Chapter 932

Chapter 932: Eighty Million

After letting out a sigh of relief, Xiong Li returned to the bronze gate to keep things in order.

Even though he was nursing internal injuries, he still had the energy to pick out promising kids for body refinement among the group.

“Senior Brother, I just watched the replay of that fight.”

“It was awesome, especially when you crushed that little orb at the end—it’s definitely going to be a legendary moment for our sect.”

“Anyone who messes with our sect is dead meat!”

“That line is going to be our sect’s motto for sure~” Qian Bing said, sounding a bit envious.

That kind of reckless fighting style wasn’t his thing. If he were to face a bunch of true immortals with true immortal-level puppets, he’d have to stretch the battlefront for millions of miles just to make it work.

But in that kind of situation, he wouldn’t be able to say something as cool and commanding.

“Was I really that cool?” Xiong Li mused, stroking his chin as he thought back on the fight.

The more he thought about it, the more he grinned.

Just then, a skinny kid in line collapsed to the ground.

“Gang’er, get up! Don’t pass out! Just hang on a little longer; once you’re in the sect, you’ll never go hungry again!” a thin woman shouted from behind the railing.

The fallen kid seemed to hear his mom’s voice and tried to push himself up, but after a few attempts, he still couldn’t manage it.

Other kids nearby tried to help but found the boy strangely heavy; even three of them together couldn’t lift him.

“Battle body?”

The fallen kid caught the attention of the two, and Qian Bing looked thoughtful.

“Got any food on you? I know you always carry spirit food and jerky,” Xiong Li said, glancing at Qian Bing.

Qian Bing pulled out a small piece of beef jerky and a cup of bamboo spiritual water.

“This should be safe for a mortal,” Qian Bing said.

Xiong Li took the beef jerky and bamboo water and walked over to the kid.

In a single step, he covered a thousand meters and appeared right in front of the fallen child.

He gently lifted the kid and gave him a sip of the bamboo water first.

Once the kid seemed to regain a bit of strength, Xiong Li dangled the beef jerky in front of him.

“When I was a kid and passed out from hunger, I was just like you. Eat this little piece of beef jerky, and you’ll have the strength to pass the sect’s test.”

“Once you’re in the sect, you’ll never go hungry again.”

Xiong Li spoke softly to the frail eight-year-old.

Something in his words must’ve struck a chord with the kid, because he took the beef jerky from Xiong Li’s hand and started nibbling on it, his eyes lighting up with hope.

Just as Xiong Li was about to leave, the kid spoke up.

“Immortal, do you have more of that beef jerky? I’m still hungry,” the kid said, his voice earnest.

At that moment, a one-pound chunk of beef jerky came flying over. Xiong Li caught it and handed it straight to the kid.

In just a few seconds, it was gone.

The child still wanted more, but Xiong Li stopped him.

"It’s almost your turn for the assessment. Whether you pass or not, I’ll treat you to a good meal," Xiong Li said, patting the boy on the shoulder.

"Okay, immortal! I’m Wu Gang. What’s your name?" Wu Gang asked.

"I’m Xiong Li. You’ll probably call me Senior Brother from now on," Xiong Li replied before heading back to the bronze gate.

Half a month later, Xu Fan was facing a dilemma at the Hidden Spirit Sect.

"I didn’t expect the quality of mortals in the Immortal Realm to be this high. Eight million disciples passed the first assessment," Xu Fan said. Accepting all of them would strain the sect’s finances.

"Master, four million new disciples have already been settled, and the remaining forty-three million are on their way."

"If we take them all in, we’ll need to upgrade the Spirit Gathering Formation in our sect, or we won’t be able to keep up with the demand," Grape reported.

"That’s a big leap!" Xu Fan suddenly regretted agreeing to Shangling’s request.

By then, the previously undeveloped areas of the Hidden Spirit Sect had been transformed into numerous academies.

Some were by the lakeside, others in the inland prairies.

Some stood atop distant mountains, while others lined the long river.

According to Xu Fan’s plan, each academy would house 500,000 disciples, totaling 100 academies to handle the five million newcomers.

"We’ll expand to 200 academies, and the children will be randomly assigned once they arrive."

"We’ll hold the Inner Sect Assessment in Fifty Years," Xu Fan said, thinking aloud.

He couldn’t believe that all eight million new disciples met the standards for inner sect disciples in the Feiyu Realm.

Reflecting on it, Xu Fan thought it might be due to the mindset of mortals in the Immortal Realm.

They prioritize the sect, embrace the path to immortality, learn techniques, and enjoy the sect’s benefits.

When the sect is in danger, they’re willing to give everything, even their lives, to protect it.

Such values are second nature to mortals in the Immortal Realm.

"Understood, Master," Grape responded.

Meanwhile, massive Large Spiritual Boats arrived one after another at the Hidden Spirit Sect, carrying new disciples.

A landing area spanning a hundred miles in length and width had been prepared for the boats.

Groups of children stepped off the boats, looking around curiously.

Once the Large Spiritual Boats unloaded the children, they took off again, heading to a location outside the Hidden Spirit Sect, leaving the kids looking bewildered.

"Line up and come forward to receive your Sect Rings," a puppet controlled by Grape announced to the confused children.

Older children began to form lines in front of the puppet.

"This is the Sect Ring. It combines storage, communication, and sect services."

"The Sect Ring will be your symbol of identity within the sect and will stay with you for life."

As the puppet explained, it handed out the rings. Once done, it led the children to a nearby temporary teleportation formation.

"Step into the teleportation formation. You’ll be randomly assigned to an academy, where teachers will guide you."

After watching the children enter the formation, the puppet returned to its spot, waiting for the next Large Spiritual Boat to land.

There were 999 more puppets like it.

At the same time, Quasi-Immortal disciples who hadn’t received tasks were assigned random missions.

"Proceed to Academy No. ___ to serve as a teacher or dean."

From the main peak, Xu Fan gazed into the distance, observing the newly built academies and the lively children.

"Grape, how many have special cultivation physiques?" Xu Fan asked.

"Among the eight million disciples, there are 72 with special physiques: twelve with battle bodies, five with holy bodies, and the rest have single elemental spirit root bodies," Grape replied.

"Not bad. Though many were taken by major forces and families, some still slipped through."

"Distribute these special physiques evenly among the academies. We’ll hold a grand competition between them to get these kids motivated from a young age," Xu Fan said with a grin.