The selection for the Secret Realm consisted entirely of the second and third batches of Iron Stone Guards. At the request of Prince of Shicheng Hua Tianxiong, only 1,000 members were to be admitted. After careful deliberation, Wang Jie and Chen Li selected 872 members from the second and third batches, in addition to the 128 members from the first batch who had already achieved the rank of First-tier Grand Martial Master. This left approximately 2,500 veteran Iron Stone Guards who would not be entering the Secret Realm this time.
Wang Jie had already made arrangements for these remaining members; they would lead the 5,000 newly recruited Iron Stone Guards to carry out essential duties. After all, the security of the entire Bohai Commandery still required the maintenance provided by the Iron Stone Guards, and these members would have to wait for future opportunities to enter the Secret Realm for cultivation and advancement.
Within two quarter-hours of Prince of Shicheng Hua Tianxiong appearing in the main hall of the Prince's Mansion, Xiao Feng, Zhuge Zhan, Yue Peng, Zhang Rang, and the generals they led—Gao Yong, Chen Qi, Zhang Haicheng, Li Jianjun, Li Liang, Wang Guofeng, Xiao Bing, Gao Cheng’ang, Wang Yaowu, Chen Zheng, Duan Hongxing, Li Guoliang, and Zhao Yanyue—had all arrived.
Chapter 500