The Rise of an Evil Sect Leader

The morning sun glimmered through the jade-colored mountains as the survivors of the Dark Spirit Forest Trial stood assembled in the arena once again. Of the dozens who entered, fewer than twenty remained. Their faces were pale and their robes tattered—a far cry from the eager disciples who had charged into the forest three days earlier.

Ye Tian stood at the front of the group, pristine and composed, his hands lazily clasped behind his back. The beast cores he presented earlier had shaken the very foundation of the outer disciples. Rumors of his prowess spread like wildfire through the sect.

Elder Wu, seated in his ornate chair at the head of the arena, scanned the participants with his sharp gaze. He paused briefly on Ye Tian, his eyes narrowing in thought. This boy... There's something dangerous about him.

Stepping forward, Elder Wu raised his hand. "The Inner Sect Selection Trial is complete. You few who stand here today have proven yourselves worthy of advancement. From this day forward, you will enter the Inner Sect!"

Applause erupted from the stands where senior disciples and sect elders sat, though the atmosphere was undercut by a sense of unease. Many of the inner disciples—particularly those like Jiang Hao—had already heard of Ye Tian's deeds during the trial.

The Awards and Seeds of Division

One by one, the disciples who survived stepped forward to claim their token of entry into the Inner Sect.

When it was Ye Tian's turn, Elder Wu examined him closely.

"You performed well, Ye Tian," Elder Wu said, his voice neutral. "Your beast cores were exceptional in both quality and quantity. You've impressed many, though I must admit your methods seem… unorthodox."

Ye Tian bowed slightly, his expression humble. "This disciple merely did what was necessary to survive, Elder Wu. I sought no conflict—I simply adapted to the circumstances."

A ripple of murmurs spread among the spectators.

So humble.

Could someone like him truly amass so many beast cores alone?

Elder Wu chuckled faintly, though his eyes betrayed no amusement. "Very well. Here is your token of entry. Welcome to the Inner Sect."

Ye Tian accepted the jade token with a small smile, but inwardly, his thoughts raced. I have their attention now, but attention can be a double-edged sword. Let them question me for now—I'll show my hand when it's too late for them to react.

The Challenge Within the Sect

Entering the Inner Sect was no end—it was merely the beginning. The Inner Sect was a crucible where ambition and strength clashed fiercely. Resources were plentiful but fiercely contested, and alliances were made as quickly as they were broken.

Ye Tian followed a senior disciple who guided the new recruits to their living quarters. The Inner Sect's landscape was sprawling and beautiful—ornate pagodas stood atop cliffs, glowing spiritual formations pulsing beneath the earth. It was a land of power, but also danger.

As they walked, the senior disciple explained, "You will receive basic resources each month—cultivation pills, manuals, and spirit stones—but they won't be enough to climb the ranks. If you want more, you'll have to earn it."

"What do you mean by earn it?" one of the recruits asked nervously.

The senior disciple smirked. "Simple. Compete for missions, fight in the Sect Ranking Matches, or… seize opportunities when others aren't looking."

Ye Tian's eyes gleamed faintly at the words. Seize opportunities.

A Wolf Meets a Viper

As Ye Tian entered his new stone chamber—a modest but sturdy abode befitting an inner disciple—a faint knock echoed from the doorway.

He opened it, his gaze meeting the sharp, calculating eyes of Lan Yue.

Lan Yue, clad in her signature emerald robes embroidered with silver threads, exuded grace and danger in equal measure. Her beauty was like a sharpened blade: elegant but capable of cutting. She stepped forward, arms crossed, as if she owned the very space she stood on.

"You're Ye Tian," she said, her voice cool and even. "The boy everyone's whispering about."

Ye Tian offered a polite nod, his golden eyes calm but watchful. "Senior Sister Lan Yue. To what do I owe this unexpected visit?"

Lan Yue stepped inside uninvited, her gaze wandering briefly over his sparse room before landing back on him. "You made quite the impression during the trial."

"And yet, you're the first to visit me," Ye Tian replied with a faint smirk. "Surely you're not here to offer congratulations."

Lan Yue's lips curled faintly. "You're sharp. I'll get to the point—I came to understand you."

Ye Tian raised a brow. "Understand me? What could there possibly be to understand? I'm merely a new disciple who got lucky in the trial."

