Chapter 1016

Chapter 1016: Fourth-Generation Disciples

In the Hidden Spirit Sect, within the area designated for the fourth-generation disciples.

A handful of Immortal Fetus Soil appeared in the sky and gently descended into a cave.

Another fourth-generation disciple had advanced to the rank of Quasi-Immortal.

A robust man stood up and stretched his limbs.

He then took out the sect’s communication artifact and sent a message to all the disciples of Academy Number Two.

"I, Li Rang, have advanced to Quasi-Immortal today, making me the seventh among the fourth-generation disciples of the sect."

"How about that, brothers and sisters? Did I make our Academy Number Two proud?" Li Rang joyfully sent messages using the sect’s communication artifact.

"666, as expected from our academy’s top student."

"I miss the days of digging tunnels with Brother Li."

"Academy Number Two, forever thriving!"

"Academy Number Two, unbeatable!"

Soon, thousands of replies flooded in beneath Li Rang’s message.

"Brothers and sisters, I can now consider myself officially graduated. I can finally contribute my strength to the sect."

"In the final stretch, I will live stream my efforts for the sect after graduation, setting an example for my brothers and sisters, so we won’t be unprepared then." Li Rang looked at the over ten thousand replies and smiled with satisfaction.

"Senior Brother, go for it! Show the other academies that our Academy Number Two is the strongest."

"Senior Brother, strive to outshine Wu Gang!"

As Li Rang started his live stream, the light curtain displayed numerous encouraging comments.

Just then, Grape’s voice rang out.

"Detected that fourth-generation disciple Li Rang has advanced to Quasi-Immortal. He may now go to pay respects to the Grand Elder."

Upon hearing Grape’s voice, the live stream exploded with excitement, and endless comments swept across.

"I remember there was an announcement on our fourth-generation disciples’ forum that the first 100 disciples to advance to Quasi-Immortal can meet the Grand Elder and receive rewards." A glowing comment floated by in the live stream.

Eventually, half of the live stream became quiet, while the other half planned to wait until Li Rang met the Grand Elder before leaving.

"Hehe, as expected from my brothers and sisters of Academy Number Two; this is reality," Li Rang chuckled, looking at the quiet live stream.

"I will bring your messages to the Grand Elder," he said, stepping onto the teleportation formation.

This time, Xu Fan’s meeting place was in a pavilion by the Immortal Liquid Lake.

"Li Rang, the Senior Brother of the former Academy Number Two, is the only one capable of leading disciples to stand shoulder to shoulder with Wu Gang."

"Very charismatic, nicely done," Xu Fan said, looking at the man before him.

After over a thousand years of learning and growth, that once youthful fourth-generation disciple had become mature.

However, as they came to understand the sect and the cultivation world better, their admiration for the Grand Elder deepened.

"Paying respects to the Grand Elder."

Li Rang, feeling extremely excited upon seeing Xu Fan, finally came to his senses.

"Get up, no need to bow," Xu Fan said with a smile.

Then, a celestial tool called Earth Element Pearl and a small mountain appeared in his hands.

"I know you’re great at escaping, so I’ve got you two items that can boost your Earth-based Immortal techniques."

"Work hard in the future, and if you don’t let the sect down, the sect won’t let you down," Xu Fan said earnestly as he handed the two celestial tools to Li Rang.

"I am ready to serve the sect!" Li Rang said excitedly.

He had thought of many things to say to the Grand Elder before coming, but upon seeing him, all his words turned into pure excitement.

"Senior Brother, use the speech you prepared earlier, don’t chicken out now!"

"Senior Brother, you must represent our Academy Number Two in paying respects to the Grand Elder and cannot back down."

The comments in the live stream went wild, and Xu Fan noticed them.

"Tell your brothers and sisters that the first 100 to advance to Quasi-Immortal will receive special rewards."

"Like the Mountain of a Thousand Peaks in your hands right now, its power is comparable to top-notch celestial tools."

"Also, the first 100 special reward celestial tools were personally crafted by me, so work hard to earn one," Xu Fan said into the camera of the live stream.

At that moment, the light curtain was filled with comments about wanting to work hard in cultivation.

After the rewarding session, Xu Fan let the excited Li Rang go.

After meeting Li Rang, Xu Fan suddenly wanted to know more details about the fourth-generation disciples.

"Grape, how are the fourth-generation disciples?" Xu Fan asked.

"Overall, they are stronger than the first three generations at the same period, but in terms of overall training, there haven’t been any exceptionally outstanding fourth-generation disciples."

"Among the 83 million fourth-generation disciples, 13 million major in unconventional paths. The remaining nearly half also study unconventional paths, mainly focused on alchemy, artifact crafting, and formations."

"It is expected that in the next thousand years, the sect will see a wave of masters in artifact crafting, alchemy, and formations," Grape analyzed.

"How many great masters can appear?" Xu Fan asked.

"There are 12 who are likely to advance to the great master realm, but it is anticipated that at least two will actually become great masters," Grape replied.

"Since this group of disciples is developing comprehensively, shouldn’t I, as the Grand Elder, put in more effort for them?" Xu Fan said, stroking his chin. He had had similar plans long ago.

He wanted to find an easier method for advancing to the great master realm through unconventional paths. Such secret techniques are not rare in the Immortal Realm; all are controlled by major forces like the Tianding Merchant Association and the Myriad Paths Pavilion, spanning multiple Immortal Realms and sometimes even into hundreds or thousands of realms.

At that moment, a space crack suddenly opened not far from the Immortal Liquid Lake.

A pair of adult deer led a group of little deer out of the space crack.

The lead doe happened to meet Xu Fan’s gaze.

"You still know to come back!" Xu Fan scolded. Ever since the sect ascended to the Immortal Realm, these two Cloud Flower Deer had spent only a very short time in the sect.

They were worse than his Fierce White, who had been sleeping by his side all this time.

"Qiu Qiu~" the Cloud Flower doe called softly.

Xu Fan immediately grasped the meaning. He took the final step and stood before the Cloud Flower Deer, his expression serious as he asked, "Did you really see Weiyun?"

The last space ring floated in front of Xu Fan, carrying the familiar aura of his long-lost wife, Zhang Weiyun.

"My goodness, I always thought your ability to traverse space was extraordinary," Xu Fan remarked.

"But now it seems your talent is beyond extraordinary—it’s on a whole different level, almost conceptual." After confirming the ring belonged to Zhang Weiyun, Xu Fan looked at the Cloud Flower Deer with newfound respect.

"Qiu Qiu~" the Cloud Flower Deer lifted its head proudly.

Xu Fan picked up the space ring, which carried Zhang Weiyun’s aura, and began examining it.

Soon, he found a jade slip in his hand—a letter from Zhang Weiyun.

After reading it, a smile spread across Xu Fan’s face.

He then took out another jade slip and engraved all the words he wanted to say into it.

"Here, take this back. Return the space ring to your mistress," Xu Fan said.

"Qiu Qiu!"

Hearing the Cloud Flower Deer’s response, Xu Fan grew visibly frustrated.

"I just praised you, and now you’re acting up!"