Chapter 7: The Strong Are Respected (3), Section 27

  "Don't be embarrassed, I was about the same as you when I first came." Pang Haoman said nonchalantly.

  "Where are we going next?" Chang Sheng asked, not wanting to discuss that speechless topic again.

  "Of course, we're going to the Transmission Hall. As new outer sect disciples this year, our daily schedule is to get up early in the morning for breakfast, then head to the Transmission Hall for lectures. We return at noon for lunch and have free time in the afternoon." Pang Hai said seriously.

  Changsheng nodded and asked: "Are other outer door disciples different from us?"

  Pang Hai walked around the dinner table, pulling Chang Sheng out as he spoke: "Of course it's different. Even if Huo Yun Sect becomes stronger, we can't just support hundreds of thousands of outer sect disciples for free! The eight-year-old disciples who entered Huo Yun Sect last year will all practice their skills according to the requirements of the Transmission Hall and hone their foundation. By the second year, they will be assigned to tend to spiritual medicine in the Medicine Garden or become apprentices in the Alchemy Hall. In the third year, they will assist outer sect disciples with some daily tasks or receive tasks released by the outer sect. After completing these tasks, they can get corresponding rewards. Only when they successfully build their foundation can they focus on cultivation and participate in the annual Outer Sect Competition to strive for early entry into the Inner Sect and become an inner sect disciple."

  Chang Sheng was led by Pang Hai to a majestic grand hall. The doors were wide open, and from the outside, one could see that there were countless outer sect disciples seated in four areas according to their age and cultivation level.

  According to observation, Chang Sheng discovered that the youngest disciples in this outer sect were about eight years old, similar to himself. The oldest was actually already over twenty years old.

  Pang Hai saw Chang Sheng sizing up the seated crowd and whispered in his ear, "Do you see those people who are all over twenty years old? If they can't establish their foundation before the age of twenty-eight, their hopes of successfully establishing their foundation will be very slim. These people will be assigned to subordinate towns within the Fire Cloud Sect's ten-thousand-mile territory by the Outer Sect Elders' Hall based on their actual strength."

  Changsheng nodded, thinking to himself: "This is a world where strength is revered! Even a large sect like Huoyun can't escape this reality. It seems that if I want to avoid being a burden to Father and Uncle Zifeng in the future, I must work hard myself. I absolutely cannot waste this opportunity! As a person, one must strive to be at the top!"

  Pang Hai brought Chang Sheng to the first region, which was also the area for newly-entered outer sect disciples. The number of people in this region was only over a thousand, much fewer than the other three regions.

  Seeing the puzzled gaze of Chang Sheng, Pang Hai explained patiently: "Although there are countless Lingyin Temples within the vast territory of Huoyun Sect, and many eight-year-old children come to test their skills every year. However, after the trial, testing, and screening, only about 10,000 people can enter the outer gate as disciples. The Huoyun Sect has three peaks, so on average, each peak can only have more than 3,000 outer gate disciples. Our region is a transmission area for introductory exercises."

  Next to it are three other areas, namely Qigong, Tongmai and Zhugji, which are the three transmission areas. According to different levels of cultivation, sitting in different areas, there are special outer gate elders who teach there. Answering various questions encountered by outer door disciples during their practice. And teaching some superficial Taoist methods.