Pre-Battle Preparations

Ma Rulong holds the right to use this trump card.

His voice was calm.

"As long as we can beat Shrek in the team competition, everything else is negotiable. I will use the Sword of Judgment at the most opportune moment."

Xiao Hongchen slammed his hand on the table. "That's right! We haven't even competed yet, the outcome is still uncertain!"

These words instantly dispelled the previously oppressive atmosphere in the conference room.

Chen Fei and Lin Xi exchanged a glance, both seeing a renewed fighting spirit on each other's faces.

Li Yan clenched his fist, and Xiao Xiafeng took a deep breath and nodded.

Meng Hongchen tucked the booklet into her sleeve and said nothing more.

Her booklet contains details of every move Dai Huabin made from the start of the knockout stage to the end of the semi-finals.

This includes the order in which he releases his Soul Skill, the intervals between them, the rhythm of his Soul Power fluctuations, and even the direction he habitually moves around on the arena.

But one thing has always bothered her: this person, until now, has never truly gone all out.

In the semi-final against the Star Luo Empire, he used the Extreme Ice Sky-Dome Breaker, a Martial Soul Fusion Skill, which looked incredibly powerful.

But was that really his full strength?

How much more is he hiding?

After Elder Ma adjourned the meeting, Meng Hongchen walked at the very back. Xiao Hongchen waited a couple of steps for her, then leaned closer and whispered:

What are you thinking about?

"Thinking about the team formation for tomorrow's team competition."

"Come on," Xiao Hongchen rolled her eyes. "You're thinking about that blond kid, aren't you?"

Meng Hongchen glanced at him, neither denying nor admitting it, and went straight back to her room.

The Star Emperor Hotel, the Shrek Team's suite.

After dinner, Zhang Lexuan gathered all the participating team members for a final pre-competition briefing.

The sofa and chairs in the living room were arranged in a semi-circle.

Ma Xiaotao sat cross-legged on the largest sofa, holding a chicken leg in her hand, which she had apparently taken from somewhere.

Dai Yueheng sat next to her, his posture upright.

Gongyang Mo and Xixi squeezed together at one end, while Ling Luochen sat alone in a single chair in the corner.

Dai Huabin and Zhu Lu sat side by side in the middle.

Wang Dong'er, Xiao Xiao, Cui Yajie, and Ning Tian sat opposite them.

Zhang Lexuan stood at the front, with Han Ruoruo and Wu Ming on either side.

"The order of the three final matches: team competition, individual elimination rounds, and the 2-2-3 strategy."

Zhang Lexuan spoke at a steady pace, "Best of three, all played in one day."

The team lineup is the same as the one used in the semi-finals against the Star Luo Empire..."

She scanned the room and announced, "Dai Huabin, Zhu Lu, Ma Xiaotao, Dai Yueheng, Ling Luochen, Xixi, and Gongyang Mo —seven of you will compete."

No one objected.

"The order of appearance in the individual elimination rounds will be determined before the matches." Zhang Lexuan looked at Dai Huabin, "What about the 2-2-3 strategy? What are your thoughts?"

Dai Huabin didn't answer immediately. He went through the nine members of the Sun Moon Team in his mind before speaking.

"A 2-2-3 formation: if we win the team competition and the casualties are manageable, then it'll be 3-on-3, me, Lulu, and Luo Chen."

Ling Luochen raised his head slightly, said nothing, but nodded slightly.

"Two against two, Sister Xiaotao and Big Brother."

Ma Xiaotao took a bite of the chicken leg. "No problem."

Dai Yueheng nodded as well.

"If we arrange it this way..."

Dai Huabin held up two fingers.

"In a three-on-three situation, Zhu Lu and I have Martial Soul Fusion Skill. Ling Luochen's ultimate ice-type control, combined with my Domain of Eternal Freeze and Lulu's domain, makes it basically a foregone conclusion."

"Two against two, Ma Xiaotao is a level 67 Soul Emperor and Dai Yueheng a level 64 Soul Emperor. No matter who the other side sends, they won't stand a chance."

He paused for a moment:

"If we win these two matches, the third two-on-two match won't matter. Two out of three matches, and we've secured the championship."

Ning Tian raised his hand on the other side. "What about these guys in our Reserve Team...?"

"You're in reserve," Dai Huabin glanced at her. "If something unexpected happens in the team competition, you'll step in."

Wang Dong'er leaned back on the sofa cushions, arms crossed, lips pouting.

