However, these outer courtyard elders were not doomed to remain in that position forever.
They still had opportunities to enter the Northern Profound Courtyard.
There were two ways to leave the outer courtyard and enter the Northern Profound Courtyard.
One was to reach the required cultivation level oneself and gain the favour of the Northern Profound Courtyard, allowing entry.
Apart from that, there was another method, which could be considered a shortcut.
That was to find an outstanding disciple. As long as the disciple they brought passed the talent test and was willing to take them as master, that elder would qualify to enter the Northern Profound Courtyard.
However, because the previous status and strength of these outer courtyard elders were at the very bottom of the Lying Dragon Martial Sect, even if a disciple who passed the test was willing to take them as master, they could only enter the Northern Profound Courtyard. It was absolutely impossible for them to enter any of the other branch courtyards.
Yet disciples who passed the talent test had the chance to catch the eye of elders from the other branch courtyards.
Normally, a disciple who released only white radiance on the test platforms could only enter the Northern Profound Courtyard.
But a disciple who released grey radiance might be selected by the Western Tiger Courtyard or the Southern Sparrow Courtyard.
As for a disciple like Hua Xu, who could release blue radiance, not to mention the Western Tiger Courtyard and Southern Sparrow Courtyard, even the strongest Eastern Dragon Courtyard would be willing to accept him as a disciple.
If Hua Xu had taken Elder Qian as his master, then due to Elder Qian’s influence, Hua Xu would have been able to enter only the weakest Northern Profound Courtyard alongside him.
But if he did not take Elder Qian as master, he would gain the favour of elders from the Western Tiger Courtyard, Southern Sparrow Courtyard, or even the Eastern Dragon Courtyard.
He would have the chance to become a disciple of an Eastern Dragon Courtyard elder.
Of course Hua Xu was unwilling to take an ordinary outer courtyard elder like Elder Qian as his master.
“So that is how it is.”
“This Elder Qian really played his cards well, but unfortunately… Hua Xu already knew some things about the Lying Dragon Martial Sect in advance. He truly deserves what he got.”
Chu Feng secretly mocked Elder Qian in his heart.
Although what Hua Xu did was indeed somewhat dishonourable.
Elder Qian was hardly a good person either.
He had assumed Hua Xu did not understand the situation in the Lying Dragon Martial Sect, so he tried to trick Hua Xu into becoming his disciple first.
In that way, although it would have harmed Hua Xu, he himself could enter the Northern Profound Courtyard and gain even greater benefits from Hua Xu’s future growth.
Unfortunately for him, Hua Xu had already known the situation in the Lying Dragon Martial Sect and had not fallen for the trick.
“Actually, even if Hua Xu did not know about the four branch courtyards, the elders of the Northern Profound Courtyard would have informed him.”
“Whether or not he is willing to take an outer courtyard elder as master ultimately depends on him alone.”
“Hua Xu deliberately mentioned that he had known about the four branch courtyards for a long time.”
“He simply wanted everyone to know that he has a senior from his clan in the Lying Dragon Martial Sect. He has a backer.”
Elder Duan explained to Chu Feng.
“So that is what happened.”
Only now did Chu Feng understand why, when Elder Qian claimed that Hua Xu would take him as master, the other outer courtyard elders had not believed it.
It turned out that even if Hua Xu himself did not know the specific details of the Lying Dragon Martial Sect, the elders responsible for the test in the Northern Profound Courtyard would inform him.
In short, disciples who entered this place could not be deceived, unless… they genuinely wanted to take an outer courtyard elder as their master.
Otherwise, it would be extremely difficult for an outer courtyard elder to accept a disciple who had passed the test as their apprentice.
“Elder Duan, if my cultivation improves in the future, will I have the chance to enter one of the other branch courtyards?”
Chu Feng asked curiously.
He felt that a disciple of Zi Ling’s level would definitely not be in the Northern Profound Courtyard.
Yet from his performance today, Chu Feng estimated he could only enter the Northern Profound Courtyard.
But if he could choose again in the future, of course Chu Feng wanted to be in the same branch courtyard as Zi Ling.
