Today was the annual recruitment of Disciples into the Phaseless Sect. Outer Disciples were trusted to take care of the matter.
“Excuse me? Are you asking me to leave?” A pompous young lady wearing purple clothes pointed at a young man, accusing him.
“Ma’am, it’s late and the school is about to close up.” The young man was Jian Li, a young boy at fifteen, who had childish features and bushy eyebrows. There was a hint of a heroic spirit in his eyes, as he talked calmly to the lady.
“Listen here, OUTER DISCIPLINE. I’m going to walk in for my examination and you’re not going to stop me!” The lady even went as far as to grab onto Jian Li’s grey robes with the words “Outer” on the chest.
“Excuse me, has my junior brother done anything to you ma’am?” A young lady wearing the blue robes walked over to Jian Li. Her smile was caring, yet within her eyes were a fierceness that was solely directed at the extravagant lady.
“What? This rat has a inner discipline as a backer?” Fear bubbled into the lady as she thought this. A inner discipline isn’t a person she can afford to offend.
“No, I was simply asking him some questions.” The purple-robed lady quickly let go of Jian Li’s shirt, and began to walk away, deciding to come back later and never offend this young man again.
“Thanks for the assistance, Xing Rue.” Jian Li pulls off a casual grin, thanking his elder sister.
“Well, you're apart of the family now so I have to treat you like family.” The young Xing Rue sighed, but then patted Jian Li’s shoulder lightly.
“Still, would any of your cousins do the same?” Jian Li was right, if Xing Zhe or Xing Le was there they would laugh at him, maybe even assisting the pompous woman. Why? Because he’s an outer discipline.
Outer Disciples are the most numerous in the Phaseless Sect, having thousands of members. They are obviously treated the worst; an Outer Disciples job is to due all menial work and get little reward. The reason why? Because Outer Disciples all have god-awful talent.
“None of that, anyways, you're trying out for the Inner Discipline test tomorrow right? Here’s something that’ll help, I can’t stand to see you treated like this.” Xing Rue sighed, handing over a luscious green leaf.
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This green leaf is known as Spirit Energy Apple, and it’s holds a calm energy extremely beneficial for those in the Bronze Realm of cultivation.
The Xing Clan would give each of its members a Spirit Energy Apple every year from the moment the enter become an inner discipline. Xing Rue became a inner discipline three years ago, meaning this resource was incredibly precious to her.
After all, she was only in the 4th level of the Bronze Realm.
“No I can’t, this is to precious for you.” Jian Li curled up Xing Rue’s palm around the leaf, rejecting it.
“Oi oi oi! I see you have a free Spirit Apple to give out, I could use one. I am your REAL cousin after all.” A young man about the same age as Jian Li walked over, wearing the blue robes of an inner discipline, a grin on his face.
This young man was Xing Le, he joined the Phaseless Sect five years ago, the same time as Jian Li.
“Xing Le, you already have entered the 3rd level of the Bronze Realm and consolidated your cultivation. You don’t need this Apple nearly as much as Jian Li does.” Xing Rue responded sassily, re-opening her hand and pushing the leaf into Jian Li.
“He clearly just rejected your offer though.” Xing Le responds, his hand reaching over to take it from Jian Li’s hand.
“Hun? Of course I want it.” Jian Li curled his hand closed, stuffing the Apple into his pocket. He gave a signature grin to Xing Le.
“Xing Rue, I’ll participate in the inner discipline exam tomorrow, and once I succeed I’ll pay this Spirit Apple back with interest.” Jian Li began to walk away toward his outer discipline living section. At this point, Xing Le’s face was ugly.
“It’s a waste to use it on you!” He called out, but he didn’t attempt to chase after Jian Li. After all, how would his reputation be if he just started attacking Outer Disciples - family at that.
Jian Li leisurely walked off, undisturbed by Xing Le’s name calling.
The sun fades as he goes, the day transitioning to night.
He eventually reaches one of many small little huts; the school does not fund much into Outer Disciples living quarters. He walked in and shut the door behind him.
He looked at the first item laying on his lone bed, a book titled “Fundamental Qi Gathering.” This book detailed a cultivation method to absorb energy from the surrounding heaven and earth Qi and store it in your dantian.
The amount you can absorb depends on the number of acupuncture's you have open, out of 54. In fact, people who have 30 acupuncture's open out of 54 are considered unparalleled genius. That alone will get you the core discipline status. If one has 18-20 acupuncture's open they can become a inner discipline.
Unfortunately, Jian Li has eight acupuncture's open. With that kind of poor talent, he’s destined to never make it far down the cultivation road and it’s what gave him his status as a Outer Discipline.
However, what’s strange is that even with eight acupuncture talent, Jian Li should have been the 2nd level of Bronze Realm a long time ago. After all, the amount of energy it takes to open the first ”lock” to the Bronze Gate isn’t plenty at all.
For every realm of cultivation, there is a mysterious “gate” within the cultivator’s dantian. One can only see one Gate at a time. For example, if your at the Bronze Realm, you’ll only see the Bronze Gate.
Each gate has nine large locks on it in total.
A cultivator has to absorb energy and use it to attack a “lock”.
Once one destroys the first lock, a certain amount of energy is released from the lock which boosts one’s total Qi. Thus, they would have entered the first level of the Bronze Realm.