Chapter 76: Two Spirit Plants, Eight Hundred Eyes [2-in-1]
With no way to retreat, he could only move forward.
This logic applies anywhere.
Under Big Willow’s careful response, the Small Mechanical Rat wasn’t a particularly big threat. Even if it really got close and gnawed a bite of bark, the damage was still bearable for Big Willow.
Thousand Generations wasn’t just for show. She wouldn’t wait for the Small Mechanical Rat to have a second chance to gnaw Big Willow; she would immediately teleport it away.
To avoid Willow Whip contact with the Small Mechanical Rat as much as possible, Big Willow even deliberately let a few get close. After Thousand Generations teleported them to a farther range, he cleanly resolved them with a Wind Blade.
Ge Bai watched Big Willow play these little tricks and found it somewhat amusing but didn’t call him out. She knew that coordinating with Thousand Generations, even if one-sided, was progress.
Progress is a good thing. She couldn’t push the child too hard; it had to be gradual.
At the same time, watching Big Willow fall into a passive position and struggle to maneuver, Ge Bai felt helpless too.
She thought that if Big Willow had just smoothly used Wind Blade to resolve this group of Small Mechanical Rats outside the safe range from the start, there wouldn’t be so many issues now.
Wind Blade plus Willow Whip—before long, only 5 of the first wave of Small Mechanical Rats charging toward Big Willow remained.
Seeing that this wave of Small Mechanical Rats could no longer threaten Big Willow, Ge Bai stopped paying attention to Big Willow’s side and locked her gaze on the Mechanical Rat True Form and Beast Tamer Zhao Hui on the other side of the Arena.
Unlike Ge Bai, who truly hadn’t researched the mechanical Pet Beast circle in detail and hadn’t heard of Zhao Hui and his Pet Beast Mechanical Rat.
Zhao Hui had researched Ge Bai before the match. This Spirit Planter entered the Preliminary Competition with one battle, not only contracting a wild Weeping Ancient Willow with considerable combat power but also contracting a Space Element Spirit Plant.
These past two days, Ge Bai had been in the spotlight, so Zhao Hui couldn’t ignore her.
As soon as he saw his opponent was Ge Bai today, he started planning Battle tactics. In his view, he had a big chance of winning.
So right at the start, Zhao Hui wasn’t in a hurry.
He originally planned to use this wave of dispersed Small Mechanical Rats to force out their large-range Space Skill, but seeing that this wave of Small Mechanical Rats was about to be completely resolved.
Ge Bai and the others remained unhurried, and Zhao Hui was getting impatient.
Snap.
Standing behind the Mechanical Rat, he snapped his fingers.
Hearing the snap, the Mechanical Rat reacted quickly. This was the attack signal pre-arranged with his Beast Tamer.
The Mechanical Rat’s tail suddenly whipped the Arena floor, its sapphire blue eyes flashing with light.
It’s about to move.
“Get ready, Lightning Attraction is coming.”
Ge Bai narrowed her eyes slightly and said softly to Thousand Generations.
“La!”
Thousand Generations shook her Flower Sword, preparing to act.
While Big Willow was just entangled with the Small Mechanical Rat, Ge Bai had already detailed her guess to Thousand Generations and arranged two or three coping methods. Which one to use depended on Thousand Generations’ choice.
Ge Bai let go of her hand. Thousand Generations first used Spatial Teleportation herself, her figure appearing in mid-air far from Big Willow and the Mechanical Rat, forming a triangular fixed point with the three positions.
That position was absolutely safe; no matter how Lightning Attraction was drawn, it was far from her.
Thousand Generations, overlooking the entire field, had a much better view than Ge Bai standing in the back.
She glanced at the Mechanical Rat True Form one moment, then at the three Small Mechanical Rats around Big Willow the next.
Yes, in just this short time, Big Willow had resolved two more.
Zhao Hui also noticed the floating Thousand Generations, frowning slightly, but after just two glances at her, he shifted his gaze back to Big Willow.
In his cognition, you eat rice one bite at a time, and opponents one by one. First resolve the Willow tree right in front of him; this one Space Element Spirit Plant was not a concern.
He had great confidence in the Mechanical Rat he personally modified and cultivated.
The light flashing in the Mechanical Rat’s sapphire blue eyes reached its peak. A silver bolt of lightning condensed in the high sky. One of the three Small Mechanical Rats slightly raised its tail, and under the swirling Spiritual Power, there was a faint sound of thunder.
“Thousand Generations.”
Ge Bai sent a Spiritual Sense reminder. Although she could tell which Small Mechanical Rat was drawing the lightning, she didn’t micromanage; she believed Thousand Generations could see it too.
It was time to train Big Willow and Thousand Generations to autonomously control the situation.
“Got it!” Thousand Generations replied.
From her tone, she was brimming with confidence.
Ge Bai felt relieved. She had arranged everything that needed arranging. The second half of this Match was up to Big Willow and Thousand Generations.
Big Willow stayed in place, his Willow Whip whipping fiercely, resolving another Small Mechanical Rat. Only two left.
