At the front stood the Grand Elder and Feng Lian, and behind them stood the ten team leaders. They soon noticed Shen Yuan approaching and bowed in unison, their high level of discipline making Chen Yue and the others’ eyes brighten.
“They’re all spaced out by about 100 meters,” Ling Yue explained quietly. “As you commanded, I have given them sufficient distance to go through their tribulation.”
The girls exchanged impressed looks. Even from this distance, they could feel their discipline. But Shen Yuxin’s sharp gaze noticed some of the disciples hesitating and displaying nervous expressions.
Shen Yuan also noticed them, and he knew this could be fatal during the tribulation. He needed to address this issue. He frowned slightly before floating some distance above the Legion members so everyone could see him.
Ling Yue, Bing Rong, Huo Rong, Wan Ling, Chen Yue, Ling Mei, Zhao Lian, and even Shen Yuxin looked on from their vantage point eagerly, wondering what Shen Yuan would say next.
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All the disciples focused their gazes on him as they sensed Shen Yuan’s Qi gathering subtly, amplifying his voice. In every disciple’s heart, excitement mixed with apprehension.
He took a light breath, allowing his eyes to sweep over each assassin in turn. Some wore stoic expressions, while others betrayed flickers of nervousness. Finally, he spoke, his voice reverberating clearly across the plateau.
“Solar Reaper Legion.”
The name alone caused a minor stir, as not all had heard it before. A handful of disciples twitched, remembering the Silver Fox Sect identity they had been using until now.
But after spending such a long time inside the Ancestral Pagoda training, their attachment to the Silver Fox Sect had thinned.
“You stand today on the cusp of greatness,” Shen Yuan continued calmly. “I have decided to part ways with the old name—Silver Fox Sect—and chosen to embrace a new identity under my banner. Why, you might ask? Because we’re forging something grander than any small assassin sect could have dreamed. We’re forging a legion that will shake the cultivation world.”
A low murmur spread among the ranks. Several disciples exchanged glances, recalling the good and bad times under the old name. Some felt nostalgia, even sadness—Silver Fox was once their heritage, after all.
Sensing these undercurrents, Shen Yuan paused, letting the emotions settle before continuing in a warmer tone.
“I know it’s not easy, leaving behind the name and legacy you once cherished—the battles fought, the memories made… but look at how far you’ve come since the day we first met. You’ve grown beyond what the Silver Fox identity could hold for you.”
Subtle whispers spread amongst the crowd. The Grand Elder and Feng Lian, at the front, exchanged solemn nods, recognizing the truth of his words. Even their Ancestor at her prime was merely at the mid-levels of the Dao Core Forming Realm, but now?
Any random disciple trained under Shen Yuan had reached the Peak of Dao Core Forming Realm.
Shen Yuan raised his head, scanning the horizon. “Now, under my banner, the name shall be changed to Solar Reaper Legion, and we will aim higher. We devour the sun’s light—no obstacle too blinding, no foe too daunting. In time, all who hear our name will know your strength, your will.”
His voice softened. “But I don’t ask you to forget where you came from. Your memories and experiences remain—they made you who you are. Take pride in them. However, in the future, we must unite under a different name because my legion will not only be filled with Silver Fox members.”
A ripple of excitement spread across the legion. Here and there, disciples who once took great pride in the Silver Fox name bowed their heads as though letting go of an old relic. Others—especially the younger ones—appeared invigorated by the promise of a fresh start with bolder ambitions.
Ling Yue had by now moved to the front of the Solar Reaper Legion and was standing beside the ten team leaders. She placed a reassuring hand on a disciple whose eyes shimmered with regret.
The disciple exhaled slowly, standing straighter. By now, everyone had accepted this reality and was letting go of the Silver Fox Sect name.
Atop the rocky overlook, Wan Ling let out a breath she didn’t realize she’d been holding. She eyed Chen Yue, who gave a small encouraging smile.
Huo Rong folded her arms with a faint smile of approval, while Bing Rong nodded, impressed by the effect Shen Yuan’s words were having. Shen Yuxin, hovering high above the sky, overlooking the formations, watched her son with pride.
Noticing the lingering tension in some disciples’ eyes, Shen Yuan continued in a calm voice. “I sense your anxiety for the tribulation ahead. I won’t lie—it’s a danger unlike any you’ve faced. One hundred and two Mortal Tribulations, triggered simultaneously, could merge into a horrifying calamity.”
A hushed tremor passed through the legion. Many shifted their stances, bracing for the upcoming storm.
“But I have faith in your training,” he said firmly. “In the Pagoda, you overcame countless trials. You tempered your wills and refined your skills. This shall be your final test—a baptism by the very heavens to bless you on your journey ahead.”
He cast a glance at the newly installed formations around the plateau. “We’ve set formations to protect you all from outside interference. Mistress Yuxin here” —he gestured to his mother— “ensured the environment is fortified to handle surges of Qi. In short, we’ve done everything possible to create a fair battleground for your ascension. The rest is up to you.”
The Grand Elder and Feng Lian exchanged resolute glances, nodding toward Shen Yuan together with the rest of the legion members.
Shen Yuan’s gaze swept over them all once more. “Stay calm. Support each other if side by side. If the tribulation merges, adapt. Survive. At the end of this day, we’ll no longer be bound by the limitations of your old sect—you will stand as the newly ascended Solar Reaper Legion, forging your destiny under my banner.”
As the members heard Shen Yuan’s words, some of the more emotional disciples visibly relaxed, taking deeper breaths.
Then, from the front ranks, Feng Lian raised her voice in a clear, ringing tone. “Solar Reaper Legion, hear our Master’s call. We take a new name, guided by new ambitions. Let us meet the heavens’ wrath as one, without backing down.”
Disciples around her softly whispered in agreement, but those low voices soon turned into thunderous noises of acceptance.
Shen Yuan nodded once, satisfied. “Prepare yourselves. Position yourselves at the designated formation nodes. When I give the signal, call for your tribulation and do your best to pass it.”
From his point of view, he could see the small adjustments, the stances shifting as each assassin used their defensive techniques or treasures. Ling Yue walked amongst them one last time, relaying instructions to each row while her tail flickered with pride.
Shen Yuan took a moment to glance back at his circle of loved ones and friends. Wan Ling offered a warm grin, Zhao Lian gave a thumbs-up, Chen Yue clutched her hand in excitement, and Huo Rong crossed her arms with a watchful expression.
Yuxin hovered in the sky, activating the formations, while Bing Rong exhaled slowly, looking at the disciples with a faint hint of worry.