Three months of closed special training had been like a blazing furnace, forging the seven members of the Seven Luminaries Team from scattered individuals fighting on their own into a single piece of perfectly tempered steel.
Over those three months, they had faced Zhao Tieshan in intense daily battles while he wore his complete Two-Word Battle Armor. From being steadily defeated and riddled with openings at first, to attacking and defending with proper coordination and calmly maneuvering against him later on, and finally being able to hold their own against a fully armed Soul Saint for a long time—the seven of them had improved at an astonishing pace.
What they talked about most eagerly, however, was still the "hair-removal battle" from their first day of training.
Whenever someone brought it up, they all thought of Zhao Tieshan's gleaming bald head when he returned the next day. At the mention of the words "black egg," the seven of them could not help bursting into laughter.
However, happy times were always brief.
That day, after training ended, Xiao Ran suddenly summoned the seven of them to the meeting room.
Qiangu Dieting and Leng Zhaoran were also present in the meeting room. The expressions of the three Spirit Pagoda higher-ups were exceedingly serious, entirely unlike their usual gentleness.
The seven exchanged glances, and each of them had some idea of what this might be about.
"Sit." Xiao Ran gestured for them to take their seats, then got straight to the point. "After three months of special training, your progress is obvious to all. But training behind closed doors can only take you so far. True powerhouses must be tempered through blood and fire."
He paused, sweeping his gaze across the seven of them before saying each word clearly, "Therefore, the higher-ups have decided—to