"Wang Jiu, you're far too arrogant!" the Demon Phoenix roared. Crimson flames suddenly flickered across its pitch-black feathers, vanishing in an instant.
Immediately afterward, its talons turned crimson, and a fiery aura rapidly surged forth.
A sharp aura likewise rose from Wang Jiu's claws. Unafraid of the Demon Phoenix's scorching flames, he reached straight for it.
"You've got some nerve!" The Demon Phoenix beat its wings fiercely, then spun, its tiny bird body pulling Wang Jiu into the rotation along with it.
With a smack, the Demon Phoenix kicked Wang Jiu away with its talons, then spread its wings. The feathers at the wingtips suddenly curled up like human fists and hammered toward Wang Jiu's chest.
Wang Jiu swiftly braced both palms against his chest, but he still felt the fierce force of the Demon Phoenix's punch.
With a muffled grunt, Wang Jiu staggered five steps backward before coming to a halt.
"This is infuriating! My strength still hasn't recovered enough. Back then, even injured, I beat so many of you martial realm fellows until you pissed yourselves in terror. To think I can't even defeat someone I beat back then in a single move now." The Demon Phoenix flew onto a nearby tree, sounding rather disgruntled.
"Senior Demon Phoenix, Senior Wang is already an enlightenment realm expert now. Your strength has naturally recovered," Zhu Yang said.
The Demon Phoenix was already over a thousand years old. Though that was still young for a divine beast, Zhu Yang and the others still addressed it as Senior.
Of course, that was mainly because the Demon Phoenix was stronger than they were.
"Bullshit! Wang Jiu was only in the martial realm back then. How many martial realm experts could I handle? Now he's broken through to the enlightenment realm, and my strength