Chapter 1358 - 863: Eight Hundred Chi Bears

"Ssss..."

Within the Bamboo Grove’s Red Bamboo Courtyard, a spatial rift slowly opened.

From it, two figures walked out.

Du Yu inhaled the crisp scent of grass and wood, gazing at the exquisite bamboo house ahead, and sighed softly in his heart.

After more than half a year, he was back here again.

I wonder how Hongye has been?

Once Du Yu confirmed that Master Qing was by his side, he focused his mind and closed the spatial rift.

"Ying!" At the moment the rift vanished, a soft whimper sounded behind Du Yu.

"Hmm?" Du Yu turned around to see a furry figure in black and white, quickly running in from outside the courtyard.

She wore a conical hat woven from Red Bamboo Leaves, and her jet-black eyes were filled with surprise.

Hongye?

"Ying~" Hongye’s round, chubby body waddled in with a whimsical gait.

"Whoa!" Du Yu uttered softly, embracing the large stuffed animal that leapt toward him.

Under the enormous impact, Du Yu staggered back several steps, barely regaining his footing.

Hongye had purposely removed her Demon Breath Battle Robe, and her soft body didn’t hurt Du Yu too much.

Through their Demon Souls, Du Yu sensed just one emotion—longing.

Such emotion made Du Yu feel deeply guilty.

Carefully calculating, it’s been seven months since they last parted.

"Master."

"Hmm?"

"I missed you."

Du Yu: "..."

Hongye hugged Du Yu, her face buried in his neck, nuzzling intimately from side to side: "Missed you so much."

Du Yu was silent for a moment and then said, "Why didn’t you call me?"

Hongye whispered, "I was...afraid of disturbing you."

All along, Hongye had been the mature and steady one, rarely exposing too much emotion.

At least in her behavior and actions, she had always been reserved.

But today...

Perhaps she truly missed him.

"I’m sorry." Du Yu softly apologized, rubbing the fur of the Chi Bear.

"Ying~" Hongye turned to look at Master Qing nearby, squinting with a smile.

Yang Qingqing also showed a slight smile and nodded gently.

"I’ve advanced to the Peak of Demon Emperor." Hongye straightened, her bear claws holding Du Yu’s shoulders, looking down at the young man before her.

"Peak of Demon Emperor?" Du Yu’s face lit up with joy, "When did this happen? Weren’t you at the Minor Achievement Stage...oh, right."

At their last meeting, Hongye was indeed at the Minor Achievement Stage of the Demon Emperor.

But at that time, she was about to advance to the Great Success Stage.

So...during this period apart, I’ve missed both of Hongye’s breakthrough moments?

"I advanced a week ago." Hongye lowered her head and rubbed foreheads with Du Yu, "I broke through in the Five Bamboo Array, and it took several days."

I always thought you would come.

In the end, this sentence never became words imprinted in Du Yu’s mind.

Which means, Hongye hadn’t communicated this sentiment to Du Yu.

But in the merging of their Demon Souls, Du Yu sensed Hongye’s thoughts.

Du Yu opened his mouth: "I..."

Damn, I really am terrible!!!

"Ying." Hongye quickly released Du Yu, her bear paws dropped, looking as if she had done something wrong.

"Du Yu." Nearby, a cold voice called out.

Alerted by Master Qing’s reminder, Du Yu snapped back to reality.

He temporarily set aside his thoughts and looked up at Hongye: "I’ve heard that you all in Bamboo Grove are engaged in live combat exercises?"

"Ying." Hongye nodded.

"What’s going on?" Du Yu frowned, asking, "Did Elder Yinsuo see something again?"

Hongye’s voice was gentle: "Elder Yinsuo specifically sent me to invite the master and Master Qing to the Thunder Pool for a talk."

"Let’s go." Du Yu nodded immediately.

Hongye quickly went down on all fours, transforming into a mount.

