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"Know yourself and know your enemy, and you will never be defeated in a hundred battles."
"First, you should all understand the basics of Team Shrek." Ye Lan distributed several files among the members of the Royal Fighting Team.
Everyone in the Royal Fighting Team began to look through the information on Shrek.
A few moments later.
Ye Lan asked, "What are your thoughts on Team Shrek?"
Osaro was the first to speak up. "I feel that apart from the White Tiger and the Seven Treasure Glazed Tile Pagoda, there's no one else worth paying attention to. Their average rank is far lower than ours."
Yu Feng agreed, "Osaro's right. Is that red-haired fatty's Spirit actually an Evil Fire Phoenix?"
"That Evil Fire Phoenix Spirit is certainly living well in that red-haired fatty's body; he's eaten so much he looks more like a plump chicken!"
"Haha! Hahahaha!" The members of the Royal Fighting Team burst into laughter.
They truly hadn't expected the Spirit of that lecherous, red-haired fatty to be the Evil Fire Phoenix. Who's ever heard of a phoenix that fat?
Yu Feng asked, "Captain Ye, can he even fly? And will my Spirit be suppressed by his?"
Ye Lan answered, "From what I understand, he can't fly yet. However, no matter how fat a phoenix gets, it's still a phoenix. So, Yu Feng, your Windchime Bird is bound to be suppressed by him."
Yu Feng said disdainfully, "He's just a flightless phoenix. Even if my Spirit is suppressed, I can still soar through the sky as I please!"
After completing his hellish training, he could fly with ease even if his wings were broken.
What did Spirit suppression matter?
Ye Lan nodded, acknowledging Yu Feng's current mastery of flight.
Dugu Yan spoke up, "Tang San's Spirit is also Blue Silver Grass! Is his as powerful as our idol's?"
The members of the Royal Fighting Team all turned to look at Ye Lan, the prime example of excellence right before them.
The notion of Blue Silver Grass being a trash Spirit had long vanished from their minds.
They had never seen 'grass' that grew over ten meters tall!
Ye Lan said, "Don't worry, my Blue Silver Grass is an exception. However, Tang San's is quite unique. His follows a path of poison and control."
"His Blue Silver Grass Spirit's three abilities are: 'Binding,' 'Parasite,' and 'Spider Web Prison'."
"What's most noteworthy is the inherent poison of Tang San's Blue Silver Grass."
"Although its toxicity isn't on par with Dugu Yan's, it's a neurotoxin, so it certainly won't be weak."
At that moment, Ye Lan felt a twinge of regret that he had become completely immune to the Blue Silver Grass poison during his last fight with Tang San.
Otherwise, he would have been able to test the effects of Tang San's poison for himself.
"'Binding'? What kind of idiotic Spirit Ability is that? Captain Ye's Blue Silver Grass can restrain people on its own, can't it?" Yu Tianheng complained, recalling the day he had been ensnared by Ye Lan.
Yu Feng added, "Exactly, he completely wasted a Spirit Ability slot. Didn't anyone guide him when he was choosing his Spirit Rings?"
Qin Ming spoke up, "He had a teacher. I heard that Tang San's master is the man once known as the continent's number one theorist, Grandmaster Yu Xiaogang."
Yu Tianheng muttered, "Tang San's teacher is a disciple of that good-for-nothing uncle of mine?"
Osaro asked in surprise, "Your uncle is Yu Xiaogang?"
Thinking of his family's scandal, Yu Tianheng found it difficult to speak. "You could say that, but my grandfather removed him from the family records."
Seeing that Yu Tianheng didn't want to talk about Yu Xiaogang, Ye Lan interjected, "Alright, alright, let's move on from this topic."
"Even though Tang San's first Spirit Ability is a waste, his hidden weapons are dangerously effective! You absolutely must be careful of them."
"Understood, Captain Ye!" the Royal Fighting Team members responded.
"Is there anything else you want to ask?" Ye Lan inquired.
He was extremely familiar with the information regarding the Shrek Seven Devils.
Ye Leng Leng said, "Ye Lan, aren't you going to tell us about your two students?"
Ye Lan rubbed his nose. "Ning Rongrong. You all know her Spirit is the Seven Treasure Glazed Tile Pagoda."
"The physical enhancement the Seven Treasure Glazed Tile Pagoda provides to a Spirit Master is incredible. Even though Ning Rongrong is only a Grandmaster, she can boost others' strength and speed by thirty percent!"
