The late afternoon sun spilled golden light across the Xiao Clan's training grounds, its warmth touching the tiled roofs and weathered stone pillars. A soft wind whispered through the trees, carrying the steady rhythm of fists and feet cutting through the air.
Tianzun stood in silence near the far edge of the courtyard, leaning casually against a carved pillar. His eyes, deep and sharp, were fixed on the young man practicing in the open ground — Xiao Yan.
Each of Xiao Yan's movements carried a certain precision now. His stance was firm, his breathing steady, his punches sharp enough to disturb the air. He was far from his former peak, yet Tianzun could feel it — the foundation was being rebuilt, brick by brick.
*Good...* Tianzun thought silently. *His qi is flowing smoother. His spirit burns brighter. Yao Lao... you are guiding him well.*
A faint curve touched Tianzun's lips. Praise was rare from him, but in his mind, Yao Lao had earned it.
---
**Xun'er's Quiet Arrival**
Footsteps light as falling petals came from his side. Xun'er, her long hair catching the sunlight like spun gold, stopped beside him. She followed his gaze without a word at first.
"You've been watching him more often," she said softly.
Tianzun didn't look away. "When someone rises after being broken, it is worth watching. Worth remembering."
Her eyes flickered briefly toward him, but she didn't press further. She knew Tianzun rarely wasted his attention without reason.
---
**The Silent Departure**
That night, under the silver light of a high moon, Tianzun's figure left the Xiao Clan without a sound. His steps were as fluid as the drifting clouds above, carrying him far beyond the clan walls and toward the towering mountain range that hid the heart of his domain — the Tian Shuan Sect.
The sect gates loomed tall, carved with intricate patterns of dragons and shadowed mountains. Lanterns swayed in the night wind, their flames casting flickering halos against the dark stone. Within, the qi was dense, cultivated through years of discipline.
---
**The Gathering in the Great Hall**
Inside the sect's great hall, torches burned in tall sconces, throwing long shadows across the polished floor. The Shadow Guards stood in perfect formation to the left — black armor gleaming dully, their faces cold and unreadable. To the right, disciples in the sect's dark robes stood in disciplined rows, their expressions tense with anticipation.
At the far end, Tianzun stepped up to the dais. The faint rustle of his robe was the only sound until he spoke.
---
**The Laws Are Spoken**
"From this day forward," his voice rang, calm yet carrying the weight of steel, "the Tian Shuan Sect will not simply endure. We will become a force the world cannot ignore. That strength will be built upon laws that cannot be broken."
His eyes swept over the Shadow Guards first.
"Loyalty to the sect is above all else — above family, above friends, above life itself.
No information shall ever leave these walls.
No traitor will be spared. Death is mercy — traitors will burn in the Flames of Judgment until their very souls are ash.
Sect techniques are ours alone. To teach them to an outsider is to sever your ties with us forever."
The words struck like a hammer. No one dared breathe too loudly.
---
**Extending the Laws to the Disciples**
Tianzun turned toward the disciples.
"These laws are not for the Shadow Guards alone. Every disciple here will abide by them. The Tian Shuan Sect is your shield, your honor, your name. To betray it is to lose all three."
The silence that followed was heavy. In that moment, the weight of belonging to this sect became something tangible, a chain that bound them all — yet it was a chain forged willingly.
---
**The Ranks and the Promise of Reward**
With a flick of his hand, attendants brought forward several black-lacquered chests. When opened, they revealed stacks of glowing colored cards — faintly infused with spiritual energy.
"These cards will mark your rank. Four classes — Huang, Xuan, Earth, and Heaven. Their value... you will learn in time."
He did not explain further, letting the curiosity fester.
"There will be a ranking procedure. The top ten of each class will receive greater rewards — rare resources, precious techniques, opportunities you cannot find elsewhere. Rankings will be decided by your missions, your contributions to the sect, and the glory you bring to its name. Strength alone will not place you at the top."
---
**The Oath of Shadows**
When his words ended, Tianzun's voice dropped, colder and sharper than a drawn blade.
"You chose to stand beneath this banner. Now prove you are worthy to carry it."
Every Shadow Guard and disciple dropped to one knee, their voices uniting in a thunderous oath.
At the back, Alpha stood silently, her eyes never leaving Tianzun's form. There was no smile on her lips, only a deep glint of understanding — this was the foundation of something far greater than the world yet realized.