Douluo: Starting with an Engagement to Zhu Zhuqing

Chapter 76: Helpless Strategy

Feng Qianli hurriedly grabbed Dai Yuanyi by the ear and apologized:

"Sorry, Dai Yao, this guy's brain is a bit off."

Dai Yuanyi was in pain and quickly said, "Don't pull it, don't pull it! I was wrong! If I had known the flower already had an owner, I wouldn't have tried to hit on her!"

Dai Yao coldly stared at Dai Yuanyi, finding him somewhat frivolous and unfit for serious use.

"That's the best way," he replied.

Seeing that Dai Yao didn't pursue the matter further, Feng Qianli sighed in relief and said, "Since everyone is here, let's quickly go over the plan and prepare for tomorrow's match."

"Let's introduce ourselves first," he suggested.

As everyone introduced themselves, Dai Yao learned each person's name and their martial soul.

The short-haired girl, who had her hair shoulder-length, was named Luo Ling. She was a support-type soul master, her martial soul being an amplification staff that could specifically enhance the strength of one soul master. Her soul power was level 23.

The tall, thin guy was named Luo Feng, a control-type soul master with the martial soul of the Green Wood Vine, and his soul power was level 24.

The last short guy was named Dou Yu, a sensitive attack-type soul master with the martial soul of the Green Swallow, and his soul power was level 22.

Hearing these introductions, Dai Yao's heart sank. Their martial souls were relatively ordinary, and their soul power levels were much lower than those of the Tian Dou Royal Team.

The only ones who stood out were Feng Qianli and Dai Yuanyi.

Feng Qianli was a level 29 defense-type soul master with the martial soul of the Black Tortoise, similar to the Xuanwu Tortoise martial souls of Shi Mo and Shi Mo from the Star Luo Royal Team, but his was a variant.

Dai Yuanyi was a level 28 offensive-type soul master with the martial soul of the Green Rainbow Sword. Weapon-type martial souls, especially sword-based ones, had strong offensive power, and in weapon-type martial souls, swords were particularly dominant.

"Dai Yao, martial soul Sacred White Tiger, level 23 soul power, offensive-type soul master."

"Zhu Zhuqing, martial soul Nether Dominator, level 22 soul master, sensitive attack-type."

Although their levels were low, no one dared to underestimate them. Just the release of Dai Yao's martial soul pressure earlier had made everyone feel suffocated.

Luo Ling suddenly realized something and asked, "How old are you?"

"We're both eleven," Dai Yao answered.

"Hiss—"

A collective gasp of cold air filled the room. To reach the Great Soul Master level at just eleven years old was truly astonishing.

Luo Ling bitterly smiled and said, "With your talent, you could easily get into Tian Dou Royal Academy. Why come to our Oakland Academy?"

"Personal reasons," Dai Yao replied, not willing to elaborate further.

Since Dai Yao didn't want to say more, the others didn't ask further questions.

Once they got a little more comfortable, Feng Qianli gathered everyone and said, "The duel is tomorrow. Although we've just formed the team, so has Tian Dou Royal Team. Their coordination isn't far superior to ours. Our mission is to last for ten minutes without being defeated."

"We can accept failure, but we cannot accept a failure without resistance. We know we'll lose, but we absolutely cannot let them look down on us!" Feng Qianli's words were firm and resolute.

"Does everyone know about the enemy?" Feng Qianli asked.

"Yes," everyone responded.

"Good. As the team leader, I will now lay out the strategy for tomorrow's match. Afterward, we'll practice, and then rest well to prepare for tomorrow's fight."

"The strongest on their side is Yu Tianheng. Dai Yuanyi, you'll handle him."

"No problem," Dai Yuanyi lazily replied, yawning.

His casual attitude made Dai Yao a little worried. While Dai Yuanyi's martial soul and soul power were impressive, thinking he could stop the world's strongest beast martial soul, Yu Tianheng, was pure fantasy.

Feng Qianli continued, "I'll handle the Shi brothers, Shi Mo and Shi Mo. We both have the Black Tortoise martial soul, so I'm bound to clash with them."

"Yufeng and Aosi Luo will be handled by you two. Their soul power is higher than yours, so be cautious."

Feng Qianli gave a special reminder.

Although Dai Yao and Zhu Zhuqing were exceptionally talented and had been part of soul fighting competitions since an early age, their soul power was still low. Therefore, Feng Qianli had deliberately paired them with slightly weaker opponents.

"The last one, Dugu Yan, will be handled by you, Luo Feng. Don't try to fight her head-on, just stall for time."

"Dou Yu, you will protect Luo Ling. With her support, Dai Yuanyi will have a chance to hold back Yu Tianheng."

Feng Qianli's strategy was the best possible given their disadvantaged situation.

But Dai Yao wasn't optimistic about Oakland Academy's team. In fact, aside from himself and Zhu Zhuqing, the others were all at a severe disadvantage.

Could Dai Yuanyi really stop Yu Tianheng? Could Feng Qianli hold off the Shi brothers? And most importantly, could Luo Feng stop Dugu Yan?

"Forget it, I won't think about it," Dai Yao thought. Though he wasn't optimistic about Oakland's team, there was still a chance—his and Zhu Zhuqing's martial soul fusion skill: Nether White Tiger.

By now, it was late into the night.

After a short training session, everyone said their goodbyes and returned to their respective rooms.

The academy had separated male and female students, but since Dai Yao and Zhu Zhuqing were both prodigies, special arrangements were made, and they were assigned to the same room.

The room was large, about a hundred square meters, and it was said to be a teacher's residence.

After a quick wash, they went to bed to rest.

Zhu Zhuqing, lying on the upper bunk, leaned over the railing. Her black hair cascaded down like a waterfall. She asked Dai Yao, lying on the lower bunk, "Yao Ge, I suddenly feel so strange. Here, no one has any ill will toward me."

"Isn't that a good thing?" Dai Yao responded.

"It's not that... it just feels so odd." Zhu Zhuqing's eyes sparkled in the dark like a river of stars—beautiful and dazzling.

"This is the way it should be," Dai Yao sighed. "The oppressive environment in Star Luo is not where a normal person should stay. No wonder Dai Mubai escaped."

After a long silence, Zhu Zhuqing said, "Yao Ge, do you think we'll definitely lose tomorrow? The others in the team already believe we will lose."

"I don't know. We'll do our best. Victory or defeat doesn't matter."

Dai Yao was looking forward to tomorrow's match.

The Blue Lightning Tyrant Dragon martial soul—the strongest beast martial soul in the world—let me clash with you using the Sacred White Tiger martial soul. Let's see whose martial soul is stronger!

Zhu Zhuqing nodded. After hearing Dai Yao's answer, she felt a little more at ease. She turned around, lay down, and covered herself with the blanket.

A night of silence followed.

The next morning, Oakland Academy was bustling with activity.

The duel between the Tian Dou Royal Team and Oakland Academy attracted countless onlookers, including the Platinum Bishop of the Spirit Hall, Salas, and Ning Fengzhi, the Sect Leader of the second most powerful sect in the world.

Hearing that these two esteemed figures were coming shocked everyone.

Why would these two come to watch the match between two academy teams? It made sense that Ning Fengzhi would come because of his close ties with the Tian Dou Empire, but why would Salas, who had a notoriously poor relationship with the Tian Dou Empire, be here?