217 Chapter 217 (1/2)
”Quiet down! You are all trial disciples now, you are not yet fit to be considered true disciples of the sect! You will now follow us to the dorms, this is where you will spend the next four years of your life.”
The man was an old-looking cultivator with an eyepatch that wasn't able to cover the giant scar on his face. There were other members from the seniors with him and they were mostly composed of the three clan's side family members. Those occupied the spots of the outer sect members while the main family branch was all composed of the inner sect members.
Of course, everyone from them could be promoted to an inner sect elder if they worked hard. The reverse would also be possible and everyone could be demoted.
”Listen up, we don't have the whole day. Your emblems are the most important item you could have in this sect. It stores all the information about you, your merit points, and also allows you to freely move through select parts of the sect…”
The man explained how the emblem they were carrying work as a sort of key. It stored their data that was then saved in the sects database. The trial disciples had free access to some training facilities as well as the new dorms where they lived.
”Remember the 100 merit points you needed to pass the trials? Those points can be spent on cultivation resources.”
He gave them an explanation about the merit point system. The points weren't just for show, everyone was going to keep those 100 merit points. They would be able to spend them on various things as it was considered money around the sect. They would be provided basic living and food but if they wanted more they would need to use them.
There were various ways of earning merit points. The easiest one was attending classes and passing the tasks that were given by the teachers. Rising your cultivation level gave you points, getting through challenges or performing tasks for the current sect members was another one.
The biggest reason for gathering more points was pointed out here. If your points dropped to 0 you would be thrown out of the sect. If they ever fell so low you had a month's time to gather more in any way possible. You could even battle other disciples and get their merit points. This was the easiest way of getting them and the sect allowed friendly competition. This was also the best way to take care of the disputes between disciples.
”Listen well, the emblem you have received has a number on it.”
The elder said while people looked to the emblems that they were previously assigned. He also explained that they were required to never lose them. They all already knew that this little treasure would allow them to walk around the sect.
”You will be assigned to an academy by your number, look here.”
The man said while pointing to the side. The moment he did a large flat contraption started rising out from the ground. The youths had never seen anything like this before so they were quite curious.
It was about twenty meters wide and fifteen meters high and attached to some thick columns. Soon they figured out what this was for as the treasure flickered on with light and showed many numbers.
This was a giant screen that Zhang Dong had based on his old world's flat-screen TVs. It had brackets that split into five academies, each one had a name.
”Find your number on the list and then follow the path to your academy, the seniors there will guide you to the dorms. You will be spending at least four years there. You have two days to look through the academy before the lessons start.”
The introduction soon ended and the new disciples moved forward, curious what this 'academy' that they would be living was. The two youths from the Tatar tribe pushed forward to look as well, luck was on their side as they ended up in the same academy.
”The Primal Dragon academy? What a ferocious name, it must be the very best one!”
Yang Rong proclaimed while Cheng Yun nodded, the two youths were very excited. They were just itching to get their hands on the sects cultivation techniques. Their moment of happiness was interrupted by the three tribe members from the enemy village.
”Heh, Primal Dragon academy? My Regal Phoenix academy will crush your smelly Dragon academy!”
Enemies were already forming as these five people glared at each other. Fighting was forbidden for now though so they would have to wait. Slowly people started clearing the square and moving towards the academy grounds. These 'academies' were more akin to small cities as each one of them had to contain at least ten thousand disciples along with the teachers and other staff.
The two youths were guided into the dorm district of the academy. These buildings were quite plain to look at and were just built with simplicity in mind. They were rectangular in shape and were many stories high. Each floor could fit hundreds of disciples in small rooms meant for two people.