"Spare me the act," Lan Yue replied, her tone hardening. She stepped closer, her sharp eyes locking onto his. "No one gets that many beast cores through luck. I've seen ruthless climbers before, but you're something different. Calm, quiet, calculating. Tell me, what are you really after?"

Ye Tian chuckled softly, the sound both amused and cold. "And what makes you think I'll answer you, Senior Sister?"

"Because I'm offering you a choice," Lan Yue replied smoothly. "In the Inner Sect, you either make friends or make enemies. I'm extending a hand to the former."

Ye Tian studied her carefully. Lan Yue wasn't just any inner disciple—her calm demeanor, confidence, and willingness to approach him directly spoke volumes. She was a player in the sect's power struggle, a viper testing another predator.

"Friends, you say?" Ye Tian echoed thoughtfully. "An alliance this soon? Why would someone of your stature bother with a newcomer like me?"

Lan Yue's gaze sharpened. "Because I see value in you, Ye Tian. You're not like the others. You don't rely on brute strength alone—you think. And thinking men are dangerous. I'd rather have you on my side than see you rise as an enemy."

Ye Tian chuckled, folding his arms. "You speak of alliances, but what exactly do you bring to the table, Senior Sister? Power? Resources? Or… do you think you can control me?"

Lan Yue's lips twitched in amusement. "Control you? Hardly. What I offer is protection—connections that will make your rise smoother. The Inner Sect can be unforgiving. Alone, even the strongest wolves can be overwhelmed."

Ye Tian tilted his head, his golden eyes glinting with amusement. "And what do you gain, Senior Sister? Protection isn't free."

Lan Yue smirked. "I want allies, not subordinates. You'll understand soon enough that having me on your side benefits us both."

Silence hung between them for a long moment as they measured each other. Finally, Ye Tian's smirk deepened.

"I'll consider it," he said, his tone neutral.

"Good." Lan Yue turned to leave but paused at the doorway. Without looking back, she added, "Just don't let your arrogance blind you. The higher you climb, the harder the fall. And in the Inner Sect, no one will catch you."

The door closed behind her, leaving Ye Tian standing alone in his chamber.

He chuckled softly, a dangerous light flickering in his golden eyes. She's testing me. A snake trying to gauge the wolf's bite.

The Game Begins

The following days passed quietly as Ye Tian observed the workings of the Inner Sect. Unlike the Outer Sect, where raw strength reigned supreme, the Inner Sect was a battlefield of influence, resources, and alliances.

While other new disciples scrambled to join factions under senior disciples like Jiang Hao or Lan Yue, Ye Tian remained uninvolved, quietly cultivating and studying in the sect's library.

"Ye Tian, you should think about joining a group," one junior disciple whispered nervously to him in passing. "Without backing, it's hard to survive here."

Ye Tian merely smiled faintly. Backings are chains disguised as favors. I won't be a pawn in their games—I'll rewrite the board.

First Blood

One evening, Ye Tian overheard whispers of a rare Fire Spirit Jade—a resource valuable for strengthening one's spiritual roots—that had appeared in the eastern cavern of the sect grounds.

The jade was unguarded but located in a dangerous region where many avoided treading. Rumors claimed that Jiang Hao's faction intended to send their men to claim it in secret.

Ye Tian's lips curled into a cold smile. A perfect opportunity.

Under the cover of night, Ye Tian slipped into the eastern cavern. The air crackled faintly with heat, and the scent of sulfur lingered in the dark tunnels. Before long, he spotted two of Jiang Hao's lackeys standing guard outside a glowing fissure.

"Are you sure we're the only ones who know?" one disciple asked nervously.

"Relax. Senior Brother Jiang Hao has this under control. No one would dare—"

Before he could finish, a dagger flashed in the darkness. Ye Tian emerged like a phantom, his movements sharp and efficient. The two guards barely had time to react before collapsing silently, their throats slit.

Ye Tian wiped the blade clean, his expression indifferent as he stepped into the fissure. The Fire Spirit Jade glowed faintly on a stone pedestal, its fiery aura pulsing softly.

"Now this… will do nicely," Ye Tian murmured, pocketing the jade.

As he exited the cavern, the two corpses lay cooling in the dark, their deaths unnoticed. Jiang Hao's faction would soon learn of their failure—and Ye Tian's silent rise had begun.