The Blackstone Keep stood as an indomitable fortress, its towering black walls casting long shadows under the dim light of the twin moons. Within its grand halls, Shao Xian sat upon his throne, golden eyes gleaming with an ethereal light. The air around him was heavy, carrying a silent authority that made even the most seasoned warriors lower their gazes in reverence.
Before him, a gathering of figures knelt. These were the so-called leaders of the Jade Celestial Pavilion's former allies—sect masters, clan heads, and rogue cultivators who had once boasted of their power. Now, they knelt like trembling dogs, awaiting judgment.
Zhou Fan stood at his master's side, his cold gaze scanning the assembly. "My Lord, they have come to pledge loyalty."
Shao Xian's expression remained unreadable as he studied them. "Loyalty?" His voice was calm, yet it sent a shiver down their spines. "You speak of loyalty after witnessing the fate of the Pavilion?"
The sect master of the Verdant Cloud Sect, an elderly man with graying hair, lowered his head further. "M-My Lord, we were blind… We did not know the true extent of your power. Had we known—"
A suffocating pressure filled the room, cutting the old man's words short. Shao Xian had not moved, yet the sheer weight of his will pressed down upon them. Several cultivators gasped, their bodies trembling under the invisible force.
"You did not know?" Shao Xian's tone remained cold. "Ignorance is not an excuse. You allied yourselves with the Pavilion, and for that, you were complicit in their defiance."
The Verdant Cloud Sect Master trembled. "P-Please, My Lord… We have come to offer ourselves to you. To serve you."
Shao Xian studied them in silence, his gaze piercing. He could see the fear in their eyes, the desperation. They did not serve out of devotion—they served out of necessity, out of survival.
He leaned forward slightly. "Then prove your loyalty."
A flick of his fingers, and a golden flame burst into existence. The air shimmered as the fire hovered before him, small yet carrying a dreadful power.
"Swear your allegiance under the Heavenly Oath of Subjugation," he commanded.
Gasps echoed through the hall. The Heavenly Oath of Subjugation was no simple pledge. It was a binding vow that, once taken, would mark one's soul with the sigil of servitude. Any betrayal, even the mere thought of defiance, would result in immediate annihilation.
Some of the gathered cultivators paled, their hesitation evident.
Shao Xian's lips curled into a faint smirk. "Ah… I see." He leaned back, golden eyes narrowing. "You would rather risk my wrath than submit fully?"
One of the clan heads, a middle-aged man with a scar across his cheek, gritted his teeth. "Forgive us, My Lord… but such an oath…"
Shao Xian flicked his wrist. The golden flame shot forward, consuming the man before he could even finish his sentence. His body disintegrated in an instant, leaving nothing but ashes.
Silence fell. The remaining cultivators felt their souls tremble.
Zhou Fan smirked. "Our Lord does not tolerate hesitation."
The others scrambled to place their hands over their hearts, quickly reciting the oath before their fear paralyzed them. The moment they finished, the golden flames flickered across their bodies, etching an invisible mark upon their souls.
Shao Xian watched impassively. "You belong to me now. Your lives, your sects, your legacies—they are mine to command."
The cultivators bowed deeply. "Yes, My Lord."
Shao Xian's gaze turned toward Zhou Fan. "See that they prove useful. If they fail, they will follow the Pavilion into oblivion."
Zhou Fan grinned. "With pleasure."
As the newly subjugated sect leaders were led away, Shao Xian remained seated, fingers tapping lightly against the armrest.
The first phase of his conquest was complete. The Pavilion was erased, its allies brought to heel. But this was merely the beginning. There were greater threats lurking beyond this world—ancient enemies who had yet to realize that the Sovereign Dao had returned.
His golden eyes flickered with cold amusement.
Let them come.