Chapter 7: Planning Against Zhao Wuji! Wild Taunts!
"But," Zhuge Lan dragged out his words, "What can you offer me?"
"Don't say it's yourself."
"I'm not like Dai Shao. I'm not interested in physical transactions."
Zhu Zhuqing fell silent.
It seemed she truly didn't have anything of enough value to offer.
Gold Soul Coins? She had a few thousand, but it certainly wasn't enough.
Damn it! The opportunity to become stronger was right in front of her, yet she couldn't grasp it.
[Emotion Points +999]
[Emotion Points +1099]
Wow! Such an obsession with becoming stronger?
If you keep generating emotion points like this, you'll soon afford what I'm offering.
Since Zhu Zhuqing couldn't propose a condition, Zhuge Lan had no reason to offer anything either.
The group continued to the final trial.
They saw Zhao Wuji, a burly man with a tiger-like back and a bear-like waist, sitting arrogantly in a chair.
Noticing the group approaching, he took a few steps forward and sniffed the air dramatically.
"Alright!"
"One at level 26, another at 27, two at 29..."
"Hmm?"
"And one at level 35?"
Zhao Wuji looked at Zhuge Lan in surprise, his face lighting up with excitement.
"Good, good, good!"
"Mu Bai, I'll personally test this group. You go explain the rules to them."
Dai Mubai breathed a sigh of relief at the command.
Great! He didn't have to fight the monster that was Zhuge Lan!
Li Yusong frowned and pulled Zhao Wuji aside to whisper something.
"What?"
"Is that true?"
Zhao Wuji kept exclaiming as he glanced repeatedly at Zhuge Lan, his eyes wide with amazement.
This amused Zhuge Lan greatly. Zhao Wuji clearly had a knack for playing the comic role.
Dai Mubai, now free of his burden, approached the group to explain the rules.
"The trial is a team battle. The goal is to last one incense stick's time against Teacher Zhao."
"Teacher Zhao's title is the Immovable King. He is a Level 76 Power Attack Spirit Sage with the Vigorous Vajra Bear spirit, which is practically impenetrable."
"Back when he was a Spirit Emperor with six rings, he broke through the encirclement of sixteen Spirit Emperors from Spirit Hall."
A brief history lesson followed.
"In short, Teacher Zhao is incredibly strong!"
"Discuss among yourselves how to hold out..."
His gaze landed on Zhuge Lan, and he quickly corrected himself.
"... Just don't hit too hard. If Teacher Zhao gets angry, the consequences will be severe."
With that, Dai Mubai stepped back, giving them space to plan.
Ning Rongrong and Zhu Zhuqing, however, noticed Dai Mubai's pause and both looked toward Zhuge Lan.
"You two knew each other before, didn't you?" Ning Rongrong asked. "Dai Shao clearly acknowledged your strength. Do you have a plan?"
Nearby, Dai Mubai raised an eyebrow.
— I said not to call me 'Dai Shao!'
Tang San and Xiao Wu didn't object either.
Even though Zhuge Lan had been annoying the previous day, if he was part of the team, his abilities were highly anticipated!
They were eager to see how Teacher Zhao would be "punished" today.
"Since everyone trusts me, I'll take command for now," Zhuge Lan said decisively.
"First, let's introduce ourselves in detail."
"I'll go first."
Zhuge Lan summoned two spirits, one on each side.
This prompted a surprised gasp from Ning Rongrong, who hadn't been aware of this.
[Emotion Points +999]
"My Thorn Armor spirit is defense-oriented."
"My Li Jing Sword spirit is control-oriented."
After hearing about Zhuge Lan's spirit abilities, the four looked at each other in shock.
His abilities were so... unconventional.
After a brief moment to digest, the group proceeded with their introductions, following the original storyline exactly.
"Good," Zhuge Lan said confidently. "Here's the plan: we'll start by doing this, then this... and finally, that."
His strategy left the four silent.
Was... was it really going to be this intense?
"Are you sure we'll still be able to enroll after pulling this off?" Ning Rongrong questioned. "Our opponent is a Level 76 Spirit Sage. Are you confident?"
Zhuge Lan shrugged.
"I'm just making a suggestion. If you have a better plan, feel free to share."
His unspoken message: If you think you can do better, go ahead.
Ning Rongrong opened her mouth but couldn't come up with a retort.
[Emotion Points +1111]
She glanced at the others. "You're all going along with him?"
But the three, who had either experienced or witnessed Zhuge Lan's abilities firsthand, couldn't possibly object.
"I agree with Zhuge's plan," Zhu Zhuqing said, immediately siding with him.
Tang San and Xiao Wu also nodded in agreement.
"Great," Zhuge Lan said, finalizing the plan. "If anyone messes up during the fight, it'll be embarrassing!"
He almost directly called out Ning Rongrong.
[Emotion Points +1444]
Ning Rongrong glared at Zhuge Lan angrily. Why was he so infuriating?
She could barely suppress her rage.
But Zhuge Lan ignored her entirely and moved to the front of the team.
Tang San took his place behind him.
Zhu Zhuqing and Xiao Wu flanked him on both sides.
Ning Rongrong, however, stayed at the back, unmoving.
Zhuge Lan and the others turned around and frowned at her.
What was she doing?
[Emotion Points +1999]
"Hmph!" Ning Rongrong huffed and finally summoned her spirit.
"Oh-ho!" Zhao Wuji said excitedly. "We've got a Seven Treasure Glazed Tile Pagoda user this year? Interesting!"
He tossed a lit incense stick and planted it in a nearby tree.
Zhu Zhuqing and Xiao Wu were the first to rush out, attacking Zhao Wuji from both sides.
Zhao Wuji didn't even bother summoning his spirit. Confident, he reached out with both hands to grab the two girls.
"Seven Treasures, Glazed Tile! Second boost: Speed!"
Two beams of light fell on Zhu Zhuqing and Xiao Wu, drastically increasing their speed.
They zipped past Zhao Wuji's defenses, almost landing a hit.
"Hey!" Zhao Wuji shouted, unleashing a burst of spirit power.
With his overwhelming strength, he knocked the two girls back.
He reached out to eliminate them when suddenly—
Zhuge Lan's third spirit ring lit up, and he taunted Zhao Wuji, beckoning him with his finger.
"Come at me!"
Zhao Wuji's mind went blank! He abandoned the two girls and, eyes red with fury, charged straight at Zhuge Lan!
He even activated his Vigorous Vajra Bear and his second spirit ring.
"Vajra Palm!"
This was Zhuge Lan's third spirit ability: Wild Taunt. It forces the target into a brief, irrational rage, making them attack him blindly for five seconds!
With Zhao Wuji's mind clouded, he didn't notice Tang San's restraining Blue Silver Grass entangling him.
Only after breaking free did he realize.
By then, Zhu Zhuqing had wrapped her legs around his neck, strangling him, while Xiao Wu attacked his waist with her second spirit ability, Ghostly Claw!
Yet Zhao Wuji, still in a rage, ignored everything, focused solely on Zhuge Lan!
"Seven Treasures, Glazed Tile! First boost: Strength!"
This enhancement landed on Zhuge Lan.
Then, his first and second spirit rings lit up. He activated his Thorn Armor and charged at Zhao Wuji, meeting him head-on with a punch!
Yes, a Spirit Elder with three rings was challenging a Spirit Sage with seven!
Even though they knew the plan, everyone still held their breath!
[Emotion Points +333]
[Emotion Points +444]
In the eyes of all present, a fist and palm clashed!
Boom!
Zhuge Lan was, unsurprisingly, sent flying backward by the force of the blow.
But!