Senior Brother Liu sneered, looking Zhang Lingyun up and down, his tone full of sarcasm:
"Little Girl, what do you take the Soul Refining Sect for?"
Is this your backyard?
Which of my Inner Sect Senior Brother isn't at the Heaven Ascension Realm Cultivation? Which of them hasn't honed their skills through life-and-death experiences?
Which one of them earned their status as inner disciple without making outstanding contributions to the sect?
You think you can get someone into the Inner Sect?
Don't think that just because you have some connections you can spout nonsense here!
His words implied that Zhang Lingyun was Connection-Dependent was arrogant and ignorant of their place.
The implication is that no matter how powerful you are, you still have to follow the rules in the Soul Refining Sect. Without real skills, don't even think about One Step Ascension.
Several Outer Disciple nearby chimed in, chattering amongst themselves:
"Exactly, don't think that just because you were some big shot in your old place and have some connection with some Senior in the Soul Refining Sect, you can get in through the back door."
Once you're here, you have to follow all the sect rules!
"Trying to directly appoint someone as inner disciple? Don't dream about it. Do you think you're the Peak Master?"
"Some people are just ignorant and arrogant, calling themselves inner disciple?"
He's Great Early Grandmaster, and he might not even be able to become Servant Disciple, yet he wants to directly enter the Inner Sect?
That's absolutely hilarious!
These words were partly a sarcastic jab at Zhang Lingyun's overestimation of her abilities and ignorance.
The other half, however, was a warning to the other test takers around them.
Don't think that just because you have some connections you can act with impunity in the Soul Refining Sect.
Here, connections are useless; ability is the only true measure of success.
Just participate in the assessment honestly, and don't think about any Evil Dao.
"I, Liu Bufan, have the utmost contempt for people like you who think you're superior just because you have some connections!"
Liu Bufan's voice turned cold, the Soul Bell at his waist vibrated slightly, Yin Wind whipped up the hem of his black robe, and his gaze swept over Zhang Lingyun and Zhang Yu like a knife:
"The Soul Refining Sect does not welcome people like you. Get out of here immediately!"
Before he could finish speaking, he was about to raise his hand and cast Technique Method to drive the two of them away from the mountain gate.
"Senior Brother Liu, please, please don't get angry!"
Wu Siyuan rushed forward, blocking Zhang Lingyun and Zhang Yu, and whispered:
"Two young people are just fooling around and talking nonsense. Why bother arguing with them?"
They were probably spoiled by their elders back home and haven't quite figured out the rules and inner workings of the Soul Refining Sect yet..."
As he spoke, he frantically winked at Zhang Yu and Zhang Lingyun, signaling them to quickly lower their heads and admit their mistakes, and stop arguing.
He's seen this kind of thing countless times over the years.
The talented individuals who came to participate in the assessment, being newcomers, all had some arrogant tendencies.
Most of these people aren't bad at heart; they've just been praised too highly in their hometowns and are now arrogant and unaware of their own limitations.
He didn't think Zhang Yu and the other person seemed like bad people, so he figured he should help them if he could, to avoid losing his eligibility for the assessment.
But Liu Bufan didn't even glance at him, and sneered:
Who do you think you are, to dare speak to me?
Does he really think he's someone important?
If it weren't for your Old Flame still harboring feelings for you, you would have been kicked out of the Soul Refining Sect long ago!
Wu Siyuan's smile froze instantly, as if someone had poured a bucket of ice water over his head.
"What, you're unhappy? Go ahead and complain to your Old Flame if you dare."
Liu Bufan wore a mocking expression, but seemed somewhat wary, and did not actually make things difficult for Wu Siyuan.
Wu Siyuan smiled awkwardly, but did not get angry. He continued to give Zhang Yu and Zhang Lingyun meaningful glances.
But Zhang Lingyun slowly took a step forward, her Red Dress fluttering slightly in the Yin Wind, her gaze as cold as frost, and pointed at Zhang Yu:
"I said I'd let him become inner disciple, and he can become an inner disciple. Is there a problem with that?"
