System Epic Upgrade Major Changes

"My Lord!"

Before long, Zhao Feng led a twenty-six or twenty-seven-year-old young man quickly up the steps.

The young man wore a washed-out gray cloth garment with frayed cuffs and hems. A rusted iron sword hung at his waist. At a glance, one could tell he was a rogue cultivator who had struggled at the bottom of the cultivation world for many years.

He followed behind Zhao Feng, his head bowed, his footsteps extremely light, and even his breathing deliberately suppressed.

Yet, his eyes couldn't help but dart around. The pavilions, spiritual springs, flying waterfalls, and towering ancient trees—every sight made his pupils tremble.

So this was the Tianyan Sect!

This was the Tianyan Sect that had beaten the Han family into submission, forced back a Heavenly Tribulation with a single word, and made the imperial dynasty send the Imperial Guards to confer a title!

He never dreamed that he would one day stand here.

"My Lord, I have brought him," Zhao Feng bowed and reported.

The young man shuddered all over, hastily fell to his knees, and knocked his forehead heavily against the bluestone floor.

"Rogue cultivator Chen Beiwang pays his respects to the Sect Master!"

His voice was loud, but it carried a noticeable tremble.

Lin Yan leaned back in his recliner, rolling a purple grape in his hand. His gaze lightly swept over the young man before him.

"Stand up and speak."

"Y-Yes!"

Chen Beiwang hurriedly scrambled to his feet and stood with his hands at his sides, not even daring to breathe too loudly.

Lin Yan glanced at him and said casually, "Twenty-six years old, Fourth Level of Qi Condensation. For a rogue cultivator, that's not bad. Why do you want to join my Tianyan Sect?"

Chen Beiwang took a deep breath, mustered the courage to raise his head, and met Lin Yan's calm, well-like eyes.

He gritted his teeth, steeled his heart, and knelt down again.

"To answer the Sect Master, this lowly one... this lowly one was originally from Chen Family Village in the northern part of Cangwu Commandery. Ten years ago, the village was attacked by demonic beasts. My whole family died, leaving only me."

"Later, I was lucky enough to obtain a fragmented Qi Condensation cultivation method. By relying on mining and gathering herbs for others, I stumbled my way into cultivation up to this day."

"A few days ago, I heard that the Tianyan Sect was opening its doors, not requiring spirit stones or checking aptitude, but only looking at character. So, this lowly one thought to come and try."

He looked up, his eye sockets already turning red.

"This lowly one knows my aptitude is mediocre. I am twenty-six and only at the Fourth Level of Qi Condensation. I might never touch the threshold of Foundation Establishment in this lifetime. I don't dare to wish for much; I just want to find a place that can shelter me from the wind and rain..."

His voice grew lower and lower, eventually becoming almost inaudible.

He was afraid.

Afraid that this lofty Sect Master would be just like the people from other sects in the past—kicking him out and calling him trash.

Lin Yan did not speak.

[Ding! Detected that the current target's initial loyalty is 61%. Meets sect entry conditions. Can be accepted as an Outer/Inner Sect Disciple.]

61% loyalty?

Lin Yan raised an eyebrow slightly.

For a rogue cultivator who had struggled at the bottom for over a decade and seen enough of the world's coldness and fickleness, being able to offer 61% loyalty was already quite rare.

"Chen Beiwang, what is the obsession in your heart?"

Lin Yan spoke, his tone betraying neither joy nor anger.

Chen Beiwang knelt on the ground and remained silent for a moment.

Then he raised his head, a hint of ruthlessness appearing in his eyes.

"This lowly one wants to become strong!"

"I don't want to be treated like an ant anymore! I don't want to be ordered around anymore! I don't want to be beaten half to death over a few broken spirit stones anymore!"

"I want everyone who looks down on me to kneel before me!"

After saying this, he lowered his head again, pressing his forehead against the bluestone floor, his entire body prostrating on the ground.

Lin Yan looked at the slightly trembling young man, an imperceptible smile tugging at the corner of his mouth.

"Become strong?"

"Very well, I will give you this opportunity."

Chen Beiwang jerked his head up, his pupils contracting sharply.

The Sect Master... agreed?

