After spending an entire week inside the breakthrough rooms, the three Grade A trainees finally emerged.
The moment the news spread, the entire inner courtyard became lively once again.
Three new Innate Realm martial artists.
Lin Xiaolu.
Zhao Feng.
Lin Shou.
Together with Lin Sheng and Lou Han who had already broken through earlier, the current batch now possessed five Innate Realm trainees.
Even Mentor Xu could not hide the smile on his face.
"Hahaha! Good! Very good!"
The usually strict mentor looked visibly pleased.
After all, the number of Innate martial artists successfully raised from a batch directly affected a mentor's standing and rewards within the training center.
And this batch—
Was simply monstrous.
Especially after Lin Sheng's early breakthrough.
Now, several others had followed closely behind.
Even some elders in the core courtyard had begun taking notice.
Within the training center, there existed a rough comparison between the martial path and the immortal path.
Innate Inner Energy or True Qi Stage with 3 opened acupoints was equivalent to Qi Refinement Early Stage cultivators from the 1st to 3rd layer.
Innate Inner Strength or Inner Power Stage with 4 to 6 opened acupoints was equivalent to Qi Refinement Mid Stage cultivators from the 4th to 6th layer.
Innate Outer Strength or Outer Power Stage with 7 to 9 opened acupoints was equivalent to Qi Refinement Late Stage cultivators from the 7th to 9th layer.
Of course, this was only a rough comparison.
The true deciding factor in battle still depended on combat experience, martial concepts, cultivation scriptures, techniques, treasures and personal foundations.
Still—
This comparison alone was enough to show the significance of reaching Innate.
One could finally stand among true cultivators.
As for Lou Han, after successfully breaking through several days earlier, many people had finally stopped doubting him.
Before this, countless rumors had spread around the training center.
People questioned whether he deserved his inner courtyard position.
Others mocked his slower cultivation speed compared to the other Grade A trainees.
But after publicly defeating Gu Fei again and then announcing his breakthrough into Innate Realm shortly afterward, all those voices vanished instantly.
No one dared underestimate him anymore.
Especially not Gu Fei.
Ever since losing publicly twice, Gu Fei had become far quieter.
Though anyone could tell that hatred still burned deeply inside him.
Inside the inner courtyard residence area, the atmosphere became increasingly lively.
Zhao Feng immediately decided to organize a celebration for everyone who had broken through.
"Hahaha! This young master is generous today!"
Spirit wine, beast meat and expensive dishes quickly filled the courtyard.
Many Grade A trainees attended.
Even several Grade B trainees arrived respectfully hoping to receive guidance from the newly advanced Innate martial artists.
Within the cultivation world, status changed everything.
Especially strength.
Those still in the Acquired Realm naturally sat at the outer dining tables.
Meanwhile, at the center of the courtyard was a separate inner dining table reserved only for the newly advanced Innate trainees.
Lin Sheng.
Lin Xiaolu.
Zhao Feng.
Lin Shou.
Lou Han.
The divide in status was immediately obvious.
Yet no one complained.
This was simply reality.
Only Innate martial artists could truly enter the higher circle of the training center.
At the table, Zhao Feng laughed loudly while pouring spirit wine.
"Hahaha! Finally! We're no longer weaklings!"
Lin Shou snorted.
"You were never weak. Just shameless."
"Shamelessness is also a skill," Zhao Feng replied proudly.
Lin Xiaolu quietly drank tea while ignoring both of them.
Lou Han remained silent as usual.
However, after breaking through to Innate, his aura had clearly become sharper.
The Scorching Flame Innate Scripture made his true qi naturally carry traces of explosive heat.
Even the surrounding air occasionally distorted faintly around him.
Lin Sheng observed quietly.
Compared to before, everyone had changed after entering Innate.
Not only their strength.
But also their mentality.
Power naturally affected people.
Suddenly—
Several powerful auras approached from outside the courtyard.
The atmosphere immediately quietened slightly.
Then five figures entered calmly.
The moment they appeared, many trainees subconsciously straightened their backs.
Core courtyard trainees.
Unlike the outer and inner courtyards, the core courtyard represented the true elites of the training center.
Each person there possessed extraordinary strength and status.
Leading the group was a tall woman dressed in pale blue robes.
Her aura was cold yet elegant.
Beside her stood a sharp-eyed young man carrying twin sabers.
The remaining three also possessed dense and stable true qi fluctuations.
Lin Sheng's eyes narrowed slightly.
The chip interface appeared immediately.
•[Target Detected]•
•[Realm: Innate Outer Strength Peak Stage]•
•[Threat Level: Low]•
The same information repeated while scanning the others.
