One month later.
The Haotian Sect has already reached level five.
What is the concept of a fifth-level sect? Even at its peak, the Haotian Sect only barely reached the fourth-level sect level.
Within the sect, tens of thousands of buildings are scattered across thirty-six mountain peaks.
Jade bridges connect the peaks, white clouds swirl beneath your feet, and colorful lights shimmer overhead.
The thirty-six peaks, each a key element of the formation, together form a top-tier protective formation for the sect.
Even experts at the Dao Integration Realm would find it difficult to break through.
Beneath each mountain peak lies a top-tier Spiritual Vein.
The Spiritual Qi within the entire Haotian Sect is incredibly dense, dozens of times denser than outside, even surpassing that of large blessed lands and grotto-heavens.
Of course, from the outside of the Haotian Sect, this place is still just a dilapidated hilltop with a broken Daoist temple on it.
Unfortunately, the entire Haotian Sect now only has twenty-five members.
Ling Yi has now Golden Core Realm and Core Formation nine cores.
Xu Mengyun had also Core Formation, but it was only at the ordinary Golden Core Realm.
The others all reached the Foundation Establishment Stage.
Even without Cultivation Card, the abundant Spiritual Qi of the Haotian Sect is enough to allow them to progress Divine Speed.
"Sect Master, should we take Entry some disciples?" Xu Mengyan asked Ling Yi in the sect's main hall.
"Yes, that's true." Ling Yi nodded.
In the past month, Ling Yi has used up all his Cultivation Card. However, even with the assistance of the rich Spiritual Qi of a level-five sect, it is still not something that can be accomplished in a short period of time if he wants to form ten thousand Golden Core.
You still need to cheat.
To cheat, you need to farm Cannon Fodder Points.
Ever since he learned that sect disciples could farm Cannon Fodder Points for him, Ling Yi had the idea of taking on disciples.
"What suggestions do you have?" Ling Yi asked.
"Holding a disciple recruitment ceremony will not only allow us to recruit more Protégé, but also enhance the reputation of the Haotian Sect," Xu Mengyan said directly, having already come up with the idea.
"No!" Qin Nianyun stood up and objected.
"It's not wise for the Haotian Sect to be too high-profile right now. If we attract the attention of large sects, or even top-tier sects, with our strength, we simply won't be able to protect the Haotian Sect as it is now."
Xu Mengyan did not refute, but nodded and said, "The Grand Elder is right, but how can the Haotian Sect develop if it doesn't accept disciples?"
"Only by recruiting many Protégé can the sect grow rapidly."
After a pause, Xu Mengyan fiddled with the peach blossom branch in her hand and said, "Of course, we can keep a low profile when accepting disciples, limiting it to the area within Haotian City."
"I still don't recommend taking on apprentices right now," Qin Nianyun said.
"At the very least, we need to wait until the sect leader breaks through to the Nascent Soul Stage. Otherwise, if the sect's situation is leaked, it will inevitably attract the covetous eyes of many forces."
"Elder, you are being too cautious. We have all learned the Sect Master's Soul Control Art, and we can completely Soul Control Art the sect disciples with it. There is absolutely no possibility of any leaks or betrayals."
" Soul Control Art are ultimately not the right path!" Qin Nianyun shook her head.
Qin Nianyun is relatively more conservative, and influenced by the former sect leader, who was also the original owner's father when she was eight years old, her thinking is, well, a bit more saintly.
As for Feng Yushi, she didn't get involved in any of this; her favorite thing to do was count Spirit Stone.
I don't care about anything else.
This guy is a little money-grubber; his happiest moment is when Ling Yi gives him Spirit Stone.
What upset him most was when others asked him for Spirit Stone.
"Alright, stop arguing!" Ling Yi waved her hand and said.
If an adult were to do that, it would certainly exude a certain Haki.
But if an eight-year-old child does it, it seems a bit naive and cute, but it lacks any sense of authority or Haki.
However, after a month, the women had all gotten used to the young sect leader's words and actions.
No one dared to cause the slightest misbehavior.
After all, the scene of Ling Yi slaying dozens of cultivators with a wave of his hand and killing Golden Core expert with a single glare was still vivid in their minds.
