85: Zhao Hao seeks help; the traditional divine realm encounters a bottleneck (Part 2)

The mental fluctuations from the death passage were extremely subtle, carrying a cold, scrutinizing intent, as if evaluating the barrier's strength and the intensity of the 'world' behind it. It no longer charged wildly, but patiently searched for possible cracks, like a venomous snake.

Lin Zhou's main consciousness immediately became highly concentrated, ordering Snik Shadowclaw and Hero Granite Bronzebeard to be on high alert, while simultaneously dedicating more of his attention to monitoring the barrier. He felt that the entity on the other side was more cunning and troublesome than imagined.

This silent confrontation was far more mentally taxing than a direct assault... The Star Domain League elimination match, Yuncheng No. 1 High School vs. Shadow Academy, finally arrived.

This match attracted unprecedented attention. The virtual venue was packed, and the popularity of live broadcast rooms on major platforms soared to its peak.

Both teams entered. The five members of Shadow Academy were all clad in black robes, exuding a chilling aura, their eyes scanning the Yuncheng No. 1 High School team like hawks, particularly lingering on Lin Zhou and Su Yueyao for a moment, clearly having done their homework.

On Yuncheng No. 1 High School's side, everyone followed Lin Zhou's deployment, their expressions solemn and their eyes firm.

"Remember our tactics, hold steady!" Lin Zhou reminded them one last time.

"Understood!"

The match map was randomly generated—[Gloomy Swamp]. This was a terrain permeated with faint miasma, covered in puddles, decaying plants, and twisted strange trees. Visibility was obstructed, light was dim, and it provided environmental bonuses to stealth and undead units.

"Match start!"

As soon as the System prompt sounded, Shadow Academy launched its first attack!

There was no large-scale troop movement, only countless ghostly [Shadow Walkers] and translucent [Phantoms] silently blending into the shadows and mist of the swamp, infiltrating from all directions towards Yuncheng No. 1 High School's landing point! Simultaneously, an invisible [Dark Sky Curtain] began to spread from Shadow Academy's position, further reducing battlefield visibility and slightly boosting the attributes of undead units.

"As expected! According to the plan, defensive formation, deploy!" Lin Zhou calmly ordered.

Stone Breaking Heaven's Mountain Giant immediately formed a circle, activating Earth Bulwark to create a sturdy circular defensive position. Su Yueyao's Moon Elves were protected in the center of the position, and the Moon God Priests began to chant. The gentle moonlight dispelled the miasma within the position's range and formed a small [Moonlight Purification Barrier], continuously dispelling negative statuses.

Lin Zhou's Hundred Schools Kin were distributed throughout the position. The Literary Heart Elves' Aura of Righteousness Barrier covered the entire circular position like an inverted golden bowl, its golden halo particularly striking in the Gloomy Swamp. The Legalist Enforcers had sharp eyes, patrolling the edge of the barrier, their Insight of Penal Codes trait making it easier for them to discover traces of hidden units. The Tiangong Dwarves tapped and hammered at key locations, setting up simple warning mechanisms and [Blazing Rune Traps].

On the outer layer, Lei Huang's Thunder Giants, Zhao Hao's Red Dragons, Yan Li's Blazing Phoenix, and Zhou Feng's Shadow Demon Wolves, following Lin Zhou's instructions, did not stray far, but instead patrolled the perimeter of the defensive circle, wary of any potential enemy main forces.

Shadow Academy's first infiltration probe began!

Several [Shadow Walkers] attempted to use the environmental advantage to sneak into the Aura of Righteousness Barrier, but as soon as they touched the golden halo, they twisted and blurred as if branded by a hot iron, letting out silent wails, their speed greatly reduced. They were immediately locked onto by patrolling Legalist Enforcers using the Net of Law and eliminated by concentrated fire!

Several [Phantoms] passed through physical obstacles, attempting to directly attack the Moon Elves inside, but were continuously scorched by the Moonlight Purification Barrier. Their soul bodies rapidly thinned, eventually dissipating.

The captain of Shadow Academy, a gloomy male named "Yingshi," snorted coldly: "As expected, they have some tricks. Then taste the flavor of curses!"

Immediately, streams of grayish-black curse energy shot out from the depths of the swamp like venomous snakes, landing on Yuncheng No. 1 High School's position!

