As Kai and Shen Yu stood waiting for Elder Feng to arrive, an awkward silence hung in the air. Kai glanced at his fellow disciple, wondering if he should say something to break the tension.

Maybe I should try to get to know him better, Kai mused. We're going to be spending a lot of time together as the Sect Master's disciples.

But as he opened his mouth to speak, Kai hesitated. On second thought, Shen Yu doesn't seem like the chatty type. Better to stay quiet for now and observe.

So Kai remained silent, studying Shen Yu out of the corner of his eye. The other boy stood perfectly still, his face impassive. If the wait bothered him at all, he showed no sign of it.

I still can't get a read on this guy, Kai thought with a mix of frustration and grudging respect. It's like he's an NPC with no idle animations.

Before Kai could ponder further, Elder Feng appeared, slightly out of breath.

"Sorry for keeping you waiting," the elder said, bowing deeply.

Kai's eyebrows rose slightly at the bow. Well, this is new. Usually we're the ones bowing to him.

"Congratulations on becoming Legacy Disciples," Elder Feng continued, beaming at them. "I knew you were talented, but I never dreamed the Sect Master himself would take you as disciples!"

Kai studied the elder's face, noting the flush in his cheeks and the excited gleam in his eyes. Looks like someone's been celebrating. I bet he got quite the reward for recruiting two Legacy Disciples.

"Okay, young masters," Elder Feng said, clapping his hands together. "Let's get you to your new quarters."

Kai's eyes widened slightly at being called "young master." Wow, talk about a complete 180. A few days ago, he was trying to intimidate me, and now he's bootlicking. How does he not feel embarrassed?

But then Kai shook his head slightly. This is just how things work in this world, I guess. Be nice to the strong, bully the weak. I'd better get used to it.

Elder Feng reached into his storage ring and pulled out a longsword. This sword was much larger than the one he'd used to fly on during the battle against the Thunderdrakes.

"Hop on, young masters," Elder Feng said, jumping onto the sword himself. "It'll be faster this way."

Kai carefully stepped onto the sword behind Elder Feng, with Shen Yu taking up position at the rear. As they lifted off into the air, Elder Feng began to explain their surroundings.

"The trial area is separate from the main sect," he said. "We don't want to bring in anyone who might end up failing, you see."

Kai nodded, trying to focus on Elder Feng's words while also maintaining his balance on the flying sword. He noticed that Shen Yu seemed to have no trouble at all staying steady.

Of course he doesn't. I bet he's done this a hundred times in his past life or whatever his background really is.

As they got close to the main entrance of the Azure Sky Sect, Kai's mouth almost fell open. A huge gate towered in front of them. It was made of smooth, blue-gray stone. On the face of the gate was a giant azure dragon, carved so carefully that it looked almost alive.

The dragon's long body wound around the entire gate, its tail curling at the bottom and its head resting at the very top. Its claws gripped the edges of the gate as if it was guarding the entrance.

What caught Kai's attention most were the dragon's eyes. They seemed to glow with a faint blue light, giving the illusion that the stone beast was watching them.

"Elder Feng," Kai asked, his curiosity getting the better of him, "does this dragon come to life if the sect is attacked?"

"Ah, young master, that's a question many have asked. To be honest, I don't know for certain. There are old stories that say it has awakened in the past to defend the sect. But it's been so many years since anyone has dared to attack us, I can't say I've seen it myself."

Elder Feng chuckled softly. "Who knows? Perhaps the tales are true. It certainly makes for an intimidating sight, doesn't it?"

Kai nodded. It probably is true. It's such a typical xianxia trope after all – an idle statue turning out to be a powerful guardian beast.

As they hovered near the massive gate, Elder Feng added, "Oh, and just so you know - only Legacy Disciples, Inner Elders, and the Sect Master are allowed to fly within the sect grounds."

With that, Elder Feng guided the sword downward, and they landed softly before the gate.

As the Outer Elder led them through into the sect, Kai's attention was immediately drawn to a group of white-robed disciples engaged in what looked like manual labor. Some were sweeping the pathways, while others tended to gardens or carried stacks of supplies.

Noticing Kai's interest, Elder Feng explained, "Those are our Outer Disciples. They handle most of the day-to-day tasks that keep the sect running smoothly."

"How many Outer Disciples are there?" Kai asked, curious about the sect's structure.

"Oh, about 10,000 or so," Elder Feng replied casually.

Kai's eyes widened. Ten thousand? That's like a small city!

"And how many make it to the Inner Sect?" he asked.

Elder Feng's expression grew a bit more serious. "Every year, we hold an Outer Disciple Tournament. The top three disciples earn the right to enter the Inner Sect."