"If we don't have any disciples, we can just steal them," Ling Yi said.
"Steal a disciple?" The women were all taken aback.
Can disciples even steal things?
"Just as Fourth Senior Sister said, the sect is newly established and lacks sufficient foundation. Holding a disciple recruitment conference now is likely to attract the covetous eyes of those top sects."
"But perhaps what the elders meant was that for a sect to develop, it needs disciples."
"Now, supporting 100,000 disciples is no problem at all for the Haotian Sect."
"Furthermore, don't forget that I previously killed Elder Lin Huai of the Heavenly Sword Sect. One of the Heavenly Sword Sect disciples used a communication Jade Talisman before he died."
"I believe that it won't be long before a powerful expert arrives from the Heavenly Sword Sect."
" The Heavenly Sword Sect is merely Second-Rate sect. Although it has Nascent Soul ancestor in charge, that Nascent Soul is already at his limit, nearing the end of his lifespan. I can handle him."
"But once war breaks out, the Haotian Sect will inevitably be exposed, and then it will be impossible for the Haotian Sect to hide it anymore."
Qin Nianyun and Feng Yushi nodded at the same time.
Ling Yi stood up and gave the order directly, "Elder Xu, I'm giving you a task. I need to lead ten disciples to subdue all the small sects around Haotian City within a month and seize their disciples."
"Remember, come stealthily, don't reveal your identities, and if necessary, don't be ruthless."
"Uh, yes, Sect Master!"
So that's what the sect leader meant by "stealing disciples"!
There are quite a few cultivation sects around Haotian City, some with several thousand members and others with several hundred.
Take her Mist Cloud Sect for example; it's just a small sect with only a few dozen disciples.
If we could seize all the disciples from these minor sects...
That would at least add several thousand disciples to the Haotian Sect.
As for taking drastic measures, Xu Mengyan had even less of a problem with that.
Xu Mengyan is no Great Sage.
Now that she has reached the Golden Core Realm, she completely overwhelms those small sects that are only at the Foundation Establishment Realm.
Perfect timing! There are a few minor sects that have grudges against her before; she can start by targeting them.
"Fourth Senior Sister, you take the other ten disciples down the mountain to slay demons and monsters, and make a name for our Haotian Sect."
Because the Cultivation Realm is rich in Spiritual Qi, Beast, plants, and rocks in the mountains are very likely to develop intelligence and become spirits.
Most spirits cultivate in the mountains and fields, but a considerable number of them invade human territory and cause trouble.
These spirits and monsters are usually dealt with by nearby cultivation sects to protect the people.
However, this protection comes at a price.
To put it bluntly, it's more like protection money.
For example, tens of thousands of ordinary people from Haotian City are enslaved by cultivation sects every year.
They might mine for the sect, or grow spiritual herbs and plants, or feed Spirit Beast.
This is the price.
This has resulted in the people of Haotian City feeling no gratitude whatsoever, even though they have received protection from these cultivation sects.
There was no other way; the price we paid was too high.
Almost every family had members who were sent to these sects to work as laborers, exploited for a year, and then returned home riddled with illnesses.
Cultivators feed on Spiritual Qi, and the richer the Spiritual Qi, the better.
However, ordinary people without cultivation talent are not suitable to stay in places rich in Spiritual Qi.
After all, an ordinary person's body cannot cultivate, nor has it been transformed by Spiritual Power.
Prolonged exposure to strong Spiritual Power can actually lead to a gradual decline in organ function.
This is different from other world settings with cultivation themes.
However, Ling Yi felt that this setting seemed more reasonable.
"Go and prepare yourselves. We'll set off tomorrow!" Ling Yi waved his hand and said.
"Sect Master, what about me?" Feng Yushi asked, blinking her beautiful eyes.
"You? Stay in the sect, responsible for receiving new disciples and distributing cultivation supplies to them!"
Feng Yushi's face immediately fell; they were going to distribute cultivation supplies too?
Isn't that like taking away Spirit Stone? It's practically taking her life!
She wanted to say something, but by then, Ling Yi had already disappeared.
It's so frustrating not having Cultivation Card. Ling Yi needs to go and collect a batch of Cultivation Card himself, otherwise, when will he ever be able to cultivate ten thousand Golden Core!