#ImperialEunuch
Ji Li found himself once again in the Eunuch Ceremonial Hall. He was dressed in long white robes, behind him and similarly dressed was Ji Shixuan followed Ji Qianyu. Behind the usual trio were other eunuchs of the same age, none of which Ji Li knew.
He passed his years upon years in intense training, and it wasn't unusual for him to not leave his room for days when he was learning. Even though his cultivation went very smoothly, seemingly because he was truly blessed, it didn't change the fact that he still had to work hard and focus on his actions every day.
He had already formed a friendship with two ji's, did he really need more? It wasn't like he was very social anyways, and Hua Jing also felt that only those two could follow him, the rest was simply too slow in everything! At least he had two friends, and because he wanted Ji Li to not stay alone on his path of cultivation and servitude, he tutored the other two just as much.
Ji Li was the first and smartest of his generation, naturally he was also the leader and upfront. The other Junior Eunuchs at the side, all of them being of the Ji generation, felt slightly envious but also proud, for such a genius came out of their generation! At least they knew that they could brag about it in the future when someone asked them how their generation was!
"May the Emerald Tree shine forever upon your blessed land, as you shine so shall we serve. I beseech the Nature's Spirit for a blessing, so I may serve you with an everlasting determination and sincerity." said Ji Li as he stepped forward, being only a few meters away.
It seemed so naturally, as if he had done the same thing over and over again. The two High Eunuchs, again Yu Wei and Yu Bao, which apparently never changed shifts over the long course of 16years, smiled when they saw the respectful act of Ji Li.
They nodded their head and let him step forward. When he was close enough, both of them stepped towards him. Yu Wei carried a silver bowl while Yu Bao carried something which seemed to be a ladle.
"The mighty and everlasting Emerald Brilliance Empire, represented by the Royal Emerald Tree stands before you. Trainee Eunuch Ji Li, do you swear to serve forever, the empire that shines bright in verdant colors, the root of our blessing and the lush shield of all rain?
Trainee Eunuch Ji Li, do you swear by the Royal Emerald Tree to bind your Origin to the Origin of the Empire?" Yes, the ceremony wasn't only formal, but it truly was a ceremony where one would bind their Origin, the whole reason for existence, to the Empire.
It was one of the most rare and holy oaths to swear their Origin to someone else. It wasn't important for the other Entity to be human, the only need for it was that both beings awakened their soul, meaning they are sentient.
The empire has made pacts with the Emerald Tree, binding it forever on their ground. The roots of the Emerald Tree spread over all the borders, being strictly restricted by enemy forced there. If not for that, the main emerald tree, residing in the heart of the empire, would have been known as the world tree.
Unfortunately, not one of the other countries, even the allies, wanted to see something like that. Because the pact gave the empire's people already Nature's Gifts, who knows how many more benefits landed in the imperial family? The most important thing was that, because of the fact, it was made possible to bind ones Origin to the Emerald Tree, which in turn binds them to the Emerald Brilliance Empire.
Stolen story; please report.
The oath might be one of the holiest, but it wasn't very binding. The term 'serve' was used misleadingly. There were many ways to serve, being a servant was not the only one.
The oath was the same for everyone, making it an equal one but also a very free oath, not repulsing anyone too much. The crucial with the oath was that, because of the vagueness, they could end it at any time with the Emerald Tree, if both sides agree. The pact was very hidden, but a few terms were included, and one being that every and all oaths are to be unbound if the citizen wish to do so.
The oath only secured that during the whole time, they would never harm the empire truly. No matter what they did, as long as it wasn't judged as an oath break, it wouldn't be punished. The highest judges are the Emperor, the Spirit of the Emerald Tree and lastly the council of Imperial Eunuchs.
The first two might be ambitious and decide incoherently, but the Imperial Eunuchs only cared for the empire in the end, no matter how corrupt they might be in small matters, they would never cause chaos and always bring harmony, or else the backlash from their cultivation method would kill them. What could people who were on their own the most, fear more than their own death?
They treat the empire as their child, even their most loved ones are citizen, how could they compare to selfish reasons such as greed? It was a throughout system where one might end the oath at any time, but it would always be guarded. No one was forbidden from doing so, but anyone doing that was written down and called oath breachers. None such were allowed any and all official positions.
The guards might be high eunuchs, and they would also write down everything, but the one who would know directly would of course be the other party of the oath, the Spirit of the Emerald Tree, which also had to announce the result instantly, making it impossible for anyone to hide away their breach.
"Yes, I, Trainee Eunuch Ji Li, swear by the Emerald Tree to always serve the Emerald Brilliance Empire, for as long as the oath stands!"
The other Junior Eunuchs repeated enthusiastically "For as long as the oath stands!" Some might complain that is not an oath for a lifetime, but the founding emperor once said, when he created the oath "We are sentient beings, how can anyone be happy to be restricted? If we can't accept being a slave ourselves, then we can't make others be!"
With that sentence he also forbade slavery. It wasn't something that happened over night, but over time, it truly became a shameful act to possess slaves, not to mention it being illegal. Most countries followed suit afterwards, only a few chaotic regions still using such systems.
Ju Wei carried the silver bowl before the pond, Ju Bao took a step and used the ladle to fill the bowl, to which both said in unison "Then drink this blessed water from the Verdant Lake and the oath shall be!"
Ji Li followed suit, drank the bowl and his body started to shine green. When that happened, he felt like a mysterious power surging into his consciousness. He felt like it was only natural to serve the Emerald Brilliance Empire, before he broke out of this moment.
'Wow, this thing is very strong.' He looked around, the Junior Eunuchs seemed to be very happy and kind of envious, while the High Eunuchs smiled a bit bitter 'I see, so this only affects lower levels, no wonder I could break out so easily, my soul after all lived through a full circle of life and death, making it stronger than others'
Ji Li put down the bowl, kowtowed while he shouted "The oath is completed, I shall serve the Empire, for as long as the oath stands" to which the Junior Eunuchs answered "For as long as the oath stands" Ji Li walked to the left side of the tree this time, nodding to the High Eunuch who went back to position after picking up the bowl, before he stepped through the door and entered a small hallway which had several doors.
He left through one of the side doors, where he was greeted to a small garden. He was told to wait here by the two High Eunuchs before the ceremony began. He waited for a few minutes before Shixuan and Qianyu both entered the garden, the positioned themselves left and right behind him without saying anything and waited, without talking or asking. Ji Li kept standing for over two hours, not having any issues as he was already stable at the peak of the body strengthening stage.