Everyone suddenly quieted down. The disciples visibly swallowed, their faces turned somber.
Swearing an oath upon one’s Dao Heart was no small matter; it was binding on a cultivator’s fundamental path, and breaking it risked devastating consequences.
Bing Rong, who had been observing quietly, crossed her arms and spoke with a soft voice. “This is how the core members of the Silver Fox Sect who went with Shen Yuan rose to such power so swiftly. They chose to follow him wholeheartedly.”
She paused and looked around for a second. “You’ve already seen their strength—most of them can fight far above their actual realm. That’s the proof of what’s possible under your Young Master’s guidance.”
The entire crowd of disciples stirred as many remembered the tremendous might of the hundred-plus assassins who effortlessly butchered the Crimson Wolf Clan’s army. That kind of power wasn’t achieved by simply training in a sect.
Finally, one disciple near the front—a young woman with a fox tail and bandages across her torso—stepped forward. She was trembling slightly, but her voice was firm. “I… I’ll swear my oath. Young Master Shen Yuan saved us. I owe him my life, and I have nothing left to lose.”
Another disciple followed suit, then another. Before long, a wave of fervor spread across the square.
Even the hesitant ones realized they had no better option. If they left now, they’d be alone in a dangerous world. Here, at least, they had backing—a chance for survival and growth.
Ling Yue let out a quiet, relieved sigh as she saw the sect members lining up to take the oath. Feng Lian looked at her with a faint smile. They both knew some might still refuse, but those who stayed would do so wholeheartedly.
Shen Yuan raised a hand to quiet the murmurs. “Very well. Form orderly lines.” He gestured to the Pagoda’s broad double doors, carved with ancient totemic symbols that pulsed with faint light.
“Step forward, one by one. You’ll enter the first floor of the Pagoda after taking an oath on your Dao Hearts. After that, you’ll be free to head deeper into the Pagoda, where new quarters and training areas have been erected for you lot.”
He shifted his gaze. “Those who cannot accept this oath, you’re free to leave now. I won’t pursue or punish you. But understand—if you walk away, there is no returning to this sect or to me.”
A final silence descended as the disciples looked among themselves. A handful lingered at the edge, their faces uncertain. But a large majority surged forward, determined to join Shen Yuan.
“Good, now those who have decided to stay, swear upon your Dao Hearts that you will never betray me and pledge allegiance to me,” he loudly said, looking at the disciples.
One by one, those who had chosen to stay stepped forward, their gazes determined—albeit with a hint of fear.
But looking at Shen Yuan’s calm gaze seemed to help them calm down, even if slightly.
A few disciples at the end hesitated visibly, exchanging uncertain glances before darting off into the forest. True to his word, Shen Yuan made no move to stop them.
Meanwhile, a line began to form before the great Pagoda doors. Close to a thousand disciples gathered, some injured and exhausted, but all had resolute expressions.
Ling Yue, Feng Lian, and Lu Mei took up positions along the line, ensuring order and offering reassurance to the nervous disciples.
A slight breeze rustled through the courtyard, calming the raging nerves of the disciples.
At the head of the line, a disciple with fox ears and a bandaged tail gulped, then raised her head to look Shen Yuan straight in the eyes. “I, Jiao Ren, swear upon my Dao Heart never to betray Young Master Shen Yuan,” she declared, voice trembling yet resolute. “I pledge my life and loyalty to him.”
A nearly undetectable golden glow flickered around her chest, rippling momentarily before fading into her meridians. Shen Yuan raised an eyebrow as he hadn’t seen something like that the last time.
[No need to be surprised, those are the restrictions of the Great Dao.]
Yue Lan calmly explained, seeing his expression.
Shen Yuan’s eyes flashed with understanding before he nodded his head in acknowledgment toward that disciple.
“Enter the Pagoda,” he said, gesturing to the open doors. “Find your place within.”
Jiao Ren bowed deeply, exhaling a shaky breath as she felt lighter after making that decision. She then passed through the threshold and disappeared inside.
Next came a pair of siblings—both looking to be in their late teens, their foxlike features had barely manifested. They repeated the vow together while trembling.
