180: Chapter 180 Master and Disciple Join Forces to Break the Tactics

On the transparent lid of the medical pod, the countdown was still ticking.

[Remaining Repair Time: 11 hours 37 minutes]

Shi Potian lay inside the pod, his left arm completely wrapped in 17 biological bandages. Those bandages were slowly wriggling at a frequency of once every 1.7 seconds—that was the nano-repair units reconstructing the trabecular bone structure layer by layer at the fracture site.

His eyes were open.

He was looking outside the lid.

There, Lin Ye sat on an alloy chair moved from the rest area.

The chair was of standard Hegemon Body Ancestral Star issue, weighing 47 kilograms. Under 127 times gravity, it would take three ordinary people working together just to lift it.

Lin Ye dragged it over by himself.

Placing it directly in front of the medical pod.

Then he sat down.

In his hand, he held a palm-sized crystal.

[Combat Footage Crystal - God Race God Son Apollo]

[Source: Heavenly Secret Pavilion Intelligence Node - Hegemon Body Ancestral Star Branch]

[Content: Footage of all 7 of Apollo's matches from the preliminaries to the quarterfinals]

[Total Duration: 47 minutes]

[Compression Format: Holographic Immersive]

[Note: This crystal was obtained by Qin Ruoxue 17 hours before the match through internal God Race channels, at the cost of 3 Ancient Mechanical Cores]

Lin Ye pressed the crystal against his brow.

[Holographic Immersive Mode - Initiated]

His consciousness was dragged into a golden space.

That was Apollo's first preliminary match.

The opponent was a Rank 62 Necromancer from the Kingdom of the Undead.

Apollo stood in the center of the arena.

His three pairs of light wings were fully unfurled.

The Sun Domain covered the entire arena within 0.1 seconds.

The Necromancer's summoned creatures were all purified within 0.3 seconds.

The Necromancer himself turned to ash after 1.7 seconds.

[Combat Duration: 1.7 seconds]

[Apollo Skill Sequence:]

[1. Sun Domain (Instant)]

[2. Holy Light Verdict x3 (Continuous Casting)]

[3. Combat End]

Lin Ye's consciousness exited the footage.

He recorded on the data pad in his hand:

[Sun Domain - Instant - Range 100 meters - 3,000 points of purification damage per second]

[Holy Light Verdict - Instant (?) - Single hit damage 17,000 points - Continuous casting interval 0.3 seconds]

Match 2.

The opponent was a Rank 63 Dragon Clan warrior.

The Dragon Clan warrior possessed 70% Holy Light resistance.

Apollo took 4.7 seconds.

[Combat Duration: 4.7 seconds]

[Apollo Skill Sequence:]

[1. Sun Domain (Instant)]

[2. Holy Light Verdict x7 (Continuous Casting)]

[3. Sun Scepter melee strike x2]

[4. Combat End]

Lin Ye recorded:

[Holy Light Verdict continuous casting limit: 7 times]

[Followed by a 0.7-second pause (suspected skill cooldown)]

[Melee ability assessment: Weak (Scepter strike damage only 3,700 points)]

Match 3. Match 4. Match 5. ... Match 7. Quarterfinals.

The opponent was a Rank 64 Holy Demon Race warrior.

Apollo took 3.1 seconds.

Lin Ye watched the 7th match footage 17 times repeatedly.

Each time slowed down to 0.1x speed.

The first time, he saw Apollo start with Sun Domain.

The second time, he saw the continuous casting of Holy Light Verdict—this time it was 9 times, not 7.

The third time, he saw that 0.7-second pause—after the 9th Holy Light Verdict, Apollo's light wings dimmed significantly for 0.3 seconds.

The fourth time, he saw that during those dim 0.3 seconds, the Holy Demon Race warrior rushed to Apollo's front.

The fifth time, he saw Apollo's reaction—not melee, but teleportation.

[Light Wing Teleportation]

[Distance: 7 meters]

[Cooldown: 1.7 seconds]

Lin Ye exited the footage.

He looked at the dense records on the data pad.

