After days of arduous travel and utilizing various teleportation formations, the group of five finally arrived at the heart of the Purple Peak region.
The sect's influence extended far and wide, encompassing even the small world from which Li Tian hailed. As they journeyed through numerous cities, Li Tian began to comprehend the hierarchical structure of this vast sect. It became evident that every city lord within the Purple Peak's dominion was a disciple of the sect. Such control over a massive territory indicated the sect's formidable strength.
Within the core region of the sect's territory, four cities stood tall, each facing a cardinal direction. As they ventured deeper into this area, Li Tian sensed a vibrant cultivation civilization. The auras he perceived made it clear that the cities housed numerous formidable cultivators.
Li Tian couldn't help but feel like a naive villager stepping foot in a bustling metropolis for the first time. While he had encountered cultivators before, this was his initial encounter with such a multitude of high-ranking ones.
In contrast to Li Tian's native small world, where the majority of the population consisted of ordinary mortals lacking cultivation potential, even a beggar on the streets of the Purple Peak's cities could possess the strength of the Huotian realm. The locals owed their innate cultivation talents to the dense Qi concentration in the atmosphere and the fact that many of their ancestors were likely cultivators. Ordinary mortals were a rarity in this land.
Although their destination was the sect itself, Li Tian insisted that they indulge in a meal before continuing their journey. He was eager to savor the culinary delights of this new world. The distance between each city was vast, and far off in the distance to the west of their current city stood a mountain that left an indelible impression on anyone who beheld it for the first time.
The mountain was adorned in a regal shade of purple, and its peak seemed to pierce the heavens. Drifting clouds enshrouded it, imparting an ethereal ambiance. This majestic mountain was none other than the Mysterious Purple Peak, from which the sect got its name.
As they dined, Xia Yanru took the opportunity to enlighten her companions about the sect. She described it as a powerful entity within the Kunlun realm, just shy of attaining the esteemed status of a holy land. Although she didn't delve into the specific criteria for a sect to ascend to holy land status, she emphasized the sect's lofty rank and its sway over countless smaller sects, cities, and kingdoms. Within the Kunlun realm, the sect's influence was simply undeniable.
The sect's disciples were categorized into various ranks. Outer disciples generally possessed cultivation at the Xiantian and Foundation realms. Inner disciples cultivated at the Core realm. Core disciples had achieved the Rebirth realm, while legacy disciples were at the Fish-Dragon realm.
It was worth noting that those born into the sect or descendants of influential elders were immediately considered core disciples. Li Tian astutely observed that, despite being at the Core realm herself, Xia Yanru held the esteemed position of a core disciple. This revelation hinted at her remarkable background.
Legacy disciples were entrusted with preserving the sect's techniques and were responsible for securing its providence. They selected one of the great elders as their master and inherited their invaluable teachings. These individuals were exceptionally talented and coined the term heaven's son, surpassing even many of the sect's elders in status.
Xia Yanru's voice brimmed with enthusiasm as she spoke, her aspirations to become a legacy disciple someday very obvious. Li Tian couldn't help but smile, contemplating the extraordinary abilities he would possess once he reached such heights. No one desired a lifetime of weakness. Unspoken but understood, their shared goal was to attain strength.
Regaining her composure after momentarily losing herself in her explanation, Xia Yanru continued to elucidate. The sect's elders were divided into external elders at the Core realm, internal elders at the Rebirth realm, and core elders at the Fish-Dragon realm. Although core elders possessed strength on par with legacy disciples, their authority within the sect was comparatively lower.
The hierarchy of elders varied between sects, with a Core realm expert potentially serving as an internal elder in one sect but as a core elder in another, depending on the sect's might. The fact that a Core realm expert would merely hold the position of an external elder in the Purple Peak sect spoke volumes about its strength. In Li Tian's homeland, Core realm experts were already regarded as peak combatants.
Li Tian weighed the advantages and disadvantages of becoming an inner disciple or an external elder and ultimately chose to pursue the latter. To him, being a disciple offered no substantial benefits, so he relinquished that path.
Having concluded their meal, the group departed from the city and soared toward the Purple Peak. As Li Tian's cultivation advanced, his eyes grew increasingly perceptive, granting him the ability to discern things beyond the reach of ordinary cultivators. From afar, he observed the movements of the clouds encircling the mountain and deduced that they concealed an array formation. This formation served as a protective barrier for the sect, preventing unauthorized entry and ensuring the safety of its disciples.
As they arrived at the mountain, a thick mist enveloped their surroundings, causing their senses to become disoriented. It was as if they had stepped into a realm of confusion and mystery.
In this bewildering situation, Xia Yanru stepped forward and produced a token. With a flash of light, the token guided them through the mist, leading them in the right direction. Slowly, they emerged from the haze and soared towards the registration hall.
To their surprise, the registration process was remarkably simple, thanks to Xia Yanru's introduction. The elder in charge treated her with a sense of respect that made Li Tian realize her background was even more significant than he had initially thought.
Ironblood, one of Li Tian's followers, also obtained the status of an outer elder and received a token that corresponded to his new position. Similarly, Shi Ruo, who served as Li Tian's maid, was registered and given a token of her own.
These tokens granted them the freedom to enter and leave the sect as well as access certain areas within it. They were also provided with sect uniforms, which played a crucial role in distinguishing the various statuses within the sect.
Outer disciples wore white robes, while inner disciples donned yellow robes. Core disciples could be identified by their blue attire, while the esteemed legacy disciples wore robes of regal purple. The elders, who held authoritative positions, were clad in black robes. The rank of an elder could be discerned from the embroidery on their sleeves—a single golden stripe for an outer elder, two for an inner elder, and three for a core elder.
All sect robes bore the image of a majestic purple mountain peak shrouded in swirling clouds, creating a captivating visual effect as if the clouds were in perpetual motion.
Moreover, these robes served a practical purpose as defensive artifacts tailored to the strength and abilities of the wearer. Each robe was imbued with a varying level of defensive power, ensuring that individuals were adequately protected.
With their tokens and sect robes in hand, Li Tian and his companions were now equipped to navigate the sect's vast territory.