Author Note: Qi, aura, and energy are the same thing. Don’t get confused. I use different terms so that the word "Qi" doesn’t appear every time.
Enjoy!
Chapter 10 | Secret Art: Phoenix Descent
Su Yang cracked his knuckles, as he couldn’t wait to kill the tiger in front of him.
"Grrr!" The tiger growled as it took slow steps forward. The cool night had turned hot under its demonic golden-black aura.
’If I eat it, I can easily gain a few more Blood Qi Wisps.’ Su Yang’s eyes gleamed with light as he took a battle stance, his fists glowing with a white-golden aura, ready for battle.
Thud!
The tiger lunged at him from a few metres away with full force. In a flash, its sharp claw was in front of him. He felt a chill around his face and the odour of blood from the tiger’s mouth.
He murmured, "Undying Phoenix Fist."
An Undying Phoenix materialised behind him, and its claw wrapped around his fist as he slammed it into the incoming claw.
Bang!
A gust of wind blew, shaking the nearby trees as many leaves fell.
The tiger was pushed back a few metres from the impact. Su Yang noticed its claw was trembling from the clash, and the edges of its five nails were broken apart as pieces fell onto the ground.
The tiger’s eyes narrowed as it bellowed, "Roar!"
Its voice shook the area for tens of metres as birds flew away from their nests, leaving behind their newborns and eggs.
Nearby animals also ran away with their tails between their legs.
’It’s at Minor Perfection of the First Realm.’ Su Yang recognised its strength from the attack. His lips curved up. "Combat experience, no one shot."
He dashed forward with Blood Qi around his fist as a Phoenix formed behind him, with one of its claws around his punch.
The tiger didn’t back down as it barked, "Rrrr!"
Shockwaves visible to the naked eye spread out from its throat. Nearby trees and rocks were shattered by them. Su Yang’s ears buzzed. He covered them with his hands, stopping his run. The Phoenix image behind him vanished.
He swiftly used Blood Qi to wrap around his ears. Instantly, he felt relaxed as the tiger’s noise vanished, or rather, he couldn’t hear it due to his aura.
Nirvana Flames healed the little damage he took swiftly.
He waved his palm. "It’s no longer effective, beast. Come on."
His action caused the tiger to pause. It tilted its head. With its small animal brain, it couldn’t fathom how a tiny human in front of it could withstand its special attack. All its enemies, and even the strongest ones it had ever faced, had fallen to its Tiger Roar.
It shook its head and rushed at Su Yang, its body still glowing, powered by its Demonic Qi.
It leapt at him once it closed in.
"Phoenix Fist."
Su Yang used his new technique and once again collided with its claw.
Bang!
The white-golden aura and golden-black aura clashed against each other. Neither backed down.
Su Yang was pushed back one step, but then he increased his output as the Phoenix image behind him glowed even more, pushing the tiger to take one step back while it was still in mid-air.
Both energies, golden-black and white-gold, didn’t stop pushing against each other, but mostly remained in one spot.
The tiger suddenly smiled cunningly.
Su Yang was puzzled, but he didn’t stop. It waved its free claw in front of Su Yang’s eyes and slammed it ahead.
Su Yang followed it up with his free hand. He didn’t forget to wave it in front of the tiger’s eyes.
"Phoenix Fist."
He used the same attack with his left hand. This time, another Phoenix image didn’t materialise. Instead, the second claw of the existing Phoenix behind him wrapped around his fist.
Bang!
An X-shaped clash formed as both tiger paws and Su Yang’s fists connected.
The intensity of their energies increased.
Su Yang scowled. ’Damn, I cannot go all out.’
He could match a Great Perfection of the First Realm expert if he tried his best, but he had only 10 Blood Qi Wisps!
If he went all out, he could only fight for about one minute, and after that, he would be drained of energy and would be left to die. And in a forest full of Demonic Beasts, he couldn’t take that kind of risk.
"Roar!"
The tiger’s lips twitched as it noticed Su Yang’s two hands and its two paws. It checked a few more times, moving its head.
Whoosh!
The aura kept emitting from their clash.
"Idiot!" Su Yang scolded. "I’m human. I’ve got two hands."
He just grinned as he noticed the tiger’s claws were cracking, small at first, but the cracks were expanding. Ten nails were getting chipped off.
The tiger didn’t take it well. Its face paled as it thundered, "Ggrr!"
Shockwaves erupted from its mouth. Su Yang was flung into the air. He fell a few metres away and stood up, rubbing his ears.
"That was too sudden." His ears were still covered with his Blood Qi, but the roar managed to get in and made his ears tingle.
The tiger landed on the ground and scanned Su Yang. It lowered its head at its paws, which were bleeding, and its claws were chipped off more than halfway. Its eyes dimmed as it nodded to itself. It drew a line on the ground and pointed to one side for itself and the other to Su Yang.
It admitted defeat and decided that it would give half of the forest to Su Yang!
The tiger’s eyes were innocent and big.
But in the next second, it pivoted swiftly and ran with its tail tucked between its legs.
Su Yang shook his head to stop the buzzing sound in his ears and surveyed his surroundings. "Let’s end this."
He wanted a battle to feel a thrill and gain combat experience. However, he was tired from training for an entire day, and the noise was getting to his brain.
He clenched his palm in fury and yelled, "Undying Phoenix Fist Secret Art: Phoenix Descent!"
And punched into the air.
A white-golden Blood Qi rushed out of his fist and changed into a majestic white Phoenix. It was very similar to the Phoenix that Su Yang spotted when he acquired Phoenix Stance.
KRAAAAH!
The Phoenix spread its wings and hissed as it dashed at the fleeing tiger.
The tiger’s body jolted as it glanced back.
Whoosh!
The Phoenix was too fast. It caught the tiger in a flash and wrapped itself around its body.
The tiger’s body twitched as the Phoenix tightened its wings around it and lit up with white-golden flames.
Zzz!
Smoke began to fill the area. Su Yang panted as he fell to the ground.
"Secret art." He muttered, "It’s a game changer." He checked his reserves. "Only 1 Blood Qi Wisp left."
’It’s enough to run away!’ He stood up as the tiger fell to the ground dead.
He wiped out the flames as they were born from his Blood Qi. He checked the tiger’s body. It had turned golden in colour, nicely cooked.
An aroma filled the area. Su Yang’s nose twitched as his stomach grunted.
"Grr!" It was unable to wait to digest it.
Su Yang noticed the tiger’s hide had burnt away into dust.
’Pity. It would’ve been a great amount of money.’ He sighed.
He then glanced at the screen in his vision.
[ Undying Phoenix Fist
Introduction 10/100 ]
"As expected, only a battle can improve skills faster." He couldn’t control his laugh. "Hehe."
[ Undying Phoenix Fist Secret Art: Phoenix Descent
Power and mastery depend on Undying Phoenix Fist ]
"Secret art!" Su Yang rubbed his chin. "I acquired this suddenly when practising Phoenix Fist. I don’t know what it is."
He decided to inquire with his master about how and why he got it. He then picked up the tiger as he returned to the previous cave.
"Can I eat it?" He glanced at the tiger, which was still hot and emitting a sweet smell. He licked his lips.
"It possesses Demonic Qi, which is harmful to humans." He folded his hands and couldn’t decide.
"Let’s try a small piece first." He cut a small piece of flesh from the tiger using a stone and threw it into his mouth.