Chapter 15: "Disciple's Ranking."

The morning sun ascended over the Vermillion Flame Sect, draping the mountain range in a golden veil. The mist clung to the lower peaks like delicate silk, while the sun's rays filtered through the trees, casting shifting shadows across the land. Birds chirped melodiously, their tunes weaving with the rustling leaves in a symphony of nature.

Though the scene exuded tranquility, the sect itself was anything but peaceful. Whispers and murmurs spread like wildfire, rippling through the ranks of disciples and elders alike, carrying the weight of jealousy, confusion, and disbelief.

In the Core Disciple Courtyard, the neatly arranged gardens were alive with a different kind of energy. Groups of disciples gathered in huddled clusters, their voices rising and falling in hushed tones.

"Have you heard?" a tall, wiry disciple said, his brow furrowed with disbelief. "The new core disciple is living in the Sect Master Courtyard!"

Another disciple, a young woman with sharp features, crossed her arms and frowned. "A Foundation Realm cultivator? That's ridiculous! What has he done to deserve such an honor?"

"Do you think… he's connected to the Sect Master?" another voice interjected cautiously.

"Don't be foolish!" the sharp-featured woman snapped, her cheeks reddening. "The Sect Master would never do something so absurd."

But doubt hung in the air like an unspoken truth. The fourth pavilion, long considered a symbol of unparalleled achievement, had suddenly been gifted to a stranger a boy who had yet to prove himself.

Meanwhile, in the Elders' Courtyard, the conversations were no less heated. Beneath the towering pavilions and ancient stone statues, senior members of the sect engaged in an intense debate.

"I still can't believe it!" an elder in crimson robes growled, his hand slamming against the armrest of his chair. "A boy at the Foundation Realm living in the Sect Master Courtyard? It's an insult to all of us!"

Another elder, a thin man with sunken eyes, stroked his beard thoughtfully. "The Sect Master has always been wise… but this decision…" He trailed off, his voice heavy with doubt.

Another elder shook his head solemnly. "Even our most talented core disciples don't have access to that pavilion. What was she thinking?"

Seated at the head of the discussion, the Grand Elder observed in silence, his long white beard flowing like a waterfall over his golden robes. His sharp eyes scanned the room, his expression unreadable. After a moment, he spoke, his voice calm but authoritative.

"The Sect Master's decisions are not to be questioned lightly," he said, silencing the room. Yet even he could not suppress the flicker of unease in his gaze.

While chaos brewed outside, the spirit world remained untouched by the unrest. The air was still and pure, carrying the faint scent of blooming spiritual plants. The tranquil waters of the chaos pool rippled gently, reflecting the faint glow of energy swirling above its surface.

Sitting cross-legged in the pool, Ye Xiaotian exuded an aura of quiet concentration. The green energy of the chaos fluid swirled around him, seeping into his body and strengthening his spirit root.

Inside his dantian, a subtle transformation was underway. The core of his spiritual foundation glowed faintly, its previously faint hue becoming a deeper and more vibrant green. The foundation was growing more solid, a testament to the purity of the chaos energy he had absorbed.

After hours of cultivation, Ye Xiaotian opened his eyes. A faint ripple of energy radiated from him, disturbing the stillness of the pool.

He murmured, his voice steady and resolute, "My foundation has become stronger." He placed a hand on his cheek, his expression pensive.

His eyes sparkled with determination. "Once my soul root transforms into a chaos root, my foundation will become unbreakable. No one in this world will have a foundation as solid as mine.""Then it will be time to begin cultivating the Ancestral Dragon Soul Hammer Technique. Once my soul becomes strong enough, I can retrieve more of my master's cultivation and refine my own… no chaos, no instability."

His eyes burned with determination as he clenched his fists. "I'll create the most unshakable foundation the world has ever seen. And then…" His gaze darkened, his voice lowering to a whisper. "I'll destroy those who betrayed me, find my cold-hearted mother, and avenge my master."

Glancing at the mystical egg resting in the chaos pool, Ye Xiaotian's eyes softened. Faint heartbeats echoed from within, rhythmic and steady. "It's not the time for next blood infusion," he thought.

He turned toward Lanyu, the mother wolf, who lay beside the pool, still encased in an aura of energy. Beside her, Yin'er slept soundly, her tiny frame rising and falling with each breath.

Not wanting to disturb the peaceful scene, Ye Xiaotian opened a portal and stepped through, returning to the meditation chamber of the fourth pavilion.

After freshening up, Ye Xiaotian stepped out of the fourth pavilion, his robes fluttering in the morning breeze. The crisp mountain air greeted him as he walked down the winding path, his eyes taking in the sights of the sect for the first time.

The pathway was lined with small, neatly maintained houses, each marked with the sigils of the elders they were all low level elders who lived there. Further down the mountain, the houses gave way to a bustling platform crowded with disciples, their crimson robes marked with silver strips its a sign of them being inner disciples.

Curiosity piqued, Ye Xiaotian approached the platform. At its center stood a large stone tablet, its surface carved with intricate runes and glowing faintly. The names of disciples were etched into the tablet, ranked from 1 to 200, with the strongest disciples at the top.

Nearby, a group of inner disciples spoke in hushed tones.

"Did you hear? Because of the new core disciple, Zhou Liang, the strongest inner disciple, dropped from rank 50 to rank 51!"

"Of course, I heard. He's furious. Losing that spot means fewer resources. I wouldn't be surprised if he challenges that new core disciple soon."

Another disciple added, "And the First Core Disciple, Mu Qinglan, isn't happy either. She's always had her eye on that pavilion."

Ye Xiaotian's ears perked up at this. Challenges? he thought, smirking faintly. Interesting.

Walking toward the tablet, Ye Xiaotian spotted a lone inner disciple studying the rankings intently. Approaching him, Ye Xiaotian greeted, "Hello, brother."

The disciple turned, his expression curious. "Hello."

"Could you tell me about this tablet?" Ye Xiaotian asked politely.

The disciple looked at him strangely. "Are you new here, brother? How can you not know about the ranking system?"

Ye Xiaotian nodded. "I'm new, so I'd appreciate an explanation."

The disciple nooded slightly, then started explaining. "This is the Disciple Ranking Tablet. It ranks the sect's top 200 disciples both inner disciples and core disciples together, as the sect want's to encourage competition between the disciples."

Ye Xiaotian nodded, listening intently.

"Disciples in the top 200 receive extra resources. But the top 50? They get five times the resources of those ranked lower. That's why being in the top 50 is so coveted. Previously all the top 49 position were taken by the core disciples, but because of a new core disciple that sect master had taken in, all top 50 was now taken by the core disciples."

The disciple's gaze shifted to the top name on the tablet."The first rank belongs to Mu Qinglan. She's the sect's most talented disciple and a genius in cultivation."

Ye Xiaotian nooded digesting all the information.

"By the way my name is 'Mu An', brother what's you name." Mu An said, extending his hands.

"My name is 'Ye Xiaotian'." replied Ye Xiaotian as they shaked their hands.

"Hmm, hello brother Ye" said Mu An leisurely, but suddenly as he realized something, his gaze shifted back to the rankings, and his eyes widened. "Wait…" he stammered, his breath quickening. "Your name… it's… Ye Xiaotian?"

His voice rose with excitement. "You're the new core disciple everyone's talking about!"

Ye Xiaotian quickly covered Mu An's mouth, his sharp gaze scanning the area for eavesdroppers. "Keep it down," he said in a low voice.

Mu An nodded, his eyes wide with a mix of shock and admiration.

End of Chapter 105