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The top ten from the competition were listed.
According to previous conventions, some high-ranking members of the sect held a certain number of quotas and could directly bring the people they favored into the inner sect to enjoy the treatment of Inner Sect Disciples.
An elder-level position received one quota every three years, while a hall master-level position received one every six years.
Of course,
The first place of the competition ignored this restriction, even if no one took them as a disciple, they would automatically become an Inner Sect Disciple.
Chen Yu had now become an Inner Sect Disciple.
In addition, any cultivator who advanced to the Organ Refining Stage before the age of twenty-five could also become an Inner Sect Disciple.
In short, there were only three ways to become an Inner Sect Disciple.
The simplest was through connections.
Secondly, having good qualifications could also make one an Inner Sect Disciple.
No qualifications? Then rely on absolute strength to forcibly claim first place, like Chen Yu.
Among the three ways, the last one was the most difficult.
In the pavilion,
Several high-ranking elders scanned the top ten disciples.
"Duan Xiaolong, I see you have remarkable comprehension and are promising material, would you like to become my disciple? I will grant you Inner Sect Disciple status."
A blue-robed middle-aged man spoke with a smile.
The speaker was the Yunyue Sect Master.
This enviable scene caused a stir in the audience.
"I would."
Duan Xiaolong showed a happy expression and quickly stepped forward to bow.
In fact, for Duan Xiaolong, advancing to the Organ Refining Stage was not very difficult at this point. The Duan Family behind him was also a major family in Chu Country.
However,
Becoming the disciple of the Yunyue Sect Master was too great an honor.
"Le Feng, I see you have decent martial art potential, are you willing to become my disciple?"
A kindly clothed elder spoke.
"I am willing!"
Le Feng looked pleasantly surprised. He did not expect that his fifth-place ranking would gain the attention of an elder and be taken as a disciple.
Afterward,
Some elders and hall masters in the pavilion fell silent.
In the top three,
Chen Yu was already an Inner Sect Disciple, his qualifications being too mediocre made it unnecessary to waste a quota on him now. If they valued him, they could privately take him as a disciple later.
Duan Xiaolong was already taken as a disciple by the Sect Master.
As for Nangong Li, he was the grandson of Elder Nangong, so naturally his grandfather would train him personally.
"Nangong Li, I will grant you the status of 'True Disciple'."
After some thought, the white-bearded elder made a decision.
True Disciple!
Everyone, including the Yunyue Sect Master, looked at Elder Nangong in surprise.
"The quota for True Disciples is something only elders might have, and it only comes once every twenty years. It can elevate any disciple directly to the status of a 'True Disciple.'"
"Wow! A True Disciple! The sect treatment and privileges they enjoy are immense."
There was a cacophony of discussions among the crowd.
"Elder Nangong, are you sure you want to use the once-in-twenty-years True Disciple quota on Nangong Li? Once this quota is used, it will automatically be consumed, and you won't have another until the next twenty years."
The Yunyue Sect Master said solemnly.
The True Disciple quota was extremely precious.
Some with shallow qualifications who had not been elders for very long did not have this quota. For example, Fairy Xia Yu, the youngest elder in the Yunyue Sect, did not have this privilege.
"Confirmed."
Elder Nangong did not hesitate at all.
Nangong Li, as his biological grandson, had extraordinary qualifications. Missing out on the reward for first place couldn't delay him any longer.
Resolutely, he decided to give the once-in-twenty-years quota to his own grandson.
After that,
The high-ranking members in the pavilion no longer spoke.
For one thing, quotas were limited; for another, none of the remaining disciples were very satisfactory.
"What a pity, I thought Tong Yuling was quite good, but there's no quota."
Fairy Xia Yu sighed softly.
She valued Tong Yuling's potential and mindset and felt she might be worth cultivating. However, she had used her quota in advance on Mu Xueqing.
Among the remaining top ten, the other disciples all wore expressions of disappointment and gloom.
"Next, we distribute the competition's rewards."
A clear, high voice came from the black-robed elder in front of the formation board.
Rewards for the competition!
The crowd of disciples felt their spirits lift.
Especially Chen Yu, whose heart raced; this year's first-place prize was far better than in previous years.
At that moment,
Elder Nangong's gaze swept over Chen Yu and Nangong Li, with a silent sigh.
Nangong Li had deliberately lingered in the outer sect just for the "first place" reward, and Elder Nangong had assisted in this.
In the end, everything was done in vain.
"First, distribute the top ten rewards," the black-robed elder waved his hand.
Quickly,
Seven women, carrying seven trays, walked up to the martial stage.
The fourth to tenth places, Le Feng, Tong Yuling, Hu Yiba, and others, stepped onto the stage to receive their prizes.
[Top ten rewards]: 10,000 contribution points, high-level martial arts, and a Low Grade Body Nourishing Pill.
These rewards were a significant boost for a disciple at the Meridian Passage Stage.
"Top three, come to receive your rewards."
Two more women brought trays up to the stage.
These women were at the Body Refining Stage, members of the sect's lower tier.
In the Yunyue Sect,
Those called "disciples" all had age limits.
Outer Disciples were not to exceed twenty-five years of age. If they reached the age limit and had not entered the inner sect, they would no longer be called "disciples" but could stay in the sect, taking some low-level roles.
If they had not even broken through to the Meridian Passage Stage, they might be marginally allowed to remain as laborers or maidservants.
Inner Sect Disciples were not to exceed twenty-five years of age. Once exceeding this age, they, too, would leave the disciple ranks and be placed in middle-level roles.
[Top three rewards]: 20,000 contribution points, top-level martial arts, Mid-grade Body Storage Pill.
