First achieve immortality, then cultivate immortality.

A Core Formation level sect can only compare to a single sect of a Nascent Soul level sect; they can never stand on the same level.

The most obvious indicator is the size of the sect's membership; this is one of the most important metrics for a sect.

The fact that a sect can gather more people is itself a manifestation of its strength. With more people, they can seize more resources and develop better.

This is why the strong remain strong.

Secondly, there's the cultivation level of the sect members.

Don't be fooled by the fact that he encountered a Foundation Establishment disciple as soon as he arrived at the mountain. It seems impressive, but this is precisely the weakness of Core Formation level sects. Without a sect-protecting formation and the sect's own deterrent power, they can only rely on Foundation Establishment disciples to guard the mountain themselves.

Look at the Qinglan Sect, when has it ever needed guards? Who would dare to trespass?

Finally, there's the high-end combat power.

A sect at the Core Formation level usually only has one Core Formation stage cultivator, just like a sect at the Nascent Soul level only has one Nascent Soul stage cultivator.

This is similar to the development dilemma of small companies. They cannot attract outstanding talents and can only try to train their own employees. However, after the employees are trained, they will inevitably want higher development, which small companies cannot meet.

When outstanding talents realize their own value potential and better development prospects, they will inevitably choose larger and better companies, causing small companies to never accumulate a large talent pool.

In other words, as the saying goes, you hire someone for a salary of 3000, but they only do the work for 3000.

The boss can't afford to spend 1 or even 3 to hire people; that's because resources are limited.

A truly ambitious Foundation Establishment cultivator who wants to achieve Core Formation cannot stay in a small sect, because small sects cannot provide the resources.

What's more, some people are actively poaching our employees.

This results in smaller sects being unable to accumulate a sufficient number of Foundation Establishment stage cultivators.

Nascent Soul level sects don't mind cultivating more Core Formation stage elders, which results in Nascent Soul level sects having many Core Formation stage cultivators, while Core Formation level sects only have one or two.

Similarly, a Nascent Soul level sect will only have one Nascent Soul stage cultivator.

Just look at the Qinglan Sect. They only wanted to create a second Nascent Soul cultivator, but they stirred up such a huge storm. The outcome is still undecided, and the sect as a whole has begun to decline.

This is the hierarchical structure of the entire cultivation world, where class differences are deeply entrenched and no one can break them.

An individual can transcend social classes through their own abilities, but can never truly break down social classes.

If you want to advance further, you can only go to a larger sect and climb the ranks step by step.

……

"Sorry to keep you waiting."

Liu Yuebai returned to Yingxian Palace and gave the identity token back to Xu Mu.

"My master has reviewed your application and welcomes you to the team," he said with a smile.

"Thank you." Xu Mu politely bowed.

"Then let's talk about the next part of exploring the secret realm..."

As a rogue cultivator in the Qi Refining stage, he was clearly not qualified to be received by a sect leader in the Core Formation stage, so Liu Yuebai was the one to receive him next.

The main topic of discussion was exploring the secret realm, including cooperation conditions and resource allocation.

All of these things need to be discussed in advance so that both parties can cooperate with peace of mind.

Finally, Liu Yuebai arranged a cave dwelling for him to stay in temporarily, and that was all.

At least they fulfilled their duties as hosts and treated guests well.

……

More than half a month later, another Foundation Establishment stage cultivator appeared and summoned all the disciples who had participated in the exploration of the secret realm.

For the past half month, Xu Mu has been staying in his cave to cultivate, only going out for lunch. He doesn't look around or ask questions, and he doesn't do anything impolite.

Nevertheless, he could still roughly determine that there were no more than five Foundation Establishment stage cultivators within this sect.

This is actually quite good.

It's just that he had worked in a major sect, which broadened his horizons and made him feel that this was a small sect.

At this moment, he was also summoned to the sect's square for a pre-departure mobilization meeting.

Upon closer inspection, there were only five disciples present, both male and female, making a total of six including him.

"This secret realm is a low-level secret realm, and only cultivators at the Qi Refining stage can enter," Luo Haodong said calmly, his hands behind his back.

"This is good news for you, because 'Mirage Beasts' will appear in the secret realm to attack intruders. The stronger the intruders are, the stronger the Mirage Beasts will be."

Therefore, only cultivators at the Qi Refining stage can enter now, so the mirage beasts are also only at the Qi Refining stage level.

However, it's worth noting that there will definitely be many people entering the secret realm.

The Qi Refining stage does not involve refining Foundation Establishment Pills, so disciples from various sects will directly enter the stage and comprehend the Dao on their own.

Extra caution is needed at times like these, when the geniuses of major sects gather together, and they may act without restraint.

"Yes, Third Senior Brother." The disciples bowed and greeted him.

Xu Mu also politely returned the gesture with a cupped hand.

Luo Haodong looked at him and introduced him, "This is a rogue cultivator, introduced by a friend of my master, who will be entering the secret realm with you."

"My name is Xu You. I greet you all, fellow Daoists." Xu Mu smiled and bowed.

The disciples returned the greeting symbolically, but it all seemed rather bland.

Xu Mu didn't care about this; after all, he was a rogue cultivator, and that's how rogue cultivators are.

Moreover, he now looks like an old man, which makes him seem somewhat out of place standing in front of these young people.

"Xu You, since you've come to our Hongshan Sect, you're a friend of our sect. Once you enter the secret realm, follow Ye Chen's instructions and don't act on your own, understand?" Luo Haodong said calmly.

"I will keep that in mind." Xu You bowed and replied, his attitude calm and composed. He didn't seem like the kind of person who would act on his own initiative, which made him easy to leave a good impression.

Luo Haodong then looked at his disciples and said in a deep voice, "You too. Although Xu You is not a disciple of our sect, she was introduced by Master's friend. Once you enter the secret realm, you must cooperate sincerely and take care of each other."

Within the secret realm, life and death are in your own hands. The only ones who can help you are your companions. Therefore, avoid infighting and unite against a common enemy, understand?

"yes!"

"Yes, sir!"

The five disciples each bowed and accepted.

At this moment, one of the handsome young men stepped forward, smiled, and cupped his hands to Xu Mu, saying, "My name is Ye Chen. I hope to have a pleasant cooperation with you, fellow Daoist."

"That's exactly what I meant," Xu Mu replied with a smile.

Both sides were amicable and made a good first impression, which laid a good foundation for future cooperation.

After Luo Haodong nodded, he continued, "After entering the secret realm, you will be randomly teleported to different places, which is very dangerous and you may easily become isolated and helpless."

Therefore, when entering the secret realm, you need to use this magic item to envelop all of you, so that you will be teleported to the same place.

As he spoke, he took out a bracelet-shaped magical artifact and handed it to Ye Chen.

Everyone nodded, remembering the precautions he had given them.

Luo Haodong explained in almost every detail the various situations that might occur within the secret realm.

Xu Mu secretly admired him, not expecting that this Foundation Establishment senior brother, who seemed aloof, was actually quite warm-hearted.

He had to admit that he quite liked the atmosphere within the sect. There was no distinction between inner and outer disciples; everyone was a disciple of the sect leader, and they valued brotherhood, helping each other and cultivating and growing together.

I felt the same way when I first entered the Qinglan Sect, but unfortunately the world has gone downhill ever since.

Now that he's an outsider, he can only hope he won't be ostracized and that this collaboration will go smoothly.