News of Shao Li reaching Foundation Establishment soon spread throughout Spirit Peak. It was truly heartening, and for a time, every disciple who knew him offered their congratulations.
The sect's leadership also duly granted him True Disciple status, along with the corresponding authority.
Yet Shao Li could never quite feel happy. He remained troubled by what he had seen during his advancement, and even more troubled by the confusion in his memories.
Several days later, at the Martial Training Ground beneath Spirit Peak.
Several Inner Court disciples supervised the Outer-Courtyard Disciples as they practiced martial arts and swordsmanship.
Watching the flashes of blades and swords as the disciples drilled in orderly ranks, a young West River Gate disciple nodded in satisfaction.
Unlike him, a shapely female cultivator beside him showed little interest. "I really don't understand. West River Gate is a sect of Spell Cultivators, and we normally practice Five-Element Spells. Why teach these things too?"
Hearing her words, Shao Li emerged from his contemplation and said, "Junior Sister Huang, there's something you don't know. We're at war now. Training in these arts serves two purposes: first, to strengthen the body; second, to drill battle formations and improve our organization through collective exercises."
"West River Gate normally has a wide variety of spells, and everyone's specialties differ. That certainly benefits individual exploration, but in wartime, it creates many inconveniences."
"If we want to build combat strength quickly, we need to concentrate on practicing the same divine abilities and spells. Only then can we make the most of our instructors and heavenly treasures."
The female cultivator thought it over and found that it did make sense.
They were no longer the carefree Peaceful Cultivators of Middle Antiquity, untouched by worldly affairs. They were people adrift in the sea of suffering in