Promotion to the Inner Sect!

Zhang Su left the Inner Sect Main Hall with Chu Dachuan and the others.

Chu Dachuan and the other two were very excited.

But when they thought of how Zhang Su was heading to the Inner Sect while they remained in the Outer Sect, they felt somewhat dejected.

"Senior Brother, we can't go to the Inner Sect with you... If you have any orders in the future, just give us your commands."

"That's right. We'll remain in the Outer Sect, ready to heed Senior Brother's summons at any time."

Chu Dachuan and the other two hastily declared their positions.

Zhang Su nodded.

These three were capable enough at handling matters, and as for their loyalty, there was no need to question it.

Besides, while in the Outer Sect, the three of them had indeed worked diligently for him.

Thus, Zhang Su took out some more Blood Replenishing Pills and distributed them among the three.

"Take these Blood Replenishing Pills. Go on."

"Thank you, Senior Brother."

The three respectfully bowed to Zhang Su. In the end, they could only leave with the Blood Replenishing Pills.

Zhang Su was now an Inner Sect disciple, so naturally, he had to live in the Inner Sect.

Thus, Zhang Su headed toward the Inner Sect.

Zhang Su had only just stepped into the Inner Sect.

Suddenly, he spotted a familiar figure ahead.

"Senior Brother Lu, why are you here?"

That figure was none other than Lu Tianqing.

"Junior Brother Zhang, you aren't very familiar with the Inner Sect. Let me take you to your residence."

Lu Tianqing spoke.

"Then I'll trouble you, Senior Brother Lu."

The two immediately walked side by side.

Both were people of few words, so the journey was very quiet.

Compared with the Outer Sect, the Inner Sect's greatest feature was its much smaller number of people.

And precisely because there were fewer people, every Inner Sect disciple could be assigned an individual courtyard.

"Junior Brother Zhang, we're here."

Lu Tianqing stopped outside a courtyard.

Zhang Su took a look.

There was a number outside the courtyard: "266."

There were courtyards beside it as well, numbered "265" and "267."

Zhang Su had already received the key from the Inner Sect elder.

He immediately opened the gate to Courtyard No. 266.

"Senior Brother Lu, please come in for a talk. I have a few questions I would like to ask you."

Zhang Su stepped aside.

"Alright."

Lu Tianqing did not stand on ceremony and walked straight into the courtyard.

Someone seemed to have cleaned this courtyard. Though it was not spotless, it did not feel dirty or messy either.

The two sat in the main hall. Zhang Su immediately asked, "Senior Brother Lu, do you know about One-Star Disciples?"

"I do."

A complicated look flashed through Lu Tianqing's eyes. "Actually, I was watching the battle in the Inner Sect Main Hall."

"Then please tell me in detail, Senior Brother Lu—what exactly is this 'One-Star Disciple'?"

"Alright, then I'll explain it in detail."

Under Lu Tianqing's explanation, Zhang Su gradually came to understand the situation in the Inner Sect.

It turned out that Inner Sect disciples were also divided into two types.

One type consisted of those promoted into the Inner Sect before the age of sixteen. Such disciples were classified under the Inheritance Sequence.

The other type was made up of overage disciples like Zhang Su, who passed the Combat Assessment and were classified under the Protector Sequence.

The Inheritance Sequence valued a disciple's potential.

The greater the potential, the higher the disciple's evaluation.

There were five evaluation grades.

Ordinary disciples, One-Star Disciples, Two-Star Disciples, Three-Star Disciples, and Sect Prodigies.

The Protector Sequence valued a disciple's combat strength.

The stronger one's combat strength, the higher one's evaluation grade.

"So, disciples of the Inheritance Sequence only need to focus on cultivation. In the future, they may become elders with real authority, or even inherit the position of Sect Leader! As for Protector Sequence disciples, they are essentially the sect's 'thugs.' When the sect needs to expand its territory or fight for benefits, it needs Protector Sequence disciples to act..."

Zhang Su saw the fundamental difference between the two types of disciples at a glance.

"You could put it that way..."

Lu Tianqing fell silent as well.

It was the truth.

This was why he had rushed to cultivate Internal Force before turning sixteen, thereby gaining promotion to the Inner Sect.

Because he did not want to become a Protector Sequence disciple.

The core of the sect was clearly the disciples of the Inheritance Sequence.

Zhang Su understood.

Lu Tianqing was an Inheritance Sequence disciple.

Wei Yunzhou should be an Inheritance Sequence disciple as well.

"Senior Brother Lu, forgive my presumptuousness, but what is your current evaluation? And Wei Yunzhou—how many stars is he?"

Zhang Su asked.

"I was just evaluated as a Two-Star Disciple, while Wei Yunzhou... he was evaluated as a Three-Star Disciple. That was why a Houtian Realm elder accepted him as a disciple."

"A Three-Star Disciple? Even Wei Yunzhou isn't a Sect Prodigy?"

Zhang Su was somewhat surprised.

It was not too high—it was... too low.

In Zhang Su's view, if Wei Yunzhou could be accepted as a disciple by a Houtian Realm elder, then no matter what, he ought to have been a Sect Prodigy.

Yet Wei Yunzhou was not a Sect Prodigy, merely a Three-Star Disciple.

Lu Tianqing said with a bitter smile, "Three-Star Disciple is basically the highest evaluation an Inner Sect disciple can attain... As for Sect Prodigies, I hear there is a special set of evaluation criteria. They require the joint recognition of the Sect Leader and many elders."