Du Yu had been thinking of summoning Bai Yujing but seeing this, he smoothly mounted the Chi Bear.

Yang Qingqing also adapted to the local custom and summoned the Forbidden City.

Poor Master Qing, now unable to even fly.

The Sorrow Seabird and White Jade Dragon could help her fly, yet both these Demon Saints were not by her side.

The dignified Emperor Qing has fallen to such a pitiful state...

Hongye and the Forbidden carried their respective masters, galloping out of the Red Bamboo Courtyard, heading straight for the Thunder Pool Cave.

It’s worth mentioning that once Du Yu left the Fire Bamboo Tribe area, he immediately saw the stationed soldiers.

Facing the hopeful gaze of the leading soldier, Du Yu merely nodded to him without saying anything.

Hongye and the Forbidden crossed mountains and rivers, soon bursting into a Purple Bamboo Forest.

In front of the Thunder Pool Cave, Du Yu saw four familiar figures again.

Unexpectedly, the four Thunder Bamboo Chi Bear guards did not offer any resistance, allowing Hongye to pass as well.

"Let’s go." Du Yu clamped his legs around the Chi Bear beneath him, "If they don’t stop us, we’ll go in."

"Ying!" Hongye answered loudly, experiencing her first entry into the Thunder Pool Cave.

The Forbidden wasn’t here for the first time; after being chosen by Yang Qingqing, the young Forbidden City was sent here to soak in the Thunder Pool and improve her foundation.

"Sizzle~sizzle!"

With several twists and turns, the crackling of lightning grew increasingly deafening.

Du Yu shielded his face with his hand as he followed Hongye into the central cave, where the dazzling arcs of electricity nearly blinded him.

Yang Qingqing squinted slightly, in the blinding Thunder Pool, spotting a pair of furry ears.

Yinsuo!

Honestly, this scenery is somewhat contradictory.

In such a dangerous Thunder Pool, if fierce beasts like dragons or pythons were to emerge, it would be understandable.

But out of the pool emerges a cute and innocent Chi Bear...

The whole scene falls apart~

"Long time no see, Elder Yinsuo." Du Yu raised his hand to shield his face and shouted loudly.

"Woo~~~" Yinsuo let out a low, deep bear roar.

Immediately, a huge Demon Soul descended, enveloping Qing and Yu, along with the red and purple bears.

"Master Qing, Du Yu."

Yang Qingqing felt a stir in her heart: "Has Elder Yinsuo Become a Saint?"

From within the Thunder Pool, Yinsuo emerged halfway, clasped his hands together, and respectfully bowed to the two.

The scene left Du Yu a bit befuddled.

This divine stick’s demeanor has always been quite imposing, rarely seen in such humbleness and respect.

Elder Yinsuo: "Over the years, you two have helped Bamboo Grove several times, finally leading my Chi Bear race out of the mire, reviving vitality.

This great gratitude is something my Chi Bear race will always remember."

Upon hearing this, a sense of foreboding arose in Du Yu’s heart!

Such words being said...

Yang Qingqing slightly furrowed her eyebrows, and instead of responding, she asked, "Why has Elder Yinsuo organized the clans for practical drills?"

Yinsuo: "Following heavenly guidance, keeping pace with ancestral footsteps, fulfilling duties, and doing one’s best."

Du Yu and Yang Qingqing exchanged glances.

Words like this might sound confusing to others, but for the master and her disciple, Yinsuo had made it very clear.

The "ancestor" Yinsuo referred to was most likely Supreme Chi Ancestor.

The actions of Chi Ancestor have always been in support of Du Yu and others in logging, aiding the Human Race in resisting Youhan’s invasion.

In other words, at this moment, Elder Yinsuo represented the entire tribe, officially expressing:

Our Chi Bear race, joins the battle!

Yang Qingqing and Du Yu, as members of the Human Race, obviously felt grateful.

But Yinsuo’s statement also revealed a serious issue: the war is coming!

