The rest of the disciple recruitment event carried on smoothly.

Maynard Hatton was brought away by the man from the Ivory Fist Clan. With their leader disgraced and gone, the remaining Ivory Fist Clan disciples were much more subdued. They glared at Harry, but didn't dare to do anything. If even Maynard was beaten in one kick, there was nothing they could do. They had to swallow their anger, while ignoring all the strange looks towards them.

Once Harry went back to his spot in the crowd, all the surrounding cultivators immediately backed up, giving him a wide berth. The Ivory Fist Clan conducted their business in a ruthless manner. Even an idiot could foresee what would happen to James, and none of them wanted to be involved.

'I can't act so rashly anymore,' Harry decided. Since the cat wasn't around, there was no one there to protect him, or warn him about danger. He needed to think before acting.

But it was too late. An enmity was already formed between him and the Ivory Fist Clan. Perhaps he'd be safe as long as he was in the Swan Sea Sect, but he couldn't stay there forever.

Then, the words he heard earlier today popped up in his mind.

'Well, in the vicinity of the Swan Sea, of course the strongest power is the Swan Sea Sect. But there are hundreds of smaller clans and sects, too. Among those, the Ivory Fist Clan is the strongest group. All their disciples practice body cultivation, and are very powerful. They always send many disciples to the Swan Sea Sect. In fact, many of the strongest disciples in the Swan Sea Sect are from the Ivory Fist Clan.'

In other words, he was screwed. What if those disciples came to find trouble with him? What was he going to do if they came for revenge?

'The answer is the same. If I want to live, I need to get stronger. That's how it's always been,' Harry finally decided.

He turned his attention back to the stage, but there wasn't much else to see. The remaining disciples reported their names and Spirits, then hit the Strength Pillar. A couple managed to reach 200, but no one else reached even close to 225, much less 236.

Without much fanfare, the recruitment event ended, and the results were announced. In total, 678 people managed to reach 160 on the Strength Pillar. Around 450 were at the 8th level of the Body Tempering Realm, while the others, except for Harry, were at the 9th. These numbers gave Harry a huge fright. Before today, he never imagined so many juniors could have progressed so far in cultivation.

Besides Harry, 19 other people achieved a score of 200 or higher, thereby qualifying them to receive a Qi Gathering Pill. All of them were at the 9th level of the Body Tempering Realm, in fact, they were very close to the Qi Absorption Realm.

Though those 19 people achieved at least 200 on the Strength Pillar, they only got one Qi Gathering Pill. When Elder Eustace handed Harry three Qi Gathering Pills, everyone stared with looks of jealousy.

After getting the rewards, Harry and the 700 other disciples followed Elder Eustace and entered the Swan Sea Sect.

Once he stepped past the gate, it was like he entered a different world. It was just a single step, but the difference was immediate. The scenery was beautiful, the air was fresh and salty, as if he was transported back to that beach, and the environment was rich in Qi. If he ever broke through the Qi Absorption Realm, cultivating here would be as easy as breathing. As they walked, Elder Eustace provided a bit of commentary.

"The Swan Sea City was founded nearly 800 years ago, and the Swan Sea Sect was formed not long after. Over the centuries, our sect rose to prominence, and now we are one of the 20 Tier 2 Sects of the Scarlet Phoenix Empire."

"That being said, our sect is different from the others, in that the Swan Sea Sect is mostly independent from the Swan Sea City. If you've ever been to the other Tier 2 cities, you'll know that their sects manage the city, and are located in the city boundaries. Our sect is located along the shoreline, between the city and the Swan Sea. The city is governed by the various powers that reside there."

"Let me impart some advice. You all may have been considered the best cultivators of your families and sects, but now that you've entered the Swan Sea Sect, it's best you forget such titles. Here, talented cultivators can be found everywhere you look. Furthermore, your positions in the sect are at the bottom."

"In the Swan Sea Sect, there are three types of disciples – Outer, Inner, and Core. Outer Disciples are those who just entered the sect. Once you enter the Qi Absorption Realm, you will become an Inner Disciple. And Core Disciples are the strongest of our disciples, the future pillars of the sect."

"Right now, your main focus should be entering the Qi Absorption Realm. The first Outer Disciples to become Inner Disciples will be rewarded by the sect, and as Inner Disciples, you will receive more cultivation resources and opportunities each month."