[Apollo - Skill CD Analysis Table]

[Sun Domain: Instant, duration infinite, consumes 3% Divine Power per second]

[Holy Light Verdict: Single hit damage 17,000, continuous casting limit 9 times, followed by forced cooldown of 1.7 seconds]

[Light Wing Teleportation: Distance 7 meters, cooldown 1.7 seconds, consumes 5% Divine Power each time]

[Sun Scepter melee: Damage 3,700-5,700, attack speed slow (0.7 seconds/time)]

[Sun Heart passive: Restores 10% maximum health every 10 seconds, cannot be interrupted]

[Sun Chariot summon: Cooldown 24 hours, used (quarterfinals)]

[Sun God Body secondary Awakening trait: Unknown (not displayed in footage)]

[Weaknesses:]

[1. After 9 consecutive Holy Light Verdicts, there is a 1.7-second forced cooldown]

[2. Weak melee ability, only Scepter strikes when close]

[3. Light Wing Teleportation consumes Divine Power, continuous use limit 3 times (must wait for recovery afterward)]

[4. Sun Domain is continuous but consumes 3% Divine Power per second, limited maintenance time]

[5. Lacks effective countermeasures against close-range suppression]

[Tactical Advice:]

[1. Hard tank the first 9 Holy Light Verdicts (total damage 153,000 points)]

[2. Close the distance during the 1.7-second cooldown window after the 9th verdict]

[3. Suppress for 3 seconds after closing in, exhausting his Light Wing Teleportation charges]

[4. After the 3 teleports are used up, continue melee output]

[5. Must kill within 60 seconds, otherwise Sun Heart will restore 60% health]

Lin Ye looked at the line "Must kill within 60 seconds."

3 seconds.

He placed the data pad on his lap.

He lifted his head.

Looking at Shi Potian inside the medical pod.

Shi Potian was looking at him too.

Through the transparent lid, their gazes met under 127 times gravity.

There was no sound.

But Lin Ye knew that Shi Potian was asking.

Lin Ye raised the data pad.

A few lines were written on it:

[Tactical success rate: 65%]

[You need to endure: The first 9 Holy Light Verdicts (153,000 points of damage)]

[Your total health: approximately 47,000 points]

[Hard tanking means certain death]

Shi Potian looked at the line "Hard tanking means certain death."

3 seconds.

His left fist—that fist wrapped in 17 biological bandages, with bones slowly reconstructing—moved slightly.

It wasn't a clench.

It was a "signal."

He was saying: Continue.

Lin Ye wrote the second line on the data pad:

[Tactical core: It's not you tanking]

[It's me tanking]

Shi Potian's pupils contracted slightly.

Lin Ye continued writing:

[I have Chaos Devour]

[I can absorb 70% of Holy Light damage]

[I can handle the first 9 Holy Light Verdicts]

[You are responsible for closing the distance in the 1.7-second window after the 9th one]

Shi Potian looked at the line "I tank."

3 seconds.

His left fist moved again.

This time, it was a clench.

Lin Ye wrote the third line:

[After closing in, you have 3 seconds of suppression time]

[His Light Wing Teleportation cooldown is 1.7 seconds, can be used 3 times consecutively]

[Within 3 seconds, he will teleport 2 times]

[You need to predict his position the moment he lands from teleportation]

[Predict 3 times in a row]

[After 3 times, his Divine Power will be exhausted, unable to teleport]

[Then you have 47 seconds of output time]

[His Sun Heart restores 10% every 10 seconds, he will restore 40% within 47 seconds]

[You need to deal at least 140% of his total health in damage]

Shi Potian looked at the line "Need to deal 140% of his total health in damage."

3 seconds.

His left fist—the one that stood firm after taking three strikes from a Rank 70 Ancestor Phantom in the Ninth Trial of the Ancestor Star, and killed a Rank 72 God Race God Son with 31 punches in the previous battle—

was glowing faintly under the bandages.

That was a sign of Hegemon Body Battle Intent automatically condensing.

Lin Ye wrote the fourth line:

[How much damage can your left fist deal now?]

Shi Potian's lips moved.

Through the lid, Lin Ye couldn't hear the sound.

