Imperial Scepter

Li Daoqiu was completely exhausted, his face was ashen, and his steps were unsteady. He barely managed to stand up by using the last bit of strength. He was clearly out of breath and had no strength left to fight.

Gao Chun stood firmly on the spot, raised his hand and calmly finished his move, cleanly and decisively winning the competition.

Looking at his disheveled opponent, he couldn't help but sigh inwardly. Li Daoqiu was far more troublesome than he had expected.

His own profound energy was exhausted, and his dantian was completely empty, leaving it utterly silent.

If the fight were to continue at this point, there would be no more magic techniques available, and only a pure physical struggle with bare hands would suffice.

Fortunately, I made a decision early and used that invisible and colorless pale blue mystic power. This move was truly wise.

If it weren't for this hidden power, the outcome of this contest would have been truly unpredictable.

If he only relied on the power of the red, yellow, and purple Dao seeds, he might really have lost to Li Daoqiu in today's match.

Li Daoqiu's combat ability was astonishingly strong, especially his self-created tactics, which were all cunning and ruthless.

In particular, his technique of acupressure was incredibly strange and unpredictable, unlike anything ever heard of. Even after searching through all the novels, I had never seen such a sharp and cunning method.

After this battle, Gao Chun's arrogance quietly faded away.

A sudden jolt ran through me, and I was jolted awake.

Even with the extraordinary talent of possessing the Five-Colored Dao Seed, and even with his cultivation deliberately sealed at the third level of the Bronze Realm, there are still experts in the same realm who can rival him and even defeat him.

The five-colored Dao Seeds are a gift from heaven, but talent is never the only magic weapon for victory.

Those Xuan practitioners who are more diligent and meticulous than others, even if they have far fewer Dao seeds than others, can still devise all sorts of novel and ruthless tactics with their meticulous minds, thus surpassing their natural talents!

One must never rely on one's talent and become arrogant. In addition to innate gifts, one must also cultivate one's mind and use one's brain to climb to the top step by step.

Gao Chun sighed inwardly and gave up.

He turned around abruptly, his gaze sweeping over Gao Chengzhi and Wang Hu, his tone authoritative yet revealing the youthful spirit unique to young people.

"Now, is there anyone still against me being the team leader?"

Gao Chengzhi quickly shook his head, a rare smile appearing on his usually cold and slightly arrogant face.

He was getting impatient; the midday sun was high in the sky, his stomach was growling with hunger, and all he wanted was to get home and eat.

He immediately declared, "Our team will be captained by my uncle, Gao Chun! I won't acknowledge anyone else!"

Just kidding, with an uncle as capable as him, it's only natural that he'd be the team leader.

Besides, it's already lunchtime, and dawdling any longer would just be a waste of time. He wanted to find some time to read the storybook after lunch.

Wang Hu's gaze towards Gao Chun had changed; his eyes were now filled with genuine admiration.

The fight between Gao Chun and Li Daoqiu just now was truly spectacular, and he loudly proclaimed, "I agree!"

This expression of approval not only acknowledged Gao Chun as the team leader, but also showed genuine appreciation for Gao Chun as a person.

From that moment on, he truly admired this village's rising genius.

Li Daoqiu, pale-faced and still weak, steadied himself and replied firmly, "I agree as well."

The three of them unanimously agreed, and Gao Chun's identity as the team leader was thus confirmed.

Gao Chun nodded in satisfaction, placed his hands behind his back, stood tall and straight like a pine tree, and said in a clear voice:

"Alright! Since everyone agrees, from today onwards, the four of us will officially form a team, and I, Gao Chun, will be the captain!"

"After lunch, the team's first mission is to head to the Southern Wilderness Forest!"

As he finished speaking, the boy's spirited demeanor remained undiminished, but his heart had already sank a little.

The title of captain signifies a heavy responsibility.

As the captain, he must consider the battle formation coordination of the four, plan the command and dispatch in the Southern Wilderness Forest, and protect the safety of the three people around him.

This sense of responsibility was etched into his heart the moment he took over as captain.

Therefore, he did not dismiss everyone immediately, but changed the subject and said, "Before we set off, I will clarify the tactical division of labor with everyone."

