Be a Meat Shield (Seeking Support!)

When Liang Ji's Retainer Half-Dragonfolk team found Peng Yue's Retainer team, the latter was in the process of hunting a Spotted Demon Snake that was a full thirty zhang in size.

Peng Yue's Ice Soul Serpentfolk, numbering one hundred thousand, also hunted demon snakes by forming battle formations and annihilating them with arrow volleys.

As someone from a Star Lord family, Peng Yue was undoubtedly one of the top Star Lord students in Xiūshé City. She lacked neither Spirit Stones nor resources, and naturally could field one hundred thousand Tier 1 Retainer warriors.

Likewise, these one hundred thousand warriors could be equipped with the best rune arrows, annihilating enemies with arrow volleys.

However, the demon snake the Ice Soul Serpentfolk were hunting this time was thirty zhang long, a Tier 1 mid-stage demon snake. Its scales' defense and combat power far surpassed the ten-zhang demon snakes Liang Ji's Retainers had fought before.

Therefore, although a volley of arrows from the one hundred thousand Ice Soul Serpentfolk covered the thirty-zhang Spotted Demon Snake, it only heavily wounded it, failing to kill it outright.

The heavily wounded Spotted Demon Snake roared and charged towards the Ice Soul Serpentfolk team.

The one hundred thousand Ice Soul Serpentfolk warriors unleashed two more volleys of arrows before finally killing the charging Spotted Demon Snake.

But even so, the charging Spotted Demon Snake had already reached the vicinity of the Ice Soul Serpentfolk team, nearly throwing their formation into disarray. Before it was killed, it spewed out a large amount of venom and poisonous gas that fell into the Ice Soul Serpentfolk ranks.

This caused some chaos within the Ice Soul Serpentfolk team, with many poisoned and injured. They had to rely on elixirs to suppress the poison and recover.

"Classmate Liang Ji." At this moment, Peng Yue also noticed the arrival of Liang Ji's Half-Dragonfolk team. Her form materialized from starlight above the Ice Soul Serpentfolk, and she looked towards the Half-Dragonfolk team, saying, "You've arrived quickly."

Liang Ji's form also materialized from starlight above the Half-Dragonfolk team. He nodded, "Since I promised you a trade, I naturally wouldn't delay in the slightest."

"Good!" Peng Yue smiled, dropping any pretense of politeness. She gestured towards her Ice Soul Serpentfolk team below and said, "You just witnessed the battle."

"My Ice Soul Serpentfolk team excels at archery. With an army of one hundred thousand forming an arrow rain formation, coupled with specially refined rune arrows, their destructive power is immense!"

"However, my Retainers also have a weakness: we lack a powerful troop that can defend the front and withstand the demon race's counterattack!"

"If my Ice Soul Serpentfolk army cannot kill the enemy within three volleys of arrows, there's a high chance the demon race will break through our ranks, causing immense chaos and casualties."

"With just a few more such occurrences, my second mock assessment would be over, and it would be impossible to aim for first place among the ten schools."

Liang Ji listened to her words, recalling the performance of the Ice Soul Serpentfolk team in the battle he had just witnessed. He nodded slightly, understanding her meaning. "So, you want my Retainer team to act as a shield for your Retainer team, defending the front and withstanding the Void Demon Race's counter-assault and attacks!"

"Yes." Peng Yue nodded directly. "Classmate Liang Ji, your Retainers have cultivated the 'Hegemonic Body,' making them invulnerable to blades and spears, capable of resisting all elemental attacks, and possessing immense strength. You are undoubtedly the best choice for a defensive team."

"Therefore, when I heard you describe the effects of your Retainer's 'Hegemonic Body' in the homeroom teacher's office, I thought of making a trade with you."

Liang Ji nodded, indicating he understood.

This kind of job, acting as a meat shield for others, was undoubtedly very dangerous. The Void Demon Race that Peng Yue's one hundred thousand Ice Soul Serpentfolk couldn't kill within three volleys of arrows must be extremely powerful. Their final attacks, launched when heavily wounded or even on the verge of death, would either be weak and feeble or far exceed the norm.

It was conceivable that if this were the case, his Retainer Half-Dragonfolk warrior team would likely suffer heavy casualties by the end of this second mock assessment.

"Classmate Liang Ji." Peng Yue looked at him, then thought for a moment. "I know this mission will be extremely dangerous, and your Retainers will definitely suffer heavy losses."

"How about this: as long as I can secure first place among the ten schools this time, after the second mock assessment, I will give you an additional thirty thousand Low-grade Spirit Stones as compensation for your Retainers' losses!"

Liang Ji's eyes lit up upon hearing this. He smiled and said, "Classmate Peng Yue, you are too kind. Since I promised you, I will naturally fulfill it."

"However, I need to make some preparations on my end."

"Good." Peng Yue also relaxed, nodding. "My Retainers also need to recuperate and treat their poison injuries."

"Then we will depart in half an hour."

"No problem." Liang Ji nodded, then sent a request through his Star Compass.

Shortly after, a star gate opened once more above his Natal Star, leading directly to their current location.

From the remaining fifteen thousand-plus Tier 1 Retainers on Liang Ji's Natal Star, another ten thousand Tier 1 warriors emerged, carrying mountain-like rune shields.

The second mock assessment did not limit the number of Retainers a Star Lord student could deploy, and Retainers could be added mid-assessment. The sole purpose was to allow Star Lord students to showcase the strength of their Retainers as much as possible.

Therefore, Liang Ji decided to add another ten thousand Half-Dragonfolk warriors, deploying almost half of the Tier 1 Half-Dragonfolk on his Natal Star.

Being meat shields, a team of twenty thousand Retainer Half-Dragonfolk would naturally be more powerful and resilient than a team of ten thousand, and could minimize casualties.

Moreover, since they were acting as meat shields, rune shields were naturally the most important. Liang Ji had the reinforcement team of ten thousand Half-Dragonfolk bring almost all the rune shields produced by their tribe. They would rather destroy more rune shields than lose more Half-Dragonfolk Retainers.

Peng Yue, standing nearby, saw Liang Ji deploy another ten thousand Retainers, along with a large number of specially made rune shields. Her face was filled with pleasant surprise.

She had been a little worried earlier that Liang Ji's Retainer numbers were too few to fully protect her one hundred thousand Retainers. But now, she had few concerns.

With these twenty thousand powerful meat shields blocking the front, she had even more confidence in securing first place among the ten schools.

Half an hour passed quickly. Liang Ji's Half-Dragonfolk team and Peng Yue's Ice Soul Serpentfolk team formed their respective queues and then combined.

The Half-Dragonfolk team, holding their rune shields, marched forward as a defensive wall, with the Ice Soul Serpentfolk team following in formation, protected by the Half-Dragonfolk.

The two teams marched, honing their coordination during the journey, and quickly developed a tacit understanding.

At this moment, the scout team sent ahead also relayed news: they had discovered a Void Demon Snake, over thirty zhang in size, and it was not an ordinary Spotted Demon Snake, but a Crimson Serpent Demon Snake!

A Crimson Serpent Demon Snake of over thirty zhang in length undoubtedly possessed combat power exceeding the thirty-zhang Spotted Demon Snake that Peng Yue's Ice Soul Serpentfolk team had killed earlier.

However, after a brief discussion, Liang Ji and Peng Yue decided to attack. They would take down this Crimson Serpent Demon Snake as their first joint battle, allowing both teams to hone and familiarize themselves with combat coordination.

As for combat power, both of them were confident in their respective Retainers.