"Greetings, Senior Brother Wu. What brings you to the Recruitment Hall today? It's rare to see you here. Did someone from your clan's younger generation join the sect?"
The young man who spoke had black hair and black eyes, his features average, his dark green robe simple and without any patterns. In contrast, Senior Brother Wu had blond hair and green eyes, his dark green robe embroidered with intricate leaf patterns, signifying his status.
Hearing the question, Wu Qi chuckled, a bright smile on his face.
"Hahaha! Fellow disciple, who are you calling Senior Brother? I am merely at the middle Glowing Bone Stage, just like you."
Then, with a dramatic sigh, as if he were lamenting some great injustice, he added,
"But does that mean I am not allowed to visit Fellow Disciple Ye Jian in the Recruitment Hall? Surely, I don't need a special reason to be here?"
Ye Jian, unfazed by Wu Qi's theatrics, simply snorted in annoyance.
"What do you want, Wu Qi? I don't have the energy to entertain you today. And even though you are the third young master of the Wu Clan, you should know that you can't order me around as you please. Even if our Ye Clan is under your clan's control, that doesn't mean I am at your beck and call."
"Hahahaha! Fellow Disciple Ye, you jest!" Wu Qi laughed heartily, waving a hand dismissively. "Me? Trying to control you? I am a righteous cultivator! I would never resort to such underhanded methods,such things are what demons do!"
His laughter eventually faded, and with a small sigh, he spoke again, his tone now more serious.
"Don't worry, Fellow Daoist. Today, I'm not here on personal business. The Third Grand Elder has ordered me to welcome the newly arrived disciples."
"The Third Grand Elder?" Ye Jian raised an eyebrow before nodding in understanding. "If it was Third Elder Wu Bin's order, then you may as well wait here with me."
Hearing this, Wu Qi grinned widely, his expression filled with amusement.
"Hahaha! Thank you, Fellow Disciple Ye! If I had to wait here alone, it would be unbearably dull. But with you keeping me company, the time will pass much faster."
And so, both Wu Qi and Ye Jian stood a few meters away
The Recruitment Hall fell into silence, with only two figures standing motionless. The stillness persisted until the four ritual plates embedded in the teleportation formation began to glow with a deep violet hue.
A thick violet mist emerged from the formation, swirling and coiling before gradually taking the shape of thirty human silhouettes.
Moments passed.
Slowly, the mist faded, revealing the figures of thirty newly arrived disciples.
Watching their expressions, Wu Qi suddenly burst into laughter, unable to contain his amusement.
"Hahaha!" He grinned. "Ah, juniors, you all look terrible! Did the teleportation formation treat you well?"
Indeed, the effects of the teleportation had left many of them in poor condition. Even Yuan felt a sharp pain twisting in his stomach.
Some disciples immediately doubled over, vomiting onto the ground. Others clenched their jaws, enduring the discomfort with pale faces and unsteady postures.
It took nearly ten minutes before the effects began to subside. The vomiting stopped, and the nausea gradually faded from their bodies.
Seeing that everyone had mostly recovered, Wu Qi flashed a bright smile and stepped forward.
"Greetings, juniors! I am Wu Qi, and I have come under the orders of the Third Elder to escort Krieger and Alex. So, the two of you, please step forward."
Hearing their names called, both Krieger and Alex stepped forward without hesitation.
Wu Qi examined the two of them, his gaze filled with approval. He gave them a firm nod before speaking once more.
"Alright, we'll head directly to the Third Elder. Along the way, I'll explain a few things about the sect. Come, let's go!"
Then, turning to the remaining disciples, he waved casually.
"As for the rest of you, I hope to see you all as inner sect disciples someday! Farewell for now!"
""Understood!"" Both Krieger and Alex responded before following Wu Qi out of the Recruitment Hall.
With their departure, Ye Jian stepped forward, his expression indifferent as he addressed the group.
"So, juniors, from today onwards, you are all officially and unofficial disciples of the Howling Wind Sect. As such, each of you will be given an identification slate. I will now call out your names,when you hear yours, step forward and take your slate."
His voice was cold and emotionless, showing neither favor nor disdain.
One by one, he called out names, handing each disciple a small, smooth stone slate infused with spiritual essence.
