Following that fox's cry, Gong Cheng's gaze shifted to Du Yu's arms.
Xiaoyan, who struggled out from Du Yu's embrace, stood proudly atop his arm, glaring at Gong Cheng, and let out a hiss full of hostility: "Wuu~!"
"Oh?" Gong Cheng felt a surge of joy—was this the sign of mutation into a heterochromatic?
No one ever knows exactly when a Demon Pet will mutate, and Gong Cheng had never expected that this Little Fire Fox would so quickly break free from its Mortal Grade shackles!
He watched as the Little Fire Fox's large tail was already dyed in layers of fiery red hues!
Bright and dazzling—a breathtaking beauty.
For a moment, all the students' eyes were fixed on Xiaoyan.
Especially Lin Shihang.
At this moment, there was none of his usual calmness; the ever-so-superior look on his face finally twisted and changed color!
Lin Shihang's face was dark as water, staring fixedly at the fox's big tail, feeling his own cheeks blazing hot with shame.
He'd once told Du Yu to his face "what a pity," had declared the Little Fire Fox's death sentence, claiming that in Du Yu's hands, the fox would never become a heterochromatic breed.
But now the Little Fire Fox's appearance had turned yesterday's confident verdict into total nonsense!
Unlike Lin Shihang, Lin Shiyi's beautiful eyes sparkled with joy and were full of sincere blessings. Such a loyal, protective little one finally transformed—who could not love it?
"Yes!" From behind Gong Cheng, a sudden cheer rang out.
Gong Cheng was still examining the fur of the Little Fire Fox, but was startled by Li Mengnan's sudden shout.
His gaze turned fierce as he whipped his head around.
"Uh." Li Mengnan was startled as well, clutching the Wind Witch Doll tightly, ducking her head, and not daring to make another sound.
The Wind Witch Doll was almost squished: π_π
Gong Cheng let out a deep breath and spoke: "Du Yu."
"Here!"
"No matter how you're communicating with your Demon Pet, keep the Little Fire Fox in its current state of mind." While talking, Gong Cheng raised his Fire Stick again.
Whoosh~
A wave of flames spread out again!
Xiaoyan was swept askew by the heatwave, her Demon Breath Battle Robe shattering with a bang.
She pressed close to Du Yu's chest, enduring the pain of Demon Breath invading her body, letting out an unwilling hiss: "Wuu~!"
At the same time, a Fireball formed in her mouth.
For a Little Fire Fox who usually appeared so delicate, this was anything but ordinary.
Looks like everything is as Little Fen Yang said—she truly loves Du Yu.
As Xiaoyan hissed, that flame-like big tail grew even more vibrant, gradually merging into one fiery whole.
Heroic Bronze·Spark Splash!
A Fireball shot forth—just as Gong Cheng's fire ring arrived again!
Whoosh~
Without thinking, Du Yu grabbed Xiaoyan tightly, shielding her completely in his arms.
"Hiss..." Sounds of people sucking in cold air spread—everyone's faces were alternating between pale and purple.
"Gong—Instructor Gong, can I go over there and res—"
Wei Feng hadn't finished before Gong Cheng cut him off irritably with a single word: "Scram."
Wei Feng seethed with resentment, shot Du Yu a venomous look, and quickly retreated, putting distance between himself and Gong Cheng's range.
Damn it!
Goddamn Du Yu—no wonder you're a penniless, unwanted orphan. All your luck must've gone into this, huh?
"Whoosh~"
Another fire ring burst outward, and this time, Gong Cheng actually ramped up the intensity!
"Ugh." Du Yu couldn't help but groan in pain—Old Demon Gong was really being ruthless today!
If Du Yu was already struggling, the rest of the students had completely had it.
"Aaaah!" One of the boys even let out a howl of agony.
With Du Yu shielding her, Xiaoyan obviously sensed the pain and distress transmitted through their contract.
This was big trouble now!
The red fur on the Little Fire Fox was spreading across her whole body, faster and faster.
Facts proved Gong Cheng's judgment was right—this Little Fire Fox's urge to protect her master was what triggered her potential!
In Gong Cheng's mind, for this fox's sake, Du Yu coughing up blood was worth it!
"Again!" Gong Cheng shouted, spinning his Fire Stick high once more.
Du Yu's face grew grim, forced back again by the heatwave; the Fire Demon Breath in his body trembled violently, the pain nearly unbearable.
The surrounding students all followed Wei Feng's lead, backing off one by one.
Soon, there were only six students left—five seconds later, after another round, only two remained on the field.
Du Yu, Lin Shihang!
"Hmm?" Gong Cheng glanced at Lin Shihang, surprised.
The past couple days, Lin Shihang had performed well, but his talent was still slightly less than his kin, Lin Shiyi.
So why is he still enduring?
Gong Cheng pulled a strange face and spun his Fire Stick again.
"Mmph~"
"Ah!" Lin Shihang and the Rose Spirit in his arms both cried out in pain.
Lin Shihang staggered backwards, landing clumsily on his ass, splattering dirty water on the muddy ground.
Seeing Lin Shihang collapse in such a sorry state, Gong Cheng nodded approvingly, then turned back to Du Yu.
This time, Gong Cheng narrowed his eyes.