Harry sighed, and then resigned himself. There was no chance he'd be one of the first to become an Inner Disciple. There were already two dozen people at the peak of the Body Tempering Realm. Perhaps in a few weeks to a month, they would already be Inner Disciples. In comparison, he was far away.

But the Elder's next words made him stop cold.

"In order to create some pressure, and force you all to focus on cultivating, there is another rule. For your group, only the first 400 Outer Disciples to reach the Qi Absorption Realm will become Inner Disciples. The rest of you will lose your status as disciples – some of you may be allowed to stay as workers, but the rest will be expelled from the sect."

'First 400?' Harry thought in panic. There were 250 people already at the 9th level of the Body Tempering Realm!

Could he do it? Especially when considering the Nameless Technique, Harry felt there was no way.

The other disciples seemed to reach the same conclusion, as many of them glanced at James, some of them with hidden but gleeful expressions. With the lowest cultivation on top of being Spiritless, James would be kicked out the sect for sure.

Since James was too strong, it made them feel uncomfortable. As long as James was around, he'd hold the top spot. It'd be best if he was forced to leave the sect.

The Elder ignored all the looks and discussion, instead continuing the tour guide.

"If you walk along this path, you will eventually reach our Alchemy Hall. If you walk that way, you'll eventually arrive at the Swan Sea. Over there…" Elder Eustace continued pointing out the various locations of the sect, until they finally reached an area with buildings.

Each building was labelled with a number, from 1 to 11. The first ten buildings were single-story houses, the first being the largest and each one getting smaller after. And building 11 was a massive structure, a dozen times longer than it was wide, that stretched off into the distance. It looked more like a wall.

"These are the Outer Dorms, where you all will live. They're numbered, and the one you stay in is determined by your position on the Outer Ranking. In other words, your strength determines where you live. Here at the Swan Sea Sect, the rules favor the strong. If you want to live comfortably, then become stronger."

"The top 20 Outer Disciples live in the first 10 houses, two per house. 1st and 2nd place in the first dorm, 3rd and 4th in the second dorm, and so on. And everyone else lives in building 11."

Instantly, around 650 faces fell. If they were in the top 20, they shared a room with one other person. But if they weren't, then they shared a room with everyone else? What sort of rules were these?

After he explained the rules, the Elder glanced at Harry with an awkward expression. His meaning was clear. Harry was going to share a dorm with Maynard.

Harry cursed his rotten luck. He wanted to stay as far away from the Ivory Fist Clan as possible. Maynard as a roommate – what sort of joke was this?

"Does this mean that if our ranking changes, our living area will also change?" one disciple asked.

"Yes. The Outer Ranking is constantly changing, and you can check it at any time. The initial ranking was decided by the strength you displayed today. But while you're in the sect, the rankings will change, depending on a combination of factors."

"The Strength Pillars from earlier are located in the Training Hall. You can use them at any time you like. If you beat your previous score, your new score will be recorded, and your ranking will be updated. However, we also consider things like merit points, and contributions to the sect."

"What are merit points?" another disciple asked.

"Merit points, well, they're a bit like currency. By performing tasks for the sect, you get merit points. You can use these points to obtain cultivation resources, and for other special opportunities. You can go to the Missions Hall to find tasks to do. Further, merit points can be transferred between disciples, and they're a common way for disciples to make trades with each other. They are recorded and maintained by a team of workers, along with hundreds of formations around the sect."

"Besides attending lessons and cultivating, disciples will spend their time doing tasks to earn merit points. The better you perform, and the harder the tasks are, the more points you'll gain. You'll soon find that our Swan Sea Sect has no shortage of cultivation resources, far better than what you had access to at home. But, you'll have to earn them."

As Elder Eustace explained more about the system, Harry noticed many disciples nodding and looking like they were eager to start earning merit points.

'Can't you see the merit points are just a way to get you to perform some labor?' he mentally snorted. Perhaps because he grew up in Wool's Orphanage, his mindset was different. He could easily see through the merit system for what it was.

The Swan Sea Sect wasn't a charity. To raise so many disciples and maintain its strength, it had to make money somehow. It was even better if they didn't have to pay their workers with real currency.

But… then he realized, he also needed cultivation resources, and far more than anyone around him. Though he was the most cynical, perhaps he'd be the one trying to earn merit points the hardest.

"One last thing. There is a guidebook in each of the dorms, which contains a list of rules. I strongly suggest you read it, and commit the important rules to memory," the Elder said solemnly.

