As Lucy continued explaining, her voice took on a scholarly tone that betrayed a surprising depth of knowledge. "Within the Rising Dragon Academy, disciples are categorized into three grades, as you may already know—Outer, Inner, and Core. Each rank has distinct responsibilities and expectations that mirror their cultivation stage and status within the sect hierarchy.
"Outer disciples are typically the most recent initiates—young, inexperienced, and tasked with menial jobs like cleaning formations, preparing medicinal ingredients, and even handling beast stables. It's a stage of humility and survival, where most are simply trying not to be expelled.
"Inner disciples, however, serve as the academy's backbone. They're stronger, more disciplined, and allowed access to better cultivation manuals and resources. Their duties include training under elders, assisting in sect missions, and serving as messengers for Core disciples. They are the bridge between raw potential and true elites."
