Rise of The Demon General

Chapter 355: Chapter 355. Battle Formation

”Battle formation?” Wu Di asked.

”A formation sage doesn’t just apply a formation on inanimate objects, but they also study battle formations that can be used on a group of cultivators. Cultivators who fight using a battle formation will be more effective than those who fight independently. In the army, formation sages occupied respectable stations. They were always mobilized during large-scale battles,” Huang San explained. He asked Sima Fang, ”Considering you can identify a battle formation among those battle puppets, I assume you are skilled at formations as well?”

”I only have a little knowledge of it. I dare not call myself a formation sage,” Sima Fang replied. She asked, ”Has anyone here studied to become a formation sage?”

Everyone shook their heads. The study of formation sage took a lot of time. It didn’t improve their personal prowess or show results quickly, so it was not a popular subject. Some students did take an interest and study it, but not the top students. Top students like them were mostly ambitious youngsters fiercely competing with the others to be at the top. They preferred not to waste time on a comprehensive study like the formation sage.

”That’s fine,” Sima Fang responded. ”From what I see, these battle puppets don’t have any art installed on them.”

”How do you know?” Tuang Yin asked.

When Sima Fang gave her a sideway glance, she said, ”Okay, okay. I believe your appraisal.”

Despite Sima Fang’s glance, she still answered, ”Battle puppets that can use art are not due to learning but depend on the parts installed on them. There will be visible features when such parts, or maybe I should say, weapons, are installed on them. The battle puppets here all look very plain. They are like the artless battle puppets we faced during our entrance exam.”

”This means we, who can use arts, will be at an advantage,” Wong Cou said.

Sima Fang nodded. ”As for their battle formation, we can compensate for that using teamwork. We might not have worked together before, but if you listen to my commands, I believe we can do this.”

”Are you sure?” Yan Long asked. His tone sounded skeptical. ”I don’t want to get into a bad situation because of your bad command.”

”Have faith in me,” Sima Fang replied with a smile. ”Additionally, I am the leader. Remember, your rewards will be deducted if you disobey me.”

”No points for rewards if we die in the process,” Tuang Yin muttered.

”Did you say something?” Sima Fang asked.

”No. Nothing,” Tuang Yin replied.

”There is another thing I need to warn you about the battle puppets,” Sima Fang said.

”There are more things to be concerned about?” Wu Di complained.

”You all had the experience of facing a battle puppet during the entrance exam, but fighting against one battle puppet and fighting a group of battle puppets can be very different.”

”Are you talking about their mind-link ability?” Huang San asked.

Sima Fang nodded, while most others were confused about what Huang San meant. Sima Fang explained, ”Most battle puppets produced by the same puppet maker have mind links with each other when they are in proximity. Their visual perceptions are shared. If one battle puppet sees you, the others also do.”

”I see... This means we can’t let our guard down even if their backs are on us,” Wong Cou said.

”Yes, it also makes it almost impossible to ambush them. Keep that in mind once the battle starts,” Sima Fang added. ”Now, let’s get into pairs. Xin Wuming, you partner up with Yang Li. Wu Di with Tuang Yin, and Xa Jien with Wong Cou. The six of you will act as our front line. You will face the battle puppets directly. Each pair watches one another’s back. Don’t go rushing by yourselves. As for the rest of us, Yan Long pairs with Lin Mo...”

”Hell no!” Yan Long exclaimed. ”I would rather die than work with him!”

Amon didn’t say anything, but his face showed the same sentiment.

”This man is my clan’s enemy! He has done so many evil things to us. He will have to pay sooner or later,” Yan Long continued.

”Evil? Your clan has massacred his clan. You are the evil one here!” Tuang Yin exclaimed.

”Don’t you denigrate my clan! The Lin clan is punished for their foolishness in associating with the rebels,” Yan Long declared. ”This man here should be punished as well. Why the Royal Academy let him continue to stay is something I will never understand.”

As the quarrel continued, Huang San whispered to Wu Di, ”Why are you staying out of this? You would normally be the one to jump in and scold that Yan boy.”

”Not my fight,” Wu Di uttered.

