Chapter 1021: A Dim Future

Instead of cracking his head and not have anything to show for it, it would be like entering the treasure mountain and returning emptyhanded if Yun Yang did not think to ask a monstrous antique who had been living for a few thousand years.

A certain someone was ready to humbly ask for new knowledge, as he was still upset.

'Will I endure your trashing if it weren't for my inability to beat you? I'll assume that I'm reusing trash now. Yes, recycling, fully utilizing my resources!'

The disciples who were practicing at the entrance finally saw their master and were about to greet him only to see him walk away in a hurry, looking cold and serious. They were stunned and did not dare provoke him; after all, they were clever children.

"Master doesn't look so happy?"

"Hmm, I think so too."

"Senior Sister Yun, looking at master's expression, what do you think?"

Yun Xiuxin rubbed her eyes and said doubtfully, "Is master injured? But there hasn't been any fight these days..."

"Was he injured?"

"What's wrong with master?" Cheng Jiajia asked anxiously.

Yun Xiuxin was about to tell her that she seemed to have seen three bumps on their master's head, but a cough could be heard before she could speak. Their master's stern voice came drifting over, "Why aren't all of you training? Are you all very free?"

The dozen disciples spread out immediately, not a sound escaped their lips.

"Maybe I was wrong..." thought Yun Xiuxin.

How could her master be injured with his amazing cultivation base and lack of opponents that could fight him? Even if he were injured, it must be a devastating match; how could it be a strange injury of having swollen bumps on the head?

...

Listening to Yun Yang's concern, Dong Qitian looked back at him oddly.

"You think that it's abnormal? Let me tell you, this is the most common thing ever!"

"The Celestial Luck Banner contest is held every three years... It's about three months now until the banner match. Who would be out moving around at such a critical period? What if the sect's expert who's out had some mishap meeting another expert? Isn't that suffering a casualty for nothing and providing the enemy an opportunity?"

"What if the core disciples were wounded?"

"What if..."

"Everything that exists is possible. There are countless possibilities that could cause a downgrade in level or a failure to upgrade in level. There are also countless likelihoods that could cause initial level retention or level up to be near impossible. Schools and sects that have set their eyes on the Celestial Luck Banner meet would normally prevent unwanted circumstances. Staying constant is the best way to counter any change. When everyone is coping with changes by being constant, of course the martial world is serene. What's so odd about it?"

Dong Qitian scoffed. "Do you think that everyone is like the Residence of Nine Supremes? You were just established not too long ago and you fantasize about a circus troupe conquering a country?"

"I'm telling you, they won't be roaming the martial world now nor will they focus on cultivating. Even if they've met a chance of a breakthrough, they dare not do it at this juncture. What if the breakthrough takes up too much time and they miss the flag contest? What if the breakthrough fails and lowers their capability instead? Even if they've successfully achieved a breakthrough, it'll still be disastrous if they exceed the combat range after that!"

"These are the considerations, so facing all changes with constancy is the habitual strategy all sects and forces use currently. Do you understand now?"

Yun Yang nodded. "I see, the truth is actually so simple."

"As for you fellows who are killing the human traffickers and taking over their resources... did you think that nobody knew it was you? They're just letting you be for now. Once they're free after securing their levels, they'll come after you... Based on how much a lightweight the Residence of Nine Supremes is, it's a piece of cake to wipe you guys clean!"

Dong Qitian snorted. "Just you wait. Once the Celestial Luck Banner contest is over, your residence will have countless visitors and challengers. Whether you snatch the flag in this match or not, it'll be the same. You've recruited ten thousand disciples despite how new your sect is! Are you planning to soar into the heavens or upturn them?"

"I'll just ask you the simplest question. If these sects came after you asking to pick a few children from your pool, are you giving the children to them? No? Then that's war!"

"By then, maybe the challenges you receive a day will be more than when you're in the Celestial Luck Banner match. They'll be crueler and riskier. You could be wiped out and annihilated at any time."

"I'd really like to see how long your Residence of Nine Supremes could last!"

"So these are the consequences. I've been a frog in the well these days, too full of myself..."

Yun Yang stroked his chin.

Now that it was laid out plainly in front of him, the Residence of Nine Supremes was brimming with threats. It was probable that it would be eliminated!

"The survival of the Residence of Nine Supremes is still what happens after. Right now, there should already be many sects that are departing towards the contest location. Some may even already be there. The geography of the contest venue is also key to victory, so it needs to be observed and studied carefully... How should one arrange the men and formations, how should one plan and strategize, these should be revised as early as possible. And here you are, occupied with increasing your competence level. Your general competence is indeed lacking as well..."

As Dong Qitian pointed out the facts, he actually felt weary, like there was no future left for him.

For an experienced ace master like Dong Qitian to meet a ludicrous leader like Yun Yang and an absurd sect, it was enough. Based on his honest opinion, the Residence of Nine Supremes had a bright future; as long as it remained low profile for three years and joined the next Celestial Luck Banner contest, it would rise with momentum. The timing was not late at all, and the buffer they would obtain would be comfortably sufficient.

Yet, this fellow insisted to do it this time...

He was really... carefree about life and death. He looked indifferent about the match too...

"When do you plan to depart?" Dong Qitian asked rubbing between his brows.

Yun Yang hesitated. "There's still three months and eight days left from now... I've checked the route, we can arrive at the venue from the Residence of Nine Supremes in less than seven days in addition to not having to rush at full speed. A good amount of rest time could be adjusted... So I'm thinking if we could depart on the last tenth day?"

"The disciples really need to train more with how their capabilities are currently. Another day of practice is another day of advantage... It's good if they could improve a little more." He smiled in embarrassment.

Dong Qitian heaved a big sigh. "You're too courteous. Perhaps, too optimistic. The pupils of the nine peaks need not improve a little more. They need to leap across a huge gap... Sigh, the best you have is second-tier Immortal Mystic... and you want to fight with people's elite class disciples of Honor level... It's at least two huge levels difference... An ordinary martial artist who has never joined a Celestial Luck Banner sect may not even complete the progress of two huge levels all his life and you want to complete it in three months. I really don't know if I should call you confident or delusional..."