Hidden from the gazes of any intruder, the true heart of the White Tiger Sect was found deep inside the mountain chains of the Lui region. After the ‘crater’, it was assuredly the hardest place to access for outsiders in the whole Sun Empire.
The White Tiger School was where the most talented disciples under 16 from the Liu region gathered, but for the White Tiger Sects cultivators, it was just kindergarten.
All in all, the White Tiger Sect housed more than one hundred thousand cultivators. By that measure, it was the largest sect of the SCA. This necessitated a vast amount of resources. Part came from the Sect territory, mainly with its medicinal fields and neighboring beast forests. Another part was obtained from the taxes of all the smaller sects of the Liu region. These hundreds of sects’ payments accumulated to a substantial figure. A third consequential part came from the SCA. The 16 great sects had to contribute to the Sun Cultivation Alliance, which redistributed the resources in turn and could manage the Alliance as a whole. However, the White Tiger Sect’s dominant political position meant that it received more than it contributed.
The White Tiger Sect was organized very precisely into departments, functioning like a well-oiled machine. To mention a few, there was the Financial department, the Alchemy department, even the Music department. It could be considered as its own little state.
Habitually, the mountains remained quite peaceful, with a vast majority of the cultivators staying in seclusion. For example, the Combat Department, which was by far the largest department, only ever had less than 10% of its members out of seclusion. The department was separated in regiments and companies which all had a predetermined date for training. The regiments would also almost never remain in the sect to train.
The functions that required constant day to day activity were reserved for volunteers among those that couldn’t advance anymore in cultivation.
In this organization, the White Tiger School was a bit of an exception. Those that worked to contribute to the school had special privileges and were selected from all departments. The Sect had always attached it a disproportionate importance, especially in its protection.
There were two ways to be admitted into the White Tiger Sect. The disciples of the White Tiger School had to reach the qi condensation realm. Before this, they would remain in the school.
The White Tiger Sect also hosted an annual competition for 16 year old cultivators. Those that wanted to have a real chance to enter needed to be at the qi condensation realm at the very least. While a majority of participants originated from the subsidiary sects of the Liu region, candidates from all the Sun Empire came to try to enter it’s number 1 sect. This competition had been accepting less than 500 disciples for many years, but this number had gradually gone up in the past two decades to 1000 disciples. According to the White Tiger Sect, the growing popularity allowed it to recruit more without lowering the quality of its disciples. What remained unsaid was the growing amount of resources received from the SCA could support a greater force.
While the children of the White Tiger School thought of the White Tiger Sect’s cultivators as ‘inner disciples’, only a very small portion held that title in the main Sect. This distinction was reserved for the White Tiger School’s disciples that reached the Formation Establishment realm before 16. Their numbers rarely exceeded 1 per year. These disciples were groomed heavily as they had the chance to become the future core of the Sect.
In 500 years, the times a 16-year-old youth not from the White Tiger School came to the entrance test to join the sect could be counted on one’s fingers. Even then, these rare cases would not receive inner disciple status. Generally, these types of talents get taken in by the Black Rainbow Sect, or are firmly kept by their initial Sect.
…
These last few days the White Tiger Sect seemed to have transformed. The tranquility of the mountains had been replaced by a great bustle of cultivators moving around. Fighting arenas were packed full and in constant uproars and all the sect’s facilities were crowded in general.
Three white giant eagles landed on a small plaza. Three young men in black robes nimbly jumped down from the eagles’ backs. All the cultivators around respectively clasped their hands or saluted.
Of the three cultivators, the one in front, which looked the oldest, was beaming at the attention, while of the two at the back, one seemed indifferent and the last one was visibly uncomfortable.
As they walked around, people continued to show respect. It didn’t help that they stuck out like sore thumbs dressed in black robes with white stripes among a sea of white robes and woodland uniforms.
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“Little brother Xu Wei, what do you think of the Sect? Hahaha, I have never seen it so lively!”
The youngest one responded respectfully. “Senior Xiong, the amount of qi condensation and foundation establishment is indeed impressive, however I prefer the scenery of the inner sect.”
“Tsk tsk, just call me brother Xiong Hui. After your 6 months of special training, it’s important for you get a better understanding of the sect. I’ll show you my men.”
The last one of the three wasn’t this enthusiastic. “With the sect being this crowdy, I enjoy parading here even less.”
“HAHAHA, little brother Dai Chao, you never change! The fearsome lone swordsman being scared to posture, isn’t this a shame? It’s not everyday we are out of seclusion together. If I remember correctly, last time it was for the shu family line’s annual meeting. By the way, little brother Xu Wei, do you have any news as to how our juniors are doing?”
“I don’t pay much attention to these things. However, I heard that my great grand minor has become his promotion’s number one.”
Xiong Hu laughed uproariously. “Great, our shu line might gain another inner disciple in the near future.”
It was Dai Chao’s turn to face his junior. “Xu Wei, do you know how little Fengge is doing?”
