Chapter 9: United Effort

At the back entrance of the basketball gym, after a short while, Zhou Jian quietly withdrew from the window near the lounge ahead.

“What’s going on?” Zhang Xiaofan asked.

“Wang Hu was caught by the bald-headed guy Wu Jun from the senior third class. There are also several of his henchmen over there,” Zhou Jian replied.

“Wu Jun?” Zhang Xiaofan recalled. This man was a minor leader among the senior third class ruffians. Not long ago, it was heard that Wang Hu had beaten him badly, leaving his leg swollen.

“No wonder he’s after Wang Hu—it’s revenge,” Zhang Xiaofan remarked with a strange expression. “But with Wang Hu’s strength, he shouldn’t have been caught by that bald guy, right?”

“That bald guy has someone with him who seems trained. That person is very strong,” Zhou Jian whispered.

“Which level Taoist?” Hu Xiaotian asked.

“At least level three,” Zhou Jian thought for a moment before answering.

Hu Xiaotian took out some copper coins and said, “Let me cast a divination.”

He then quietly approached the window and glanced inside. In fact, the person Zhou Jian mentioned was obvious at first sight, dressed in a powerful outfit that starkly contrasted with those around him.

Moreover, he was seated on a chair, with even the bald-headed Wu Jun showing him respect.

“Looks like it’s him,” Hu Xiaotian mumbled, chanting softly, “Great Daoist spirits from all directions, what is the level of the person before us? Please reveal it quickly!”

He tossed the copper coins, and as they landed, a faint number “four” appeared on them.

Hu Xiaotian’s expression grew serious. “Level four Taoist.”

A level four Taoist was indeed intimidating for Zhang Xiaofan and the others. Although each of them had some special constitution, under the suppression of spiritual force, unless their constitution was extraordinarily extraordinary, most would not stand a chance.

“I’m currently a level three Taoist. How about everyone else?” Zhang Xiaofan pondered for a moment before asking.

He only realized he had reached level three after Qin Xiaoyu told him earlier. According to Qin Xiaoyu, his slight advantage over others was thanks to his right eye—his ghost eye—which could continuously generate spiritual power.

Zhou Jian was astonished. “You’ve leveled up so fast?”

“Yes, I have a special constitution,” Zhang Xiaofan replied.

“If I had known earlier, I would have bought the fire constitution too,” Zhou Jian said, shaking his head. “I’m a level two Taoist. I believe everyone else is about the same?”

Everyone nodded in agreement. Then Zhang Xiaofan said, “In that case, I’ll distract that guy in the powerful outfit. The rest of you take care of the others.”

“Got it!”

“Be careful,” Su Qianqian reminded.

Zhang Xiaofan nodded, took out a large black bag he had prepared earlier, feigned fear, and pushed the door open.

“Who’s there?” Wu Jun looked over, and upon seeing only Zhang Xiaofan, laughed. “Wang Hu sent you to deliver money?”

Wang Hu groaned painfully, “Give him the money and let me go.”

“Stop babbling,” Wu Jun kicked Wang Hu hard several times and then said, “Throw the bag over.”

Zhang Xiaofan glanced around. A few of Wang Hu’s henchmen lay unconscious in the distance, while Wu Jun had at least seven followers. These were not a major concern. The real threat was the man in the powerful outfit, who gave Zhang Xiaofan a dangerous feeling.

The man in the powerful outfit approached coldly. “Hand over the bag.”

Zhang Xiaofan pretended to be frightened, trembling violently, stammering, “I-I-I... brought it... please... let... let them go...”

The man sneered disdainfully. “Coward!”

Without warning, he stepped forward.

Zhang Xiaofan shivered, “D-don’t come closer...”

“Looking for death!” The man swung a heavy fist fiercely. Zhang Xiaofan immediately threw the bag and shouted, “Bomb! Run!”

Everyone’s faces changed drastically, even the man in the powerful outfit dove forward to dodge.

Though strong, he was not invincible and feared the bomb.

While everyone dropped low, Wang Hu, sharp enough to catch the word “run,” kicked away two people beside him and, despite his pain, ran toward Zhang Xiaofan.

Though much was said, everything happened in an instant. Soon, the opponent recovered and the man in the powerful outfit roared, “You dare play with me? Die!”

A gust of powerful wind surged toward Wang Hu. Flames erupted from Zhang Xiaofan’s hands, tinged with white fire; the temperature far exceeded ordinary flames. With a thunderous roar, the flames clashed with the gust.

Though the man’s attack was fierce and extinguished the flames, the extreme heat still burned his hand.

“What the hell is this?” The man retreated hastily, his eyes flickering uncertainly at Zhang Xiaofan. “You students are strange. I’ll report this to my brothers when I get back.”

A murderous glint flashed in Zhang Xiaofan’s eyes. “Then you’ll stay here today.”

Though a level four Taoist, Zhang Xiaofan believed that, combined with his fire constitution, he was capable of fighting. Not to mention his classmates, most of whom were level two Taoists.

“Everyone, come out! Kill!” he shouted.

Behind the door, Hu Xiaotian, Zhou Jian, Su Qianqian, and Jiang Jiewei charged out. Soon, a group of classmates also rushed in through the windows—Zhou Jian had notified them earlier, as there was safety in numbers.

Wu Jun’s face turned pale upon seeing so many. “Wang Hu, when did you get so many people?”

Wang Hu wiped blood from the corner of his mouth. “You don’t know half of it.”

“Don’t think you’re tough just because you have numbers. My uncle is no one you can handle,” Wu Jun gritted his teeth.

Zhang Xiaofan said, “Enough talk, attack!”

“You dare...” Wu Jun’s expression changed as Zhang Xiaofan’s classmates swarmed him.

The man in the powerful outfit roared and unleashed a gust of wind that swept through the students. Several were sent flying, coughing up blood and wailing in pain.

But there were too many opponents, and many were highly skilled.

A usually quiet, slender boy suddenly shot out several black needles from his mouth. Wu Jun’s henchmen were hit; after clutching their chests for a few seconds, their faces turned dark, and they collapsed convulsing before falling still.

Another student suddenly spread wings and flew into the air, wielding a long spear to stab wildly at Wu Jun. Soon, Wu Jun was riddled with holes like a hornet’s nest, dead beyond doubt.

Now only the man in the powerful outfit remained from Wu Jun’s group. A level four Taoist was not easily manipulated. Amid the strange and varied attacks, he defended while grabbing corpses from the ground to shield himself, revealing his abundant combat experience.

More terrifyingly, as the fight dragged on, he gradually edged toward the window, clearly planning to escape.

“Zhou Jian, Jiang Jiewei, block him! Don’t let him get away!” Zhang Xiaofan shouted urgently.