The Divine Urban Physician Chapter 3677 - 3667: Divergent Thoughts (Part 2)

"Those traitors stole the Six Paths Sect’s martial arts techniques, hastening the sect’s downfall. Since then, we stopped taking in new disciples. In simple terms, the Six Paths Sect is just clinging to survival now!"

Elder Dao Pao’s declaration stunned the disciples into fury, and even the elders stared at him with baffled expressions.

Though the Six Paths Sect’s members knew of their sect’s fall from grace, they all longed for the legendary splendor of the ancient era, refusing to abide any slight against it.

Yet these harsh words emerged from one of the sect’s most revered elders, leaving everyone bewildered about why he would belittle their own sect before an outsider like Ye Chen.

Observing the reactions across the Six Paths Sect, Ye Chen fixed a profound gaze on Elder Dao Pao, grasping the good intentions behind his speech.

"Everyone!"

Elder Dao Pao faced the assembly and boomed: "The Six Paths Sect shone brilliantly in its prime, but we face harsh truths—our sect has fallen far. Forget clinging to old glories. Forge a fresh path ahead!"

His speech jolted many within the sect awake, particularly the elder with jet-black eyes next to him, whose gaze toward Ye Chen brimmed with remorse.

"I’ll grant you an opportunity too."

While Elder Dao Pao’s words stirred some, others remained unmoved, shooting furious glares at Ye Chen and rejecting him outright.

To them, Ye Chen’s cultivation level was too weak; even in decline, the Six Paths Sect couldn’t stoop to accepting such a mediocre recruit—it would tarnish their honor.

Right then, Elder Dao Pao turned to them, unleashing a commanding presence that weighed down their shoulders, compelling their eyes toward him.

"I want to offer this youth a shot. It’s not just for him—it’s for our sect’s revival too."

Elder Dao Pao’s insightful words rang true, yet he sensed lingering doubts, above all from the elders.

So he addressed his fellow elders: "No fresh blood means endless stagnation and decay. I get your caution from that old betrayal, your hesitation to add more, but without newcomers, the Six Paths Sect has no tomorrow!"

Elder Dao Pao’s sharp rebuke shook the elders’ faces, and even the sect master’s expression shifted, releasing a heavy sigh as past errors dawned on him, stirred by the elder’s piercing insight.

"Elder Qingyun, your guidance humbles me!" The sect master declared with a formal fist salute to Elder Dao Pao, honoring his superior rank as a junior should.

Elder Dao Pao stayed silent at that, turning back to Ye Chen: "Do you get it now?"

"I do." Ye Chen met Elder Dao Pao’s eyes, seeing a sage worthy of deep admiration.

"I share this to show our fears, and also because I ask you to agree to one condition."

Elder Dao Pao’s gaze intensified as he addressed Ye Chen.

"What condition?"

"If you truly possess genius as you say, swear you’ll never betray the Six Paths Sect—or suffer utter annihilation!"

Tension gripped the crowd at these words. Oaths carry grave weight, especially with such lethal penalties. Even a top powerhouse couldn’t fully shield the swearer from the backlash.

All eyes locked on Ye Chen now. True loyalty to the Six Paths Sect meant he’d swear without hesitation. Refusal would scream hidden agendas, inviting their wrath.

"Fine, I’ll take the oath."

Ye Chen replied calmly, bound already by his promise to Xiao Shuihan to elevate the Six Paths Sect to the Outer Realm’s top power—he’d never turn against it.

The Six Paths Sect stood as Xiao Shuihan’s lifelong creation, forged by a Samsara Master’s disciple, and Ye Chen cherished it like his own. Betrayal was unthinkable.

Without delay, Ye Chen pointed skyward and uttered a binding vow.

"I, Ye Chen, pledge to join the Six Paths Sect and raise it to the Outer Realm’s supreme sect in this life. Any betrayal, and let heaven and earth destroy me!"

The heavens quaked instantly; Ye Chen’s tremendous oath, witnessed by all, summoned raging heavenly thunder and descending golden edicts from above.

Ye Chen's words were etched upon the decree, which radiated dazzling splendor, unleashing boundless radiance while emanating overwhelming heavenly might and tremendous power.

In the next instant, the spectacle faded away, the decree dissolved into nothingness, and the crowd finally came to their senses.

Suddenly, shocked gasps reverberated through the gates of the Six Paths Sect, a massive uproar exploding in the atmosphere, leaving even Elder Dao Pao stunned as he stared at Ye Chen.

Swearing oaths poses no problem, yet Ye Chen swore a monumental vow to elevate the Six Paths Sect to the supreme position—an utter act of arrogance for a cultivator merely at the Heavenly God Realm.

Furthermore, such vows demand utmost seriousness. With Ye Chen proclaiming the Six Paths Sect as the top sect across the Outer Realm, failure would trigger devastating heavenly backlash. What boldness allows Ye Chen to utter such an oath?