The rewards for the top three were significantly more generous; many Outer Disciples might not see such opportunities even after striving for ten years.
Duan Xiaolong and Nangong Li received their rewards expressionlessly.
Both of them had originally competed for the first place and were full of confidence. Now, receiving a top-three reward was naturally not up to their expectations.
"First place, come forward to receive your reward."
Under countless envious, jealous, and begrudging gazes, Chen Yu stepped onto the stage.
[First place rewards]: 30,000 contribution points, sacred-grade martial arts, one Qi Storage Pill, one treasure.
This reward was more than double that of the top three, an enormous difference!
The top three received no treasure rewards and could not choose sacred-grade martial arts.
"With these rewards, I can have a good start in the inner sect."
Chen Yu felt delighted.
On the tray before him lay a jade bottle and three talismans.
Inside the jade bottle was a mysterious pill, flickering with a faint green ripple, about the size of a thumb.
"Is this the 'Qi Storage Pill'?"
Chen Yu curiously picked up the jade bottle and gazed at it.
At that instant,
He suddenly felt numerous greedy, spying gazes.
These glances came from members of the sect at the Organ Refining Stage, including Inner Sect Disciples and even some stewards and law enforcers.
"The Qi Storage Pill is so valuable? To attract so much attention."
Chen Yu's heart took a cautious turn.
He had only vaguely heard of the pill's effects; it was said to set a solid foundation for breaking through to the Qi Transformation Realm, and for the Organ Refining Stage, it was a rare, indispensable spiritual medicine.
"With the other three talismans, you can go to the Sect Affairs Hall, Heavenly Martial Pavilion, and Heavenly Weapon Tower to collect the other three rewards."
The black-robed elder added a sentence.
He glanced at the "Qi Storage Pill" in Chen Yu's hands, a playful smile appeared on his lips.
When Chen Yu walked off the stage, feeling numerous peeping eyes, a cold sweat broke out on his back, accompanied by a vague sense of unease.
"Young man, be sure to keep that 'Qi Storage Pill' safe. To members in the mid-to-late stages of refining organs, this pill is a dream come true."
A familiar elder's voice echoed in Chen Yu's ear.
Chen Yu turned to the source and saw the red-faced elder who recommended the "Copper Statue Technique" to him, Elder Mao.
Once the rewards were distributed, this year's competition concluded.
The crowd of disciples began to disperse.
Chen Yu, as the first place in this year's competition, a genuine Inner Sect Disciple, drew much attention.
"Congratulations on winning first place, Brother Chen."
Many greeted him.
"Brother Chen, see you in the inner sect."
Le Feng cupped his hands.
Although he did not make it to the top three in this year's competition, he was taken as an Inner Sect Disciple.
"I as well, see you in the inner sect!"
Tong Yuling smiled warmly.
Hm?
Chen Yu and Le Feng looked at Tong Yuling in surprise.
It seemed that Tong Yuling had not been taken as a disciple by any high-ranking member, right?
But it wasn't long before Chen Yu found out the answer.
...
The next morning,
Chen Yu entered the Central Hall to register as an Inner Sect Disciple.
As a result,
During the registration of his inner sect identity, he saw Tong Yuling.
However, Tong Yuling exuded a turbulent inner aura, as if she had just broken through.
"Organ Refining Stage."
Chen Yu looked at Tong Yuling in astonishment.
What kind of opportunity had Tong Yuling encountered to advance to the Organ Refining Stage so quickly? No wonder she was so confident about entering the inner sect.
Tong Yuling gave a gentle smile, "I hope Junior Brother Chen will take care of me."
"Sister, having advanced to the Organ Refining Stage, there's no need for a Meridian Passage Disciple like me to take care of you."
Chen Yu laughed.
The two received new identity tokens and two sets of formal robes in the Central Hall.
The formal robes of the Yunyue Sect disciples were simple blue garments.
After becoming Inner Sect Disciples, the clothes became more exquisite, decorated front and back with hazy mountain and cloud designs.
Tong Yuling, being a woman, could also choose the finely crafted dresses.
After receiving their tokens,
Chen Yu and Tong Yuling entered the inner sect area together.
The Inner Sect area lay deeper within the Yunyue Mountain Gate, where the environment was more elegant, with occasional pavilions and terraces, bridges, and flowing water.
"You two can each choose a single courtyard."
A middle-aged steward took them to a flat area.
There were several scattered courtyards in sight.
Each courtyard had a separate two-story pavilion and occupied around one or two acres.
Delighted, Chen Yu and Tong Yuling each chose a single courtyard.
The treatment of the inner sect was indeed far superior to that of the outer sect. One could tell from the living quarters provided to Inner Sect Disciples.
In addition,
Every Inner Sect Disciple's residence was entitled to one servant and two maidservants.
"Greetings, Master."
In Chen Yu's courtyard, a middle-aged man and two maidservants bowed respectfully.
"You don't need to be overly formal in the future."
Chen Yu waved them off.
The servant and maidservants were responsible for his daily necessities, including errands and other trivial matters.
In the future, there would be no need to go to the dining hall for meals like in the outer sect, as these three would handle it.
After confirming his residence,
Chen Yu planned to collect the remaining three rewards in the afternoon: the treasure, contribution points, and sacred-grade cultivation technique.
"Is Junior Brother Chen Yu here?"
At that moment, two unfamiliar young men walked into the courtyard.
"That's me."
Chen Yu glanced over, sensing that the two young men were Inner Sect Disciples.
Thanks to the mysterious heart's enhanced senses, he could feel the internal energy fluctuations within the two. They were at the Organ Refining Stage, one even at the mid-stage of refining.
"Junior Brother Chen, my Master would like to see you."
A short-haired young man said with a friendly smile.
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