Chapter 203 - Chapter 203: Chapter 143: The Thief Army Escaped

Chapter 203: Chapter 143: The Thief Army Escaped

Translator: 549690339

For someone in the Jianghu, fostering a satisfactory disciple is an immensely energy-consuming task.

Not to mention the costs of various soups, water, and dietary supplements for cultivation.

When Lu Yuan practiced martial arts, he spent ten silver tales a month. A year’s practice amounted to one hundred twenty silver tales.

Average people need about four years to unblock one meridian, which approximates to five hundred silver tales.

As for a large martial arts faction, the minimum achievement for a disciple to be considered valuable would be a third-rate prowess.

By this standard, cultivating a third-rate disciple requires eight years and a thousand silver tales.

This is just the basic expenditure. If you include other costs like teaching efforts and faction-specific resources, the expenses would increase even more.

And even then, all of this is only for a Martial artist who has just entered the third-rate level by unblocking two meridians. If three, four, or five meridians are unblocked, the costs and expenses will double in comparison. Now, this elder has lost a son, three apprentices, and numerous other kin.

Not even considering the emotional loss.

Talking about the economic aspect, it’s like directly losing tens of thousands of silver tales, along with the efforts practiced over ten years turned to nothingness.

How many ordinary people can bear such setbacks and experiences?

It could be said, that without those disciples and future generations, the elder can no longer be assured of a comfortable retirement or the prosperity of his family.

The bleakness of the future can already be foreseen.

After a lifetime of hard work, who wouldn’t cry when faced with such a predicament?

And this outcome is not limited to just this elder.

In these days, many elders of the Seven Star Sect have experienced a similar tragic situation, and some even lost their own lives.

Many people within the camp have already experienced this tragedy.

While others, seeing their companions going through this, feel sympathy for them and worry about facing the same fate, making them uneasy. Thus, watching the elder lament, an air of sorrow and grief filled the camp.

The war had become truly brutal.

Rebellion wasn’t as delightful as they had initially thought.

After having several real battles with the imperial army and experiencing enormous casualties, many elders of the Seven Star Sect who had been previously blinded by victory awakened to their guilt.

Some of them even thought of withdrawing, not wishing to continue the fight.

After all, they were all part of the Jianghu.

Even if they were wanted after the rebellion, they could still change their identities and make a living elsewhere with their disciples and nephews. Surely the imperial court wouldn’t be able to pursue them?

If necessary, they could even take their people to other countries. With their prowess, they would be able to make a name for themselves.

Jianghu people holding vast martial power naturally have more options than ordinary people.

But the Seven Star Sect was still their sect, and despite harboring such thoughts, some elders were too conscious of the sect’s kindness to voice or act upon these thoughts.

Even so, the army’s morale began to waver and pessimism was rampant, unable to be restrained.

Qiao Xiuyuan, being both Sect Leader and Commander of the army, keenly felt the changing mindset of his subordinates.

Although his own heart also turned regretful and pessimistic due to the consecutive setbacks, he knew his role and his responsibility to not let things continue like this.

Therefore, Qiao Xiuyuan said to the elder: “Elder, your sacrifices won’t be forgotten. In the future, you can select a few children from your family and bring them into the Seven Star Sect.

Since we’ve lost the camp, you should take your men and withdraw to recover.

You don’t need to be on the front line in the next few days.”

He attempted to console the elder in this way.

However, none of these reassurances seemed to bring the elder much comfort, and instead, it felt even bleaker.

But the elder knew that the Sect Leader had his own difficulties, so despite his tear-filled eyes, he managed to say: “Thank you, Master.”

Having spoken, he withdrew to the corner of the tent to continue grieving.

Qiao Xiuyuan looked at him helplessly, then turned to the others and said:

“Everyone, even though our army has suffered heavy losses after losing eight camps in a row, the losses of the imperial soldiers are just as great, with over three thousand dead and wounded.

If we can’t bear it, can they?

As long as we hold on a little longer, and once they can’t bear the casualties and start to rebel, that’ll be our chance to turn the tide.”

Qiao Xiuyuan continued to boost the morale of his subordinates.

But when he looked around, he saw that his efforts were in vain. The elders remained gloomy, and their moods didn’t change much.

This situation made the Sect Leader feel increasingly desolate.

Once upon a time, the ambitious Seven Star Sect seemed invincible, yet it had fallen to such a state.

For a moment, Qiao Xiuyuan felt disheartened.

‘Forget it, if it’s really not possible, we’ll just retreat after a few more days.’ Thinking like this, Master Qiao’s heart became even more bitter.

In the following days, Lu Yuan didn’t continue watching the battlefield.

Perhaps some people think that fighting bravely on the battlefield, blood staining their battle garbs, is an act full of heroism.

However, when they actually experience it, they would realize that although this may be heroic, it is also extremely cruel..