The five warriors ahead finished their weighted run, panting heavily. Yet, they remained standing, having dropped their heavy loads.
Jian Chen'an, meanwhile, stayed beside his three junior disciples.
His three junior disciples could barely move. Each step they took was a struggle, fueled solely by willpower.
"Ten more laps to go."
Jian Chen'an's stamina held up well. Seeing his three companions on the verge of collapse, he wished he could help carry their burdens.
"Don't do anything unnecessary," Huang Derui cautioned him from beside Jian Chen'an. "This is for their future, for their survival."
He understood the grueling nature of this training and knew that any unnecessary action from Jian Chen'an would have dire consequences for their future.
Ye Chen would punish them severely.
Normally, Ye Chen and Lin Xiao were kind to them. But when mistakes were made, Lin Xiao would administer a mild punishment. If Ye Chen was the one to mete out punishment, it was always severe.
Especially with Lin Xiao absent, the discipline of the Dragon King Army had to be showcased. Otherwise, facing formidable enemies without Lin Xiao's protection would inevitably lead to losses.
In Ye Chen's words:
"I don't want to see anyone else die or suffer permanent injuries due to training negligence or lax discipline." Ye Chen stood with his hands behind his back. Beside him was the senior disciple of this batch of disciples undergoing trials in the Northern Frontier, and the person in charge of these disciples from the Misty Immortal Palace.
"I understand."
He stood by Ye Chen's side. Although he felt sympathetic, he knew that Lin Xiao's methods were not unfair; they were, in fact, training them.
"That's good. When you return, explain it to them properly. It's been a month, and I hope they can adjust their mindset. The Pretty Nation is restless again lately. It won't be long before the Northern Frontier gets busy again." Ye Chen said.
The Pretty Nation.
Wu Zongshen nodded. He understood that the Pretty Nation harbored no goodwill towards the people of this land, only a desire for conquest and containment. He had observed over the years that the Pretty Nation had always cast a covetous eye on the Northern Frontier, sending batches of people annually.
He had also seen something akin to a puppet of the Young Sect Master Qi Tian.
It was rumored that part of the technology for the Young Sect Master Qi Tian's puppet was acquired through trade with the Pretty Nation.
This was the power of technology.
"Only two laps left. Remember to take the supplies over. They are dehydrated and lacking salt. Make sure they drink some water and replenish their salt," Ye Chen said, pointing to the provisions he had prepared earlier. He then turned and left.
Watching Ye Chen's retreating figure, Wu Zongshen sighed.
His junior disciples were ultimately too impatient.
After a month, couldn't they see?
Although their cultivation talent was good, and their true qi had begun to transform into spiritual energy, their physical strength alone could not compare to these Northern Frontier warriors.
Fifty laps of weighted running… he dared not imagine.