"Actually, besides true disciples, there are also elder disciples."
"If your aptitude is good and you catch the eye of a Golden Core elder, you can also become an elder disciple."
"Though the benefits are not as good as those of true disciples, being under the care of a Golden Core elder is much better than being a regular outer sect disciple."
"To be honest, this is the path that we ordinary outer sect disciples can aspire to."
Lian Miheng said solemnly.
"Elder disciple?"
Upon hearing this, Xue Zhiheng couldn’t help but nod in agreement.
After all, there are quite a few Golden Core elders in the Primordial Talisman Sect.
If you get noticed by a Golden Core elder and become their disciple, then you have a great support.
You might even receive guidance from the elder.
This is far better than cultivating on your own.
The problem is that catching the eye of a Golden Core elder is extremely difficult.
Over the years, only a few cultivators have managed to become elder disciples.
But compared to being a sect leader’s disciple, being an elder disciple still seems somewhat attainable.
"Brother Lian, upon entering the Primordial Talisman Sect, how should I cultivate?"
"Surely, I can’t just self-study after getting a secret manual, right?"
Xue Zhiheng continued to ask.
"Of course, self-study is not an option."
"In fact, there are five public courses every week."
"The teachers for these courses are mostly Foundation Establishment cultivators."
"Occasionally, a Golden Core cultivator might come to answer questions and resolve doubts for us."
"They also explain the details of various cultivation techniques, discussing the principles involved and how to apply them."
"However, the competition among outer sect disciples is also very fierce."
"If you can’t advance to the mid-stage of Qi cultivation within ten years, to the seventh-layer within twenty years, or to Foundation Establishment within thirty years, you’ll have to leave the outer sect peak."
"Essentially, there will be an assessment every ten years, and if you don’t pass the assessment, you’ll be driven away; you can’t just loiter on the outer sect peak."
Lian Miheng explained.
He indicated that being an outer sect disciple is very harsh; it doesn’t mean you can rest easy after becoming one.
If you fail the assessment, you will be expelled from the mountain.
Many outer sect disciples put in frantic efforts to improve their cultivation.
"If expelled, where do these outer sect disciples go?"
Xue Zhiheng was very curious.
After all, with so many Qi cultivation stage cultivators, if they don’t stay on the outer sect peak, where would they be?
Surely they can’t just be completely unemployed after being expelled, right?
"You don’t need to worry about that. Regardless, there are many avenues for outer sect disciples if expelled."
"For example, you can lease some spirit fields to plant spirit rice and spirit medicine, earning quite a few spirit stones from the harvest each year. This is a path many take, becoming spirit plant cultivators."
"If you’re good at talisman making, you can refine talismans, which also fetch high prices."
"Or you might become an alchemist, refining elixirs and so on."
"Some even become artifact refiners, crafting various magical artifacts."
"So, after becoming an outer sect disciple, besides cultivation, it’s crucial to learn the four cultivation arts."
"Master any one of these arts, and you’ll not starve."
Lian Miheng advised.
Because within the Ten Thousand Beasts Secret Realm, the laws are strict, and killing or looting is not tolerated.
If any murder case does occur, the culprit will be swiftly apprehended.
Because of this, the four cultivation arts are very important, becoming a livelihood for many outer sect disciples.
"Senior brother, what if someone has no skill at all, then what?"
Xue Zhiheng continued to ask.
He had heard that many outer sect disciples were not proficient in the four cultivation arts.
Or they might have learned but remain at the beginner level, unable to progress further.
For these outer sect disciples without any talents, survival would be very precarious.
"It’s alright even without a skill."
"We cultivators possess extraordinary power."
"The power we wield is beyond the reach of martial artists."
"Quite a few of our seniors didn’t master the four cultivation arts either."
"In the end, they chose to build cities and engage in civil engineering."
"You should know that over time, numerous cities have sprung up in the Ten Thousand Beasts Secret Realm."
"And the speed of construction is incredibly fast, something beyond mere mortals, all thanks to us cultivators."
"For instance, by casting Earth Manipulation, the land can be softened, allowing for quick excavation of large pits."
"Using Fortification Magic makes city walls sturdy in an instant, completely solidified."
"Casting Vine Technique produces numerous vines for carrying various items."
"In short, all sorts of magic have their subtle uses."
Lian Miheng chuckled.
There’s no doubt, engaging in civil engineering is another path for those eliminated outer sect disciples.
Without any skills, they can only sell their labor for money.
Fortunately, being cultivators, they wield spiritual power and can perform magic.
Thus, hiring these cultivators to build cities results in remarkably efficient construction.
Over the years, the population in the Ten Thousand Beasts Secret Realm has surged to six hundred million, yet there’s still sufficient housing, largely thanks to the hard-working Qi cultivation stage cultivators.
"If eliminated, does that mean the end of the cultivation path, with no hope left?"
Xue Zhiheng couldn’t help but ask.