Chapter 37: Hidden Dragon Martial Sect
It took a long time but we finally stepped out of the formation. As soon as we came out we found that our current location was a similar palace like the one in the trials. However unlike the one before, this wasn't dilapidated. It was bustling with activity.
I could sense more than a thousand people inside the palace. It was a small number considering the enormous size of the palace. There were many strong presences among them. Surprisingly, the strongest one was a 1st rank Martial Exalted level expert.
We were transported into a huge hall with many old statues on either side. Along with the ancient aura, we also found a few individuals stationed outside hall. As soon as we stepped out they immediately came in.
It was eight middle aged men with matching guard uniforms. The weakest among them had a cultivation of 6 rank Utmost Exalted while the one leading them had a peak Utmost Exalted cultivation. The leader had no expression on his face as he looked at us and said,"Are you Long Xiaoxiao and Chu Feng?"
Xiaoxiao replied,"Yes, did we successfully clear the trial?" There was some anticipation in her voice. Geez, you are a princess of an upper star field. Chill out.
He nodded and replied in monotone,"Congratulations for successfully clearing the trial. Please come with us to meet the Sir Chief Guardian. He will explain to you about your status here in more detail."
We looked at each other and nodded. Then we followed them silently as the leader brought us to what looked like a throne room. As we entered the throne room we could see that it was filled with people right now. Many older experts sat on the sidelines while youngsters were standing behind them. There were also wearing different attires.
However, there were three figures on throne platform. One of them was a middle aged man while the two others were youngsters. The middle aged man was the martial exalted expert I sensed before. He was sitting on the throne while the youngsters were standing on his left. It looked as if they had similar status.
The youngsters were wearing the same attire as Yu Ting and Li Muzhi. I could deduce the middle aged man's status. He must be the guardian of the transportation formation. Since all the people who take the trials enter through this formation, a guardian was necessary.
He was also observing the both of us. He also had a stoic expression on his face that gave nothing away. The two youngsters comprised of a boy and a girl. The boy looked older of the two. The girl had a cultivation of 7th level Utmost Exalted while the boy had 8th level Utmost Exalted. The girl had a pleasant smile on her face while the boy was filled with slight hostility. He was looking at the both of us as if we didn't deserve to be here.
I looked at the expert on the throne and smiled,"To have a 1st level Martial Exalted expert guard an abandoned formation, the Hidden Dragon Martial Sect seems to have no shortage of experts."
The expert in the middle nodded slightly and said,"It has been a long time since anyone passed the trials. Usually I don't stay here but he higher ups ordered the three of us to come and receive you. My name is Yi Long but everyone calls me guardian chief."
He then pointed to the youngsters and continued,"These two are the inner disciples of the Hidden Dragon Martial Sect. We are currently in the Boundary Palace Upper Realm. We have to go to the Hidden Dragon Upper Realm where the Main Sect is located."
I then introduced both of us,"I am Chu Feng from Chu Heavenly Clan. She is Long Xiaoxiao, the princess of Dragon Clan."
He then looked at me for a second and asked Xiaoxiao with his eyes narrowed,"Is your family in compliance with you coming here?"
She snorted and replied with a prideful expression,"There were no rules stating that I can't participate in the trials. What about my clan? Even the Holy Light Clan has no right to tell me what to do."
I just smiled when she said that. I could see that everyone was shocked by what she said. Even Yi long was taken back slightly. The youngsters were also surprised by the way she dismissed the Holy Light Clan.
He coughed slightly and said,"There are certain rules that you need to know about the sect. Let these two explain them to you. I know you just completed the trials but we have to leave for the main sect tomorrow. You will be taken to your resting quarters shortly."
With that the awkward and useless meeting came to an end. We then went to our resting quarters. It was quite spacious and there were multiple rooms inside the mansion. A little while after we got settled inside the mansion, two youngsters came into the mansion to speak with us. Yes, they were supposed to tell us the rules or something.
Xiaoxiao invited the to the main hall and all four of us sat down. They guy looked uncomfortable even now but the intensity was lesser compared to when we were in the throne room.
The girl then spoke with a cheerful expression,"Congratulations. My name is Gu Yu'er. I am one of the inner disciples of Hidden Dragon Martial Sect."
They boy looked reluctant but still gave a short introduction,"I am Xuan Feng."
The girl Gu yu'er was embarrassed a little and said,"Don't mind him. Big brother Feng is always like that." She then looked at Xiaoxiao and asked,"Are you really the Dragon Clan's princess?"
Xiaoxiao nodded and replied,"Yes. My father is the Clan Head."
Xuan Feng asked in a rude tone,"Then why did you come to our starfield?"
