Accompanying the Phoenix

Chapter 20: Fighting the Scorpion-tailed Fox

The scorpion-tailed fox breathed deeply as it went through the process of healing its wounds. It watched Shen Li closely as it followed 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.

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

"Your Highness, be careful!" Mo Fang yelled out from behind just as the scorpion-tailed fox whipped out its tail. Shen Li raised her spear and sliced the barb tip off leaving behind the hardened the root. Without stopping she rushed forward, her vision focused. 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. Shen Li 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 towards the sky. The sound bearing a marked resemblance to a human voice. Shen Li wrinkled her brows. The closer a yao shou 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 as the battle prolonged.

The fox didn't wait for Shen Li to sort it all out. 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 moved forward in Shen Li's direction. The grievous gash she cut into its paw just a moment ago had already healed. There was barely a scar left to discern the injury. It stuck its entire neck out and let out a ferocious roar. After sucking in a deep mouthful of miasma, it looked around with bloodshot eyes, as though it tasted something delicious. It gave a sharp piercing hiss that stabbed the eardrums of everyone present. The soldiers behind her let out a cry of 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. Shen Li clenched her teeth but smiled as Mo Fang came up to her. "Your Highness, this yao shou 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 Shen Li used earlier was actually absorbed? Shen Li knit her brows and muttered. "You're really an annoying beast." Shen Li raised her spear overhead and yelled, "General Shang Bei! Auxiliary attack!"

Shang Bei 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 in order to keep everyone in its line of sight. It didn't watch long as its vision was almost immediately blocked as Shen Li leapt up and lashed her spear out. With a loud "ding!" the fox's newly formed tail clashed against her spear. This time however she to failed to sever the tip. She had used most of her magical energy earlier, so this attack was much weaker than the one before. She knew she was not 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.