Upon hearing this, Gao Chengzhi immediately pouted, his face full of impatience. Did he really need to ramble on like this?

It's such a waste of his lunch break, and even more so, it's prevented him from going back to read his storybooks!

Gao Chun looked at his adorable face and pretended not to see it. He knew his nephew's personality all too well.

"Everyone knows the situation of our team. I am a three-color Dao Seed, namely red, yellow, and purple. Cheng Zhi is the same as me. Dao Qiu is a two-color Dao Seed, namely yellow and purple. Wang Hu is a two-color Dao Seed, namely blue and purple."

He spoke frankly about the foundation of the four people's Dao, saying, "Now let's talk about our cooperation and define our team identities."

Upon hearing this, Gao Chengzhi's lips curled slightly, and he glanced at Gao Chun with a hint of disdain, thinking to himself: Who are you trying to fool? He's clearly a four-colored Dao Seed, yet he's still pretending!

He only dared to mutter these words to himself; he would never dare to openly embarrass his uncle.

Li Daoqiu also glanced at Gao Chun with a complicated expression, but remained silent.

He already knew that the high purity concealed a single-color Dao seed.

The Dao Seed information of a Xuanzhe is the foundation of his existence. Gao Chun was willing to reveal his secrets in battle because he trusted him. He would never betray him, nor would he spread the matter and cause trouble for Gao Chun.

Wang Hu stood quietly to the side, looking steadily at Gao Chun.

That's just his nature; he respects geniuses and looks down on the weak. Once he has wholeheartedly acknowledged Gao Chun's strength, he will wholeheartedly believe in and support him.

Gao Chun looked up at the sky; the midday sun hung high overhead, making him squint.

He suddenly remembered his father's instructions: after lunch, he should immediately set off for the Southern Wilderness Forest.

It's lunchtime now, and I imagine Dad must be getting impatient; time is of the essence.

Originally, they wanted the four of them to practice their battle formation coordination before setting off, but now it was clear that there was no time for detailed drills, so they could only set a general tactical framework.

Fortunately, they were all experts in the field, and adaptability was a fundamental skill for them.

Furthermore, he had fought against Gao Chengzhi, Li Daoqiu, and Wang Hu before, and was familiar with their strengths. In addition, as the captain, he could adapt to changing circumstances when making decisions on the spot.

With this in mind, Gao Chun no longer hesitated and immediately began to deploy the plan:

"Time is of the essence, let's skip the drills and go straight to assigning team roles!"

"The attack will be led by Gao Chengzhi and me. Gao Chengzhi is the team's primary attacker and the initiator of the attack. I am the secondary attacker, and whether I will directly participate in the first wave of attack will depend on the battlefield situation."

He looked at Gao Chengzhi and pointed out the core: "We both have red Dao Seeds, which make us the strongest in terms of attack power, and we should be the main offensive core of the team."

He then turned to Li Daoqiu and Wang Hu: "Daoqiu and Wang Hu, you both have purple Dao seeds and are skilled in surprise attacks."

While we launch our main attack, you should seize the opportunity to employ assassin tactics, finding the opening and striking a fatal blow!

"Daoqiu, you are the team's number one assassin, specializing in roaming and attacking, while also using various assassin tactics such as kiting to deplete the enemy's Xuan energy. This is your strength, so be sure to control the rhythm well."

"Wang Hu, you will be the team's second assassin, assisting Dao Qiu in the sneak attack while also serving as the team's controller."

Gao Chun's gaze fell on Wang Hu. "The key is the control attribute of your blue Dao Seed. You need to seize the opportunity to bind the enemy and disrupt their formation."

When to follow up with supplementary control is up to you.

Finally, Gao Chun spoke clearly and firmly: "Leave the defense to Cheng Zhi and me. I'll be the team's primary defender, and Cheng Zhi will be the secondary defender, ready to fill in at any time."

After saying that, he solemnly turned to look at Li Daoqiu and specifically instructed him: "Daoqiu, although you have a yellow Dao seed, your core responsibility is as an assassin. You must concentrate your Xuan power on surprise attacks. Unless absolutely necessary, you do not need to participate in defense."

