Chapter 1006: Some Toughening?

It had been ten days now since the forced enhancement. During the ten days, all disciples practiced at an insane pace to familiarize and secure their current state, but it was unfortunate that the honing period was too short and there was more than ninety percent of pupils who had yet to adapt completely.

There were even about a dozen of them who did not thoroughly grasp the taught sets of cultivation methods, sword, saber or stance techniques.

Personal hard work was irrelevant. More of it depended on individual talent and sensibilities, features that were completely innate. Even with external assistance, it would need substantial time, and time was what the Residence of Nine Supremes was lacking right now.

Time, oh, time!

Consequentially, Yun Yang could only sigh helplessly, feeling more exhausted as each day passed. He could rob everything, but he could not rob time.

The higher-level management's cultivation base was sufficient for the Residence of Nine Supremes' current state, but the Celestial Luck Banner contest was not something to be accomplished solely by them - at least, it was inadequate to fulfill Yun Yang's planning!

The pupils' cultivation base was heaven and earth's difference from being passable to being battle-ready, but they were only left with five months and eight days.

The opponents they faced were at least of Supreme level, maybe Honor level two or three too - how could they fight without losing? In addition, it would be a miracle if there were no casualties. Not only was this a challenge, but it was also one without a solution!

Five months and eight days! It was not five years or fifty years...

Watching the protégés that entered, Shi Wuchen and Luo Dajiang's frowns were locked deep on their foreheads. They exchanged a look after a very long time and Shi Wuchen went to Yun Yang.

"Boss, I'm afraid this can't do. I've given it a long consideration. Let's ask the brothers to take the children out for some toughening after this match," Shi Wuchen said very softly, in a low tone.

Yun Yang's head turned abruptly and his gaze fell on the man like a strike of lightning. "Shi Wuchen, what are you about?"

"It's good to complete some tasks. Not difficult ones, just for some toughening..."

Yun Yang stared straight at him and replied in an equally low tone, "Shi Wuchen, these are your disciples, our pupils, members the Residence of Nine Supremes has just recruited."

"Didn't I say that we won't assign them to difficult tasks? And we'll be watching over them discreetly. It'll be fine. Besides... they will never know what the martial world signifies without some experience outside... Even if there was to be an accident, it's better for it to happen now than... in the future," answered Shi Wuchen, after an uncomfortable cough.

Yun Yang was silent for a moment.

Rationally, he knew that Shi Wuchen's approach was correct. It was the right thing to do and the best option to go for these children. However, his sentimental side told him that doing so was incredibly cruel. The toughening would be enough to destroy the values these kids originally had. Moreover, there would definitely be fallen members once they headed out; it was certain that there would be casualties!

How could the purpose of injecting the sense of awareness into everyone be achieved without any deaths? Even if their assignments were carried out smoothly, there would still be casualties. Only one's own blood or the blood of people around them would truly alert a martial artist and etch the lesson onto their hearts permanently!

The corpses of the enemy would not make such a deep impression. At least, to these children who had just embarked on their martial journey, it would hardly leave an impact...

"Okay!"

Yun Yang finally agreed, but the disapproval on his face grew deeper.

Shi Wuchen's face was bleak as well.

"This can't be helped. It's the only thing we can do now."

Yun Yang breathed in and replied, "I understand. There'll be another bloodbath before the Celestial Luck Banner contest for sure - that's the battle among rogue sects that have defeated ten other schools and acquired the challenge qualification. That'll also be a life and death battle, one that we, the Residence of Nine Supremes, must face."

"By then, I'm afraid we can't avoid massive casualties."

"Instead of leaving the issue of facing life and death in the face till then, I'd rather face it earlier!"

"If they can't realize the reality sooner, it won't just be ordinary disciples who die then - it'll be our elite pupils."

"You're right, boss," said Shi Wuchen.

Yun Yang continued. "However, we must state everything clearly to each and every disciple before taking them out. We can't just lead them to their slaughter. Each one of them has encountered more than a normal child should. It's better if they could realize some things on their own!"

"Naturally."

Nodding heavily, Yun Yang sighed.

He had just hauled them away from death and he was about to send a part of them back. Why did it hurt so much to realize this fact?

...

The first Residence of Nine Supremes match was also the first full assembly after the disciple selection. The sect match was a battle, a competition.

Gazing at their brothers and sisters, the pupils from nine mountains showed fervent fighting spirit in their eyes.

The path of martial arts prioritized the best; the strongest one would call the shots. Everyone knew that the underlying aim of this sect match was to determine the top ten disciples of the school. Perhaps, it could be understood that this match would decide their fate in the Residence of Nine Supremes for the years to come.

This was the intersection of the future of their cultivation journey!

In addition, the meet would be pivotal to the ranking of the Residence of Nine Supremes' nine peaks since disciples of the same level in all nine mountains would fight after the top ten protégés were selected.

The duration of the match was a full day.

...

Swiftly, each peak had determined its top three pupils.

After taking a look at Yun Yang's disciples, the eight other Supremes, as well as Ping Xiaoyi and Guo Nuanyang who were both observers and judges subconsciously, shut their mouths tight to prevent themselves from barking out in laughter.

The top three from other mountains were at least adolescents, but the top three from Yun Yang's peak... cough, the oldest was nine years old, a small girl; the second was eight and a half years old, still a girl; the third was eight and a half years old, a small boy, the only boy.

The highest level of cultivation base among the top three disciples in other peaks had reached Heaven Mystic while the poorer ones were of Earth Mystic level. The differences were not so apparent. The highest cultivation base level achieved by the disciples of Yun Yang, the Lead Supreme, however, was only Jade Mystic - a fresh breakthrough, as well.

Despite Yun Yang's calm front, he was filled with utter helplessness and plagued by a massive headache.

'F*ck... this is gonna be embarrassing.'

Yun Yang was aware that he, as the leader, as the Residence of Nine Supremes' Central Peak, would be held in this embarrassing predicament for some time to come.

Taking in Yun Yang's murderous glare, Qian Duoduo hid behind Shi Bujia, sweating profusely. He slowly made his way backward, turning to escape once he finally reached the door. Little Fatty was certain that his leader was utterly capable of beating him up, the majordomo, up in front of the sect's disciples as long as he, also the culprit, dared to enter.

The protégés had begun their battle in the field.

Yun Yang watched with a frigid expression; the nonchalance he feigned was long gone. Given how upset the sect leader looked, all the disciples were silently frightened as well.