When they reached the entrance to the hall, a disciple announced their arrival, and then the two were invited inside.

Upon entering, Wang Xiaoqiang saw four middle-aged men inside the hall, all clad in blue robes and seated, discussing something intensely.

Steward Liu smiled at the four men and said, "Well, what a coincidence that all four Sect Masters are here, that couldn't be better. Here, let me recommend a disciple... Wang Xiaoqiang, twenty years old, with Transformation Cultivation..."

As Steward Liu spoke, he gestured towards Wang Xiaoqiang with his chin.

The Outer Sect was divided into the North, South, East, and West Sects.

Each Sect of the Outer Sect had a Sect Master.

The four Sect Masters of the Outer Sect had been discussing the upcoming grand competition of the Outer Sect next month and had not paid much attention when they heard that Steward Liu had requested to see them, thinking it was nothing important. They hadn't expected him to recommend a disciple and were all taken aback.

However, the expressions of the four Sect Masters didn't show impatience; on the contrary, seeing that it was Steward Liu recommending a disciple, they all lit up and thought that the disciple recommended by Steward Liu must not be too poor. They immediately released their Divine Senses to inspect Wang Xiaoqiang's Spirit Root.

After inspecting him, the four Sect Masters chuckled and immediately burst into cold, mocking remarks.

"Steward Liu, if I'm not mistaken, this kid must be surnamed Liu, right..." the East Sect Master, Yang Hu, said with a hint of mockery.

"Steward Liu, this must be your nephew..." Sect Master Mubao of the West Sect said without masking the mocking tone in his voice.

"If he really is your nephew, then I'll gladly take him, and you can buy me a drink afterward..." South Sect Master Ji Nan said.

"Ah, gentlemen, there's no need for such sarcasm, it's just a lack of Spirit Root. Although he doesn't have a Spirit Root, reaching Divinity Transformation at such a young age proves he is a diligent child. You don't think so? Fine, I, Hann Beifeng, will take him."

Hann Beifeng said and patted his chest.

Steward Liu, mocked by the other three Sect Masters, could hardly maintain his composure and really wanted to just leave it behind, but he owed Master Yans Ruohong of the Yans Family, and abandoning this matter would have been disrespectful to his old friend.

Worried that no one would accept Wang Xiaoqiang and seeing Hann Beifeng make a quick decision, Liu seized the opportunity and said, "Lord Hann has the eye for talent; I admire that. Since that's the case, I'll leave Wang Xiaoqiang to you then, and I'll buy you a drink later..."

Having said that, Steward Liu respectfully bowed to Hann Beifeng and then left the hall.

The three Sect Masters from the East, South, and West watched Hann Beifeng with mocking expressions, as if watching a joke. It was no wonder they acted this way; historically, accepting someone without a Spirit Root had never happened in the Five Spirit Sect. If Hann Beifeng dared to take Wang Xiaoqiang, he would become a huge laughing stock and a disgrace in the history of the Five Spirit Sect.

Actually, Hann Beifeng had only made a polite remark without a real intention to take Wang Xiaoqiang, but his comment became the slope down which Steward Liu slid, as Liu directly dumped Wang Xiaoqiang there and then turned away.

Hann Beifeng was extremely frustrated, his eye muscles twitching.

"A man's word is as good as his bond, Lord Hann, take him," they said.

"Yes, Lord Hann, Wang Xiaoqiang is so young and already has Transformation Cultivation; he is undoubtedly a talent. Maybe in next month's Outer Sect grand competition, he could bring much honor to the North Sect... haha..."

"Indeed, indeed, your North Sect has always lacked talented youths, with Wang Xiaoqiang coming, perhaps it could boost the majesty of your North Sect..."

The three Sect Masters from the East, South, and West started to mock Hann Beifeng even more blatantly than they had mocked Steward Liu, stating that a disciple of Transformation Realm was the most common cultivation in the Outer Sect, and how could he boost the majesty of the North Sect? Their words were blatant sarcasm, a powerful slap in the face.

Hann Beifeng felt extremely frustrated inside, wondering how he had ended up accepting a useless disciple with just one remark; what should he do now?

If he didn't accept the disciple, it seemed contradictory and would damage the dignity of a Sect Master.

If he accepted, he might become the biggest joke of the Five Spirit Sect by tomorrow.

Hann Beifeng was in extreme agony.

Wang Xiaoqiang scanned the four Outer Sect Masters; they each had a cultivation level from the Seventh to the Ninth turn of the Immortal, still falling short of the True Immortal Realm, and were on par with Steward Liu. Frankly, with such cultivation levels and mocking him like this, if it were anywhere else, Wang Xiaoqiang would have drawn the Penglai Immortal Sword and slain them one by one.

