The Heavenly Baleful Sect had twelve True Disciples.
As for the Reserve True Disciple, it was a solution proposed by the sect's higher-ups when all twelve positions were filled.
The Reserve True Disciple could directly challenge the twelve True Disciples and unseat them.
They could also wait for a vacancy and fill it in order.
Or several reserves might compete for the same position.
After all, even the Heavenly Baleful Sect could not possibly nurture dozens of True Disciples. Twelve was already its limit.
Xu Dewen had replaced the ninth-ranked True Disciple.
That man had once tried to recruit Xu Dewen. After being refused, he had repeatedly made trouble for him.
He had even personally ambushed him out in the wilderness once.
But Xu Dewen had plenty of tricks up his sleeve and managed to escape.
The two had thus become bitter enemies.
After Xu Dewen broke through to the golden core late stage and brought his divine ability to full mastery, his strength soared.
He publicly challenged the ninth True Disciple outright.
It drew considerable attention.
That battle had been heart-stopping.
No one had favored Xu Dewen's chances.
The entire fight had been fraught with danger.
For during that encounter in the wilderness, the ninth True Disciple had used only part of his strength.
Xu Dewen gritted his teeth, activated the Violet-Luo Baleful Sky Lamp, and burned thirty years of his lifespan.
He unleashed power comparable to an all-out strike from a nascent soul early stage cultivator.
Only then did he severely wound his opponent, eventually killing him on the arena after a grueling struggle.
From that day onward.
Xu Dewen took his place as a True Disciple of the Heavenly Baleful Sect and was bestowed a True Disciple Token and a True Disciple Ceremonial Robe.
The other True