After a few minutes, all twenty eight remaining disciples had received their identification slates.
Yuan examined his own.
It was a bright green stone, simple in design, yet firm to the touch. One side bore the engraved words "Howling Wind Sect", while the other was carved with "High Outer Disciple: Yuan" in precise, flowing script.
After distributing all the slates, Ye Jian spoke once more, his tone as indifferent as before.
"In a few moments, some outer disciples will arrive to guide you around the outer sect region. Wait here until they come."
Without saying anything further, he turned and left the hall.
As he predicted, within minutes of his departure, a group of outer disciples arrived, theire bright green robes fluttering as they stepped forward to greet the new recruits.
The guide assigned to Yuan was a middle aged man with black hair and brown eyes. He wore a plain bright green robe, signifying his status as an outer disciple.
With a polite tone, he saluted and introduced himself, "Greetings, fellow disciple. My name is Empty Lake, and I will be your guide today."
Yuan, maintaining his usual bright smile, returned the salute. "Hello, fellow disciple Empty Lake. I am Yuan. I hope you can give me a clear understanding of our sect!"
Empty Lake smiled in response, then gestured for Yuan to follow as they left the Recruitment Hall.
"Alright," Empty Lake began, "we will start with the hierarchy of the sect. First and foremost, the highest authority belongs to the Sect Head Wang. Beneath him, we have the three Grand Elders. The First Grand Elder, who is the Head of the Discipline Hall, is Grand Elder Hei Jun. The Second Grand Elder, overseeing the Cultivation Hall, is Grand Elder Leisure. And lastly, the Third Grand Elder, who leads the Defense Hall, is Grand Elder Wu Bin."
Three Grand Elders… and the most influential halls were the Discipline Hall, Cultivation Hall, and Defense Hall.
Yuan nodded slightly, absorbing the information.
Seeing Yuan's acknowledgment, Empty Lake continued, "Then there are the Nine Elders. Three elders serve under the Discipline Hall. The Cultivation Hall only has one elder, while the Defense Hall has two. The remaining elders are stationed within the sect, assisting core and inner sect disciples with their cultivation or managing their respective halls."
Nine elders… that was quite a small number for a sect of this size. And judging by the structure, the Grand Elders were likely competing to recruit elders into their respective halls.
"Next, we have the six main halls of the Howling Wind Sect the Discipline Hall, Cultivation Hall, Defense Hall, Pill Hall, Martial Hall, and Merit Hall."
Empty Lake paused momentarily before elaborating further.
"Each of these halls has its own sub halls. For example, under the Discipline Hall, there is the Recruitment Hall, the Judge Hall, and the Arrest Hall. The Cultivation Hall has only one sub hall the Library Hall. The Defense Hall is has three sub halls the Gate Hall, the Information Hall and the Guards Hall. The Pill Hall consists of the Herb Searching Hall and the Garden Hall.As for the Martial Hall, it has multiple sub halls dedicated to different weapons and techniques the Sword Hall, Spear Hall, Fist Hall, and Axe Hall. Finally, the Merit Hall has two sub halls the Mission Hall and the Reward Hall.These are all the main halls and their corresponding sub halls within our sect. Do you have any questions about them?"
Yuan pondered for a moment before shaking his head. "No, that was quite informative."
Empty Lake nodded in approval and resumed walking.
As they continued down the stone paved street, Yuan observed the surroundings. They were heading toward a residential area filled with simple yet well structured buildings.
"So, fellow Daoist, we have now left the Recruitment Hall's area. Before us are the housing buildings for all outer disciples and high outer disciples," Empty Lake explained as he guided Yuan forward.
Yuan took in the sight before him,the living quarters were vast, stretching across a large section of the sect's grounds. The sheer number of buildings suggested a large disciple population, prompting him to ask, "Oh? How many disciples live here?"
Empty Lake stroked his chin briefly before answering, "Hmm, we have around 2,500 outer disciples, about 500 inner disciples, and 100 core disciples. So, in total, the Howling Wind Branch Sect houses approximately 3,100 disciples."
Yuan nodded slightly, deep in thought.
