103: Chapter 103: The Formation of the Hengchuan Peak Squad

The air in the staging area was filled with a mixture of tension and excitement.

There was less than an incense stick's worth of time left before the first batch of assessment squads entered the spatial rift.

In a corner of the staging area, in front of a massive holographic sandbox, Wen Xi was as busy as an accountant who had just received an abacus.

"Name: Zhao Tiezhu. Realm: Foundation Establishment Early Stage. Combat Style: Heavy Tank. Personality Tag: Steady but playful, yet follows orders."

"Name: A'qi. Realm: Qi Great Perfection. Combat Style: Agile Scout. Personality Tag: Cautious, slightly greedy."

Wen Xi's fingers danced rapidly in the Void Realm, inputting these dense parameters into a new module that the System had just unlocked.

Her eyes were startlingly bright.

For this Senior Sister who had felt since childhood that "numbers sound better than human speech," this was the toy she had been dreaming of.

[V2.0 System Subsidiary Function: Squad Compilation Assistant]

[Parameter Pool Loaded: 2000 people]

[Dimensions Available:]

Hard Indicators: Realm, Five Elements affinity, weapon proficiency.

Combat Style: Vanguard / Control / Support / Logistics / Guerrilla.

Personality Tags: Reckless / Steady / Cautious / Strong Survival Instinct / Show-off / Follower.

Past Collaboration Records: Coordination scores from previous simulation drills.

"Done inputting!"

Wen Xi took a deep breath and pressed her palm heavily into the Void Realm. "System, run it!"

Hum—

The sandbox instantly exploded into countless points of light, then began to crazily reorganize, collide, and filter.

Countless combination schemes were born and annihilated within the light spots, like a miniature particle storm.

Before long, the data models for the first three "Elite Squads" clearly appeared before Shen Xingzhou and Senior Sister Xie Handeng.

[Model Recommendation Scheme: Optimal Combination A]

[Squad Codename: Sharp Knife One]

Main Tank (Captain): Senior Sister Xie Handeng (Execution: S, Combat Power: SS).

Control (Vice-Captain): Wang Zhenxiu (Formation mastery A, Coordination S).

DPS: Li Huoxiu (Fire-type burst power S).

Logistics: Zhang Lingzhi (Healing arts A, Resource management ability S).

[Model Evaluation:]

Theoretical Combat Power: Extremely High.

Offensive/Defensive Balance: Perfect.

Potential Internal Conflict Risk: Low (Personalities complement each other, all are "pragmatists").

[Note: This combination is the "perfect team" based on data.]

Shen Xingzhou looked at the "perfect team" tag and nodded slightly.

Data indeed does not lie; these few people's performance during regular simulation drills was indeed the most stable.

However, when he turned to look at Senior Sister Xie Handeng, he found that this Senior Sister was frowning, her eyes coldly staring at the "Li Huoxiu" entry.

"No."

Senior Sister Xie Handeng spoke suddenly, reaching out to point into the Void Realm, and ruthlessly crossed out the name written as "Li Huoxiu."

"Replace him."

Wen Xi panicked: "Senior Sister! Li Huoxiu's data is the best! Burst power S, and his simulated coordination with you and that Wang Zhenxiu is also S! This is the optimal solution calculated by the System!"

"If we swap him out, the theoretical combat power will drop by 15%!"

Senior Sister Xie Handeng ignored Wen Xi's protest; she pointed to a Disciple in another corner with mediocre data.

"Swap for this one, Chen Wen."

"Swap for him?"

Wen Xi glanced at the data and gasped, "Chen Wen? His Realm is only Qi Perfection, and his burst power is only C+. This... this is too much of a downgrade, right?"

"Although Li Huoxiu has pretty data," Senior Sister Xie Handeng said coldly, "last time I led him in a simulation, when we encountered a Tier 3 Yao Beast..."

"He wanted to show off, didn't listen to orders, and rushed out alone wanting to steal the kill."

"As a result, he nearly got himself killed and messed up my Formation."

She turned to look at Wen Xi, her gaze like a knife.

"People like this, no matter how good the data is, are a liability on the field."

"Rather than having an uncontrollable S, it's better to have an obedient A-."

Wen Xi was stunned and subconsciously looked at Shen Xingzhou.

Shen Xingzhou, however, smiled.

This was the place where the System could never completely replace humans.

Data could calculate past battle records and attribute matching.

But it couldn't calculate the heartbeat of that moment, nor the stupidity of losing one's head for vanity.

"Listen to Senior Sister."

Shen Xingzhou waved his hand.

Wen Xi gritted her teeth, dragged "Li Huoxiu" out, and dragged "Chen Wen" in.

[System recalculating...]

[New Scheme: Sharp Knife One (Revised Version)]

[Model Evaluation:]

Theoretical Combat Power: Decreased by 15%.

Combat Stability: ↑ Significantly improved.

Ability to handle emergencies: ↑ Improved.

[System Comment: Although the burst point is lost, the fault tolerance rate is increased. It aligns with Hengchuan Peak's policy of "survival first."]

Seeing that green "Combat Stability" increase, Wen Xi stopped talking and just silently made a note in her notebook:

"Data is for reference only; real combat depends on character."

... ~

As soon as the squad list was issued, the staging area exploded.

Originally, everyone thought it would be based on seniority or divided according to usual small cliques.

