According to William’s profound knowledge of the training manuals, the best way to execute this logistical loop was by starting their first resource expedition precisely on day ten. By that specific milestone, the critical early layout of their spiritual foundations would be firmly established and locked into their systems. Moving out into the world for a few days after that point wouldn’t greatly affect their ongoing training progress or ruin their foundations.

Yet, if they failed to take this risk and refused to venture out for more resources, the defences would eventually drain completely and fail by the end of the second week. Without the arrays active, the base would have no answer against the threats of this zone, ending up causing everyone to lose their lives or lose the grand-sized base they had finally worked so hard to build.

"I need one of you to stay behind and lead the defences."

After arranging and explaining everything, William gathered his most capable masters. There were his girls: Berry, Sara, Lina, Ro, Lara, and Anjie. There were Lang and Fang. all gathered around William, and all listened to his words attentively.

"The first period shall be peaceful, but we can’t lower our guards," he paused, moving his eyes calmly between everyone, "we need to make sure there is nothing left for chance or coincidence."

"I’d say let me handle this task then," Fang was the first to speak up, "I’m as strong as everyone now, barely at a white grade spirit master. Yet I’m the most experienced one among all. I can analyse and better judge any situation, and can respond accordingly."

"Not to mention your deadly lightning, old man," Lang joked with Fang. Even if the latter looked way younger than how he looked before ascension, the nickname still stuck to him.

And Fang didn’t object, simply shrugged, didn’t say anything in return.

"It’s settled then," William turned to Fang, "we’ll start our training now. If anything happened, and you can’t handle it, never hesitate to wake me up."

"I doubt anything will pose a threat to our old man," Sara chuckled, and Fang simply smiled.

"Leave everything to me," Fang said, "I’ll make sure not to disturb you unless it’s a tough situation." 𝗳𝗿𝐞𝕖𝘄𝗲𝕓𝗻𝚘𝚟𝕖𝐥.𝚌𝕠𝕞

William nodded, then left Fang to pick enough masters to remain behind and operate the defensive arrays and traps.

"Is he going to be alright?" Anjie asked in concern, "If we were in the lower realm, it’d have been fine. But..."

"Don’t worry," William got what she wanted to say, "I know he had enough upper realm materials to keep lightning raining down for weeks!"

"He is still a white grade spirit master," Lara sighed, "we all are! I hope nothing bad will happen, nothing undefeatable will come closer to us."

William looked at the distance, where the world was getting darker. It was nighttime, and William knew this was usually the time when monsters would roam the world freely and kill humans.

For a reason, a night in the upper realm had a boosting effect on monsters. No one knew why, and he knew if anything would happen, it would start knocking on their doors in a few hours.

That was why he decided to let everyone start their training, while he remained behind. He was the strongest out of all and the most experienced in handling the threats in this upper realm.

During their walk, the talk revolved around the upper realm itself. Since the very first moment they appeared here, they had been under immense pressure and constant threats. For the first time since they ascended, they felt safe enough to talk about different things.

The upper realm looked way more different than what any imagined. Aside from the dangers in this forbidden zone, William’s friends and faction leaders spoke about the spirit power feeling.

It felt like they were trying to inhale heavy metal instead of air.

William was surprised to learn that they tried to train and absorb spirit power while he was away scouting the area around and hunting the shadow monsters.

Luckily, no one suffered from any damage or pain while trying this. He could tell how eager and excited they were to try out the upper realm spirit power.

"Perhaps it’s thanks to their last training in a very special environment with higher-grade spirit power," he muttered to himself, while recalling how it was so difficult back then when he came here in his past life.

He silently listened, didn’t comment, only nodded and smiled. The talk went from speaking about spirit power to monsters, resources, their present, their past, and their future. William’s top masters were feeling excited to talk for almost an hour before each started their special training.

"See you in ten days," he said to his girls, the last to join the training.

"Don’t slack behind," Berry said in warning, "I know you very well to make me feel terribly worried leaving you behind as the last one to train."

Berry wasn’t alone in this; all the girls tried to force William to start training before them. Yet William refused.

"I won’t delay my training," he gave such a casual excuse to calm them down, "this training is so special, and I’m the best one to judge on that."

"Sure, sure," Anjie waved, "just don’t try to play hero, you already did enough."

"If you want us to stay behind for a couple more days, we can do it," Lina added.

"We can delay our training for a few days, even," Sara joined the bravado of the girls.

"If there is a brutal fight I can kill monsters in, then let me stay by your side for a little while," Ro winked, and William inwardly sighed.

He could tell that no matter what excuse he would give them, the girls wouldn’t believe anything he would say. It was clear on their faces and words; they knew he intended to stay awake for a couple of days, even to make sure everything was going smoothly as planned.