Chapter 1388 - 886: Threading the Brows

"Brother Tian, I have a request, just one..."

In the end, Qi Tian couldn’t finish his sentence.

His eyes lost their luster, pupils gradually dilating, dying in the arms of the Furious Fire Ape.

"Thud" went the Furious Fire Ape, collapsing onto its knees, shouting in grief and anger, but its cries attracted the surrounding Cold Beast Army.

The scene in the memory abruptly ended here.

"The little monkey is so pitiful." A voice echoed in Du Yu’s mind from Little Fen Yang.

"Hmm..." Du Yu responded softly, his heart trembling gently.

Indeed, Du Yu and Qi Tian had only met a few times, collaborating on two to three missions together.

And over the years, Du Yu had traveled far and wide, he should be accustomed to the parting of life and death.

Yet, when he watched from the first-person perspective of the Furious Fire Ape, witnessing his comrade die in "his" arms...

Du Yu felt an overwhelming sadness in his heart.

Little Fen Yang whispered, "Du Yu Du Yu, let’s help it, shall we?"

Du Yu pursed his lips, and in the scene provided by the Furious Fire Ape, although Qi Tian’s words were unfinished, the meaning was fairly clear.

And in the thoughts conveyed by the Furious Fire Ape afterwards, Du Yu pieced together all the information clearly.

This Furious Fire Ape could only be said to have decent talent and potential, but far from being "excellent."

It could cultivate to the Peak of Demon General, and that was roughly its limit.

But the Furious Fire Ape was unwilling!

It yearned for great strength, and all along, the Furious Fire Ape had devotedly cultivated in its master’s acupoint, never slacking even a bit.

The acupoint home of the Human Race is a Supreme Treasure, providing all-round support for Demon Pets, including cultivation, of course.

However, its master also had limited talent.

Qi Tian already provided the Furious Fire Ape with the maximum possible support, yet still couldn’t help it go further.

Qi Tian’s internal guilt stemmed from this.

He had delayed it,

and failed its long-held expectations.

Qi Tian had considered transferring the Furious Fire Ape to other Demon Tamers, but the Furious Fire Ape was stubborn and loyal.

The Furious Fire Ape refused to leave, unwilling to choose another master.

It stubbornly stayed by Qi Tian’s side, wanting to accompany its master to break through the shackles together and achieve emperor status.

Dreams are naturally beautiful,

and persistence imbues dreams with hope and radiance.

Yet reality is not only cruel but also blood-stained.

The Furious Fire Ape couldn’t help its master break through the shackles, nor could it help itself break free from limitation.

The broken-bodied master died just like that in the arms of the Furious Fire Ape.

Even at the brink of death, Qi Tian was thinking about this comrade, hoping it could fulfill its desires and not be left unfulfilled.

At this moment, Du Yu suddenly awoke.

Only now did he understand why in that rainy night, Qi Tian looked at him with that gaze...

Precisely because they met so rarely, Du Yu remembered it very clearly.

The last time these two met must have been the rainy night upon Du Yu’s accidental entry into the Ashen Continent and his subsequent return.

The night Fu Jianzhou contracted the Ancient Spiritual Artifact·Frost Celestial Bead.

The second group member Qi Tian was brought over as reinforcement to help the first group execute a mission.

With the task complete and Du Yu’s return, everyone drove back together to the Twenty-Ninth Bureau.

In the vehicle on the return journey, some Paper Crane Disciples talked about their strength, sharing the joy of promotion, while Qi Tian on the front passenger seat silently smoked.

Feeling somewhat lost, somewhat sad.

As the vehicle entered the Twenty-Ninth Bureau Courtyard, while Du Yu recorded the Void Axe coordinates, he noticed Qi Tian’s gaze.

Du Yu did not react much at the time.

And now, he understood belatedly.

"Du Yu~" Little Fen Yang’s voice was soft and sweet, "Let’s help the little monkey, it’s so pitiful, so sad..."

Little Fen Yang was inherently kind, being a Fire Attribute Venerable who blesses all beings, couldn’t bear seeing a Fire Demonic Beast’s suffering like this.

"Hmm." Du Yu nodded, his fingertips grazing at his brow as he drew a thread of contract.

