Tactics

"Xiao Xiao, Wang Dong and I are aiming for the top spots in the freshman assessment. To do that, we need your strength."

Bai Cai held out a hand in invitation and said earnestly, "A strong result in the freshman assessment would be a tremendous help, whether you apply to become a core disciple or join the Shrek Inner Court."

"Xiao Xiao, your goal is to enter the Shrek Inner Court too, isn't it?"

Most ordinary students aimed to pass the freshman assessment and enjoy Shrek's cultivation resources.

But as the Freshman Class One's standout defensive-type Soul Master, Xiao Xiao would surely surpass those ordinary students who were just coasting along. She wouldn't stop at Shrek Outer Court.

Xiao Xiao said softly, "Who doesn't want to join the Shrek Inner Court?"

"Which is why choosing teammates is so important."

The pretty girl grinned. "I almost got tricked into joining you. Just a little bit more and I would've!"

The forest beside Sea God Lake was lush and verdant.

Thick fallen leaves crunched underfoot, the crackling sounds rising one after another.

A pair of blue butterfly wings spread open in an instant. The color at the tips of the forewings shifted from deep blue to bright blue to pale blue.

The entire surface of the wings was like a string of brilliant halos set against a blue sky, or white waves surging across a cerulean sea. Their colors and patterns were intricate and splendid, shot through with purplish blue.

At one moment deep blue, the next bright blue, then pale blue, they shimmered like they were encrusted with precious jewels, utterly dazzling.

The Light Goddess Butterfly possessed Wang Dong. A yellow Soul Ring and a purple Soul Ring followed the rhythm of her wings, one on either side. Wang Dong said proudly, "I'm Wang Dong, a twenty-fourth-level Power Attack System Battle Soul Master. My Martial Soul is the Light Goddess Butterfly, and my Second Soul Ring is a thousand-year ring."

Specks of pink light gradually gathered, and the little blue-haired figure appeared in a flash, sitting on Bai Cai's left shoulder. "I'm Bai Cai, a twentieth-level Control-Type Battle Spirit Master. Ralts is my spiritual-type external Martial Soul."

Two yellow Soul Rings rose slowly. Above Xiao Xiao's head, a ball of light swiftly took shape, becoming, in the blink of an eye, a black, three-legged cauldron with two handles, about three feet in diameter.

"I'm Xiao Xiao, a twenty-second-level Control-Type Battle Soul Master. My Martial Souls are the Three-Life Soul-Suppressing Cauldron and the Nine-Phoenix Flute."

The pretty girl explained, "Bai Cai and I overlap a little in our roles, and the Nine-Phoenix Flute isn't very strong at controlling opponents yet. So I'll mainly use the Three-Life Soul-Suppressing Cauldron, focusing on defense and support."

"No problem." Wang Dong lightly beat her blue butterfly wings and stretched. "As long as you can protect Xiao Bai, that's enough. Xiao Bai and I work together perfectly. The two of us can take on three without breaking a sweat."

Wang Dong had sparred with Bai Cai many times and already knew her weaknesses.

Ralts's Confusion strength was tied to spiritual power. Sealing two Soul Skills in a short time would greatly reduce the strength of her Confusion, indirectly weakening the Psychic Lock and Psychic Shield.

In other words, if she sealed more than two Soul Skills, Ralts's control and defense would plummet. A first- or second-ring Power Attack System Battle Soul Master could easily break through the Psychic Lock and Psychic Shield and attack Bai Cai herself.

Of course, unless the enemy's Power Attack System Battle Soul Master could move in from the rear much faster than Wang Dong, all they'd face was a righteous three-on-one.

"Bai Cai, what does Ralts's First Soul Ring do?" Xiao Xiao asked curiously. Apart from losing her first Soul Fighting match to Wang Dong, Bai Cai had no other recorded battles. She was extremely mysterious.

