3: Fighting is also a skill.

"Turning a fight... into an Assembly Line operation?"

Zhao Iron Pillar's mind was a bit slow to process. He imagined himself carrying a shovel, Wang Wu holding a broom, and Wen Youyi pushing a Trash cart behind them to fight people, and couldn't help but shiver.

"Little Wen, can this work? Isn't fighting just a punch from you, a kick from me, seeing whose fist is harder and whose Spell is fiercer?"

Wang Wu also looked doubtful: "That's right, Junior Brother Wen, fighting isn't sweeping the floor. Opponents won't stand still and let us 'flow.'"

"That's because the old way of fighting was too backward." Wen Youyi smiled confidently, as if he was back to explaining a new architecture to his technical team. "I ask you, if I let you face Li Dog Egg, who is at Qi Refinement Stage three, alone, do you have confidence?"

Zhao Iron Pillar's face fell, and he said in a muffled voice, "I... I might be able to last a few moves." Wang Wu and the others shook their heads directly. For every stage difference in Qi Refinement, there was a gap in Spiritual Qi volume and Spell power. Those at stages one and two, when facing Li Dog Egg at stage three, would basically be crushed.

"See, in individual strength, we are indeed inferior." Wen Youyi changed the subject. "But what if all five of us combine?"

"Even combined, we can't beat him." Wang Wu gave a bitter smile. "He won't foolishly stand there and let us take turns hitting him."

"Who said we're taking turns?" Wen Youyi picked up a few stones and began arranging them on the muddy ground. "We're going to fight with 'cooperation,' with a 'system'!"

He picked up the largest stone and placed it at the very front: "Brother Tie Pillar, you are our 'shield' and 'control.' You have the greatest strength and the thickest skin; you don't need powerful Spells. Your task is to stand at the very front, attract the opponent's attention, and ideally find a way to hold him or impede his movement! Your Earth-Shaking Art can make people unstable, right? It doesn't need to be powerful, just enough to interfere!"

Zhao Iron Pillar nodded vigorously, half-understanding, but pleased to hear that his Earth-Shaking Art was useful.

Then, Wen Youyi picked up two smaller stones and placed them on both sides, further back: "Senior Brother Wang Wu, you two, with your relatively flexible movement techniques, are our 'guerrilla.' You don't need to fight head-on. Just circle around the opponent, seize opportunities, and use your best Entanglement Technique or Mud Swamp Technique to harass his lower body, distract him, and create opportunities for Brother Tie Pillar!"

Wang Wu's eyes lit up slightly. These low-level Disciples couldn't learn offensive Spells, but they did know one or two of these auxiliary harassment Spells.

Then, Wen Youyi picked up an even smaller stone and placed it at the very back: "Senior Brother Li, you are the most steady and have the best perception. You will be responsible for 'support' and 'observation.' You don't need to directly participate in the attack. Just hide behind, pay attention to the opponent's movements, see what Spell he's preparing to use, and shout a warning to everyone in advance. Also, prepare a few simple 'rejuvenation talismans.' If anyone gets a scratch, quickly apply one. Our resources are limited; we can't afford injuries."

Senior Brother Li, who was called out, was stunned. He hadn't expected that a "Trash" like him could have such an important task, and he immediately straightened his back a little.

Finally, Wen Youyi pointed to himself, placing a stone in a position that could oversee the entire situation: "I will be responsible for 'command' and 'finding weaknesses.' I will tell everyone when to advance, when to retreat, and where to attack. And, I will try to find the opponent's weakest moment to see if we can use our 'combo skill' to deliver a heavy blow!"

His so-called "combo skill" was actually his attempt to figure out if the pitiful Spells from the original owner's memory could be stacked at specific times, based on their release principles, to achieve a one-plus-one-is-greater-than-two effect. For example, the moment Zhao Iron Pillar's Earth-Shaking Art made the opponent lose balance, Wang Wu's Entanglement Technique could follow up, perhaps temporarily trapping the opponent.

"This... can this work?" Wang Wu still felt a bit uncertain.

"How will we know if we don't try?" Wen Youyi stood up and clapped the dust from his hands. "Come on, let's simulate and practice now! Brother Tie Pillar, you be the 'opponent,' and we'll gang up on you!"

"Ah? Hitting me again?" Zhao Iron Pillar's face fell, but he still obediently stood in the center of the courtyard.

