I Have a Golden Crow

"Celestial General’s Seal, Celestial General."

In the bathroom, Du Yu was comfortably soaking in a hot bath.

He was lathering soap on Xiaoyan in his arms while tilting his head to gaze intently at the Gilded Bronze Seal placed beside the bathtub.

Perhaps the name struck a chord with Du Yu’s aesthetic sense.

The more he savored it, the more he felt the name was truly majestic!

He vaguely remembered that before Emperor Taizong of Tang ascended the throne, he was given the title "Grand General of Celestial Strategy" due to his unmatched achievements.

"Whimper~" Hu Xiaoyan lay on Du Yu’s chest, letting out a soft whimper, seeming a bit dissatisfied.

Hu Xiaoyan extended a fox tail to cover the Gilded Bronze Seal beside the bathtub.

Then, she extended another fox tail, using its soft tip to gently nudge Du Yu’s chin.

With a slight force from the fox tail’s tip, Du Yu’s chin was lifted, turning his head to look at the beautiful demon fox in front of him.

"Hmm?" Du Yu blinked, feeling a bit puzzled.

Darn, why do I always feel teased?

"Prince Du~" Hu Xiaoyan’s golden-brown fox eyes carried a hint of grievance, "I’m right here, yet you keep looking at that rusty thing."

Du Yu: "..."

It’s been a long time since I heard Prince Yan refer to herself as "slave." The last time was in the library while climbing the ranks.

The charm is still there... No!

It’s becoming more beautiful and enchanting.

Du Yu scooped up some floating bubbles from the bathtub and placed them on Xiaoyan’s head: "This is not just any rusty junk."

The alluring fox head silently approached, her pair of fox eyes radiating an unusual glow, staring deeply into Du Yu’s eyes: "What’s so appealing about it? Is it more beautiful than me?"

"Not more beautiful than you, not more beautiful than you." Du Yu muttered, quickly helping Prince Yan with the soap.

Hu Xiaoyan playfully shook her head: "Look into my eyes and say it~"

But Du Yu directly turned Prince Yan around, washing her beautiful fox tail: "Hmph, looking at you?

Then I might not come to my senses all day!"

"How could that be?" Hu Xiaoyan savored Du Yu’s service, her other fox tails playfully swaying in front of his face, "At least three to five days."

Du Yu: ???

Goodness~

Not even pretending anymore?

Du Yu gently pinched the fox tail: "You’re rebelling!"

"Whimper~" Hu Xiaoyan turned her alluring fox head, her fox eyes filled with gentle sadness, "I like you."

Du Yu pouted, truly at a loss with her.

"Hehe~" Sensing Du Yu’s mental state, Hu Xiaoyan flashed a victorious smile, turning her head and diving back into her master’s embrace.

Amid a splash of water and bubbles, they splattered onto the Gilded Bronze Seal.

Du Yu, with one arm around the beautiful demon fox, said: "Xiaoyezi, help wipe the General’s Seal."

Who knows what reaction the bath bubbles might have with the Gilded Bronze Seal?

However, Du Yu wasn’t too worried.

Although the General’s Seal is an antique, it is also a Spiritual Artifact, and once it awakens, it will return to its original appearance.

It’s just that when exactly will this Gilded Bronze Seal awaken...

is still an unknown.

This General’s Seal has endured endless hardships yet remains unbroken.

What made Du Yu helpless was that he couldn’t find even the slightest trace of energy in the General’s Seal, let alone its Artifact Spirit.

Hu Xiaoyan turned to look, watching Xiaoyezi wipe the Square Seal: "Is it that important?"

"Yes." Du Yu gently pinched the soft fox ear, "Once we’re done with the bath, let’s take it to the Twin Trees and let Little Hemp Flower help."

That’s the plan, but Du Yu still held a pessimistic view in his heart.

Currently, this Ancient Spiritual Artifact is indistinguishable from ordinary objects.

To awaken it, who knows how long it will take...

Hu Xiaoyan suddenly said: "Then let’s go."

"Now?"

"Yes." Hu Xiaoyan cuddled against Du Yu’s cheek, "You keep looking at it! Send it away, so you’ll be willing to look at me, right?"

Du Yu: "..."

This day is impossible.

He stood up with Xiaoyan in his arms, rinsed the bubbles off under the shower, then let out a wave of Fire Demon Breath, drying the water on his body.

After stepping out of the bathroom and changing into gray clothes and pants, Du Yu held Xiaoyan in one hand, picked up the seal in the other, and ventured into the Mountain Realm.

He looked around, then summoned Bai Yujing.

"Nai~"

"Whimper!" Yan Ruyu escaped from Du Yu’s embrace, leaping onto Bai Yujing’s slender deer antlers.

Bai Yujing gently shook his head with a smile, blossoms blooming on the deer antlers, their fragrance spreading wide.

While a fox and a deer played, the 10-kilometer journey was quickly covered by the Immortal Deer Hoof.

Upon reaching the Twin Tree Area, Du Yu rode the deer down slowly: "Little Hemp Flower!"

"Swish~ Swish~"

Two branches emerged, one a Divine Spirit, the other a Demon Breath.

One poked Du Yu’s stomach, the other his ribs: "You’re the small one!"

The two voices merged together, echoing in Du Yu’s mind, quite uniquely.

The Twin Trees are indeed no longer small, having been planted for half a year now.

At this moment, the Twin Trees were not only tall, but their lush leaves also cascaded down like a miniature waterfall, adorned with pristine pear blossoms.

Du Yu would never forget the shock he felt the first time he saw the Twin Trees.

The beauty of the world seemed to converge into this one tree, an Immortal Realm on Earth.

