At the Verdant Hall, all 43 protégés were now assembled neatly in files inside.
Before they could receive their magic tools, Elder Mao Ling said to them. "All of you have to first kowtow to our patriarch ancestor first, the founder of our Profound Cloud Sect."
With that, Ye Fan and all the others dutifully kowtowed 3 times in front of the great statue of the patriarch ancestor.
Elder Mao Ling said while they were still kowtowing, "This is the oath that you have to make to your soul core and I want to hear it loud and clear with my divine sense. So don't think that you can lie your way through this…."
"Repeat after me…."
"I will be absolutely loyal to the Profound Cloud Sect and to the Sect Leader, the Masters and the Elders…"
Everyone, including Ye Fan were forced to make this oath whether they were willing or not.
This was not the first time that Ye Fan had been making this oath because he once made the same oath to the Thousand Swords Divine Sect 3 years ago…
An oath was deadly to make to a cultivator because any untruth will haunt back as a divine calamity in the future.
That was why most cultivators were heartless and would answer things like, "I can't help you. May the heavens help you…"
Cultivators were not heroes and they do not make promise easily or it would be detrimental to their cultivation soul sea.
That was why cultivators that lie would always be the low level cultivators as their soul sea would also be impure.
Ye Fan did not want to make this oath at all because his first loyalty in his soul sea was toward the Thousand Swords Divine Sect and this is his Dao!
Yet the Profound Cloud Sect was now making him made another oath to be loyal them rather than the Thousand Swords Divine Sect.
This new oath was hard to fulfill for Ye Fan because he had the intention to kill the Witch Xuan Xueqi, his master when the opportunity presented itself.
After everyone had completed their oath ceremony, they were given the corresponding robes that indicated their current status in the Profound Cloud Sect.
Ye Fan naturally received an inner protégé robe.
Not only that, he had also received a rare mortal-step spatial ring that could contain 12 items that were less than 20 pound in weight and also a mortal-step precious sword.
He saw that inside the spatial ring was also 50 spirit stones; this was a huge fortune!
The Profound Cloud Sect was far richer than the Thousands Divine Sect…
Elder Mao Ling continued to say nonchalantly, "As outer protégé, you will be given 10 contribution point a month. As for the inner protégé, you will be given 50 contribution point a month…"
Ye Fan smiled bitterly; he had only 360 contribution point so far from his 3 years here. But now as a inner protégé, he would get 5 times more contribution points.
A half-step precious sword would cost a protégé 1000 contribution points while a mortal-step precious sword would cost a protégé 5000 contribution points.
But as a core protégé, he had actually received a mortal-step precious sword for free.
The treatment between an inner and a core protégé was like the heavens and the earth too, even though both received the same amount of contribution points.
Also, the rest of the inner protégé did not even receive any spatial ring or any spirit stones too.
It was only Ye Fan, Chen Yuyan and Wang Meng only.
Wang Meng took the initiative to smile at Ye Fan and Chen Yuyan, "Haha, the three of us are also core protégés now. We should learn to take care of one another in the future."
Ye Fan merely nodded.
As for Chen Yuyan, she was absolutely delightful, "Senior Brother Wang Meng!"
Elder Mao Ling turned to Ye Fan, Chen Yuyan and Wang Meng to say, "The three of you shall go to the great hall where your new master will be. They will need to address you."
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Ye Fan was now in another great hall.
This great hall used to be called the Fifth Swords Hall but had been renamed to the Fairy Xuan Hall now.
Inside, Fairy Xuan Xueqi was waiting patiently for him.
He stepped forward to pay his respect to her, "Mistress Fairy Xuan."
This was not the first time that he was alone with the Witch Xuan Xueqi.
Xuan Xueqi said nonchalantly, "Good. You have actually become an inner protégé. This is really a surprise. Do you know why I am making you my core disciple?"
Ye Fan was perplexed as well so he asked, "I do not know the reason why."
Maybe it was because he had an outstanding result from the trials of the first martial meeting?
Fairy Xuan Xueqi answered him, "That is because I do not trust you at all."
Ye Fan: …
Ye Fan: …
Ye Fan: …
"You look honest but is it what you really are?"
Ye Fan silently said: I am actually here to kill you to avenge the demise of the Thousand Swords Divine Sect.
Fairy Xuan Xueqi continued to say but this time with a wry smile on him, "Are you able to be as ruthless as the heavens and the earth?"
Ye Fan looked up with a soft sigh, "I can be as ruthless as the heavens and the earth. Is my mistress not pleased with my trial performance? I am not ruthless enough?"
He had neglected to mention that he would be ruthless enough to kill this new mistress of his.
Fairy Xuan Xueqi hummed coldly, "Indeed, you are not ruthless enough. You have been helping that Chen Yuyan. If not, your trial results will even be better."
Ye Fan sighed softly but did not say anything.
It was because he was bitter in his heart; compared to the welcoming amicable warmth of the 7 sword elders, this Witch Xuan Xueqi was as cold as the heavens and the earth.
Fairy Xuan Xueqi said to him, "Under my tutelage, you shall be the most ruthless and cold cultivator that will not have feelings to anyone."
Ye Fan: …
Unknown to Ye Fan, this was to be the start of his forbidden romances with the Witch Xuan Xueqi and one that he could never forget, not because of his hatred or vendetta. But it was one that he would defend her honor with his life in the future!
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Author Note:
1. Your book