“Once an elder or disciple enters one of the four branch courtyards, it cannot be changed.”
“When the founding ancestor established the four branch courtyards, it was to allow disciples and elders to cultivate under a state of competition, thereby stimulating their will to train and advancing their cultivation more quickly.”
“But fundamentally speaking, the status of the four branch courtyards was originally equal.”
“It is only because the strength of disciples in the four branch courtyards has now shown significant differences that the status of the four courtyards has become uneven.”
Duan Liufeng explained.
“This disciple understands.”
Although Chu Feng felt some regret in his heart, there was nothing he could do.
After all, due to the influence of the Lying Dragon Soul Armour, his test results were poor. He had already lost the right to choose.
“Chu Feng, although the strength of the Northern Profound Courtyard is indeed far inferior to the other three branch courtyards right now.”
“That is only in terms of the cultivation levels of elders and disciples being lower than the other three.”
“The Eastern Dragon, Western Tiger, Southern Sparrow, and Northern Profound courtyards all have fairly similar cultivation methods.”
“No matter where you are, as long as you cultivate seriously, your cultivation will improve greatly.”
“So you must train diligently and never slack off. You absolutely must not return to the outer courtyard.”
“If you return to the outer courtyard, your future prospects will be affected.”
“The Lying Dragon Martial Sect has strict rules. Even if you are eliminated and sent to the outer courtyard, you will be confined to the Lying Dragon Martial Sect for the rest of your life.”
“Even if you grow tired of the Lying Dragon Martial Sect and wish to leave to return to your family, it is impossible.”
Elder Duan reminded Chu Feng.
In his words, the outer courtyard was a place one must never set foot in.
To end up in the outer courtyard would be an extremely tragic fate.
“But cannot outer courtyard elders go out to recruit disciples?”
“Since they can recruit disciples, does that not mean they can leave the Lying Dragon Martial Sect freely?”
Chu Feng asked curiously.
“It is not that simple.”
Duan Liufeng smiled, then began explaining to Chu Feng how outer courtyard elders recruited disciples.
It turned out that outer courtyard elders did not leave the Lying Dragon Martial Sect freely to travel and select disciples.
In reality… they selected disciples from within the Lying Dragon Martial Sect itself.
The outer courtyard of the Lying Dragon Martial Sect possessed a very powerful grand formation.
This formation was called the Lying Dragon Ascending Heaven Formation.
The Lying Dragon Ascending Heaven Formation collected information on many younger generation members from within the Holy Light Heavenly River.
However, this information was very messy. It included details related to cultivation, talent, and experiences, but it contained no names or backgrounds.
When outer courtyard elders entered the Lying Dragon Ascending Heaven Formation, they had to judge from this information which younger generation members had potential and whether they could pass the Lying Dragon Martial Sect’s talent test.
Once they selected someone, the Lying Dragon Ascending Heaven Formation could teleport that younger generation member directly to the elder’s side.
Of course, each selection came with a certain cost, and the cost varied depending on the younger generation member chosen.
This was why some outer courtyard elders brought multiple younger generation members to take the talent test, while others brought only one.
Because the cost paid for different individuals was different.
And the cost they paid was Lying Dragon Crystal Stones. Lying Dragon Crystal Stones could be considered a form of currency circulated within the Lying Dragon Martial Sect. Many places required them.
After accumulating for a year, outer courtyard elders would have a certain amount of Lying Dragon Crystal Stones.
Most outer courtyard elders would use Lying Dragon Crystal Stones to enter the Lying Dragon Ascending Heaven Formation and pay the cost to select disciples.
If they selected correctly, even if the disciple did not take them as master, they could still receive a reward.
Because after the disciple passed the talent test, even if the disciple himself did not know about the four branch courtyards, the elders in charge of the test would inform him afterwards.
And the matter of taking a master could only take place after passing the talent test.
So, as Duan Liufeng had hinted, if an outer courtyard elder truly wanted to deceive those disciples into taking them as master, it was an extremely difficult thing to accomplish.