For the next half-day, D-7 Courtyard was filled with all sorts of commotion.

"Brother Tie Pillar moved left! Senior Brother Wang, prepare for entanglement on the right!"

"Ouch, Old Wang, you entangled my foot!"

"Senior Brother Li, watch the 'opponent' raising his hand, it looks like the starting move for a Fireball Spell! Brother Tie Pillar, duck!"

"Support! Quick, put a rejuvenation talisman on me, my butt got grazed by a Wind Blade!"

In the beginning, their coordination was a mess. Zhao Iron Pillar, relying on his brute strength, could 'beat' the four of them into disarray. But gradually, under Wen Youyi's clear instructions and continuous adjustments, the situation began to change.

Zhao Iron Pillar found himself increasingly uncomfortable. Just as he wanted to chase Wang Wu, his foot slipped on someone's Mud Swamp Technique; when he tried to concentrate on casting a decent Spell, Zhao Iron Pillar would suddenly 'ow' and rush over to hug his leg, scaring him into interrupting his casting; even if he managed to land a hit, the person in charge of support behind would quickly apply a shimmering talisman to the injured person. Although the effect was weak, morale was greatly boosted.

He felt like a wild ox trapped in a quagmire, full of strength, yet restrained everywhere, feeling utterly uncomfortable.

Meanwhile, Wen Youyi and the other three became more and more skilled as they fought, understanding each other's intentions with just a glance or a gesture. A wonderful trust and tacit understanding blossomed in this small courtyard.

When Zhao Iron Pillar was tripped for the fourth time by Wang Wu and another person's Entanglement Technique, falling squarely on his backside, he lay on the ground and refused to get up, panting and shouting, "No more, no more! I surrender! You guys are too sneaky!"

Wen Youyi smiled and reached out to pull him up: "It's not that we're sneaky, it's that our method is correct."

Zhao Iron Pillar got up, looking at the four people in front of him, who, though covered in dirt, had eyes gleaming with excitement. He suddenly grinned broadly: "Hehe, it seems... it's quite interesting! Maybe we can really surprise those guys who look down on us in next month's small competition!"

Just then, the courtyard gate was knocked on again.

Everyone paused, their smiles fading. Wen Youyi motioned for them to relax and went to open the door himself.

Standing outside was none other than Li Dog Egg, who had returned. He had a phony smile on his face, and behind him followed an arrogant-looking youth in green robes.

"Junior Brother Wen, busy?" Li Dog Egg said with a fake smile. "This is Senior Brother Liu Ming, Qi Refinement Stage four! Senior Brother Liu heard that you sweep very quickly and didn't quite believe it, so he specifically came to... see for himself."

The green-robed youth named Liu Ming casually glanced at the few people in the courtyard with disdain, his gaze finally settling on Wen Youyi. He said indifferently, "Was it you who used some tricky method to deceive Junior Brother Li?"

Wen Youyi sneered inwardly, the troublemakers had arrived, and they had upgraded. But on his face, he showed just the right amount of "fear": "Senior Brother Liu, you exaggerate. We merely tried our best to complete our tasks; we wouldn't dare deceive anyone."

"Is that so?" Liu Ming curled his lip. "What's the use of just sweeping the floor? In the Cultivation World, strength ultimately speaks loudest. I see your courtyard is quite spacious. Perfect, I'll give you some pointers on what true combat is!"

As he spoke, Spiritual Qi subtly surged around him, and the pressure of Qi Refinement Stage four emanated, causing Zhao Iron Pillar and the others to feel a pang of trepidation.

In the past, they would have been terrified and immediately conceded.

But today, having just undergone the baptism of "team collaboration," even though their hearts were still pounding, they instinctively looked at Wen Youyi.

Wen Youyi took a deep breath, knowing this fight was unavoidable. He turned back, met Zhao Iron Pillar and the others' gazes, and saw that while there was fear in their eyes, there was also a greater sense of eagerness and trust.

He turned back to face Liu Ming, the trace of "fear" on his face gone, replaced by a calmness that both Liu Ming and Li Dog Egg found somewhat inscrutable.

"Since Senior Brother Liu intends to give pointers, then we... would be disrespectful not to accept."

He stepped aside, making a "please" gesture.

"D-7 Courtyard, invites Senior Brother Liu—"

"To test our formation!"

(End of Chapter 3)