Outperform! . . .
"He has to hold it. I don't care if he's able to," Yun Piaoliu remarked. "But, in my opinion, eight rounds must be his limit. After eight rounds, even if he has the will, he won't have the energy to continue. He's not to be blamed for that."
"Let's see if he can make it to the eighth round!" they concurred, their collective gaze once again focused on Cha Eun Xiao.
Cha Eun Xiao was panting heavily after completing the seventh round. His face had grown pallid, and he appeared to be trembling. Evidently, his energy was dwindling rapidly.
After that seventh round, every small movement demanded immense effort. If he were to let his focus waver for even a moment, he might collapse, unable to rise again.
And then came the eighth round.
Cha Eun Xiao sat at the bottom of the well, gasping, his thoughts teetering on the edge of choosing death over continuing this ordeal.
Yet, after a few deep breaths, he grabbed the bucket and, though he came perilously close to falling, began the ascent once more.
A few more times, he nearly lost his balance...
Another bucket of water was emptied into the vat, which was now eighty percent full. One-third of the allotted time remained, and the sandglass continued its steady flow.
Cha Eun Xiao seized the bucket and charged out once more.
The ninth round.
It exceeded the expectations of the three grandmasters. They had believed Cha Eun Xiao would struggle to reach eight rounds, but he had surpassed that expectation. His determination had propelled him far beyond what they thought possible.
"Well done! We've all witnessed it. His energy had nearly depleted since the third round, and he was on the verge of collapse during the fifth. The following four rounds were pure willpower. He's squeezing every last drop of energy from his body," praised Lei Dadi. "Impressive disciple, with a tough spirit."
"Yes, we've all witnessed his real condition. He's used up nearly all of his energy, yet he perseveres," Feng Wuying concurred.
As Cha Eun Xiao tackled the ninth round, the three grandmasters observed in amazement as he appeared to move even faster than before.
"He didn't conserve his energy for this," Lei Dadi remarked, his perceptive eyes noting the subtle shift. "He's just broken through his limits. He's astonishing. He's opened our eyes."
"Indeed, he's defied his limits," Yun Piaoliu and Feng Wuying marveled. They were well aware of how challenging it was for a cultivator to break through their limits. Cha Eun Xiao had always pushed himself to the brink. Now, it seemed he had reached the pinnacle of his potential.
With a sudden breakthrough, he had achieved ten rounds and, to everyone's astonishment, began the eleventh.
The three old men were flabbergasted. Lei Dadi exclaimed, "What on earth is he doing? Is he addicted to this? Why does he persist? Is he out of his mind? Is he alright?"
Yun Piaoliu, ever perceptive, raised a point, "Brother, perhaps you've set the bar too high for him. You intended for him to completely fill the vat, not merely to achieve ten buckets of water. The vat holds two hundred and fifty kilograms of water, and the bucket contains only twenty-five kilograms. There must be some water spilled along the way. To truly fill that vat, he'd need to pour an eleventh bucket!"
Lei Dadi stood there, stunned by the realization.
Feng Wuying, with a gentle smile, commented, "This young man embodies honesty. He went to great lengths to meet a seemingly insignificant difference. I sincerely wish to spare him from harm."
Yun Piaoliu shook his head and responded, "No harm will come to him. Had he not already broken through his limits and proceeded to complete the eleventh round, I would have intervened. However, he has indeed transcended his limits. One more round will not hurt him. In fact, it will benefit him. To be honest, I hold even greater admiration for this young man now. I have truly chosen a remarkable heir for myself."
Lei Dadi and Feng Wuying simultaneously retorted, "Rubbish! He is the heir to the three of us, not just for yourself!"
Although Cha Eun Xiao had to make eleven trips to carry water and fill the vat, he managed to complete the task a few minutes before the two hours elapsed.
When he stood before the three elderly men, his face was ashen, and he appeared on the brink of collapsing from sheer exhaustion. He looked so drained that it seemed he might pass out at any moment.
His vision dimmed and his body trembled, and he felt dehydrated, as if he were running on empty. He realized that he had lost at least twenty kilograms during those two hours. All that remained in his body seemed to be muscle and blood.
Eleven back-and-forth trips had depleted every ounce of his strength. He was now teetering on the edge of his limit, ready to fall.
Unbeknownst to him, the sight of Cha Eun Xiao had left the three grandmasters utterly astounded.
Each two-hour challenge within the three-month training was a rigorous test of endurance.
However, perfect completion of these challenges was not expected; giving one's best was all that mattered. Those selected for this training were already exceptionally talented, and any who died during the process would represent a tremendous loss to the sect. None of the three factions could afford such a tragedy.
The master responsible for the disciple's training bore the duty of ensuring the disciple's survival. Physical exhaustion was one thing, but mental exhaustion was entirely another. Cha Eun Xiao had already pushed himself beyond his limits during the ninth round. Without this breakthrough, the grandmasters would have intervened to prevent further exertion. The objective of the training was not to destroy the disciple, but to enhance their abilities.
The three grandmasters stood there, stupefied. In the history of tens of thousands of years, among all the disciples who had undertaken the three-month hell training, none had ever flawlessly completed a single challenge within the three months!