3,100 disciples for a branch sect… neither small nor large. It was a mediocre number, which could mean two things: either this branch sect wasn't particularly powerful, or if it was, then the main sect itself was much weaker than he had initially expected.
But these were questions that could be answered over time. For now, his priority was advancing to the Blood Purification Stage.
"In these housing buildings," Empty Lake continued, "disciples are only expected to sleep here and then proceed to their assigned tasks. That means the housing quarters themselves aren't particularly important. The only significant structure here is the Red Pavilion at the center of the residential area,that's where the Outer Reward Hall is located."
"As for the Mission Hall, it isn't situated here, it's located a bit further north. But don't worry,you'll familiarize yourself with everything in due time. For now, I will take you to your assigned housing. Tomorrow, one of the older outer disciples will guide you through the daily tasks and responsibilities. My role is simply to escort you to your residence and provide an explanation of the sect's hierarchy and halls."
With a polite smile, Empty Lake looked at Yuan before continuing to talk about the everyday tasks outer disciples were required to perform.
As they walked, Yuan listened attentively while observing his surroundings.
Eventually, they arrived at one of the larger pavilions situated in the southern part of the sect's grounds.
"Okay, this is the South Pavilion for high outer disciples," Empty Lake said, stopping in front of the structure. "Before I leave, let me explain the housing arrangements for outer disciples.First of all, there are three other pavilions the North, West and East Pavilions. These three pavilions are reserved for outer disciples who pay with their own merit points for better living quarters. However, the South Pavilion is exclusively for high outer disciples. Currently, there are about 300 high outer disciples living here."
"As for the benefits of living in a pavilion rather than a standard outer disciple house? Those who reside in the pavilions have the privilege of cultivating longer. Normally, an outer disciple has to complete three tasks per week, but those who reside in a pavilion only need to complete three tasks per month. Because of this, they have significantly more time to focus on cultivation.
"However," Empty Lake continued with a chuckle, "the price for staying in a pavilion is quite high. Not many disciples can afford it,only a select few."
"Additionally, each pavilion has its own unique benefits."
"The West Pavilion is most commonly rewarded by the Reward Hall for outstanding mission performances. The sect assigns difficult tasks to disciples, and those who complete them receive the privilege of staying in the West Pavilion. Because of this, it has the highest number of disciples among the four pavilions."
"The North Pavilion is located close to the forbidden Mist Region, and due to its proximity, it is enveloped in a natural cold mist that helps cultivators refine their energy. Many disciples choose to stay there to aid their cultivation."
"The East Pavilion is unique,it has a special formation placed by a well known formations master, allowing those who live there to calm their minds and focus better when learning new techniques. However, because of this advantage, it is also the most expensive pavilion among all four."
"And lastly, the South Pavilion, where we are now. Although it houses many high outer disciples, it is by far the quietest place in the entire outer sect region. Because of this, it is the best place for those who prefer solitude and uninterrupted cultivation."
Empty Lake then turned towards the entrance of the pavilion.
"Now, let me show you to your room."
Walking behind Empty Lake, Yuan finally arrived at his assigned room. The South Pavilion itself was simple in design,a large structure with numerous doors lined along its halls. His room was number 218.
Stopping before the door, Empty Lake turned to him with a polite nod.
"This is your room, fellow disciple. I hope you settle in well. If you need anything, you can find assistance from the outer sect attendants. Good luck with your cultivation."
With that, Empty Lake left, and Yuan was alone once more.
He pushed open the wooden door, stepping inside. The room was small and plain, with only the bare essentials. A single bed sat in the corner, next to a lamp, providing the only source of light. There wasn't even a window.
On top of the bed lay a bright green robe, the standard attire of the Howling Wind Sect's outer disciples.
Now truly alone, Yuan let out a deep sigh.
His mind drifted back to everything he had experienced up until now.
Elder Viktor.Emilia.The Barony of Icen.
Although it wasn't much in the grand scheme of things, he had seen and learned far more than he ever had in his previous life.
But now, none of that mattered.
Without hesitation, he changed into his bright green robes and then sat cross legged on the bed. Closing his eyes, he calmed his breathing, silencing all stray thoughts.
Now was not the time for reflection.
He had work to do.
Without wasting another moment, he began circulating his Flame Poison Cleansing Demonic Beast Technique.