She'd been itching to get started for a while.

Xiao Xiao nudged Wang Dong'er's arm and whispered:

"Don't be angry. Your opponents in the finals are Soul King and Soul Emperor, and even Soul Engineer..."

"I'm not angry," Wang Dong'er snorted and turned her face away.

Cui Yajie leaned on the armrest, resting her chin on her hand, and looked at her with a grin:

"Dong'er, your mouth is so greasy you could hang an oil bottle on it, and you still say you're not angry?"

"Yajie, shut up!"

Wu Ming, with a toothpick dangling from her mouth, leaned against the wall watching them play around, and suddenly interjected:

"Alright, alright, stop fooling around. Dai Huabin, there's something I need to remind you. Xiao Hongchen has a bunch of level 5 Soul Cannon. If he fires them all at the start, you'll be in serious trouble."

Dai Huabin turned to look at her.

Wu Ming changed the direction in which she held the toothpick in her mouth:

"In the semi-finals, he faced Di Ao, and in the first round of volleys, he directly blasted away the two Soul Ancestor in the opponent's front row."

A single shot from a level 5 Soul Cannon isn't very powerful, but when many Soul Cannon fire simultaneously, the combined area of effect and impact is truly astonishing.

"I know." Dai Huabin nodded. "At the start, I used the Domain of Eternal Freeze to control the situation, and Ling Luochen's Ice Mist to provide a second layer of interference. The Soul Cannon needs to be injected with Soul Power to activate, and the low temperature of the Domain of Eternal Freeze will reduce the efficiency of the Soul Tool."

Wu Ming nodded slightly and said nothing more.

Han Ruoruo added from the side:

"There's another person we need to watch out for: Ma Rulong. He barely played in the semifinals, spending most of his time directing from the back. He's very shrewd; don't underestimate him."

Zhang Lexuan clapped her hands:

"Alright, that's the general tactical direction. Everyone, get some rest tonight and recharge your batteries."

As the meeting adjourned, Dai Huabin stopped Ma Xiaotao and Dai Yueheng, who were about to leave.

"Wait a moment."

Ma Xiaotao turned around, still holding the chicken bone in her mouth.

"After winning the finals, stay in Star Luo City for a few more days."

Dai Huabin curled the corners of his mouth.

"Have a good time exploring, eating, drinking, and having fun. I'll cover the expenses."

Xixi immediately leaned closer. "Really? All-inclusive?"

"All-inclusive."

"Long live Huabin!" Xixi shouted, raising her arms.

Gongyang Mo laughed even harder:

"Then I won't be polite!"

Ma Xiaotao took the chicken bone out of her mouth and pointed at Dai Huabin:

"Stop trying to sweet-talk me, let's win tomorrow's final first."

"That's not something that can be done easily."

Dai Yueheng his arms and stood on the same side as Dai Huabin.

Ma Xiaotao glanced at him sideways. "You're quite confident."

"My brother said he'd cover everything, if I'm not confident, who is?"

"What does this have to do with all-inclusive?"

A burst of laughter echoed down the corridor.

Dai Huabin and Zhu Lu walked at the very back.

The night breeze blew in through the window at the end of the corridor, carrying the warmth unique to summer nights in Star Luo City.

"It'll be over tomorrow," Zhu Lu said softly.

"Um."

Are you nervous?

Dai Huabin thought for a moment and then shook his head.

Don't be nervous.

Having played this game so far, he knew all too well how good the cards he held were.

The team competition features the Domain of Eternal Freeze and the Martial Soul Fusion Skill, while the 2-2-3 team consists of Ma Xiaotao and Dai Yueheng.

The biggest threat to the Sun Moon and Moon faction is the concentration of Soul Tool, but against the Ultimate Ice, the efficiency of Soul Tool will be reduced to a minimum.

The only thing that concerned him was the Sword of Judgment in Ma Rulong's hand, which Han Ruoruo had mentioned.

However, this time, there shouldn't be any major problems.

"Let's go." Dai Huabin pushed open the door to the room, letting Zhu Lu go in first. "Get some sleep. Tomorrow, we'll bring the championship back."

Zhu Lu nodded and went into the room.

Before Dai Huabin closed the door, he caught a glimpse of a golden figure flashing past at the corner of the corridor.

Di Lingxi.

She's probably wandering around the corridor again, waiting for him.

Dai Huabin didn't stop her. He had promised her barbecue and fun after the competition tomorrow, and he wouldn't miss a single thing.