16: Chapter 16 Yan's Backstab, Ji Xuan Seriously Injured

Early the next morning.

The group began to move out. Instructor Zhang did not accompany them; she stayed behind to provide support, as this was a trial meant for the students themselves.

Moreover, with as many as thirty people, it would be impossible for her to look after everyone on her own.

Half an hour later.

The team had quietly approached the destination, and each group was preparing to disperse according to the established plan to infiltrate from different directions.

Ji Xuan's footsteps faltered; he sensed a strong feeling of crisis.

At this very moment, a sudden change occurred!

An invisible mental fluctuation permeated the surroundings without warning, enveloping everyone within.

"Watch out!" a student exclaimed.

But it was too late. Most of the students' eyes instantly turned hollow and dull, and they froze in place, having lost their self-awareness.

It was an illusion-type Spirit Ability; this seemed to be a trap...

Ji Xuan's heart tightened. Possessing the Wisdom Skull, he was not significantly affected.

Besides him, Hu Liena, Xie Yue, and Yan, who had higher Soul Power, also barely managed to remain conscious.

Ji Xuan released his Spirit, the Sword of Order, two purple spirit rings appearing beneath his feet as he scanned his surroundings with a sharp gaze.

Xie Yue and Hu Liena did not hesitate, immediately unleashing their Spirit Fusion skill, Enchantment.

"Swish, swish, swish, swish."

Four figures charged out from the distance.

One Spirit King, two Spirit Ancestors, and one Spirit Elder, all with the optimal spirit ring configuration.

Among them, the Spirit Ancestor man whose Spirit was the Blood Blade dashed straight toward Enchantment.

Another Spirit Ancestor man whose Spirit was the Blood Axe charged toward Yan.

The remaining two were a man and a woman; the Spirit King man's Spirit was the Blood Bat, and the female Spirit Elder's Spirit was the Soul-Devouring Vine.

The two moved left and right, forming a pincer movement, their auras locking onto Ji Xuan tightly.

"Your target is me?"

Ji Xuan scanned the two of them and spoke coldly.

This operation was too suspicious; it seemed to have been premeditated...

The Spirit King man sneered, "Kid, so what if you know? Today is your death day!"

These people were originally going to be escorted to Slaughter City, but someone had suddenly told them that as long as they eliminated Ji Xuan, they could be granted their freedom.

"First Spirit Ability, Soul Devour."

The female Spirit Elder took the initiative, using her first Spirit Ability as several black vines swarmed toward Ji Xuan.

Soul Devour was a control system Spirit Ability that could bind enemies and absorb their Soul Power and vitality.

"Second Spirit Ability, Thunder Sword Qi."

Ji Xuan's second spirit ring lit up, and golden electric arcs danced across the blade.

With a flash of the sword, the vines were severed all over the ground, the cut ends charred black by electricity and emitting wisps of black smoke.

"Second Spirit Ability, Bat Shadow Clone."

The Spirit King man unleashed his Spirit Ability, manifesting two solid Clones and attacking Ji Xuan from three directions simultaneously, blocking his retreat.

"First Spirit Ability, Traceless Wind Shadow."

Ji Xuan's first spirit ring flashed, his speed surging as he tapped his toes and his figure turned into an afterimage.

"Boom—!"

The attacks of the three figures landed simultaneously, the Clones dispersed, and dust filled the air.

The dust settled, but Ji Xuan was nowhere to be seen...

"Sword Intent of Wind and Thunder."

Ji Xuan's aura suddenly soared, his speed and attack power multiplied, and the lightning power on his sword became violently intense.

"Watch out behind you!"

The Spirit King man hurriedly shouted a sharp warning to the female Spirit Elder.

Ji Xuan had somehow appeared behind the female Spirit Elder.

"Extreme Wind: Meteor Kill!"

The wind elements around Ji Xuan gathered frantically, and a solid golden Sword Qi suddenly sliced through the air, shooting rapidly toward the female Spirit Elder's back.

The female Spirit Elder's Soul Power was only at Rank 36, and as a control system Spirit Master, she had no defensive capabilities at all.

She hurriedly turned around, wanting to control the vines in her hands to block in front of her, but it was too late.

"Puchi!"

The Sword Qi pierced through the female Spirit Elder's chest with a roar. Her eyes widened in disbelief, blood spilling from her mouth as she fell straight backward.

