Chapter 36: Schemes

Every team wears its own uniform, and when the host introduces them they pause for a few seconds.

After all teams have been introduced, each team proceeds to its own Soul Battle arena.

"The Yan Team versus the Flying Fire Team, Soul Fighting Rules: Order Battle!" the referee on the Soul Battle Platform announced the draw results.

The two teams then have ten minutes to decide their order formation.

"It's an order battle; what are your thoughts?" Kaiqi looked at everyone.

"I think we can place our main forces in the first and third rounds of the order battle. Since the opponent doesn't know our team's strength, the first round will be a probe; the sent members likely won't be very strong. We'll have me, Tie Li, and Caixin fight the first round to try to take it;"

"and after they lose the first round they'll definitely try to win back in the second round, which may be led by the only Three Ring Soul Honorable in their team. We'll tactically forfeit the second round and put our main forces in the third." Duolangbu gave a brief analysis.

But we can't rule out the opponent doing the opposite.

Everyone agreed with Duolangbu's layout, handed the order combination to the referee, and once submitted it cannot be changed—that's the rule.

The Flying Fire Academy's situation is similar to the Yan Team's; while ensuring the first round probes the opponent's strength, they also strive to secure a win.

"We aim to win the Soul Battle within the first two rounds, not leaving suspense for the third," the Flying Fire Team's leader told the members.

As he said, he placed all his main forces in the first two Soul Battles; dragging it to the third would be certain defeat.

After both sides submitted their order, the referee signaled them to send out the first‑round Soul Battle participants.

Tie Li took the lead, followed by Duolangbu and Caixin.

Opposite Tie Li's trio, the other side also fielded a three‑person team in a 2‑1 formation: two strong‑attack and one control.

"Soul Battle begins!" the referee announced immediately.

All six released their martial souls at once; Tie Li's side had six yellow Hundred‑Year Soul Rings, whereas the opponent had only one strong‑attack Soul Master with the optimal two‑yellow configuration, and the other two each had a white‑and‑yellow Soul Ring pairing.

Lightning Light flashed in his hand, and Tie Li, wielding the Forging Hammer, launched the first attack; Caixin's two major Amplification Soul Techniques were already applied to him.

Two thick vines trailed behind, and this time Duolangbu's role was to cooperate with Tie Li's strong attack.

"Eliminate him first."

The three opponents exchanged glances, forming a plan: since the enemy's strong‑attack Soul Master is so formidable, they would jointly eliminate him first.

The control‑type Soul Master manipulated tree roots and willows, surging at Tie Li from four directions, while the two strong‑attack Soul Masters flanked him from left and right; once the willow roots seize him, his fate is clear.

Tie Li's figure suddenly halted, lightly leapt up, and at that moment Duolangbu maneuvered the vines to fly to Tie Li's feet.

"Good opportunity."

Duolangbu, delighted, used the vines to hurl Tie Li toward the opponent's control‑type Soul Master.

Their strong‑attack Soul Masters attempted to flank Tie Li from both sides, leaving a gap in their middle.

"Not good!" the two's faces changed.

There's no time to retreat; with a hardened resolve they changed direction and charged at Duolangbu and Caixin.

Within three breaths Tie Li was already in front of him; he didn't even have time to release a soul skill to save himself.

Second Soul Technique, Thunder Break!

It gathers thunder power, dealing lightning damage and also having a Shock Repel effect.

Tie Li's own power combined with the Shock Repel effect brutally consumed the control‑type Soul Master with this hammer; his body shot out like a meteor.

"Bang"

"That was easy!" Tie Li thought calmly.

Their soul power level and Soul Rings were not lacking, but their combat experience was shallow; they only saw their own strong attacks and ignored that they still had teammates.

Seeing this, the referee's expression shifted slightly, immediately released a martial soul, appearing behind that control‑type Soul Master to dissipate the Lightning Light and impact on him.

"Such a fierce attack," the referee specifically glanced at Tie Li.

Tie Li also noticed the referee, who turned out to be a Five Ring Soul King.

One white, three yellow, one purple!

The Soul Ring configuration was a bit off, but he is still a Five Ring Soul King, more than qualified to be the match referee.

"Sss"

A harsh sound rang on the Soul Battle Platform; the two strong‑attack Soul Masters, in Martial Soul Possession State, tried to break through Duolangbu's vine defense but failed.

Their martial souls were a wolf and a leopard; their sharp claws were their weapons, yet they couldn't cut the thick vines.

Unless Duolangbu uses the Second Soul Technique to achieve a control effect, the vines empowered by the First Soul Technique are not only thick but also highly resilient.

Tie Li has sparred with Duolangbu many times, naturally recalling his personal experience facing both sides' martial souls.

Duolangbu stated plainly that Tie Li gives him a strong sense of pressure; both his strength and Thunder and Lightning Attribute surpass any same‑level Soul Master he has seen.

Tie Li pointed out Duolangbu's shortcoming in soul techniques; without using the Second Soul Technique to split the vine defense, even he would find it hard to break through.

The First Soul Technique's vine enhancement limits Duolangbu to controlling two vines because he currently has only two Soul Rings; each additional Soul Ring lets him control one more vine.

"How could this happen?" the two strong‑attack Soul Masters exclaimed.

At that moment, Tie Li appeared behind them.

Duolangbu seized the chance, immediately used the Second Soul Technique; the thick vines instantly split into dozens of thin strands, restraining their limbs.

"Bang bang"

Two consecutive thunder hammers struck their chests, blasting them out of the Soul Battle Platform.

This also signified the end of the first Soul Battle.

"First round, Yan Team, victory!" the referee announced immediately.

In the second round, the opponent, as Duolangbu predicted, indeed fielded a Three Ring Soul Honorable, plus a support and a defense.

That Three Ring Soul Honorable was also a control‑type Soul Master.

On Tie Li's side, only Baijiao and Daise were sent.

Kaiqi instructed the two to avoid injury as much as possible; hold out for a while and then they could concede.

The two were honored to complete the task; after only a few rounds they immediately conceded.

The team leader of the Flying Fire Squad wore a sour expression; when he saw Yan Team's personnel lineup for the second round, he already guessed they would place their main forces in the third round.

And their own third round was…

"Team leader, should I still go up?" a chubby kid asked weakly; he was the weakest member of the squad, only there to fill numbers.

Hearing the chubby kid's words made the Flying Fire Squad's team leader's expression even sourer.

If they wanted to continue into the third round, they could only put him on stage alone; the Flying Fire Squad's formation was 3‑3‑1, with the main forces in the first two rounds.

(End of chapter)