"Furthermore, under my tutelage, her own speed isn't slow either! It won't be so easy for an ordinary Spirit Master to catch her."
"Beyond just survival techniques, I have also taught her many skills specific to support-type Spirit Masters."
"So, Yu Feng and Osaro, trying to eliminate Ning Rongrong instantly will not be an easy thing to accomplish."
Beneath her black veil, unseen by the others, Ye Leng Leng's lips formed a small pout.
Ye Leng Leng said softly, "Are there techniques you taught her but not me?"
Even Ye Lan detected a hint of something amiss in Ye Leng Leng's light tone.
Ye Lan explained, "Ning Rongrong's situation is different from yours. You are the absolute core of this team. Everyone in the Royal Fighting Team has protecting you as their top priority! Therefore, learning survival skills for a support-type Spirit Master isn't as urgent for you."
"In the future, I will slowly teach you all of them."
Hearing Ye Lan's promise, Ye Leng Leng's eyes instantly curved into crescent moons.
"Besides Ning Rongrong, the other is the Hell Civet, Zhu Zhuqing."
"She was my first student, and the one whose dedication I acknowledge the most!"
"Even when compared to anyone on our Royal Fighting Team, Zhu Zhuqing's dedication to her training is second to none."
"Furthermore, Zhu Zhuqing's talent for both combat and the sword is exceptional. It has been several months since I last saw her, so I don't know the current state of her progress."
"I expect she will have a few surprises in store for me."
Hearing Ye Lan praise Zhu Zhuqing so highly, Dugu Yan felt a pang of jealousy. "I never realized Zhu Zhuqing held such a special place in my idol's heart. When she makes her entrance, I'll have to see for myself what she's like!"
After speaking, Dugu Yan secretly gave Ye Leng Leng's hand a little squeeze.
Ye Leng Leng didn't respond to Dugu Yan; she knew her friend was undoubtedly feeling jealous.
Osaro declared excitedly, "I'm definitely going to race Zhu Zhuqing later. After all, she was personally taught by Ye Lan!"
Yu Feng joked, "Osaro, if you can't even outrun a Grandmaster, then you can never again claim to be the fastest at Heaven Dou Royal Academy!"
"Impossible! If she's faster than me, I'll eat this marble table on the spot!" Osaro swore loudly.
"Trying to get a free meal again, are you? If you're that hungry, I can feed you right now," Yu Feng laughed heartily.
Ye Lan's next words immediately shattered Osaro's competitive spirit.
"Osaro, you might be disappointed. Your opponent this time isn't Zhu Zhuqing, it's Dai Mubai."
"What? Shouldn't Tianheng be the one to handle Dai Mubai? I'm just a little Ghost Leopard~ Captain Ye, are you trying to make things difficult for me?" Osaro blurted out.
The gazes of the Royal Fighting Team, including Qin Ming, all focused on Ye Lan.
Was Ye Lan about to explain their strategy?
Facing everyone's expectant gazes, Ye Lan began to explain, "You all should be familiar with the eleventh principle of my 'New Spirit Core Competency Theory,' right?"
Dugu Yan instantly answered, "Power Attack types counter Control types, Control types counter Agility Attack types, and Agility Attack types counter Power Attack types!"
Ye Lan nodded in satisfaction and praised her, "That's right, completely correct!"
Dugu Yan beamed with a satisfied smile; this feeling of being praised by her idol was simply wonderful.
"Your previous team fighting formation wasn't wrong. With Shi Mo and Shi Mo at the very front to draw enemy fire, Yu Tianheng could wait for an opportunity just behind them."
"Yu Feng, meanwhile, controls the field from the air. Wherever the team needs him, he goes, performing various tasks like containment, protection, and flanking the back row."
"Osaro's duties are similar to Yu Feng's, but he lacks the same flexibility."
"Dugu Yan serves as the final line of defense, ensuring your formation isn't broken by the opposing team's agility-type Spirit Masters."
"And Leng Leng, needless to say, is always positioned at the rear or in the very center of the team."
"As long as Leng Leng remains on the field for even a second, no one from the Royal Fighting Team will fall."
"The team fighting formation you commonly use is what I would call a universal system."
"It's a very logical team configuration, but this lineup has one critical weakness: the protection for Ye Leng Leng is still insufficient!"
"After all, both Shi Mo and Shi Mo are positioned at the front line."
"The moment Team Shrek breaks through our front line, Ye Leng Leng will be exposed to danger."
Dugu Yan puffed out her chest and stepped forward. "Leng Leng also has my protection! As long as I shroud the area around her with my poison, who would dare get close!"
