Douluo: AFK to Become a God

One week later, in the outer region of the Star Dou Forest.

"Dean Flender, do you think the Fire Phoenix and the Dark Golden Terror Claw Bear have been hunted to extinction?" 

Walking through the forest, Chu Chengzhou asked Flender with some frustration.

They had been wandering the Star Dou Forest for a week, yet they hadn't encountered either the Fire Phoenix or the Dark Golden Terror Claw Bear. 

Chu Chengzhou couldn't help but wonder if these two types of soul beasts were becoming increasingly rare in such a vast forest.

"Your standards are pretty high, and it's only been a week. What's the rush?" Flender responded nonchalantly. It was common for people hunting soul beasts in the Star Dou Forest to not find a suitable soul ring after ten days or even half a month, especially when looking for top-tier soul beasts like the Fire Phoenix or the Dark Golden Terror Claw Bear.

"Clang—!"

Just as Chu Chengzhou was about to reply, a bird cry rang out from the distance.

Immediately, the two exchanged glances and hurriedly climbed up a towering tree to look in the direction of the sound.

Standing amidst the sea of trees, Chu Chengzhou saw a fiery red figure flying toward a mountain in the eastern part of the forest.

"Dean Flender, could that be the Fire Phoenix?" Chu Chengzhou turned to ask Flender.

"I didn't get a clear look, but it's highly likely. Let's go check it out!" Flender said.

Without hesitation, they jumped down from the tree and headed towards the mountain.

This area was the outer region of the Star Dou Forest, where ten-thousand-year soul beasts occasionally appeared. Flender couldn't afford to carelessly fly in the air, as they might encounter flying soul beasts and be caught in a disadvantageous position.

Within half an hour, the two arrived at the mountain they had seen earlier.

Perhaps because the mountain was a dormant active volcano, the vegetation here was sparse, and the air felt somewhat scorching.

Avoiding the soul beasts along the way, the two cautiously made their way to the mountain's peak.

What they saw before them was a giant crater, and at the edge of the crater, there were indeed plants, though they were not abundant. A patch of low-growing, fiery red bushes surrounded a towering tree— a Fire Ailanthus, a ten-thousand-year fire-attribute plant-type soul beast, standing about thirty meters tall with a crown that spanned over a hundred square meters.

At the top of the Fire Ailanthus, there was a massive, fiery red bird's nest.

In the nest, two noble-looking fire-attribute flying soul beasts sat, emitting intense heat.

Seeing the two fire-attribute birds in the nest, Chu Chengzhou's heart stirred with excitement.

These two fire-attribute birds were none other than the King of Birds, the Fire Phoenix, which he had been searching for over the past few days.

The larger Fire Phoenix was difficult to assess in age, but the smaller one appeared to be around five thousand years old, making it a perfect candidate for his third summoned spirit.

Chu Chengzhou: Finally, I found you! I'm so glad I didn't give up!

"Dean Flender, do you think you can handle the larger one?" Chu Chengzhou whispered, turning to Flender.

In terms of rank, ten-thousand-year to million-year soul beasts were comparable to level 91 to 100 soul masters. However, soul beasts were physically powerful, and most soul masters lacked the proper martial souls and soul ring configurations, as well as domain powers. Unless they were exceptional cases, a level 91 Title Douluo was not a match for a ten-thousand-year soul beast.

A Title Douluo who had just entered the ninth ring could defeat a ninety-thousand-year soul beast, while a soul master at the eighth ring could defeat a fifty-thousand-year soul beast.

The Fire Phoenix was a top-tier flying soul beast, and among its kind, it was one of the best. If it was around thirty thousand years old, Flender, at level 78, would likely not be a match for it.

"At around thirty thousand years, it should be manageable. Why? Are you planning to handle the smaller one yourself?" Flender asked, clicking his tongue in curiosity.

"I probably won't be able to keep it," Chu Chengzhou replied after thinking for a moment.

A five-thousand-year Fire Phoenix, in terms of strength, would be roughly equivalent to a top-tier Four-ring Soul King or a Five-ring Soul King with a weak martial soul and poor soul ring configuration.

On his own, Chu Chengzhou was likely not strong enough to defeat it. However, with two summoned spirits assisting him—one a Three-ring Healing Soul Master and the other a Three-ring Support Soul Master—he would have a much better chance.

Of course, it would be difficult for him to handle the Fire Phoenix alone, especially since it could fly and he couldn't.

"Seriously?!" Flender was immediately taken aback, giving Chu Chengzhou a disbelieving look.

Normally, a soul master at level 30 would struggle against a soul beast of seven or eight hundred years, and here Chu Chengzhou was, talking about taking on a five-thousand-year Fire Phoenix by himself.

"Just watch and see!" Chu Chengzhou said confidently as he pulled out a silver bow from his storage soul guide.

"Alright, you better be careful," Flender said, nodding. His cat-eagle martial soul activated, and seven soul rings—two yellow, two purple, and three black—lit up.

"Clang?"

Wild soul beasts were highly perceptive, and the soul power fluctuations from Flender's martial soul activation were immediately detected by the Fire Phoenix in the distant nest.

"Clang!"

With a flap of its fiery wings, the thirty-thousand-year Fire Phoenix flew into the air, glaring at the two of them with hostility.

This type of two-legged soul beast with strange circular patterns on its body was not unfamiliar to the Fire Phoenix, which recognized them as the "Evil Soul Beasts" known for hunting other soul beasts.

If not for Flender's imposing presence and the numerous circles on his body indicating his strength, the Fire Phoenix would have immediately attacked with its Phoenix Fire.

"Heh~ the King of Birds, the Fire Phoenix. I've never fought one in my life!" Flender chuckled as his first, second, and third soul rings lit up. His eagle wings flapped, and he shot into the air.

First Soul Skill, Eagle Strike, which not only had offensive power but also increased his speed.

Second Soul Skill, Cat's Eye, which locked onto the target and improved the accuracy of his soul skills.

Third Soul Skill, Seek Weakness, which allowed him to identify and attack the target's weak points with the unique perspective of a cat-eagle.

"Fourth Soul Skill, Air Blade Slash!"

With three soul skills activated, Flender unleashed his fourth soul skill, sending ten sharp, orange-gold air blades shooting toward the Fire Phoenix.

"Clang—!"

Seeing Flender take the initiative, the Fire Phoenix became furious. It let out a loud cry, and from its slender beak, it spat out a scorching Phoenix Fire.

If Ma Hongjun's Phoenix Fire was a small flame from a lighter, the Fire Phoenix's Phoenix Fire was more like a fierce blaze from a flamethrower.

Not only was there a vast difference in their power, but a mutated old hen could never compare to a true Fire Phoenix.