Chapter 99: Yu Xiaogang's Clever Maneuver
In response to Yang Xiong's words, Ning Fengzhi glanced at Tang San and Yu Xiaogang.
Yu Xiaogang then spoke, "Yang Xiong, I have always known that you've been hiding your true strength. Given our current power levels, it will be hard for us to defeat the Spirit Hall team, but I have a plan that might break the deadlock. At the very least, we can prevent the Spirit Hall from being so arrogant."
Yang Xiong's interest was piqued. "Master, do you have any good ideas? Could it be that you have other tactics that you haven't shown yet?"
Yu Xiaogang's expression darkened. "It's not so much a tactical issue. From the current situation, it seems that the Tiandou First Team will have four Soul Masters who can participate in the finals. At that point, I will place you, Tang San, and Dai Mubai into one team. That way, we will have the combat strength of about seven Soul Masters, which should be enough to counter the Spirit Hall team."
Yang Xiong thought for a moment. "That's indeed an idea, but we don't have any auxiliary Soul Masters in our team, and the highest soul power right now is Yu Tianheng's 43rd level. That's at least eight or nine levels lower than the Spirit Hall members. The gap is still too vast."
"Not to mention, the First and Second teams haven't had any practice together. If we go up on the stage, it will probably be quite chaotic."
Yu Xiaogang nodded. "You're right, I'm aware of that. So, the Soul Master competition's preliminary rounds will be our last chance for practice. Team members can still be adjusted before the finals, so I plan to move Yu Tianheng, Dugu Yan, and the Shimo brothers into the Tiandou Second Team. This way, we'll have a much stronger team."
"But that also creates a big flaw—there won't be any agility-type Soul Masters in our team. However, with your speed, you can easily take on that role."
Yang Xiong, hearing this, couldn't help but complain. What kind of idea is this? I've been a defense-type Soul Master for two years, and now they suddenly want me to be an agility-type? How am I supposed to adapt to this new strategy? And who was the fool who suggested combining the two teams? Doesn't that just break up all the original teamwork?
But Yang Xiong still smiled. "Master, Sect Master, don't worry. I'll definitely do my best as an agility-type Soul Master."
Yu Xiaogang, however, grew serious. "It's not just about playing the role of an agility-type Soul Master; you need to exert your full strength. If you don't, we won't stand a chance of winning, especially since no one has seen your soul skills yet."
Yang Xiong nodded. "Alright, if it comes to a critical moment, I'll reveal my soul skills. But all my soul skills are self-enhancement types, so they probably won't have much impact on the strategy."
At that moment, Ning Fengzhi spoke up again: "Yang Xiong, I know your strength. If we win the championship, the soul bones will be divided among us top three sects. The soul bone from the Seven Treasure Glazed Tile Sect will definitely be yours."
Despite silently complaining multiple times, Yang Xiong finally nodded in agreement. But out of the three soul bones, apart from the skull bone, he didn't really care for the other two. Still, knowing Tang San and Yu Xiaogang, it was unlikely they would give him the skull bone.
After Tang San and Yu Xiaogang left, Ning Fengzhi spoke privately to Yang Xiong: "Yang Xiong, this matter is crucial. Even if you reveal your soul bone, I can guarantee your safety using the sect's power. From now on, whenever you go on an expedition, you'll have a Soul Douluo level expert to protect you. Also, whatever soul bones or soul beasts you need, we will do our best to help you acquire them."
Yang Xiong was silent for a moment before speaking: "Thank you, Sect Master, but I also have something to ask of you. Please think it over carefully."
Ning Fengzhi and Bone Douluo exchanged a look of confusion. "Speak your mind. From now on, you don't need to call me Sect Master; just call me Uncle Ning."
Yang Xiong's expression became serious. "Sect Master, you're well aware of the current situation with the top three sects. The Haotian Clan has already secluded itself, and the Blue Electric Tyrannosaurus Clan has also kept a low profile in recent years. If we proceed with this plan, the Spirit Hall will definitely target us. And it's not certain that the other two sects will have the power to help us when the time comes."
Ning Fengzhi's expression grew serious as well. He remained silent for a long while before speaking faintly: "I've considered this problem too, but in the end, our Seven Treasure Glazed Tile Sect is primarily focused on auxiliary soul masters. We have certain disadvantages compared to the other two sects. And right now, if we don't push forward, we'll fall behind. Our Seven Treasure Glazed Tile Sect is at its peak, and there's no turning back."
Yang Xiong nodded. "I understand, Sect Master. I will do my best and won't let anyone outdo me."
After Ning Fengzhi and Bone Douluo left, Yang Xiong couldn't help but sigh.
As Sect Master, Ning Fengzhi's perspective was much broader than his own. The things he considered were completely different. Especially since he had brought the Seven Treasure Glazed Tile Sect to its peak, aside from being a businessman, Ning Fengzhi could also be considered a formidable force, probably with great ambitions of his own.
Looking at the original story, Ning Fengzhi was also quite a character. On one hand, he fought against Spirit Hall, and on the other hand, he allied with the Tiandou Royal Family, even trying to protect Tang San and the others. This was a big taboo for Spirit Hall, which eventually led to Spirit Hall taking drastic measures.
What was worse, everyone had overlooked one thing: his beloved disciple turned out to be a spy for Spirit Hall. In the end, this led to a massive failure, and Ning Fengzhi also suffered because of the fears of the Tiandou Empire. Otherwise, he would never have allowed a powerless person like Yu Xiaogang to hold such an important position.
…
The Tiandou Empire acted quickly, swiftly summoning all the members of the Tiandou First and Second Teams and reorganizing them.