Ye Lan explained, "You're right, but the one who gets close to Leng Leng might not be a person. And..."
Ye Lan pointed out the crucial detail: "Team Shrek has an 'Evil Fire Phoenix' Spirit. Ma Hongjun's flames are the natural counter to your poison mist!"
Dugu Yan nodded dejectedly. Her idol was right.
If Team Shrek's offense could penetrate the Royal Fighting Team's front line, Ye Leng Leng would definitely be exposed to danger.
Therefore, their current tactical system was flawed.
Yu Tianheng said with some regret, "This means I won't be able to face the strongest, Dai Mubai."
Qin Ming inquired, "Ye Lan, how do you plan to arrange our team's formation then?"
Ye Lan slowly stated, "This relates to my 'New Spirit Core Competency Theory'."
"Yu Tianheng, you don't need to feel regretful. The strongest person on Team Shrek is not Dai Mubai, but Tang San!"
"Tang San? Him?" Yu Tianheng asked, confused.
"You will understand after you face him! I will also brief Shi Mo and Shi Mo shortly, so you can learn about Tang San's intelligence ahead of time."
Ye Lan began to explain the reasoning for his arrangement:
"Agility Attack-type Spirit Masters counter Power Attack-type Spirit Masters, so Osaro's target is Dai Mubai."
"I don't require the 'Ghost Leopard' to defeat the 'White Tiger,' but with your current speed, Osaro, it should be easy to keep Dai Mubai occupied, right?"
"Hehe, since I can't compete in speed with the captain's student, I'll let that cowardly white tiger know what it feels like to have strength you can't use!" Osaro grinned wickedly.
"Next, Power Attack types counter Control types. And the control-type Spirit Master on Team Shrek is Tang San."
"Don't be fooled by the poison attribute of Tang San's Blue Silver Grass; his third Spirit Ability, 'Spider Web Prison,' is still very tricky."
"This is also why I am not having Shi Mo and Shi Mo hold the front line together."
"Their movement speed is too slow. Once hit by 'Spider Web Prison,' it's nearly impossible for them to break free on their own without using their third Spirit Ability."
"Therefore, Yu Tianheng's target is Tang San."
"The Blue Lightning Tyrant Dragon's lightning is a powerful counter to his Blue Silver Grass. Even if you are hit by 'Spider Web Prison,' Tianheng, you just need to use 'Thunder Dragon Claw' and use the ferocious lightning energy to incinerate the web!"
"Alright, I understand!" Yu Tianheng declared.
Ye Lan recalled his battle with Yu Tianheng, a slight smile playing on his lips.
"Yu Tianheng, once the match begins, you can immediately unleash 'Wrath of Thunder' on Team Shrek!"
Yu Tianheng asked, puzzled, "Captain Ye, why is that?"
"You'll know once you use it. There will definitely be a surprise!"
"Also, Yan Yan, during the pre-match handshake with Team Shrek, help me remind Ning Rongrong and Zhu Zhuqing not to form a link with Tang San."
"A link? What does that mean?" Dugu Yan asked curiously.
"You'll find out later!" Ye Lan said mysteriously. "Shi Mo, your target is the 'Evil Fire Phoenix,' Ma Hongjun. You must not let Ma Hongjun's fire rays reach Dugu Yan or Ye Leng Leng."
"Understood!" Shi Mo said steadily.
Shi Mo's brother, Shi Mo, asked curiously, "Captain Ye, what about me? Where do I go?"
Ye Lan replied, "You will stand guard by Ye Leng Leng's side. Because Team Shrek has a dual-support configuration, the pressure on our front line won't be as great. According to my arrangement, you can safely protect Ye Leng Leng."
Fearing Shi Mo might get carried away, Ye Lan added cautiously, "Today, just think of yourself as a support-type Spirit Master. You have only one mission, and that is to protect Leng Leng."
Shi Mo said, "I understand, Captain Ye! I will definitely accomplish my tactical objective!"
Ye Lan nodded. The Shi Mo brothers were very reliable.
After he spoke, Shi Mo said with a look of regret, "Brother, I can't fight alongside you on the front line today."
Shi Mo consoled him, "It's alright, having me at the front is enough. You must protect Leng Leng well."
"Mm!" Shi Mo nodded earnestly.
After hearing Ye Lan's arrangements, Yu Feng asked worriedly, "What if the 'Evil Fire Phoenix' Ma Hongjun doesn't attack Shi Mo, but targets me instead?"
