Three days later.
On the back mountain of the Imperial Battle Team, Xiao Lin finally finished reading all the geography books of the Royal Tiandou Academy.
Of course, limited as the academy's collection was, it still wasn't something Xiao Lin could truly finish in just three days.
He had merely skimmed through them, using his powerful spiritual force to forcibly search for keywords such as earthquakes and earth dragon upheavals.
As for sections without keywords, he only gave them a very cursory glance.
In the end, Xiao Lin didn't find a single place in the Tiandou Empire's geographical records that might contain fossils.
Well, no results meant no results—at least half of the wrong answers had been eliminated. Now he just had to wait for the books Qian Renxue would send over.
Suddenly, Xiao Lin heard Xiao Wu's voice by his ear.
"Brother Lin, Teacher Qin Ming says it's time for us to start participating in team battles."
At that moment, Xiao Wu came running excitedly to Xiao Lin's side. She looked extremely enthusiastic, her little face flushed red.
Clearly, she had been looking forward to this team battle for a long time.
Over the past three days, Xiao Lin had also heard some rumors. It was said that Qin Ming had already calculated Xiao Wu and Tang Ni's combat power and decided to have the Imperial Battle Team conduct a six-versus-six team battle.
Originally, Xiao Lin didn't need to participate. But since Tang San had recently taken leave and gone away, Xiao Lin ended up filling in for Tang San and joining one of the teams.
Moreover, in order to restrain Xiao Lin's strength, Qin Ming specifically required that Xiao Lin not use any soul skills, nor his extreme ice or fire attributes.
At this moment, Xiao Lin looked somewhat dispirited. Seeing this, Xiao Wu couldn't help but freeze.
Was this really the always high-spirited Brother Lin?
"Xiao Wu… sigh. Do you happen to know any place on Douluo Continent that once underwent massive changes? Like a mountain suddenly rising up, or a place where a bottomless canyon suddenly appeared?"
"Or somewhere a meteor once fell?"
Hearing Xiao Lin's words, Xiao Wu's brain instantly shut down.
Suddenly, her head seemed to overheat, practically steaming.
"Brother Lin, what are you talking about? I don't understand."
Xiao Wu quickly came back to her senses, shook her head, and gave Xiao Lin a completely clueless look.
"Forget it. I knew you wouldn't know. Let's go—time to fight."
Xiao Lin waved his hand and walked toward the Imperial Battle Team's soul arena on his own.
"Oh…"
Xiao Wu puffed up her cheeks in frustration. She just didn't know—so what?
As a Soft-Bone Rabbit whose combat power wasn't outstanding, she had lived her entire life under the protection of Da Ming and Er Ming, successfully becoming a hundred-thousand-year soul beast. Just being alive was already amazing.
The number of places Xiao Wu had been to was probably less than the amount of salt Xiao Lin had eaten.
Feeling helpless, Xiao Lin ultimately decided to ask Tang Ni instead.
As a Three-Eyed Golden Lion's Auspicious Beast, she must have traveled to many places.
When the two arrived at the soul arena, Qin Ming and the other team members were already waiting.
"Xiao Lin, you're here. Since that's the case, let's begin. First, the two team captains will select their teammates."
Qin Ming said as he looked at Yu Tianheng and Tang Ni among the Imperial Battle Team.
On one side was the original captain, Yu Tianheng; on the other was Tang Ni, whose combat strength had once surpassed Yu Tianheng's. The two serving as captains was both suitable and fair.
According to the rules, each side would take turns choosing one teammate until both teams were formed.
Very soon, Yu Tianheng spoke first and chose his initial teammate.
"I choose Yanyan."
Yu Tianheng and Dugu Yan were lovers. Their mutual understanding was indeed a crucial factor in team battles, and Qin Ming nodded in approval.
"I choose Xiao Lin."
Tang Ni quickly decided on the first member of her team.
Although Xiao Lin was forbidden from using soul skills and other abilities, his formidable physical qualities and soul power quality still made him one of the strongest choices.
Choosing Xiao Lin posed no problem at all. Qin Ming nodded silently.
"I choose Ye Lingling."
After Yu Tianheng chose Ye Lingling, everyone present understood that he intended to go with a poisonous attrition strategy.
