The outer sect rankings were never as simple as they appeared on the surface.
At least—
That was what Fang Lin gradually began realizing over the following days.
The more he interacted with Li Shan's group, the more he understood something terrifying.
None of them were ordinary disciples.
Not a single one.
Even the weakest among the top twenty possessed strength far beyond normal outer sect cultivators.
And more importantly—
Every single one of them carried a background.
A clan.
Not small families like ordinary mortals.
But powerful cultivation clans connected deeply to the Green Bamboo Sect itself.
The Zhao Clan.
The Han Clan.
The Murong Clan.
The Bai Clan.
The Li Clan.
Each possessed generations of cultivators, resources, techniques, and influence.
The outer sect rankings were not merely a gathering of talented disciples.
They were a battlefield between the younger generations of powerful clans.
That realization slowly deepened Fang Lin's understanding of the sect itself.
The Green Bamboo Sect looked unified externally.
But internally—
It was an enormous web of factions, bloodlines, alliances, and hidden competition.
One afternoon, Fang Lin sat together with Li Shan and the others near one of the training courtyards behind the outer disciple residences.
Murong Yue lazily leaned against a tree branch overhead while Luo Chen sparred casually against Han Zhi nearby.
The sound of wooden swords colliding echoed lightly through the quiet courtyard.
Meanwhile, Zhao Feng sat calmly polishing his blade.
Fang Lin quietly observed everyone.
Then suddenly asked,
"Among the top twenty…"
"How large is the difference in strength?"
The courtyard became slightly quieter.
Li Shan glanced sideways toward him before smiling faintly.
"You noticed?"
Fang Lin nodded slowly.
"Something feels strange."
Because the rankings themselves—
Didn't feel stable.
At least not naturally.
Several disciples ranked lower felt strangely restrained during their previous interactions.
As though they were intentionally hiding things.
Li Shan leaned back against the tree behind him casually.
"The difference between Rank 3 and Rank 16…"
"…is almost nonexistent."
Fang Lin's eyes narrowed slightly.
Han Zhi calmly added while blocking one of Luo Chen's strikes,
"Even Rank 10 and Rank 16 aren't that different."
Luo Chen laughed while retreating lightly.
"Most of us can challenge each other repeatedly without clear winners."
Murong Yue spoke lazily from above,
"Especially people like Li Shan and Zhao Feng."
Zhao Feng immediately sighed.
"Why drag me into this?"
Murong Yue snorted lightly.
"Because you're obviously hiding strength."
Li Shan chuckled softly.
"Most of us are."
Fang Lin's gaze deepened slightly.
So his earlier instinct was correct.
These rankings…
Were only surface rankings.
Li Shan continued calmly,
"For people below Rank 3, differences exist…"
"But not overwhelmingly."
"Many results depend on matchup compatibility, techniques, experience, or simply whether someone reveals hidden cards."
Bai Qing nodded softly.
"Most top-ranked disciples avoid exposing everything unless necessary."
"Especially before the outer sect competition."
Fang Lin finally understood.
That was why even Li Shan, despite appearing relaxed constantly, always carried a dangerous feeling beneath the surface.
And Zhao Feng as well.
Even Murong Yue.
None of them had truly shown their full strength.
Not yet.
Han Zhi suddenly stopped sparring and looked toward Fang Lin calmly.
"But Rank 1, Rank 2, and Rank 3…"
"…are different."
The atmosphere shifted subtly.
Even Murong Yue's playful expression faded slightly.
Li Shan's smile weakened faintly.
Fang Lin noticed it immediately.
"Different how?"
Li Shan exhaled slowly.
"Because those three…"
"…stand above everyone else."
A brief silence followed.
Then Zhao Feng finally spoke.
"Chen Hao is Rank 3."
"You already know that."
Fang Lin nodded slightly.
Chen Hao already felt oppressive enough.
Yet now—
He was apparently the weakest among the top three.
Zhao Feng's gaze gradually sharpened.
"Rank 2…"
"…is Su Wanqing."
Fang Lin's eyes flickered faintly.
A woman.
Murong Yue spoke softly,
"She belongs to the Alliance side."
"The strongest disciple supporting the Sect Master's faction."
Bai Qing added quietly,
"She rarely appears publicly."
"But whenever she does…"
"She wins."
Li Shan smiled faintly.
"And not by small margins."
Fang Lin silently memorized the name.
Su Wanqing.
The strongest female disciple of the outer sect.
Alliance-backed.
Then—
His gaze slowly shifted.
"Rank 1?"
This time—
Even Li Shan became slightly quieter.
For the first time since Fang Lin met him, a trace of seriousness completely replaced his relaxed expression.
"Rank 1…"
"…is Jian Wuji."
The name alone carried pressure.
Han Zhi's voice remained calm, but noticeably heavier.
"He belongs to the Faction side."
"And unlike most of us…"
"He doesn't hide his strength."
Murong Yue frowned slightly.
"Because he doesn't need to."
Zhao Feng finally sheathed his blade quietly.
"Jian Wuji has held Rank 1 for nearly three years."
"No one has managed to shake him."
Fang Lin listened silently.
Li Shan continued slowly,
"The reason Rank 1, 2, and 3 are different…"
"…is because they've already stepped beyond ordinary outer sect disciples."
"Some people even believe they can already challenge weaker inner sect disciples."
Fang Lin's eyes narrowed faintly.
Inner sect level.
That was an entirely different concept.
Han Zhi looked toward Fang Lin calmly.
"And the upcoming outer sect competition…"
"…will likely decide whether that balance finally changes."
A faint breeze passed through the courtyard.
Murong Yue suddenly looked toward Fang Lin from above the tree branch.
"You know…"
"Before you appeared, everyone assumed the top rankings wouldn't change much."
Luo Chen laughed lightly.
"But now things became interesting."
Li Shan crossed his arms casually again.
"Very interesting."
Fang Lin remained silent.
But inwardly—
He finally understood something clearly.
The outer sect was not merely a place for cultivation.
It was a battlefield filled with monsters.
Real monsters.
Talented disciples backed by powerful clans, hidden techniques, and terrifying foundations.
And among them—
He was still only beginning to rise.