As a result, the lists that were distributed were all combinations that had "nothing to do with each other."

"Why am I in a squad with this guy?!"

A Qi-stage Disciple pointed at the fat Cultivator carrying a large pot next to him, his Face flushed red with anger.

"I practice the blade, he practices cooking! How am I supposed to coordinate with him? Besides, we have bad blood; last time we almost fought over a Spirit Fruit!"

"Peak Master! This team composition won't work! I want to switch teams!"

Such complaints rose one after another.

After all, Cultivators all had some temper, and no one wanted to entrust their back to someone they didn't like.

Shen Xingzhou stood on the high platform without losing his temper.

He just waved his hand, and a huge simplified data board appeared behind him.

It clearly listed the two sets of data comparisons for the clamoring Disciple.

"Zhang San," Shen Xingzhou called out the Disciple's name.

"Look clearly."

[Scheme A: You are in a squad with your good friend Li Si (What you want)]

Coordination: High (You can chat well).

Combat Complementarity: Low (Both are Vanguard types).

Predicted Survival Rate: 70% (Easy to die together).

[Scheme B: You are in a squad with the pot-carrying fat Cultivator (System assigned)]

Coordination: Low (Might argue).

Combat Complementarity: Extremely High (One attacks, one defends).

Predicted Survival Rate: 90% (With a pot and a shield, you live longer).

"You say Li Si is your brother."

Shen Xingzhou's voice echoed in the staging area.

"But, do you want to die with your brother, or do you want to live with that fat Cultivator?"

"In The Grand Exam, the enemy won't show mercy just because you can chat well."

"They will only let you survive because you complement each other."

The Disciple named Zhang San looked at the bright red comparison numbers of "70%" and "90%," opened his mouth, but couldn't curse.

That "90%" was too tempting.

Especially for Disciples of this level, life was more important than Face.

"...I know."

Zhang San held it in for a long time, and finally squeezed out three words through his teeth.

"I'll endure it."

The surrounding complaints quickly quieted down.

Everyone looked at the list in their hands, and the teammates they initially didn't like now seemed much more pleasing to the eye for the sake of "being able to survive."

"Hey, you."

Zhang San walked over and awkwardly threw a piece of dry food to the fat Cultivator.

"Since we've formed a team, you better carry that pot well. If you can't protect my back, I'll come to settle the score with you even as a ghost."

The fat Cultivator chuckled and buckled the pot onto his back: "Don't worry, brother, I've got you covered with this pot."

... ~

The squads were decided.

But Shen Xingzhou knew that having people wasn't enough.

This group of people was used to fighting alone or used to chaos.

To knead them into a real "machine," there had to be a set of unified "operating Systems."

"All squad captains, step forward!"

Shen Xingzhou ordered.

One hundred captains stepped out.

"Wen Xi, issue the 'Hengchuan Peak · Combat SOP Template'."

"From today on, we aren't fighting, we are following procedures."

The Jade Slip in Wen Xi's hand flew out and landed precisely in the hands of every captain.

That wasn't some Mind-Cultivation Technique, but tables with clearly listed items.

[Hengchuan Peak · Combat SOP (Standard Operating Procedure) Template]

[Squad Configuration:]

Captain: Responsible for unified commands; all decisions must be issued by the Captain.

Vice-Captain: Responsible for filling gaps, supervising (enforcing discipline), and taking over after the Captain falls in battle.

Recorder (held by the third person): Responsible for real-time recording of combat consumption and battle damage locations.

[Combat Flow:]

Pre-engagement: Check equipment -> Confirm Formation position -> Shout the slogan "Stay Steady".

During engagement: Attack when the Captain says "Attack," retreat when they say "Retreat." Private action is prohibited.

Post-battle: Must submit a "Combat Review Form" within 5 minutes.

Record: Who swung the blade? Who took the medicine? Where was the Yao Beast's weakness? Where was the coordination error?

[Reward and Punishment Mechanism:]

Individual performance is linked to the squad's overall score.

If a teammate dies, don't expect to get a high score.

If a teammate is injured and you didn't save them in time, points will be deducted.

"Recorder?"

A captain looked at the Jade Slip and was stunned, "We have to bring someone holding a pen when fighting?"

"That is the requirement for you all."

Shen Xingzhou said coldly, "The recorder doesn't need to hold a pen; he must have these data points carved into his brain."

"Data is your eyes."

"What you can't see now, the data will let you see."

He looked at the Faces below, Faces that still carried childishness.

"I know this isn't cultivation."

"But this can save your life."

"Go."

"Let those high and mighty people see."

"How our Hengchuan Peak's 'Worker Squad' rolls over them like precise gears."

Following Shen Xingzhou's order, one hundred squads quickly assembled.

They were no longer scattered sand.

But square blocks, one after another.

In each block, some held shields, some held blades, and some stood in the middle responsible for coordination.

Although their movements were still a bit stiff, that neat and uniform "sense of ritual" had already begun to take shape.

Just as the first squad stepped into the spatial rift.

On the System interface, a concise and profound evaluation appeared.

[System Comment]

[Current Status: Squad Formation complete]

[Evaluation Conclusion:]

You are no longer simply "grouping people."

You are using data logic to filter human nature.

Using standard procedures to tame instinct.

"Congratulations."

"You are making the first sample brick for the future 'Standardized Sect Battle Team'."