Stepping on the Demoness to become the strongest

Chapter 327: Chapter 23 The Torture Temporarily Ends
 

The puppet warrior emerged, and everyone was stunned.

“Isn’t this one of Sister Zhao’s moves?”

Of course, there was no time to ask Zhao Yuanzhen at this moment, otherwise it would have been possible to get a detailed explanation after defeating the fourth copy just now.

The current urgent matter was to quickly defeat the captain’s copy, all else were illusions, pushed aside for later!

As soon as the puppet warrior came out, it attacked Lin Ning. Its left hand blade parried the sword light while the right hand blade slashed swiftly several times, each strike holding the force of a thousand jun, throwing Lin Ning into disarray, unable to steady the sword light.

From behind, Xie Ruoxi unleashed another thunder orb, forcing the puppet warrior to retreat quickly, and Lin Ning was able to break free.

The swordsman called back his sword light and the puppet warrior in front of him, saying with a smile,

“Lin Ning’s temperament is too straightforward and simple, although it’s advantageous on the path of Sword Immortal, it also presents the possibility of being exploited by the enemy.”

“Indeed,” Yan Yu nodded in agreement.

“Whose side are you on, captain!” Lin Ning was so angry that her face began to twitch.

No, she mustn’t get angry anymore, as anger caused a pain in her chest, probably a true indication that a rib had broken…

“Continue,” said Yan Yu.

Zhao Yuanzhen shook off the puppet warrior Ami and charged forward alongside Yan Yu, instantly clashing with the swordsman into a frenzy.

Sword light dazzled as it crisscrossed back and forth while sparks flew from the clashing of metal; the nimble puppet warrior weaved through the fight, the blades in its wrists flashing coldly. Lin Ning controlled her sword light around the perimeter, unable to find an angle to enter the fray and had to stop and wait patiently for Yan Yu’s command.

After observing for a moment, Chen Lingyun noticed that Yan Yu’s attack rhythm had significantly slowed down.@@novelbin@@

In his earlier combat with the copy, whether using fists or swords, his pace had been extremely fast, shifting tactics three or four times in the midst of a single move, making it impossible for his teammates to keep up with his rhythm.

Now, to coordinate with Sister Zhao, he had deliberately slowed his offensive rhythm, even reducing the frequency of his movements, no longer pursuing his signature “Lightning Triple Strike.”

Although the strength of his own offensive was much reduced, considering that Zhao Yuanzhen was fitting into the battle like a puzzle piece, the overall fluidity of the attack had actually improved.

After all, no matter how skilled at multitasking one might be, it still couldn’t compare to the power of a combined attack.

With this realization, Chen Lingyun’s mind cleared, and she sent a message to Lin Ning,

“Ningning, go for it.”

“I can’t find the opportunity!” Lin Ning anxiously said, “What if I rush into battle and end up dragging us down?”

Even though Sister Zhao could coordinate with him, I just can’t seem to fit in…

“It’s alright,” Chen Lingyun said with a smile that seemed to see through everything, “You won’t drag us down.”

Before Lin Ning could comprehend the meaning, Yan Yu’s message came through:

“Sword Control Technique.”

“Okay,” Lin Ning readied her Green Bamboo Sword to join the battle, “How should I strike?”

“You just go,” Yan Yu replied.

Lin Ning: ???

If it were Chen Lingyun, she would at least instruct her on whom to target, like entangling the Flying Sword, striking the puppet warrior, or hitting the original… Eh?

She peered closely at the battlefield and noticed that in just the past few seconds, the copy had exposed several weaknesses that could be attacked—not because the copy had decreased in strength, but because Yan Yu, in the process of fighting him, had intentionally or unintentionally allowed these openings.

I know how to solve this problem!

Lin Ning’s spirits immediately lifted, her hand flashing with sword techniques, driving the Green Bamboo Sword to attack those exposed weaknesses.

“Got it now?” Seeing Lin Ning seamlessly integrating into the action, Yan Yu sent a message to Chen Lingyun.

