C133 Group Fight!

As the group approached, Heixiong's men sprang into action. Two Nine-Star Battle Spirits and three Eight-Star Battle Spirits swiftly launched their attack, capturing Faang Guhang and his companions in the blink of an eye.

"Liu Jin!" Faang Guhang, upon seeing Liu Jin, also noticed seven or eight villagers at his feet—the very ones Wang Dafu had spoken of as missing. It all clicked for him; Liu Jin had orchestrated the entire plot!

"I warned you, there would come a day you'd regret this!"

Liu Jin stepped up to Faang Guhang and delivered two harsh slaps, causing Faang's cheeks to swell instantly. Blood, laced with several broken teeth, spilled from his mouth.

"Your vile plans will never come to fruition!"

Faang Guhang shot Liu Jin a frosty look, then turned his gaze to Heixiong, his voice icy.

"Liu Jin, not only has your own man turned against you, but he's also put all his faith in that guy. You've failed miserably as a village chief."

Heixiong let out a mocking chuckle.

Liu Jin, face darkening with anger, knocked Faang Guhang unconscious. Zhang San moved to crush Faang's head underfoot, but Liu Jin intervened.

"Don't kill him. We can't let this traitor off so easily. And the same goes for the rest of you. You've all betrayed me, and you will all face punishment!" Liu Jin's words hung in the air as he glared at the group of villagers, who were shaking with fear and horror.

"The village chief will come for us, he has to come!" Wang Dafu prayed silently, his mind racing with thoughts of Liu Jin's numerous schemes.

"Village chief!"

Several of the more formidable villagers from Grey Wolf Village arrived at Ning Qi's dwelling, calling out loudly.

Ning Qi emerged from his home and inquired, "What's happened?"

"A group of seven or eight villagers disappeared while out gathering wild fruits. The acting chief led a search party, but now, after several hours, they've vanished too, and nightfall is upon us."

"Stay here in the village. I'll check it out."

Ning Qi gave a nod of acknowledgment and set out. He quickly spotted the trail left by Faang Guhang and the others. Following their path to the edge of the forest, he was suddenly ambushed as multiple bursts of Battle Power erupted, assaulting him from every direction.

Ning Qi was struck in an instant, sent tumbling and flying backwards through the air.

"Liu Jin, were you really driven out of Grey Wolf Village by this kid?" Heixiong emerged, laughing heartily. Flanked by hundreds of his followers, they swiftly encircled Ning Qi.

"We're done for!" Wang Dafu and his companions' eyes filled with despair, which quickly transformed into elation.

"A One-Star Battle King, two Nine-Star Battle Spirits, three Eight-Star Battle Spirits, and over a hundred Grand Battle Masters. You all certainly hold me in high regard," Ning Qi remarked, rising to his feet and nonchalantly dusting himself off as if unscathed.

This turn of events shifted Heixiong's expression from one of mockery to solemnity. By all logic, that previous blow should have been fatal even to a Battle Spirit.

Yet this Peak Grand Battle Master was not only alive but seemingly uninjured. Heixiong's wariness shot up in an instant.

The Haemal Strand above Ning Qi's head plummeted from 112,700 to 35,000. Had his Dragon-shape Prajna Arts not been at the Fourth Level, he would have been dead.

"You've got some skill. It's no wonder Liu Jin couldn't best you," Heixiong said, his tone a mix of amusement and respect.

"You didn't think my vengeance would come this swiftly, did you?" Liu Jin, with Zhang San, Lee Si, and others in tow, approached Heixiong's side, smirking coldly at Ning Qi. He was already plotting the cruel ways he would make Ning Qi suffer to satisfy his vengeful desires.

"I had intended to spare your life, but it seems you're hell-bent on finding your own end," Ning Qi said with a smile. Purple materialized at his side in a flash, launching an assault on Heixiong and his men.

"A Fifth-Rank Purple Lightning Bird!" Heixiong, having anticipated this, led his Battle Spirits in a charge towards Purple.

"Just kill him, and his demonic pet will surely retreat!" Heixiong had come prepared to face Ning Qi, even knowing about the Purple Lightning Bird. He wasn't a match for a Fifth-Rank Purple Lightning Bird, but he and a few of his men could temporarily hold it off.

Then, the more than a hundred Grand Battle Masters he had brought with him would certainly be able to overwhelm and kill Ning Qi.

"Drop dead!"

Liu Jin bellowed with rage and charged at Ning Qi.

Ning Qi popped a High-grade Earth Rank Revival Pill into his mouth and chuckled, "Let me give you a taste of my Eighteen Dragon-Subduing Palms!"

He was completely unguarded, shrugging off the blows landing on him. With a single palm strike, he sent Liu Jin flying and then barreled into the group of Grand Battle Masters brought by Heixiong.

"Congratulations to the Host for slaying a Three-Star Grand Battle Master!"

"Congratulations to the Host for slaying a Five-Star Grand Battle Master!"

The system's notifications blared incessantly.

Ning Qi was dispatching his foes with a single blow.

"Mutated Battle Power!"

"What martial technique is this?"

"Everyone, watch out!"

"Our attacks can't even scratch Ning Qi!"

"Damn it!"

The Grand Battle Masters led by Heixiong were utterly dumbfounded. They had been confident of victory, only to be blindsided by Ning Qi's formidable strength.

"If you've come to Grey Wolf Village, then you're not leaving!"

Ning Qi's laughter boomed as he struck down a Peak Grand Battle Master, whose face was etched with terror.

In his dying moments, his eyes betrayed a flicker of defiance and confusion. How could Ning Qi's cultivation be on par with his, yet make him seem as insignificant as an ant?

"The village chief is incredibly powerful!" Wang Dafu exclaimed, thrilled.

Faang Guhang came to his senses just in time to witness Ning Qi's relentless onslaught. He couldn't help but feel vindicated, remarking, "Liu Jin really screwed up this time!"

"Brother Faang, are you okay?" Wang Dafu asked with concern.

Faang Guhang shook his head. "I'm fine."

By now, most of Heixiong's Grand Battle Masters lay dead, with the survivors gravely wounded. A handful had seen the tide turn and seized the chance to flee.

Noticing the chaos, Ning Qi's lips curled into a sardonic smile as he advanced toward Liu Jin.

"Chief! Watch out!"

Zhang San and Lee Si lunged forward, attacking Ning Qi in unison to cover for Liu Jin. Seeing his allies intervene, panic flashed across Liu Jin's face as he turned tail and ran.

"You think you can escape?"

Ning Qi shattered the skulls of Zhang San and Lee Si, then surged behind Liu Jin, delivering a crushing blow to his back. Liu Jin let out a wail and crumpled to the ground, barely clinging to life.

"Please, don't kill me—I'll own up to my mistakes."

In a panic, Liu Jin looked up at Ning Qi, his voice a threadbare plea for mercy.

"I'll take care of you in a bit."

Ning Qi chuckled and turned to approach Heixiong and the rest. Meanwhile, Purple was dominating them with an overwhelming upper hand.

"Chief! All our men are gone! We need to get out of here now!"

A Nine-Star Battle Spirit shouted urgently.

"This mess is all Liu Jin's fault—we wouldn't be in this situation if not for him!"

Another Nine-Star Battle Spirit seethed with sudden, deep-seated hatred for Liu Jin.