Simultaneously?

Fortress 13,

on the planetary surface, numerous young students moved like lightning, shuttling back and forth through a series of first-tier rifts. They looked extremely busy, yet orderly.

Amidst their bustling, they frequently cast their gazes toward the young man cross-legged and eyes closed in the distance.

A full twelve days had passed since their arrival at the fortress.

For twelve days, apart from entering and exiting the rifts every hour, Senior Li had spent all his remaining time on cultivation without a single moment of rest.

Thinking of this, not only reverence filled all the students' eyes, but a touch of heightened morale sprouted within them as well.

Talent and comprehension were realms they could never hope to reach, nothing to be envied, nor something they could possibly learn.

Yet this diligence was something they could emulate and study!

In comparison...

Students shifted their gazes, moving them from the hard-working Senior Li to another handsome young man nearby, their expressions somewhat peculiar.

Twelve days, Senior Li had been in seclusion cultivating for twelve days, while this Senior Kong had spent twelve days reading a book while doing nothing?

Such prejudice...

Kong Yang gave a light sigh and shook his head, flipping the ancient text in his hands.

He was naturally aware of these students' opinions.

The problem, however, was not that he didn't want to cultivate, but that there was nothing left to practice.

The Nine Refinements True Tribulation Solidification Sutra had been redeemed over eighty years ago, and by now it had reached the Great Perfection of the eighth layer—more than enough to withstand the baptism of the rank-eight thunder pool.

Moreover...

Kong Yang moved his gaze away from the book page, letting it fall onto Li Qingshan beside him with a look of helpless resignation on his