The Hidden Intricacies of Sects

In the subsequent arena defense battles, Chi Qiu no longer encountered opponents as formidable as Gong Lingfeng or Ye Shi. Against less skilled adversaries, she often needed only a few swift strikes to claim victory. Her opponents were frequently sent flying from the stage before they could even brush her robes.

Under these circumstances, Chi Qiu swiftly defeated all remaining opponents for the first month within a single day. For the latter half of the month that followed, she reverted to her customary state of leisure.

“Chi Qiu, in three days, I’ll be facing a formidable opponent myself.”

Chi Qiu was lounging languidly on a wooden daybed, sipping tea while contemplating a scroll in her hands. Hearing Su Hanxing’s words, she set the scroll aside and turned her head to face him, where he sat barely a zhang away.

“With your power, you’re also encountering a strong enemy?”

“What kind of talk is that?” Su Hanxing chuckled. “Daqi’s territory is nearly boundless, teeming with countless skilled individuals and extraordinary talents. It’s only natural that I’d encounter young cultivators capable of challenging me.” Amused by Chi Qiu’s remark, Su Hanxing picked up the teapot and poured himself a cup of tea. He took a sip, finding it undeniably superior to his own brew.

“What’s his name, and which family or sect does he belong to?” Chi Qiu asked immediately, her face alight with curiosity.

“He’s a disciple of the Heart God Sect. His name is Zhu Yan.”

“A Heart God Sect disciple, you say? What makes this Zhu Yan so exceptional that you consider him a formidable adversary?” Chi Qiu’s interest was immediately piqued by the mention of the Heart God Sect.

“He once held a very low position within the Heart God Sect, merely an outer disciple. Several years ago, he stumbled upon an unknown fortuitous encounter, causing his strength to skyrocket. As he continually achieved remarkable feats, his standing within the sect steadily climbed, eventually earning him the rank of an inner disciple.” Su Hanxing shook his head, beginning to narrate Zhu Yan’s story.

“He began as an outer disciple, with an unremarkable background, and only ascended to his current position by accumulating numerous battle merits.” Su Hanxing’s tone grew subtly peculiar as he relayed this.

“Battle merits?” Chi Qiu paused, taken aback by the term. To her knowledge, there were no ongoing conflicts within Daqi’s borders.

“Precisely. The ‘battle merits’ he earned came from repeatedly defeating disciples of our Tianyan Sect in various skirmishes. He even orchestrated a scheme in a certain secret realm, leading to the complete annihilation of our Tianyan Sect disciples there.” Su Hanxing’s expression turned grim, revealing his palpable hatred for Zhu Yan.

“A disciple with such formidable talent still needed to accumulate battle merits just to enter the inner sect? Does that mean the Heart God Sect’s inner disciples are all incredibly powerful?” Noticing Su Hanxing’s troubled expression, Chi Qiu swiftly steered the conversation to a different topic.

“Not quite,” Su Hanxing clarified, shaking his head. “Ninety-nine percent of the Heart God Sect’s inner disciples can’t compare to this Zhu Yan in terms of strength. Their entry into the inner sect is primarily due to their lineage – they are typically direct descendants of sect elders, the Sect Master, or even the Vice Sect Master. And it’s not exclusive to the Heart God Sect; nearly all sects across the land operate in the same manner.”

Chi Qiu paused, surprised by this revelation. After a moment of contemplation, she inquired: “But for exceptionally talented commoners like Zhu Yan, wouldn’t it be immensely beneficial to the sect if they were specially nurtured, especially once they advance to the Dharma Manifestation Realm?”

“That principle holds true,” Su Hanxing conceded with a nod. “However, there will always be those who are unwilling to witness such advancements.”

“Who would be unwilling?” Chi Qiu asked, her brow furrowed in confusion.

“Naturally, it would be the other elders within the sect,” Su Hanxing replied with a slight smile.