In such a scenario, even if Tang Ni chose the Stone Brothers with their incredible defense, they would only be slowly worn down.
"Ning Rongrong."
Tang Ni clearly understood the opposing team's strengths and decisively chose the strongest support.
It seemed that Tang Ni's side was aiming for extreme burst damage.
Qin Ming narrowed his eyes slightly. With both sides choosing like this, even he couldn't tell which side victory would favor.
"Yufeng."
"Xiao Wu."
"Shi Mo."
"Oslo."
"Shi Mo."
"Zhu Zhuqing."
As the lineups were finalized, the two teams stood in two opposing rows.
At this moment, Qin Ming was more optimistic about Yu Tianheng's team. Their full poison-and-damage lineup combined with Yufeng's control abilities put them in a position where they could remain undefeated.
Tang Ni's lineup, on the other hand, looked extremely simple and brutal, lacking any obvious coordination.
But that wasn't entirely true—the core of Tang Ni's team was Ning Rongrong's Nine Treasure Glazed Tile Pagoda.
Qin Ming didn't dare underestimate the explosive potential on Tang Ni's side.
Soon, Qin Ming had both teams step onto the arena to prepare.
Since this was a team match, the Imperial Battle Team's arena was much larger than a single-combat arena. Even with twelve people on stage, it could easily accommodate everyone.
Outside the arena, Qin Ming looked at both teams, suddenly struck by a thought.
Perhaps Tang Ni's team wasn't entirely without merit.
If Ning Rongrong's Seven-in-One Fusion Technique were used to empower Xiao Lin, then Xiao Lin—whose stats were already off the charts—could truly slay gods who blocked his path and Buddhas who stood in his way.
It seemed that the outcome of this battle was still far from certain.
Soon, Qin Ming raised his right hand high, signaling everyone to prepare and giving them one minute to discuss tactics.
On the arena—Xiao Lin's side.
Since this was the Imperial Battle Team's first team battle, Xiao Lin took it extremely seriously.
The team members gathered into a circle, and Tang Ni began announcing the strategy.
"In this battle, we must ensure Rongrong's support. Xiao Wu, you're the fastest—can you guarantee Rongrong's safety?"
Tang Ni asked Xiao Wu first.
Xiao Wu was full of confidence, clenching her small fists. "Don't worry, I'll keep an eye on Rongrong at all times."
"Good. Although I'm assigning you to protect Rongrong, you have another task—to cut down the opponent's backline, Yufeng."
"Mm-hmm."
Hearing Tang Ni's orders, Xiao Wu nodded repeatedly. With greater ability came greater responsibility.
Xiao Wu really liked Tang Ni's trust in her—but she soon became confused.
"Me fighting Yufeng? Not Ye Lingling?"
Xiao Wu's question was also the team's question. Aside from Xiao Lin, everyone else looked puzzled.
Xiao Lin, however, understood this perfectly. The opposing team led by Yu Tianheng would absolutely protect Ye Lingling at all costs. Taking out Yufeng instead would eliminate their control, allowing Dugu Yan's poison to attack indiscriminately.
That would actually be advantageous for their side, because Xiao Lin had his indestructible soul power protection and vigorous blood energy, making him completely unafraid of poison.
Mutual destruction wouldn't really be mutual destruction.
Xiao Lin was very satisfied with Tang Ni's tactics. Although he himself was good at planning strategies in advance, adaptability in the heat of battle was still something to be judged by "Little San."
This time, he could also observe Tang Ni's ability to adapt on the fly.
Soon enough, Tang Ni explained the reasoning—exactly the same as what Xiao Lin had been thinking.
As realization dawned on the others, Xiao Wu revealed a sly smile.
"After taking out Yufeng, Xiao Wu, you can act freely—continue pressuring Ye Lingling if possible."
"Also, Rongrong, I need you to apply buffs to all of us and be ready at any moment for the Six-in-One Fusion Technique, using it on the most suitable person."
"Oslo and Zhu Zhuqing—you're completely countered by the Stone Brothers and lack sufficient defense. Your only objective is to harass Yu Tianheng's group."
This was Tang Ni's strategy—Tian Ji's horse-racing.
One minute later, Qin Ming's voice rang out from below the arena.
"Take your positions. The match begins."
(End of Chapter)