"In addition to offensive and defensive operations, I will observe the battlefield situation throughout the entire process and coordinate command."

After Gao Chun finished speaking, he glanced at the three of them and asked, "This is the team's general deployment. Do you have anything to add?"

Gao Chengzhi was the first to raise his hand. His stomach was already growling with hunger, and his face was full of impatience. He just wanted to eat as soon as possible.

He quickly replied, "No problem! The captain's arrangement is very reasonable and insightful!"

These obviously perfunctory words earned him a big eye roll from Gao Chun.

Li Daoqiu listened attentively from beginning to end, secretly pondering Gao Chun's plan.

He nodded slowly, and his gaze toward his childhood friend unconsciously held a touch of admiration: Gao Chun was not only ruthless in his personal tactics, but he also had an unexpectedly thorough grasp of team coordination.

As for team synergy, it takes time to hone and practice in real matches; it can't be rushed.

He had no objection to this arrangement and immediately expressed his support: "Captain, you've made a good arrangement. We'll go with it."

Wang Hu listened intently, his face beaming with excitement.

The more he listened, the more he appreciated Gao Chun's ingenious plan, nodding repeatedly before loudly replying, "The captain's arrangements are excellent! We will certainly follow the instructions and cooperate fully!"

Although he has a somewhat arrogant personality, once he truly admires someone, he will wholeheartedly support them without reservation.

With the tactical division of labor settled and all three having no objections, Gao Chun did not immediately end the task.

He deliberately adopted a more adult demeanor, adding a touch of unquestionable seriousness to his tone.

"Once we reach the Southern Wilderness Forest, you must obey my commands and are not allowed to act on your own!"

"That place is fraught with danger, and lurking beasts lurk everywhere. We are a team, and only by working together and supporting each other can we survive!"

"Tactics are static, but people are dynamic. In unexpected situations, you must be flexible, remember your roles, and, most importantly, completely trust your teammates!"

His words were firm and resounding, his young voice carrying a dignity beyond his years.

This even made Gao Chengzhi abandon his nonchalant attitude and nod seriously.

Li Daoqiu and Wang Hu responded in unison, "Understood, Captain!"

Gao Chun looked at the three people's serious expressions and a gratified smile appeared on his lips.

This newly formed team, though still somewhat inexperienced, already has a clear division of labor and initial cohesion.

He firmly believed that as long as the four of them performed their duties and cooperated tacitly, even the most dangerous forests of the South Wilderness could not stop them from moving forward.

"Alright, everyone go back and get ready. We'll meet at my courtyard after lunch!"

Gao Chun waved his hand and announced the disbandment.

Gao Chengzhi felt as if he had been granted a pardon and ran off like the wind. He had been looking forward to going back for lunch and reading stories and didn't want to wait a moment longer.

Li Daoqiu slowly walked to Gao Chun's side and patted him on the shoulder meaningfully: "Good brother, your talent of the three-colored Dao Seed is truly the pride of our Gao Family Village."

Gao Chun didn't say much, only giving him a knowing look.

it is more than words.

He raised his hand and patted Li Daoqiu's shoulder heavily as well, "You are my best childhood friend, I believe in you."

The unspoken trust between the two is the strongest bond between childhood friends.

Wang Hu nodded solemnly to Gao Chun.

He then turned and strode away from the training ground, his eyes burning with fervor, full of anticipation for the afternoon's training in the Southern Wilderness.

Save the high-purity ones for last.

As the team leader, he felt it was his duty to see all his teammates off.

This is a principle he learned from books and storybooks: it can establish the captain's authority and make the team members feel valued and cared for.

He looked up toward the direction of the Southern Wilderness Forest, his eyes bright and resolute.

The five-colored Dao seeds within his body throbbed slightly, as if they were also excitedly welcoming the upcoming challenge.

He knew that this experience was not only a test of his personal abilities, but also the ultimate test of his tactical coordination and team cohesion.

"Southern Wilderness Forest, here comes Gao Chun!"

The boy's shouts echoed through the training ground, carrying with them unwavering courage and unstoppable confidence.