"And there is another point: Sect Prodigies basically only appear among disciples of the Inheritance Sequence. As for Protector Sequence disciples, throughout the history of the Guiyuan Sect, not a single Sect Prodigy has ever been born..."

Zhang Su considered it carefully and roughly understood.

Disciples of the Inheritance Sequence were judged by potential. The younger one was upon entering the Inner Sect, the greater one's advantage.

Back then, if Lu Tianqing had not squandered several years in the Outer Sect and had entered the Inner Sect earlier, he would likely have been a Three-Star Disciple too.

Unfortunately, Lu Tianqing had only entered the Inner Sect when he was nearly sixteen, so he naturally became a Two-Star Disciple.

That alone showed how exceptional Lu Tianqing's talent was.

To become a Two-Star Disciple at nearly sixteen was truly rare.

"Junior Brother Zhang, competition in the Inner Sect is extremely fierce. Even Three-Star Disciples will fall if their cultivation speed slows even slightly. If Protector Sequence disciples do not continuously improve their combat strength, their evaluations will likewise fall."

"No matter who it is, no one can simply lie flat once and for all. Everyone must keep improving to maintain their evaluation grade..."

Zhang Su nodded.

Competition in the Inner Sect truly was fierce.

The fact that Wei Yunzhou could continually maintain his evaluation as a Three-Star Disciple was enough to show that his talent far surpassed that of other disciples.

"Thank you, Senior Brother Lu, for introducing the Inner Sect's circumstances in such detail."

Lu Tianqing was neither family nor friend, yet he had explained things so thoroughly. Zhang Su was genuinely grateful.

"Junior Brother Zhang, you needn't worry too much either. Your talent is something I have never seen in my life. Others do not know that you achieved a Second Limit Break, condensed a thousand strands of Blood Qi, and forged a Supreme Foundation."

"Even if you are a Protector Sequence disciple, your potential far surpasses that of many Inheritance Sequence disciples. Besides, the Protector Sequence has also produced some earth-shattering figures whose fame shook all four directions!"

Lu Tianqing was still comforting Zhang Su.

But Zhang Su was actually very calm.

What Protector Sequence? What Inheritance Sequence?

He did not care about any of it!

No matter which type of disciple he was, he could ascend to the pinnacle of martial arts!

After Lu Tianqing finished speaking, he rose to take his leave.

"I'll see Senior Brother Lu out."

Zhang Su stood and escorted Lu Tianqing outside.

The moment they reached the gate, Zhang Su discovered that the owners of the neighboring Courtyards No. 265 and No. 267 had just returned.

Both looked somewhat surprised when they saw Zhang Su and Lu Tianqing.

"Junior Brother Zhang, no need to see me further."

Zhang Su stopped.

Then Lu Tianqing strode away.

"Is this junior brother new here?"

The owner of Courtyard No. 265 was a tall, thin young man.

He asked Zhang Su curiously.

"Yes, I was just promoted to the Inner Sect."

Zhang Su replied.

"May I ask how Junior Brother is addressed?"

The owner of Courtyard No. 267 spoke.

She was a young woman with a curvaceous figure. Her skin was not particularly fair, but it possessed a healthy wheat-colored glow that made her seem brimming with vitality.

"Zhang Su."

"So it's Junior Brother Zhang..."

The woman seemed thoughtful, then said with a smile, "My name is Tang Ying."

The owner of Courtyard No. 265 also said, "My name is Hu Buyu. We're neighbors, so we can get closer in the future."

It was obvious that both wanted to take the initiative to befriend Zhang Su.

Just then, an Inner Sect Deacon approached from afar.

He carried several sets of clothing in his hands.

"Who is Zhang Su?"

The Inner Sect Deacon called out loudly.

"I am Zhang Su."

"These are your Inner Sect garments, four sets in total. Keep them properly. If they are damaged or lost, you'll need contribution points to exchange for replacements."

"Thank you for the trouble, Deacon."

Zhang Su accepted the Inner Sect disciple garments.

When Tang Ying and Hu Buyu saw the Inner Sect Deacon hand Zhang Su those Inner Sect garments, they exchanged glances, and disappointment flashed through both their eyes.

They had both been in the Inner Sect for several years.

Naturally, they could recognize that these were the garments of Inner Sect Protector Disciples.

Though the garments of Protector Disciples and Legacy Disciples were largely similar, there were still subtle differences. They recognized them at a glance.

They had originally thought Zhang Su was a genius with limitless potential.

Who would have thought he was actually an overage Protector Disciple?

Though Protector Disciples were also Inner Sect disciples, they were far inferior to Legacy Disciples.

"Uh... I have some matters to attend to. Farewell."

Tang Ying turned and returned to her room.

"I have matters as well. We'll talk another time."

Hu Buyu was the same, not even wanting to say another word.

Zhang Su watched Tang Ying and Hu Buyu's retreating backs and seemed to understand something.

The two could not even be bothered to put on an act, unwilling to maintain even the barest superficial courtesy.

This also showed that Protector Disciples probably held a truly low status within the Inner Sect.

Still, they were merely two Inner Sect disciples.

Zhang Su did not care.

Having only just entered the Inner Sect, his most important task now was to choose an Internal Force-level martial art.

Thus, Zhang Su changed into his Inner Sect disciple garments, left the courtyard, and headed straight for the Scripture Pavilion.