As he stood in his new room, Hope took a deep breath to calm himself down.

  The room was modest, with simple wooden furniture and a small window that let in a sliver of moonlight. The walls, painted a dull beige, bore no decorations, but the faint scent of incense lingered in the air—a reminder of the sect’s grandeur even in its simplest quarters. He needed to acclimate himself to this new life.

  He ran a hand through his hair, the strands damp with sweat. Taking off his travel-worn clothes, he reached for the outer disciple uniform neatly folded on the small table by the bed. The fabric was simple yet sturdy, pitch black with crimson accents. As he slid the uniform on, it fit snugly, almost as though it had been tailored for him. The material felt foreign against his skin, a constant reminder of the unfamiliar life he was now stepping into.

  Hope sat on the edge of his bed and picked up the jade slip he had been handed earlier. It was cool to the touch, its surface smooth and unblemished. With a deep breath, he sent a thin stream of his qi into the slip. Instantly, his mind was flooded with information, a torrent of details about the sect and its structure.

  The information unfolded before him like a vivid scroll, and he began to parse through it. There were four types of disciples in the sect: Outer, Inner, Core, and Legacy. Each title carried with it a weight of status, privilege, and responsibility.

  Outer disciples, he read, were the newcomers, those who had just joined the sect or lacked sufficient strength or contributions to rise higher. They were at the bottom of the hierarchy, tasked with menial duties and given the least resources. It was a humbling realization, but Hope accepted it. He had to start somewhere, even if it was at the bottom.

  Inner disciples were a step above. They had either proven their worth through completing missions or had strength sufficient to dominate the outer disciple ranks. These individuals were given better resources, lived in more luxurious accommodations, and had access to more profound techniques.

  Core disciples, however, stood on an entirely different level. These were individuals who had left their mark on the sect through meritorious deeds, exceptional strength, or by being personally mentored by elders. They were the elites, respected and envied by those below them.

  Finally, there were the Legacy disciples, referred to as Young Sect Masters within the sect.

  They were few in number and held the highest status among the disciples. These individuals were direct disciples of the sect master or grand elders. They were candidates to become the next sect master, and even those who didn’t succeed in claiming the title would go on to become grand elders or take up positions of immense power within the sect. Their duty was to uphold the sect’s legacy and ensure its future prosperity.

  As Hope absorbed this information, he leaned back against the wall, his gaze unfocused. “Hmm” he muttered to himself, “With my current strength, I should be able to become an Inner disciple without much trouble. But Core disciple?” He shook his head. “That’s out of reach for now. And Legacy disciple?” He shook his head.

  He let the thought linger for a moment before moving on. The jade slip continued to pour information into his mind, detailing the hierarchy of the sect beyond the disciples. At the bottom were the clerks, who handled menial tasks such as managing resources, organizing missions, and maintaining records. While they played a vital role, their status was below that of even an Inner disciple.

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  Above them were the deacons, who managed the sect’s day-to-day operations. They oversaw the outer disciples and ensured the sect’s functions ran smoothly. Core disciples, however, held more authority and status than these deacons.

  Then came the elders, individuals who had transcended the mundane and wielded immense power. They handled the sect’s most important matters, and their decisions shaped the sect’s future. Legacy disciples, due to their unique status, often commanded more respect and authority than even these elders.

  At the pinnacle of this hierarchy were the grand elders and the sect master.

  The grand elders were the pillars of the sect, focusing on cultivating and protecting the sect from external threats. They rarely involved themselves in mundane matters, leaving such tasks to the sect master, who was the ultimate authority. The jade slip provided no information about ranks beyond the sect master, leading Hope to assume that the sect master held absolute power within the sect.

  Hope let out a small scoff as he set the jade slip aside. “It’s all about strength” he muttered under his breath. “If an outer disciple were stronger than an inner disciple, that inner disciple wouldn’t even dare to look them in the eye, no matter what the hierarchy says.” To him, strength was the only currency that truly mattered in a world like this.

  With that thought, he reached for the next item on the table—a scroll containing the Crimson Feather Breathing Art. It was a foundational technique given to all outer disciples. Unrolling the scroll, he scanned its contents, his eyes narrowing in concentration. The characters etched on the parchment seemed to pulse with a faint crimson glow, as if alive with energy.

  Hope’s hands trembled slightly as he read through the technique. Compared to the mortal-grade breathing technique he had been practicing up until now, this was leagues ahead. His current technique was rudimentary at best, barely sufficient for cultivating a small amount of essence. It was no wonder his essence cultivation was so weak compared to his body cultivation.

  As he delved into the contents of the Crimson Feather Breathing Art, a sense of exhilaration washed over him. The technique was elegant, precise, and profound. It detailed methods to draw in the world’s essence, refine it within one’s core, and circulate it through the meridians with unmatched efficiency. It was a far cry from the crude methods he had been using.

  Within minutes, he felt as though he had grasped the essence of the technique. Sitting cross-legged on the wooden floor, he closed his eyes and began to practice. His breathing slowed, each inhale drawing in the faint traces of essence lingering in the room. As he exhaled, he felt the energy flow through his body, igniting his meridians like streams of liquid fire.

  The effect was immediate. His previously sluggish qi circulation became smooth and vibrant. A warmth spread through his chest, radiating outward and suffusing his limbs with newfound vitality. He felt his strength increase incrementally, as if his very being was being refined.

  “This is incredible” he whispered, his voice barely audible. In just a few moments of practice, he could already tell that this technique had improved his essence cultivation by a bit. If he continued cultivating with it, he could potentially double his current strength in a matter of weeks.

  Excitement coursed through him even though his face still looked indifferent he was feeling a bit of happiness inside. He wondered what other cultivation techniques the sect might offer. If a basic technique like this was already so powerful, what more could he learn in the future?

  His hands trembled slightly as he rolled up the scroll and set it aside. The possibilities were endless, and the thought of growing stronger filled him with an uncontrollable eagerness. He couldn’t stop shaking, not from fear, but from sheer anticipation.

  Taking another deep breath, he steadied himself. “One step at a time” he murmured.

  With that, he closed his eyes and resumed cultivating, letting the rhythmic flow of essence calm his turbulent thoughts. The room fell silent, save for the faint hum of energy that now pulsed faintly around him.

  Milestones for extra chapters:

  Followers

  - 1

  - 10

  - 20

  - 50

  - 100

  - 150

  I will be adding more milestones as we proceed and as i think of them. Enjoy!