But he understood.

"One punch 47,000."

"31 punches, 1,457,000."

"His total health is approximately 470,000."

Lin Ye nodded.

He wrote the last line on the data pad:

[Tactical success rate: 65%]

[Failure risk: You are shaken off by Light Wing Teleportation while suppressing at close range, missing the 1.7-second window]

[Failure consequence: You are exposed in the Sun Domain, 3,000 damage per second, unable to recover]

[I cannot tank 9 Holy Light Verdicts a second time]

[There is only one chance]

Shi Potian looked at the line "There is only one chance."

For a long time.

Then his left fist, under the bandages, clenched completely.

Those 17 biological bandages were stretched to their limit in that same instant.

[Warning: Abnormal muscle contraction detected in the target]

[Bone reconstruction progress: 73% -> 69% (affected by pressure)]

[Suggestion: Relax muscles to avoid secondary injury]

Shi Potian did not relax.

He just looked at Lin Ye.

Through the transparent lid.

3 seconds.

His lips moved again.

Two words.

"I will do it."

Lin Ye did not speak.

He just placed the data pad on his lap.

Then he stood up.

Walked to the front of the medical pod.

Pressed his right hand on the lid.

Across that cold alloy surface, pulsating at a frequency of 1.7 seconds/time.

17 centimeters away from Shi Potian's left fist.

[System prompt: You have established a "Tactical Rapport" state with Shi Potian]

[Tactical Rapport - Master and Apprentice]

[Effect: In the next battle, the delay for both parties to perceive each other's intentions is -0.3 seconds]

[Duration: Until the next battle ends]

[Note: This state is a hidden mechanism, triggered only when both have fought side-by-side for over 1,000 hours and mutual trust is >= 95%]

Lin Ye looked at the line "Mutual trust >= 95%."

3 seconds.

He withdrew his hand.

Turned around.

Walked back to the alloy chair.

Sat down.

Continued watching the 17th time of the footage.

At the 8th hour.

Su Qingyue walked into the rest area.

She was holding two hot drinks—bought from the vending machine on the Ancestral Star anchor platform, each cup costing 17 Tech Resource Vouchers. Under 127 times gravity, the liquid's surface tension was magnified, making it feel like chewing jelly when drinking.

She placed one cup by Lin Ye's hand.

The other cup—she placed into a small teleportation port on the medical pod lid.

[Teleportation Port - Medical Pod Supply Channel]

[Can send items not exceeding 3 kilograms into the pod]

Shi Potian reached out and took the hot drink.

He took a sip.

Chewed for 3 seconds.

Swallowed.

Su Qingyue stood beside Lin Ye.

She looked at the dense records on the data pad.

3 seconds.

She spoke.

"65%," she said.

"That's very high."

Lin Ye did not speak.

"But you know," Su Qingyue continued.

"Shi Potian won't let you tank it."

Lin Ye's hand paused.

0.1 seconds.

Then he continued watching the footage.

At the 9th hour.

Chu Yunxi walked into the rest area.

She was holding a freshly printed tactical projection map.

[God Race God Son - Combat Trajectory Prediction]

[Based on movement data analysis of Apollo's past 7 matches]

[Prediction accuracy: +/- 0.3 meters]

[Cartographer: Chu Yunxi / Lu Xinghe]

She placed the map in front of Lin Ye.

The map showed Apollo's movement trajectories in each match.

Those trajectories had one thing in common:

After continuously casting Holy Light Verdict 9 times, he would teleport 7 meters "straight backward."

Probability: 100%.

Lin Ye looked at the line "Straight backward."

3 seconds.

He added a line to the data pad:

[After the 9th verdict, he will inevitably teleport 7 meters straight backward]

[Shi Potian, you need to predict that position within 0.1 seconds of the verdict ending]

[Then, the moment he lands, strike]

He held the data pad up to the lid.

Shi Potian looked at the line "Inevitably teleport 7 meters straight backward."

3 seconds.

His left fist—under the bandages—clenched even tighter.

At the 10th hour.

Zhou Tieshan walked into the rest area.

