The two teams of seven drew apart, each beginning to discuss tactics.
Dai Yaoheng smiled as he looked at the reserve members,Xu Sanshi, Xiao Xiao, and Huo Yuhao.
Among the regular members, whether in sparring or cooperation, they had already practiced countless times in the Inner Court and were thoroughly familiar with each other's abilities.
Thus, for this battle, the only uncertainty lay in these three reserve members,their abilities and their strength.
"Junior brothers and sisters, please introduce your martial souls and abilities first. Sanshi, you start."
Xu Sanshi nodded and said, "You all already know my soul power level and specialization. I'm a level 43 Defense-type Battle Soul Sect.
My martial soul is the Xuanming Turtle Shield. My first soul skill is a control-type, my second is defensive, and my third is an enhancement skill. My fourth soul skill is a bit special,it allows me to switch positions with anyone within my line of sight."
Dai Yaoheng nodded approvingly. "Very good. This ability will be very useful for our upcoming tactics. Next, Xiao Xiao, your turn."
Xiao Xiao looked a little uneasy. Her strength was only at two rings, and the difference between her and the Soul Sects, Soul Kings, and Soul Emperors around her was quite large. Still, she explained her martial soul and soul skills in detail.
Dai Yaoheng nodded again. In this level of battle, Xiao Xiao's first and second soul skills were of limited use.
What she needed to do was protect herself as much as possible,and if she could block one or two enemy attacks at a critical moment, that would already be a great contribution.
When it came to Huo Yuhao's turn, he calmly reported the soul skills he had long prepared. "My martial soul is the Spirit Eye. My first soul skill is Insight, which helps me detect opponents' movements and weaknesses more easily.
My second soul skill is Spiritual Suggestion. It allows me to interfere with the minds of people within a certain range. The larger the range, the weaker the effect. But if it's just one person,even a Soul King,I have confidence I can control them for a while."
"Oh?" Dai Yaoheng's eyes lit up. "Not bad! That will make things much easier for us. This battle will depend largely on the coordination between you and Sanshi."
"On Xiao Tao's team, aside from her, the biggest threat is Ling Luochen. And her strength happens to be within your range of suppression, Yuhao."
"When the battle starts, I'll lead the charge and face Xiao Tao head-on. You three stay together. Sanshi, your job is crucial,you must swap positions with Ling Luochen at the first opportunity."
"After that, Yuhao, it's up to you. Zifeng, you'll come with me to put pressure on them and create an opening for Xixi."
"Haoxuan, you'll assist Yuhao's group,coordinate your control on Ling Luochen and don't give her any chance to fight back."
The short-statured Yao Haoxuan nodded. "Understood."
"Xixi, you'll go with Yuhao's team. Once Ling Luochen is taken down, go assist Zifeng."
"In this battle, aside from Xiao Tao and Ling Luochen, the only Inner Court member on their side is Gongyang Mo."
"Gongyang Mo is a Support-type soul master. Without protection, his combat ability can be ignored."
"As long as Xixi eliminates Gongyang Mo and I hold off Xiao Tao, then with Xixi and Zifeng working together, taking down the others shouldn't be a problem."
Hearing this, Xixi and Chen Zifeng nodded in agreement with Dai Yaoheng's plan.
"Good. Then let's do our best. Victory!" Dai Yaoheng nodded firmly, though his gaze toward Ma Xiaotao's group carried a trace of concern.
Ma Xiaotao, due to the influence of her Evil Fire Phoenix, rarely took part in the main team's missions despite being a core member.
Except for the mild-tempered Gongyang Mo, her relationship with the other core members was rather distant.
For nearly a year, she hadn't trained with the main team, and upon returning, her soul power had already surpassed Dai Yaoheng's. Her status and presence now overshadowed his.
Since her return, however, her personality had turned extremely cold, and her fighting style more violent and unstable.
Even Gongyang Mo, once her close friend, had grown distant. In their recent sparring matches, Dai Yaoheng had been utterly suppressed by her every time.
Although his plan sounded solid, worry gnawed at his heart. Still, since this was just a friendly match under Elder Xuan's supervision, there shouldn't be any problems… right?
While Dai Yaoheng's group looked calm and cooperative, the atmosphere in Ma Xiaotao's team was frigid.
Her mere presence exuded a powerful, oppressive aura that made everyone feel short of breath.
Gongyang Mo forced a smile,since he was the one who got along best with her, he spoke first. "Xiao Tao, how do you want to handle this fight?"
Ma Xiaotao looked over the team and said bluntly, "Dai Yaoheng and Chen Zifeng are mine. The rest are yours."
Ling Luochen frowned but didn't argue; she wasn't one to waste words.
Gongyang Mo sighed and turned to the four reserve members, who still seemed nervous. "Junior brothers and sisters, please introduce your abilities. I'm sure with Xiao Tao's strength and proper cooperation, we can win this."
After Beibei, Jiang Nannan, Ning Tian, and Wang Dong introduced themselves, Gongyang Mo nodded. "Alright. Ning Tian and I will handle support.
