"Uh... stop that." Du Yu stepped forward and patted Xiaoqing's head.

He felt a bit weird inside; this kind of action always felt sort of rebellious?

It was all because Xiaoyan's transformed appearance was way too realistic.

Also, luckily, Xiaoqing was only one meter tall. If she were any taller, with that kind of presence, Du Yu might not even dare to touch her head...

"Hehe~" Inside the contract, Xiaoyan's coquettish laugh echoed.

The Xiaoqing in front of him suddenly shattered, turning into wisps of Demon Breath, dispersing before Du Yu.

Du Yu came to Li Mengnan's side, squatted down, and looked at the graceful Fire Fox. "If the Shadow-Luring Fire Fox gets upgraded one more quality, you'll be able to do Position Shift."

"Ying!" Xiaoyan nodded.

"Can you try a bit harder?" Du Yu pinched her ear. "Your output-type Demon Skills all perform better than their quality suggests.

Maybe, supporting-type Demon Skills can, too?"

The Fire Fox Race was known for being nimble and swift, experts at weaving in and out, able to slip into or out of battle at any moment.

The reason Shadow-Luring Fire Fox is called a core Demon Skill is that this skill lets the Fox Race maximize their inherent advantages!

Hearing her master's words full of expectation, Xiaoyan nodded hard.

All along, she was more adept at output-type Demon Skills—like Spark Splash, Fox Tail Flowing Flame, and Continuous Fire Tail.

After all, Xiaoyan's role in Du Yu's team was main damage output.

When it came to supportive Demon Skills, she didn't use them much, so she didn't really have much need for support effects.

"If you could do Position Shift, maybe I could, too?" Du Yu said, lifting Xiaoyan into his arms.

Any Demon Skill, when performed by the Human Race, will be far less effective than if demons do it.

But even if it's less effective, the essence of the skill remains unchanged!

Take for example the Tai Sui Demon Skill· Chi Bear Charge.

Once Little Tai Sui charges, it can dash at least ten meters, with impressive force and speed.

But when Du Yu charges, he can manage at best three meters.

Still, even if Du Yu's dash is short and underwhelming, the Demon Skill·Chi Bear Charge's control effect is there!

Its imprisonment effect might not be as reliable as when Tai Sui uses it.

But if it can disrupt the enemy even a little, that's already enough!

Two months ago, Little Fen Yang made it very clear:

For humans to match Demon Beasts in output or defense Demon Skills, that's pure fantasy.

But in support and control skills, humans can accomplish something.

"Right now, the Shadow-Luring Fire Fox I create can transform into anything, right?" As he said this, Du Yu took off the Demon Soldier Bow from his back and pressed his forehead to Xiaoyan's.

"Pfft."

As Xiaoyan was taken into the Acupoint Home, the Demon Soul Du Yu in the Yutang Acupoint quickly rushed to the Sea of Qi's Yan Residence and pulled Xiaoyan in for a hug.

At the door, the real Du Yu adjusted his breath.

By his hand, Demon Breath surged—a Shadow-Luring Fire Fox quietly appeared.

Du Yu was quick; he snatched up one of the fire fox's big tails.

The Shadow-Luring Fire Fox summoned by Du Yu had a blank stare, like a plush toy?

As Du Yu directed his thoughts, the fox kept changing form, reconstructing itself.

"You..." Li Mengnan widened her eyes in curiosity.

After more than ten seconds, the Shadow-Luring Fire Fox in Du Yu's hand changed into a fire arrow a meter long?

Du Yu's face lit up—he instantly drew the bow and nocked the arrow!

"Give me a target, Fire Phoenix Tree." Du Yu looked at the living room. Lush branches and leaves quickly gathered together, building a tree wall a dozen meters away.

"Whoosh~"

With a flex of Du Yu's fingers, the fire arrow, formed by the fox transformation, shot out immediately, piercing into the cracks between the branches.

Excited, Du Yu looked at Li Mengnan: "If Demon Skill·Shadow-Luring Fire Fox has body shifting ability,

then right now, I should be able to swap myself to where the arrow landed!"

Li Mengnan's mouth hung open slightly. She thought about it for a while and nodded. "Yeah, it should work that way."

As long as a Demon Skill has a certain function, a Demon Tamer can use it!

Like just now—Du Yu used the Shadow-Luring Fire Fox to turn into a fire arrow. It doesn't matter how long it took, or how crude the arrow was.

The fact is, Du Yu did it!

"Haha!" Du Yu summoned Xiaoyan again, scooped her up and gave her fluffy head a big kiss.

"Mua~"

"Ying~" Xiaoyan cooed softly, clearly sensing her master's joy.

"Xiaoyan, keep training! Our goal is to surpass your current quality and master Position Shift!"

"Ying!"

"Du Yu." Li Mengnan spoke up suddenly.

"What's up?" Du Yu was still sunk in joy as he turned to look at her.

Li Mengnan pointed at Du Yu's shoulder. "Tree fruit!"

"Huh?" Du Yu looked back, then remembered, "This is the Demon Fruit Tree Heart. You saw it before in the Ten Thousand Plants Garden."

"Mhm." Li Mengnan nodded repeatedly, studying Little Green Tangerine closely.

The world really is amazing, huh?

"Here." Du Yu handed Xiaoyan to Li Mengnan. "Let Sister Mengnan explain Position Shift to you. I'll be right back."

With that, he tossed aside the Demon Soldier Bow and backpack, cupped Little Green Tangerine in his hands, and headed to the northeast corner of the living room.

"Hmm?" Little Green Tangerine looked around curiously.

Prince Du's Mansion couldn't compare in size to the Ten Thousand Plants Garden.

Because of that, the Fire Phoenix Tree that spread over the living room looked especially massive.

