6 OLD MAN LAO (2/2)
Seeing that his deception had worked, Cheng Hao smiled in his mind. The small, golden snake hiding some distance away also shook his head with a sigh: ”Cultivators in this plane of existence so easy to fool...”
The old man, of course, couldn't be aware of either of the things, and his good impression towards Cheng Hao kept getting better.
”Young child, you said your name was... Cheng Hao?” he inquired. Seeing that the child nodded, the old man waved his hand dismissively, ”You do not have to call me Elder, boy. For starters, I am no Elder. I am just a gatekeeper. Everyone calls me simply Old Lao, so you should too!” The old man chuckled.
”No! Junior Cheng Hao believes that respect towards the older generation should be given unconditionally from Senior's identity! Furthermore...” Cheng Hao trailed off, as if he were pondering whether he should continue. Seeing that the old man was nodding amiably, the child 'beamed' and continued, ”Furthermore... I also have a strong feeling that there's more than it meets the eye to Senior's strength! Is Senior… truly just a gatekeeper?”
Back behind the small crack Goldy was hiding in, the small snake was nodding, ”Bringing it up and exposing it myself should actually achieve the opposite effect! With that, all suspicion should be gone! At times, having too much information can actually be detrimental!”
Just as expected, Old Lao was thrown off by the youth's words.
So this is the true reason! But to somehow have a hint of my strength… could this young boy possibly be connected to me by karma? But how, how is he connected to me? In this place, nobody should... especially a simple human! Could he be…
The old man looked at Cheng Hao again, seemingly pained by an internal conflict, but in the end decided to wait a bit before making his decision. He coughed once to clear his voice, smiled, and then began to speak. ”Well, little Junior Cheng Hao, I formally congratulate you on joining the Mysterious Light-Shadow Sect! Unfortunately, this is but the beginning! You joined the Sect, sure, but you are now only a Vacant Disciple, even lower than a measly Outer Sect disciple! Every year, there will be a contest between Vacant disciples to enter the Outer Sect. Fortunately for you, it will be in just a month from now! Seeing that you cleared the trial, your strength must be more than it meets the eye, so you might just be able to use this chance to rise up further in the Sect!” Old Lao explained.
At the man's words, Cheng Hao first feigned happiness, then confusion, then anxiety and then happiness again. Of course, nothing the old man had told him had been news to him: obviously, he had already thoroughly investigated many of the details regarding the Sect he had chose to join beforehand, during his travels. However, the old man could not read his mind, and truly believed the expression the child was showing were genuine. Old Lao nodded and resumed his explanation.
”Youth, remember that, although the castle housing our sect might be enormous, you can only go to certain places: a Vacant Disciple can freely walk inside the area located between the Seventh and Sixth Wall. This area is also referred to as the Sixth Ring, and you are free to explore it as you wish, but you can't go any further than the Sixth Wall. Penalty: Decapitation! There are very few resources and cultivation techniques that you can acquire with your current status, so I suggest you climb higher as quickly as you can!”
Cheng Hao nodded, but in his head he was rolling his eyes.
No shit buddy! I was just planning on staying here and feed on some dog crap here even though there is an all-you-can-eat banquet right there! Just get on with it, my legs hurt!
The old man opened his mouth and spoke once again. ”Similarly to how a Vacant Disciple can go anywhere in between the Seventh and Sixth Wall, an Outer Disciple can freely explore both the Sixth AND Fifth Rings; from the Seventh Wall, all the way to the Fifth, but not any deeper. The penalty for infringing that rule is the crippling of one's cultivation base. A higher tier of resources and techniques are acquirable in the Outer Sect, as well as the possibility to form and join an Alliance. The Sect will benefit the Alliances that complete requests by increasing the resources granted periodically to each member. You will be able to learn more about the details later.”
”Next, an Inner Disciple can go anywhere from the Sixth to the Fourth Ring. The penalty from going any deeper is slightly more forgiving; just the inability to cultivate for ten to twenty years. With the status of an Inner Disciple, even better resources can be acquired, and the first few higher grade scriptures can be found and cultivated here!”
”Even higher status than Inner Disciples are Core Disciples! They can roam pretty much anywhere in the castle, except for the innermost First and Second Rings, which are reserved solely for the Core Elders and the leading positions. Inner and Core Disciples, the latter in particular, can also search for a master to get them under his wing...” At that, the old man's eyes gleamed strangely as he looked at Cheng Hao.
”Finally, we have reached the highest status that a disciple can reach; the two Twin Star Disciples!” The old man's expression turned serious. ”They can only be two, the Light star and the Shadow star, and have never appeared in the whole history of the Sect except for once, around seven hundred years ago, because the requirements are incredibly strict: not only do they depend on effort, they also rely a great deal on luck!”
”First off, the two must have both joined the Sect before their tenth birthday. Secondly, they must have reached the Superior stage before their fifteenth and must be able to stand on equal ground as a Core Elder of the peak Sung stage before their seventeenth. In the sect, as of now, there are no Twin Star disciples…”
At that even Cheng Hao frowned: Superior stage before one's fifteenth birthday? Be a match to a peak Sung stage cultivator by seventeen years old? Plus, they had to have roughly the same age? If it were him, Cheng Hao could probably achieve the first two requirements without too much of a problem. However, his situation was extremely special. If others were to try their hands at it... it would already be great if they could appear even once every few thousand years! Plus, two of such talented people have to appear at the same time!
These requirements are way too strict! No shit they have only appeared once! What kind of madman would impose such conditions?
”However,” the old man continued as he pointed his finger upwards admonishingly, ”the benefits are worth the efforts! Complete assistance from the school for even the most trivial of things! Neigh-unlimited resources from the school treasury! And even the right to accept one of the top two School Protectors, who rank only below the Sect Head in both status and strength, as a personal Master! And most importantly, once both Twin Stars have reached thirty-three years of age, they shall duel: the victor shall become the Sect Head, while the loser would take up the spot as the Sect's First ranked Protector until they die, step down themselves! In short, as long as one successfully becomes a Twin Star Disciple, his future is bound to be full of nothing but success and excellence!”