197: Behemoth's Challenge

The ripples caused by Zhao Hao joining the Hundred Schools Society had not yet completely settled when another force, bearing undisguised sharpness, charged directly toward the facade of this nascent society.

The time was the afternoon of the day after Zhao Hao joined.

Inside the activity room of the Hundred Schools Society, the atmosphere was much livelier than usual. Zhao Hao was frowning, trying to achieve a preliminary theoretical combination between the Legalist concept of "Edicts" and the Dragon Clan's innate "Dragon Might Domain" using a complex holographic projection of Great Dragon physiology and data streams, occasionally muttering terms like "constraining reinforcement" and "directional suppression." Meanwhile, at another workbench, Li Mo was carefully using tweezers to pick up a small piece of Dragon Crystal shard, preparing to connect it to his newly designed "Psionic-Dragon Crystal Hybrid Power Test Bench," his face filled with excitement and tension. Shi Lei and Wu Feng were on a corner simulation battle platform, attempting to command virtual images of several Rock Golems using a simplified School of Military formation; Shi Lei's rough commands and Wu Feng's low corrective tones intertwined. Sun Xiao Ruan was clutching a copy of "Introduction to Agrarianism," diligently trying to grasp the principles of the "Fertile Soil Technique," glancing occasionally at the few hazy green Slimes in her Divine Domain.

Everything was developing positively until the not-so-sturdy door was shoved open with Brute force, slamming against the wall with a loud crash.

The activity room instantly fell silent.

At the doorway stood a youth built as sturdy as an iron tower, wearing a tight black combat suit, sporting a buzz cut, and possessing a rugged face marked by defiance. His eyes were sharp as knives, carrying undisguised aggression and scrutiny, sweeping over everyone in the room before finally locking onto Lin Zhou. He had no followers behind him, but the iron-blooded Evil Qi honed in mountains of corpses and seas of blood, along with his unrestrained Divine Power fluctuations, carried more oppressive weight than any entourage.

Wang Meng.

A scion of the Military Department, owner of a Behemoth Divine Domain, and one of the foremost representatives of physical melee ability among this year's freshmen. His Kin, the Golden Behemoth, was renowned for its unrivaled strength and ferocious combat style.

"Lin Zhou?" Wang Meng spoke, his voice like muffled thunder echoing in the not-so-spacious activity room. "I heard you started some 'Hundred Schools Society' here, and even recruited that spineless Great Dragon, Zhao Hao?"

His words were completely impolite, naming names directly, dripping with hostility.

Zhao Hao's expression darkened. He put down the data projection in his hand, stood up, and looked at Wang Meng with hostile eyes: "Wang Meng, watch your mouth! My joining the society is my business, it's none of your place to comment!"

"Hmph," Wang Meng scoffed dismissively. "A proper Great Dragon should be focusing on how to become stronger, not dabbling in these crooked paths. If that's not spineless, what is? Zhao Hao, you're really regressing with age."

"You!" Zhao Hao's anger surged, and a faint Dragon Might rose from him.

Lin Zhou raised a hand, signaling Zhao Hao to calm down. He looked calmly at Wang Meng: "Classmate Wang Meng, what guidance do you seek at my society?"

Wang Meng took a few steps forward; his heavy footsteps seemed to make the floor tremble slightly. He walked up to the conference table, braced his hands on the surface, and looked down at the seated Lin Zhou, his gaze aggressive: "Guidance? Hardly. I just heard your society is boasting sky-high claims—'Spark of Thought,' 'Way of Civilization'—sounds quite flashy. I, Wang Meng, am a rough man; I don't understand all those twists and turns. I only believe in one principle—let's see if you're a mule or a horse by taking you out for a ride!"

He straightened up, looked around, and a provocative smile appeared on his face: "Since your society dares to open for enrollment, you must have some real skill. How about it, do you dare to come with me for a match? A Divine Domain battle, a real fight! Let me see if your 'Hundred Schools of Thought' is more powerful, or if my Behemoth claws are harder!"

An open challenge delivered right to their doorstep! An undisguised intent to suppress!

