These outer disciples took the initiative to find inner disciples they liked and showed their loyalty.
The other outer disciples looked down on these people, thinking that they were taking the wrong path and had lost the enterprising spirit of a cultivator.
But later, after seeing these first followers successfully build their foundation, they realized the cruelty of the path of cultivation.
No matter how proud you are of your genius, in the end, you can only stop at the stage of Qi training and wait for your lifespan to run out, with no possibility of building a foundation anymore.
Correspondingly, the number of people choosing to become followers is increasing year by year.
Outer disciples only have the sect's title, while inner disciples are recognized by the sect and receive the sect's support and cultivation.
The situation is stronger than people. The actions of those followers are despicable, but it is an indisputable fact that some of them have successfully built a foundation and become inner disciples.
Therefore, more and more people took the initiative to become followers, until now, it has gradually evolved into a situation where outer disciples need to take tests before they are qualified to become followers.
Moreover, becoming a follower of an inner sect disciple, or what is now called a retainer, not only will one not be looked down upon, but will instead become a symbol of honor.
The sect neither agrees nor opposes this.
The sect has always had a laissez-faire attitude towards outer disciples. As long as they pay the sect contribution points and do not violate the sect rules, the disciples can do whatever they want.
However, in order not to disrupt the balance of the outer sect, the sect stipulates that an inner sect disciple in the Qi Refining Stage can only select two followers.
This is also the reason why everyone takes the exam so seriously.
Having the opportunity to become an attendant of an inner sect disciple and thus enter the inner sect is a very rare opportunity for many outer sect disciples.
Not only can you get more resources for cultivation, but you can also find a backer for yourself.
After all, it is too difficult to enter the inner door from the outer door in the normal way.
Only the top ten in the outer disciple competition can obtain the Foundation Establishment Pill.
However, the competition for outer disciples is only held once every five years. Normally, on average, only two disciples each year are able to successfully build a foundation and enter the inner sect.
This also makes it extremely difficult for ordinary outer disciples to enter the inner sect, which is like ascending to heaven.
Becoming an attendant is like taking a step toward heaven and entering the inner gate.
Unlike outer disciples who have no way to seek the truth, inner disciples can exchange contribution points for foundation-building pills.
Foundation Establishment Pills are extremely precious and rare. An inner sect disciple can only exchange for three in his lifetime.
Although each Foundation Establishment Pill requires a huge amount of contribution points to be exchanged, the exchange qualification for each Foundation Establishment Pill has always been in high demand.
Most of the inner sect disciples have dual spiritual roots, and they often only need one or two foundation-building pills to break through the foundation-building stage.
In exchange for qualifications, they either sold the excess Foundation Establishment Pills or gave them as rewards to their followers.
This is also the reason why outer disciples are vying to be chosen as attendants.
What they are fighting for is just that one chance to build the foundation.
After building the foundation, these followers will be able to automatically remove their follower status and become inner disciples.
But the so-called followers, to put it bluntly, are actually a kind of subordinate relationship. To put it bluntly, they are almost no different from slaves in the secular world.
The followers obey the orders of the inner disciples, who will provide them with resources and protection.
Although the followers have the inner disciples as their backers, their freedom is in the hands of others.
Even if the attendants made serious mistakes, they might be beaten to death by the inner disciples.
However, under normal circumstances, inner disciples would not easily kill their followers.
Inner disciples in the Qi training stage can only choose two followers in total. Once a follower is selected, it cannot be replaced, even if it dies. Excellent followers are a great help to inner disciples.
Therefore, the inner disciples are extremely cautious in choosing their followers.
The inner disciples simply and directly divided the followers into two categories: combat and auxiliary.
Combat followers are more popular, but auxiliary followers are also indispensable. These inner disciples usually choose one of each type.
There are also a small number of people who will choose two combat types or two auxiliary types.
Xu Chunniang was not interested in becoming someone else's follower. In her opinion, selling freedom was tantamount to selling the soul.
Since she embarked on the path of cultivating immortals, she has become stronger day by day. Xu Chunniang is confident that if she stops being someone else's follower, she will be able to step into the inner gate with her own strength one day.
Thinking about seeing Wei Dawu soon, she felt happy and excited.
Wei Dawu was her only acquaintance in the sect. She wondered how far his cultivation had come after three years.
Just because Xu Chunniang has no intention of becoming a follower doesn't mean others are not interested.
After all, in the eyes of this group of new disciples, the hope of obtaining the Foundation Establishment Pill in the outer sect is too slim, and it is far less promising than following the inner sect disciples.
They were all eager to try their best to perform well today so that they could be noticed by the geniuses in the inner sect.
"I heard that all the inner disciples of our class will come to watch our competition today in order to select the best followers. I must perform well today and strive to be selected to enter the inner sect."
"Alas, it is too difficult to be chosen by those high-minded Inner Sect Senior Brothers. There are only about a hundred Inner Sect Senior Brothers joining us this year, and they can only select more than two hundred followers at most, while we have a full three thousand Outer Sect disciples."
"Just be content!"
Someone nearby advised, "There are at least 5,000 participants in the Outer Sect Competition every year, but only the top ten are selected each time. This is much easier than the Outer Sect Competition."
"That's right. We must seize this opportunity, otherwise we will be trapped in the outer sect for the rest of our lives."
"The martial arts test is about to begin, why haven't those inner sect brothers arrived yet?"
But at this moment, a disciple pointed to one side excitedly, "Look over there, it's the inner sect brothers, they are coming!"
The inner disciples wore white robes, different from the outer disciples, so everyone recognized them at a glance.
They had a hint of pride on their faces, and their white robes were spotless, forming a sharp contrast with the thousands of outer disciples around them who were wearing green robes.
Seeing that all the inner sect disciples had arrived, Steward Mu, who had been resting with his eyes closed at the head, opened his eyes and said calmly, "Let's get started."
The rules for the martial arts test had been established long ago, and the test would be divided into batches according to the results of the literary test. The disciples who had obtained the A grade in both literary and literary examinations would be given priority in the competition.
Among the three thousand outer disciples, there are a total of four hundred who have obtained double A scores. They will have three competitions. The winners will advance and the losers will be disqualified directly.
In the end, only fifty disciples will remain from these four hundred people.
According to past experience, if nothing unexpected happens, these fifty people will be selected as inner disciples.
Even among the top 100 who didn’t make the top 50, many will still be selected.
After all, the double A results are, to some extent, also a proof of strength.
As one of the first people to participate in the competition, Xu Chunniang went on stage and drew her own number, No. 327.
There were ten arenas in the examination venue, which could accommodate twenty people at the same time. At this rate, it would probably take a while before it was her turn.
Xu Chunniang looked in the direction of the inner disciples, trying to find Wei Dawu.
Coincidentally, the other party was also looking at her, and their eyes met for a moment.
Wei Dawu smiled slightly and made an effort gesture to her. Xu Chunniang smiled broadly and nodded heavily.
Although she had never thought of becoming a follower, she would not let him down in the competition.