"Did this Lin Clan really have the strength of a first-tier cultivation force? I don't think so!" someone said indignantly.
This was not a doubt held by that person alone. In truth, most cultivators in the cultivation world were puzzled and confused by the Lin Clan's sudden promotion to a first-tier cultivation force.
For countless years, there had only ever been a handful of first-tier cultivation forces in the entire cultivation world. Though there were occasional changes, the ones that had truly endured until now could be counted on two hands, never exceeding ten.
Many forces had once enjoyed boundless glory, reaching the pinnacle of first-tier cultivation forces at a certain point in time. Yet almost none of them lasted. Within a few decades, they would decline and return to the ranks of second-tier cultivation forces.
One major reason for this was their foundation.
When it came to the foundation of a first-tier cultivation force, the most widely known factor was Tribulation Transcendence cultivators. Yet many second-tier cultivation forces also had Tribulation Transcendence cultivators. Take the Soul Refining Sect, for instance—their sect master was a Tribulation Transcendence cultivator whose soul had even reached the pinnacle of the cultivation world, making him a being known as a half-immortal.
Yet even so, the Soul Refining Sect remained a second-tier cultivation force rather than a first-tier one. Why? Because they lacked the true foundation of a first-tier cultivation force.
One factor Lin Chuan knew of was sacred medicine. With sacred medicine, one could refine powerful pills to help a force preserve its prosperity. Beyond that, there were other combined factors, such as immortal artifacts and so on...
All in all, there was a comprehensive standard for judging first-tier cultivation forces. Meeting a particular condition did not necessarily make one a first-tier cultivation force.