Sunset Forest.
After two days of travel, the Emperor Team's Second Team finally drew close to the habitat of the Flameburst Birds.
In the original timeline, Huo Wu's fourth Spirit Ring granted an offensive Spirit Skill.
Part of the Emperor Team Second Team's tactical coordination had been built by Wu Qi using his knowledge of future events with that ability in mind.
If Huo Wu's fourth Spirit Skill changed, the team's losses would be significant.
"The Flameburst Birds are flying Spirit Beasts. Xiaotian and I will be the main attackers. Huo Wu and Rongrong will provide support. Everyone else stays on the ground and prevents other Spirit Beasts from interfering," Wu Qi arranged.
"No problem."
The group quickly formed up and prepared to move.
Suddenly, Golden Eagle Spirit Douluo secretly transmitted his voice to Wu Qi.
"Young Master, be careful. Someone is planning to attack you."
The enemy was not especially strong, so he had not stepped in personally. Part of him also wanted Wu Qi and the others to gain some real combat experience.
Of course, even if he wanted to interfere, he could not.
"Elder Ghost, why are you—" Golden Eagle Spirit Douluo's expression darkened as he seemed to realize who had sent these assassins.
Ghost Douluo replied indifferently, "I can guarantee that boy won't die, but I can't promise the same for the others. This is also Her Majesty the Pope's intention."
Bibi Dong naturally did not dare completely offend the Worship Hall. After learning that Wu Qi had formed a powerful team, she arranged this assassination attempt in order to gauge the true strength of the Emperor Team Second Team.
As for whether Feng Xiaotian and the others lived or died, she did not care.
At the same time, this was also meant to weaken the influence of the Worship Hall.
Left with no other choice, Golden Eagle Spirit Douluo could only warn Wu Qi in advance through voice transmission, hoping he would react in time.
Wu Qi had not expected that an apparently foolproof training trip would suddenly be disrupted by outsiders.
Since Golden Eagle Spirit Douluo had not eliminated the threat beforehand, it meant their current strength should be enough to deal with it.
Life-and-death combat was something everyone would inevitably experience sooner or later.
Today, it was time for everyone to see blood.
"Stop!"
At Wu Qi's command, no one questioned him. They immediately gathered around Ning Rongrong and entered a defensive formation.
"What happened?" Sun Buyu quickly asked.
Using his perception of airflow, Wu Qi rapidly locked onto the enemy positions.
With a casual wave of his hand, a barrage of feather blades shot outward and embedded themselves into a distant tree trunk.
Then Wu Qi shouted loudly, "If you still won't come out, we're leaving."
Seeing their cover exposed, the hidden assassin squad no longer concealed themselves.
Six assassins stepped out from different directions, surrounding Wu Qi and the others completely.
"Sorry, but I'm afraid none of you are leaving today," the burly leader said with a faint smile, arms folded across his chest.
Wu Qi swept his gaze across them, narrowing his eyes.
"Only six people, and you still dare attack us?"
The leader patiently explained, "No, no, no. We don't carry dead weight. Numerical disadvantage means nothing."
"Allow me to introduce myself. My name is Zhang Jie. If any of you survive today and want someone killed in the future, you're welcome to hire me."
A hired assassination.
Wu Qi frowned.
He had no real enemies in Heaven Dou City. So who exactly had hired these assassins?
Yu Tianheng and the others had motive, but they were far too proud to resort to such underhanded methods. Besides, they were not even at the academy right now, so how could they know the team would be hunting Spirit Beasts here today?
Since Zhang Jie openly revealed his name, it proved he was extremely confident in his own strength. Judging from his attitude, he was also very familiar with Sunset Forest.
Assassins had their own rules. Getting them to reveal their employer was impossible.
This would not be easy.
Sun Buyu lowered his voice.
"I'll hold off that guy. The others are up to you."
Even after removing one opponent, there were still five left. The pressure remained immense.
"Well then, since you have nothing else to say, let the battle begin." Zhang Jie burst into laughter.
The six assassins instantly released their martial spirits.
Three Spirit Kings and three high-level Spirit Ancestors.