“Grand major Gao Fengge has entered the Alchemy department two years ago. I haven’t had any contact since.”
“Hehe, that’s not surprising. I’m glad he was taken in by the Alchemy department, I heard that they are quite strict on their conditions.”
The three disciples left the busy area for a nearby valley. More than one hundred cultivators were sitting in a lotus position.
In a blink, Xu Wei counted 119 cultivators. 2 had a foundation establishment cultivation and the rest were at qi condensation. All looked relatively young.
The group paid their respects and the one with the highest cultivation at mid foundation establishment stepped forward and approached the 3 inner disciples.
“We are ready to battle, chief. Everyone has stepped out of seclusion as instructed.”
Xiong Hui grinned. “Perfect, we will be demonstrating our attack formation to my two little brothers in a second. I’ll examine everyone of you individually afterwards.”
“Hehe, at your orders chief. By the way, do you have news about what’s happening? Never has every cultivator been ordered out of seclusion at the same time.”
Xiong Hui’s grin intensified. “I don’t have any details, brother Zhao. However, I smell that things will be on a much greater scale compared to what we have done before. Our next mission will probably be something more blood pumping compared to squashing recalcitrant 3rd rate sects, annihilating bandit groups and hunting magic beasts. Tomorrow, we will have a coordinated training with the whole 25th regiment! Everything better be perfect from our company. Okay, get into the tripartite decimation formation.”
Xiong Hu and the 119 cultivators took their places in 3 dimensions on their flying treasures. The inner disciple’s robes had changed colors, becoming white as well. Xu Wei recognized familiar qi fluctuations coming from the 120 disciples. All the qi condensation disciples were circulating the second level of the Young Tiger martial art.
“Brother Dai Chao, brother Xu Wei, watch closely. I’ll show you why the White Tiger Sect is the number one sect of the alliance!”
The qi of the 120 cultivators harmonized at this instant, revolving around the three central nodes of the array, the three foundation establishment cultivators. Xiong Hu shouted, and an immensely powerful qi projection boomed and rushed towards the sky.
Xu Wei had the impression of a tiger leaping upwards with unstoppable momentum. Only after a thousand meter did the projection dissipate. This direction had been chosen to avoid destroying the valley. Having felt the undulations that were above what a late foundation establishment cultivator could hope to achieve, Xu Wei had cold sweat forming on his forehead. This scene reminded him of the demonstration a certain teacher Xian had once done after he had just entered the sect. The qi projection wasn’t at that level though, it still lacked power compared to his vivid memory.
Xiong Hu landed heavily in front of his two juniors. His robe had already reverted to black with white stripes. “So, brother Wei, you understand why I chose the combat department? With my brothers, we are unrivaled under core formation.”
Dai Chao rolled his eyes. “Until you get ambushed by an assassin before you have time to get into formation. Don’t be too impressed by his display, brother Xu Wei. Every department is as important as the others. And with your inner disciple status, you don’t even have to chose a department at all. I myself am with the assassins, but apart from making use of some of their exclusive missions to train, I don’t involve myself much with them.”
Xu Wei nodded appreciatingly. “Thanks for the advice, brothers. I’m more inclined towards combat, but it’s a shame, I haven’t learned the Young Tiger art. I don’t think I can join the combat department.”
Xion Hu laughed. “Pff, what Young Tiger Art? Most companies I made of cultivators that have never practiced it, and that don’t want to. They generally use other types of formations, even though they aren’t as powerful. Those are easily recognizable because they generally like to stay in woodland uniforms inside the sect rather than the white robe you see. However, on our company, we only put on these ugly uniforms when we go outside.”
Xu Wei eyes had shone at first, but soon dimmed back down again. “It’s also that, I’m not a leader. I don’t want to command 100 cultivators like you do brother Hu.”
Dai Chao interrupted. “Have you considered joining the companies made of foundation establishment cultivators? You will be able to work with a Core foundation Elder. It seems you are more inclined towards fighting, this should suit you quite nicely. But for these companies, you will have to learn to fight in a formation. I personally hate the feeling.”
“Heh, brother Dai, you are missing something. The feeling of controlling such a great power is intoxicating and experiencing it is very beneficial for cultivation.”
Xu Wei smiled at his seniors. “I think I want to try out joining a company of foundation establishment cultivators.”
“Not a bad choice, little brother Xu Wei. But I fear they won’t let you join them just yet. Perhaps after what they are preparing has passed?”
Right at this moment, cries of exclamation were heard among the 119 disciples. Up in the sky, more than a thousand cultivators were passing by at high speeds. Most notably, all those cultivators had grey robes.
Xiong Hu’s pupils constricted, and he bowed in deference. Dai Chao and the whole regiments followed his example. Seeing this, Xu Wei also bowed, while he had many questions. These cultivators were not all that strong. Many were at the foundation establishment realm and a portion were only at the qi condensation realm.