C32

Chen Wu finally seized his chance.

As he had anticipated, a small Firefox Clan like this one required substantial amounts of food. While he couldn't pinpoint the exact nests, there was certainly a young firefox within the Three-tailed Firefox's cave.

The authority of the Three-tailed Firefox Leader was formidable, commanding all the firefoxes. Chen Wu watched them for a full day and night.

The Three-tailed Firefox would lead seven male adult firefoxes out to hunt in the early morning and late afternoon, traveling thousands of meters across the valley to a territory inhabited by another species—the Violent Fang Boar.

Their prey, however, was not the massive Violent Fang Boar, but rather the charming rabbit species that coexisted with them.

Despite their fierce appearance, Violent Fang Boars were herbivores, typically docile, and the area they claimed was the valley's most verdant grassland. Thus, the Three-tailed Firefox hunted these rabbits for sustenance. If an opportunity arose to isolate a Violent Fang Boar, they might also attack and kill it, dragging it back for a substantial feast.

They chose the early morning and late afternoon for their assaults because the Violent Fang Boars would be resting at dawn, as would the rabbits, making it an ideal hunting time. By the afternoon, the heat would make the lethargic Violent Fang Boars drowsy, resting in the grasslands. During these times, the sun's intensity was at its peak, and the Flame Elemental was at its most powerful.

At these moments, the Firefox Clan's fire element powers could increase by at least twenty percent!

This was the perfect time to ambush the rabbits and Violent Fang Boars, with various birds and even mouse species nearby.

After careful consideration, Chen Wu decided that early morning was also his optimal time to act. At that hour, only four female foxes stood guard at the cave. Though these females were formidable Grade 4 creatures, they were more manageable than facing the seven fearsome male firefoxes led by the Three-tailed Firefox.

Moreover, the heavy morning air was damp, which suppressed the firefoxes' Fire-type strength, giving Chen Wu an extreme advantage.

Chen Wu planned to wait for the perfect moment to lure out the four vixens. Once they were out of the way, he could swiftly enter the foxes' den and snatch the young Three-tailed Firefox!

As dawn broke and the first light of day appeared on the horizon, Chen Wu opened his eyes, having eagerly anticipated this moment. He quickly used the water from his Storage Ring to drink and freshen up, invigorating himself for the task ahead. Then, he resumed his watchful gaze on the cave.

Before long, the robust and majestic Three-tailed Firefox emerged from the cave, issuing a low and authoritative Fox Call. The male foxes soon followed, quickly exiting the cave under the leadership of their Firefox Leader. After a brief encounter, they cautiously sped off into the distance.

Chen Wu's eyes sparkled with opportunity. "Perfect timing!" he thought.

Yet, he didn't rush out immediately. Knowing how sly foxes could be, he needed to ensure they were truly gone.

After a painstaking two minutes without their return, Chen Wu sprang into action. He swiftly descended to the ground using the rope he had secured to the cliff face, then stealthily positioned himself behind a large boulder less than thirty meters from the cave entrance. To mask his scent, he had applied an ointment made from ground pollen, leaving a subtle floral aroma on his skin.

"Blood Rain, draw them out!" he commanded.

Blood Rain soared into the sky and, upon reaching the cave entrance, began circling overhead. At Chen Wu's signal, it launched Feather Arrows at the rocks outside the cave!

The sound of the metallic feathers striking stone wasn't deafening, but it was sharp and persistent. The three vixens burst out almost immediately, their eyes fixed on Blood Rain's defiant display above, their expressions seething with rage.

They snapped their jaws open, unleashing a fiery breath at Blood Rain soaring in the sky!

Despite the intensity of the flames, their reach was limited to a mere five meters, while Blood Rain was gliding at a safe distance, some ten meters above, relentlessly firing Feather Arrows!

Frustrated and realizing they were no match for Blood Rain, the foxes considered retreating back into their cave to ignore the pestering foe.

But Blood Rain was relentless. It continued to launch Feather Arrows into the cave, even as the foxes sought refuge. To provoke their ire further, Chen Wu instructed Blood Rain to hover at a low altitude of about ten meters, sometimes swooping down to just a meter above the cave entrance to shoot Feather Arrows inside.

This time, they were completely infuriated!

The three vixens burst out in a fury, pursuing Blood Rain as they leaped and spewed flames!

Blood Rain deftly avoided them and maintained a low flight, ten meters above the ground, heading into the distance. The vixens seemed to have lost their senses, frantically chasing on the ground.

Chen Wu sprang into action. Blood Rain could only distract them for a mere three minutes at best. These foxes were clever; once they realized they couldn't catch Blood Rain, they would staunchly guard the entrance of their cave and refuse to emerge, even lying in wait right at the entrance.

Should Blood Rain fly too low, it risked being pounced upon and killed, as the Firefoxes were equally swift on the ground.

Once that happened, there would be no chance of drawing them out again!

Watching the three vixens disappear into the distance, Chen Wu didn't hesitate and bolted towards the Three-tailed Firefox's cave. There might be cubs in the other Firefox caves, but he was pressed for time and couldn't afford delays.

He had to quickly locate the Three-tailed Firefox cub and make his escape. Otherwise, the enraged vixens returning would shred him to pieces, and the Three-tailed Firefox itself would hunt Chen Wu to the ends of the earth. Holding onto the little fox and thinking of leaving this desolate place would be nothing short of a fool's dream!

As Chen Wu dashed into the Three-tailed Firefox's cave, his excitement was instantly overtaken by terror!

To his shock, another vixen was lying in a nest made of dry grass, its gaze icy and bloodthirsty as it fixed on Chen Wu.

"Damn, there's another one!"

A chill shot through Chen Wu from his feet to his skull!

Despite all his calculations, he hadn't anticipated another vixen, one that hadn't been fooled, vigilantly guarding the cave. And it was the mate of the Three-tailed Firefox!

The vixen slowly rose from its nest, appearing somewhat weak as it swayed. It was then that Chen Wu noticed three adorable cubs, each no bigger than a palm, nestled in the grass beneath her. Their tiny eyes, barely open, looked on as their mother abruptly left. Clumsily, they pawed at their siblings with their little claws, trying to follow her, yet they couldn't even climb out of the nest.

Chen Wu had no time left for thought as the vixen bared her fangs, lunging at him with her jaws wide open like a flash of lightning!

"The Prison Of Land Light!"

Chen Wu's quick reflexes saved him; he dodged the fearsome strike with a swift roll and immediately cast the Psychic Secret Art!

A cage of energy, radiating the earthen yellow of the Power Of The Earth, sprang up around him, forming a three-meter-wide barrier that ensnared him.

But in that moment, Chen Wu's heart hammered against his chest, his brow slick with cold sweat as he stared at the frenzied she-wolf. Right then, it didn't matter who was trapped; staying alive was all that mattered. Damn it all!