Yuwen Tuo traveled all the way to the top of the mountain. Although this place was said to be favored by fire-attribute soul beasts, he hadn't seen many as he advanced this far. A few could still be seen at the foot and waist of the mountain, but at the summit, there were none.
This phenomenon usually had only one reason: the territory was occupied by some incredibly powerful entity. Perhaps the evil soul masters had discovered the existence of the hundred-thousand-year soul beast precisely because of this strange phenomenon here.
Fierce beasts were not common. Generally, as long as a hundred-thousand-year soul beast appeared somewhere, it could become the absolute king of that small area. "If the soul beast that appears here is indeed the Evil Fire Phoenix, then you should like this thing."
Yuwen Tuo walked to the crater, tapping his soul tool with his finger. A small sycamore (wutong, phoenix tree) appeared before him. He had bought it earlier in Fiery City. Yuwen Tuo's finger emitted a flame. After igniting a few branches of the phoenix tree, he found a place to hide.
How could Yuwen Tuo not understand the preferences of phoenix-type soul beasts? The saying phoenix perches on phoenix trees came from legends, where phoenixes liked to reside on phoenix trees. Phoenix trees were seen as symbols of auspiciousness and gentlemen, carrying beautiful connotations. The combination of phoenix and phoenix tree created a beautiful imagery.
The Classic of Poetry says, "The phoenix sings, on that high ridge. The phoenix tree grows, in that morning sun." Although the one below was an Evil Fire Phoenix, it was still a phoenix after all. Its preferences shouldn't change, right? And for all fire-attribute soul beasts, his pure fire was also very attractive. Even the Crimson King liked it back then, let alone a hundred-thousand-year Evil Fire Phoenix.
Not long after he hid, the magma beneath the crater suddenly boiled violently. Clearly, there was something beneath.
"Clang!" A beautiful sound came from the bottom of the magma. Hearing this sound, Yuwen Tuo's eyes lit up. "It's here!" Ancient texts recorded, "phoenixes fly, singing 'clang, clang'." This was precisely the sound made by a male phoenix-type soul beast with a royal bloodline.
The magma showed that what emerged first was not the phoenix's head, but a pair of black-red wings, exuding a dark aura, completely contrary to the sacredness and righteousness of a normal phoenix.
Closely followed by its head and body, illuminated by the vast flames, the Evil Fire Phoenix emerged like the brightest star, piercing through the darkness. Its black and red wings, like a mysterious veil in a red world, showcased its unique charm.
The Evil Fire Phoenix was indeed a phoenix. This hundred-thousand-year-level soul beast was indeed much more beautiful than Ma Xiaotao's Evil Fire Phoenix, which hadn't even reached Titled Douluo level.
"Little brother, you truly are clever. You even know the habits of such a rare soul beast as a phoenix. Even we didn't know this!" Snow Empress praised. Phoenix trees could indeed lure phoenix soul beasts. This information could be written into human textbooks.
"Heh heh, of course, I'm a straight-A student." Yuwen Tuo's nose tilted upwards, just about to praise himself. Who would have thought that the next second, the Evil Fire Phoenix, looking at the phoenix tree, actually revealed an angry expression. Then it spat out a mouthful of fire, instantly burning the tree to ashes.
Ice Empress teased, "So, little brother, this is what you said, phoenixes love phoenix trees the most?" She could tell that the reason this Evil Fire Phoenix appeared, although indeed due to sensing the phoenix tree's aura, was not out of love, but extreme aversion. Aside from what they loved most, what soul beasts hated most also had the same effect in luring them.
Yuwen Tuo said awkwardly, "How would I know that after a phoenix degenerates into an Evil Fire Phoenix, its preferences become completely opposite, changing from what it loves most to what it hates most? But no matter what, just tell me if it successfully lured it out."
"Tsk, talking tough!" Ice Empress grumbled, but she admitted that no matter what, the result was good. Whether out of love or aversion, the Evil Fire Phoenix had finally appeared. Next was the hunt!
The Evil Fire Phoenix burned down the phoenix tree. After devouring the pure fire on it, it looked around, finding no enemies. Yuwen Tuo's Yin-Yang Devil Eyes could completely conceal his aura and spiritual power. Even a hundred-thousand-year soul beast couldn't detect him. Thus, the Evil Fire Phoenix prepared to return to the magma below to cultivate.
Just as it turned around, five tentacles suddenly flew towards it from behind. One bound its neck, two bound its wings, and two bound its feet, completely restricting it at once. The Evil Fire Phoenix was caught off guard by this surprise attack. Yuwen Tuo also summoned his Evil Eye Tyrant, that hard worker whose life was for fighting!
While the tentacles bound the Evil Fire Phoenix's body, they were also continuously burned by the evil fire emanating from the phoenix. But the Evil Eye Tyrant, which no longer had a soul, completely disregarded it, tightly coiling around the fire phoenix's body and refusing to let go.
"Second Soul Skill, Starfire Soaring Sky!" Yuwen Tuo flew up, his left hand, like a blade, ignited with fierce flames and slashed towards the Evil Fire Phoenix. The Fiery Emperor Blade was, after all,
a hundred-thousand-year soul bone skill, far stronger than his first soul skill, Fiery Slaughter Slash. Even the hundred-thousand-year Evil Fire Phoenix, encountering Yuwen Tuo's current unstoppable hand blade, was covered in wounds.
The problem was that the disparity in cultivation between the two sides was too great, and as a hundred-thousand-year soul beast, the Evil Fire Phoenix's physique was not as weak as Shadow Douluo's and Nightmare Douluo's. Yuwen Tuo's Fiery Emperor Blade could wound it, but not kill it.
Even if he cut its neck, it would only leave a bloody mark on its neck, unable to directly sever its head. In this situation, it seemed he had to switch to the Xuanyuan Sword martial soul. Only with the Emperor's Sword under Golden Awakening was there a possibility of an instant kill.
However, at this moment, the Evil Fire Phoenix let out another phoenix cry. From the void, countless pillars of fire suddenly descended, forming a fiery tornado that instantly burned through the tentacles binding it.
"Little brother, this is a racial skill of phoenix soul beasts, Blazing Flame Swirl. Be careful!" Snow Empress reminded.
"Understood. Third Soul Skill, Danfeng Unarmored! Fifth Soul Skill, Heavenly Rainbow Gurgle!" Yuwen Tuo continuously activated two soul skills. First, he put on a set of fiery heavy armor, then his entire body flashed with colorful light.
Danfeng Unarmored was a typical defensive skill. And the Heavenly Rainbow Gurgle state could increase Yuwen Tuo's own fire attribute power by two hundred percent, while also doubling his resistance to fire.
Double defense and double fire resistance. This double amplification made Yuwen Tuo fearless even against the hundred-thousand-year Evil Fire Phoenix's Blazing Flame Swirl.
When the fire tornado enveloped him, he shook his body with a burst of power, dispersing the fire tornado. The Evil Fire Phoenix, however, at this moment, plunged into the magma with a dive.
But it wasn't escaping, because it quickly reappeared. At this moment, all the wounds on its body, inflicted by Yuwen Tuo, had healed. It seemed it also possessed a self-regeneration type soul skill, Phoenix Rebirth.
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