"However, many junior disciples don't dare to choose you as their master solely because of your unorthodox teaching methods. This is undeniably a terrible waste."

Han Yang remained calm. "As long as all of you don't mind, your disciples are free to clarify their doubts purely about mantras with me. I would not make things difficult for them, nor hold back any information. It's just like I said very early on - if any of them feels that they are prepared, and wish to experience my unique training techniques, they can find me anytime, or they can find their own master to help them prepare further."

"But once they become my disciple, I will be the person responsible for their training, although my standards may seem overly strict to you."

Han Yang nodded, "The rationale for progressive training does have its value, but we must determine whether such a pedagogy is actually effective. In the case of Sun Hanning, she spent four years learning the arts at Yun Peak based on the Greater World's speed of time. I discovered her problems since the start of the second year, and I would specially remind her everytime I conduct a lesson at Yun Peak."

"However, even until the fourth year when he was preparing for her actual a.s.sessment, she still did not work on her mistakes. I attempted to guide her step-by-step for over two years, but she refused to change her ways, hence I could only give her a potent dose of medicine. I know all of you would never use such a potent dose, so I'll play the bad cop for you, otherwise I cannot imagine what would happen when she eventually leaves the sect on her own in the future."

Han Yang's voice was calm and steady, "In all fairness, I truly admire Yuan Gang from Tan Yunqing's abode. He has considerable talent in sword cultivation which I immediately noticed when he was learning the arts at Yun Peak back then. I even visited his parents, and they were a pair of decent honest people who nurtured a splendid child."

"But Yuan Gang himself was always more interested in spell formations, so he chose the River Abode in the end. Although it's a pity, we must all respect his choice. As for that fateful incident, if not for Lian Huazhao accompanying him, Yuan Gang would have perished without a second chance of revival."

Tian Xuan muttered in a low voice, "Sun Hanning may not have been receptive to change, but what about the rest? Why should you employ the same methods for everyone? Senior, do you know how damaging this method is for the heart, especially when you use it during the entrance a.s.sessment for the Qingwu Pavilion? These disciples chose the Qingwu Pavilion because they yearned to join us, and some even join because they admired you, Senior Tian Shu!"

Han Yang's gaze became more solemn, and his voice lowered even further. "Feeling devastated is always better than actually losing one's life."

"Under my care, they can make mistakes; they can consolidate their experiences after the mistakes; they can hate me to the core; they can be disappointed in me and cast me aside for new masters like yourselves; they can lodge a complaint against me to Sixth Uncle or Tan Yunqing without a single scratch on their body; they can even lodge their complaints straight to Master and let Master reprimand me."

"That's because, no matter what I do, they will never experience real danger, but they only have a single life when they encounter a real enemy."

Han Yang shut his eyes slowly, "All of you always a.s.sume that the minds of these disciples would be severely damaged when they go through these experiences. But to me, once they experience these personally under my watch, I can grasp their situation anytime to guide them appropriately and handle their situations accordingly. Once they leave the sect and encounter these unexpected situations themselves, no one can predict what would happen once they witness the existence of those unholy presences."

Tian Xuan replied, "Senior Tian Shu, as I said earlier, aside from the problems you mentioned earlier, it's precisely because these disciples are experiencing these things inside the sect which would aggravate the damage to their minds. After all, the sect is their home, and you are their senior."

Han Yang's eyes remained shut. "Whatever values you preach are still baseless - truth is the best standard to test these values. Aside from Sun Hanning who still requires constant observation and guidance in the recovery stage, all the disciples who went through my a.s.sessment, regardless whether they become your disciples or mine, have never been led astray. On the contrary, they have matured with grace and strength."

"There's still that old saying: True kindness is when one understands the possible extent and power of evil yet still chooses to act otherwise. But it seems as though I've troubled all of you, so thank you for accommodating me."

Tian Xuan frowned, "Senior, this still doesn't feel right to me. Just because you have never encountered problems in the past, doesn't mean that you won't encounter them in the future."

Han Yang smiled and suddenly uttered something seemingly unrelated to the topic at hand. "The place I conducted the a.s.sessment at was the Dharma Hall."

Tian Xuan was slightly stunned as Han Yang continued, "Perhaps you haven't realized it, because you went through the a.s.sessment too."

"Senior Tian Shu, I …" Tian Xuan creased her eyebrows. Han Yang continued calmly, "The reason why the majority of partic.i.p.ants can emerge from the darkness, is because their minds have already produced an a.s.suring thought right from the start, that everything that was about to happen is merely a test, not the irreversible truth."

"The Dharma Hall's protective mechanism does not only protect them from physical danger, but also cus.h.i.+ons their minds."

