Chapter 629

Chapter 629: The Polite Academy

“What’s the point of telling me this?” Xiong Li frowned.

“Senior Brother Xiong Li, do you understand what safety means?”

“I won’t fight you over ordinary battles, but if danger comes, this giant cannon will make it easy for us to cover our retreat,” Qian Bing said with a grin.

“Plus, I already have a thousand puppets under my command. If we stumble upon a Spiritual Vein or a secret realm, wouldn’t it be faster for us to explore it together?”

Qian Bing’s last words struck a chord with Xiong Li.

“Alright then. We’ll come back in three days to pick up the sect’s outing package,” Xiong Li said.

“Great! Senior Brother, you’re in for a treat teaming up with me,” Qian Bing laughed.

“I hope you don’t screw me over,” Xiong Li said, giving Qian Bing a sideways glance.

In the trial small world, Qian Bing had been the one to trick him the most.

“No way,” Qian Bing replied with a smile.

With Xiong Li being the first to take the leap, a wave of excitement for trials swept through the first-generation disciples of the Hidden Spirit Sect.

On a mountain peak, a few rabbit-eared girls sat bored outside the soul healing center.

“Have our skills been slipping lately?”

“Why are there fewer and fewer customers?” one girl in a white dress asked, her ears twitching in confusion.

“I know why. The Grand Elder’s egg was stolen, so everyone’s been cultivating like crazy, hoping to get stronger and help the Grand Elder get it back,” another cute rabbit-eared girl explained.

“They can still come here for therapy while cultivating. Our sales have dropped so much, I can’t even afford to add Water Spirit Carrots to the salads anymore,” the girl in the white dress sighed.

Back when business was good, she could occasionally treat herself to a top-quality Water Spirit Carrot, but now she couldn’t even smell one.

Just then, a flash of sword light streaked across the sky, and Xiang Yun appeared beside the rabbit-eared girls.

“Are you still open? I’d like one last therapy session before I leave,” Xiang Yun said reluctantly.

“Of course we’re open! Come on in, Brother Xiang~”

“What service would you like this time?”

The rabbit-eared girls eagerly surrounded Xiang Yun and led him into the soul healing center.

“The best one—a full-body treatment,” Xiang Yun said decisively, deciding to splurge before leaving the sect.

Hearing this, the rabbit-eared girls perked up immediately.

Soon, more disciples arrived at the soul healing center.

That day, the once-quiet soul healing center was packed again.

Three days later, hundreds of small spiritual boats set off in all directions.

Xu Fan, who was busy refining a Great Ascension stage puppet, watched the scene with a hint of reluctance.

“Ah, the kids have grown up. They need their chance to train,” Xu Fan said.

“Is that really training? With all the stuff you’ve prepared, they might as well be at home wherever they go,” the First Clone teased, starting their usual banter.

“So what? If there’s something good, why not use it? Training is important, but our Hidden Spirit Sect disciples deserve a bit of comfort.”

“This has nothing to do with life-and-death trials,” Xu Fan said.

“Too much comfort can weaken the mind,” the First Clone added.

“It all depends on how you teach them. At least the disciples I’ve recruited won’t fall into that state.”

“You know how strict I was with the early recruits.”

“Especially their mental toughness—it’s beyond what you’d expect,” Xu Fan said with a grin.

“Fine, let’s drop this. Bring out your clone and have it tell a story,” the First Clone suggested.

Lately, the First Clone had found arguing with the main body less entertaining.

“Sure thing~”

A clone emerged from Xu Fan’s body, bringing along a set of three items.

With a sharp clap of wood, a familiar storytelling tone filled the air.

“Main body, how many Great Ascension stage puppets are you planning to make?” the First Clone asked.

“At least ten. Don’t worry, I won’t rest until all ten are done,” Xu Fan said, his eyes flashing with a hint of bloodlust as he recalled the Five-Clawed Golden Dragon snatching his celestial tool.

He also felt a pang of regret for underestimating that sham dragon’s low cunning.

“Ten? Are you trying to drain all your savings?” the First Clone exclaimed.

“Those spirit ores are just gathering dust in the vault. Better to turn them into fighting strength now, so we’re ready if something like this happens again,” Xu Fan said, narrowing his eyes.

“Once I finish testing these Great Ascension stage puppets, I’ll start crafting their matching top-tier Taoist artifacts.”

“Then I’ll keep five at the Hidden Spirit Sect and carry five with me. Anyone who dares mess with me will regret it,” he declared.

“I’ve done some calculations—ten Great Ascension stage puppets with top-tier Taoist artifacts should be enough to slay that sham dragon’s clones.”

“Calculating that won’t help. You should focus on leveling up your buffs instead,” the First Clone advised.

“That’s easy. I’ll upgrade my buddy’s gear, and the right opportunities will come.”

“Once I reach the Great Ascension stage, that sham dragon won’t dare mess with me.”

“Looks like that sham dragon has already claimed the top spot in your little notebook,” the First Clone said, noticing Xu Fan’s furious expression.

“It started at the top, but the more I thought about it, the angrier I got, so I moved it to the cover.”

“I, Xu Fan, master of yin and yang and the myriad paths, have only been slighted once—back in my Qi Training Stage.”

“No protagonist has ever been able to take what’s mine,” Xu Fan said confidently.

“Alright, alright, I’ll do my best to help you deal with that sham dragon,” the First Clone promised.

“Stealing from me doesn’t deserve death, but it’s cause and effect—he took from me, so I’ll take from his entire clan,” Xu Fan said, his eyes gleaming with golden light.

Legend has it that the Dragon Race has a Tianlong Realm, a gathering place for all dragons across the Three Thousand Great Worlds.

Xu Fan had already decided that once he was strong enough, he’d build a Polite Academy at the entrance to the Tianlong Realm.

Every true dragon who turned eighteen would be forced to attend, and their tuition would be their entire fortune.

As Xu Fan daydreamed, two years flew by.

In the underground space, Xu Fan inserted the puppet energy core into the chest of a Great Ascension stage puppet, adding two more to the Hidden Spirit Sect’s arsenal.

“These two are finally done.”

Xu Fan admired the sleek, jet-black puppets with their futuristic design.

Just then, the Second Clone entered the underground space, carrying a staff and an axe—both top-tier Taoist artifacts.

“Here are their matching weapons, made exactly as you requested.”

Suddenly, a sharp Sword Sound rang out above the Hidden Spirit Sect.