[Weakness Curse]—reduces Strength, Agility!

[Aging Spell]—reduces Physique, Spirit!

[Painful Torment]—continuously deals spiritual damage and interferes with spellcasting!

However, these troublesome curses, as soon as they entered the dual range of the Moonlight Purification Barrier and the Aura of Righteousness Barrier, had their effects greatly weakened! The Moon God Priests' dispelling Spells followed closely, quickly clearing these curse effects. Only a few curse effects that landed on the outermost Thunder Giants lasted slightly longer, but they were also quickly dispelled.

Shadow Academy's curse offensive yielded minimal results!

"Their defense and purification abilities are too strong! Full assault!" Yingshi changed his strategy.

From the depths of the swamp came a grating sound of bones rubbing and a low roar. The next moment, Skeleton Warriors and rotting zombies, like a tide, crawled out of the surrounding mire, roaring as they launched a desperate charge towards Yuncheng No. 1 High School's position! Among these low-level undead, some Death Knights riding skeleton warhorses and wielding runic swords were mixed in, along with Liches hidden in the rear, waving bone staves!

Undead sea tactic!

Facing this overwhelming wave of undead, Yuncheng No. 1 High School's position seemed like a reef amidst stormy seas.

"Don't panic! Mountain Giants, hold the line! Thunder Giants, use area lightning to clear out miscellaneous troops! Moon Elves, prioritize healing the front row! Legalist Enforcers, Net of Law to restrict Death Knight charges! Literary Heart Elves, Song of Righteousness to boost morale!" Lin Zhou's commands remained steady.

Stone Breaking Heaven's Mountain Giants were like bedrock, each swing of their massive fists clearing out a swath of skeletons. Lei Huang's Thunder Giants crackled with lightning, and Thunder Shocks continuously exploded among the undead sea, turning swathes of skeletons and zombies into dust. Su Yueyao's healing light poured down like water, maintaining the front line's health.

Lin Zhou's Kin played a pivotal role. The Legalist Enforcers' Net of Law specifically targeted Death Knights attempting to launch a mass charge, forcefully interrupting their momentum and trapping them in the encirclement of the Dwarves and Thunder Giants. The Literary Heart Elves' Song of Righteousness not only boosted the morale of their own units, but the power of Order it contained had a continuous suppressive effect on the undead. The Blazing Rune Traps set by the Tiangong Dwarves were also continuously triggered, erupting in bursts of flame that devoured the undead.

Although the undead's offensive was fierce, under Yuncheng No. 1 High School's tight and efficient defensive System, it was like a wave crashing against an iron plate, achieving no success and instead suffering heavy losses.

After a long and fruitless assault, Shadow Academy seemed a bit impatient. A hint of ruthlessness flashed in Yingshi's eyes as he prepared to use more powerful means.

However, Lin Zhou, who had been calmly observing the battle, caught a slight imbalance in the enemy's formation through Zhou Feng's Shadow Demon Wolf and Yan Li's Phoenix reconnaissance—in Order to maintain the undead sea offensive and curse suppression, Shadow Academy's backline spellcasting units (Liches and Curse Mages) were relatively concentrated, and their protective forces seemed to have been partially diverted to the front line!

An opportunity!

"Lei Huang! Zhao Hao! Yan Li! Target the Lich cluster behind that dead wood forest at the enemy's three o'clock direction! Full power attack, take them out!" Lin Zhou immediately issued the counterattack Order!

The outer mobile strike force, which had been waiting for a long time, erupted instantly!

"Wrath of Thunder!"

"Dragon Clan Frenzy! Blazing Dragon Breath!"

"Phoenix Dance Nine Heavens!"

Thunderstorms, Dragon Breath, and firestorms, three ultimate destructive powers, like divine punishment, precisely covered that dead wood forest! In an instant, lightning flashed and thunder roared, and flames raged! The Liches and Curse Mages hidden within, under such a violent assault, had almost no power to resist and were instantly wiped out!

Shadow Academy's curse output and undead summoning capabilities plummeted suddenly!

"Now! All troops advance! Counterattack!" Lin Zhou seized this fleeting opportunity and issued the general offensive command!

The sturdy defensive formation instantly transformed into a sharp offensive spearhead, launching a fatal counterattack towards Shadow Academy's position, which had fallen into chaos due to its destroyed backline!