He was carrying a new shield.

[Xuanwu - New Life - Modified]

[On the original foundation, temporarily added 17 layers of Starlight Alloy Type III coating]

[Effect: Holy Light resistance +70%, lasts until the next battle ends]

[Cost: Shield weight increased by 30 kilograms]

He leaned the shield against the medical pod.

Did not speak.

Turned and left.

At the 11th hour.

Yun Qianxue walked into the rest area.

She was holding 17 special potions.

[Holy Light Resistance Potion - Temporarily Strengthened Version]

[Effect: Within 30 minutes of consumption, Holy Light resistance +50%]

[Side Effect: After the effect wears off, all attributes -20% for 60 minutes]

[Quantity: 17 vials]

---

She placed the potion by Lin Ye's side.

Then, she walked to the medical pod.

Through the pod cover.

She looked at Shi Potian.

3 seconds.

She spoke.

"Come back alive," she said.

---

Shi Potian did not answer.

But his left fist, under the bandages, opened slightly.

That meant "don't worry."

---

11 hours and 47 minutes.

Qin Ruoxue walked into the resting area.

She held a new intelligence crystal in her hand.

[God Race Son of God - Latest Movements]

[Source: Heavenly Secret Pavilion spy embedded within the God Clan Council]

[Content: After the quarterfinals, Apollo entered the branch of the Sun Temple at the 3rd anchor point of the Ancestor Star, suspected to be undergoing the final tuning for his secondary Awakening.]

[Estimated time of emergence: 17 minutes before the match]

[Note: After the secondary Awakening is complete, his Rank may temporarily rise to 73, and Sun Domain damage may increase to 3,700 points/second]

---

Lin Ye looked at the lines "Rank 73" and "3,700 points/second."

3 seconds.

He changed a line on the data pad:

[Total damage of the first 9 Holy Light Verdicts: 153,000 -> 170,000]

[Sun Domain damage per second: 3,000 -> 3,700]

[Chaos Devour absorption rate: 70% -> 65% (Rank suppression)]

---

He held the data pad up to the pod cover.

Shi Potian looked at the "170,000."

3 seconds.

His left fist—under the bandages—clenched tighter than ever before.

---

11 hours and 59 minutes.

The medical pod's countdown reached zero.

[Repair complete]

The pod cover opened slowly.

Shi Potian sat up.

His left fist—the one that had been wrapped in 17 biological bandages for 12 hours—now had the bandages self-degraded, revealing the new, pale pink skin underneath.

He clenched his fist.

The knuckles were intact.

Fist power—47,000 points.

---

He stepped out of the medical pod.

He stood in front of Lin Ye.

3 seconds.

He raised his left fist to his chest.

"Tactics," he said.

"I've memorized them."

---

Lin Ye looked at him.

3 seconds.

He handed the data pad to him.

"Last confirmation," Lin Ye said.

---

Shi Potian took the data pad.

He looked at the dense records on it.

From [Sun Domain - Instant Cast] to [After the 9th Verdict, he will inevitably teleport 7 meters directly backward].

From [You need to predict 3 teleports] to [You need to deal at least 140% of his total HP in damage].

From [Tactical success rate 65%] to [Failure consequence: You will be exposed to the Sun Domain, unable to recover].

---

He looked at it for a long time.

Then he returned the data pad to Lin Ye.

"65%," he said.

"That's enough."

---

Lin Ye did not speak.

He simply pressed his right hand onto the sword hilt.

That refined iron longsword brought back from the Trial Ancient Star, the gray crack in the center of the blade, was now pulsing at a frequency of 1.7 seconds/time.

In sync with the pulse of Shi Potian's left fist.

With the heartbeat of Su Qingyue standing behind him.

With the next battle coming in 17 minutes.

Completely synchronized.

---

[System Prompt: The 5th match of the quarterfinals will begin in 17 minutes.]

[Please proceed to Arena 1.]

[Current remaining time: 16 minutes 47 seconds.]

---

Lin Ye turned around.

He walked toward Arena 1.

Behind him, Shi Potian.