The extraordinarily beautiful flower cascade was perfect for creating an atmospheric feeling, making Du Yu wish he could find a girl and get married right away.

Luckily, my family now has a wedding venue at home...

If we really lack money in the future, maybe we could try hosting weddings?

"Hehe~" Du Yu chuckled, "Well, you’re the Big Hemp Flower."

"No, you are!"

"No, you are!" The Demon Breath branch continued poking Du Yu, while the Divine Tree branch wrapped around the Gilded Bronze Seal in Du Yu’s hand.

Du Yu directly let go of it, saying, "This is a Spiritual Artifact, but it’s lost its spirit. Can you help me awaken it?"

"Woosh~" The Divine Tree branch rolled the Gilded Bronze Seal back into the tree.

Du Yu flipped off the deer and allowed Bai Yujing to take Hu Xiaoyan to play with the clan members.

He came under the tree, gently caressing the Divine Demon Bow stuck in the ground.

"It’s not possible, Du Yu." The Demon Breath branch fell on Du Yu’s shoulder. The tree is named Twin Trees, naturally sharing its thoughts, "It can’t be awakened."

"Ah?" Du Yu looked up at the Twin Trees.

The Divine Tree branch reached out again: "It doesn’t actively absorb my Spiritual Qi. Even when I inject Spiritual Qi into it, there’s no response."

"Hmm..." Du Yu furrowed his brows, thinking something was amiss.

The most vital part of an Ancient Spiritual Artifact is the Artifact Spirit.

Each Ancient Spiritual Artifact that transcends time and rises anew does so because of an Artifact Spirit with a strong obsession.

With intelligence and thought, the Ancient Spiritual Artifact can actively absorb energy and strive to reshape itself.

And this Gilded Bronze Seal clearly lacked the crucial element: an Artifact Spirit.

What should be done about this?

Demon Breath Tree: "Don’t be so pessimistic."

Divine Tree: "Leave it with me; perhaps one day in the future, it will develop a new spirit."

Demon Breath Tree: "Nurturing life takes a process."

Divine Tree: "It might be very long."

The Twin Trees echoed each other, causing Du Yu to sigh deeply.

He really hoped the Artifact Spirit of the Gilded Bronze Seal was only sleeping or hiding inside the artifact itself.

But the Twin Trees’ comments seemed to suggest that the seal’s Artifact Spirit had dissipated and required regeneration.

A prophecy fulfilled!

Du Yu shook his head helplessly; in this case, wanting to use the General’s Seal might have to wait indefinitely.

Furthermore, can the Artifact Spirit of an Ancient Spiritual Artifact be regenerated?

The so-called Artifact Spirit is inherently present when a Spiritual Artifact comes into existence.

Du Yu once destroyed an Artifact Spirit; the Heaven-covering Robe that caused chaos in Jihua Village was pierced by Du Yu with a Spirit-Slaying Pestle.

To this day, the tattered white robe has become a mundane object, still stored in the Twenty-Ninth Bureau.

The only difference between the General’s Seal and the Heaven-covering Robe is the General’s Seal remains intact without a hint of damage.

"Mm, then leave it with you for now." Du Yu said softly, his hand stroking the Divine Demon Bow as he slowly sat down.

In this era, Du Yu isn’t sure if there will be specialists in making Spiritual Artifacts.

But over at the Kunlun Divine Tree, there are many high-level Spirit Binders within the Divine Wood Pavilion organization. He should try to find an opportunity to inquire.

"Squeak~" Hu Xiaoyan leapt lightly on the deer antlers, playing joyfully.

Unintentionally, she noticed Du Yu sitting under the tree.

Xiaoyan initially thought that after delivering the General’s Seal here, she could go back with Du Yu to enjoy their private world.

But looking at his posture...

Is he going to cultivate?

Hu Xiaoyan leapt down from the deer antlers, running towards the Twin Trees.

Watching Du Yu’s meditative pose, Hu Xiaoyan hesitated again and again, eventually giving up her inner desires.

Cultivation is always a major event for the Demon Tamer, better not to disturb him.

However...

Hu Xiaoyan cautiously approached, placing a paw on Du Yu’s calf, attempting to slip into his arms.

The mischievous little fox quietly watched Du Yu. Realizing her master wasn’t showing signs of repulsion or refusal, she moved further.

Only when she nestled into Du Yu’s embrace did Hu Xiaoyan let out a comfortable squeak.

Mmm... This is also quite good.

One person and one fox, sitting under the lush Twin Trees.

The mountain wind swept in, causing the cascading flower waterfall to sway gently, breathtakingly beautiful.

Hu Xiaoyan, intoxicated, curled her fiery body closer into Du Yu’s embrace.

Du Yu’s hand landed on her, gently stroking her beautiful fur, welcoming the influx of Spiritual Qi into his body.

Unnoticed, Bai Yujing also came over.

The magnificent body of the Beautiful Immortal Deer couldn’t snugly fit into Du Yu’s lap as before.

But by lying behind him, she could provide him support.

Du Yu naturally responded.

He leaned against the Snow Deer, his cheek lightly nestled in the snowy white fur, rubbing back and forth, taking a deep breath.

This time of cultivation lasted an entire day.

For a cultivator, a day’s cultivation time is barely significant; Du Yu hadn’t had enough of this peaceful time.

Unfortunately, the arranged time had come.

People always say the years are long, yet day after day, it passes by too fast.

Red Bamboo Courtyard, Chi Bear Tribe...

This time, why did they invite me again?

Is it really just because of Hongye?

Or perhaps they know full well, behind the General’s Seal there is a Bamboo Sea, where resides a Chi Race deity...