"Chen Beiwang, from today onward, you are an official outer sect disciple of the Tianyan Sect."

"Thank you! Thank you, Sect Master!"

"This disciple... this disciple will definitely cultivate hard! I will definitely work hard! I will never cause trouble for the sect! I will never bring shame to the Sect Master!"

Chen Beiwang was so excited that he spoke incoherently. Hot tears could no longer be held back and burst from his eyes.

[Ding! Congratulations to the Host for successfully taking in an outer sect disciple! Reward: Outer Sect Disciple Trait x1, Sect Points +100]

[Ding! Detected that sect scale has reached capacity. Meets upgrade conditions!]

[Upgrade now?]

"No!"

Lin Yan suppressed the urge to upgrade for the moment. He glanced at Chen Beiwang, who was still kneeling on the ground, and said indifferently:

"Stand up. From now on, follow Deacon Zhao and cultivate diligently."

Chen Beiwang woke up as if from a dream and hurriedly scrambled up, his voice trembling, "Thank you, Sect Master! Thank you, Sect Master!"

[Ding! Detected a massive increase in outer sect disciple Chen Beiwang's favorability. Loyalty +5%]

...

Watching the retreating backs of Chen Beiwang and Zhao Feng, Lin Yan slowly leaned back in his recliner, picked up a purple grape with his fingertips, and tossed it into his mouth.

He had intentionally held off on the upgrade button just now.

It wasn't for any other reason than not wanting to cause too much of a commotion in front of a disciple.

If a flash of golden light changed the color of the sky and earth, and it was seen by a newcomer like Chen Beiwang, who knew what kind of divine abilities he would imagine his Sect Master possessed.

A sense of mystery still needed to be maintained.

"Open the system panel."

[Strongest Sect System 2.0]

... (Omitted)

[Detected that sect scale meets upgrade conditions. Upgrade immediately?]

Lin Yan took a deep breath and spat out the grape seeds in his mouth.

"Upgrade!"

[Ding! System upgrading...]

[10%... 30%... 70%...]

[Ding! System upgrade complete!]

[Strongest Sect System 2.0 -> 3.0]

[Sect Level: 2-Star -> 3-Star]

[Sect Territory: 10-mile radius -> 30-mile radius]

[Unlocked Feature: Sect Prestige]

[Upgrade Details:

1. Disciple system restructured: Personal, Inner, Outer, Honorary;

- Personal Disciple: Can be conferred if Loyalty is 80% or higher. Does not occupy any quota, no maximum limit. Sect authority is second only to the Host;

- Inner Sect Disciple: Can be accepted if Loyalty is 60% or higher. Enjoys Inner Sect privileges;

- Outer Sect Disciple: Can be accepted if Loyalty is 40% or higher. Enjoys Outer Sect privileges only;

- Honorary Disciple: Can be accepted if Loyalty is 20% or higher. Enjoys Outer Sect privileges only;

2. Trait system optimized: Removed the original Outer Sect Disciple Trait Pool, added Personal Disciple Exclusive Trait Pool and Inner Sect Disciple Exclusive Trait Pool;

3. Upgrade rules adjusted: Future sect upgrades will no longer assess disciple loyalty, but only assess disciple numbers, high-end combat power, and Sect Prestige;

- Next upgrade conditions: Fill all disciple quotas, have Nascent Soul disciples 1 or more, Golden Core disciples 3 or more, Foundation Establishment disciples 10 or more, Sect Prestige 10000 or higher;

4. New feature: Trait draw chances can be exchanged 1:1 for Mystery Box draw chances. Mystery Boxes contain random rewards such as cultivation methods, weapons, physiques, and natural treasures;

That is all.]

[Ding! Congratulations to the Host on receiving upgrade rewards: Sect Master Trait Draw Chance x1, Inner Sect Disciple Trait Draw Chance x5, Special Building: Outer Sect Skill Transmission Pavilion, Mission Hall, Sect Points +1000]

[Outer Sect Skill Transmission Pavilion: Usable only by Outer/Honorary disciples. No automatic matching function; supports manual input only.]

[Mission Hall: Host can custom-publish missions. The system will automatically track completion progress.]

...