These Outer Sect Disciples took the initiative to seek out Inner Sect Disciples they favored, currying favor and pledging loyalty.
The other Outer Sect Disciples sneered at them, believing they had gone down a crooked path and lost a cultivator's drive to advance.
But later, when they saw those first followers successfully achieve Foundation Establishment, they finally understood the cruelty of the cultivation path.
No matter how proudly you considered yourself a genius, in the end, you could only halt at peak Qi Condensation, waiting for your lifespan to run dry, with not the slightest possibility of Foundation Establishment remaining.
Correspondingly, the number of people choosing to become followers increased year by year.
Outer Sect Disciples merely bore the sect's name, while Inner Sect Disciples were the ones truly recognized by the sect, receiving its support and cultivation.
Circumstances were stronger than people. The actions of those followers might be looked down upon, but the fact that some of them had successfully achieved Foundation Establishment and become Inner Sect Disciples was beyond dispute.
Thus, more and more people voluntarily became followers, until it gradually evolved into a situation where Outer Sect Disciples needed to pass an assessment just to qualify as followers.
Moreover, becoming an Inner Sect Disciple's follower—what was now called an attendant—not only no longer drew contempt, but had instead become a symbol of honor.
The sect neither approved nor opposed this.
The sect had always taken a free-range approach toward Outer Sect Disciples. As long as they paid their sect contribution fees and did not violate the sect rules, they could do whatever they wished.
However, in order not to upset the balance of the outer sect, the sect stipulated that each Qi Refining Stage Inner Sect Disciple could select only two attendants.
That was also why everyone placed such importance on the grand assessment.
For countless Outer Sect Disciples, having a chance to become an Inner Sect Disciple's attendant and thereby enter the inner sect was an exceedingly rare opportunity.
They could obtain more cultivation resources while also finding themselves a powerful backer.
After all, entering the inner sect from the outer sect through normal means was simply far too difficult.
Only the top ten in the Outer Sect Grand Competition could obtain Foundation Establishment Pills.
But the Outer Sect Grand Competition was held only once every five years. Under normal circumstances, only an average of two disciples per year could successfully achieve Foundation Establishment and enter the inner sect.
This made the difficulty for ordinary Outer Sect Disciples to enter the inner sect no different from climbing to the heavens.
Becoming an attendant, however, was a single step to the heavens—straight into the inner sect.
Unlike Outer Sect Disciples, who had no path to pursue the Dao, Inner Sect Disciples could exchange Contribution Points for Foundation Establishment Pills.
Foundation Establishment Pills were extraordinarily precious and scarce. An Inner Sect Disciple could exchange for only three in their lifetime.
Though every Foundation Establishment Pill required a vast number of Contribution Points to exchange for, the qualification to exchange for each one was always fiercely sought after.
Most Inner Sect Disciples possessed Dual-Element Spiritual Roots, and they often needed only one or two Foundation Establishment Pills to break through to Foundation Establishment.
As for their surplus qualifications to exchange for Foundation Establishment Pills, they either sold them or bestowed them upon the attendants who followed them.
That was why Outer Sect Disciples fought until their heads bled to be selected as attendants.
All they sought was that sliver of an opportunity for Foundation Establishment.
After achieving Foundation Establishment, these attendants could automatically shed their attendant status and become Inner Sect Disciples.
But attendants, when all was said and done, were a kind of subordinate relationship. Put harshly, they were almost no different from servants in the mortal world.
Attendants obeyed the orders of Inner Sect Disciples, and the Inner Sect Disciples gave them resources and protection.
Although attendants had Inner Sect Disciples as their backers, their freedom, correspondingly, lay in someone else's hands.
If an attendant committed a grave offense, they might even be beaten to death by the Inner Sect Disciple.
Under normal circumstances, however, Inner Sect Disciples would not casually kill their attendants.
A Qi Refining Stage Inner Sect Disciple could select only two attendants in total. Once selected, attendants could not be replaced; even if one died, the vacancy could not be filled. Excellent attendants were a tremendous aid to Inner Sect Disciples.