"What?!"

The Blood Bat Spirit King's pupils constricted. The intelligence report hadn't mentioned that this kid had such terrifying explosive power!

"Third Spirit Ability, Blood Wing Wild Dance!"

The Spirit King man quickly composed himself and released his third Spirit Ability, a pair of blood-colored bat wings condensing on his back.

He flew into the air, and countless blood-colored energy arrows poured down like a rainstorm.

Seeing this, Ji Xuan flashed, and to his surprise, he also stood in mid-air.

The Spirit King was shocked; he hadn't expected the kid to be able to fly as well, so he hurriedly shifted the direction of his attack.

"Extreme Wind: Sunset Shine!"

Several streaks of Sword Qi were unleashed.

"Boom!" "Boom!" ... "Boom!"

The Sword Qi and the blood-colored arrows collided with a roar, emitting bursts of explosions.

This kid... where did he get so many self-created Spirit Abilities?!

"Fourth Spirit Ability, Blood Rending Claw."

The Spirit King man's hands turned into blood-colored claws. With a flap of his bat wings, he transformed into a streak of blood-colored light and dashed straight at Ji Xuan.

"Divine Sword Controls Thunder!"

Ji Xuan channeled the power of heavenly thunder, his attack power significantly increased, and he stepped on the wind to meet him.

"Clang..."

Golden lightning and blood-colored light constantly alternated... In just a few breaths, the two sides had exchanged over ten blows.

Ji Xuan used the force to retreat, hovering in mid-air and panting slightly.

The gap in Soul Power Rank was too large... The opponent was at least a Rank 52 Spirit King.

If it weren't for his lightning power being able to counter the opponent, he would have likely been defeated long ago.

Just then.

In the distance, the Blood Axe man fighting Yan was 'sent flying' by a punch from Yan, blood spilling from his mouth as he fell into some ruins.

Before his 'defeat', the Blood Axe man gave Yan a look.

Yan's eyes flashed as he remembered the task given by Supreme Pontiff Bibi Dong, and he instantly understood.

Yan quickly composed himself and looked toward Ji Xuan, who was fighting fiercely with the Spirit King man in the distance. He covered his hands with flaming rocks and charged toward the battlefield.

"Ji Xuan, I'm here to help you!" Yan shouted loudly.

Ji Xuan glanced over; in the distance, Hu Liena and her brother's Enchantment were still in a bitter fight. How could Yan have finished so quickly?

A trace of doubt flashed through his mind, but the Spirit King's fierce offensive left him no time to think carefully.

With his current strength, the hope of defeating the Spirit King man alone was slim.

Ji Xuan flipped his wrist and attacked the Spirit King man with his sword again.

Yan attacked from the other side.

"Hmph, it's all the same no matter how many come!"

The Spirit King man flashed his figure, easily dodging the combined attack of the two.

"Ji Xuan, I'll pin him down, you look for an opportunity!"

Yan roared and attacked fiercely.

The three of them immediately engaged in a chaotic battle, with Ji Xuan's full attention locked onto the Spirit King...

After several rounds, the Spirit King man actually revealed an opening.

Ji Xuan's eyes sharpened, the Sword of Order flashed with lightning, and his Sword Intent of Wind and Thunder was pushed to the limit as he thrust straight toward the Spirit King man's heart.

"Fifth Spirit Ability, Blood Armor."

Dark red armor suddenly covered the Spirit King man's entire body.

"Chii—"

Ji Xuan's heart sank; the sword tip had only penetrated an inch.

"Caught you!"

Just as Ji Xuan prepared to retreat, the Spirit King man's claws tightly gripped Ji Xuan's Sword of Order, a ferocious smile appearing on his face.

Ji Xuan tried to pull out his sword, but it was held firmly by the opponent.

Yan, who was on the side, saw this and punched toward the Spirit King man.

But just as it was about to hit, the punch that should have struck the Spirit King changed its arc at the very last moment... and headed toward Ji Xuan.

Ji Xuan caught a glimpse from the corner of his eye; at such close range, he had no time to dodge!

"Crack!"

The sound of bones cracking rang out.

Ji Xuan flew out like a kite with a broken string, crashed into a tree trunk in the distance, and fell heavily to the ground.