The Amethyst Cradle cultivators make up the top one percent of the Dragon Star Immortal Sect, making them the elites. Therefore, those who reach the Amethyst Cradle level are automatically designated as inner disciples. Wu Yuan thought.
Yet, among the more than 600 hereditary disciples, the vast majority were Amethyst Cradle cultivators, with only over 30 Golden Core cultivators.
As for why this was so?
For hereditary disciples, reaching the Amethyst Cradle phase is not much of a challenge. When enough essentia is accumulated, a breakthrough is inevitable. Wu Yuan was well aware of this fact.
Wu Yuan’s Dao comprehension had reached the eighth-level Domain stage, and the path to the Amethyst Cradle phase lay unobstructed before him.
Those who were chosen as hereditary disciples might start off weak, but it wasn’t difficult for them to progress to the sixth-level Domain stage as time passed. The true hurdle lay in reaching the True Intent stage.
As time passed, Wu Yuan studied each Golden Core hereditary disciple; their histories and experiences, cultivation teachings, past battles, and more.
The information was complex, but Wu Yuan grasped and comprehended it all within a few dozen breaths.
Of the 34 Golden Core hereditary disciples, 30 have already grasped the True Intent of a Dao. Wu Yuan marveled.
The hereditary disciples of the Dragon Star Immortal Sect indeed lived up to their reputation.
One had to understand that reaching the True Intent stage was difficult even for most Amethyst Cradle cultivators. The remaining four Golden Core hereditary disciples who had yet to reach the True Intent stage were relatively new entrants to the sect and lacked the time and experience.
The Dragon Star Tournament takes place once every 30 years. There’re thirteen years to go before the next one. Wu Yuan calculated. Meaning, I’m guaranteed to keep my hereditary disciple status for 43 more years.
Within the Dragon Star Immortal Sect, high positions were occupied by the truly capable.
Even if one attained hereditary disciple status upon entering the sect, this status was not permanent. Should one’s strength prove inadequate, demotion to an inner disciple was a very real possibility.
However, newly inducted hereditary disciples were granted a buffer. Regardless of the outcome of their first Dragon Star Tournament, their disciple status was protected.
The Seven Star Luminaries Tower challenge takes place in the voidrealm, while the Dragon Star Tournament involves real-world combat. Therefore, I must enhance every aspect of my strength. Ideally, I should make a dazzling impression in my first tournament.
Thirteen years was neither long nor short.
Many Golden Core hereditary disciples chose to stall their cultivation at the ninth-stage Golden Core phase for an extended period to capitalize on the sect’s resources. However, the sect imposed a limit – a Golden Core hereditary disciple must not exceed 200 years of age.
The most noteworthy is the cultivator who placed third in the Golden Core category during the previous Dragon Star Tournament. In just over a century of cultivation, he had reached the fourth-level True Intent stage. Wu Yuan marveled inwardly.
Reaching the fourth-level True Intent stage indicated a profound comprehension of a Dao, rivaling even some Void Refiner cultivators. This disciple accomplished this feat at the eighth-stage Golden Core phase.
Over a decade had passed since then, and their overall strength would certainly have improved further
“Heir, another hereditary disciple has arrived to see you,” Lu Zhu suddenly sent a message to Wu Yuan. “His name is Kuang Long, and he regards you as his Senior Brother. It seems he joined the sect as a hereditary disciple alongside you.”
Communicating within the mansion via messages was quick and easy.
“Yes,” Wu Yuan replied to his message. “Please bring Junior Brother Kuang Long to the reception room promptly.” He had also received a message from Kuang Long
Soon enough, Kuang Long entered the mansion’s reception room.
“Junior Brother Kuang Long,” Wu Yuan greeted the burly man with a warm smile. Having entered the sect together, they naturally shared a closer bond than with the other disciples.
“Senior Brother, you’ve finally come to Dragon Star Island,” Kuang Long chuckled. “I forgot to ask for your contact information previously.”
“Please have a seat, Junior Brother,” Wu Yuan gestured.
After escorting the guest in, Lu Zhu discreetly withdrew from the room. He understood that anyone capable of becoming a hereditary disciple directly at admission was undoubtedly talented.
As Kuang Long settled into his seat, he remarked, “The treatment we’re receiving in the immortal sect is truly astounding. The entire worldlet, and those mortals, it gave me a shock.”
“And then there are the nine treasure lands. Though I have only skimmed through their descriptions, they are undeniably remarkable,” Kuang Long continued. “And the cultivation teachings… the overall cultivation environment here is hundreds of times better than what I experienced back at home.”
Wu Yuan couldn’t suppress a chuckle. “Indeed, it is quite excellent.”
Coming from the family of a Void Refiner powerhouse, Kuang Long received highly favorable cultivation conditions as the most valued disciple of his generation. Nevertheless, they paled in comparison compared to that of the hereditary disciples of the Dragon Star Immortal Sect.
