, let me pamper you a bit."

Spiritual Qi: "No, no, please no."

Little Fen Yang: "Back off~ All of you back off!"

Du Yu's expression grew more and more bizarre; he just thought all this was incredible.

Fu Jianzhou placed Du Yu on a camp bed, knelt half beside the bed, and looked anxiously at Junior Brother Du's ever-changing expression: "Junior Brother, what's wrong? Are you hurt or…"

"Jianzhou."

Fu Jianzhou quickly turned his head: "Master Qing."

Yang Qingqing: "Step out."

Fu Jianzhou hesitated a bit, but ultimately obeyed his master's order; he glanced one more time at Du Yu, then stood up: "Yes."

As Fu Jianzhou left, Battalion Commander Liu posted a few soldiers to guard the tent, then lifted the curtain and walked in.

Yang Qingqing looked at Du Yu shivering on the bed, and said: "Hold onto that wisp of breath inside you—try to control the Demon Breath within you, keep it away from the Qi."

Du Yu mumbled in confusion, "Huh?"

Yang Qingqing sounded a little helpless, and her tone was somewhat pessimistic: "Just try. After all, you're still a Demon Tamer Prentice, your control over Demon Breath isn't strong enough. Spiritual Qi can easily be snuffed out by Demon Breath."

Du Yu: "Spiritual Qi?"

Liu Camp's face was stern, and he barked: "Do as she says first; we'll talk about the rest later! Direct the Demon Breath away from the Spiritual Qi, and protect it before it settles down on its own!"

"Okay." Du Yu closed his eyes, draped his arm over his face, and communicated with Little Fen Yang in his mind, "So, Little Fen Yang, should I drive the Fire Demon Breath toward the Qi Sea Acupoint first?"

Little Fen Yang's playful voice rang out: "I already took care of it for you."

Du Yu: "..."

Little Fen Yang: "Didn't listen to them. I took the Spiritual Qi into the Spirit Ruins Acupoint on the left side of your chest. Don't worry, most of your Demon Breath is along the acupoint line from your forehead to your Qi Sea, but Spirit Ruins Acupoint is on another line—super safe."

Du Yu felt a surge of joy in his heart: "Great!"

Little Fen Yang muttered, "It's way too safe, actually. Du Yu, you're so weak~ You haven't opened either of the Spirit Ruins Acupoints, not a single hint of Demon Breath."

Du Yu felt extremely frustrated, bordering on despair: "What exactly is Spiritual Qi?"

Little Fen Yang giggled: "Hehe~ Just listen to Teacher Qingqing's explanation first, and if she's wrong I'll correct her."

Du Yu was completely defeated.

Fine, you're my little ancestor, whatever you say goes!

After a while, Du Yu felt he'd stabilized himself. He lowered his arm and opened his eyes to look at the two adults.

Yang Qingqing gauged Du Yu's expression and asked, "How's it going?"

Du Yu hesitated for a moment before saying, "The Spiritual Qi ran in here by itself."

As he spoke, Du Yu pointed to the left side of his chest, where he could sense a subtle difference.

"Good!" Yang Qingqing's eyes brightened; she hadn't expected things to go this smoothly.

Liu Camp was first delighted, but then, as if realizing something, his face grew heavy.

Du Yu pushed himself up on the camp bed, making an effort to rise, but Yang Qingqing pressed his hand down: "Just sit."

He hesitated, but acquiesced, propping his elbows on his knees. He took a deep breath: "Master Qing, what is Spiritual Qi?"

Yang Qingqing turned to look at Liu Camp and said, "I'll take him back and explain in private."

Liu Camp nodded. "All right. We have all the full video records from his tower climb. If you need anything, I'll contact you."

"Mm." Yang Qingqing's fingers, which hung naturally at her side, flexed slightly. Waves of green Wood Demon Breath spilled out, weaving supple Flower Vines that reached out to Du Yu.

Du Yu didn't dare move a muscle. He let himself be twined up, hovered mid-air, and floated out of the tent after Master Qing.

This scene, naturally, drew everyone's attention.

If Master Qing didn't carry such an elegant aura—floating like a celestial immortal—people might just take her for a bandit...

Yang Qingqing nodded at Fu Jianzhou, and Senior Brother Fu immediately took the hint and hurried off to start the car.

This time, Du Yu didn't get to ride shotgun. Instead, bound up in Flower Vines, he followed Yang Qingqing into the back seat.

As the Flower Vine loosened, Du Yu turned to look out the rear window at the distant receding camp and the Shadow Gu Tower vanishing into the forest, feeling full of emotion.

Everything that happened today really felt like a dream...

He felt like he'd spent ages in the Shadow Gu Tower, yet now, it was still morning—he hadn't even gotten to lunch.

Suddenly, a shadow flickered in front of his face.

Du Yu turned to look and saw a slender Flower Stem flick his hat brim off, taking off his hood.

"You've had a tough day."

Even though her tone never changed and was as cool and crisp as ever, it still gave a sense of gentle warmth.

The flower leaf brushed aside Du Yu's damp hair from his forehead, then leaned in and lightly tapped the left side of Du Yu's chest. "Still there?"

Du Yu nodded quickly. "Yes, perfectly safe."

Only then did Yang Qingqing nod: "Get some sleep. I'll wake you when we're home."

Du Yu stared blankly at Master Qing's profile. She... was so gentle.

For everyone, life always has such older women—maybe a grandmother, maybe an aunt—but for Du Yu, experiences like this were almost nonexistent...

The last gentle woman he'd met was Teacher Li Hong after the college entrance exam.

As for before the exam, the head teacher's authority? Was that just for play?

