As a Shield

Liang Ji's Half-Dragonfolk troops found Peng Yue's Vassal force while it was hunting a Spotted Demon Snake a full thirty zhang long.

Peng Yue had sent out a hundred thousand Ice Soul Serpentfolk this time as well. They hunted the demon snake in the same way: forming a square and overwhelming it with a rain of arrows.

Born into a Star Lord's household, Peng Yue was undoubtedly one of the top Star Lord students in Xiūshé City. She had no shortage of Spirit Stones or resources, so naturally she could field a hundred thousand first-tier Vassal warriors.

Those hundred thousand warriors were also equipped with the finest rune bows and arrows, allowing them to overwhelm their enemies with volleys.

However, the demon snake hunted by the Ice Soul Serpentfolk this time was a full thirty zhang long. It was a mid-first-tier demon snake, and both its scale armor and its combat strength were several times greater than those of the ten-zhang demon snakes Liang Ji's Vassals had faced before.

So although the first volley from the hundred thousand Ice Soul Serpentfolk covered the thirty-zhang Spotted Demon Snake, it only dealt it a grievous wound. They had failed to kill it outright.

The grievously wounded Spotted Demon Snake roared and charged at the Ice Soul Serpentfolk.

The hundred thousand Ice Soul Serpentfolk warriors loosed two more volleys in succession before finally shooting down the charging Spotted Demon Snake.

Even so, the snake had already reached a short distance from their ranks. It nearly threw the formation into disarray, and before it was killed, it spewed a great deal of venom and poisonous gas over the Ice Soul Serpentfolk.

The attack caused some confusion among their ranks. Many Ice Soul Serpentfolk were poisoned and wounded, and only managed to suppress the poison and recover with the help of pills.

"Liang Ji." Peng Yue had also noticed the arrival of his Half-Dragonfolk troops. Above the Ice Soul Serpentfolk, her figure took shape in starlight as she looked toward them. "You got here quickly."

Liang Ji's own figure appeared in starlight above his troops. He nodded. "Since I agreed to our deal, I wasn't going to waste a moment."

"Good!" Peng Yue smiled. Without further pleasantries, she pointed toward her Ice Soul Serpentfolk below. "You saw the battle just now."

"My Ice Soul Serpentfolk are skilled archers. A hundred thousand troops forming a rain-of-arrows formation, equipped with specially crafted rune bows and arrows, have the greatest killing power!"

"But my Vassals have a weakness too. I don't have a powerful unit that can stand at the front, hold off the Demon Race's counterattack, and shield the rest."

"If my Ice Soul Serpentfolk can't kill the enemy within three volleys, the Demon Race could break through into my ranks, causing massive confusion and casualties."

"It would only take a few battles like that to end my Second Mock Exam. There'd be no chance of taking first place among the ten schools."

As Liang Ji listened, he recalled how the Ice Soul Serpentfolk had fought. He nodded slightly, understanding what she meant. "So you want my Vassals to act as a shield for yours, forming a defensive line at the front to fend off the Void Demon Race's counterattacks?"

"That's right." Peng Yue nodded without hesitation. "Liang Ji, your Vassals have cultivated the Hegemonic Body. They're impervious to blades and spears, can withstand attacks of various attributes, and have immense strength. They're undoubtedly the best choice for a defensive force."

"That's why, when I heard you describe your Vassals' Hegemonic Body in the homeroom teacher's office, I thought of making a deal with you."

Liang Ji nodded to show he understood.

Acting as someone else's shield was undoubtedly dangerous. The Void Demon Race that even ten thousand of Peng Yue's Ice Soul Serpentfolk couldn't kill in three volleys would surely be formidable. Their final attacks, unleashed when they were gravely wounded or even on the brink of death, might be weak and feeble—or far more powerful than usual.

It was easy to imagine that by the end of the Second Mock Exam, his Half-Dragonfolk warriors would have suffered heavy casualties.

"Liang Ji." Peng Yue looked at him, then thought for a moment before saying, "I know this mission is bound to be dangerous, and your Vassals will surely suffer heavy losses."

"How about this? If I manage to take first place among the ten schools, I'll give you another thirty thousand Low-grade Spirit Stones after the Second Mock Exam to make up for your Vassals' losses!"

Liang Ji's eyes lit up at her words, and he smiled. "Peng Yue, you're too kind. I've already agreed, so naturally I'll follow through."

"But I need to make some preparations first."

"All right." Peng Yue let out a relieved breath and nodded. "My Vassals need time to recover and treat their poison wounds, too."

"Then let's set out in half an hour."

"No problem." Liang Zhaohuang nodded, then sent a request through the Star Compass.

Before long, a Star Gate opened again on his Natal Star, connecting directly to this place.

Of the more than fifteen thousand first-tier Vassals remaining on Liang Ji's Natal Star, another ten thousand first-tier warriors came through, carrying rune shields as large as hills on their backs.

The Second Mock Exam placed no limit on how many Vassals Star Lord students could send out. They could also bring in more Vassals partway through. The goal was simply to let each student show off the full strength of their Vassals.

So Liang Ji decided to send out another ten thousand Half-Dragonfolk warriors. That meant he was now fielding almost all the first-tier Half-Dragonfolk on his Natal Star.

As shields, two thousand—no, twenty thousand—Half-Dragonfolk were naturally stronger and more durable than ten thousand, and could help reduce casualties as much as possible.

And since they were serving as shields, rune shields were naturally essential. Liang Ji had the reinforcements bring almost every rune shield their tribe had made. He would rather see more shields destroyed than lose more of his Half-Dragonfolk Vassals.

Peng Yue, watching Liang Ji send out another ten thousand Vassals along with a great many specially made rune shields, was delighted.

She had been a little worried that Liang Ji's Vassals were too few to fully protect her hundred thousand troops. Now, however, she had few concerns.

With twenty thousand powerful shields at the front, she was even more confident of taking first place among the ten schools.

Half an hour passed quickly. Liang Ji's Half-Dragonfolk and Peng Yue's Ice Soul Serpentfolk each formed up, then joined forces.

The Half-Dragonfolk held up their rune shields and marched at the front like a wall of shields, while the Ice Soul Serpentfolk followed close behind under their protection.

The two forces marched together, honing their coordination on the way. Before long, they had fallen into a smooth rhythm.

At that moment, the scouts sent ahead returned with news: they had found a Void Demon Snake over thirty zhang long. It wasn't an ordinary Spotted Demon Snake, but a Crimson Serpent Demon Snake!

A Crimson Serpent Demon Snake over thirty zhang long was undoubtedly stronger than the thirty-zhang Spotted Serpentfolk the Ice Soul Serpentfolk had just killed.

But after a brief discussion, Liang Ji and Peng Yue decided to attack. They would make this Crimson Serpent Demon Snake their first battle together, giving both forces a chance to train and get used to coordinating in combat.

As for the question of strength, both of them had faith in their own Vassals.