Chapter 2672 - 2673: Shen Zhongqian

Since Bian Shui Fort lacks a battlefield, Feng Yuan can only help adjust the team in a vacant wilderness; the girl has already contracted two Beasts, so what Feng Yuan can do is focus on the Spirit Beasts.

Considering the girl’s family is not very well-off, Spirit Beasts that don’t require much nurturing are the first choice. This is also why the girl sought Feng Yuan’s help. Simply putting a team together is easy, but once various restrictions are added, even for Beast Taming Academy teachers, it becomes a headache.

After all, not everyone is knowledgeable about all Spirit Beasts, let alone forming a limited combination with two fixed Beasts.

"Mud Snail and Round Grass? A team focused on survival and exhaustion?"

When Shen Zhongqian released two Beasts, Feng Yuan immediately recognized the team’s setup. After all, this is considered one of the classic teams. Mud Snail has excellent defensive capabilities while also possessing certain attack abilities. Although speed is a weakness, this is not too big a problem.

As for Round Grass, it combines support and attack and has a certain emergency capability, such as clearing special states. Round Grass can master this ultimate move and also has the ability to accelerate fruit growth.

Generally speaking, with these two, the team has already taken shape, and the rest depends on personal needs to adjust subsequent Beasts. However, now that it is the Crystal Domain era, this combination is somewhat insufficient.

Mud Snail is an Earth-Attribute Spirit Beast, and Round Grass is a Wood Attribute Spirit Beast. Both can benefit from the boosts of the Crystal Domain’s Forest Domain, Stream Domain, etc., which seem to be better than Xiao Ji and Fluffy Fire Wolfhound. But both lack any ultimate move related to the Crystal Domain.

In other words, they can only passively rely on the enhancement brought by the Crystal Domain and cannot do anything to affect the Crystal Domain.

Simultaneously, the reason this combination is classic is that a Beastmaster starting with these two can change the third Beast to form various team combos.

No matter the positioning, these two can satisfy the subsequent team requirements, so Feng Yuan must consider this point; Spirit Beasts cannot rigidly define the team.

"Quite difficult, indeed."

Feng Yuan rubbed his chin and glanced at Xiao Ji, saying

"Could you please, use Black Sun, to duel so I can see what her combat style truly is."

Unlike Fluffy Fire Wolfhound, Xiao Ji using Black Sun counter-attacks seems more appropriate to Feng Yuan, because combat style can’t truly be seen just by hitting a wooden stump.

No real combat is because the opponent’s Beasts can’t even beat Xiao Ji and Fluffy Fire Wolfhound; no, to be precise, if the opponent’s two Beasts gang up on Fluffy Fire Wolfhound, Fluffy Fire Wolfhound might lose. Against Xiao Ji, the opponent would be the one losing.

Although everyone is Good Level, this is merely the level of strength; in reality, strength is not a fixed value. It fluctuates within a certain range depending on the current state, like fatigue. Even Xiao Ji’s strength can vary.

Not to mention that the range within the Good Level is quite wide; the difference between the upper and lower limits can be significant for each Order.

Xiao Ji and Fluffy Fire Wolfhound are already at the limit of the current Order, and Shen Zhongqian’s Beasts haven’t been sufficiently nurtured. Losing to Xiao Ji and Fluffy Fire Wolfhound is very normal.

"I need to confirm your combat style to recommend suitable Spirit Beasts. So, later, you’ll attack it. But be careful; Xiao Ji has a counterattack ability. Watch out for counterattacks."

Feng Yuan said, turning to look at Shen Zhongqian. She nodded, took a deep breath, and mentally encouraged herself, understanding why Feng Yuan wanted to use a counterattacking Beast.

Combat is not simply charging forward. How to avoid attacks in a fight is also influenced by personal style.

Veronia initiated the crystallization of the ground to strengthen the surrounding environment and announced the start of battle.

Black Sun was hanging in the sky, Feng Yuan and Fluffy Fire Wolfhound were covered with a layer of Barrier. Shen Zhongqian took a deep breath and issued the command:

"Nini! Use Mud Splatter! Baby, quickly approach and then devour plants!"

