The awning boat rocked with the waves.
Geng Weizhi untied the waterskin at his waist, took a great gulp, then continued:
"Star-Picking Sect stood alongside Qingyuan Sword Tower, Azure Radiance Manor, and the Sea-Calming Marquisate as the four great powers of South Township Prefecture!"
"Its experts were as numerous as clouds, its foundations as deep as abyss and sea, and its rules were naturally strict as well!"
"By sect rules, disciples of the eight lower academies had to break through the threshold of 'Bright Force' before turning sixteen to qualify to enter Star-Picking Sect and seek the status of an Outer Sect disciple."
"If they wished to go a step further and enter the inner sect, they had to open the meridians throughout their bodies and shatter the great barrier of 'Hidden Force' before turning thirty!"
Bright Force was required just to become an Outer Sect disciple!
The inner sect required Hidden Force!
There were even age requirements!
Shen Xiuhan clicked his tongue inwardly. As expected of a great martial sect from the prefectural city!
If such a threshold were placed in Longcloud County, it would be enough to make ninety-nine percent of martial artists stare helplessly across the ocean and abandon all hope.
At this point, a trace of regret surfaced on Geng Weizhi's face.
"I'm not afraid that Lord Inspector will laugh at me. My benefactor and master, Qin Hu, the hall master of Dragon-Tiger Hall, was once an Outer Sect disciple of Star-Picking Sect in his early years."
"What a pity..."
He sighed and shook his head.
"My master wasted away until he was past thirty, yet never managed to comprehend Hidden Force. With his heart reduced to ashes, he had no choice but to leave Star-Picking Sect and retire to Longcloud County, where he opened a