THE LEGEND OF SHENLI

CHAPTER 20

The scorpion-tailed fox breathed deeply as it went through the process of healing its wounds. It watched Shěn Lí closely, following her every move. The feathers on its body bristled up and down as it breathed in and out, expanding itself almost to the brink of explosion before abruptly contracting and shrinking in again.

Shěn Lí was also eyeing it carefully. She had used her red tasseled silver spear to take the lives of countless monster beasts. A direct hit would normally take a considerable amount of time to heal. This one though. . .

“Your Highness, be careful!” Mò Fāng yelled out from behind just as the scorpion-tailed fox whipped out its tail. Shěn Lí raised her spear and sliced the barb tip off, leaving behind the hardened the root. Focused, she rushed forward without stopping. She shouted out in surprise as her hand snatched at empty air. She had intended to grab the fox’s tail but it exploded before she could. The resulting spray of poisonous fluid shot out towards the troops. Shěn Lí reacted quickly and drew out a gale with a wave of her hand, pushing the spray back towards the fox.

“Hahaha!” The scorpion-tailed fox threw its head back and laughed up at the sky. The sound bearing a marked resemblance to a human voice. Shěn Lí wrinkled her brows. The closer a monster beasts resembled a human the more powerful and difficult it would be to deal with. This one could use poison and had incredibly strong healing powers. On top of that, the troops were fighting at a disadvantage in the miasma. The situation would only worsen with a prolonged battle.

The fox didn’t wait for Shěn Lí to come to terms with the situation. It interrupted her thoughts and said, “Didn’t expect the Demon realm to have such a good successor. Given time, you would surely become a force to be reckoned with. It’s a pity though you won’t get that chance.”

The fox stepped forward in Shěn Lí’s direction. The grievous gash cut into its paw just a moment ago had already healed with barely a scar left to discern the injury. It stuck its entire neck out and gave a ferocious roar before sucking in a deep mouthful of miasma. Before hissing sharply, it looked around with bloodshot eyes, as though it tasted something delicious. The soldiers behind Shěn Lí felt like their ear drums were being pierced. They cried out in pain as their legs trembled and they were forced to kneel down.

At the same time, a new sharper and firmer tip sprouted at the end of the fox's tail. Its body also underwent a change. With a whoosh, its gray feathers exploded outwards. The audible sounds of muscles and flesh expanding ripped through the air.

Its body completely transformed into a larger version of itself. Shěn Lí clenched her teeth, but smiled as Mò Fāng came up to her. “Your Highness, this monster beasts has strong regeneration abilities and is also very good at using poison. On top that it can also absorb magical attacks.”

His words shocked everyone. Did that mean the magical attack Shěn Lí used earlier was actually absorbed? Shěn Lí knit her brows and muttered. “You’re really an annoying beast.” Shěn Lí raised her spear overhead and yelled, “General Shàng Běi! Auxiliary attack!”

Shàng Běi looked over in shock and horror at the monster in the center. He quickly regained his senses and shouted, “Battle formations!” Those soldiers that could move reacted immediately.

The fox watched them with hungry bloodshot eyes. It didn’t watch long as its vision was almost immediately blocked when Shěn Lí leapt up and lashed her spear out. With a loud “ding!” the fox’s newly formed tail clashed against Shěn Lí’s spear. This time, because she used most of her magical reserves earlier, her attack was weaker and failed to sever the fox’s tail. She knew she wasn’t qualified to be its opponent, so right after crossing blows with it, she retreated. Her intent was only to stall and give the soldiers time to ready themselves.