Behind them, Su Qingyue, Chu Yunxi, Zhou Tieshan, Lu Xinghe, Yun Qianxue, Qin Ruoxue, and Zhao Wuji.

8 people.

8 breaths.

8 pairs of eyes.

---

Arena 1.

7,000 spectators were already boiling with excitement.

The God Clan Council's observer group occupied the east stand, their golden light wings still ostentatious under 127 times gravity.

The Holy Demon Palace's seats were on the west side, with deep purple mist slowly flowing between the seats.

The Dragon Clan Alliance was on the north side, where Dragon Might and the Ancestor Star's gravitational field collided, emitting a low hum.

The Kingdom of the Undead was on the south side, with eerie green Soul fire flickering under their hoods.

---

Lin Ye stood at the edge of the arena.

He looked across.

There, the God Race Son of God, Apollo, was already standing in the center of the arena.

[Apollo - God Race Son of God]

[Rank: 72 -> 73 (Secondary Awakening complete)]

[Sun Domain damage: 3,000 -> 3,700 points/second]

[Holy Light Verdict damage: 17,000 -> 19,000 points]

[Light Wing Teleport cooldown: 1.7 seconds -> 1.5 seconds]

[Sun Heart recovery: 10%/10 seconds -> 12%/10 seconds]

---

Apollo looked at Lin Ye.

3 seconds.

He smiled.

The smile was exactly the same as when he smiled at Shi Potian before the quarterfinals.

Gentle.

Elegant.

Like sunlight itself.

"Rank 66," he said.

"Chaos Heavenly Emperor Body."

"16th place."

---

Lin Ye did not speak.

---

"Your friend beat me," Apollo continued.

"Rank 64 Hegemon Body."

"31 punches."

He paused.

"Very strong."

---

Lin Ye looked at him.

"What do you want to say?" Lin Ye said.

---

Apollo's smile widened a little.

"I want to say—"

He raised the Sun Scepter.

At the tip of the scepter, golden light began to condense.

"Today."

"I will let that Hegemon Body heretic know."

"What true divine punishment is."

---

[Arena Match - Quarterfinals Match 5]

[Red Side: Shi Potian (Heavenly Court - Rank 64)]

[Blue Side: Apollo (God Race - Rank 73)]

[Countdown: 3 seconds]

[2 seconds]

[1 second]

[Start]

---

0 seconds.

Apollo's Sun Domain expanded.

Golden light instantly engulfed the entire arena.

[Sun Domain - Secondary Awakening Version]

[Damage per second: 3,700 points]

[Cannot use any recovery skills]

---

Shi Potian stood in the center of the golden light.

His skin began to burn within 0.1 seconds.

[HP: 100% -> 96.3% -> 92.6%]

3,700 points per second.

Can hold out for at most 27 seconds.

---

He did not move.

He was waiting.

Waiting for Lin Ye.

---

0.3 seconds.

Lin Ye moved.

He charged into the arena.

Not charging toward Apollo.

Charging toward Shi Potian.

---

Apollo's pupils constricted slightly.

"...What?"

---

0.7 seconds.

Lin Ye stood in front of Shi Potian.

Chaos Domain—activate.

Gray light and golden light collided crazily on the arena.

[Chaos Domain - Devour Mode]

[Absorption rate for Holy Light damage: 65%]

---

Sun Domain damage on Shi Potian: 3,700 -> 1,295 points/second.

---

1 second.

Apollo's Holy Light Verdict began.

1st shot.

A golden beam shot toward Lin Ye.

He did not dodge.

He took it head-on.

[Damage: 19,000 points × 35% = 6,650 points]

[Lin Ye HP: 100% -> 93.4%]

---

1.3 seconds.

2nd shot.

[93.4% -> 86.8%]

---

1.7 seconds.

3rd shot.

[86.8% -> 80.2%]

---

2 seconds.

4th shot.

[80.2% -> 73.6%]

---

2.3 seconds.

5th shot.

[73.6% -> 67.0%]

---

2.7 seconds.

6th shot.

[67.0% -> 60.4%]

---

3 seconds.

7th shot.

