Chapter 271 - 138: Luo Feng’s Shock, Zhang Su is Actually Upper Third-Grade Gang Power?

"Innate Combat Power..."

Zhang Su muttered under his breath.

He finally understood why the Three Sects hadn’t produced a single Upper Sect’s Direct Disciple in all these years.

Innate!

That was the Guiyuan Sect’s Stabilizing Needle.

Everyone below the Innate Realm was nothing more than an ant.

This was no empty boast.

Even for a Celestial Pride of the Three Sects Alliance, advancing to the Innate Realm was fraught with difficulty, let alone possessing Innate Combat Power while still in the Postnatal Realm.

Yu Hualong was a Celestial Pride who cultivated the Guiyuan Sect’s most powerful Cultivation Technique. His strength was a cut above the rest of his generation.

But when faced with an Innate Grandmaster, he was like an ant facing an elephant.

Shi Buyi was the number one Celestial Pride of the Three Sects. With his Five Elements Unite, five types of Inner Strength circulated endlessly, making him a true powerhouse in the Postnatal Realm.

But he was no different. Before an Innate Grandmaster, he couldn’t withstand a single blow.

’To unleash Innate Combat Power while still in the Postnatal Realm... That standard is absurdly high.’

’No wonder so many people failed the Upper Sect’s selection process.’

’Hundreds of factions, and each one put forth its most brilliant prodigies.’

’Back in their own Sects, all of them were considered peerlessly talented individuals.’

’But here in the Upper Sect, the ones who could become Direct Disciples were so few you could count them on one hand.’

’Only a tiny fraction managed to become Official Disciples.’

’The vast majority didn’t even qualify to become Official Disciples.’

’Jiang Tianze of the Jingyuan Sect was powerful enough to defeat the allied Celestial Prides of the Three Sects Alliance.’

’Even so, he couldn’t become an Upper Sect’s Direct Disciple.’

Although Zhang Su hadn’t witnessed Jiang Tianze’s power firsthand, he could sense it from Yu Hualong’s description.

In that battle, the three Celestial Prides of the Three Sects Alliance had joined forces, only to last a mere thirty moves.

After thirty moves, they were utterly defeated.

Yu Hualong lost a thumb, Lu Danxi was severely injured, and although Shi Buyi withstood most of the attacks, he too paid a heavy price.

And yet, a man as powerful as Jiang Tianze was said to have been just shy of becoming a Direct Disciple during the Upper Sect selection.

’He was said to be just shy of becoming a Direct Disciple, but that tiny gap was likely a world of difference.’

’That gap was like an insurmountable chasm stretching before countless geniuses.’

’The Three Sects Alliance was still worried that, given time, Jiang Tianze would become a Direct Disciple.’

’They were likely worrying for nothing.’

’Jiang Tianze’s strength was already at the very peak of the Postnatal Realm.’

’But that tiny gap... he might never cross it in his entire life.’

’With a standard that high, it was no wonder these Named Disciples had all given up.’

Zhang Su stood at the edge of the Martial Arts Arena, his gaze sweeping over the Named Disciples gathered around the Official Disciples.

Some were squatting on the ground to polish shoes, some were holding water flasks, and others carried food containers.

Every one of them wore a subservient smile, with no hint of fighting spirit in their eyes.

They hadn’t even considered becoming Direct Disciples on their own. Instead, they chose to latch onto and curry favor with talented Official Disciples, hoping those disciples would be promoted to Direct Disciples.

Then, they too could rise with them.

You couldn’t exactly say this way of thinking was wrong.

After all, the standard for becoming an Upper Sect’s Direct Disciple was so high it was despair-inducing.

Anyone faced with such a standard would feel hopeless.

"So, do you get it now? It’s not that we don’t try. It’s just that trying is useless..."

Luo Feng said helplessly.

He wore a wry smile.

He’d said those words many times before.

He usually said them to the new Named Disciples who arrived.

Some would fall silent after hearing it.

Some would be unconvinced.

But in the end, they would all become just like him.

"I understand. But I still want to give it a shot—to become a Direct Disciple through my own efforts!"

After speaking, Zhang Su turned and walked away.

In the Martial Arts Arena, all the Named Disciples watched Zhang Su’s retreating figure.

All eyes were on him, filled with complicated emotions.

Then, someone shook their head. "Another newcomer who thinks he’s better than everyone else."

The speaker was a Named Disciple of about twenty-seven or twenty-eight. He was squatting next to an Official Disciple, a damp cloth in his hand, polishing a longsword.

His movements were practiced; he had clearly done this many times before.

"He looks young, probably not even twenty. He seems to be a Gang Force Martial Artist, so it’s normal for him to still have some ambition. Give it some time, though. He’ll figure it out and come back to be just like the rest of us."

Another Named Disciple chimed in.

He stood on the other side of the Martial Arts Arena, holding a water flask with both hands, his face still slick with sweat.

"Yeah, the Haojin Upper Sect has a long and storied history. It’s not unheard of for a Named Disciple to fight their way up and become a Direct Disciple, but such people are one in a million. The path is just too hard."

A slightly older Named Disciple sighed.

He was sitting on the stone steps at the edge of the Martial Arts Arena. Beside him was a food container, inside which were several plates of delicate pastries.

"Named Disciples have a time limit in the Upper Sect. Once that time is up, if you haven’t even been promoted to an Official Disciple, you’ll be expelled from the Upper Sect. When that time comes, it’ll be too late for regrets."

A skinny Named Disciple said.

He stood under a green pine tree, a fan in his hand, waving it gently.

"Exactly. On the other hand, if we can follow an Official Disciple, and that Official Disciple gets promoted to a Direct Disciple, then we won’t have to worry about being expelled from the Upper Sect..."

Someone else chimed in agreement.

His tone carried a hint of smug relief.

It was as if he had already found a backer and no longer had to worry about being expelled.

The crowd of Named Disciples all shook their heads.

They retracted their gazes from the direction where Zhang Su had disappeared and went back to their own business.

The bustle of the Martial Arts Arena continued, and everything went on as usual.

They had seen this all too often.