9000 Years Into Training

"While that would be fun. I think there are others who would enjoy it more." Lei Jin smiled. 

"Awe, fine then. I'll just go about my own thing again. Smelly man." Ruo Xi said, crossing her arms and turning her nose up. 

"Mommy, Daddy is super busy right? He doesn't have much time to play around. We can play with mommy instead." Flare's Scorching Conflagration said, pushing her fingers together in a cute manner. 

"I see, Ruo Xi. Let's play with them together. This might be the last time I have the ability to make time for this kind of thing. At least until after the War is over." Lei Jin said, forcing out a difficult smile. "I don't want this battle to be the end of me. But if it is… the army will pull out a victory in the end." Lei Jin thought to himself, locking that thought away from his family's sense.

"Yeah, let's play for a while." Ruo Xi said as the 7 Incarnation children jumped around excited. 

~~A Few Days Later~~

"It wasn't long enough Daddy. I want to play some more." Ocean's Churning Current cried, after Lei Jin left. She managed to hold it in long enough to show a brave face to her daddy. But lost it in the end. 

"Husband, even though they have lived many years. They are still children at heart. And really do miss their daddy. I know you have important things to do. Things that only you are able to do. But try to visit a little bit longer next time." Ruo Xi sent a message to Lei Jin, through their connection. "My heart hurts when I see them cry like this." She thought. "Ocean, don't worry. Mommy is right here. Let it out. Daddy has important matters only he is able to do. Please forgive him." She said, comforting Ocean's Churning Current, with her bosom. 

"I… I know that. But, I want daddy to play with us more. When he does I feel warm and happy. I like this feeling. But when he leaves it hurts. Mommy it hurts… Wahhh." Ocean's Current cried into Rou Xi's bosom. 

"How about this? Next time Mommy will make sure you get to play with daddy more. And right now, all of you can come and take a nap with mommy." Ruo Xi said. 

"Oh! Mommy, mommy! Can we have a bath after too!" Forest's Morning Dew asked, excited to the point that if she had a tail, it would be whipping back and forth rapidly. 

"Ew, a bath with mommy? But we are…" Sun's Burning Shine said, crossing his arms in embarrassment.

Halcyon grabbed onto his elder brother and stared at him in nervousness. "Brother Sun… I… Sisters are scary." He stuttered, shaking. 

The 5 Sisters including Ocean stopped and looked at their brothers, snickering. "Oh what's wrong? You don't want to take a bath? No wonder boys turn into stinky men!" Moon's Nether Glimmer said as she poked and prodded her brothers. 

"No, we will take a bath! We won't turn into stinky men! Take it back!" The two Brothers cried out. Feeling the pressure beat down on them. 

"Oh! Good! Then there's no problem. Mommy! Let's all have a bath. It looks like daddy made a hot spring in this world. Let's try that one out." Moon's Nether Glimmer spoke with a victorious smile. And then flashed a look at Sun's Burning Shine as if to say; "I won this battle, brother".

~~9000 Years Into Army Training~~

The Army's training had been going well for the whole time. However, there were clear differences now. As the time to grow one's strength shrank. So did the number of people coming out of Small Universes. It was a time of many shifts in attitude. One of them included banning people who couldn't directly breakthrough to the 6th rank at a minimum, from coming out of the small universe. It was a progressive ban. Meaning at one point it was just a ban on low rank direct promotions. And then 4th rank and 5th rank. 

There were many reasons for this. But chief among them was time. There was simply not enough time for everyone to grow strong enough to be of any real use in this battle. The second reason was due to Lei Jin himself. He already despised the idea of bringing in more young people to the Army. He felt like this war should end with his generation and thus go no further. This was unfortunately not a will he could enforce on others without a really good reason. And having the growth time already dialed in. It was easy to make it clear. 

The number of high end masters was nothing short of immense. The 10th rank open heaven realm had only existed for a rather short time in the history of the 3000 Worlds. Yet now there were no less than a few hundred of them. And this number would only grow as time went on. 

The number of 9th rank's was even more staggering. This was still unfortunately the limit for many people. Though 9th ranks were not to be underestimated in the slightest. While they are no doubt inferior to 10th ranks. Their power is staggering on its own. Especially those who are incapable of advancing for the moment. The reason for their limit was not induced upon them by the heavens. Rather it was a result of their own confusion and inability to understand their Dao to the extent needed to support such advancement. That said, if any normal 9th rank were to fight anyone of the 9th ranks at their peak. The result wouldn't be much different from a new 9th rank fighting a 10th rank. 

It wasn't because the 10th rank was weak. Rather it was just that the peak of the 9th rank is a level that even new 9th ranks can't comprehend properly. So anything beyond that would have the same result. 

As for 8th rank masters they were the vast majority of soldiers at this point. But that didn't really mess up the command structure. Because everyone learned one very important thing that never left them. "Two 8th ranks might eventually have the same combat strength. But that doesn't mean that one can have a big head and another can have big brawn." It was a simple lesson, but consequential and vastly important.