"So, Xiao Xiao, you're willing to prepare for the freshman assessment with us?" Wang Dong blinked her big pink-and-blue eyes.

"Mm-hmm." Xiao Xiao nodded.

"The First Soul Ring skill of Ralts is called Imprison. It seals a Soul Skill the opponent has already used."

Bai Cai paused briefly, then added, "Imprison can also interrupt Soul Skills that require sustained channeling, such as some status-type and enhancement-type Soul Skills."

"That effect!" Xiao Xiao's expression turned to shock. "That's cheating. Completely unfair!"

"The First Soul Ring can be used several times, right?" The pretty girl counted on her slender fingers. "You disable one Soul Skill each time, and after a few rounds..."

Freshmen had to be no older than twelve. A Soul Grandmaster with two Soul Rings was already an elite student, while super-geniuses who reached Soul Elder rank by twelve were few and far between.

Soul Elder, Soul Grandmaster, Soul Grandmaster—even a seed team with a top-tier lineup would have only seven Soul Rings in total.

As a First Soul Skill, Imprison had a low energy cost. She should be able to seal more than three Soul Rings in a short time, right?

Wang Dong's Martial Soul was the Light Goddess Butterfly, which came with the ability to fly. Add her powerful twenty-four levels of Soul Power and her thousand-year Second Soul Ring, and wouldn't she be unstoppable?

"That won't work." Bai Cai seemed to have guessed what Xiao Xiao was thinking. "If I seal more than two Soul Skills, Ralts's control strength drops sharply, and I'll lose the ability to protect myself."

"Besides, Wang Dong's Second Soul Ring consumes a great deal of Soul Power. She can't use it lightly; it's our trump card for deciding the match."

Bai Cai smiled. "Against weaker enemies, I'll control their bodies and lock their joints. Xiao Xiao will use her Soul-Suppressing Cauldron to knock them out of the arena, while Wang Dong saves her strength."

"It's not the Soul-Suppressing Cauldron," Xiao Xiao said through gritted teeth. "It's the Three-Life Soul-Suppressing Cauldron."

"Fine, the Three-Life Soul-Suppressing Cauldron."

Bai Cai continued, "Against opponents at our level, I'll seal some of their Soul Skills as needed and control their movements at crucial moments."

"Wang Dong will attack, while Xiao Xiao protects us and looks for chances to disrupt the enemy. Unless it's absolutely necessary, Wang Dong mustn't use her Second Soul Ring. She needs to save her strength."

"Finally, against a seed team led by a Soul Elder, I'll try to stall during the probing phase and attempt to seal all of the Soul Elder's Soul Skills."

"When I lose the ability to protect myself, Wang Dong will go straight for the enemy Soul Elder, while Xiao Xiao covers her and keeps the two Soul Grandmasters occupied. After that, you two can decide for yourselves how to fight."

"Xiao Bai, what about you?" Wang Dong took a few steps closer, full of concern. "Soul Skills don't have eyes. If you lose your Confusion protection..."

"If you aren't ready to sacrifice yourself, how can you pursue the championship?" Bai Cai said calmly. "Burn your boats and fight with your back to the river. Without sacrifice, how can victory be won?"

"If it really comes to it, I'll withdraw from the match." Bai Cai raised a hand and gently smoothed Ralts's blue hair. "Besides, I've always kept one trump card in reserve."

After three years of secret practice, Ralts could now slightly control the output of her Soul Power. At a critical moment, Healing Wish would become the straw that broke the camel's back.

"Is winning the freshman assessment really that important to you?" Wang Dong hesitated. "What will Shrek Academy give you?"

A blue ring-shaped Soul Tool, a Mystic Water Pill—could those be rewards Xiao Bai had received in advance?

Xiao Bai had hardly ever gotten angry, yet she'd been so disappointed after losing the Soul Fighting match... Could it be because of the Soul Ring Wang Dong had promised her?

Wang Dong belatedly sensed the side of Bai Cai she had kept hidden.