[60.4% -> 53.8%]

---

3.3 seconds.

8th shot.

[53.8% -> 47.2%]

---

3.7 seconds.

9th shot.

[47.2% -> 40.6%]

---

After Apollo fired his 9th Holy Light Verdict, his light wings—dimmed.

[Forced cooldown: 1.5 seconds]

---

3.8 seconds.

Shi Potian moved.

His speed was so fast that under 127 times gravity, he left only an afterimage.

He charged toward Apollo.

Not charging toward his current position.

Charging toward the spot 7 meters behind him—the spot where he would 100% teleport to.

---

4 seconds.

Apollo teleported.

Landing spot: 7 meters directly behind.

The moment he landed, Shi Potian's left fist was already waiting there.

[Hit]

[Damage dealt: 47,000 points]

[Apollo HP: 100% -> 95%]

[Sun Heart recovery: 12%/10 seconds -> 95% -> 97% (Recovering after 3 seconds)]

---

4.3 seconds.

Apollo's second teleport.

Landing spot: 7 meters to the right rear.

Shi Potian's right fist—the right fist that had never truly used its power in battle—smashed into the spot where he landed.

[Damage dealt: 47,000 points]

[97% -> 92%]

---

4.7 seconds.

Third teleport.

Landing spot: 7 meters to the left rear.

Shi Potian's left fist—the left fist that had withstood three punches from a Rank 70 Ancestor Phantom in the Ninth Trial of the Ancestor Star without falling—smashed into the spot where he landed.

[Damage dealt: 47,000 points]

[92% -> 87%]

---

5 seconds.

Apollo's Divine Power was exhausted.

His light wings stopped flapping.

He stood in place.

---

Shi Potian stood in front of him.

3 seconds.

He smiled.

The smile was exactly the same as when he smashed the breastbone of a Rank 67 Holy Demon Race member.

Very heavy.

Very steady.

Carrying a hint of... madness.

"Rank 73," he said.

"Now it's my turn."

---

5.3 seconds.

4th punch.

[87% -> 82%]

---

5.7 seconds.

5th punch.

[82% -> 77%]

---

6 seconds.

6th punch.

[77% -> 72%]

---

6.3 seconds.

7th punch.

[72% -> 67%]

---

7 seconds.

8th punch.

[67% -> 62%]

---

7.3 seconds.

9th punch.

[62% -> 57%]

---

8 seconds.

10th punch.

[57% -> 52%]

---

8.3 seconds.

11th punch.

[52% -> 47%]

---

9 seconds.

12th punch.

[47% -> 42%]

---

9.3 seconds.

13th punch.

[42% -> 37%]

---

10 seconds.

14th punch.

[37% -> 32%]

---

10.3 seconds.

15th punch.

[32% -> 27%]

---

11 seconds.

16th punch.

[27% -> 22%]

---

11.3 seconds.

17th punch.

[22% -> 17%]

---

12 seconds.

18th punch.

[17% -> 12%]

---

12.3 seconds.

19th punch.

[12% -> 7%]

---

13 seconds.

20th punch.

[7% -> 2%]

---

13.3 seconds.

21st punch.

[2% -> 0%]

---

[Kill - Rank 73 God Race Son of God]

[Time taken: 13.3 seconds]

[Winner: Shi Potian (Heavenly Court - Rank 64)]

[Evaluation: Tactics perfectly executed, frontally crushed the secondary Awakening Sun God Body]

[Advancement: Semifinals]

---

Shi Potian stood in place.

His left fist was still dripping blood.

That was the trace of Apollo, before dying, burning his fist surface with his final Holy Light.

But he stood there.

---

He turned around.

Looking at the edge of the arena.

There, Lin Ye stood in place.

His HP: 40.6%.

His Divine Power: 31%.

On his body, there were still 17 wounds burned by Holy Light.

But he stood there.

---

Their gazes met under 127 times gravity.

3 seconds.

Shi Potian raised his left fist to his chest.

Lin Ye pressed his right hand onto the sword hilt.

---

There was no sound.

But everyone knew.

This battle was not fought by one person.

---

[Chapter 180 - End]