The junior wu-lings launched the initial assault, with two senior wu-lings stationed on the flanks to ensure Qin Feng didn’t escape. Due to the failure of their previous mission, both senior wu-lings dispatched to support had perished, leaving no records of Qin Feng behind—thus, these three had to rely on trial and error. The only source of satisfaction was that Qin Feng had been successfully brought out, and they had acted before the ninja did, significantly improving their overall success rate. Far away, upon seeing the battle had already begun, the ninjas grew anxious. If the Shugō were to act first, they would be left watching others feast while themselves barely getting a sip of soup. They immediately reported to Kōga Ichiku. Kōga Ichiku, his face stern, said, "We never expected the Shugō to move ahead of us. That's impossible—after all, they sent only a few people. How could they be more informed than us? Surely they've been monitoring us, and then gradually infiltrating through the connections. That must be it. You all are such slow-witted pigs! What's the current situation? Who holds the upper hand?" "Hagata was now in a state of panic. He hadn't expected another group to emerge midway, completely disrupting his plans. According to his original strategy, time wasn't the most crucial factor—what mattered most was a well-thought-out plan before taking action, ensuring a decisive victory. After all, this was his own territory; as long as Qin Feng didn't leave, he would always have opportunities. But now things had changed. If the Wu Ling succeeded, he'd only secure the funds for protecting Munenori Nakamura and would fall short on the payment required to eliminate Qin Feng—meaning the cost of killing someone was now higher than that of protecting someone. "What are you waiting for? Go ahead!" he said without hesitation. "Seize the people and make it our people who kill Qin Feng—no matter what, we must secure that opportunity and not leave it to the Wu Ling!" "That means we'll have to go head-to-head with the Wu Ling," the ninja replied. "Of course we will. Otherwise, how would we negotiate with them?" "He said angrily, 'This is our great Sunland, not a land where fairies and spirits can run wild like in Europe. Moreover, it was they who first came to us and snatched our people—why should we be polite to them? If they show any sense, they should yield our people. For those who don't, the most direct solution is to kill them!' 'Understood,' the ninja replied, hanging up the phone and waving his hand with a firm voice. 'The Flow Master has ordered that Qin Feng must be killed. Anyone who dares oppose us shall be executed without exception!' The group surged forward, employing their most proficient technique—first throwing shuriken. Suddenly appearing dozens of figures approaching swiftly with quick, small steps had already stunned three of the spirits. To see such a flurry of projectiles raining down like moths in the sky was even more astonishing." These projectiles were certainly not aimed at Qin Feng. The three hurried to dodge, and while the junior wu ling managed to hold their ground, the two senior wu ling were left looking disheveled. They had to resort to a series of clumsy, rolling evasions—much like a lazy donkey—just to avoid the attacks, ending up looking thoroughly battered. Qin, the young lord, couldn't help but laugh. This was prime business competition! Perfect—while you're all bickering among yourselves, I'll take out the one who has already won. The ninjas didn't care about any of this; they kept launching their throwing swords. The junior wu ling, growing increasingly frustrated, suddenly extended their bone staff and murmured, "Wah, you keep going on and on..." A spherical burst of energy, roughly the size of a yuzu fruit, shot forth and sped toward the largest group of ninjas. Zzzz... Boom... Zzzz... Indeed, the junior wu ling was no ordinary fighter. Their energy spheres were not only larger but also far more potent, sending several mid-level ninjas trembling with electric shock, causing their throwing swords to lose their accuracy. Two senior spirit wizards, restless and eager, joined in with, "Wah, you're always chattering..." Qin, the young noble, found himself idle, stepping aside to observe the clash between the two sides. The spirit wizards' energy orbs clearly outshone the ninja's throwing swords, yet the ninja's strength lay in their numbers—within a short while, they had left three spirit wizards utterly overwhelmed. "Quack! Since everyone's making a living by their own abilities, let's see who has the greater ones," the ninja said with a smile. Six or seven ninjas gathered together and shouted in unison, "Golden Shield Technique!" A golden protective dome materialized, just as the energy sphere struck it, exploding with a thunderous boom. Both the energy sphere and the dome vanished—leaving the ninjas thrilled. As long as they could withstand such attacks, they had already won. The mid-level shenling frowned, having previously underestimated these ninjas, thinking they were merely aiming to win by sheer numbers. Now, it was clear that these warriors possessed real skill. "Final, decisive slash!" A junior upper-ninja leapt high into the air, his short legs swaying gracefully in the air as he held his Eastern long sword and delivered a powerful downward strike. A brilliant white blade of light surged toward the mid-level shenling. Wu Ling sidestepped, her sword striking the ground and leaving a mark over three meters long and forty centimeters deep. Qin, eyes wide, wiped his brow. "Good heavens, I never realized the ninja were this skilled. I've always underestimated them." Two junior Jonin surrounded the jū-ryū Wu Ling, their blades and swords flashing in a flurry of action. The remaining ninja encircled the other two, while a group of reinforcements hid atop a high vantage point, occasionally launching kunai to support their allies and disrupt the enemy's advance. Qin watched intently, shaking his head. "It truly is that there's always someone better—both the ninja and the Wu Ling are so strong. From now on, I must remain calm and composed. I can't keep having that mindset where I think, 'The world is so vast, and I'm just a third-rate player.' Otherwise, I'll definitely fall behind."