Chapter 0472: Battle Deployment

"There are three main routes to the valley. I'll take the center and try to draw the other school commanders.

"Qin Zhulu, Yi Lisha, your squads have the left.

"Bai Doudou, Wang Hejiu, your squads are on the right. It might be harder on you because of the rumors that Yu Lang is a dual resonance user. They might concentrate more of their forces on you, but while you're suffering, the rest of us will have an easier time. We can throw their allocation into chaos."

Li Luo paused to make sure they were all following his plan so far.

"In the early stages, we might have two or three sage colleges coming at us at once. We might have less numbers, but I believe we're stronger individually."

Besides himself, an elite fighter, they also had Qin Zhulu, who was on the level of other school commanders. Even if Li Luo himself were not around, Qin Zhulu would still have a shot at being the strongest student.

Besides, Bai Doudou and Wang Hejiu were at the peak of the First Changing themselves.

Between the left and right routes, it seemed like Qin Zhulu would have an easier time, while Bai Doudou and Wang Hejiu would probably see more heat come their way.

"Want to send Yu Lang to my side?" Qin Zhulu offered.

He was happy to share the burden and draw some of the forces his way.

Li Luo considered it, but he eventually shook his head. "You're meant to have the advantage on your side. If you can beat your opponents back quickly, that would be ideal.

"Yu Lang's side is supposed to suffer. No need to worry about him."

Yu Lang rolled his eyes. Damn, now he was a sandbag.

Still, he understood the daring plan that Li Luo had hatched. Routinely allocating their fighters was not going to help them overcome a stronger force. They had to use their one card: the fake information that Li Luo had planted before.

"Everyone, this is our first fight. I hope the Astral Sage College does well," Li Luo said, cupping his fist to each of them.

They exchanged tight, nervous smiles, then they headed off to their respective positions.

Lu Qing'er lingered a little, her beautiful eyes regarding Li Luo with concern. "Li Luo... are you going to be okay?"

Li Luo had already openly revealed that he was a dual resonance user. He would definitely be targeted. And if anything happened to him, it would be disastrous for their school's morale. Their defensive line would also be broken wide open from the middle.

"Never ask a man if he's going to be okay!" Li Luo said indignantly.

She snorted. "Need me to stay and help you?"

"Student Lu Qing'er," Li Luo said imperiously, "you were ordered to follow the commander's orders. Even though you are very pretty, you will still be punished for disobedience!"

"Always full of nonsense." She rolled her eyes at him before hurrying off to join her squadmates.

Li Luo admired her lithe form from behind for a while and then leaped to the top of a tall tree. He could see the entire battlefield well from there.

He eyed the treetops carefully, watching for movements in the leaves that would indicate that people were below.

There were many of them coming.

Li Luo's guess that it was three sage colleges coming for them.

The observation went both ways. From his prominent vantage point, many of the attackers had spotted him as well.

Suddenly, a student in yellow clothes broke out from the pack and approached Li Luo, perching cautiously on a nearby tree.

He was only 20 meters or so away.

"I assume you are the Astral Sage College's commander, Li Luo? I'm Zhao Xingying of the Iron Sands Sage College," he said to Li Luo.

Li Luo nodded with a casual smile.

"I'm impressed by how well you've kept yourself hidden. There was no information about a dual resonance user," Zhao Xingying said.

"Ah, we've shown you one as a teaser. Obviously, we can't show you everything." Li Luo winked.

"You mean Yu Lang? Is he really a dual resonance user as well?"

"Who knows?" Li Luo splayed his fingers, palms upward.

"Commander Li Luo, let me get straight to the point... I just want to ask if you intend to take the entire medium anima cumulonimbus for yourselves."

Li Luo nodded.

"Are you sure you're not biting off more than you can chew?" Zhao Xingying commented.

"Better a bigger bite than starving to death." Li Luo grinned.

"We have three sage colleges gathered here. You think the Astral Sage College can take us all?"

"Well, we have to try."

Zhao Xingying paused for a moment. "Commander Li Luo, if you're willing, the Iron Sands Sage College can work with you. Let's join forces and send the other two schools packing."

"So quick to betray your alliance?" Li Luo was astonished.

"We're not allies, per se. We just came for the anima cumulonimbus together. We are happy to work with whoever gets us access to it," Zhao Xingying said candidly.

"And you're not afraid that I'll tell on you?"

"They wouldn't believe you, and I wouldn't admit to it. Come now, Commander Li Luo, surely you're not that naive."

𝐟𝕣𝕖𝐞𝐰𝕖𝚋𝐧𝗼𝚟𝐞𝕝.𝗰𝐨𝐦

"Hmm. And how much do you want?" Li Luo asked.

"Half."

Li Luo laughed out loud. "You're quite a greedy one too, I see. I guess we can't make this work."

"Very confident, I see," Zhao Xingying said, irritated.

"How about this... you three commanders can face off against me. If you win, I'll give the anima cumulonimbus up. If you lose, leave us alone. Agreed?" Li Luo offered.

Zhao Xingying stared at him. "You want to fight us three-on-one? Commander Li Luo, you're a wild one."

"It's always good to find out where one's limits lie," Li Luo said.

"An admirable and rousing offer, but I refuse," Zhao Xingying said dryly. "We have the numbers advantage. Why would we fight you?"

"A pity." Li Luo sighed. Indeed, Zhao Xingying was too sharp to fall into his simple trick.

"Since we cannot come to an agreement, this conversation is over. Commander Li Luo, on behalf of the Iron Sands Sage College, the Heaven's Path Sage College, and the Imperial Gem Sage College, we declare our intention to attack," Zhao Xingying announced firmly.

"However, as a mark of respect to you, all three commanders will come to face you. You'll get your wish, in a fashion."

He lifted his hand high in the air and made a curt, chopping motion.

From behind, resonant powers fired up like fireflies in the dusk.