Other elders… but why? Chi Qiu had never cultivated within a sect herself, so she remained completely ignorant of its complex inner workings.

“A major sect typically boasts dozens of high-ranking members, including the Sect Master and various elders, while its inner disciples often number over a thousand. For illustrious sects like the Dao Sect and Myriad Sword Villa, their inner disciple count can even soar into the tens of thousands.” Su Hanxing chose to explain the intricate structure of large sects.

“The remaining are the outer disciples, vast in number and generally low in cultivation. Even the smallest sects typically have tens of thousands of outer disciples. For sects on the scale of the Nine Great Sects, their outer disciples often exceed several hundred thousand, with some even reaching a million. These outer disciples serve as both tools and expendable resources. They toil relentlessly for the sect, driven by the promise of cultivation resources. Yet, the wealth they generate is ultimately divided amongst the elders’ respective families.”

“So that’s how it is…” Chi Qiu nodded slightly, a look of profound shock on her face. Until this moment, she had remained utterly oblivious to such internal sect affairs.

“Hehehe… that is indeed the reality of it. Under such circumstances, the elders are naturally unwilling to see new elders emerge within the sect, demanding a share of their resources. That’s why they go to such lengths to obstruct outer disciples from becoming inner disciples.” Su Hanxing spread his hands, a touch of helplessness in his voice.

“Under these conditions, most outer disciples will struggle their entire lives to break through the God Concealing stage. Their cultivation largely remains within the Spirit Nourishing and Heart Scripture realms. Their days are typically spent mining in spirit stone veins, cultivating spirit fields for Dao plants, or even engaging in fierce battles with outer disciples from rival sects to seize resources.”

“From what you’ve said, for Zhu Yan to rise to the inner sect under such restrictive conditions, his cunning and strength must be truly terrifying.” After listening to Su Hanxing’s detailed explanation, Chi Qiu found herself inexplicably worried for him.

“Indeed, what you say is true. He possesses extensive combat experience, executes ruthless moves, and harbors profound cunning, making him a truly rare adversary.” Su Hanxing nodded. Then, noticing the subtle worry etched on Chi Qiu’s face, he broke into a confident grin. “However, he is hardly my match. At best, he’s merely a troublesome opponent. But this battle isn’t just about winning; I intend to secure a spectacular, utterly satisfying victory.”

“Yet, you appear somewhat tense.” Hearing Su Hanxing’s confident declaration, Chi Qiu immediately felt a slight easing of her concern.

“Many Tianyan Sect disciples, as well as those from the Heart God Sect, will be attending this battle. It concerns the very reputation of our sect, and that’s why the pressure on my heart has more than doubled.” Su Hanxing nodded, finally revealing the source of his profound unease.

Chi Qiu nodded, a newfound understanding dawning on her. Su Hanxing, originally a mortal’s descendant, had been fortunate enough to catch Su He’s eye. It was Su He who brought him into the Tianyan Sect for cultivation.

The Tianyan Sect itself was in a peculiar situation. It boasted very few disciples, and its founder, Grand Elder Yan Tianxing, was a solitary figure with no family or descendants. The convergence of these unique circumstances allowed Su Hanxing, a mere mortal descendant, to ascend to the position of Tianyan Sect’s Chief Disciple. Consequently, Su Hanxing harbored an exceptionally deep affection for the Tianyan Sect. This matter, which directly impacted the sect’s honor, naturally amplified his stress.

“The competition is still three days away. How about we spar frequently over the next two days to hone your secret arts and divine abilities?” Unable to devise a better method to ease Su Hanxing’s anxiety, Chi Qiu could only offer this suggestion.

“Then, on the day of the competition, Chi Qiu, will you be there?” Su Hanxing’s eyes widened, his face alight with anticipation.

Chi Qiu remained silent, simply offering a gentle nod.

“That’s absolutely wonderful! With your support, Chi Qiu, I’m certain I’ll be able to unleash eleven-tenths of my full power!”