Only three per year? Kai thought. Talk about fierce competition.

As they continued walking, one of the Outer Disciples - a young boy with messy hair and dirt-smudged cheeks - approached them nervously.

A blue box appeared before Kai:

Name: ???

Cultivation: Qi Refining Stage 7

Strength: 53

Agility: 51

Durability: 55

Interesting. He's at the 7th stage of Qi Refining, which is pretty impressive for an Outer Disciple. His physical stats are decent too. This kid's actually not bad.

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But if this is the level of an average Outer Disciple, then the competition here is even fiercer than I thought. No wonder only three make it to Inner Disciple each year. If I didn’t have the system, this could have been me…

"Excuse me," the boy said, his voice barely above a whisper. "Are you... are you the new Legacy Disciples?"

Before Kai could respond, Elder Feng snapped, "Show some respect to the young masters!"

The boy flinched, looking as if he might bolt at any second.

Kai's eyes narrowed slightly as he assessed the situation.

This is a perfect opportunity. If I play this right, I can start building a network of loyal Outer Disciples could be incredibly valuable. They could gather information, run errands, maybe even help me acquire resources from outside the sect without putting myself at risk. And all it would cost me is a few kind words now and then.

Making a split-second decision, Kai stepped around Elder Feng to address the boy directly. "It's alright," he said with a gentle smile. "Yes, the Sect Master chose us. But we're all disciples of the Azure Sky Sect. Work hard, and who knows? You might stand where we are someday."

The boy's eyes widened. "Thank you, Senior Brother!" he exclaimed, bowing deeply.

Kai nodded, putting on his most benevolent expression. "What's your name, Junior Brother?"

"Chen Wei, Senior Brother," the boy replied eagerly.

"Well, Chen Wei, keep up the hard work. If you'd like, I'd be happy to give you a few cultivation tips here and there when I have the time. Just remember to pay it forward to your own junior disciples someday."

"Really?” Chen Wei's face lit up with excitement. “Thank you so much, Senior Brother! I'll work harder than ever!"

As Chen Wei turned to scurry back to his work, Kai noticed a sudden shift in the other Outer Disciples nearby. They began looking at Chen Wei with envy. One disciple, who had been sweeping the courtyard, quickly approached Chen Wei.

"Brother Chen," the disciple said, bowing slightly, "allow me to finish your sweeping duties. You must be tired after speaking with the Senior Brother."

Chen Wei looked surprised. "Oh, thank you, Brother Li. That's very kind of you."

Well, well, Kai thought. It seems my words carry more weight than I expected.

As they resumed walking, Shen Yu spoke for the first time since they'd left the plateau. "That was unnecessary," he said quietly.

Kai glanced at him, raising an eyebrow. "What was?"

"Giving him false hope," Shen Yu replied. "The chances of an Outer Disciple becoming a Legacy Disciple are astronomically low."

Ah, there's the cold, calculating xianxia protagonist I was expecting, Kai thought. But he didn't disagree - not really. The only reason he'd done it was to start building a positive image for himself within the sect.

In a righteous sect, reputation is probably the next most important thing to raw power.

As they entered the Inner Sect area, Kai noticed a change in the disciples' attire. Instead of white robes, these disciples wore red.

"Elder Feng," Kai said, "could you explain the color scheme? I noticed the Outer Disciples wear white, but here everyone's in red."

Elder Feng nodded, seemingly pleased by the question. "Of course, young master. White is for Outer Disciples, red for Inner Disciples, purple for Core Disciples, and black for Legacy Disciples like yourselves."

It's like a visual representation of the faction system. Makes it easy to know who's who at a glance.

As they walked, Kai noticed Inner Disciples whispering among themselves, casting glances their way. Unlike the Outer Disciple from earlier, however, none approached them directly.

Interesting, Kai thought. They're curious, but more cautious. I wonder if that's natural wariness or if there are unsaid rules about interacting with Legacy Disciples.

Elder Feng continued his explanation as they walked. "Inner Disciples have more privileges than Outer Disciples, of course. They focus primarily on cultivation and advancing their skills. Every five years, we hold an Inner Disciple Tournament. Those who catch the eye of an Inner Elder during the tournament may be chosen to become Core Disciples."

The elder's tone grew slightly bitter as he added, "Even if a disciple comes in first place, if no Elder is interested, they remain an Inner Disciple."

Kai glanced at Elder Feng, noting the frustration in his voice. Sounds like he's speaking from experience.