"This girl is really stubborn..."
Seeing this, Wu Siyuan shook his head secretly and whispered, "I can't help you now."
He wanted to help them out, but his bottom line was that he couldn't risk getting himself involved.
"Okay, okay!"
Upon seeing this, Liu Bufan actually laughed, deliberately raising his voice to a very high pitch so that it could be heard all around:
"Everyone, come and see! This person's boastful words have managed to get a Great Early Grandmaster to become an inner disciple. That's truly remarkable!"
As soon as he finished speaking, the surroundings fell silent instantly, and countless eyes turned to him, some with curiosity, some with mockery, and some with an interest in watching the show.
"Who is this Little Girl? How dare she be so arrogant! Even I, a Princes of a nation, have to behave myself, and she's acting so cocky."
"That's right. My third aunt's husband is Inner Sect elder, and he can't even arrange a single Outer Disciple."
She actually said she'd arrange for an inner disciple; what a load of bull!
The crowd murmured amongst themselves, finding it amusing.
Other disciples of the Soul Refining Sect also glanced at it, but most of them didn't take it to heart.
They've seen plenty of these self- Connection-Dependent.
At every Disciple Selection Ceremony, there are always a few arrogant young people who are publicly made an example of.
As is customary in such situations, the most arrogant person is the first to be punished, as a warning to others, and then the rest will behave themselves.
Liu Bufan stood with his hands behind his back and sneered:
"Since you're so confident, I'd like to see what you're capable of getting a Great Early Grandmaster into the Inner Sect."
Actually, it's not surprising that Liu Bufan looked down on Zhang Lingyun.
Those truly privileged and talented Aristocratic Clan had already entered the sect before the Disciple Selection Ceremony, through channels such as Inner Sect recommendations and sect Trial.
Those who can appear here, even if they have some connections, at most have some relationship with the Outer Sect Elder, or at best have gotten on the good side of the Inner Sect elders.
Under normal circumstances, even if Zhang Yu, Great Early Grandmaster, relied on connections, he would only be able to become a Servant Disciple.
These things may sound materialistic, but that's the reality: with power comes privilege.
Zhang Lingyun used this very privilege to allow Zhang Yu to enter the Inner Sect directly.
It seems that everyone hates privilege, but what really makes people unhappy is often not the privilege itself, but rather that this privilege does not belong to them.
"Then I'd like to ask, under what circumstances can a Great Grandmaster become inner disciple?"
Zhang Lingyun raised the corners of her lips slightly, a half-smile playing on her lips, and asked in return.
"Oh?"
Liu Bufan was somewhat surprised, then spoke righteously, raising his voice a few decibels to ensure everyone around could hear:
"Our Soul Refining Sect has always adhered to the rules, and there have never been any exceptions."
Under no circumstances can a Great Grandmaster directly become inner disciple.
Even he himself felt somewhat guilty saying those words.
Wherever there are people, there are social customs and traditions, and there are privileges and special privileges.
Anyone with half a brain knows this.
But in this situation, he had to say it.
This was both a warning to Zhang Lingyun and a way of showing those around me that I, Liu Bufan, am someone who "does things according to the rules."
"Oh?"
Zhang Lingyun, however, remained indifferent, even with a hint of mockery:
When did the Soul Refining Sect change its rules?
"How come I remember that the Peak Master have the right to pre-select a batch of inner disciple?"
Peak Master?
Liu Bufan was stunned for a moment, then burst into laughter as if he had heard the funniest joke in the world:
"You're not trying to say you know the Peak Master, are you?"
"Little Girl, if you're going to make up a lie, at least make it believable!"
"I know a few of them."
Zhang Lingyun spoke frankly, her tone as calm as if she were simply remarking on the Tiantian.
As the master of one of the peaks of the Soul Refining Sect, she had naturally interacted with the other Peak Master.