Something's not right!
There's a problem with this Du Yu!
Why hasn't he fallen?
I already adjusted the output intensity. At Demon Tamer Prentice·Initial Stage, no matter how tough you are, your body shouldn't be able to withstand this.
Watching Du Yu's bowed head as he stubbornly shielded the Little Fire Fox, Gong Cheng refused to believe it, spinning his Fire Stick again at full force.
Whoosh~
The fire ring crashed down, forcing Du Yu back two more steps.
Even with his head lowered, Du Yu's grimace of pain was plain for all to see.
Still, no matter what, Du Yu remained standing—and standing strong!
At that moment, Gong Cheng got it!
"You little brat, still pretending!" Gong Cheng's black face was severe, but inside he was cursing and laughing.
Thinking back over Du Yu's behavior these past days—especially in the rain, when he seemed at his limit but then lit up a Fire Arrow again…
This kid's capacity for grit and cunning was evident.
Gong Cheng even had a hunch—if it weren't for the Fire Fox's imminent mutation today, once the others had all dropped out, Du Yu would have gone with the flow and collapsed in the next round.
Now, Du Yu alone stood on the field, which meant…
Gong Cheng bellowed, "Attention!"
Whoosh~
Another fire ring spread out—Du Yu's face was flushed and breathing quick, but he kept to his feet.
"Ah!" Far off, Li Mengnan covered her mouth, unable to stifle her gasp.
And it wasn't just her—even the other students looked away, their feelings conflicted.
As first-hand victims, they knew what it felt like to be scorched by the fire ring, and seeing Du Yu's suffering, they felt it too.
At the same moment, a strange smile crept onto Gong Cheng's face.
No doubt about it!
This kid is already at Demon Tamer Prentice·Minor Success!
He's been hiding it all this time!
Gong Cheng was both shocked and delighted—kids who awaken at seventeen or eighteen usually have low talent and need piles of Celestial Materials and Earthly Treasures just to catch up with those who awakened at ten or eleven.
Real prodigies can break through to Demon Tamer Prentice·Minor Success on the second day of awakening.
Du Yu might not match those chosen ones, but this talent was pretty solid.
"Wuu~!" An ear-piercing fox cry rang out!
Within Du Yu's protective arms, a pair of golden-brown fox eyes glimmered menacingly through a tiny gap.
That was a fierce hostility rarely seen in a juvenile Demon Beast.
Gong Cheng's heart skipped a beat—time to add more fire—he swung down his Fire Stick in a quick arc!
Swish...
This wasn't another fire ring, but a blazing Fire Line!
A blow straight on top!
"Holy crap." Du Yu's mind went blank—the hastily-repaired Demon Breath Battle Robe shattered again, and his body pitched backwards, crashing to the ground.
"Smack!" Du Yu was left dazed and groaning, his body wracked with pain, arms flopping limply to his sides.
Luckily, the rain-soaked earth cushioned the fall.
"Ah!" Li Mengnan's eyes went wide. "Instructor Gong killed someone?!"
"Oh my god, this…" Cries of alarm rang out, some in panic, some in disbelief.
Because as Du Yu's arms fell open, the Little Fire Fox was finally revealed.
And when she appeared this time, she looked completely different.
Red,
An expanse of fiery red!
This Little Fire Fox, who battled the world, herself, and the natural laws, had finally become a true heterochromatic Demon Pet!
Her eyes locked on Gong Cheng, a Fireball forming in her mouth, which was still growing bigger.
"Du Yu, Du Yu, are you okay? Xiaoyan's amazing, she…"
Guided by Xiaoyan's soft voice inside his mind, the dazed Du Yu clutched Xiaoyan's flaming red tail, mumbling, "I'm fine, I'm really fine…"
"Wuu~!"
Heroic Bronze·Spark Splash!
Gong Cheng's eyes narrowed—that fireball was huge!
At this scale, it was already at Unyielding Silver's level! Definitely worthy of a heterochromatic Demon Pet!
He spun his staff—seemingly to smash the fireball, yet moved just a hair slower…?
A crisp "bang"—sparks flew everywhere!
Gong Cheng actually failed to block the fireball.
Not only that, he was blasted back several steps by Spark Splash. The crowd could hardly believe their eyes…
Only a few students understood—Instructor Gong was faking it, probably just helping the Little Fire Fox vent her anger.
That really was the case. Despite the scene, Gong Cheng's clothes weren't even singed.
He stepped back repeatedly, didn't disperse the flames in front of him, and turned to Li Mengnan: "You! The one who said I killed somebody!"
"Ah!" Li Mengnan shrank back timidly.
Gong Cheng: "Go, take Du Yu back to his dorm to rest."
"Oh, okay!" Li Mengnan nodded quickly, hurrying over.
Although Xiaoyan was still full of hostility, she didn't attack when she saw Li Mengnan running up.
"Du Yu?" Li Mengnan squatted down, rubbed Xiaoyan's head, and looked at Du Yu lying on the ground.
Xiaoyan turned, placed her tiny paws on Du Yu's cheeks, and whimpered softly.
"I-it's fine," Du Yu mumbled, head still muddled, but his hand never loosened its grip on Xiaoyan's bushy, flaming-red tail…