"This is the Fire Phoenix Tree." Du Yu lifted Little Green Tangerine high. "Take a look—can you help it out?"

Little Green Tangerine blinked and floated up on her own. "Hello there."

The Fire Phoenix Tree was also curious. It was the first time it had seen a Demon Fruit Tree Heart, yet it instantly felt a strong sense of intimacy?

For a sentient Demonic Plant, this was a rare occurrence.

The last time it felt this close to a stranger was when it met Yang Qingqing at the plant market.

After much pestering, the woman took it home.

Only then did the Fire Phoenix Tree meet Du Yu and start a new life.

Little Green Tangerine slowly grew a fruit stem, connecting to a Firethorn Branch, and hung herself up. "Are you sick?"

Fire Phoenix Tree: "I'm not sick, I just can't grow anymore; there's no talent or potential left to be tapped."

Little Green Tangerine: "Don't worry, this is easy to fix."

Fire Phoenix Tree: "..."

Hitting a potential cap—is that really an illness?

Little Green Tangerine: "Be patient; the tree heart will always be with you."

The Fire Phoenix Tree was silent for a moment, then replied softly: "Thank you."

Little Green Tangerine: "It's so cramped here; you should be stretching out, not squeezed and misshapen. That's not good for growing.

Why don't you come home with me?"

Fire Phoenix Tree: "..."

"My home's really big—you could grow so tall, no limits at all."

"No, my master has already prepared a spacious place for me to grow." As Fire Phoenix Tree replied, it stretched out a branch and set it gently on Du Yu's shoulder.

Hearing the tree's words, Du Yu was startled.

Unexpected bonus?

Size limitations were also a kind of shackle on the Fire Phoenix Tree's growth?

"Then let's go!" Du Yu decided on the spot. He was going to transplant the Fire Phoenix Tree to the backyard eventually anyway.

The tree's branches quickly retracted and deftly rolled into a ball.

"Mengnan, wanna come play with me in the Sea Realm?" Du Yu looked over at the sofa.

Li Mengnan was leaning back on the Desolate Silver Lynx, holding Xiaoyan in her arms and watching videos on her phone with Prince Yan, looking super cozy.

"Sure!" The girl instantly got excited. "Xiaoyan said you have an Ancient House?"

She'd entered the Sea Realm before, during the Twenty-Ninth Bureau's expedition on the Mountain and Sea Bell, but back then the island was undeveloped and all she saw was Begonia Trees.

"Yeah." Du Yu nodded and grinned. "There are lots of houses. You can pick one and use it as your beach vacation home."

Li Mengnan's beautiful eyes sparkled. "Really?"

Du Yu shrugged. "But you better think it through—if I don't open the door for you, you could get locked inside forever."

He didn't want to spread anxiety; the so-called "vacation home" was really a "refuge."

Du Yu genuinely hoped this Ancient House would always stay a vacation home, a place where Mengnan could get away from city noise and focus on cultivation.

Ideally, she'd never need it for actual refuge.

"Let's go, let's go!" Li Mengnan seemed not to notice his teasing—maybe she just didn't care.

With Xiaoyan in her arms, she got up, all vigorous and energetic as usual. She strode right over the coffee table, leaving Du Yu stunned.

So what if your legs are long?

"Come, Silver Cat!" Li Mengnan, unable to hide her excitement, called for the Desolate Silver Lynx while pulling all her Demon Pets into her body.

Little You Ying suddenly lost its playmates and instantly became unhappy!

Hugging its big torch, the flames grew even stronger, sparks crackling.

"Bang!" The fire suddenly exploded, a stench of rotten eggs filling the living room.

Du Yu's eyes narrowed. The Mountain and Sea Bell appeared instantly, then quickly receded.

Whoosh~

Everyone instantly appeared on rocky beach, and the foul smell was dissipated by the sea breeze.

"Ugh!" Little You Ying pouted miserably.

The boss has cheat codes!

I've been nerfed!

"Where'd all this dirt come from?" Li Mengnan raised her foot—her slippers, decorated with Lightning Cat, were caked in mud.

"I just stole it from the Ten Thousand Plants Garden! It's super high quality!" Du Yu grinned.

Li Mengnan: "..."

Seriously, was that something to be proud of?

"Brother Tree, this is the soil you'll live on—take care of it yourself!" Du Yu leapt a few meters away.

The Fire Phoenix Tree obediently spread its lush branches, rolling up all the soil in waves.

It was only now that Li Mengnan realized they were preparing to plant the Fire Phoenix Tree!

Hmm... maybe a bit criminal, but still pretty thoughtful~

The group crossed the pebbly shore, walked over Begonia Bridge, and headed for the center of the island.

Little Green Tangerine slowly floated next to Du Yu, landing on his head. "So many trees."

"Yep, they're all my Demonic Plants." As he said this, Du Yu felt a bit proud of himself.

A year ago, he was just a guy wandering around, down and out with no home.

He could only sleep rough in the Demon Spirit Realm and rely on the Library Ring for the occasional hotel.

Master Qing's kindness helped him get through tough times, but living in someone else's home wasn't a long-term solution.

But a year later, Du Yu didn't just have a home—he even owned his own Mountain and Sea Realm!

Du Yu figured, it was okay to let it go to his head a little~

Truth is, as a newly minted Lord of Mountains and Seas, Du Yu's ambitions were growing rapidly.

Lord Baojun's earlier suggestion really lit a fire in him—he could bring the Lynx Race into the Mountain Realm.

The Mountain Realm is vast beyond measure. With the Lynx Race, he could add even more groups, demon plants or demon beasts alike!

Ancient Pine Tower has a Ten Thousand Plants Garden,

So could I!

Ancient Pine Tower doesn't have a Ten Thousand Beasts Garden, but I... could have one too!

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