But not here, this is the Five Spirit Sect, where higher realms exist. It was not a place Wang Xiaoqiang could easily interact with.

"Wang Xiaoqiang, I'm asking you, and you must answer me truthfully," Hann Beifeng said.

"Yes."

"What is your relationship with Steward Liu?"

"We have no relationship, we just met recently."

"Are you lying to me?"

"The disciple dares not."

"Hmm, I thought you wouldn't dare. I'll ask you again, Wang Xiaoqiang, do you truly wish to join our Five Spirit Sect?" Hann Beifeng asked.

"Yes," Wang Xiaoqiang replied calmly and firmly.

Hann Beifeng became even more annoyed at Wang Xiaoqiang's answer, thinking to himself that such a worthless individual would only suffer and be bullied in the Five Spirit Sect. Why bother?

Suddenly, a thought struck Hann Beifeng, "Hmm, why not recruit him first, then find a way to eliminate him? After all, killing an Outer Sect Disciple is as easy as slaughtering a pig or dog as long as no one notices."

Thinking this, Hann Beifeng then said, "Well, since you have this Daoist Heart, I shall fulfill your wish. Wang Xiaoqiang, from now on you are a disciple of my North Sect..."

"Thank you," Wang Xiaoqiang responded. Although he could not see Hann Beifeng's true intentions, he could guess that his sincerity was not truly appreciated; thus, on the surface, Wang Xiaoqiang showed no respect.

"Come, follow me. I'll make some arrangements for you." Hann Beifeng waved to Wang Xiaoqiang, and with a look of annoyance, stepped out of the grand hall under the amused gazes of the other three Sect Masters.

Wang Xiaoqiang followed closely behind and also left the grand hall.

As the two walked out of the grand hall, they heard unbridled mocking laughter coming from inside.

...

The status of Outer Sect Disciples in the Five Spirit Sect is quite unique, termed "Outer Sect Disciples" or alternatively "Uninitiated Disciples." Because, in reality, Outer Sect Disciples don't have the authority to enter the inner parts of the sect; their quarters are not within the sect but rather a section under the jurisdiction of the Five Spirit Sect—a peripheral mountain peak.

This mountain peak is called Green Rock Peak. On a flat area halfway up Green Rock Peak, a collection of dilapidated, damp stone houses stands. They're small and short. These small and short stone houses serve as the dwellings for Entry-Level Disciples, one for each disciple. However, the space inside these stone houses is extremely cramped; a bed occupies half the room.

Among these small stone houses, there is one that is taller and larger—that is the cafeteria for Entry-Level Disciples, the most prominent building here. But, the food inside is nothing special, akin to the everyday meals of common folks in the secular world.

Next to the cafeteria, there is a row of tidy stone buildings; these are shops, including a Pill Shop, a Weapon Shop, and others.

This setup shows that the Five Spirit Sect pays little attention to Entry-Level Disciples. Indeed, this is the case: not only are the living conditions for Outer Sect Disciples poor, but their benefits are nonexistent. They are not only overlooked, but the management of Outer Sect Disciples is also quite lax. Outer Sect Disciples can come and go as they please; their actions are never restricted. Whether they diligently practice the Immortal Dao or not is entirely up to them, and no one supervises them.

Even so, eight out of ten disciples still engage in strenuous cultivation every day.

The threshold to become an Outer Sect Disciple is very low, requiring only the possession of a Spirit Root.

To advance from an Outer Sect Disciple to an Inner Sect Disciple, the barriers are much higher, requiring one to reach the Solidification Realm.

Cultivating the Immortal Dao is incredibly challenging. Without exceptional fortunes, ordinary disciples might need twenty to thirty years to reach the Solidification Realm. Among the Outer Sect Disciples, many who start their training from the age of fifteen or sixteen do not advance to Inner Sect Disciple status until they are over thirty-four years old.

Despite their advanced age, they still practice diligently every day, because everyone understands that once they reach Solidification Realm, they can enter the Inner Sect and enjoy very generous benefits including cultivation techniques, Immortal Techniques, Pills, and weapons—amenities far beyond those available to Entry-Level Disciples.

After completing the initiation process with Hann Beifeng, Wang Xiaoqiang, carrying a bag of issued sect attire, arrived at Green Rock Peak. (To be continued. If you like this work, you are welcome to vote for it on qidian.com. Your support is my greatest motivation. Mobile users, please visit m.qidian.com to read.)

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