The Demon General·Peak-stage Furious Fire Ape stood 6 meters tall, it was huge compared to the small human race.

Watching Du Yu’s fingertip in mid-air, the Furious Fire Ape slowly closed its eyes.

To achieve emperor status,

was Qi Tian’s hope for it.

It was also Qi Tian’s lifelong unfulfilled dream.

It didn’t know whether Du Yu could provide help, but Qi Tian had lamented repeatedly and mentioned the Paper Crane Disciples and Du Yu to it more than once.

If it could achieve emperor status, carrying Qi Tian’s legacy, it might comfort its master’s soul watching from above.

But that’s still not enough, far from enough.

Cold Tree, Cold Race, Cold Beast Army...

The Furious Fire Ape clenched its fist, kneeling down on one knee, its fist propped against the ground, its head bowed down.

Until its forehead lightly touched Du Yu’s fingertip, both man and ape shivered.

Thread pulled to the brow, contract confirmed.

"Your name is Furious Fire." Du Yu looked up at the Furious Fire Ape, speaking softly.

The Furious Fire Ape kept its eyes closed, with golden flames leaking from beneath its eyelids.

It spoke not a word, just silently nodded.

Du Yu continued, "From now on, you will be called Qi Tian."

"Huff!"

The Furious Fire Ape’s eyes snapped open, the golden flames in them intensely burning.

Through the golden fire, it looked at its new master while tears of warmth burned.

For the first time, Du Yu heard the Furious Fire Ape’s voice, powerful and full of resolve: "Yes!"

From now on,

my name, Qi Tian!

"Heh..." Zhang Tianxiao lowered his head, covering his blood-stained face with one hand, even his sighing trembled.

A simple name, yet Zhang Tianxiao’s tears couldn’t help but flow, seeping through his fingers.

Professor Hu Yihua had a somber expression, though he seemed stern and unfeeling, his heart felt painful.

Qi Tian was his proudest senior disciple and the first person he brought into the Twenty-Ninth Bureau. Yet now, the white-haired mourns the black-haired.

Everyone understood that, since entering the Twenty-Ninth Bureau and stepping onto the battlefield, they had put aside thoughts of life and death.

But Hu Yihua’s heart was still overwhelmed with guilt.

In the back, Shi Hua slowly closed his eyes. Perhaps this was the best ending for the Furious Fire Ape.

The three surviving members used their idle acupoint homes to receive the remaining Demon Beasts of their two departed comrades.

Only this Furious Fire Ape refuses to form a contract.

It silently shrinks in the corner, gazing mournfully at its deceased master from afar.

"I’ll take care of the remains first, and after the battle, we’ll go to pay our respects together," Du Yu said solemnly.

The Furious Fire Ape nodded heavily, transforming into endless Demon Breath under Du Yu’s command.

Just before its body shattered, the Furious Fire Ape took one last, deep look at Qi Tian.

Golden flames not only burned away the tears but also veiled the emotions in its eyes.

"Whoosh~" The Furious Fire Ape merged into Du Yu’s body, guided by the contract to Du Yu’s back, within the Life Gate Acupoint.

The Furious Fire Ape hovered in the center of the acupoint, gazing around to see nothing but fiery red.

Hot, steaming.

Red like an unrealistic dream...

"Little Monkey." Suddenly, a petite figure emerged.

The Furious Fire Ape looked up, trembling inside as it saw those large, orange-red eyes.

What level of existence is this?

This is, this...

The Furious Fire Ape was utterly shocked, foolishly staring at the Burning Sun Supreme.

Little Fen Yang was also examining the Furious Fire Ape.

It was tall, with long limbs, lush and dense fur, showing a beautiful golden-red hue.

Little Fen Yang flew to the Furious Fire Ape’s shoulder, reached out with a small hand, and patted the ape’s head: "Don’t be sad anymore, Little Monkey, we will help you."

But the Furious Fire Ape’s body was stiff, dumbly hovering in the acupoint.

It had never seen any Demon Beast that could freely travel within a Demon Tamer’s body.

Nor had it ever been in close contact with such a mysterious and powerful Demon Beast.

Little Fen Yang murmured, "You also want to avenge your master, right? Du Yu will help you, just like he helps me."

