Hao Yuan remained silent for a long time, his gaze shifting from Lin Yu to the ring, then back to Lin Yu.

But what he did first was what he, as the Grand Elder of the Cloud Hidden Sect, had to do.

Hao Yuan looked at Lin Yu, his voice several degrees more solemn than before: "Although you are a descendant of an old friend of mine, you are neither the soul of Cloud Hidden Sect, nor do you reside in a sect disciple's ring… There are some things I must do."

Lin Yu's soul body tightened slightly. He knew the real business had arrived.

But he wasn't flustered. What was meant to come would always come; there was no avoiding it.

He nodded slightly, his tone calm: "Senior, please speak."

Hao Yuan asked, his voice soft but every word heavy as a thousand jun: "You… need to swear a Heavenly Dao oath?"

Lin Yu did not answer immediately.

He quickly calculated in his mind: What did a Heavenly Dao oath mean? It meant that if broken, heavenly tribulation would teach you a lesson. It was the hardest contract in the cultivation world.

If he refused, Hao Yuan probably wouldn't fall out with him on the spot, considering the "old ties to the Shen family." But from then on, he would forever be a "suspicious figure" in the Cloud Hidden Sect, and those Nascent Soul eyes would be watching him from time to time. That feeling was worse than being naked.

To lie low comfortably in this sect, to let Su Ming, this sole sapling, grow steadily, this "pledge of allegiance" had to be offered.

Lin Yu was silent for three breaths.

Then he raised his head, his tone as calm as still water: "Junior is willing."

Hao Yuan was slightly stunned. He hadn't expected Lin Yu to agree so readily.

He asked, "Do you know the consequences of a Heavenly Dao oath?"

Lin Yu nodded: "I know. Once violated, inner demons breed, the Heavenly Dao rejects you, your soul scatters to the winds, and you never reincarnate."

Lin Yu's tone remained flat: "Senior wants junior to swear an oath, just worried that junior will harm the sect."

"Junior wouldn't do such a thing anyway. What harm is there in swearing an oath?" 𝚏𝐫𝚎𝗲𝕨𝐞𝐛𝕟𝚘𝐯𝚎𝗹.𝕔𝐨𝗺

Hao Yuan nodded slightly: "Good. Then swear it."

Lin Yu took a deep breath (even though a soul body didn't need to), and the light of his soul body condensed slightly.

He floated into the air, making a hand seal with one hand and pointing his fingertip to his brow. Although the movements were somewhat slow due to his weak soul power, every step was extremely standard, an ingrained sense of ritual.

He spoke, his voice not loud, but seeming to pierce the frozen time: "Above the Heavenly Dao, let the Heavenly Dao witness."

"I, now, swear this oath with my remnant soul:"

"First, I will not harm the Cloud Hidden Sect;"

"Second, I will not harm the disciples of Cloud Hidden Sect;"

"Third, I will not leak the secrets of Cloud Hidden Sect;"

"Fourth, I will not betray today's promise."

"If I break this oath, I am willing to suffer the punishment of heavenly tribulation, my soul scattered to the winds, never to be reincarnated for eternity."

As the words fell, an invisible ripple seemed to sweep across heaven and earth. Although the wind atop Gazing Star Cliff was still frozen by Hao Yuan, the stars high in the sky seemed to tremble slightly.

A very faint, almost invisible golden halo appeared on Lin Yu's soul body—the brand of the Heavenly Dao oath. This brand was like a lock, locking away his malice, but also like a protective talisman, proving his innocence.

Hao Yuan looked at that halo, and the last trace of wariness in his eyes completely dissipated.

He was silent for a few breaths, then nodded lightly: "Very good."

Only two words, but Lin Yu knew what they meant.

This was the approval of the Grand Elder. From now on, in the Cloud Hidden Sect, he was no longer a "suspicious figure," no longer an "unknown variable" that could be erased at any time, but one of "us." This long-term meal ticket was officially renewed.

Lin Yu didn't speak, only slightly lowered his eyes, adopting a humble posture.

Hao Yuan looked at him, a trace of complexity in his gaze—pity for his old friend's fate, and appreciation for this remnant soul's understanding: "Now that you have sworn, I am at ease."

Hao Yuan looked at him and asked, "Is there anything you need my help with?"

His tone was very light, but using "I" meant—this wasn't politeness; it was a formal promise. A promise from a Nascent Soul cultivator was enough to make Core Formation cultivators fight over it.

Lin Yu's soul body paused slightly.

He didn't answer immediately.

He quickly calculated in his mind: Should he take it?

Take what?

A divine weapon? Su Ming was only at Foundation Establishment; giving him a celestial sword would be sending him to his death. It would be like "a child carrying gold through a busy market."

A peerless cultivation method? The "Like Water Art" was already very suitable; greed only led to indigestion.

Getting Su Ming promoted to Junior Sect Leader directly? That would be putting him on the fire.

He had to ask for something practical, fitting the persona of a "descendant of the fallen Shen family," and something that could solve the current pressing problem.

After three breaths, he spoke, his voice very soft: "Senior, if it's convenient… Junior does indeed need something."

Hao Yuan's gaze was gentle: "Speak."

Hao Yuan nodded slightly: "Tell me."

Lin Yu reached out, and soul power traced in the air. The movements were very slow; every stroke seemed to carry the weight of a thousand jun, but this wasn't all an act. The earlier game of "telling the truth" was more exhausting than drawing a hundred Spirit Gathering Arrays inside the ring.

Characters appeared in the air, shimmering with a faint, ethereal blue fluorescence:

*Subsequent Cultivation Method of "Spirit Nourishing True Explanation"*

Lin Yu explained, his tone flat, carrying a detached aloofness of one who had seen through life and death: "The method Junior cultivates now is only a fragment."

Hao Yuan frowned slightly, his gaze lingering on the illusory characters for a moment: "You don't remember the Shen family's soul-nourishing method?"

Lin Yu shook his head, a hint of genuine helplessness in his tone, a weariness of facing a treasure mountain but returning empty-handed: "I don't remember."

It really wasn't in his mind. He had transmigrated as a blank account; where would he get VIP inheritance?

Hao Yuan was silent for a long time.

The mountain wind was still frozen, and that withered leaf still hung before Su Ming's nose.

Then he said, "I don't have the Shen family's soul-nourishing method here either."

Lin Yu's soul body rippled slightly. His heart sank.

This was also within expectations. The Shen family had been wiped out; if their core inheritance had leaked out, that would be truly strange.

But Hao Yuan's next words lifted his heart again: "But I can search for you."

He paused, his tone resolute, the unique commanding power of a Nascent Soul cultivator: "The Cloud Hidden Sect has stood for twenty thousand years. The Scripture Depository houses countless cultivation methods. I don't remember any of the Shen family's, but I can find a few similar soul-nourishing methods. Even if I can't find the original, given my friendship with a few old friends, 'borrowing' a look from those soul-cultivation sects isn't difficult."

Lin Yu was stunned.

"Borrowing" a look.

That was a very clever choice of words.

His soul body leaned forward slightly, making a flattered gesture: "Senior's meaning is…"

Hao Yuan: "I will have someone look into it. If they find something suitable, I will send it to you."

Lin Yu was silent. He didn't say thank you.

Because he knew—Hao Yuan didn't need his thanks. This was an account to settle for his "old friend," compensation for that woman named "Xinghe." If he thanked him too enthusiastically, it would instead cheapen this heavy karmic debt.

Hao Yuan asked again, "Besides the cultivation method, is there anything else you need?"