After leaving Redwater Peak, Gao Rong and his companion walked along Seven Peaks Avenue beside the Redwater River.
Most of those around them were newly arrived disciples reporting in.
Watching them, Gao Rong grew rather wistful. "So many people come every year, but few actually reach Foundation Establishment. So many are left waiting bitterly in the Qi Refining Institute."
Everyone had to fight for a ranking. Although those ahead entered Foundation Establishment, even more people joined from behind.
Without a certain amount of talent and resources, fighting for a place at the top was far too difficult.
Even someone who performed brilliantly at the Cloudfront Office might fade into the crowd after entering the Sect.
Over the years, he had seen far, far too much of it.
"Young Master Gao, you don't seem to think much of that fellow surnamed Jiang," Luo Xuan's older cousin Luo Lu asked.
"It's not a question of thinking much of him. There's no telling how he'll fare after entering the Sect." Gao Rong smiled and shook his head as he walked.
"I just think his friendship with Little Gao isn't so simple. Little Gao doesn't have many cultivation resources, but he can't use them all anyway. How much do you think has ended up in that fellow's belly?
"What poor person is ever simple? Everyone knows perfectly well. It's just that Little Gao doesn't have many friends. Since he wants benefits and Little Gao wants a friend, just let him taste the benefits of maintaining that friendship.
"If he really can rank near the top, what's the harm in helping him?
"If he can't, he can simply maintain his relationship with Little Gao, and there will naturally be benefits for him."
"I heard he was Cloudfront Office First," Luo Lu said.
At that, Gao