110 (1) : Memorize It !

"Right now, there is an even more important task for you to tackle . You can put off these manuals for another day . Because...."

Stretching out the last word, Kong Ye picked out one scroll from the stacks and pushed it forward on the table .

The four disciples leaned forward together to have a good look at it as their master unfurled it dramatically with a flourish .

"Feast your eyes upon the technique you will be madly practicing from today forth ."

Han Xuhan narrowed his eyes at the phrasing as he took in the contents of the scroll .

It turned out to be a stub type cultivation manual, with two levels provided on the scroll . Not being well versed enough in various types of cultivation techniques other than the ones he practiced, Xuhan had no idea what it was supposed to do . But Yuen Zhou came to the rescue almost immediately .

"A mass integration type technique ? This doesn't look like something only the four of us can build ."

"Wait, you recognize mass integration type techniques ?" Kong Ye asked, visibly taken aback . Yuen Zhou hesitantly nodded . Just when Xuhan's eyes were getting bright under the hope of mining some precious information, Kong Ye suddenly smiled and backed off from the conversation, redirecting their attention to elsewhere .

"Indeed, this isn't being given just to the four of you, but to the every disciple of the outer court by their own masters right now ."

Han Xuhan felt betrayed by Kong Ye's lack of curiosity....or more accurately, his commendable perception and intelligence . Yuen Zhou certainly didn't seem very pleased with the man's earlier stunts . Digging the wounds deeper by trying to poke at her secrets would probably make her impression of Kong Ye plummet further . Seeing how eager the man was to get disciples, Xuhan could guess that the last thing Kong Ye wanted was to lose a talented disciple by being overly curious about her secrets when a significant number of cultivators had secrets of their own .

Intentionally avoiding that subject should instead neutralized her feeling of enmity against him . Kong Ye sure was a fast thinker !

"Is this related to the tournament ? The sect master did say something about that after the apprenticeship ceremony..."

Kong Ye nodded at Xiao Wu's loud musings .

"Mm...this technique is what every disciple and elder of every participating sect must learn in order to simply attempt at qualifying for the first round of the tournament . As disciple Zhou has pointed out, this is a mass integration type cultivation technique . I assume the rest of you aren't familiar with how this type of techniques work ?"

Han Xuhan and Mu Ran nodded while Xiao Wu looked rather uncertain .

"Imagine a long line of cultivators standing in front of a series of platforms . Now, on top of every platform, there is a large piece of metal alloy . Each cultivator is given a design they'll have to create using the alloy .
Now imagine the design they're given is a circular bar with hooks on two opposite ends . If every cultivator can successfully beat the alloy into the desired shape and create the design they're told to, what would you get from the event, collectively ?"


"Money, the answer is always money," Xuhan answered instantly .

"Lots of scrap metal ," said Xiao Wu .

"An unconventional, but extremely cool looking composite weapon ," Mu Ran followed with his own answer .

"That depends on what my role is in that event ," Yuen Zhou replied .

Kong Ye was starting to look like he was regretting choosing them as his apprentices . With a sour look on his face, he proceeded to wave off their answers .

"No ! What you'd get, is a gigantic chain that can be assembled and dismantled in a moment's notice, capable of tying down even a titan level fiend beast ! Fortify the hooks with qi and smithing skills and you'll get a shackle powerful enough to block a mountain falling from the sky ! In a way, Mu Ran is right ! It is a formidable weapon . So easy to create, so simple to use . But why do you think you don't see weapons of such grand scale being swung around ?"


"Because...it sounds pretty heavy ?" Xuhan asked tentatively .

"That's not a problem for strong, manly cultivators....like myself . So I don't think that's the case ," Mu Ran countered him with a smug grin .

"Because it'll cost a fortune to find metal alloys that can sustain qi for a long time ," Xiao Wu tried to give his input .

"A mass integration type technique requires all participants to have a standard level of skill at the bare minimum . They'll also need to cooperate simultaneously to use the chain for anything, which is even harder to achieve considering every cultivator is unique in their own way . Even in large groups, there'll be very few whose qi control , cycling speed or spellcasting time matches together . In any composite design, one weak link will fatally harm the whole mechanism . So when you ask for an entire sect's disciples and elders to work together on a mass integration type technique, it is almost certainly bound to fail unless you've got some tricks up your sleeve ."


As Yuen Zhou spoke, the rest of her martial siblings nodded solemnly and exchanged complex looks . Kong Ye watched her with his eyes glowing . Han Xuhan mentally took note of the details of the technique, his senses tingling with excitement .

All of these awesome techniques were why he loved xianxia novels ! It was going to be so freaking cool to see such stuff in real life ! He couldn't wait for the explanations to be finished, having already guessed where this was headed .


"Well explained, disciple Zhou . This cultivation technique right here is what our entire sect will be practicing from here on . Every mountain peak of this sect will have their own share of residents laying down the foundations for the mass integration as they perfect their level of skill in this technique . When the designated day comes, all of us shall execute the final steps together to put it in effect and qualify for the first round of the worldwide tournament . Now memorize this manual and return to your new homes where you must try to comprehend its intricacies ! I, your master, am here to guide you as I'll always be . Go-"



"I'm sorry, but did you just say 'memorize the manual' ?"