We'll prioritize strengthening Xiao Tao. Beibei and Jiang Nannan, you two focus on holding off Xixi. With our buffs and your levels, that shouldn't be a problem."
"As for the rest,"
"Leave it to me." Ling Luochen's cold voice cut in. "Wang Dong, just protect yourself. If you get the chance, take out Huo Yuhao or Xiao Xiao,they're the weakest."
As the teams discussed, Ma Xiaotao said nothing. She simply closed her eyes, waiting silently for the match to begin.
Elder Xuan observed them all from the sidelines. Seeing the withdrawn Ma Xiaotao, he sighed inwardly.
Since the Sea God Lake incident a year ago, she had completely changed,shutting herself off from others. Though she still trained and obeyed her teachers, the cheerful girl from before was gone.
Dean Yan Shaozhe had been troubled by this for a long time. Over time, the problem had only worsened.
At first, Shaozhe thought it was just emotional imbalance and gave her time to recover, but later, even the evil fire that had tormented her disappeared completely.
That was when Xu Sanshi was finally freed from his "evil fire suppression" duties.
Yet even without the evil fire, Ma Xiaotao's emotional isolation persisted, and even Mu En, the Limit Douluo, was powerless to help.
Elder Xuan knew all this,but if even Mu En couldn't solve it, what could he do?
Mu En suspected her problem was psychological, but since Ma Xiaotao resisted all attempts at communication, no one could confirm it. They could only let it be.
Now, Elder Xuan could only hope that through teamwork, her comrades might help her open up again.
But what they didn't know was that the "heart problem" was only the beginning. The corruption of her evil fire had already sunk deep into her very soul,and sooner or later, it would erupt.
Ten minutes later, Elder Xuan's voice rang out again. "From now on, you are no longer classmates,you are opponents. Fight for your honor. Begin!"
At his command, both sides immediately entered battle mode.
Ma Xiaotao charged forward. Fiery red feathers burst from her back, transforming into magnificent wings. Blazing golden-red phoenix flames erupted around her, lighting up the entire arena.
But to Huo Yuhao's Spirit Eyes, beneath those golden-red sparks burned a hellish flame,cold, oppressive, and deep.
Behind her, twin beams of radiant color flared,the Seven Treasures Glazed Pagoda and the Rainbow Dragon martial souls.
Brilliant hues shimmered as Ning Tian and Gongyang Mo activated their soul rings, channeling their enhancement skills into Ma Xiaotao.
With their boosts, the already domineering phoenix flames surged even higher, adding vivid color to her radiant wings.
Beibei and Jiang Nannan followed closely behind, using her wings as cover as they rushed toward Dai Yaoheng's group. Wang Dong and Ling Luochen advanced more cautiously, staying shielded behind Ma Xiaotao.
They were well aware that Huo Yuhao and Xu Sanshi were the most dangerous members of the reserve team and remained alert for any tricks.
But no plan is foolproof. Once battle begins, defenses will always falter.
Dai Yaoheng met her head-on. The Evil-Eyed White Tiger clashed with the Evil Fire Phoenix,but the fight turned one-sided almost instantly.
Even with his defensive skills,White Tiger's Barrier, White Tiger's Vajra Transformation, and White Tiger's Demon God Transformation,along with Yao Haoxuan's support, Dai Yaoheng was completely overpowered.
Ma Xiaotao unleashed her fourth soul skill, Phoenix Roar Strike. Her entire body became a blazing phoenix wrapped in fire, colliding with Dai Yaoheng in an explosion that forced everyone else back.
Dai Yaoheng felt as though he were being burned alive, his entire body seared by the flames and battered by their immense force.
The Evil Fire Phoenix specialized in elemental power, not brute strength,yet she was overwhelming even a power-type like the Evil-Eyed White Tiger. This wasn't a mere difference in level,it was domination.
And Ma Xiaotao wasn't done. Her fifth soul skill, Phoenix Piercing Strike, erupted next. The lingering flames from her previous attack coalesced once more, engulfing Dai Yaoheng as she dove toward Chen Zifeng.
Chen Zifeng's eyes widened. He was an offense-type soul master, but his defenses were paper-thin. Was she trying to kill him?
Seeing the icy coldness in her eyes, he panicked, summoning his martial soul,the Soulchasing Sword,and slashed at the incoming flames.
His soul rings flared one after another, his blade cutting through the fiercest wave of fire. Though he was still burned by the heat, he managed to pull Dai Yaoheng out of the danger zone.
Dai Yaoheng's face was pale, his body glowing red from burns. He had underestimated Ma Xiaotao,and overestimated himself.
Her ferocity had thrown his entire strategy into chaos.
Even though both he and Chen Zifeng were top Inner Court students, they were being completely suppressed.
Ma Xiaotao's attacks were far too overwhelming. Her Evil Fire Phoenix, once plagued by inner conflict, had now transformed,the evil energy had become her source of strength.
Under its influence, her power far surpassed anything from before. The current Evil Fire Phoenix was no longer on the same level as the Evil-Eyed White Tiger.
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