Ye Lan responded, "Of course, you fly away. Don't be foolish and try to clash head-on with Ma Hongjun's flames using 'Winds and Clouds Surging'."
"It's not worth trading blows with Ma Hongjun. Flying away is the simplest method."
"Ma Hongjun will waste his spirit power, while you'll only need to expend a tiny amount to fly."
"So that's an option." Yu Feng's melee combat abilities had improved so much that he now instinctively wanted to fight any opponent head-on, only flying away if he was outmatched.
"Additionally, Yu Feng, you have only one target today: keep an eye on the 'Rabbit,' Xiao Wu."
"Although she calls herself a Power Attack-type Spirit Master, her speed is not slow, and her third Spirit Ability is teleportation!"
"None of you have a teleportation-type ability. It's highly likely that Team Shrek has a tactical plan involving Xiao Wu's 'Teleportation'."
"Yu Feng, you are the most agile and the quickest to provide support on our team."
"So, you just need to keep Xiao Wu in your sights and then look for an opportunity to take out the 'Seven Treasure Glazed Tile Pagoda'."
"Got it, Captain Ye!" Yu Feng said seriously.
"Yan Yan, your task today is the same as before. If anyone gets near Ye Leng Leng, you immediately release your poison mist in her direction."
"Also, do not release a large-scale poison mist during one-on-one combat," Ye Lan instructed.
"I know, my idol!" Dugu Yan replied, thinking her task seemed to be the easiest.
Dugu Yan asked pitifully, "Captain Ye, isn't there a tactic designed specifically for me?"
Ye Lan pondered for a moment. "Shi Mo, Shi Mo, Yu Feng, come over here. I'll teach you how to coordinate with Dugu Yan!"
The three curiously gathered around.
Ye Lan explained, "You just need to do this... and then you can do that... which will result in a decisive kill..."
"With this, Ma Hongjun's flames will be mostly useless," Shi Mo commented.
Yu Feng giggled. "We'll have to give the other five from Shrek a big surprise later!"
Dugu Yan's eyes curved into crescents. She hadn't actually expected Ye Lan to design a team tactic specifically for her.
After arranging Dugu Yan's tactics, Ye Lan turned to the Shi Mo brothers.
"Both of you, your third Spirit Ability, 'Black Tortoise Liberation,' must not be used carelessly."
"'Black Tortoise Liberation' must be saved for Tang San's 'Eight Spider Lances'!"
"Eight Spider Lances?"
"That's right. I learned from Ning Rongrong and Zhuqing that Tang San possesses an External Spirit Bone, the 'Eight Spider Lances'."
"The 'Eight Spider Lances' is extremely poisonous! Its venom comes from the 'Man-Faced Demon Spider,' and its toxicity is no weaker than Yan Yan's Jade Phosphor Serpent poison."
"Moreover, after Tang San uses the 'Eight Spider Lances,' his attack power will increase by fifty percent."
"At that point, Tang San's combat power will likely reach the level of a Spirit Ancestor. This is one of the reasons I told Yu Tianheng earlier that Tang San is the strongest on Team Shrek."
"An External Spirit Bone!!! What incredible luck!" Dugu Yan muttered.
Yu Feng asked curiously, "What's an External Spirit Bone? Is it different from a ten-thousand-year spirit bone?"
Ye Lan explained, "An External Spirit Bone is a spirit bone that can grow. Once a Spirit Master reaches the Titled Douluo rank, an External Spirit Bone can evolve into a one-hundred-thousand-year spirit bone."
"Furthermore, External Spirit Bones are unlike ordinary ones. Once successfully fused, an External Spirit Bone will not be dropped even if its owner is killed!"
"I see. Captain, you need to be careful!" Shi Mo said to Yu Tianheng.
Yu Tianheng, however, was filled with fighting spirit, completely satisfied with the opponent Ye Lan had assigned him.
"Finally, you must not get hit by the 'Eight Spider Lances'!!"
"Leng Leng, the moment Tang San activates his 'Eight Spider Lances,' if anyone from the Royal Fighting Team is hit by them, you must immediately use your third Spirit Ability on them at full power!"
"Okay!" Ye Leng Leng didn't ask why; she trusted Ye Lan's commands one hundred percent.
"That's all for the tactics I've designed for you today. This is the first time you will be trying a strategy that I've arranged."
"For that reason, I won't design overly complex tactics, to avoid any confusion about which strategy to employ."
"Finally, to make sure you haven't forgotten, each of you will repeat your mission," Ye Lan said.