In the activity room, Li Mo and the others' expressions shifted slightly. They had heard of Wang Meng's reputation; he was one of the recognized toughest nuts to crack among the freshmen. His Behemoth Kin possessed terrifying pure physical destructive power.

Zhao Hao looked solemn and whispered, "Boss, although Wang Meng is reckless, his strength is indeed formidable. His Golden Behemoth's average Strength attribute is rumored to have already broken 45 points, plus the Berserk talent. Few freshmen can withstand a direct head-on confrontation."

[Behemoth Kin (Golden Bloodline) Estimated Data (Based on public intelligence and combat record analysis)]:

Average Rank: LV28-LV32 (Wang Meng heavily prioritizes resources for cultivating his core Kin)

Core Attributes (Estimated):

Strength: 45-50 (Peak level, crushing opponents of the same Rank)

Physique: 40-45 (Vigorous vitality, extremely high physical defense)

Agility: 25-30 (Relative weakness, but short-range burst speed is not slow)

Spirit: 15-20 (Relatively low, susceptible to mental influence, but mental resistance improves in Berserk state)

Talents/Skills:

Golden Bloodline (Passive): All attribute base values +10%, physical damage carries slight armor penetration and shattering effects.

Berserk (Active/Passive Trigger): Can enter a Berserk state when Health drops below a certain threshold or upon being enraged, greatly increasing Strength and Attack Speed (+30%~+50%), reducing pain, but lowering rationality, potentially reducing defense and mental resistance.

Rending Claw Strike (LV4+): Behemoth's signature skill, deals massive physical damage to a single target, with a high chance of inflicting the 'Bleeding' effect.

War Stomp (Area of Effect): Slams the ground, dealing damage and causing brief stun to surrounding enemies.

Combat Style: Simple, brutal, efficient. Relies on absolute strength and defense to crush opponents head-on, excels at breaking through solid lines and eliminating core units.

Weakness Analysis (Theoretical): Relatively low Agility, average turning and pursuit capabilities; Spirit attribute is a clear shortcoming; overly reliant on melee, lacking ranged and area control methods; Berserk state is a double-edged sword.

Average Strength above 45 points! This is indeed the known physical attribute ceiling among freshmen currently. In comparison, Lin Zhou's Law Fishmen have a Strength around 28, the Tiangong Dwarves are about 35, and the Literary Heart Elves lean more towards magic. Faced with an absolute gap in strength, many techniques do indeed appear pale.

Wang Meng looked at the silent Lin Zhou, assuming he was scared, and the mockery on his face intensified: "What? Scared? It seems your society is just all flash and no substance, all talk. You should just close it down early and stop misleading people."

The use of provocation was clumsy, but effective. Shi Lei's face turned red with anger, Wu Feng clenched his fists, and Sun Xiao Ruan shrank back fearfully. Li Mo adjusted his glasses, his eyes gleaming with calculation, seemingly rapidly assessing the combat data of both sides.

Lin Zhou slowly stood up, his gaze calm as he met Wang Meng's eyes. He was not as robust as Wang Meng in stature, nor as flamboyant in Aura, but the stillness of his gaze made Wang Meng's heart inexplicably tighten slightly.

"Classmate Wang Meng," Lin Zhou began, his voice not loud but clearly reaching everyone's ears, "The purpose of the Hundred Schools Society is to study thought, explore civilization, and grow together; it is not a place for seeking fights."

Wang Meng scoffed, about to retort.

"However," Lin Zhou's tone shifted, "if someone believes that thought is mere empty talk, and civilization is powerless to protect itself, then it is not inappropriate to use facts to sober them up."

"I accept your challenge."

A soft gasp went through the activity room. Zhao Hao wanted to speak but stopped, ultimately choosing to trust Lin Zhou. Li Mo's eyes brightened further, and he began rapidly recording something on his personal terminal.

Wang Meng was stunned for a moment, then burst into loud laughter: "Good! You actually have some guts! Time, place, and method, you name it!"

