CHAPTER 86: SURE-KILL STRATEGIES!

Chapter 86: Sure-Kill Strategies!

"With that being said..." The elder’s mouth opened up again.

"Do not dream of hearing anything complex from me." Words flowed out slowly.

But aside from a slight wave of disappointment, nothing weird was said.

Elders took on disciples to give their personal secrets and realizations, and they wouldn’t publicize it in any way.

And most people here weren’t even qualified for slightly complex knowledge.

"Thus, our lecture today will be about fundamentals... foundations." He added.

Sure, foundation is always known to be the most important, but isn’t that a waste? Using 12 hours of a lecture just to speak about fundamentals that everybody knew about?

Sure, he’s an inner sect elder; his understanding and teaching methods are different... but they wanted something new.

Ken could easily deduce the thoughts and feelings that coursed through the disciples’ minds and chests.

It was simple, but he could see much deeper than them.

"Our 12 hours will be split into 4 sections, and in each of them I will speak about 4 methods, or techniques, that stem directly from my self-made strategies."

And... there it was. The elder dropped the bomb.

Sure, they were fundamentals, but fundamentals in what exactly?

It wasn’t mentioned, and thus, one couldn’t deduce.

It could be fundamentals in cultivation, in fighting, in thinking, in anything.

And the elder was most known by his strategies; that is why those who knew him knew well he wasn’t going to speak about anything else.

"This is going to either help you in your early days... if you are to use it well... or serve as the groundwork laid for your future." The elder said.

It was obvious; those like Ken, who had a man of visions and plans, could integrate his own methods and possibly form their own variants.

And those who had yet to reach the state of strategizing would occasionally do so and find themselves to already have a concept or foundation of it in their very core from this lecture.

These are example cases of those who would be deemed worthy to have listened to the elder’s lecture.

"The first part would be observing... To gather as much information about the enemy as possible. The second is analyzing... To analyze their weak points and know where it hurts most..." The elder brought up his hand and started pulling his fingers.

Holding up the third, he added:

"The third is simulation... putting yourself in the enemy’s shoes to try and deduce as many counters and counter-counters." As these words were heard, Ken brought out a pen and his personal book.

Some disciples had already done so, and those who didn’t immediately rushed out to buy some.

The same way a man took his sword to war, the sword in a lecture is a pen and paper.

"And lastly... Escape... Escaping is an art, and knowing how and when... is a must." Once these words were spoken, Ken started having an idea of what the elder was on about.

This is tailor-made not for his realm, nor even foundation establishment realm individuals, but Qi-refining cultivators.

The entire goal behind this method is...

"Sure-Kill Strategies... This is the name... of my great technique." With a cold smile and sharp eyes, the elder spoke these words slowly, stopping every now and then to create tension.

Indeed, this was made to ensure complete victory, and it was made for qi-refining cultivators because the last part... escaping... is only for when you’re in the middle of the plan.

Beyond foundation establishment... you’re not needed in your plan. You can create chaos on the other side of the world without moving an inch.

The arts of the butterfly and snowball effects are learned and used to the maximum.

"Observation." he once again held the first finger.

"This is first for a reason... to win against your enemy, you have to understand them first."

"Observe their every move, their every word, their every detail..."

"If you are far away, go to a source of information, read about them, ask about them, and learn about them. If you are in their midst, watch them, hear them, and smell their very souls." The elder’s words made one’s own skin shiver.

It went over the top! Far beyond the simplicity most disciples were used to.

When taking a mission, just bulldoze it! Just smash your head forward and wait for the wall to crumble.

But the elder’s words made their entire worldview fall apart.

This wasn’t about taking things head-on anymore; this was about being prepared, overprepared.

After hearing Ken’s lecture right before it, some already started shedding their previous mindset.

They stated seeing the difference between barely succeeding and overwhelming success, complete victory.

Just an hour ago, they were hearing about the importance of planning forward, and now they were hearing similar words not from any person, but from an inner sect elder.

A monster so high up in the cultivation world, most would never have the chance to even lay eyes on him ever again.

"You have to learn enough to mistake yourself for them!" And more heart-shaking words were spoken.

What was this level of craziness? Is this the world of monsters?

Mistaking yourself for another person? Can one even reach that level?

"Only then can you move to the second phase, and it is analyzing." He then held up the second finger again.

"You are now the very source of information you are seeking. Count the weak points, the strong points, their routine, their mindset, their way of thinking, what they like, what they hate, how they speak, why and when they speak, the number of times they bathe, the number of hairs on their head..."

...

Silence and hushes encompassed the room. The disciples were starting to get scared.

They started questioning their ways, their very life.

Were they really in the wrong this entire time? Was this really what it meant to be a cultivator? Was this what it took to achieve greatness?

Maybe... just maybe this wasn’t for them.

------End------