God of Pets

"Su Qian, Leng Zhe, and Wan Buxiu, plus Xiu Haofeng himself, Xiu Haofeng is too ruthless, this is trying to knock Chen Guan dead with a single blow." Ximen Ding looked at team 1's roster for the first match, and exclaimed in shock.

Jiang Tianqing was also examining team 1's roster, Su Qian was currently one of the top three archers in the reserve team, Leng Zhe was an expert in cavalry combat, Jiang Tianqing's team 9 had lost to team 1 in the last competition precisely because Leng Zhe, a commander skilled in cavalry battle, was there while team 9 lacked such a person.

Leng Zhe's own strength was also quite notable, maybe not too remarkable on the ground, but his prowess in mounted combat could at least rank in the top five, and it's hard to say if others could absolutely beat him.

Wan Buxiu, known as the first tower among new soldiers, had mastered his Body Protection Divine Skill to the extreme, coupled with his expertise in using a sword and shield, he was currently the most resilient person in the reserve team, without exception.

Alongside the extraordinarily capable Xiu Haofeng, in every aspect, this lineup could almost dominate the entire reserve team's 24 squads.

"I thought Su Qian and Wan Buxiu had already undergone Second Awakening and joined the regular army, why are they still here?" Yun Bihua from team 9 stared at the roster and said.

Yun Bihua joined six months later than Su Qian, and was one of the rare reserve team members who could rival Su Qian in archery.

"Xiu Haofeng must have deliberately kept them from Second Awakening temporarily, preparing to deal with Chen Guan." Ximen Ding laughed and said, "This lineup is indeed luxurious, Chen Guan and his team are in trouble, but it's not entirely without chance, after all they completed those few gold missions, team 1's lineup may not necessarily be able to match that."

"If you think like that, then you've underestimated Xiu Haofeng. While team 1 attempted the Underworld Blood Phoenix mission, it wasn't Xiu Haofeng who went, Su Qian and Wan Buxiu led the team. If Xiu Haofeng himself had gone, he may very well have completed it." Jiang Tianqing said.

"Then why didn't he go?" Ximen Ding asked in confusion.

"Because he knows some missions are impossible to complete." Jiang Tianqing said flatly.

Ever since the battle schedule came out, the reserve team has been discussing the match between team 1 and team 17, and team 1's luxurious lineup made many realize Xiu Haofeng was determined to win this battle.

"Team 17, we'll see whether they're really capable or rely on connections and backdoors to complete missions, depending on whether they can withstand team 1's challenge."

"I think it's unlikely, when you consider it, Chen Guan and his team really only have three people, the other one is a useless cripple who was brought in just to make up the numbers, he doesn't really have any combat ability."

There are many in the reserve team who privately spread rumors that it was not actually Chen Guan who completed those three gold missions, but with secret support. That support naturally referred to Ji Nanhong.

The whole situation felt unfair to Chen Guan, if he had really used connections, he wouldn't mind, but he truly hadn't. Ever since he joined the reserve team, Ji Nanhong hadn't contacted him, leaving him without understanding what had happened.

Of course, Chen Guan didn't care about what others said.

Chen Guan, Mentai, An Zhiqi, and Bu Changning were also discussing strategies for the battle.

"Everything else can be managed, it's Su Qian that's a problem. We don't have an archer on our side, so we have no ranged attack methods, and we have to be wary of surprise shots in battle, which will greatly reduce our combat effectiveness." Mentai said, looking at team 1's roster.

"It is indeed a problem." Chen Guan himself wasn't proficient in archery, nor did he have any remote attack techniques.

The standard weapons, armor, and pets used in the competition did not allow pets or Secret Treasures beyond the rules, though Secret Skills were unrestricted, Chen Guan lacked any remote attack Secret Skills.

Mentai and An Zhiqi also lacked long-range attack methods, feeling similarly troubled by this issue.

"Leave him to me." Bu Changning suddenly spoke, with a calm expression, as if nothing mattered to him.

"Is your archery good? I've never seen you use a bow before." Mentai and An Zhiqi found Bu Changning's current state unfamiliar, somewhat estranged but also evidently someone they've been familiar with for some time.

"My archery is average." Bu Changning said.

"Then how will you deal with Su Qian?" Mentai frowned.

Because of the previous incident, he naturally didn't dare to trust Bu Changning, initially Chen Guan had said to bring him in just to make up the numbers, now Bu Changning took the initiative to say he could manage Su Qian. Not only Mentai didn't dare trust him, An Zhiqi didn't either.

Bu Changning seemed indifferent, as if nothing mattered, looking at Chen Guan he said, "Though I'm not skilled in archery, if you dare to trust me, I can handle Su Qian, preventing him from taking pot shots at others."

"Alright, I'll leave Su Qian to you." Chen Guan had studied Bu Changning's "Devil's Scripture," that peculiar thing required extreme emotional intensity to achieve breakthroughs.

To enter such a state, it required extreme emotional stimulation. To achieve such emotions, one must first let go of oneself, transform into a devil, descend into the dust, self-harm to break through.

Previously, Bu Changning released his dark side so thoroughly, and was played by Xiu Haofeng that badly, he managed to complete a breakthrough.

This would happen again in the future, though we must wait until Bu Changning's Third Awakening.

"Devil's Scripture" breakthroughs reduced Bu Changning's negative emotions slightly each time, making him seem cold, even unfeeling, the aftereffects of "Devil's Scripture."

Experience was typically good for those cultivating other Secret Techniques, but extremely detrimental for those practicing "Devil's Scripture."

Having this experience meant the same stimulus couldn't excite Bu Changning's heartstrings again, requiring deeper stimuli for breakthroughs.

This time was already miserable enough, it's hard to imagine what deeper distress could lead Bu Changning to another breakthrough.

When Chen Guan had taken Bu Changning out of Hospital 13, he had asked why Bu Changning would practice "Devil's Scripture," it wasn't any Unparalleled Secret Technique, unique in its difficulty, and grueling to practice, with significant risks.

Bu Changning's answer was simple, he spoke only one word: "Poor."

Chen Guan understood that one word carried weight, reflecting Bu Changning's lack of money, lack of family support, leading him to choose a method requiring scant resources but demanding self-torment, using one's descent into hell as the price for growth.

Chen Guan wanted to see what made Bu Changning's "Devil's Scripture" and dark villain talent distinctive, giving him a chance was no problem, if he defied again, Chen Guan wouldn't mind, given his current Primordial Energy reserves, charging headlong into battle in Azure Heaven Dominating Body, few could withstand him during First Awakening.