Severin and Sofia began entering the forest as they chatted.


    “His attainment must be very high then, and he could even give you so many valuable items. If he has


    set up a sect, then I’m pretty sure his sect is very strong too.” After some thought, Sofia could not help


    her curiosity. “Do you know the name of the sect that your uncle set up?”


    Severin shook his head. “I didn’t ask in detail, but he told me to look for him on Mount Ermonie when


    the timees. I’ll just


    have to tell them his name.”


    Sofia inhaled sharply when she heard that. She immediately eximed, “Mount Ermonie? Are you sure


    that was the mountain he mentioned?”


    This content ? N?v/elDr(a)m/a.Org.


    Severin frowned and asked, “Yes. It’s called Mount Ermonie. Have you heard of it before?”


    Sofia gulped. “Tsk, tsk, tsk. Are you aware that there are different rankings among sects?”


    “I am not aware of that,” Severin replied frankly. “This is the first time I’ve heard of it.”


    “Sects are divided into unestablished sects and established sects,” Sofia began, “A sect that is


    unestablished would have no saints in it. They merely consist of a group of practitioners who have level


    seven or level eight warrior emperors. These people. set up their small sects with only a few hundred


    members. Some of the bigger unestablished sects can have thousands of members. A sect can only


    call themselves established if saints are in the ranks, and it is these sects that can call themselves” true


    sects‘. Such sects are acknowledged as true sects by the other sects too


    Severin nodded. “And are there any further rankings in this established sect?”


    Sofia smiled and said, “Of course! Established sects are divided into third–tier, second–tier, and first–


    tier…”


    Severin listened attentively, and he soon came to understand that sects with a saint are known as


    third–tier sects, while sects with a level eighth or level nine saint can be considered a second–tier sect.


    Meanwhile, first–tier sects must have a royal saint


    -individuals who are more powerful than a normal saint. Sects with a royal saint can be taken to have


    fulfilled the requirements to bing a first–tier sect.


    There was yet anotheryer of subdivisions among the first–tier sects. They were ranked as lower–


    ss first–tier sects, middle -ss first–tier sects, and upper–ss first–tier sects.


    After digesting that information, Severin said, “There are subdivisions for first–tier sects too? How are


    they categorized then? Is it based on the number of disciples?”


    “No,” Sofia answered with a smile. “I’m sure you know that the number of people isn’t always the most


    important factor. Aside from having a sizeable number of disciples, it mainly depends on the attainment


    of the higher–ups in the sect, such as their leader and some of the elders.” After thinking briefly, Sofia


    continued, “At least that’s what my father told me. He said that first–tier sects would be considered


    lower–ss if they had only three or four level one and level two royal saints. Bing a middle–ss


    first–tier sect requires there be at least three or four level four royal saints. For upper–ss first- tier


    sects, their leader must be at a level seven royal saint, and there needs to be at least three such level


    seven royal saints before it can be considered an upper–ss first–tier sect.”


    “I see. It depends a lot on the number and attainment level of the strongest higher–ups,” Severin


    remarked.