Yu Tianheng took the lead, "Try to use 'Wrath of Thunder' at the start. My target is Tang San, and I must be extremely careful of his 'Eight Spider Lances'."
Shi Mo said, "I will hold the front line, protect the frontline combatants, and block the flame attacks from the 'Evil Fire Phoenix' Ma Hongjun, preventing him from hitting Dugu Yan and Leng Leng."
Shi Mo's brother said, "My duty is to protect Leng Leng's safety. I must stay near her at all times."
Osaro said, "I am responsible for tying down Dai Mubai and giving him no opportunity to act!"
Yu Feng said, "I will keep an eye on Xiao Wu throughout the match, and be ready to take out the Seven Treasure Glazed Tile Pagoda and support my teammates."
Dugu Yan said, "I am responsible for guarding Ye Leng Leng and targeting any Spirit Master who attacks her."
Ye Leng Leng concluded, "I am in charge of healing. If Tang San hits any of us with his 'Eight Spider Lances,' I will unleash my healing Spirit Ability with my full spirit power!"
"Very good! Secret weapons aside, as long as you execute these tactics according to the plan, victory in this battle is certain!" Ye Lan declared.
"Everyone, bring it in!!"
As Ye Lan finished speaking, the members of the Royal Fighting Team and Qin Ming, nine people in total, formed a large circle.
They all extended their right hands toward the center.
"Three, two, one!"
"Royal Fighting Team, victory!"
Just as Ye Lan and the others finished their cheer, the announcer in the tuxedo entered the Royal Fighting Team's lounge.
The announcer asked respectfully, "Lord Green Emperor, are you ready? The Royal Fighting Team's first squad is preparing to enter the arena!"
"Our preparations are complete. You may inform Dou Dou," Ye Lan said.
"Excellent. I wish the Royal Fighting Team a triumphant first battle and a direct promotion to the Gold Spirit Fighter rank!" the announcer said with a smile.
The first time the announcer had met the Green Emperor, he knew this person was destined for greatness. He never imagined that in just a few short months, the Green Emperor would become the captain of the Royal Fighting Team's first squad!
He knew that the Royal Fighting Team was currently the most sought-after Spirit Elder team in the entire Heaven Dou Empire, having defeated all challengers within its borders.
And for Ye Lan to become the captain of the first squad as a Grandmaster, it was clear that he hadn't been using his full strength back in the Spirit Arena of Suotuo City.
Given the importance placed on Ye Lan, the Great Spirit Arena had specifically asked if the Heaven Dou team was ready for this match between Team Shrek and the Royal Fighting Team.
If they weren't prepared, the arena wouldn't have minded giving the Green Emperor's team more time.
Qin Ming said, "Since Ye Lan has laid out the strategy, you should all head out. Yan Yan, don't forget what Ye Lan told you."
The Great Spirit Arena, Main Ring Number One!
In the center of the sixteen-hundred-square-meter rectangular stage, a cylindrical platform two meters in diameter rose up.
Standing on the platform was an energetic young woman.
The girl held a cone-shaped sound-amplifying spirit tool in her hand and shouted with a voice full of vitality:
"Hello, everyone!!!! I am your host for today, Dou Dou!"
"It is my great honor to be the host for the match between the Royal Fighting Team and Team Shrek!!!"
"Some of you might be wondering why I am so excited!!"
"It's because my idol, the Green Emperor, is also here at the arena!!!!"
"After several months, the Green Emperor has finally returned to his home turf, the Great Spirit Arena of Suotuo City!!!"
When the audience learned that Ye Lan had arrived, the stands outside the ring erupted in a frenzy.
"Although the Green Emperor will not be competing as the captain of the Royal Fighting Team today, according to a little bird I heard from, today's tactical arrangement for the Royal Fighting Team was orchestrated entirely by the Green Emperor himself!"
"Let's look forward to the spectacular performance the Royal Fighting Team will bring us!!!"
"Next, let us welcome Team Shrek to the stage!! Their captain: Dai Mubai..."
"And now let's give a warm welcome to the Royal Fighting Team, all the way from Heaven Dou City!!! Their vice-captain: Yu Tianheng...:"
As the Royal Fighting Team began to make their entrance, Ning Rongrong's eyes widened, her gaze sweeping over them, searching desperately for a particular figure.
Upon spotting the familiar silhouette, Ning Rongrong began to jump up and down, waving her arms frantically.
She shouted with excitement, "Ye Lan!! Ye Lan!! Look over here!!"
(End of Chapter)