Xiaoxiao frowned and replied coldly,"None of your business."
He became angry by that reply but I intervened and asked,"You didn't come her just to chat, did you?"
Gu Yu'er nodded and said,"Yes, there are some rules and regulations that we have to tell you as a part of our mission. When you took the test, all your results were sent to the main sect. After analysing your results we were ordered to escort to back to the sect."
She paused a little and continued,"Usually when one joins the Hidden Dragon Martial Sect, they join the Outer Sect regardless of their cultivation. Only after passing the inner sect's assessment can they enter the Inner Sect. The inner sect contains the elite core of the sect. The Outer Sect contains talented people from across the Hidden Dragon Starfield and the ones that are brought back from the outside."
She then looked at the both of us with a complicated expression and said,"However your case is special. Those who pass those entrance trials are automatically inducted into the Inner Sect. It is said that those entrance trials are harder than the Inner Sect's assessment so its natural for you to become inner disciples directly."
I get it now. All they were informed was that they had to escort two test participants back to the Inner Sect. Our details were not given to these two. That's why this Xuan Feng was looking at us with such hostility. In his opinion we were just walking into the inner sect that he had to struggle to get into.
I laughed slightly and they looked at me with puzzled expressions. I shook my head and said,"They didn't tell you anything about the two of us, did they?"
Gu Yu'er was confused by the question but nonetheless replied,"They informed us that two youngsters named Chu Feng and Long Xiaoxiao passed the entrance trials. They then assigned us a compulsory mission of escorting you to the Inner Sect."
I then looked at Xuan Feng and said with a provocative smile,"You must be angry that we are getting direct entry into the Inner Sect."
Xuan Feng immediately shouted,"Don't be too happy outsider. If you don't pass the yearly assessment, you will kicked out of the Inner Sect."
I just shrugged my shoulders. If I wasn't restraining my aura this guy would be pissing himself right now. Xiaoxiao was also looking at me with a confused expression.
There was an awkward silence that Xiaoxiao finally broke,"Gu Yu'er, what privileges does one get by being an inner disciple?"
Gu Yu'er became excited and stared talking about all the different cultivation grounds. A merit system was in place which was equivalent to currency within the sect. You could earn merit by performing several tasks. They were even earning some merit for escorting us to the sect. Merit was also given as a reward for the competitions.
She then told us about how we could also use merit to get advice from the seniors of the sect. That's when I realised that even the old seniors of the sect use the merit system to exchange resources. If you have enough merits you could even get special training from the Sect Master.
She then explained the division in the sect. Many disciples actually have their own masters but they also use sect resources.
The Punishment Hall is a very important organisation within the sect. It is also the most powerful faction within the sect. The Vice Sect Master is incharge of the punishment hall so only the Sect Master could change their verdict if necessary. They are also very strict and don't give any leeway to anyone in the sect. Their verdicts are usually fair so no has complaints on how they work. The punishment hall also has very high requirement for it's officers.
The Hidden Dragon Martial Sect also has many inheritance grounds under it's control. They open once in a while and talented disciples get opportunities to go in and look for treasures.
There were strict rules that need to be followed by all the disciples of the sect. Every disciple has to participate in an assessment once every year to gauge their progress. The only exception is if you are under closed-door seclusion. If the performance is not satisfactory, you will be kicked out of sect. The conditions are harsher on the inner disciples but the incentives are also greater.
The Hidden Dragon Geniuses also receive special privileges that a normal inner disciples doesn't. There is also a World Spiritist division inside the sect. The rules are slightly different for them. Their intake also has different requirements.
The atmosphere in sect also seems to be very competitive. The students were not allowed to leave the Hidden Dragon Starfield unless the punishment hall allows it. Like I would agree to that. Let's see who will stop me.
Long Xiaoxiao immediately said,"You sect has way more resources compared to our clan. I finally understand why the quality of juniors here is so high."
Xuan Feng snorted at that and said,"Don't compare our sect to some clan outside. They were never in the same league as us anyway. No matter what status you had before it won't make a difference in the sect. Even the Holy Light Clan has to give our sect face not to mention the Dragon Clan."
I replied with a cold expression,"For a guy who is getting paid to be here, your attitude is crappy. If you don't want to be here, then feel free to f**k off. You are starting to piss me off."
Xiaoxiao also turned cold as she looked at him. Gu Yu'er immediately intervened and said,"Calm down everyone. Elder Brother Feng, that was rude of you to say. We didn't come her to stir up conflict. Junior Sister, I will apologise on his behalf."
She then continued,"Although he said that in an inappropriate tone there is some truth in that. After entering the sect, your previous identity becomes non-existent. Although since you are from a famous clan, I am not sure how the rules apply to you."
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