"Young Master, are we really going to keep waiting?" Raina Quinn asked, feeling that the Prime One Church people were just putting on airs, which she found deeply annoying.
Ian Song frowned at her words and said in a low voice, "No need. We'll just go in directly!"
Alan Zhao and Kevin Zhou's faces instantly changed.
Alan Zhao said in a panic, "Young Master Song, please don't force your way in! If you do, Deacon Zhang will punish us!"
Kevin Zhou nodded repeatedly, "That's right, Young Master Song, please don't make things hard for us. We might even be expelled from the Prime One Church!"
"Don't worry, I won't drag you into this."
As he spoke, Ian Song tapped two fingers, and the two gatekeepers froze in place as if immobilized by a spell.
"Let's go!"
Ian Song strode through the archway. The Prime One Church Main Altar didn't have a normal gate; instead, a towering ceremonial arch marked the entrance, inscribed with the bold characters for 'Prime One Church.'
It's said the Prime One Church has a history of over a hundred thousand years, with countless disciples, a strict hierarchy, and endless rules. Every position and authority is meticulously divided.
According to the information Ian Song had obtained, disciples of the Prime One Church were divided into four ranks: Outer Sect, Inner Sect, True-Transmission, and Direct-Line.
The cultivation resources granted to each rank varied tremendously, with higher ranks enjoying far greater benefits.
Outer Sect disciples were mostly cultivators below the Nascent Soul realm.
If someone broke through to Nascent Soul before turning five hundred, they could take the Inner Sect assessment. Passing it meant promotion to Inner Sect disciple.
Those who reached Nascent Soul after age five hundred could take the Deacon assessment. If successful, they could serve as an Outer Sect Deacon, and with outstanding performance or great merit, even be promoted to Outer Sect Elder.
For Inner Sect disciples, if they advanced to Out-of-Body within a thousand years, they could take the True-Transmission assessment.
Those who missed the age requirement could become Inner Sect Deacons, and with merit or outstanding achievements, Inner Sect Elders.
Once someone became a True-Transmission disciple, the Prime One Church would focus on cultivating them, providing far better techniques and resources than those given to Inner or Outer Sect disciples. True-Transmission Elders would also choose heirs from among them, and those recognized could inherit the position of True-Transmission Elder.
True-Transmission Elders were all late Soul-Split experts or higher—some were even Fusion-stage powerhouses.
The final rank, Direct-Line Disciples, were personally appointed by the sect master.
From the very start of their cultivation, Direct-Line Disciples received the best manuals, the best resources, and the best guidance.
Saint Sons and Saintesses were always chosen from the ranks of Direct-Line Disciples.
In other words, only Direct-Line Disciples could inherit the true legacy of the Prime One Church.
Only Direct-Line Disciples had a real chance to pursue the Immortal path. True-Transmission Disciples, at best, could obtain Fusion-stage arts—unless they found extraordinary opportunities, it was impossible for them to reach the Tribulation realm.
Zhang Huan—Deacon Zhang, as Alan Zhao and Kevin Zhou called him—had broken through to Nascent Soul at age six hundred seventy, missing the chance to become an Inner Sect disciple. In the end, he paid a hefty price to secure a Deacon post.
There were several hundred Outer Sect Deacons in total, and he was just one of them. His authority was limited; his main duty was to receive visitors to the Prime One Church.
He commanded over a hundred Outer Sect disciples, but most of the visitors he dealt with were minor figures with no real influence.
As a result, there were few real benefits to be gained from his position.
Earlier, when Alan Zhao came to report that Ian Song wished to see the sect master, Zhang Huan outwardly agreed to pass on the request, but didn't take it seriously. After all, the sect master was a Tribulation-stage ancestor—someone not just anyone could meet.
Even the Tang Emperor had to submit a formal visitation scroll to see the sect master. As for Ian Song, a mere strategist from the Fourth Prince Residence, wanting to meet the sect master directly—Zhang Huan found it laughable and beneath notice.
So when Alan Zhao came to report a second time, Zhang Huan scolded him and told him to hurry up and drive Ian Song away.
Of course, Alan Zhao didn't dare relay Zhang Huan's exact words to Ian Song.
Inside the Outer Sect Deacon's office.
Zhang Huan quickly put the matter out of his mind and started thinking about something else. Recently, he and another Deacon, surnamed Gou, had both been pursuing a female Deacon named Yan. Both of them wanted to become her dual-cultivation dao companion.
He'd heard that Junior Sister Yan had her eye on a first-grade spirit artifact at Treasure Pavilion. If he could buy it for her, maybe she'd agree to become his dual-cultivation partner. Unfortunately, the artifact was expensive—he was still short a hundred high-grade spirit crystals.
"Maybe I should borrow some? If that guy Gou gets there first, I'll really lose out!"
With that in mind, he couldn't sit still in the Deacon's office any longer and was about to go borrow some spirit crystals.
Just as he stood up, one of his Outer Sect disciples suddenly burst in, panic-stricken. "Deacon Zhang, something's wrong! Someone's broken in!"
"What did you say?" Zhang Huan asked in disbelief.
"Reporting to Deacon Zhang, three people have forced their way into the Prime One Church!" the Outer Sect disciple repeated urgently.
Zhang Huan flew into a rage, slamming his palm on the table. "Outrageous! Someone actually dares to force their way into our Prime One Church? Lead the way—I want to see who has such guts!"
"No need. I'm already here!"
At that moment, a sudden voice rang out, and a young man entered the Deacon's office, accompanied by a woman and an old man.
"Who are you? How dare you trespass in our Prime One Church?" Zhang Huan demanded sharply.
"My name is Ian Song. I've come to request an audience with Master Mingtan. Deacon Zhang, could you please report this for me?" Ian Song said calmly.
Zhang Huan sneered. "Report? Kid, who do you think you are? You think a wild cultivator like you can just meet the sect master? If you know what's good for you, surrender now and accept the Prime One Church's punishment—or you'll really regret it!"
Ian Song frowned, glancing at Zhang Huan. "So you're really not going to report it?"
"Who do you think you are? You want me to report for you? Dream on!"
Zhang Huan's sneer deepened, his eyes full of disdain. He immediately shouted, "Men! Arrest these lawless intruders who dared to force their way into our Prime One Church and await punishment!"
At once, a group of Outer Sect disciples at the Core Formation stage rushed in, three of them reaching for Ian Song and his companions.
"Raina, please show them out!" Ian Song instructed.
"Yes!"
At Ian's word, Raina Quinn casually waved her hand, and a surge of force swept up the Core Formation cultivators and flung them all out of the Deacon's office.
Seeing this, Zhang Huan couldn't help but exclaim, "What? You even dare to fight back? You're truly reckless—do you have a death wish?"
"Enough noise!"
Ian Song's brow furrowed. He reached out, and in an instant, Zhang Huan was pulled toward him, unable to resist.