Fire Peacock

"It seemed being a summoner wasn't easy either. To grow stronger, they had to support their summoned beasts and cultivate their skills.

"In contrast, summoned beasts had it much easier. They only needed to protect their summoners, and they could survive safely in that world, unlike this one, which was so dangerous."

Li Xuan felt that signing a contract as an ordinary summoned beast was not bad. He could raise his soul just by sleeping every day.

Most importantly, summoners would devote themselves to nurturing their summoned beasts. It was like having someone help you grow stronger every day. And the key was that it was an equal contract, with both sides bound by certain restrictions.

However, Li Xuan had no intention of forming a contract for now. His current goal was to acquire all kinds of innate abilities.

Once he had accumulated enough innate abilities and become a powerful summoned beast, he could consider other matters, such as raising his soul level.

Li Xuan shook his head and stopped thinking about it, turning instead to how he could find Flame Flowers.

"From my memories, there are no Flame Flowers nearby. But I'm more familiar with the surroundings now. The little river where the Healing Frog lived earlier isn't far from here."

After thinking it over, Li Xuan decided to take a look at that little river.

When that hunting dog had attacked him earlier, Li Xuan had self-destructed and caught the dog in the blast as well.

Li Xuan did not know the exact power of the explosion, so he planned to go over and take a look, to determine just how much damage Self-Destruction could cause.

No sooner said than done.

Li Xuan hopped to the entrance of the cave, swept his gaze around, and after confirming that the area was safe, jumped outside and ran toward the riverbank.

Chirp chirp!

An Azure Sparrow flew overhead, plucked a tuft of fur from Li Xuan's body, and sped away.

Li Xuan glanced at the Azure Sparrow but ignored it and continued running.

According to the Fire-Spitting Rabbit's memories, Azure Sparrows loved using Fire-Spitting Rabbit fur and often came to pluck some away.

In return, whenever an Azure Sparrow spotted a dangerous large creature, it would let out urgent cries to warn the Fire-Spitting Rabbits to watch out.

This mutual cooperation had helped the Fire-Spitting Rabbits survive many dangers. Both sides benefited from it.

"What an interesting Summoned Beast World. Though it's a world where the weak are meat for the strong, there is also mutual benefit, symbiosis, and shared prosperity."

Li Xuan hopped onward, his rabbit ears carefully listening to the sounds around him as he occasionally stood upright to survey the direction ahead.

After more than ten minutes of running, Li Xuan successfully reached the little river. He saw the site of the explosion and the hunting dog that had been blown to death.

Not far away, two mouse-like creatures were confronting each other, seemingly fighting over the hunting dog's corpse.

The two mice were a Big-Toothed Mouse and a Little Fierce Mouse, both low-level summoned beasts.

When they saw Li Xuan approach, they immediately stared at him warily and backed away in fear.

Li Xuan could not be bothered with them and walked straight toward the hunting dog.

The hunting dog's corpse was still relatively intact, with its injuries concentrated around the abdomen. There was a beast core inside it, which could increase the magic power of summoned beasts with the same attribute. It was a pretty good item.

Squeak squeak squeak!

The mice cried out.

Seeing Li Xuan approach the hunting dog, the Big-Toothed Mouse seemed unwilling to let its prey be stolen and actually issued a warning.

Li Xuan ignored it and began searching the hunting dog's corpse for its beast core.

Whoosh!

A sharp sound tore through the air. The Big-Toothed Mouse flashed forward and charged straight at Li Xuan, biting for his neck.

"Courting death!"

Li Xuan abruptly opened his mouth as red light began to shine.

Intense flames condensed into form and shot out like a flaming basketball.

Bang!

Flames surged, and the scent of roasted meat spread through the air. Li Xuan glanced at the Big-Toothed Mouse that had been burned to death and nodded in satisfaction.

"Not bad. This Fireball is very powerful. It truly deserves to be called a Fireball close to the intermediate level."

Li Xuan muttered to himself, his gaze sweeping over the other Little Fierce Mouse.

Squeak squeak!

The Little Fierce Mouse was terrified. It hurriedly turned around and fled into the distance.

Li Xuan ignored the Little Fierce Mouse and continued searching for the beast core. Before long, he found a green beast core.