At this point, he also noticed that one of these two Small Mechanical Rats was off—its surrounding Spiritual Power was too dense, even emitting faint thunderous sounds.
He recalled the Lightning Attraction Skill that Ge Bai had briefly mentioned at the start of the Match, feeling a slight unease.
But Big Willow also noticed that Thousand Generations had Flashed into mid-air, ready to act at any moment. Plus, Ge Bai hadn’t spoken. After a moment’s thought, Big Willow chose to trust his teammate.
After all, shuffling back now was worse than whipping a couple more Willow Whips. Waiting for Thousand Generations to teleport wasn’t bad, right?
“Thousand Generations?”
Big Willow still found a moment to send a message to Thousand Generations.
The Thousand Generations in mid-air had already decided on her tactics. As fellow contracted Spirit Plants of Ge Bai, she and Big Willow could communicate via Spiritual Sense. She received his message, but she deliberately didn’t tell Big Willow the next step.
Because she planned to end the battle with one strike. If that didn’t work, then Big Willow could follow up.
Ge Bai disapproved of Thousand Generations playing these little clever tricks but stayed silent for now, just slightly raising her eyebrow and mentally noting it.
This Little Orchid was a bit arrogant. She needed proper education when they got back.
Thunder cracked, and the lightning in the high sky had formed.
Zhao Hui clenched his fist, staring in Big Willow’s direction.
The Mechanical Rat True Form split into six or seven more Small Mechanical Rats at this moment, joining the remaining two from the previous batch to tightly entangle Big Willow.
With a sudden influx of Small Mechanical Rats, Big Willow was a bit confused about which one was the main Lightning Attraction target he had just identified.
Even if he consciously tried to prioritize it, he couldn’t.
Thousand Generations, with her better view, was watching more closely than Big Willow. As soon as the lightning formed, she immediately used Spatial Teleportation on that Small Mechanical Rat.
The Skill, with Spiritual Power already circulating and brewing for a long time, was nearly instant-cast, much faster than the lightning.
The lightning in mid-air also shifted direction, striking straight toward the Mechanical Rat.
The Small Mechanical Rat silently appeared beside the Mechanical Rat True Form.
When Thousand Generations chose the Spatial Teleportation landing point, she did use some brains.
She didn’t carelessly fling the Small Mechanical Rat right in front of the Mechanical Rat but placed it in its blind spot.
The half-meter-long Mechanical Rat indeed didn’t react at first, but the suddenly turning lightning heading straight for him was undeniable.
“Run!”
Zhao Hui, who was focused on Big Willow, immediately noticed one Small Mechanical Rat was missing and felt a chill.
When he saw the Small Mechanical Rat appear beside his own Pet Beast, he could only shout one word.
The lightning was fast, arriving in an instant. The Mechanical Rat barely managed half a step before being struck dead-on by the lightning it had drawn.
“Tsk tsk.”
Ge Bai tsked twice. It seemed the Mechanical Rat’s drawn lightning was real lightning, indiscriminate between enemy and ally.
Although the Mechanical Rat was a lightning-attribute Pet Beast, its lightning resistance wasn’t great. This was a full-power strike, and now hitting itself, it was taking serious damage.
In the stands, the audience who watched this happen were all stunned.
Can it be played like this?
They’d seen Pet Beasts suffer Skill backlash in battles, but never one so directly knocked out by its own Skill.
“Feels like no particularly advanced Skills were used, and they just won like that?”
“Ge Bai’s training level for Pet Beasts is high. These two Spirit Plants in another Spirit Planter’s hands might not win so brilliantly.”
“You’re so low. This is combat awareness. These two Spirit Plants have excellent combat awareness! Grasping combat awareness and opportunities is no less than Skill proficiency or Pet Beast Level. It’s just rare to see in low-Level Arena Competitions.”
After a moment of daze, the audience area erupted in heated discussion again.
The bald man who had just been complaining that Ge Bai didn’t research Zhao Hui now silently wiped a bead of sweat from his forehead and said something fair.
“This… if Zhao Hui can’t figure out a counter for this move in the next match, his later matches will be tough.”
His friend sitting beside him shook his head. Though they supported Zhao Hui, they had to tell the truth.
“This Ge Bai has some real skill. Are you sure she really didn’t research Zhao Hui and the Mechanical Rat’s attack methods before?”
“How would I know!”
The bald man rolled his eyes.
Indeed, Zhao Hui’s Mechanical Rat had cultivated Lightning Attraction and split Skills at Transcendence Realm Low Tier—clearly a prodigy with great potential.
But potential was future potential. Right now, the Mechanical Rat’s Spiritual Power Level and Skill proficiency weren’t high. Previous matches went smoothly due to tactical advantage.
Now that the wide dispersal plus Lightning Attraction attack method was cracked, later opponents could copy it and give Zhao Hui trouble.
After all, the Mechanical Rat currently could only use one Small Mechanical Rat as the target for Lightning Attraction per time. Ge Bai and Thousand Generations could discern which Small Mechanical Rat was the target; others wouldn’t find it hard either.
