"The second round involves seizing flags in a forest. The status you attain upon entering the palace gates depends on the color of the flag you capture, and there is certainly an element of luck involved. A purple flag grants entry as an inner disciple, a cyan flag as an outer disciple, and a gray flag as a menial disciple. However, I advise you—even if you fail the examination, do not grab a gray flag. Menial disciples not only have to perform a great deal of heavy labor, but the spiritual resources allocated to them are also extremely limited, which severely hinders one's cultivation progress."
Chu Qinghuang lowered her gaze and fell into contemplation. If becoming an inner disciple proved too difficult, aiming to become an outer disciple was also an option. "Is there an opportunity to advance from an outer disciple to an inner disciple through examinations?"
"Yes. Whether in the Inner Sect or the Outer Sect, there is a Wind and Cloud Roll. The top fifty disciples on the outer disciple Wind and Cloud Roll are given an opportunity to be assessed every six months. As long as you are among the final ten remaining, you can enter the Inner Courtyard."
Chapter 24