Therefore, Inner Sect Disciples were exceptionally cautious in their selection of attendants.
Inner Sect Disciples simply divided attendants into two categories: combat types and support types.
Combat-type attendants were more sought after, but support types were also indispensable. These Inner Sect Disciples generally selected one of each type.
A small number of people would also select two combat types or two support types.
Xu Chunniang had no interest in becoming someone else's attendant. In her view, selling one's freedom was no different from selling one's soul.
Ever since she had set foot upon this immortal cultivation path, she had grown stronger day by day. Xu Chunniang was confident that even without becoming someone's attendant, she would one day enter the inner sect by relying on her own strength.
Thinking that she would soon see Wei Dawu, she felt a little happy and expectant.
Wei Dawu was her only acquaintance in the sect. She wondered how far his cultivation had progressed after three years.
Xu Chunniang had no intention of becoming an attendant, but that did not mean others were uninterested.
After all, in the eyes of these new disciples, the hope of obtaining a Foundation Establishment Pill in the outer sect was far too slim. Following an Inner Sect Disciple offered much better prospects.
One by one, they rubbed their fists and palms together, striving to shine brightly today and catch the eye of those inner sect geniuses.
"I heard that the Inner Sect Disciples from the same cohort as us will all come watch our matches today, specifically to select the finest attendants. I have to perform well today and strive to be chosen to enter the inner sect."
"Ah, it's far too difficult to be chosen by those lofty Inner Sect senior brothers. There are only a little over a hundred Inner Sect senior brothers from our cohort, and at most they'll select just over two hundred attendants, while there are a full three thousand of us Outer Sect Disciples."
"You should count yourself lucky!"
Someone beside them advised, "At least five thousand people participate in the Outer Sect Grand Competition every year, yet only the top ten are selected each time. This is much easier than the Outer Sect Grand Competition."
"That's true. We have to seize this opportunity, or we may be trapped in the outer sect for the rest of our lives."
"The Martial Trial is about to begin. Why haven't those Inner Sect senior brothers arrived yet?"
Just then, a disciple pointed excitedly to one side. "Quick, look over there! The Inner Sect senior brothers—they're coming!"
Inner Sect Disciples wore white robes, different from the Outer Sect Disciples, so everyone recognized them at once.
Their expressions carried faint arrogance, their white robes spotless, forming a stark contrast with the thousands of Outer Sect Disciples around them dressed in Green Robes.
Seeing that the Inner Sect Disciples had all arrived, Steward Mu, who had been sitting above with her eyes closed in meditation, opened her eyes and said blandly, "Begin."
The rules for the Martial Trial had long been set. The assessments would be conducted in batches according to Scholarly Trial results. Disciples who had received Double A grades in their academic scores would be arranged to compete first.
Among the three thousand Outer Sect Disciples, four hundred had earned Double A grades. They would undergo three rounds of matches; victors would advance, while losers would immediately lose their qualifications.
In the end, only fifty disciples would remain from these four hundred.
Judging by past circumstances, barring accidents, all fifty would be selected by Inner Sect Disciples.
Even among those in the top hundred who failed to enter the top fifty, quite a few would still be selected.
After all, Double A grades were, to a certain extent, proof of one's strength.
As one of the first batch participating in the matches, Xu Chunniang went up to draw her number: number three hundred and twenty-seven.
The assessment grounds had ten arenas in total, allowing twenty people to compete at the same time. At this pace, it would likely be a while before it was her turn.
Xu Chunniang looked toward the Inner Sect Disciples, trying to find Wei Dawu.
By coincidence, he was also looking in her direction. Their eyes met.
Wei Dawu smiled faintly and made an encouraging gesture at her. Xu Chunniang broke into a broad smile and nodded firmly.
Though she had never intended to become an attendant, she would not go easy in the competition.
Thanks to Fellow Daoist Forever Bu for the reward, and to Fellow Daoists Happy☆Star, Yaoyao, and Pianpian for the monthly votes. Yesterday, I accidentally misspelled Fellow Daoist Smaogirl2's name. My apologies—it has been corrected. Another bonus chapter today; let's climb the rankings!
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