[Azure Sky Realm – Crimson Hearth Forest – Outer Wilds]
The low growl echoed through the dense forest, vibrating through Feng Liuxing's Chaos Phoenix Fire Body. The Tier 2 Low Tier Fang Wolf stepped into the clearing, muscles coiled, fangs glinting as its eyes locked onto him. Its aura was sharp and dangerous, a clear step above the Tier 1 beasts he had easily dispatched.
Feng's golden aura flared, his body instinctively adjusting. The fragment inside his chest hummed faintly, enhancing his perception. He could sense the wolf's movements before they happened, the rhythm of its attack already imprinted in the air.
[Feng Liuxing – Mortal][Spirit Root: Phoenix Divine Root – RANK: Primordial][Physique: Chaos Phoenix Fire Body – RANK: Chaos][Bloodline: Eternal Phoenix Clan – Emberfall Branch – RANK: Primordial][Current Cultivation Stage: Body Forging – Mid Stage][Known Techniques: Basic Body Forging Forms + Phoenix Nirvana Breathing Art (Chaos Level – 3%)]
The Fang Wolf lunged first, its claws slashing through the underbrush with terrifying speed. Feng sidestepped, letting the wolf's momentum carry it past, then countered with a sweeping palm strike. The shockwave hit the wolf's flank, but it barely flinched—its Tier 2 resilience far stronger than the Tier 1 beasts he had practiced on.
Feng's mind raced. I need precision, not brute force. He focused on the flow of Qi through his limbs, letting the Chaos Phoenix Fire Body amplify his speed subtly without revealing the true power of his awakening.
Another lunge. This time, Feng feinted to the left, drawing the wolf forward, then pivoted and delivered a strike to the wolf's shoulder. A faint ember glow flickered around his fist—Phoenix Nirvana Breathing Art at work. The wolf howled, staggering slightly, its body tense and wary.
[Fang Wolf – Low Tier, Tier 2][Attributes: Strength 320, Speed 120 km/h, Endurance 450][Behavior: Aggressive, Basic Intelligence]
The fight continued, a blur of strikes and feints. Feng adjusted his stance after each attack, integrating lessons from past encounters. He noted every weakness: the wolf's slight lag after a lunge, the way it shifted weight before a bite, the subtle tell of its next claw swipe.
After a series of precise maneuvers, the wolf's stamina began to waver. Feng took advantage, channeling a controlled surge of Qi through the Phoenix Nirvana Breathing Art. Golden flames flickered along his limbs, enhancing speed and power without breaking his stealthy control.
With one final strike, a burst of flame-tipped energy collided with the wolf's chest. It stumbled backward, yipping in pain, and then bolted into the forest shadows. Feng exhaled, his body thrumming with energy. His first real Tier 2 beast encounter had ended—not with a kill, but with a hard-earned victory and lessons for the next fight.
[Feng Liuxing – Mortal][Spirit Root: Phoenix Divine Root – RANK: Primordial][Physique: Chaos Phoenix Fire Body – RANK: Chaos][Bloodline: Eternal Phoenix Clan – Emberfall Branch – RANK: Primordial][Current Cultivation Stage: Body Forging – Mid Stage][Known Techniques: Basic Body Forging Forms + Phoenix Nirvana Breathing Art (Chaos Level – 3%)][Spirit Comprehension: Phoenix Nirvana Breathing Art – 3%]
The forest settled, but the low growl returned, deeper and heavier this time. From the shadows, a much larger figure emerged—a Tier 2 Fang Wolf, this one older, more cunning, its muscles thick and eyes burning with intelligence beyond ordinary beasts.
Feng's golden aura flared higher. He gripped his fists, feeling the pulse of his Chaos Phoenix Fire Body and the faint guidance of the fragment within.
This is it… the real test begins.
The Fang Wolf stepped forward, teeth bared, ready for combat. Feng Liuxing readied himself, every muscle, every breath, every flicker of Qi aligned. The forest seemed to hold its breath as predator and awakened mortal prepared to clash.