At the same time, as the Fire Serpent Sect grew wealthier, Ling Pengqiu, as its sect master, recruited more disciples from outside. The Fire Serpent Sect's membership had expanded to nearly ten thousand.
Among this batch of disciples, five possessed relatively good aptitude. All of them had Dual Spirit Roots and stood a chance of reaching Foundation Establishment Completion before their lifespans ran out.
They had now all entered the Foundation Establishment Realm, and their futures were promising.
If they were also allowed to cultivate the clan's Lingxiao Life Extension Art, which could extend the time available to break through realms, they might even have a chance of charging at the Golden Core Realm.
With the aim of strengthening the Fire Serpent Sect, Ling Pengqiu took three of those five—who had been brought into the sect after having their spirit roots tested in childhood—as his personal disciples and carefully nurtured them.
He also instilled in them the conviction to protect the sect.
He even had the talented Ling Clan female cultivators and male cultivators from the Fire Serpent Sect's branch interact with them, eventually becoming Dao Companions with each of them.
Although Ling Pengqiu's three personal disciples did not know of the Ling Clan's existence, they could still be considered half one of their own.
Beyond that, Ling Pengqiu had placed special restrictions within their Seas of Consciousness, controlling their lives and deaths.
Cultivators who had entered the sect in childhood like this were excellent prospects for becoming direct-line members.
As for the other two promising seedlings who had a chance to reach Foundation Establishment Completion, because they had entered the sect as independent cultivators, Ling Pengqiu merely gave them some additional resources. Whether they could reach the Golden Core Realm depended entirely on themselves.
Ling Pengqiu was no fool.