“We, Xi Ying and Xi Qi, swear upon our Dao Hearts…”
As their vow concluded, gold light rippled once more, binding their words into reality.
With a respectful bow, they hurried inside the Pagoda, curiosity and apprehension evident in their expressions.
Behind them, a tall female disciple with a grievous slash across her arm stepped up. She paused, swallowing hard. Her eyes flickered to the trees beyond the sect walls, where she might have fled if she’d chosen differently.
After a brief moment of hesitation, she dropped her shoulder.
“I, Hu Fei, swear upon my Dao Heart…”
The same golden radiance glimmered around her, sealing the oath. She bowed deeply, then followed the others inside.
The rest of the disciples continued—dozens of disciples speaking their names, invoking their Dao Hearts, pledging unbreakable loyalty to Shen Yuan at once.
Each time they spoke the vow, they felt a subtle pressure bloom in their spiritual seas, a gentle but irrevocable bond. Some emerged from the oath trembling, others with clear excitement in their eyes.
A few—perhaps a handful—lingered outside, visibly torn.
One middle-aged woman with gray streaks in her hair shook her head, tears in her eyes. “I can’t,” she whispered, barely audible. Clutching her satchel, she turned and ran.
Two or three more silently joined her, fading away into the forests with bowed heads.
True to his word, Shen Yuan made no attempt to pursue them or punish them. He simply watched them depart with a calm expression, then returned his attention to the line of those who remained.
Bing Rong, standing by with arms folded, surveyed the crowd. “They’re making the right choice,” she murmured, more to herself than anyone else. Ling Yue glanced at her and nodded her head in agreement.
Eventually, the line began to thin. The final few disciples—some of them injured from the battle in the city, others supporting limping friends—courageously stepped forward to give their vows.
Shen Yuan listened patiently to each one, not minding the long wait one bit.
At last, the oath-taking concluded. A complete silence descended over the courtyard.
Standing at Shen Yuan’s side, Feng Lian and Lu Mei scanned the area for any remaining disciples, but none remained. Nearly everyone had either fled or pledged themselves.
Shen Yuan glanced around. “Has everyone entered?” he asked softly, turning to Ling Yue.
She bowed slightly, ears dropping down a little. “Yes, Young Master. Those who remain have all sworn the oath and entered the Pagoda.”
Feng Lian stepped forward while looking around the desolate central square. “We lost more than a few,” she said in a low tone, “but those who are left… are loyal.” She exhaled, recalling the empty halls and dorms left behind by deserters. “They truly want to be here.”
A quiet moment passed as Shen Yuan looked at the Pagoda doors, behind which the newly sworn disciples waited. “Very well. We will not dwell on those who left. The ones who remain are our future. Let’s move on.”
Feng Lian nodded her head in understanding. “Yes, Young Master. Shall I guide everyone further inside the Pagoda to their quarters?”
He nodded. “Ensure they settle in. I’ll be along shortly to give instructions on training and organization.”
Then he turned to Bing Rong. “The Grand Elder and her squad should return soon from their final mission to wipe out any remnants of the Crimson Wolf forces or their allies. After that, we will decide what to do next.”
Bing Rong nodded her head calmly. “I’ll make sure no one from the outside intrudes in the meantime.”
With the vow-taking done, the activity within the Pagoda escalated. Disciples—some bandaged, others unscathed—began exploring the first floor, which the Pagoda spirit had transformed into a massive sect.
The disciples looked around, marveling at the elegant hallways. Feng Lian directed them to their courtyards, while Lu Mei quickly took charge of those who needed medical care.
Shen Yuan stood outside the Pagoda with only Ling Yue and Bing Rong. “Ling Yue,” he softly said.
“Yes, Young Master.” Ling Yue hurriedly stepped forward and bowed.
He took a moment to consider his words and softly asked, “What do you think we should do with your sect now since we all are leaving?”
Ling Yue paused, her gaze wandering over the sect’s desolate peaks. She turned to look at Shen Yuan and took a deep breath. “Do you have any suggestion, Young Master?”