All five had reached Innate Outer Strength Peak Stage.
Equivalent to Qi Refinement Late Stage cultivators between the 7th and 9th layers.
Their dense aura pressure instantly made many ordinary trainees nervous.
Especially the Grade B trainees sitting at the outer tables.
One of the female core courtyard trainees smiled lightly.
"Looks like we came at the right time."
Before anyone else could respond, Zhao Feng immediately stood up and cupped his fists politely.
"Senior brothers and sisters, to what do we owe this honor?"
The five core courtyard trainees glanced at each other briefly before smiling.
The saber carrying youth spoke first.
"We heard that several geniuses appeared within the new batch."
"So we came to take a look."
Immediately, whispers spread throughout the outer tables.
"Core courtyard trainees…"
"They actually came personally…"
"Their aura is terrifying…"
The five core trainees then introduced themselves one after another.
Liang Yehua.
Bai Ling.
Lin Zheng.
Zhao Ying.
Su Ming.
Each carried a strong presence.
Zhao Feng quickly instructed assistants to prepare seats at the inner dining table.
Soon, the five core courtyard trainees sat together with the five newly advanced Innate trainees.
Meanwhile, the Acquired Realm trainees remained at the outer tables.
The invisible difference in status became even clearer.
Spirit wine was poured once more.
Some ordinary discussions followed.
But Lin Sheng quickly noticed that the core courtyard trainees continuously observed the five of them carefully.
Especially him.
Eventually, Liang Yehua placed down her wine cup calmly.
"We'll speak directly."
The courtyard quietened instantly.
Her gaze swept across Lin Xiaolu, Lin Shou, Zhao Feng, Lou Han and finally Lin Sheng.
"We came to recruit you."
The words immediately surprised several people.
Lin Shou frowned slightly.
"Recruit?"
Bai Ling nodded casually.
"After reaching Innate Realm, your status changes."
"You'll receive more resources."
"Greater authority."
"But you'll also begin taking missions."
Lou Han asked calmly,
"What kind of missions?"
"Beast hunting squads."
"Law enforcement missions."
"Forest scouting."
"Market suppression."
"Escort missions."
"Black market investigations."
As Su Ming listed the missions one after another, the expressions of the newly advanced Innate trainees gradually became serious.
These were not ordinary tasks.
Most involved genuine danger.
Liang Yehua continued calmly.
"Few Innate martial artists complete missions alone."
"So alliances naturally formed."
"People cooperate."
"Share information."
"Support one another."
Then Lin Zheng finally spoke plainly.
"We each lead our own alliance within the core courtyard."
"We recruit newly advanced Innate martial artists."
Zhao Feng's eyes narrowed slightly.
"If we join, what are the conditions?"
The five core trainees exchanged glances.
Then Bai Ling replied honestly.
"Contribution points."
The surrounding trainees became silent.
Within the training center, contribution points were extremely important.
They could be exchanged for martial techniques, cultivation resources, breakthrough pills, restricted library access and many other valuable opportunities.
Without enough contribution points, future cultivation progress became extremely difficult.
Lin Zheng continued calmly.
"If you join our alliances, a portion of your mission contribution points will be handed over."
"Normally, new recruits contribute around forty-five to fifty percent."
The expressions of several newly advanced trainees immediately changed.
Half?
That was enormous.
Even Lin Shou frowned deeply.
Lou Han's expression also became colder.
However, before the atmosphere worsened, Liang Yehua spoke again.
"Of course."
"You five are different."
"Because of your potential, we're willing to reduce it to thirty-five percent."
The atmosphere relaxed slightly afterward.
Although thirty-five percent was still high—
It clearly showed that the core courtyard trainees were not simply trying to suppress them blindly.
Rather, this was the normal structure of the training center alliances.
Resources.
Protection.
Mission support.
Information sharing.
Everything came with a price.
Most importantly—
The five core trainees were not forcing them.
Bai Ling leaned back slightly.
"You don't need to answer immediately."
"Think carefully first."
"Without alliances, missions become much more dangerous."
Zhao Feng immediately smiled politely.
"Senior brothers and sisters are considerate. We'll discuss it carefully."
The core courtyard trainees nodded calmly.
Then after offering several final congratulations, they stood and prepared to leave.
Before departing, Bai Ling glanced toward Lin Sheng briefly.
"You're stronger than you look."
Lin Sheng remained expressionless.
Bai Ling merely smiled faintly before leaving alongside the others.
Soon, the pressure from the five core courtyard trainees disappeared completely from the courtyard.
Only after they left did the surrounding discussions erupt once more.
Many trainees looked both excited and nervous.