Chapter 4690: The Crouching Dragon Heaven-Reaching Formation

However, these outer court elders were not necessarily destined to remain as they were for the rest of their lives.

They still had a chance to enter the North Xuan Court.

To leave the outer court and enter the North Xuan Court, there were two methods.

The first was to cultivate one's own strength to the required level and earn the favor of the North Xuan Court, thereby gaining entry.

Beyond that, there was another method — one that could be considered a shortcut.

That was to find outstanding disciples. As long as a disciple they brought in could pass the talent test and was willing to take them as their master, that elder would qualify to enter the North Xuan Court.

However, because these outer court elders had previously held the lowest status and strength within the Crouching Dragon Martial Sect, even if a disciple who passed the test agreed to take them as a master, they could only enter the North Xuan Court — never any of the other branches.

That said, a disciple who passed the talent test had the opportunity to earn the favor of elders from other branches.

Normally speaking, a disciple who released a white light on the testing platform could only enter the North Xuan Court.

But a disciple who released a gray light could potentially be selected by the West Tiger Court or the South Sparrow Court.

As for someone like Hua Xu, who was able to release a blue light — forget the West Tiger Court and the South Sparrow Court, even the strongest branch, the East Dragon Court, would be willing to accept him as a disciple.

If Hua Xu took Elder Qian as his master, then under Elder Qian's influence, Hua Xu would have no choice but to enter the weakest branch — the North Xuan Court — alongside Elder Qian.

But if he refused to take Elder Qian as his master, he would receive the favor of elders from the West Tiger Court, the South Sparrow Court, and even the East Dragon Court.

He would have the chance to become a disciple of an East Dragon Court elder.

Naturally, Hua Xu had no interest in taking someone like Elder Qian — a mere outer court elder — as his master.

"So that's how it is."

"Elder Qian certainly had it all figured out. What a pity… Hua Xu happened to already know a thing or two about the Crouching Dragon Martial Sect. He brought it all upon himself."

Chu Feng silently mocked Elder Qian in his mind.

Though Hua Xu's behavior was certainly less than honorable, Elder Qian was no better.

He had simply assumed that Hua Xu knew nothing about the Crouching Dragon Martial Sect's structure, and intended to trick Hua Xu into becoming his disciple first.

That way, while screwing over Hua Xu, he himself would gain entry to the North Xuan Court and continue to reap greater benefits from Hua Xu's growth.

But unfortunately, Hua Xu had long been aware of the Crouching Dragon Martial Sect's situation and had not fallen for it.

"Actually, even if Hua Xu hadn't known about the four branches, the North Xuan Court elders would have informed him."

"Whether he was willing to take an outer court elder as his master was entirely up to him."

"Hua Xu deliberately pointed out that he had known about the four branches all along."

"He simply wanted everyone to know that he had seniors within the Crouching Dragon Martial Sect — that he had backers."

Elder Duan explained to Chu Feng.

"So that's what was going on."

Only now did Chu Feng finally understand why the other outer court elders hadn't believed Elder Qian when he claimed Hua Xu was going to take him as a master.

Even if Hua Xu himself hadn't known the specifics of the Crouching Dragon Martial Sect's structure, the North Xuan Court elders would have told him.

In short, no disciple who entered this place could be deceived — unless they genuinely wanted to take an outer court elder as their master.

Otherwise, for an outer court elder to take in a disciple who had passed the test would be harder than ascending to heaven.

"Elder Duan, if my cultivation improves in the future, will I have a chance to transfer to one of the other branches?"

Chu Feng asked curiously.

He felt that a disciple of Zi Ling's caliber certainly wouldn't be stuck in the North Xuan Court.

But based on his own performance today, Chu Feng figured he would likely only qualify for the North Xuan Court.

However, if he were given the chance to choose again in the future, Chu Feng would of course want to be in the same branch as Zi Ling.

"Once an elder or a disciple enters one of the four branches, it cannot be changed."

"When the founding ancestor established the four branches, it was to create a competitive environment that would inspire both disciples and elders to cultivate with greater determination, thereby accelerating their progress."