Sects

## Sect Diplomacy

This is how sects go against each other if they don't want out right war:

Someone over at Patreon recommended I talk a little about how the relationship between the Yun Sect and the Xiao Sect works after posting this chapter, so I figure, why not?

Could the Xiao Sect destroy the Yun Sect in an all-out-battle?

Yes. Totally. Xiao Zheng is an Emperor and Yun Peng is not. That is the deciding factor.

Could the Xiao Sect destroy the Yun Sect without incurring some pretty heavy loses?

No. Worse case scenario, Yun Peng rage quits and nukes everything and everyone before Xiao Zheng kills him. The city. Poison Fang Canyon. The dude can cause hilarious amounts of damage by virtue of being a high-level cultivator. Liu Jin is right on the money when he says Yun Peng keeping himself isolated is a good thing for the entire city. While the Xiao Sect would survive and win the confrontation, the losses incurred would set it back decades if not centuries.

Since all-out-war would be bad for both sects, their relationship is instead carried out through a series of negotiations (and petty one-upmanship contests). These negotiations usually end in the Xiao Sect's favor because both sects are aware that the Xiao Sect has an Emperor and the Yun Sect doesn't. It means that whenever there is a conflict, the Yun Sect will bink first. Because of this, the Xiao Sect has slowly been gaining ground over the past several decades.

That said, the Xiao Sect is usually careful not to abuse this too much, because if they did, the Yun Sect might just decide to take some pretty heavy risks.

Like, for example, trying to kill Xiao Zheng that one time or what they tried to pull during the tournament.

## How do sects works regularly?

There are multiple tiers to ranks in any sects but most of them follow a similar structure:

Patriarch > Elders > Core Disciples > Inner Disciples > Outer Disciples

Generally in order to rise up the chain of command the most important factor is said persons cultivation. Either current or their potential in that regard, as a rule as one rises in cultivation one rises in the ranks of the disciples and goes on to became an elder of the sect.

* **Outer disciples** are mainly composted of new recruits with relatively low realms of cultivation, one is an outer disciple until one has progressed enough in his cultivation/did something meaningful to the sect itself and so forth and so forth. They are also mostly used for low level chores that the sect declares to be less important to give to others.
* **Inner disciples** are moderately strong relative to the sect. They are slightly more important than Outer disciples and get errands that require a bit more trust.
* **Core disciples** are relatively powerful and/or important in comparison to the previous two groups and are amongst the most trusted and reliable.
* **Elders** of the sect are usually in charge of some part of the greater whole of the sect. Such as the Punishment House, Medical Pavilion, External Relations etc.

Broadly speaking, no one really cares about Outer Disciples leaving. They don't know the big secrets and aren't vital enough to care about. However, as you go up in importance, it becomes harder to leave a Sect because they have put time, money, and knowledge into you, and they want a return for that investment. In those cases a disciple may have to punch their way out.

It bears noting that once you're in a top tier sect, you aren't going to have much incentive to leave because why would you? You are getting exactly what you want.

## References

1. ↑ For example, Feng Hao is a Core disciple because of his staggering potential as a cultivator. He is already Nascent 7th at the age of eight.
2. ↑ For example in the Xiao Sect one needs to be mid Inner realm and young to advance to the position of inner disciple.