The vision of the Celestial River, with its shimmering currents and guiding starlight, had left Li Wei with a renewed sense of connection to the Dao, even if his frail body—ravaged by hunger, fever, and the lingering infection in his hand—threatened to betray him. The hidden valley, with its shimmering pool, ancient tree, and glowing blossoms, pulsed with an energy that seemed to affirm the warmth in his dantian—a warmth he believed was his nascent Golden Core, nurturing a fledgling Nascent Soul. Azure Dragon, his scruffy spirit beast, remained a loyal companion, curled by the stone altar as Li Wei pored over the scroll, its worn bamboo slats a sacred guide through his trials. The scroll's latest passage unveiled a unifying challenge: "The Jade Dawn Oath, where the cultivator binds their sect in shared purpose, forging a collective spirit to honor the Dao."
In the cultivation novels Li Wei had devoured in Beijing, oaths were sacred pacts—vows sworn by sects to unite their qi, strengthening their path to immortality through collective resolve. The scroll's description was less grandiose but equally compelling: "Gather the seekers under the banner of the Dao, let their hearts align, and the path shall grow stronger. Unity is the crucible of eternity." Li Wei, tempered by lightning, betrayal, and moments of clarity, saw this as a chance to solidify the Order of the Jade Dawn, his virtual sect, which had grown fractious since the betrayals of Wang Hao and Lin Tao. The new members—Chen Xiu, Zhao Feng, and the remaining stalwarts Zhang Wei and Liu Mei—brought energy but also tension, their clashing beliefs threatening to unravel the group. Li Wei's body ached, his fever persistent, but the scroll's promise of unity fueled his determination to lead.
Li Wei prepared with the reverence of a leader forging a brotherhood. He reinforced his altar with smooth stones, their surfaces carved with star-like patterns inspired by the Starstone to channel the valley's qi. He placed the scroll, jade slip, Starstone, and stolen booklet at the altar's center, surrounding them with the ancient tree's glowing blossoms, their light pulsing like a beacon for unity. Azure Dragon watched, head tilted, as Li Wei sipped the valley's crystal-clear water, its coolness soothing his fever. The scroll suggested a shared ritual to bind the sect, so he proposed a virtual "Jade Dawn Oath," a ceremony where each member would pledge their commitment to the Dao, aligning their qi through a collective meditation.
Using his battered phone, charged during a trek to Old Chen's teahouse in the village, Li Wei organized the ritual, scheduling a video call under the next full moon. He spent days refining his plan, meditating by the pool to align his qi with the sect's, visualizing their energies merging like the Celestial River's currents. His fever spiked, his infected hand throbbing, but he pushed through, carving a vow on a valley stone: "The Jade Dawn unites in the Dao's light, our qi as one." Azure Dragon, sensing his master's focus, stayed close, his amber eyes watchful.
On the night of the full moon, the valley glowed with ethereal light, the pool reflecting the moon like a mirror to the heavens. Li Wei sat by the altar, his phone propped against a rock, the Starstone in his hands. The Order joined the call: Zhang Wei from his cluttered Shanghai dorm, vials glinting; Liu Mei from her Sichuan rooftop, moonlight on her serene face; Chen Xiu from a candlelit room, her eyes fervent; Zhao Feng from a spartan gym, his expression guarded. Li Wei began, chanting the scroll's incantations, their rhythmic tones blending with the valley's whispers. He shared his trials—lightning, betrayal, the Celestial River—urging each member to offer their own.
Zhang Wei spoke of his alchemical breakthroughs, his voice trembling with passion. Liu Mei shared a vision of moonlight guiding her qi, her words calm but profound. Chen Xiu recounted her cave meditations, her mysticism fervent, while Zhao Feng described a martial feat, grounding his qi in strength. Each pledge strengthened the ritual, their voices a chorus across the digital void. Li Wei led a collective meditation, visualizing their qi merging into a radiant light. The warmth in his dantian surged, pulsing in rhythm with the moon's glow, but his fever spiked, dizziness threatening to break his focus. Azure Dragon whined, nudging his leg, as Li Wei clung to the Starstone, willing the oath to hold.
The ritual ended with a shared vow: "We, the Jade Dawn, walk the Dao as one." Li Wei felt a fleeting harmony, as if their qi had truly aligned, but his body faltered, collapsing as the call ended. He awoke by the altar, Azure Dragon guarding him, his fever burning but his spirit alight. He scribbled in his notebook, hands trembling: "Jade Dawn Oath sealed. Sect united, qi aligned. Body falters, spirit binds." The valley's whispers seemed to approve, the ancient tree's blossoms glowing brighter.
During the next video call, Li Wei shared the oath's success, describing the harmony he felt. Zhang Wei, eyes wide, called it a "divine union," urging alchemical rituals to strengthen it. Liu Mei praised his leadership but warned: "Unity requires a strong vessel." Chen Xiu's fervent mysticism clashed with Zhao Feng's pragmatism, their debate testing Li Wei's resolve. He hid his worsening fever and throbbing hand, fearing their concern might fracture the oath.
As dawn broke, Li Wei sat by the pool, the Starstone warm in his hands, Azure Dragon snoring softly. The scroll promised that the Jade Dawn Oath would strengthen the path, but also warned of greater trials. The valley's energy, his sect's faith, and the scroll's guidance bolstered him, even as his body weakened. With his Golden Core and Nascent Soul pulsing as beacons, Li Wei felt ready to lead, his sect united in pursuit of immortality, one sacred vow at a time.