“Yeah.” Chen Lingyun said with a smile, “I didn’t expect you to be so good at supporting and coordinating. Have you ever considered a career change to an Assistant Officer or Envoy?”

“Not considering it.” The Swordsman said.

Both were startled, realizing it was actually the clone who was speaking.

“I was used to going solo before, always thinking of solving problems by myself.” the clone continued, “Now it seems, it’s not always necessary to go all out. Even if just helping to eliminate a few wrong answers and bringing the difficulty down to your ‘noob’ level is enough, that’s the charm of teamwork.”

The girls immediately became furiously angry and messaged Yan Yu in unison:

“Quick, command us to kill this thing!”

Yan Yu, Zhao Yuanzhen, and Lin Ning, each contending with the clone, the Flying Sword, and the puppet. The former led the attack and controlled the pace, while the latter two were responsible for assisting and supporting each other. Though they were no match for the clone individually, together they not only held their own but also gradually gained the upper hand.

Chen Lingyun and Xie Ruoxi moved around the periphery, following Yan Yu’s commands for ranged attacks—now throwing prayer beads now casting Thunder Method—frequently interrupting the clone’s attack rhythms, tipping the balance of the battlefield ever more in their favor.

As the clone found itself at a disadvantage, it did not struggle desperately. Instead, it began commenting more frequently:

“Ruoxi, your Thunder Method was lousy, terrible aim. At this level, you’re not fit to be by my side as a consort.”

Xie Ruoxi: …

“Long-range sneak attacks should emulate Lingyun; perfect timing and angle. You qualify to compete for the queen’s position in the Eastern Palace.”

Chen Lingyun: ……

“Ningning, don’t be too rigid. Following commands is one thing, but can’t you find opportunities on your own when there’s no direction? With your test-taker mindset, if you don’t change, you’ll at most compete for the queen’s position in the Western Palace in the future. Once you’re in my harem, you’ll be outdone by Lingyun.”

Lin Ning: ………

The girls fell silent. The more the clone trash-talked, the more it fueled their anger, vowing to beat the clone to a pulp… and they were willing to beat the original if they still weren’t satisfied after that.

Finally seizing her chance, Lin Ning’s sword light separated the puppet and the clone, simultaneously blocking the clone’s line of sight.

The puppet’s feet were ensnared by five ghosts. Just as it used the blade in its hand to drive them off, it was obliterated by Xie Ruoxi’s Thunder Method.

With one of its two main offensive methods gone, the tide of battle finally turned completely, and the clone was driven to a dead end. Yet, it kept talking:

“Zhao, you need to try harder. There are so many girls who like me. If you don’t get stronger, they will whisk me away, and you’ll be left alone, weeping silently in regret…”

“Nonsense! Nonsense! Nonsense!” Zhao Yuanzhen thrust her White Bone Heart-locking Hairpin through the clone’s chest, then wielded the Yin Wind Sword to smash his head to pieces.

The clone’s form had already shattered layer by layer, vanishing from sight.

The Demonic Sect Enchantress, still unsatisfied, used the Yin Wind Sword to smash the mirror shards on the ground, making a sharp, clattering noise.

The other girls felt similarly, each turning their gaze to Yan Yu.

Lin Ning was the first to challenge him:

“Aren’t you going to explain what the clone said?”

“Explain what?” Yan Yu appeared puzzled, “You did fight terribly.”

“Terribly your head!” Lin Ning tried to kick him, but a sharp pain in her ribs made her stagger almost falling backward, only to be caught around the waist by Yan Yu.

Before the other girls could lash out, Yan Yu deftly steadied her and then let go, saying:

“All right, we’ve dealt with all five clones, let’s keep moving and see what else is inside. Is it possible that the next challenge is five clones coming out together for a group battle against us?”

“Don’t jinx it!” As soon as the girls considered such a possibility, they all collectively shuddered, even forgetting to pursue the matter of the harem comments, hastily urging their captain to shut his mouth first.