Spirit Cultivation

"Yes. I reverted it back to normal. Now the time flow is similar to the outside world," Xuefeng confirmed, not hiding anything especially to a giant Spirit Beast that could kill them easily.

Compared to her, Drakos was still a hatchling.

"Oh! So you took over the old man's ability? Cool!" The Phoenix nodded with its head as if she learned something interesting.

"So we don't need to hurry anymore?" Wuying asked as she took a deep breath. "This place is much better to cultivate compared to the Capital. The air is filled with Spirit Qi."

"We have a lot of time and if we need more, I can even try speeding up the time for us," Xuefeng suggested. "I didn't test it yet but it is definitely possible."

"Perfect!"

In the previous scenario, they only had three months to reach the Peak of Human Cultivation which would require them to cultivate constantly with the assists of many pills. It wasn't the healthiest method.

Prolonging the time period allowed them to focus on different things aside from cultivation like mastery of their skills or polishing their battle capabilities.

Just as Xuefeng thought the Phoenix would forget about her fight with Drakos, she glared at him and challenged.

"Little Dragon! Are you ready for a battle?!"

"Can't you see how injured I am? I can't fight in this state!" Drakos acted according to the plan, trying to look as hurt as possible.

"How about postponing the fight for the later date? It would be best if both participants are

"It doesn't matter if he is hurt or not. I'm only interested in beating him up," the Phoenix replied casually and pointed with its wing at Drakos. "Either you follow me or we will fight here. Your choice."

After that challenge, there was nothing Xuefeng could do anymore. Drakos was too evil to die prematurely and everyone knew that the worst people lived the longest so Xuefeng wasn't about his survival. What he worried about were them, the viewers, who definitely shouldn't be in the middle of the arena.

Xuefeng whispered a command in their minds and they quickly dipped, gathering at the corner of the nest.

"Hey! Don't leave me alone!" Drakos called out in panic, seeing everyone leaving but Xuefeng couldn't help him this time.

"I'm sorry but you are on your own. You started it so now you should end it," Xuefeng called out from the distance, setting up a barrier around everyone just in case.

Ming told him clearly that they had no chance of defeating that Phoenix, at least not in their current state. She was already close to the peak of the Immortal Stage, far, far stronger than the Wolf Leader and the Old Man they defeated earlier.

Just like in Spirit Cultivation, Spirit Beasts ascended after breaking through Rank 9 which was the equivalent of Spirit Monarch Stage. Once reaching the Heavenly Realm, the differences between Humans and Spirit Beasts were non-existent. There wasn't much difference in how the two cultivated.

Ming saved the explanation for later, wanting to educate everyone at the same time but he knew the Cultivation Path would only start for him in the Heavenly Realm. Everything he experienced so far in this world was just baby steps for every Cultivator.

The only thing Ming told him were the three big parts of Heavenly Cultivation.

God Stage, Immortal Stage, and Celestial Stage.

Each stage split into multiple other ranks he had no idea about. He only learned afterward that the only reason why we defeated the Wolf Leader was his recent breakthrough into Immortal Stage and their Dual Domain just happened to perfectly counter him.

They wouldn't be able to repeat the same stunt with other Spirit Beasts of that level that easily.

'So this Phoenix will turn into her Human form once she reaches the Celestial Stage, right?'

'Yes. She is close. Just a few more years should be enough for her,' Ming replied.

'How strong the Immortal Stage Spirit Beast actually is…?' Xuefeng wondered as he looked at the two legendary beasts in the middle of the nest.

One gigantic, the other not even reaching to his belt.

Only one could win.

———

"Fuck…" Drakos cursed under his breath as he stood one on one against the giant bird. "If you think I'm scared of you then you are greatly mistaken!"

His swollen face healed in a blink, reverting him back to normal before the battle even begun.

Only Phoenixes dared to stand tall in front of Dragons and he had to be so unlucky to meet one while he was still growing back to his original power. Both races were natural enemies, challenging each other to claim the only Title that mattered to them.

'The Kings of Flames.'

Both sides claimed their Flames were more powerful yet they never finished the battle once and for all.

"Hahaha, good! I thought you will pretend you are hurt as I beat you," the Phoenix laughed as she extended her wings.

Swoosh!

A fan of flaming feathers shot out from her wings, creating a thick circular barrier made of colorful flames.

"You are not going to escape me this time," the Phoenix called out happily to which Drakos sneered.

"Tsk, as if I'm scared of your flames! Even if I'm much weaker now, I'm still Drakos the Legendary Dragon!" Drakos called out, full of confidence, and approached the barrier with his hand extended. "I'm the Burning Maniac! The Flaming God! The— Ah! Fuck, it burns!"

Right as his hand touched the colorful flames, his words stuck in his throat and he couldn't help but scream. His beautiful dark blue scales charred black in a split second, unable to stop the Phoenix Flames.

Huuu! Huuu! Huuu!

Drakos blew on his hand to ease his pain but it didn't help at all.

"Hahaha! You are so funny! Did you think you can actually handle my Flames? Laughable!" the Phoenix laughed loudly, cracking up at Drakos' stupidity.

"Hey! It's unfair! I didn't even awaken my own flame yet you want to fight me. How shameless of you!" Drakos argued, keeping his confident attitude but one could see he was panicking. "How dare you bully kids?! If you are so powerful, why don't you wait for me to grow, and then we can face each other!"

He sucked on the burn in between his words, using his saliva as a healing panacea.

Too bad, the Phoenix didn't care.

"Who has the time for that? Do you think I care about a Little Dragon like you? Die!"

The Phoenix opened her beak and suddenly Drakos' eyes widened. "Not good!"

Swoosh! Swoosh! Swoosh!

Three Fireballs got shot in quick succession, aiming at his front, right and left, forcing him to duck to avoid it yet they exploded in contact with the ground, splashing all over him.

Auu!

He blocked the flames with his wing, suffering immense pain.

Thud! Thud!

He smacked his wing against the ground, extinguishing the fire only to face another fireball.

Bang!

He blocked with the second wing, blown away several meters back.

It was a losing battle! He couldn't even fight back!

Both of his wings were both burned, his arm as well. It wasn't a beating. It was a daylight murder!

"Any last words Little Dragon?" the Phoenix asked playfully as she extended her wing, aiming the tip at Drakos' head.

"Wait! Don't kill me!" Drakos pleaded, grabbing his last chance for survival. "I already had my Human Form once! I know how to cultivate faster! I have a special method! I can help you!"

He closed his eyes, covering his face so he can die handsome yet the Phoenix execution didn't come, only her voice did.

"What method?"