"Ok, if there are no more questions, then that's all from me. Take your time to settle in and meet your fellow disciples. Explore the Sect, and get acquainted with all the important locations. After all, this place will soon be your new home."

"Wait," Harry blurted out. "I have a question."

"Hmm? James, isn't it? What is it?"

"It's about those pills you gave us earlier. What are they?"

Everyone looked at Harry as if they were looking at an idiot. How could he not know what Qi Gathering Pills were? That was pretty much common knowledge.

"They are Qi Gathering Pills," Elder Eustace said, also looking surprised that Harry didn't know. "They are Earth Grade pills, and widely used in the Qi Absorption Realm. As for their effects, they will cause all the surrounding Qi in the area to enter your body, so you can use it for cultivation. They are the standard pill for cultivating in the Qi Absorption Realm, but are also very useful for Body Tempering Realm cultivators. They will allow you, temporarily, to refine external Qi, as if you were in the Qi Absorption Realm. I recommend you earn enough merit points to enter one of our cultivation grounds, then use the pills there. The concentration of Qi there is much higher."

"I see, thank you," Harry said respectfully. He was still very grateful for Elder Eustace for saving his life earlier.

The Elder nodded, then walked away. The was the signal for the disciples to scatter in all directions. Harry heard some talking about going to the Missions Hall to start getting merit points, some wanting to explore the sect, and others visiting the Strength Pillars to test themselves again. Out of all the Outer Disciples, he was the only one to just enter his dormitory.

Alone, he went into the first building. Though the Elder called it a dormitory, it was basically an entire house. Even if he had to share the dorm, there was plenty of space for him. The dorm came with fully furnished living rooms, a kitchen, and bathrooms. There were even rooms designed for cultivation and training. Finally, he stumbled upon the bedroom, which contained the two largest and softest beds he had ever seen.

On the nightstands were the two guidebooks that Elder Eustace mentioned. Plopping onto one of the soft beds, Harry picked one up and began reading.

The first part was a general guide to the sect, which had all the information the Elder mentioned, and plenty more. But the second part abruptly turned into a list of punishments. As Harry read through them, his expression grew stranger and stranger. There were only two punishments. Murderers were put to death. And other than murder, all other crimes received a punishment of lashes.

Murder - death

Assault of Outer Disciple – 10 lashes

Assault of Inner Disciple – 20 lashes

Assault of Elder or Teacher – 50 lashes

Assault of Core Disciple – 80 lashes

Assault of Alchemist – 100 lashes

Assault of Sect Master – 1000 lashes

Stealing from Outer Disciple – 5 lashes

Stealing from Inner Disciple – 10 lashes

Stealing from Elder, Teacher, or Core Disciple – 30 lashes

Stealing from Alchemist – 80 lashes

…

And so on. The rest of the rulebook, nearly a hundred pages, was filled like this. Punishment for intruding into dormitories… punishment for impersonating an Elder… punishment for tracking mud into the Alchemy Hall… punishment for poisoning… punishment for pushing someone into latrine pit… every time Harry thought he read it all, another one caught him by surprise.

However, one sentence at the end of the book caught his eye.

Only the victim can administer the punishment.

Didn't that really just mean… if you break a rule, do it against someone weak?

But as he kept reading, he saw additional punishments that deterred that very thing. There were also core sect rules, which were the exception to that clause. One of the core sect rules was that Inner Disciples couldn't attack Outer Disciples, and similarly, Elders couldn't attack disciples. For the sake of fairness, those punishments were enforced by an Elder or the Sect Master.

Back in Ox Ford City, the Exalted Cat said the Swan Sea Sect had a peculiar set of rules – so this is what it meant. But it also told him to make good use of them. How was he supposed to use these strange rules?

His eyes started to glaze over as he kept reading the ridiculous book, so he tossed it to the side. As he did, he suddenly realized how tired he was. The two days were a whirlwind of activity. He hadn't gotten a proper rest since the battle against the Scarlet Flame Wolf. Right now, he just wanted to sleep and not wake up for a couple days.

Stretching and rolling around the soft mattress, it wasn't long before he closed his eyes and fell into a deep slumber.

Not far away from the Swan Sea Sect was the Swan Sea City. Right now, news about the Swan Sea Sect's recruitment event was rapidly spreading. The name James Evans was becoming famous.

The Swan Sea Sect didn't manage the city, rather, there was no central power. Hundreds of clans and families occupied and ruled various sections the city, without any clear borders – except for a handful of large powers.