“Senior Brother, have you visited the Dragon Star Immortal Realm yet?” Kuang Long asked.
“Not yet,” Wu Yuan shook his head. He had gleaned some information about it from an immortal slip. Having just joined the sect recently, he wasn’t in a hurry to visit it.
“The features of the Dragon Star Immortal Realm are more basic than the Redmoon Immortal Realm. But in exchange, we have greater authority and resources,” Kuang Long explained. “For instance, numerous sect disciples engage in fierce battles within the True Dragon Arena.”
Wu Yuan nodded in understanding. Based on what he had read, the Dragon Star Immortal Realm, a voidrealm unique to their sect, was a high-grade voidrealm.
“However, Senior Brother, you must be careful. Those veteran Golden Core hereditary disciples and relatively powerful inner disciples may issue you challenges,” Kuang Long warned. “While there may not be severe consequences for losing, it can be rather embarrassing. I myself lost three rounds.”
“Oh? You lost?” Wu Yuan was surprised.
He had witnessed Kuang Long’s strength for himself. While it wasn’t on the level of some monstrous prodigies, it was still exceptional. In terms of Dao comprehension, Kuang Long might even surpass him.
“Mm, I was defeated twice by hereditary disciples and once by an inner disciple,” Kuang Long sighed. “I also lost 30,000 catties of ethercrystal.”
Wu Yuan nodded in acknowledgment.
Losing a few matches was a common occurrence. Among the million Golden Core inner disciples of the Dragon Star Immortal Sect, the top contenders were not significantly weaker than the hereditary disciples.
“Hm?” Suddenly, Wu Yuan furrowed his brows, then smirked. “Speak of Cao Cao, and Cao Cao arrives.” [1]
“Cao Cao? Who’s that?” Kuang Long was bewildered.
“Nothing. Three hereditary disciples arriving here at the same time,” Wu Yuan chuckled. “I suspect their intentions are not entirely pure. As junior brothers, we should go greet them.”
“Three of them? Perhaps they have been waiting for you to enter the Dragon Star Immortal Realm, and came here to challenge you the moment they received news of your arrival.” Kuang Long frowned.
Wu Yuan’s response was calm and collected. “Whether it proves to be a good or bad thing, there is no avoiding it.”
With a swift movement, the two of them left the hall and flew to the entrance of the mansion, where three imposing figures stood awaiting them. Lu Zhu was already there to receive them.
The trio immediately noticed Wu Yuan and Kuang Long emerging from the mansion.
“Senior Brother Gong Ling, Senior Brother Hei Lei, Senior Sister Bei Hua,” Wu Yuan greeted them warmly. “As your junior brother, it is regrettable that I could not pay my respects earlier. I hope you can forgive me.”
Having received a message from Lu Zhu and perused the intelligence reports, Wu Yuan easily identified the three figures before him. The three were also unsurprised that he could identify them.
“Haha, I’m afraid our sudden visit may have caught you off guard, Junior Brother. Please accept our apologies,” Hei Lei remarked with a faint smile. He was a robust and bald man.
“Junior Brother Kuang Long is also present,” Gong Ling, a youth in black robes, added with a smile that seemed to hint at some familiarity with Kuang Long.
“I entered the sect at the same time as Senior Brother Li Xia, thus we are acquainted with each other. There is no need for concern, Senior Brother Gong Ling,” Kuang Long responded coolly, his tone carrying a trace of underlying tension.
“Senior Brothers and Sister, why not come inside the mansion?” Wu Yuan suggested politely, not wishing to offend these hereditary disciples. As long as their lives weren’t cut short, all of them were destined for greatness.
“There’s no need for us to enter the mansion,” the young woman in white spoke with a cold voice. “Junior Brother Li Xia, I have heard of your prowess in sword cultivation. The rumors say that you attained hereditary disciple status directly upon induction into the sect. We, your senior brothers and sister, are keen to witness your abilities.”
“Thus, we invite you for a match in the True Dragon Arena,” she added solemnly, the gazes of Hei Lei and Gong Ling also turning to focus on Wu Yuan.
Their purpose in coming here was clear—to gauge his strength.
1. (说曹操，曹操就到) chinese idiom that translates to ‘speak of the devil and he appears.’ It means that as soon as you mention someone, they appear or happen to be nearby.
The idiom is derived from a story in the Chinese historical novel Romance of the Three Kingdoms. In the story, the warlord Cao Cao is discussing his plans for the future with his advisors. One of his advisors, Xun Yu, suggests that Cao Cao should attack the warlord Liu Bei. Cao Cao agrees with Xun Yu’s plan and orders his troops to prepare for battle.
As Cao Cao’s troops are preparing to march, a scout reports that Liu Bei’s army is approaching. Cao Cao is surprised by this news, as he had not expected Liu Bei to attack so soon. He asks his advisors how they knew that Liu Bei would be attacking. Xun Yu replies, “I didn’t know. I just said it, and he came.” ☜