34: Chapter 34: Standardized Team Battle Tactics

With the conclusion of the individual tournament, the "ugly but practical" style of Hengchuan Peak had already caused quite a stir in the Sect.

But Shen Xingzhou knew that was just individual combat.

The true dimensionality reduction strike lay in the next event—the team battle.

In the rest area, Shen Xingzhou opened that familiar interface once again.

This time, the content on the panel had become more complex, resembling a precise factory shift schedule.

[Sub-project: Small Competition · Team Battle]

Project Objectives:

Win Rate: At least 2/3 wins (Minimum baseline).

Battle Damage Rate per Match: < 10% (Absolute red line).

Team Configuration Suggestions (Based on historical data models):

Front Row (Tank/Interference): Requires high defense, low attack, obedience index ≥ 90. -> Recommended: Zhao Tie, Wang Dali.

Middle Row (Control/Formation): Requires high spiritual power sustainability, calmness index ≥ 85. -> Recommended: Senior Sister Xie Handeng (also handles output), Li Suanpan.

Back Row (Healing/Supply): Requires reaction speed, backpack space. -> Recommended: Wen Xi (part-time, comes with repair kit), two medics.

"This isn't selecting people, it's clearly assembling parts."

Peak Master Luo Qingyi stood nearby, watching Shen Xingzhou's cold demeanor, and couldn't help but tease, "You're not looking at their faces, you're looking at their attribute panels, right?"

"Can faces be eaten as food? Can faces block a Yao Beast's claws?"

Shen Xingzhou didn't even lift his head, his fingers tapping a few times in the Void Realm, "Zhao Tie, your HP bar is the thickest, stand in the front to tank the first wave. Wang Dali, you are only responsible for throwing sand to blind them, don't think about doing anything else."

"Li Suanpan, don't stop the abacus in your hand, report the numbers constantly."

The named Disciples had no complaints whatsoever; they were like gears on a clock, quickly falling into place.

They were already used to this scheduling method that looked at data rather than people.

Because they knew that if they listened to Shen's assessment, they would survive.

...

"Second match, team battle! Hengchuan Peak versus Dan-Yao Peak!"

As the referee gave the order, both teams stepped onto the arena.

On the Dan-Yao Peak side, the five of them stood together, all wearing flowing robes, holding Pill Furnaces, whisks, and Spell swords full of spiritual power. They stood loosely, looking carefree, full of the "unrestrained" nature of a prestigious Sect.

And on the Hengchuan Peak side.

The five people were squeezed together; the shield bearers formed an iron wall in the front, the short spearmen behind them were set in the gaps of the shields, and the medic at the very back was even checking the first-aid kit.

This dense, even somewhat suffocating Formation was mocked by the onlookers as the "Tortoise Formation."

"Begin!"

The Dan-Yao Peak captain sneered, "Go and poison them!"

Several balls of highly toxic smoke were thrown over, followed immediately by several sword lights.

However, the Hengchuan Peak side did not panic; no one even moved.

Shen Xingzhou stood off the stage, the [Real-time Battle Damage Prediction Curve] in his field of vision fluctuating steadily.

[Battle Simulation: In Progress]

Current Risk Level: Yellow.

Suggestion: Initiate "Process No. 2" — Smoke Counterattack.

"Process No. 2."

Shen Xingzhou coldly spat out three words into the sound transmission Formation.

On the field, the shields lowered instantly.

The five Hengchuan Peak Disciples simultaneously pulled out a "Lime Powder Bag" specially made by Wen Xi from their waists—of course, inside was improved exorcism dust.

They didn't even aim; they just mechanically threw them in the same direction.

Whoosh—!

A burst of white dust exploded instantly, catching the wind and heading straight toward the charging Dan-Yao Peak team.

The Dan-Yao Peak Disciples were instantly blinded, coughing incessantly, and the originally sharp sword Formation fell into chaos in an instant.

"Scatter! Scatter!"

The Dan-Yao Peak captain shouted in panic, but before he could retreat, he heard the uniform sound of footsteps.

Thump, thump, thump.

The Hengchuan Peak team was like a bulldozer, holding their shields and crushing forward directly.

No flashy sword moves, no collision of spiritual power.

It was the purest form of—pushing.

Bump, fall.

Bump, fall.

Shen Xingzhou stared fixedly at the curve in his vision.

Just as a lone control-type Disciple from Dan-Yao Peak tried to sneak around the back to ambush them, that originally green curve suddenly jumped up with a red spike.

[Risk Warning: Flank Attack Probability 85%!]