Du Yu had every reason to believe: if he said he wanted to repeat a year, Head Teacher Li Hong would instantly change her face and slap three sets of mock tests right on it...

"Stared enough?"

"Ah." Du Yu hurriedly turned his face to the window.

She suddenly reached over and covered Du Yu's eyes as he pretended to look at the passing scenery, as if to let a dead man rest, gently closed his eyelids.

Du Yu: "..."

This teacher sure is strict! If she says sleep, I have to sleep?

I just conquered the Shadow Gu Tower and my excitement hasn't even worn off yet...

"Vmmm!"

Suddenly, Du Yu's body jolted, and a surge of dense Demon Breath flooded out.

Fu Jianzhou glanced up at the rearview mirror, saw Du Yu's rigid face, and called out at once: "Master Qing, he's about to advance!"

Yang Qingqing flattened her palm, and endless Flower Vines burst out, wrapping around Du Yu's body: "Pull over."

"Yes." Fu Jianzhou quickly pulled off to the roadside and, even in that short moment, kept sneaking peeks in the mirror.

Double blessings?

This kid just finished climbing the tower and is advancing already? He must've gone through a lot in there.

Honestly, with Master Qing personally escorting, even if you're a little short, she can force you right up to the next level!

In an instant, Du Yu was wound up by the flexible Flower Vine into a "cocoon."

"Ying~" Through the Contract and mental connection, Xiaoyan was so excited that Du Yu imagined he could hear her cheering.

Riding along with her master to Earth-level Demon Beast stage—let's go!

Starting today, this fox is getting two big tails!

Yang Qingqing opened the car door, Flower Vine in hand, and floated the cocoon-wrapped Du Yu to the roadside, suspending him in the air.

And then, the green leaves on the Flower Vine were suddenly dyed a blazing red as if set ablaze—breathtaking!

"Du Yu! Du Yu!" In his mind came Little Fen Yang's rather serious voice.

Du Yu was still expanding his meridians, feeling Master Qing's rich Fire Demon Breath pouring into his body, powering his cultivation.

Hearing Little Fen Yang's urgent shout, Du Yu jumped—"What is it?"

Little Fen Yang: "Ghost Firefly! You can't let Ghost Firefly advance. Summon it out, don't let it feed off your body's nourishment."

Du Yu: "Why?"

Little Fen Yang: "That affects its next evolution! It mustn't advance now… Eh? Looks like it isn't trying to advance."

Du Yu: "..."

Little Fen Yang: "Tsk—just as weak as Du Yu. Xiaoyan is still the best!"

Du Yu suddenly felt a pain in his liver—so annoying!

You're squished in the same bed with Xiaoyan every day, of course she levels up fast!

By the roadside, Fu Jianzhou leaned an elbow on the roof as he watched the stunning Master Qing and the cocoon of layered flower leaves: "Master Qing, Junior Brother Du is advancing to Demon Tamer Journeyman, right? As far as I know, the Journeyman stage in Shadow Gu Tower hasn't been cracked yet."

On hearing this, a faint smile played about Yang Qingqing's face as she cast an indifferent glance at Fu Jianzhou.

Enter the Shadow Gu Tower as a Demon Tamer Journeyman—Initial Stage?

You'd die before you knew what killed you. That's just nonsense.

Meanwhile, inside the many-layered cocoon, Du Yu's muffled voice sounded: "How about we turn the car around and try now?"

Yang Qingqing's hand clenched into a fist, and the previously egg-shaped cocoon suddenly tightened into a humanoid form: "Focus on advancing."

"Mmm-mmm mmm!"

Yang Qingqing slackened her grip a little, the cocoon rapidly swelled back to an egg, and Du Yu's heavy breaths echoed from within.

"Heh…" Du Yu had almost suffocated—he really got squeezed just now.

Master Qing is terrifying.

Fu Jianzhou, are you setting me up?

While Du Yu was still grumbling about his Senior Brother in his heart, a sudden swirl of Demon Breath gathered at his forehead.

"Ying~" Xiaoyan ran out all by herself, chirping with glee.

"Why'd you come out? Inside me, you could hitch a ride—oh!" Du Yu hadn't finished when Little Hu Xiaoyan, held in his palms, her petite body began to glow with encircling fire.

Du Yu leaned back as much as he could, arms stretched out in front as he examined his beloved pet, full of curiosity.

Layer upon layer of swirling fire, Xiaoyan's body kept expanding, and right on her little bottom, under the tug of fiery streaks, a second big tail grew out?

Is this advancement, or evolution?

No idea why, but suddenly, the Digimon theme song played in Du Yu's mind.

Little Fire Fox Beast evolves… Two-tailed Fire Fox!

"Ying~ ying~" Xiaoyan let out soft, contented yips, holding up her fluffy head. Her palm-sized body grew by a full 10 centimeters, reaching about 30 cm now.

She was still tiny, but what tails she had!

The original 20cm tail also grew to 30cm, and now there were two! Both shaped like rugby balls—pointy ends and a chunky middle.

"Wow." Little Fen Yang clicked her tongue in admiration, clearly loving the evolution scene.

Whoosh~

With a flick, the huge tails swept away the surrounding flames. Even with the fire gone, Xiaoyan herself was still pure flaming red, beautiful as ever.

Her amber-gold fox eyes looked at Du Yu, and long tails waved lightly, showing off her beauty in every move.

Faintly, Du Yu understood what Xiaoyan's eyes were telling him. He nodded and softly praised, "Beautiful, so, so beautiful."

Xiaoyan lifted her head just a bit higher, posing with a proud little flair: "Ying~"

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