The Second Team now included Yang Xiong, Tang San, Dai Mubai, Xiao Wu, Yu Tianheng, Dugu Yan, Shimo, Shimo, Ye Lingling, Zhu Zhuqing, and Ning Rongrong.
Poor Oscar was assigned to the First Team, but at least Qin Shuang was with him, so they weren't alone.
Zhu Zhuqing's inclusion in the Second Team was primarily because she could form a martial soul fusion skill with Dai Mubai, the Hell White Tiger, which might be useful at a critical moment.
Yang Xiong finally understood why Dai Mubai had come to speak with him. The lineup was good, but compared to the Star Luo Royal Academy, there was still a significant gap. At least Zhu Zhuqing didn't have the strength to be the main force.
Yang Xiong couldn't help but glance at Flender. Compared to others, Flender looked even more despondent. Though the Second Team still bore the name Tiandou Royal Academy Shrek Team, it no longer resembled the original Shrek at all.
Especially since his prized disciple, Ma Hongjun, had been moved to the First Team. The First Team, not even having a Soul King, and with very few high-level Soul Lords, seemed like a team destined for failure.
The original leader of the First Team, Qin Ming, had become Yu Xiaogang's assistant, almost as if a tacit understanding had been reached. It seemed they had completely given up on the First Team.
Normally, such a change in team members would not be allowed, but the Tiandou First and Second Teams were part of the same academy. Moreover, Ning Fengzhi and Dugu Bo were both on the judging panel. Even if Salas opposed it, it wouldn't matter.
After all, in the original work, Shenfeng Academy and Fire Dance Academy had been even more extreme, swapping members between two different academies.
When the Tiandou Royal Academy Shrek Team appeared again, the entire audience was shocked, especially the guests like Salas and Hu Yan Zhen, who were all pale. They did not want the Tiandou Royal Academy to become too strong.
After the two teams were recombined, the first to appear were Yu Tianheng, Dai Mubai, Dugu Yan, Tang San, Yang Xiong, Shimo, and Shimo.
Their opponents were Purple Star Academy, though their big brother, Yang Wei, wasn't on the stage.
The Shrek team had five Soul Kings, with Yu Tianheng as the captain and Tang San and Dai Mubai as vice-captains.
Even Shenfeng Academy and Tian Shui Academy were extremely serious, realizing that this team's strength was even greater than they had imagined, especially their terrifying attacking power, with two control-type Soul Masters able to control the battlefield.
Feng Xiaotian and Huo Wushuang, Shui Bing'er and others immediately noticed something wrong.
Feng Xiaotian said, "Something's off. This team looks good, but they don't have an agility-type Soul Master, which will greatly reduce the team's flexibility on the battlefield. They can't have missed this problem."
Huo Wushuang nodded. "I don't think Tiandou Royal Academy is that simple. They must have other countermeasures."
While agility-type Soul Masters aren't as capable of forcibly breaking through the enemy's formation as strength-type Soul Masters, and don't act as the brains of the team like control-type Soul Masters, they are equally important.
They need to find the enemy's weaknesses and deliver a fatal blow, while also providing support and assistance to others. The flexibility of the entire formation is largely maintained by the agility-type Soul Master.
The Shrek team arranged themselves in a 2-2-1-2 formation, with the two control-type Soul Masters, Tang San and Dugu Yan, at the back. Then came the two defense-type Soul Masters from the Shimo brothers, followed by Yang Xiong as the agility-type Soul Master. The front was Dai Mubai and Yu Tianheng as the attackers.
Sure enough, as the match began, Dai Mubai and Yu Tianheng charged directly into Purple Star Academy's formation. The White Tiger and Blue Electric Tyrannosaurus were both peak-strength martial souls, dominating and soon throwing the enemy's formation into disarray.
Tang San and Dugu Yan controlled the battlefield, causing countless Blue Silver Grass to emerge and rapidly entangle the members of Purple Star Academy. Dugu Yan's Green Scaled Serpent emitted toxins, covering the entire arena in an instant.
Although the Shimo brothers were defense-type Soul Masters, their strength was impressive, but they were slow, following the main force to advance.
Yang Xiong, however, quickly passed the Shimo brothers and, while the enemy hadn't noticed yet, he flashed to the back of their formation and directly attacked their control-type Soul Master.
With his incredible speed and mastery of teleportation, Yang Xiong's hands, like silver dragon claws, struck at the enemy's control-type Soul Master.
In just a few moves, Purple Star Academy was in disarray. Their auxiliary and control-type Soul Masters were knocked off the stage, and the formation was quickly disrupted. In less than two minutes, all the members of Purple Star Academy were knocked off the stage, and the new Tiandou Royal Academy Shrek Team had won their first victory.
Feng Xiaotian and the others watched the arena more seriously, while Huo Wu, confused, asked, "Isn't Yang Xiong a defense Soul Master? Why has he turned into an agility-type Soul Master?"
Feng Xiaotian shook his head. "It's not that simple. This guy isn't just a defense Soul Master. He can also function as a strength-type and agility-type Soul Master. His strength, speed, and defense are all exceptional. I'm afraid even I wouldn't be able to easily defeat him."
Huo Wu angrily muttered, "This Tiandou Royal Academy is too chaotic. How could they change the team at this time? I think this behavior is shameless."
On the side, Huo Wushuang said, "They were all originally students of Tiandou Royal Academy, and they also have a direct entry spot for the competition. Changing team members is reasonable."
In contrast, the one who was more angry was Hu Yan Zhen. Originally, Elephant Armor Academy's performance was mediocre and always at the bottom of the Five Element Academies, but now, with this situation, how could they still compete for a spot in the finals? This could very well be the first time in years that Elephant Armor Academy fails to qualify.
(END CHAPTER)
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