Even without Space Skills, other Beast Tamers could find the Lightning Attraction Small Mechanical Rat and knock it flying—not a difficult task.
Ge Bai didn’t expect this Match to set a perfect example for later contestants, causing Zhao Hui’s Arena Competitions that year to stop outside the Preliminary Competition entry list.
On the field, Zhao Hui watched his Mechanical Rat knocked down by lightning, flipped on the ground smoking, and strongly resisted the urge to rush over and concede.
Unwillingly looking up at Big Willow’s side, he hoped the Small Mechanical Rats could resolve Big Willow. That way, even if he lost in the end, it wouldn’t look too bad.
But the moment he looked up, he saw a wind wall carrying a despair-inducing wind force roaring across the Arena. Wherever the wind wall passed, Small Mechanical Rats were torn to fragments, filling the air with mechanical debris.
Big Willow finally used his brain, letting this group of Small Mechanical Rats get close, then charged up and unleashed a Wind Weave Domain, scooping them all up.
It’s over.
Seeing this, Zhao Hui slumped to the ground, eyes bloodshot.
His Mechanical Rat, seeing the Beast Tamer hadn’t conceded, knew the Match wasn’t over and was struggling to get up on the spot.
Thousand Generations in mid-air saw the Mechanical Rat still trying to rise and felt annoyed. She had to send a message to Big Willow: “Get ready for Storm Willow Blade Hammer, like last Match, okay.”
Big Willow, having fought the whole field and desperately unleashed a full-power Wind Weave Domain, was somewhat exhausted but gritted his teeth: “Okay.”
Just as Thousand Generations was about to teleport Big Willow beside the Mechanical Rat for the finishing blow.
Zhao Hui struggled to speak up: “I concede.”
Thousand Generations and Big Willow both sighed in relief.
The former thought: Great, this Match, she—Thousand Generations Spring Sword Orchid—delivered a one-strike kill, turned the battle around, MVP of the whole field!
The latter thought: Finally over, so tiring. Another full-power Storm Willow Blade Hammer really would be life-threatening. No more rat-fighting—real rats, fake rats, mechanical rats, electric rats… no more rats ever!
Ge Bai frowned: What kind of crappy fight was this? Both needed extra training when they got back!
The Referee entered the field and announced Ge Bai as the winner. Big Willow immediately shapeshifted back to mini form, pouncing onto Ge Bai to hang on, waiting for her to take him to the Arena Competition Healer for a Healing Spell to recover Spiritual Power consumption.
Thousand Generations was reluctant to leave the field, floating leisurely in mid-air, planning a lap around.
Ge Bai didn’t indulge her, directly using Spiritual Sense to forcibly recall Thousand Generations to her Spiritual Consciousness Space.
“Ah! Ge Bai! You can’t do this. I just won so cleanly, and you won’t even praise me?”
Recalled to the Spiritual Consciousness Space, Thousand Generations chattered nonstop.
“Reflect properly on what went wrong in this fight.”
Ge Bai’s tone was serious.
Seeing Ge Bai really seemed angry, Thousand Generations instantly behaved.
A wise orchid knows the times; she, Thousand Generations, wouldn’t be so clueless as to challenge Ge Bai’s bad mood.
Sigh, just annoying—why reflect every time after a battle? Winning is enough, right!
Thousand Generations continued shouting inwardly.
——
Since Big Willow and Thousand Generations weren’t injured, Ge Bai didn’t wait by the Mechanical Rat like Zhao Hui for the Healer to arrive with a Stretcher.
Carrying Big Willow, she returned to the Waiting Area and went straight to the Healer rest area, asking them to give Big Willow a Spiritual Power recovery Healing Spell.
This wasn’t a big deal; it was clearly stated in the Arena Competition rules.
A blonde blue-eyed beauty Summoned her Pet Beast. A translucent pale pink Peach Blossom Jellyfish appeared above the Summoning Array.
Ge Bai looked on in surprise. She remembered Peach Blossom Jellyfish were mainly poison-based Pet Beasts.
“Your Peach Blossom Jellyfish knows Healing Spell too?”
Before the blonde blue-eyed beauty could speak, the several Healers sitting nearby all covered their mouths laughing.
“Lika, just accept your fate.”
“How about we make you a Sign to hang on your chest? ‘My Pet Beast Peach Blossom Jellyfish really knows Healing Spell!'”
This beauty named Lika covered her face, shaking her head helplessly as she told Ge Bai, “Yes, my Peach Blossom Jellyfish really knows Healing Spell. I am an Alliance Certified advanced Healer!”
“Don’t mind them. No matter who it is, they’ll ask the same the first time they see my Peach Blossom Jellyfish.”
“Give it a try. Our Hua Jiao’s Spiritual Power recovery is very good.”
Seeing her one sentence elicit such a big reaction from the Healers, Ge Bai felt awkward and quickly handed Big Willow over.
The Peach Blossom Jellyfish floated in front of Big Willow, covering him in soft pale pink light.
This was an Advanced Skill with excellent recovery effect. Big Willow’s Spiritual Power was instantly maxed out.