Without drawing attention, Wu Qi pulled out the Zhuge Divine Crossbow Tang San had once given him.
Ning Rongrong and Changkong exchanged a knowing glance.
To break the deadlock, they would likely have to use themselves as bait and rely on hidden weapons to turn the tide.
As unwilling as they were to admit it, hidden weapons were their only chance right now.
"Well, children, have you finished discussing things?" Zhang Jie smiled.
Sun Buyu roared angrily, "You're courting death!"
Both he and Zhang Jie were high-level Spirit Kings. In fact, Sun Buyu's spirit power was even one Level higher.
Unfortunately, a teacher was still just a teacher. His real combat ability was far inferior to assassins who had spent their lives fighting on the edge of death.
Still, he would not lose anytime soon.
Wu Qi understood clearly that if Sun Buyu fell, then once Zhang Jie joined forces with the remaining assassins, they would all die.
"Everyone, don't panic. Treat this like an ordinary spirit fighting match. But remember, this is a fight to the death. Killing your opponent is the only way it ends!"
Among the group, aside from Wu Qi and Changkong, Feng Xiaotian was the calmest.
"No need to hold back. Let's enjoy this battle!"
The moment he finished speaking, he shot forward at high speed.
After absorbing the immortal herb, his spirit power had become the highest in the team, and he directly targeted the Level 54 Spirit King.
Wu Qi's eyes sharpened as he faced the other Level 53 Spirit King.
This time, Ning Rongrong's hidden weapon was their key to victory, which meant they had to deliberately expose her position.
These assassins would never expect a support spirit master to possess the ability to kill them.
Cruel as it was, this was the best option available.
"I can do this."
Ning Rongrong looked toward Wu Qi and silently mouthed the words.
"Damn it, let's do this."
This was not Changkong's first time facing such danger. With the Coiling Dragon Staff in hand, he took the initiative and charged forward.
In an instant, both sides collided in chaotic combat.
"A ten-thousand-year fourth Spirit Ring? Kid, you're pretty impressive," the spear-wielding Spirit King clicked his tongue in surprise.
Unfortunately, the employer had specifically forbidden them from killing Wu Qi. Otherwise, he would have loved to twist the boy's head off.
After all, geniuses meant nothing before they fully matured.
Especially for people like them, who had never been geniuses themselves, their hatred toward talented people ran especially deep.
"Fourth Spirit Skill, Wind Spiral Dragon Body!"
The black Spirit Ring shone brilliantly as all of Wu Qi's attributes doubled. The enhancement became even more obvious when he used the Spirit Luan Technique.
This was not Wu Qi's first battle against a Spirit King.
He knew very well that Spirit Kings were fundamentally different from Spirit Ancestors, especially because of the power brought by a ten-thousand-year fifth Spirit Ring.
Trying to kill one across levels in a life-and-death battle was far easier said than done.
No matter what, his and Feng Xiaotian's mission was simple, stall the two Spirit Kings long enough for the others to create opportunities to kill the remaining enemies.
"Nine Treasures turn out the Glazed Tile Pagoda. The Nine Treasures have names. First: Strength. Second: Speed."
Streams of nine-colored light entered the bodies of Wu Qi and the others, including Sun Buyu, increasing their speed and strength by forty percent.
Sun Buyu's combat methods were already solid to begin with. With Ning Rongrong's enhancement, he actually began suppressing Zhang Jie instead.
Of course, boosting people above her own Level consumed a tremendous amount of Ning Rongrong's spirit power, so the battle had to end quickly.
"Damn it! The amplification from the Seven Treasure Glazed Tile Pagoda is terrifying. Kill that girl first!" Zhang Jie roared angrily.
He did not know that Ning Rongrong's martial spirit had already evolved into the Nine Treasure Glazed Tile Pagoda, but the others still instinctively hesitated at the thought of attacking a disciple of the Seven Treasure Glazed Tile Clan.
Not to mention that they were supposed to leave two survivors alive after this assassination mission.
"Damn it, just cripple her first!"
Completely suppressed by Wu Qi and unable to move freely, the Spirit King could only shout out the reminder angrily.
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