"Hmph, turns out he's nothing but a fool. Think you alone can make the Six Paths Sect the foremost in the Outer Realm? Even Moon Soul Domain's leading sect couldn't pull that off, right?"

"You don't just spout nonsense—you bind yourself to it. Truly a genius like no other."

"No wonder you boasted your talent matches anyone in our Six Paths Sect. You're all hot air."

Instantly, hordes of Six Paths Sect disciples sneered with contempt.

Some elders gazed at Ye Chen with odd looks too, convinced he was genuinely deranged. No one with a shred of reason would blurt out such madness. This was a sacred oath; breaking it meant complete obliteration of body and soul.

Amid the jeers, Ye Chen stayed utterly unmoved, his gaze steady on Elder Dao Pao, brimming with serene confidence.

Elder Dao Pao caught sight of this and shared a meaningful glance with the sect master, their eyes sparkling subtly. For Ye Chen to remain so unshaken by the crowd's scorn, utterly unaffected, pointed to just two possibilities.

Either he was a total idiot as everyone claimed, or his Dao heart stood firm as iron—perhaps even firmer than theirs—marking him as a supreme genius!

"Should this youth truly match his bold claims, it could spell immense fortune for our Six Paths Sect, a golden chance for our revival!"

In his mind, Elder Dao Pao appraised Ye Chen with an assessment he himself could hardly credit.

Gazing into Ye Chen's tranquil eyes at that instant, Elder Dao Pao caressed his beard, a smile playing as he turned to the sect master.

Wu Duan Cang, the reigning sect master of the Six Paths Sect, ranked among the mighty elites.

Right then, Wu Duan Cang eyed Ye Chen with a faint crease on his brow, dimly recalling the name Ye Chen from somewhere, yet unable to pinpoint it.

Still, no matter the case, Ye Chen's audacious oath erased Wu Duan Cang's hesitations; admiration even stirred within him. He proclaimed loudly, "Fine then, I'll grant you this shot. Pass the Six Paths Spirit Seeking Array's trial, and you'll join the Six Paths Sect as a disciple!"

"Six Paths Spirit Seeking Array?"

Ye Chen's eyebrow arched at the words. The Six Paths Spirit Seeking Array was new to him, though it sounded like a setup to gauge bloodline and aptitude.

"The Six Paths Spirit Seeking Array comprises formations our Grandmaster retrieved, spanning every form of existence in the Six Paths. All within can be revealed by it. Across the entire Outer Realm, it ranks among the premier testing formations."

Wu Duan Cang explained while scrutinizing Ye Chen, a trace of pride lacing his tone. A pinnacle testing array like the Six Paths Spirit Seeking Array eluded even elite powers.

The Six Paths Sect took great pride in this. Having once been a dominant force, its legacy dwarfed that of typical sects.

Wu Duan Cang held back full details on the Six Paths Spirit Seeking Array from Ye Chen, however. Elite formations like it shone in detection but also wielded fierce offensive and defensive prowess. Though not matching the deadliest killing arrays, its might was unparalleled.

Wu Duan Cang then escorted Ye Chen into the Six Paths Sect. The moment they crossed the threshold, Ye Chen sensed the ambient spiritual energy surging several-fold richer.

Without doubt, the Six Paths Sect's domain was a spiritual haven, enhanced by energy-converging formations and hidden treasures. This foundation underscored the sect's enduring strength.

Along the journey, birdsong filled the air alongside fragrant blooms, with picturesque landscapes and rivers everywhere. The Six Paths Sect seemed unassuming from outside, but passing through the Mountain Gate unveiled its true magnificence.

Majestic, gleaming palaces rose atop every mountain, home only to the elite elders and disciples of the Six Paths Sect.

Inside the Six Paths Hall lay the Six Paths Spirit Seeking Array, a former hub for recruiting disciples. Yet, with no new recruits in years, the place now felt eerily abandoned.

Thanks to Ye Chen’s deeds and declarations, the whole Six Paths Sect now watched him closely. Some hoped he’d unleash miracles, a supreme genius destined to revive the Six Paths Sect and maybe claim supremacy in the outer realm.

Most, however, craved a spectacle, certain Ye Chen was just bluffing and his talent paled against theirs.

Entertaining all sorts of notions, the crowd converged before the Six Paths Hall.

The grand entrance of the Six Paths Hall stood firmly shut, a light dusting blanketing the entire building, a sign of prolonged neglect.

Wu Duan Cang then flicked his wrist, propelling the sect master token into the slot on the Six Paths Hall’s door. Abruptly, Auspicious Qi erupted from the hall, Divine Radiance flashed brilliantly, overwhelming every gaze.

Dust across the Six Paths Hall vanished in an instant, its formidable aura surging back to life. As the doors creaked open slowly, ghostly sacred chants faintly reverberated from the depths within.