As the command was issued, the Mud Snail shook its mud-formed shell violently, sending large clumps of mud flying from the shell to the ground. Mud Splatter itself has low hit accuracy and damage, but it has a characteristic of releasing lots of mud clumps during the attack.

These mud clumps don’t disappear immediately after the ultimate move ends, thus making this a popular Earth System ultimate move starting skill.

Utilizing those released mud clumps, Earth System moves can become quite complex, so the best choice upon seeing an opponent use Mud Splatter is to clear the field first.

However, due to Feng Yuan’s laziness, he didn’t do this, which gave Mud Snail the chance to take further action. As for Round Grass? Plant Devour is a type of restriction move; after use, it grows a giant Pitcher Plant to swallow the enemy.

This move is ineffective against larger-sized enemies as it can’t swallow them. Fluffy Fire Wolfhound can be swallowed, but Plant Devour is continuous damage with low single damage, its strength lying in its persistence. Until the Pitcher Plant is broken, the trapped Spirit Beast cannot participate in battle.

However, the opponent clearly didn’t react to this; counterattacking is very effective against this technique.

Seeing the Pitcher Plant engulfing the caught-off-guard Fluffy Fire Wolfhound, Feng Yuan covered his head, feeling rather speechless. Inevitably, once the initial damage appeared, Black Sun began to show its power.

Shen Zhongqian’s Round Grass had evidently practiced the Plant Devour move, so Black Sun’s counterattack frequency was high.

Bloodline repeatedly flashed, affecting not only Round Grass but also the Mud Snail badly.

Compared to the damage from Plant Devour, Xiao Ji’s counterattack bloodline power is evidently much stronger. Before the opponent could display many tactics, due to the serious injuries of both Beasts, the battle had to end.

Watching Veronia heal Shen Zhongqian’s two Beasts, Feng Yuan couldn’t help but step forward and ask

"When you saw the Plant Devour having an issue, didn’t you think of having Round Grass cancel the move?"

One could say that the fight ended so quickly directly related to Shen Zhongqian failing to issue the correct command in time. Even if initially ignoring the presence of counterattacks, upon triggering a counterattack, the first thing to do should be to respond instead of freezing in place.

Awkward laughter, Shen Zhongqian didn’t know how to explain it, let out a sigh, and Feng Yuan said

"I somewhat understand your combat style now."

Rather than knowing the combat style, it’s more about understanding the deficiencies; not being able to respond promptly means unless the Spirit Beast is highly autonomous, one has to slowly accumulate battle experience over time.

Fortunately, aside from being inflexible, the opponent’s commanding isn’t too problematic, or rather, rigid ordering is already a serious issue.

Considering this situation is quite common among ordinary Beastmasters, Feng Yuan didn’t say much more. After Veronia healed the opponent’s Beasts, Feng Yuan had another duel two-three times with Shen Zhongqian, gaining insight into her capabilities.

Poor command ability, average cultivation skills, the only advantage is that she is receptive to suggestions and will actively think and seek information.

This is crucial; being receptive to others doesn’t mean much since not everyone wants you to do well. One must discern if others harbor ill intentions; regarding independent learning ability, it’s quite fine even though hindered by talent.

"Hmm, considering this, can’t be too flashy, otherwise you won’t manage it."

Feng Yuan said while rubbing his chin, looking at Shen Zhongqian. Facing her rigid command style, those flashy Spirit Beast maneuvers are definitely out of the question, as they require adaptability.

"If we don’t account for other factors, the simplest is the one-trick combination. Though it has many downsides, it’s easy to grasp. However... for you, it’s a bit of a waste."

True, Shen Zhongqian is like an ordinary person, but to be precise, the fact that she can settle down to study means she doesn’t necessarily need such a rigid combat style, despite her command lacking flexibility.

One-trick refers to combinations relying on specific ultimate moves and Spirit Beasts to produce powerful moves. The benefit is its ease of grasping, but its downside is evident with a low ceiling and challenging improvements.

"Let me think..."

Rubbing his chin, Feng Yuan thought for a moment, then clapped his hands and said

"Right! You can use that!"