C30 Firefox Clan

Chen Wu found himself venturing deeper into the western depths of Phoenix Nest Mountain.

The mountain was vast, part of an unbroken chain, and the forest within this region was known as Phoenix Nest Forest. It was equally expansive, home to countless formidable and rare Demonic Beast Races.

From the moment Chen Wu entered this valley, the Blood Rain's warnings had been incessant.

Looking up, he could see fiery red birds soaring in the sky, alighting on the valley's sheer cliffs. The resilience of plant life is universally acknowledged as one of the most tenacious, with thick vines covering the rocky surfaces and trees that thrive in the spiritually rich peaks.

Yet, hidden in the dense foliage could be Plant-type Demonic Pets setting traps, lying in wait for the unsuspecting birds.

Chen Wu's favorite sound in this place was the sweet, melodious call of the sparrows, a sign of good fortune, with a soothing effect on the listener. However, these sounds held little appeal for Demonic Pet Masters who revered martial prowess.

By contrast, the two massive creatures perched on the rocks ahead posed a far greater threat.

They were Single-horned Lizards.

[Creature]: Single-horned Lizard

[Attribute]: Beast

[Type]: Unevolved

[Skills]: Forward Charge, Tong Strike, Corrosive Acid, Crack Claw

[Potential]: High-grade Bronze

[Bloodline]: None

[Level]: Bronze Grade 4

[Status]: Healthy

These were two Bronze Grade 4 carnivorous Demonic Beasts, each with a length exceeding seven meters, including their tails. Their bulging jaws glowed with a dark yellow hue, their eyes like marbles, fixated on Chen Wu from the moment he arrived.

In comparison to them, Chen Wu's small stature seemed a mere morsel.

Another Single-horned Lizard watched the circling Blood Rain with eager anticipation, perhaps looking for a change in its diet.

Chen Wu, however, was not concerned with these two Single-horned Lizards. According to Blood Rain's surveillance, the Firefox Clan resided in this vicinity, and he was certain of it.

"Blood Rain, they're all yours!"

Chen Wu, noting their formidable physiques, discreetly backed away.

"Screech!"

To defend its master, Blood Rain initiated an attack with The Hawk Strike Force. The accelerated air currents and the amplification of power by the Treasure Weapon made it resemble a black sword plummeting from the heavens. It sliced through the air in an instant, aiming for the Single-horned Lizard Beast nearest to Chen Wu.

The Single-horned Lizard Beast paused, then cast a wary eye skyward. It had encountered plenty of overconfident birds before. Indeed, such large Single-horned Lizard Beasts typically preyed on land insects and Demonic Beasts, as well as avian creatures. Their tongues, capable of shooting to astonishing heights, could strike an enemy in a flash and reel it into their gaping maws!

Once Blood Rain was within striking distance, the lizard opened its mouth wide, its tongue springing forth like a catapult, extending a full twelve meters, nearly hitting the unsuspecting Blood Rain.

But Blood Rain cleverly shifted direction mid-air with a swift wing maneuver and continued its dive!

The Single-horned Lizard hadn't even managed to retract its tongue when it was bombarded by Blood Rain's Feather Arrow!

The wings, sharp as steel blades, rained down furiously, forcing the Single-horned Lizard to dodge desperately.

Chen Wu shook his head at the sight. Although Blood Rain was more than capable of overpowering the two Single-horned Lizards, especially with its aerial advantage for long-range strikes, the attacks lacked force and served only to wear down the opponents.

Feather Arrow was an area attack, and as such, its power wasn't as concentrated as that of Crack Claw. It merely left several bloody holes in the two Single-horned Lizards, far from inflicting serious injury.

If Blood Rain could master a more advanced skill of the Iron-feather Eagle, the Wind-type Skill Wind Blade, which even the Wind Eagle clan could wield, it would only need long-range attacks to precisely target its prey, with much greater destructive power, potentially even achieving instant kills on those at a Low Stage!

"Wind Blade is typically a skill that adult Iron-feather Eagles might grasp. Though Blood Rain is young, its physical abilities and strength are already sufficient. Plus, with a hint of the Storm Hawk bloodline, it stands a good chance of mastering it through combat. The key is to refine Blood Rain's grasp of long-range attacks and to unlock its genetic potential."

Chen Wu didn't rush to dispatch the two Single-horned Lizards with a thunderous strike. Instead, he had Blood Rain continuously shoot Feather Arrows from the sky, harassing and depleting the Giant Beasts' stamina while inflicting wounds. The Hawk Strike Force wasn't an ability that could be used incessantly; it required a cooldown period. The Iron-feather Eagle needed to absorb and condense the Elemental Power of the wind to accelerate, which took roughly five minutes.

Eventually, the two dim-witted Single-horned Lizards, when faced with the second activation of The Hawk Strike Force, failed to land a hit due to Blood Rain's superior evasion. Following that, Crack Claw viciously tore through the flesh on the back of one of the beasts, sending it into a frenzy of pain.

"Excellent work, Blood Rain. In the coming days, we'll focus on honing your agility and the deployment of your Wind-type Skills, aiming to master Wind Blade as soon as possible."

Chen Wu wasn't eager to finish the task at hand. He placed more importance on Blood Rain's enhanced reaction time, evasion, and aerial attack capabilities than on the rewards of the mission. These skills were the cornerstone of his livelihood.

Regardless of when he would tame a second Demonic Pet, Blood Rain was his Zodiac Demonic Pet and the one he shared the deepest bond with. Hence, Chen Wu greatly prioritized Blood Rain's strength training.

With Blood Rain's sly and composed assault, the two Giant Beasts quickly succumbed to fatigue. Seizing the moment, Blood Rain used Crack Claw to devastatingly cleave their heads open!

As Chen Wu busied himself with extracting the Demonic Core from the decapitated Single-horned Lizard, Blood Rain proudly perched on the ground, emitting a triumphant call, clearly seeking Chen Wu's commendation.

"Very well done, you're the strongest. Remember, Blood Rain, whether you're at an advantage or not, always stay cool-headed in battle. Prioritize your safety to avoid injury, then exploit the enemy's vulnerabilities for a more efficient victory. Take the first encounter, for instance; you misdirected the Crack Claw. Had you struck its head directly, it would have perished instantly, sparing you three minutes of exertion."

"Your eyesight is crucial. Once you've pinpointed the right moment, you need to immediately activate your Speeding Skill and strike at the vital points. Got it?"

Chen Wu secured the Demonic Core and earnestly instructed Blood Rain.

Blood Rain obediently indicated his understanding.

"Now, we're onto the Firefox Clan, located in that cave over there. You mentioned seeing a fire-red fox poking its head out, right? Scout it out again, and let's carefully bypass them!"

Blood Rain ascended to scout from above, while Chen Wu cautiously approached a spot tens of meters away from the rock wall, taking cover behind a boulder to observe the cave nestled in the valley.

There were seven or eight caves of varying sizes, all situated beneath the base of the mountain.

The Firefox Clan placed great value on the concept of family. They trusted their own kin above all, with each cave housing only one firefox family.

Even among themselves, the firefoxes sometimes experienced minor frictions over food.

From a safe distance, Chen Wu intently watched the firefox that had emerged, as the system in his brain started to scan and analyze.