"The war is coming?" Du Yu asked solemnly.

Yinsuo did not respond.

"Why can’t you say it?" Du Yu snorted, "You’ve already made it clear, the implication is obvious."

"May all beings awaken." Yinsuo responded indirectly, "I hope the movement of my race can serve as a wake-up call for the world."

Only then did Du Yu realize what the Chi Bear race’s purpose really was!

Compared to practical drills and the improvement of combat skills, the actions of the Chi Bears carried a heavier warning?

Yinsuo changed the topic: "My race has a request, hoping Master Qing and Du Yu can agree."

Yang Qingqing: "Elder Yin, please speak."

Yinsuo: "Our tribe has selected 800 warriors, hoping to settle in the Mountain Realm."

"Ah?" Du Yu was shocked.

Eight hundred Chi Bears?

Settle in the Mountain Realm?

The entire Chi Bear race numbers around 2000.

Of course, this "2000" refers to the Chi Bears that have joined various bamboo tribes.

Those that wander outside major tribes, spending days looking at the sky, eating, and sleeping, are not counted.

And selecting 800 from the 2000, wouldn’t they be the cream of the crop?

Yang Qingqing: "You want to follow Du Yu?"

Yinsuo responded: "One practical drill within Bamboo Grove is enough. Our side’s 800 members have high combat power and need a broader world to flex their muscles.

I see in Du Yu’s Mountain Realm, giant elephants roam freely, lion and lynx roar, sheep and deer guard the mountain ridges, and ghost demons lurk in the woods.

This Demon Beast Legion can train together with our side, and in the future, can be a reliable ally for the Chi Bear race."

Du Yu stared at the old divine stick, Holy crap...

Did you put a camera on me?

Do you have any shame?

Yang Qingqing suddenly spoke: "Moreover, within the Mountain Realm, your Chi Bear race can more easily participate in battles, avoiding long treks in the future."

Yinsuo fell silent, not responding.

With ill humor, Du Yu said: "What about the remaining Chi Bears, just 800 of them?

You’ve taken away powerful members, who will protect the remaining Chi Bears? Who will guard Bamboo Grove?"

Yinsuo calmly stated: "Bamboo Grove has never been a specific place, not in this Jinguan City.

Where Tai Sui Bamboo grows, the Chi Bears exist. Where the Chi Bears are, that’s Bamboo Grove."

Du Yu: "..."

Yang Qingqing also raised her eyebrows slightly; she never expected to hear such a statement.

Yinsuo continued: "Chi Ancestor has already promised us that the remaining clan members will be accepted into You Huang Realm·Cold Bamboo Garden."

Du Yu’s heart was surprised, to such an extent?

Moving the whole tribe?

He obviously knew what Yinsuo was doing!

Back in the day, it was by hiding in the Spiritual Artifact World that Chi Ancestor avoided the calamity of Ashen Continent.

Over a span of more than a hundred years, Chi Ancestor led the tribe to survive stably, preserving the fire of the Chi Bear race.

At this moment, Yinsuo was undoubtedly following in Chi Ancestor’s footsteps, also requesting the clan to settle in the Spiritual Artifact World!

Whether Yinsuo’s choice was right or wrong, just this decision alone already says a lot.

Du Yu felt as if he foresaw the scale future wars might reach!

"Man is the architect of his own fate." Yinsuo suddenly transmitted thoughts.

"Hmm?" Du Yu looked up, gazing through the thick Demon Soul towards Yinsuo in the pool.

Yinsuo clasped his hands: "As a clan elder, I must consider the clan, making all preparations; Du Yu need not worry excessively.

Du Yu is the only variable in the world.

The outcome is uncertain, man is the architect of his own fate!"

Du Yu gazed at the divine stick in the pool, speaking solemnly: "Guess if I believe you or not."

Yinsuo looked back at Du Yu, equally solemnly said: "You must believe."