Phoenix Sky-Shaking Strike

When the King of the Earth crawled out of the woods, half the excitement drained from Ma Hongjun's face.

It was a giant scorpion, dark red from head to tail and taller than a man even with its body pressed to the ground. Its two front pincers looked like red-hot iron tongs. Behind it, a nine-segmented tail arched high, a mass of purplish-red flame clinging to the tip of its stinger. Each drop that fell burned a black hole in the mud.

Tang San counted the segments of its tail.

"Around forty-five hundred years. Its cultivation is just right. Watch the stinger. Its fire poison can follow soul power into your meridians."

Ma Hongjun swallowed. "Forty-five hundred years doesn't sound that old."

The King of the Earth slammed both pincers into the ground.

A wave of fire swept through the woodland. Ma Hongjun had barely stepped forward when it drove him several meters back. Phoenix flames formed a crimson barrier before him, but the hems of his clothes still ended up scorched with little holes.

Oscar covered his nose. "Not that old. Just a few dozen times older than you."

"Shut up!"

Ma Hongjun's first spirit ring lit up, and he fired a Phoenix Fire Line straight at the giant scorpion. The King of the Earth raised its left pincer to block the flames. Its shell glowed red from the heat, but it barely slowed down. Its right pincer swept across, forcing Ma Hongjun to roll aside.

"Don't try to outdo it with fire," Yuan Yu warned. "Hit the joints."

Dai Mubai had already rushed to the scorpion's left side. A White Tiger Fierce Light Wave struck its second walking leg, followed at once by a heavy punch. Zhu Zhuqing darted in from the other side, striking three times with