The quarrel stopped when Sima Fang clapped loudly, drawing everyone’s attention. ”My fault,” she said with a smile. ”Yan Long, you will partner with Zhuan San. I will be with Lin Mo.”

Amon could see from Sima Fang’s smile that she expected this dispute. His enmity with the Yan Clan was public knowledge. She was doing this intentionally to check their responses.

”The four of us will act as support,” Sima Fang continued. ”Yan Long and Zhuan San will serve as mid-range supports. You support the front line and engage in melee against any battle puppets that get past them. Lin Mo and I will provide long-range support.”

Sima Fang proceeded to place the pair of Xin Wuming and Yang Li at the center of the front line while the other frontline pairs were by their sides and slightly behind. Amon recognized this as the arrowhead formation. Yan Long and Huang San were between the three pairs, while Amon and she were at the rearmost. He guessed a formation sage could also be considered a tactician.

”Let’s advance as one, slowly. Xin Wuming and Yang Li will set the pace. Everyone follows their pace. No one tries to be heroic, please. We will do this as a team,” Sima Fang said. ”Keep everyone tamed beasts at the back first. It will be difficult to control them during the chaos of battle. Only let them join after our positionings are firm.”

Xin Wuming and Yang Li started walking. The others followed suit. The battle puppets were unresponsive. They stayed inert even as the ten approached.

Sima Fang proceeded to issue orders, ”Wu Di, use your Hard Skin Strong Muscle. Yang Li and Tuang Yin, activate your Burning Hands. Wong Cou, use Rock Suit. Xin Wuming, use Iron Skin. Xa Jien, ready your Hard Sharp Edge. Yan Long, water whip! Zhuan San, get ready to use your entangling vines when needed.”

’As expected,’ Amon thought. Sima Fang decided who to place at the front line and who at the back without asking anyone about their expertise and arts. It turned out she already knew their info. She had researched everyone in the top ten.

”As for you,” Sima Fang told Amon. ”Ready your throwing knives.”

Amon complied. Several throwing knives appeared in his hands. As for Sima Fang herself, her hands held talismans.

The battle puppets finally came to life once Xin Wuming and Yang Li got within five meters of them. Their eyes lit up, all thirty-six at once. Once they did, the frontmost battle puppets, eight in total, charged forward.

”Come at me, you lump of steel!” Wu Di exclaimed.

”Stay in formation! Back each other!” Sima Fang reminded them.

Three battle puppets arrived before Xin Wuming and Yang Li, who were the closest. Yang Li welcomed them using Fire Breath. The fierce flame engulfed all three puppets. The puppets, however, didn’t retreat or slow from the intense heat. They pressed on.

Yang Li was slightly taken aback. She knew battle puppets felt no pain, but seeing the opponents shrug off her flame like it was nothing still shook her in some way.

”Get behind me!” Xin Wuming exclaimed. He came forward once Yang Li ended her fire breath. He used Sword Hand. The image of a giant metallic sword appeared following his hand’s movement.

The metal sword swung when the three charging battle puppets arrived. Their bodies were scorched black. Despite showing no reaction, Yang Li’s flames still damaged their bodies. The damage weakened those bodies enough to let the metal sword slice through. A long, deep, and gaping wound resulted in all three battle puppets.

Even so, the puppets didn’t stop. One of the puppets punched as Xin Wuming’s sword sliced through it.

*CLANG!*

A loud clanking sound was heard when the puppet’s hard fist hit Xin Wuming’s Iron Skin-protected body.

The other two battle puppets also punched, but a raging flame swiped through them. Two flaming skull-heads crashed into the battle puppets’ heads. The heads cracked and melted. They then ruptured when the flaming skull-heads burst with explosive force.

”Good move!” Xin Wuming praised. With Yang Li dealing with the two puppets flanking him, he could focus on the one before him. His fingers stabbed with uncanny speed. Each stab conjured the image of a sharp sword. The sword stabbed and cut the battle puppet until it was no more than pieces of scrap metal.

Before they could celebrate their victory, they found five more puppets surrounding them. To make matters worse, the two puppets, whose heads Yang Li had destroyed, continued moving as if nothing had happened.