As she spoke, Little Fen Yang slowly closed her eyes, a small hand brushing over the Furious Fire Ape’s forehead: "Little Monkey, become stronger.

Follow Du Yu, help him, and help yourself.

Complete everything left unfinished, fulfill your heart’s wishes..."

The Furious Fire Ape suddenly widened its eyes.

At the same time, Du Yu’s body trembled slightly, and a surge of Demon Breath welled up behind him.

The sudden scene left everyone in the room stunned.

The very things Qi Tian and Furious Fire Ape had strived for their whole lives, seemed easily attainable for Du Yu?

Indeed, people have never been equal.

Regardless of the era, place, there are always distinctions of rank and status.

Right or wrong, their thoughts are not the point, but they definitely have biases.

Because it’s not Du Yu who is noble, but the Burning Sun Supreme!

The Burning Sun Golden Crow,

is the Fire Attribute Venerable of this Demon Taming World!

"Whoosh!" Du Yu suddenly flipped his palm, Bell Shadow flickered.

Hu Yihua didn’t react at all before being transported into the Mountain Realm.

Along with him were the closed-door disciple Zhang Tianxiao, and two broken bodies.

In the vast first floor of the Shangsha Gate, only Du Yu and Shi Hua remained.

Shi Hua stared at Du Yu, feeling somewhat at a loss.

Du Yu: "Your condition is no longer suitable for battle. You are physically and mentally exhausted, even your spirit is disoriented.

To fight again is akin to marching to your death."

Shi Hua silently lowered her head.

Du Yu came in front of the woman, placing a hand on her shoulder: "Tell Professor Hu not to blame me. I will bring you out, provided you recover well."

Aside from the elder professor Hu Yihua, no one dared to disagree with Du Yu’s decision.

Seeing Shi Hua’s grief-stricken face, Du Yu wanted to say "condolences," but couldn’t bring himself to say it.

Finally, speechless Du Yu could only grip Shi Hua’s shoulder tightly, though feeling such comfort was powerless.

"Whoosh~" Bell Shadow flickered again, and Shi Hua vanished without a trace.

With the woman gone, Du Yu’s field of view was clear.

Inside the doorway of Shangsha Gate crouched a giant silver beast, cautiously watching the street outside.

Beside the Desolate Silver Lynx, a tall figure stood.

Li Mengnan stepped forward, her body quietly dissolving into the wind.

Even though it’s just over ten meters away, at this moment, it seemed somewhat long.

When her boots stepped forward again, she was already standing in front of Du Yu.

Then, Du Yu was embraced into a warm hug.

"Are you alright?" The gentle, sweet voice soothed a heavy heart.

Du Yu remained silent for a while, and then whispered: "I’ll be fine."

He didn’t know how to comfort his comrades, but Li Mengnan knew how to comfort Du Yu.

She held Du Yu tightly, forehead touching his.

Eyes met, brows pressed together.

She murmured softly: "Mm, it will be fine, everything will be fine."

Du Yu embraced the warm, soft jade, gently stroking the girl’s back: "Let’s go, we still have the battle..."

Before he finished speaking, the earth suddenly trembled!

A terrifying large earthquake abruptly descended on Asa Capital City.

"Hiss~~~" As the earth shook violently, a long lion’s roar echoed through Asa Capital City.

Du Yu’s expression changed: "Flowing Fire?!"

Above Asa Capital City, Flowing Fire Suanni shielded its belly with its wings, fending off spikes emerging from below.

Poisonous Mud Spikes appeared suddenly, aiming straight at Flowing Fire’s vulnerable spots!

And behind Flowing Fire Suanni, flame wings assembled, carrying it skyward to escape: "Enemy attack!"

Giant Mud Spikes grew wildly, rising from deep underground, seemingly able to pierce the skies!

A multitude of Mud Spikes penetrated buildings, worsening the already broken Asa Capital City.

"Screech~~" Saint of the Sea of Sorrow suddenly traversed!

Her figure appeared as she flashed through a spatial rift, the bird’s head charging diagonally upward with Flowing Fire.

Flowing Fire was startled and angry: "Supreme, unsure how many, could be Mud Po!

My roar is ineffective, they must be buried deep underground.

Ambush! Du Yu, they have come prepared! This is likely Youhan’s trap for us!"

...

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