Sure enough, Elder Feng continued, "When I was a disciple, I worked my way up to Inner Disciple. I even won the tournament once! But no Elder chose me. That's why my breakthrough to Core Formation has been delayed. I've been stuck at Pseudo Core Formation for fifty years."

Then, his mood suddenly brightening, Elder Feng smiled at Kai and Shen Yu. "But now, because I brought you both to the sect, my breakthrough is guaranteed!"

No wonder Elder Feng doesn't mind bootlicking us. The chance to breakthrough has changed his entire life. Becoming a Core Formation cultivator won't just let him live longer - it'll hugely improve his status in the sect. After fifty years of being stuck, who wouldn't swallow their pride?

As they entered the Core Disciple area, Kai couldn't help but be impressed. The buildings here were grander and gardens filled with rare and exotic plants dotted the area, and Kai could feel the concentrated spiritual energy in the air.

Now this is more like it. I bet cultivation is much easier in an environment like this.

Suddenly, a young woman in purple robes approached them. She had long, dark hair and sharp features that gave her a fox-like appearance.

Wow, Kai thought, momentarily taken aback. She's gorgeous. Like, protagonist's-love-interest level of beautiful.

Then he mentally shook himself. Focus, Kai. Remember, in this world, jade beauties like her usually bring nothing but trouble. Either they're secretly evil cultivators, or they have some kind of tragic backstory that ends up dragging the hero into deadly situations. Best to be on guard.

The system immediately provided more information:

Name: Li Ying

Cultivation: Early Foundation Establishment Realm

Strength: 110

Agility: 120

Durability: 105

Early Foundation Establishment, Kai noted, impressed despite himself. I don’t think I’m ready to take on a Foundation Establishment cultivator…

"Welcome, new Legacy Disciples,” the girl bowed slightly. “I'm Li Ying. I hope we'll have a chance to exchange techniques sometime soon. It's always exciting to see what new blood can bring to the sect."

She wants to test us, Kai tensed slightly. Probably to establish dominance early on.

He glanced at Elder Feng, surprised to see the normally talkative elder remaining silent. Then it clicked. Ah, I see. Even though his cultivation is higher, his status is lower than a Core Disciple. He doesn't want to risk offending her.

Before Kai could respond, Shen Yu spoke up. "We look forward to it. But right now, we have other matters to attend to."

Li Ying’s smile tightened almost imperceptibly. "Of course," she said, bowing again. "I'm excited to see what Legacy Disciples can bring to our little exchanges."

As they walked away, Kai frowned slightly. How transparent. She's only targeting us because we're new and our cultivation is lower. Classic bully behavior.

A small, cold smile played at the corners of Kai's lips as he felt Li Ying’s gaze on their backs, but he didn't turn around.

I’ve read too many xianxia novels to fall for this. I might not be able to handle a Foundation Establishment cultivator right now, but just you wait, Kai's eyes narrowed slightly. Once I break through, I'd be happy to "exchange techniques" with you. And I have a feeling you won't like the outcome.

Finally, they reached the Legacy Disciple area. Kai's jaw nearly dropped at the sight. Each Legacy Disciple had their own small pavilion, surrounded by gardens and what looked like private training grounds.

"Here we are, young masters," Elder Feng said proudly. "Your new homes. You'll each have servants allocated to you to handle day-to-day tasks, allowing you to focus entirely on your cultivation."

Kai nodded, trying not to show how impressed he was. This is more like a luxury resort than a cultivation sect. But I can't let myself get too comfortable. I need to stay focused on getting stronger.

After a brief tour of the available pavilions, Kai selected one that overlooked a small waterfall. Shen Yu chose a pavilion on the opposite side of the area, as far from Kai as possible.

Keeping his distance, huh? Kai thought. Fine by me. The less we interact, the less chance of him figuring out my secrets.

"I'll check up on you every now and then to see how things are going," the elder said, bowing once more.

Yeah, I bet you will. More likely you just want to create a connection so you can use our names to throw your weight around in the future.

As Elder Feng departed, Kai turned to Shen Yu. "Well," he said, "I guess this is where we part ways for now. See you around."

Shen Yu nodded, then turned and entered his pavilion without another word.

Not much for goodbyes, is he? Kai thought, shaking his head slightly.

Kai then entered his own pavilion, taking in the spacious main room with its polished wooden floors and elegant furniture. A staircase led up to what he assumed was a bedroom, and he could see a door that probably led to a private cultivation room.

Not bad, Kai thought, nodding in approval. Not bad at all. But now, it's time to get down to business.

He sat down on a chair, closed his eyes, and focused his thoughts inward.

Alright, system. Let's see what rewards we've got waiting for us.