"Sacrifice!" Huo Feng commanded in his mind without a moment's hesitation.
[Ding!] [Sacrifice of Zhao Wuji was successful!] [Hidden mission completed!] [Mission rewards have been distributed!] [Reward: Host's spirit power has been increased by five levels!] [Sacrifice points increased by 1,500!]
Huo Feng had no time to process the stream of notifications from the system. His entire focus was locked on Zhao Wuji.
The moment Huo Feng's ability activated, Zhao Wuji felt a sudden, dizzying spell wash over him. The sharp, needle-like pain in his kidney was momentarily forgotten as the world began to spin. The feeling was brief, lasting only for the span of two breaths, but at this level of combat, it was a fatal mistake. That brief interval was all it took for his massive body to lose its balance.
BANG!
Under the combined, desperate push from Huo Feng, Xiao Wu, and Zhu Zhuqing, the mighty Zhao Wuji crashed heavily to the ground. Because his Vigorous Vajra Bear transformation made him so large and heavy, the force of his fall was immense. He landed face-first, his head sinking completely into the soft mud.
"Hiss—!"
Dai Mubai, watching the battle from a safe distance, sucked in a sharp breath. This group of newcomers was terrifying! He knew Teacher Zhao wasn't fighting seriously and had only activated his Martial Soul without using any powerful spirit skills. And yet, these four had not only managed to injure the Spirit Saint, but they had also humiliated him, leaving him in this miserable state.
"They're really going to be in trouble now," Dai Mubai muttered, glancing at the incense stick stuck in the ground. It had already burned down by two-thirds. If they could just hold on for a little longer, they would pass the test.
At that moment, Zhao Wuji pushed himself up from the ground, covered in dirt and fury. He slowly dusted himself off, but the playful look on his face was gone, replaced by a cold, serious expression. He had just been toying with a few kids who were only at the Spirit Elder and Spirit Grandmaster level. He never imagined that his own carelessness would lead to him, a renowned level 76 Spirit Saint, suffering such a loss.
"Alright, kids. Playtime is over," Zhao Wuji growled, his voice low and dangerous as he settled back into a defensive stance. "Keep coming!"
Huo Feng, Xiao Wu, and Zhu Zhuqing exchanged a look, a silent understanding passing between them. They had to end this now.
"Third Spirit Skill: Light Wing Continuous Slash!"
As Huo Feng called out the skill's name, the black ink-like dagger in his hand transformed once again. A brilliant golden light flared, and in its place was a massive, golden greatsword that seemed to shine with the light of the sun itself. The weapon was incredibly heavy, and Huo Feng visibly strained just to lift it. As he prepared his attack, Xiao Wu and Zhu Zhuqing shot forward again.
Swish! Swish! Swish!
Huo Feng swung the golden greatsword, unleashing three beams of pure light that shot directly at Zhao Wuji. The dazzling glare was so intense that it momentarily blinded the Spirit Saint. In that split second of disorientation, Xiao Wu and Zhu Zhuqing arrived.
By the time Zhao Wuji's vision cleared, he saw Xiao Wu in front of him and swung a massive palm to swat her away. But Xiao Wu, with her incredible agility, suddenly changed direction in mid-air, causing his attack to miss completely. Instead, she twisted her body and landed a solid kick on his shoulder.
At the same time, Zhu Zhuqing's two yellow Spirit Rings lit up. Her mismatched blue and green pupils constricted, and her speed suddenly exploded.
"Second Spirit Skill: Netherworld Hundred Claws!"
Relying on a rapid spin of her body and the piercing power of her claws, she unleashed a devastating attack. The Netherworld Hundred Claws could deliver hundreds of strikes in a very short period, all aimed at the exact same location to maximize damage. She became a blur of motion, like a rapidly rotating gear, as her claws raked across Zhao Wuji's back.
Just then, Huo Feng's three beams of light struck Zhao Wuji's chest head-on. The terrifying power behind the attack finally broke through his defense, leaving three shallow, bleeding cuts on his skin, accompanied by an intense burning sensation.
"Hah!" A cold light flashed in Zhao Wuji's eyes as he let out a furious roar. The first of his seven Spirit Rings—a yellow one—suddenly flared to life. An overwhelming wave of golden light burst from his body. Xiao Wu and Zhu Zhuqing, who were right beside him, were instantly blasted away by the force.
Huo Feng rushed forward, catching both girls before they hit the ground. The shockwave was so powerful that even he felt the blood surge in his chest, and he could taste the faint metallic tang of it in his throat.
Ning Rongrong, standing at the back, watched with anxiety. As an auxiliary-type Spirit Master, there was nothing she could do in this situation. What Zhao Wuji had just used was only his first spirit skill, but coming from a level 76 Spirit Saint, its power was still absolutely terrifying.
Huo Feng glanced down and saw that only a tiny nub of the incense stick remained. Time was almost up. He looked at Xiao Wu and Zhu Zhuqing; they were injured and clearly in no condition to continue fighting.
In that case, it's all up to me.
He gently set the two girls down. "First Spirit Skill: Sword-Breaking Slash!" "Second Spirit Skill: Blazing Fire!" "Third Spirit Skill: Shadow Strike!"
Huo Feng's first three Spirit Rings lit up simultaneously as he unleashed a final, desperate barrage on Zhao Wuji. A hint of surprise flashed in the Spirit Saint's eyes. From the start of the battle until now, the kid had been fighting relentlessly. He couldn't believe he still had enough spirit power left to use three skills in a row.
By the time he refocused, the two completely different sword beams from Huo Feng's first and second skills were already upon him. Zhao Wuji simply stretched out a huge palm and swatted them out of the air, where they dissipated into harmless spots of energy.
He looked up, but the spot where Huo Feng had been standing was now empty. The boy was gone.
Pfft—!
Almost instantly, that same, horribly familiar pain erupted from the back of his waist.
Zhao Wuji's face turned black. This kid's tactics were truly sinister! Of all the places to attack, he kept aiming for his kidneys, one of the weakest points in his defense. What man could stand this?
Having succeeded with his sneak attack, Huo Feng flashed backward, retreating five meters away in an instant.
Zhao Wuji clenched his fists in pure rage, his second Spirit Ring flaring to life. He was about to unleash his full power on the boy when a voice called out from the side.
"Teacher Zhao, the time for one stick of incense has passed."
It was Dai Mubai. Zhao Wuji froze for a moment, then turned to look. The incense stick stuck in the ground had indeed burned out completely. He could only nod, his face a mask of frustration.
"You kids are lucky!" he grumbled. After saying that, he clutched his aching lower back and walked away without another glance.
Meanwhile, in an ordinary blacksmith shop in Soto City, a boy of about twelve or thirteen was hammering away at a piece of hot iron, his forehead beaded with sweat. His skillful and practiced movements earned looks of admiration from the shop owner nearby. For such a young child to possess such forging skills, he was truly a talent.
If Huo Feng had been there, he would have immediately recognized the young blacksmith.
It was Tang San.
After failing to pass the entrance examination at Shrek Academy, Tang San had been extremely depressed. He had returned to Soto City, but he'd already given all ten of his gold spirit coins to the academy as an application fee. Penniless and alone, he could only find a job at a blacksmith shop to survive, at least for a place to stay and food to eat.
"Teacher said he would come to Soto City soon after he finished his business in the imperial capital," Tang San thought to himself, his grip tightening on his hammer, his eyes filled with determination. Grandmaster had told him that he had some connections to Shrek Academy. As long as his teacher came, he was sure he could still find a way to get in.
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