With that, the smile on Han Yang's faded away. "However, I've noticed a problem since the very beginning - due to the protective mechanism that protects the partic.i.p.ants' lives, the effectiveness of training that the Dharma Hall provides becomes weaker. Even though they may be physically harmed, it's impossible for them to die. Even if they make the most severe blunders, or even drag their comrades down with them, everything is still an illusion in the end."

"And even though they can get injured, none of their wounds would be so severe that they cannot be healed, except for the battle between Senior Liu Xia and Senior Zhou when Senior Zhou's Yang-Incinerating Vital Spirit destroyed over half of the Grand Sun Primordial Flame that Senior Liu Xia so arduously cultivated."

"That's why I decided not to train inside the Dharma Hall from the start. I would rather kill actual enemies outside the sect and be faced with real danger. Of course, that's my personal decision, and I won't force even my own disciples to follow in my footsteps."

Han Yang said in a low voice, "My a.s.sessment may be unorthodox, but is it really that difficult? How many of those who failed the a.s.sessment were eliminated solely because they couldn't overcome the weaknesses in their personality and minds? And how many were slacking off because they knew they were absolutely safe inside the Dharma Hall? And how many more were so conceited that they a.s.sumed that no enemy would dare plot against, ambush, or use underhand means to deal with a disciple from the Celestial Sect of Wonders?"

"Have they realized that, although most opponents do fear our sect's dominance and would not dare to offend us, there are always some menacingly vicious fiends willing to take risks without considering the implications. Furthermore, when one is cornered at the crucial point between life and death, who cares which sect you come from when all that matters is to survive?"

"When that time comes, they can only rely on themselves, without the sect's protection nor the Dharma Hall's protective mechanism. Once they die, they really die."

Tian Xuan's face turned slightly pale. "Senior Tian Shu, be careful with your words. You went a little overboard there."

Han Yang remained calm with his eyes shut. He shook his head, not saying anything else. Tian Xuan also lowered her head in silence.

At this moment, Ge Qingwu's voice rang in their ears. "Tian Shu, come up to meet me."

Tian Xuan gazed at Han Yang worriedly. Han Yang opened his eyes and shook his head as he smiled. "The duration I agreed upon with Master is up. I'll be presenting the results to her now. If she rejects my proposal, all of you won't have to worry anymore."

Atop Mount Yujing, on a branch of the Black Heavenly Treasure Tree, Lin Feng's Avatar of Ares sat cross-legged while Zhu Yi's Great Sun Avatar stood beside him.

Lin Feng smiled, "What do you think?"

"He had good intentions, but his methods are inappropriate. Junior Qingwu may have allowed him to experiment, but he took it a little too far, " Zhu Yi commented.

"First of all, he shouldn't have employed such an a.s.sessment method during the Immediate Disciple a.s.sessment. Only Immediate Disciples who have obtained their master's permission to leave the sect alone for cultivation are suitable to undergo such a test."

"Second of all, the specific details of the test can be kept a secret, like the group attacks, betrayals, plotting, deceiving, or other specific techniques that their opponents may use. However, the general content of the test must be openly declared. He must inform the junior disciples that their opponents may not be using fair methods of battle, and may harm them with a whole range of devious, underhand ploys. Only then should he allow the disciples themselves to decide whether they still wish to partic.i.p.ate in the a.s.sessment."

Lin Feng did not express any opinions about Han Yang's methods or Zhu Yi's comments, and merely broke into laughter. "Let Qingwu handle her own disciple herself."

Zhu Yi nodded, "That should be the case."

Lin Feng continued, "Head down there and continue concentrating on your cultivation. The Great Sun Holy Man's body may be damaged but its foundations are superb. Last year during the peak of its cultivation of the Virtual Ent.i.ty, you've invested a great amount of time and energy nurturing it, but you have yet to raise this avatar to the Third Level of the Immortal Soul. The War of the Two Worlds will soon be upon us - a greater level of preparation equates a greater chance of victory."

Zhu Yi replied, "Don't worry, Master. I understand."

While Lin Feng and Zhu Yi were conversing, back at the cloud-shrouded peak of Mount Baiyun where the Great Void Sect was based, Yan Nanlai, the Qing Yi Holy Woman and the Xuan Yi Holy Man quietly lifted their heads to gaze at the void above them. There, the Great Void Sect's Nine Heavenly Palaces s.h.i.+mmered majestically with life.

Above the Nine Heavenly Palaces, amidst the mystifying indescribable radiance, a figure faded into appearance.

After a good long while, a sigh rumbled down from the heavens as the Nine Heavenly Palaces disappeared. Three human figures descended down onto Mount Baiyun's summit. They were the Tai Yi Holy Man, the Zheng Yi Holy Man and the Xuan Lin Holy Man.

Yan Nanlai gazed at the Tai Yi Holy Man. "Master?"