"Three days from now, two in the afternoon, the school's public combat zone, 'Wasteland' scenario." Lin Zhou said calmly. "The rules will follow the school's standard freshman combat regulations: Kin battle, Gods observe and command, direct intervention is prohibited, and the use of banned cards or items is prohibited."

“Can do!” Wang Meng readily agreed, then a hint of slyness flashed in his eyes, “Just fighting without stakes is boring. There should be a prize, right? If you lose, your society disbands on the spot, and from now on, you’ll walk the other way when you see me, Wang Meng! How about it?”

This condition was extremely harsh, almost demanding the complete annihilation of the Hundred Schools Society.

Lin Zhou’s expression remained unchanged: “And if you lose?”

“Me losing?” Wang Meng acted as if he had heard the greatest joke, patting his sturdy chest, “When would I ever lose? Fine! If I lose, this [Training Ground Token] belongs to you!”

He took out a palm-sized, dark-gold metal token, engraved with crossed swords and a shield relief, and slapped it onto the table with a *pa* sound.

The token emitted a faint, heart-palpitating energy fluctuation, clearly indicating it was no ordinary item.

[Special Item · Training Ground Token]:

Grade: Rare (Blue)

Source: Items redeemable with military merit / Rewards from certain top-tier academies.

Function: Holding this token grants one-time use of the “Simulation High-Intensity Training Ground.” Time flow inside the training ground can be adjusted (max 1:10). It can simulate various complex battlefield environments (jungle, swamp, mountain, urban ruins, etc.) and generate simulated hostile units up to the Peak of Faint Divinity (LV500) (type, quantity, and intensity are customizable), used for the practical training of dependents, tactical coordination, and weakness testing. Simulated units suffer no actual loss upon defeat.

Usage Limit: Maximum continuous real time usage is 24 hours (maximum Divine Domain time is 240 hours). The token is a single-use consumable.

Value Assessment: Extremely high value for Deities who need to rapidly improve the practical combat experience of their dependents, test new tactics, or coordinate multi-unit cooperation. It far surpasses ordinary resource cards of the same rarity. It is especially suitable for Lin Zhou, whose Divine Domain is in a rebuilding phase and requires efficient troop training.

What a good item! Lin Zhou felt a slight stir in his heart. This token would indeed be very helpful for restoring his Divine Domain and validating the tactical system of the Hundred Schools. Wang Meng being able to produce this item showed both his deep background (military connections) and his absolute confidence in his own strength.

“Agreed.” Lin Zhou nodded, “The wager is set.”

“Straightforward!” Wang Meng grinned, revealing his stark white teeth, “Then I’ll see you in three days! Lin Zhou, don't let your little fish, shrimp, and tin cans die too miserably! Hahaha!”

He laughed heartily, turned, and strode away, the sound of his heavy footsteps gradually fading.

The activity room returned to silence, but the atmosphere was completely different. It was solemn, tense, and carried a hint of suppressed excitement.

“Boss, three days... are you confident?” Zhao Hao spoke first, his tone worried, “I know Wang Meng’s Behemoths; they are tough, strong, and they *can* go Berserk. Once they charge, they are hard to stop. Although my Great Dragons can maneuver around them, a direct confrontation is also very taxing.”

Li Mo rapidly calculated: “Based on current data simulations, relying solely on the Law Fishmen and Tiangong Dwarves for frontal interception has a success rate below 30%. We need to incorporate terrain, mechanisms, ranged attrition, and possibly mental interference factors... Boss, my Gnomes can rush production on a batch of ‘High-Efficiency Adhesive Bombs’ and ‘Visual Interference Smoke’—perhaps that can slow down the Behemoths’ charge!”

Shi Lei thumped his chest: “Boss! Let my Rock Golems take the front! They aren't afraid of getting hit!”

Wu Feng also whispered: “My Shadow Bats... can attempt Sonic Interference. Although the effect on Behemoths might be limited, it might disrupt the timing of their Berserk state activation...”

Little Soft Sun timidly raised her hand: “M-my Slimes... can they be used as obstacles? They are very sticky, maybe they can entangle the Behemoths’ feet?”