One of these was naturally the Ivory Fist Clan. They governed nearly a quarter of the entire Swan Sea City, and short of the Swan Sea Sect, were the most influential clan around.

Every couple of years, the Swan Sea Sect would hold a recruitment event. And every time, the Ivory Fist Clan sent dozens of disciples to the Swan Sea Sect to cultivate. No other power, besides the Hopkins Clan, could boast the same feat. It became somewhat of a clan tradition to celebrate in advance.

But right now, the mood in the clan was anything but festive. Their main hall was a huge structure reinforced with layers of ivory, and in it, a dozen men sat in silence, not daring to speak. All were large, bulky figures, like a clan of bodybuilders rather than a clan of cultivators. The man from before, the one who attacked Harry, was seated to the side after having given his report.

Lying in the middle of the hall was Maynard. His current appearance was completely different from the arrogance he displayed earlier. He was moaning in pain, while nursing his cracked ribs and shattered hand. Blood dripped out his hand, his arm, his chest, and mouth.

A team of Healers surrounded him, doing their best to treat his injuries. Due to his ivory armor, small shards of ivory actually penetrated his body, so they couldn't just give him a healing pill. They had to carefully pluck each shard out first.

And at the front of the hall was a giant of a man, approaching 8 feet tall, who glared down the hall with murderous rage.

"Take my son to the infirmary, and finish treating him there," he finally spoke. His voice was deep, and laced with anger, so powerful that the very walls of the ivory fortress were trembling and vibrating.

This man was the Patriarch of the Ivory Fist Clan. And as the Young Master, Maynard was this man's son, and the future Patriarch.

The Healers bowed, and hurriedly wheeled Maynard out of the main hall. With his son out of the room, the Patriarch focused his attention on the men in front of him.

"I entered cultivation seclusion just a month ago, and left all clan matters in your hands. Yet, our clan has already degenerated to this point. You let a Spiritless trash strike my son, then failed to kill him," he glared at the man who accompanied the disciples to the Swan Sea Sect.

"The Swan Sea Elder was protecting him," the man gulped. "There was nothing I could do in that situation."

The Patriarch glared at the Elder, but in the end, chose to not blame him. Though he was clouded with anger, he wasn't unreasonable. He knew the strength of the Swan Sea Sect very clearly – after all, they were one of the 20 Tier 2 sects of the empire.

"Relay my instructions to Maynard. He is to break through the Qi Absorption Realm, and reach the next level in the Ivory Strengthening Technique. Only after that can he leave the clan, and rejoin the Swan Sea Sect. Once he's there, he is to defeat this James boy with his own strength."

"If he doesn't defeat James, his cultivation will be unable to progress further. He has not suffered a defeat in many years, so this event will create problems with his mentality. He can only defeat the demons in his heart by defeating James first. If he gets the opportunity, kill James. Have him die like a dog."

"But the rules of the sect don't allow murder," one man hesitantly spoke. "If Maynard kills James, then Maynard will be put to death too. Even our clan is not above the rules - "

"The rules only disallow intentional murder. If two disciples agree to a duel, and one kills the other, the winner can claim it was an accident. It has happened before. Since Maynard will have just broken through the Qi Absorption Realm, he can say he was unused to his newfound strength. After all, accidents in fights are very common. There will be punishment, but it will not be death."

"Patriarch is wise," the man bowed. To him, the death of a random junior was nothing. In fact, it was justified, and even a natural consequence, since he dared to injure their Young Master. If it weren't for the Swan Sea Elder at the scene, he would have killed James without a second thought.

"Should we investigate his background first?" another man spoke up. "As the saying goes, before killing a dog, you first check who its master is."

"What background could he possibly have?" the Patriarch rumbled. "There is no family surnamed Evans around. And what clan would raise or care for a Spiritless cultivator? Even if he is strong, he will never enter the Qi Absorption Realm. And even if he has some background, do we need to fear them?"

"I don't believe the Swan Sea Sect will side with a Spiritless cultivator over our Ivory Fist Clan, especially a dead one. They will punish Maynard, and then act like nothing happened. Tell Maynard to use whatever means necessary to get James to accept the duel. I am re-entering seclusion."

With that, the Patriarch got up and left the room.

'James Evans,' he thought. 'Hmph. No need to bother over a fly. In a few weeks, you will be dead.'