"Not bad, but I'm going to reincarnate. This is useless to me, so I'll toss it into the auction house."

Li Xuan threw the beast core, the hunting dog's corpse, and the Big-Toothed Mouse into the auction house.

At this moment.

Everyone in the chat channel was talking about the various things they had experienced today. Some were even worrying over food.

"That was so dangerous just now. I almost got taken away by a hunting dog. Everyone, be careful when you go out," Violent Rabbit said.

"What happened? Didn't you have a senior with you? How could you fail to make it back?" Mighty Tiger asked.

"We encountered a hunting dog. A light breeze appeared beneath its feet, making it incredibly fast, and its attacks were fierce. A single bite left a deep wound.

"My senior and I were both bitten. Luckily, several more Violent Rabbits arrived, and only then did my senior and I escape this disaster," Violent Rabbit said, still shaken.

"It was that powerful? What kind of creature is this hunting dog? Why is it so strong?" Mighty Tiger asked again.

"I don't know either. The Survival Guide doesn't contain much knowledge, and there's nothing about this hunting dog. In any case, be careful when you go out," Violent Rabbit said.

"Alright, I'll be careful. Huh? There are new items in the auction house. They're being auctioned by the Shapeshifter Beast boss," Mighty Tiger hurriedly said.

"Really? Let me see." Violent Rabbit curiously opened the auction house as well.

As the two chatted, many people who had been lurking also surfaced and began looking at the auction house items.

"It's a beast core. It can increase wind-attribute magic power. Good stuff, this is perfect for me," Gale Mouse hurriedly said.

"There's also a hunting dog corpse and a Big-Toothed Mouse. I'm still going hungry, while the boss is already generously auctioning things off," Black-Tailed Snake said enviously.

"Shapeshifter Beast boss, I really am a girl. Please form a team with me, I'm begging you." The Illusionary Lark pleaded, eager to cling to a powerful thigh.

Yet while everyone was talking, Violent Rabbit fell silent, staring intently at the hunting dog's corpse.

"Violent Rabbit, why have you stopped talking?" Mighty Tiger asked in confusion.

"I-I'm not refusing to talk. I was just frightened. Do you remember the hunting dog I mentioned earlier?" Violent Rabbit said.

"Of course. Didn't you say you nearly died?"

"Yes. The hunting dog that attacked us looked exactly like the one in the auction house. They are definitely the same type, the same species," Violent Rabbit said solemnly.

"What? Are you sure?"

Mighty Tiger hurriedly asked. His combat power was about the same as Violent Rabbit's, so if Violent Rabbit could not defeat an enemy, neither could he.

But now, such an enemy had died and been thrown into the auction house by the Shapeshifter Beast boss. That was enough to prove how terrifying the Shapeshifter Beast boss was.

"Of course I'm sure. And the hunting dog in the auction house is clearly stronger and more dangerous," Violent Rabbit quickly explained.

"Th-this is far too strong. Shapeshifter Beast boss, please accept my knees."

Mighty Tiger was completely convinced. In the chat channel, he cried and shouted about wanting to cling to Li Xuan's powerful thigh.

Unfortunately, no one responded. Li Xuan could not be bothered with them either, because he had spotted his enemy.

That's right.

It was the flame creature he had encountered when he was a Self-Destruction Insect.

Chirp chirp!

Clear bird cries echoed through the sky as a peacock-like flame creature flew overhead, radiating scorching heat.

A vast amount of fiery red flame burned around the peacock's body, and beautiful sparks occasionally rose from it, making it look exceptionally extraordinary.

Looking at the completely unharmed Flame Peacock, Li Xuan grew solemn, sensing the enormous gap between them.

"According to the Fire-Spitting Rabbit's memories, this Fire Peacock is the overlord of this region. It is incredibly powerful, and one of its favorite foods is Self-Destruction Insects.

"Even Self-Destruction couldn't harm you in the slightest. You truly are a powerful summoned beast. From now on, I'll call you Fire Peacock."

Li Xuan remembered this Fire Peacock and planned to have a good time with it in the future.

He definitely could not beat it now. Increasing his strength was the issue Li Xuan currently had to face, so he prepared to reincarnate once more and see what abilities he could gain.

"I wonder what summoned beast I'll reincarnate into this time. What abilities will I gain? I'm really looking forward to it."