Lin Zhou listened to the members offering suggestions one after another, feeling a warm current surge in his heart. Although their strengths varied, facing an external challenge, this willingness to share the burden and actively offer ideas was the Society's most precious asset.

He walked to the conference table, lightly tapping his fingers on the surface, his gaze calm.

“Wang Meng’s Behemoths are strong in power but weak in adaptability. Three days is enough time for us to devise a targeted strategy.”

His gaze swept over everyone: “Li Mo, your mechanisms and smoke bombs are the first step: delay and interference. Shi Lei, your Rock Golems are not meant to be sandbags, but to form ‘mobile obstacles’ and ‘decoys’ coordinated with specific terrain. Wu Feng, your Shadow Bats are responsible for high-altitude reconnaissance and precise ‘Fear Screams.’ The goal is not to inflict damage on the Behemoths, but to disrupt the relatively weaker individuals in their formation, creating chaos and a Breakthrough point. Little Soft Sun, your Slimes... have a better use.”

Lin Zhou looked at Little Soft Sun: “I need you to maximize the ‘Devour’ and ‘Split’ characteristics of the Slimes. Li Mo, you cooperate with her to design a ‘Rapid Proliferation Nutrient Solution’ so the Slimes can Split rapidly in a short time, covering a specific area to form a ‘Bio-Swamp Zone.’ The goal isn't killing, only slowing down and draining the Behemoths’ stamina.”

“Zhao Hao,” Lin Zhou turned to him, “Your Great Dragons are the key mobile force and the ‘Finishers.’ But this time, they don't need to charge head-on. I need them as an ‘Aerial Bulwark’ to execute ‘Dive Deterrence,’ ‘Precision Clearance’ (targeting potential Behemoth Hero units), and finally, ‘Battlefield Harvest.’ This requires extremely high discipline and tactical execution, which is a perfect test for the initial application results of the Legalist thought you’ve been studying these past few days.”

He paused, his eyes flashing with wisdom: “And my Literary Heart Elves, Law Fishmen, and Tiangong Dwarves will serve as the tactical core. Confucian Righteousness will weaken enemy morale, Legalist Edicts will restrain their movements, the School of Military formations will wear them down layer by layer, Mohist Mechanisms will set ambushes at every step, and the Daoist Philosophy... might allow us to better utilize the terrain and environment of the ‘Wasteland’ battlefield.”

“This is an excellent opportunity to test the collaborative combat capability of our Hundred Schools of Thought. The goal is not to crush the Behemoths through Brute force, but to neutralize their offensive, exhaust their strength with minimal cost, ultimately forcing Wang Meng to concede, or... annihilate his entire retinue!”

Lin Zhou’s voice was not loud, but it carried an undeniable certainty and confidence. After his speech, the initially somewhat solemn atmosphere gradually transformed into one of eager Battle Intent. Everyone felt their roles and missions become clear, no longer facing the strong enemy in confusion.

“Boss, tell us what to do, and we’ll do it!” Shi Lei was the first to respond, his voice muffled.

“Data analysis and mechanism preparation are on me!” Li Mo cracked his knuckles.

“Aerial reconnaissance and interference, mission guaranteed to be completed,” Wu Feng stated solemnly.

“I-I will work hard to make the Slimes Split more and faster!” Little Soft Sun also mustered her courage.

Zhao Hao looked at Lin Zhou, the last trace of doubt in his eyes vanished, replaced by a fiercely burning Battle Intent: “Good! Let that Brute Wang Meng see what kind of power Great Dragons can unleash under the guidance of ‘Thought’!”

The Hundred Schools Society’s first true collective combat strategy meeting unfolded efficiently under the pressure of this sudden challenge. Sparks of philosophy intensely collided with practical combat needs, brewing a battle destined to shake the Circle of Newcomers.

Meanwhile, not far from the Society’s activity room, under the shadow of an Ancient Tree, a cold figure stood quietly. Su Yueyao gazed at the light filtering through the activity room window and the faint human silhouettes, a barely perceptible ripple flashing across her cold eyes.

“Three days from now, huh...” she murmured softly, then turned, her skirt brushing the Luminescent Grass on the ground as she silently melted into the moonlight.