"Left wing contract. Position No. 3, finish them off."

Shen Xingzhou issued the command at the exact same moment the red spike appeared.

On the field, Zhao Tie, who was originally filling the gap in the middle, didn't even look, as if he had eyes on his back, and slammed his giant shield to the left.

Bang!

A muffled sound.

The Dan-Yao Peak Disciple who tried to sneak an attack hadn't even seen what happened before he was sent flying by the two-hundred-catty giant shield, fainting on the spot.

"Is this... standardization?"

The Law Enforcement Hall deacon on the viewing platform watched with his mouth agape, "This doesn't look like Cultivators fighting, this is clearly an army, or rather... combat engineers."

Law Enforcement Elder Lu Guhuai stood in the shadows, his eyes narrowed.

He was not looking at the result, but the process.

That uniformity, that strict obedience to orders, that cold coordination that completely abandoned personal performance for the sake of victory.

"Too terrifying."

Law Enforcement Elder Lu Guhuai whispered to himself, "If all the Disciples in the Sect learned this fighting style, who would still practice those profound sword techniques in the future? Everyone would just practice 'shield bashing' and 'throwing lime'."

"The pride and blood of a Cultivator will be worn away by this assembly-line-like tactic."

...

The battle ended faster than imagined.

The entire Dan-Yao Peak team was seriously injured and lost combat capability.

Hengchuan Peak: 2 people slightly injured (mainly from being blinded by dust), no one fainted.

The System interface settled quickly, the data shining with golden light.

[Team Battle · Result Settlement]

Outcome: Win (Complete Victory)

Time Taken: 150 breaths (50% less than expected)

Battle Damage Statistics:

Own Side: 2 people slightly injured, no serious injuries, no deaths.

Enemy Side: 3 people seriously injured, 2 people slightly injured, all lost combat capability.

Model Scalability Assessment:

Reproducibility: High (No need for high Spiritual Root, only training is needed).

Resource Dependency: Low (Equipment can be mass-produced).

Impact on Traditional Cultivation Concepts: Severe (Fatal level).

Shen Xingzhou looked at the words "Severe," and instead of being afraid, he took a deep breath.

This was what he wanted to see.

Challenging old concepts?

That meant they were doing the right thing.

If a fighting style could keep people alive and win, why continue to cling to those old concepts that made people throw their lives away?

However, just as he was preparing to accept the cheers of the crowd, a harsh sound suddenly rang out from the broadcast on the viewing platform.

"Wait a moment."

An Elder from the Law Enforcement Hall stood up, holding a document that had just been drafted, and said expressionlessly.

"In view of the fact that this small competition aims to examine the Disciples' 'courageous advancement' Dao Heart, after an emergency consultation by the Law Enforcement Hall."

The crowd was in an uproar, and everyone looked at the Elder.

The Elder announced loudly:

"Starting from the next round, the team battle scoring rules will be adjusted."

"In addition to the original 'win/loss' and 'time taken,' a new core scoring item will be added—[Personal Heroic Performance]."

"Anyone who dares to face the enemy head-on during battle, performs high-difficulty Spells, or loses but still fights with glory will be given extra points. Anyone who... excessively uses underhanded methods or cowardly avoids battle will have points deducted."

As soon as this was said, the crowd below exploded.

"Isn't this specifically targeting Hengchuan Peak?"

"What heroic performance? Isn't that just asking people to die?"

"That's right, if we could win head-on, who would use lime powder?"

Shen Xingzhou stood off the stage, listening to this absurd new rule, and was so angry he laughed.

This was the arrogance of the old faction.

Since they couldn't beat this "assembly line," they would change the rules.

They had forcibly turned a competition that valued "winning" into a performance that valued "dying beautifully."

Just then, the System's calm notification sound rang precisely in his mind.

[Warning: Malicious change in external rules detected.]

[Rule Analysis:]

Old-faction forces are attempting to increase Hengchuan Peak's potential battle damage costs by introducing "Heroic Value" (high-risk variable), forcing it to return to traditional high-loss tactics.

[System Suggestion:]

Do you wish to initiate "Countermeasure Design"?

Objective: Use rule loopholes to quantify "Heroic Performance" into another type of low-cost performance.

Expected Effect: Let them see what "the highest level of heroism is called zero casualties."

Shen Xingzhou raised his head, looked at the high-and-mighty Law Enforcement Hall Elder, and a cold arc curled at the corner of his mouth.

"Change the rules?"

"Fine."

"Since you want to see heroism... then I will let you see what the world's most heroic... accountant is called."