The Rise of an Evil Sect Leader

The pale glow of the moon bathed the Inner Sect grounds, draping the stone paths in silver light. In his quiet courtyard, Ye Tian sat cross-legged, cultivating silently. Faint strands of spiritual energy swirled around him, sharper and denser with each passing day.

He had secured his first foothold in the Inner Sect, but Ye Tian understood that true strength required more than raw cultivation—resources and influence were just as important.

A knock echoed at the courtyard gate.

"Come in."

The wooden gate creaked open, and Zhou Lie stepped inside. The mid-tier disciple looked sharper tonight, his expression firm but deferential as he stopped before Ye Tian and bowed deeply.

"Ye Tian," Zhou Lie began, "I've returned as promised."

Ye Tian regarded him coolly. "I'm listening."

Zhou Lie's Dispute

Zhou Lie straightened, his fists clenching slightly as though recalling something bitter.

"You already know I hold a grudge against Jiang Hao," Zhou Lie began, his voice low but steady. "What you don't know is the reason why."

Ye Tian said nothing, waiting.

"Months ago," Zhou Lie continued, "my small group of disciples and I discovered a spiritual mine during an Inner Sect mission. It was a minor find—just enough to earn merit points—but it could have helped us rise."

He paused, his teeth gritting.

"Jiang Hao caught wind of it. Before we could report the discovery, his faction ambushed us. They claimed the mine for themselves, and when we tried to resist, Jiang Hao spread lies to the sect elders. He called us thieves, saying we had stolen the discovery from him."

Ye Tian's golden eyes flashed with faint amusement. So Jiang Hao didn't rise on strength alone, but also on manipulation.

"What happened next?" Ye Tian asked.

"Jiang Hao's faction pressured the elders into punishing us," Zhou Lie said bitterly. "Our merit points were stripped, and we were humiliated. Ever since, no one dares to follow me, and my group has been scattered, forced to scrape by with menial tasks."

Silence lingered for a moment before Ye Tian spoke.

"So you want revenge?"

Zhou Lie shook his head. "Revenge isn't enough. I want power—enough to rise beyond Jiang Hao's reach and take back what he stole. You've already proven yourself capable. I'd rather follow you than rot away under his shadow."

Opportunity in Desperation

Ye Tian leaned back slightly, studying Zhou Lie. Desperation had hollowed the man, but it also sharpened his resolve.

"You brought me information about weaker factions like your team," Ye Tian said. "Are they like you—disillusioned and overlooked?"

Zhou Lie nodded. "Exactly. Most disciples in the Inner Sect are either oppressed by the larger factions or have been cast aside like my group. They lack direction. If you extend a hand to them, they'll take it."

Ye Tian's gaze turned coldly thoughtful. "Then you'll help me gather them. Starting with your old followers."

Zhou Lie blinked, surprise flickering across his face. "They… they scattered after the punishment. I don't know if they'll listen to me."

"Then make them listen," Ye Tian said sharply, his voice carrying an edge of finality. "You brought me their names, their conflicts. You claim you want power—here's your chance to prove it."

Zhou Lie swallowed hard but nodded resolutely. "I'll bring them to you. Just give me time."

"Time is short," Ye Tian warned, turning away. "I don't need weaklings. Convince them to follow, or I'll replace you with someone who can."

"Yes, Ye Tian!" Zhou Lie bowed deeply before hurrying off into the night.

The First Step

As Zhou Lie left, Ye Tian stood alone beneath the moonlit sky, his mind turning over plans like pieces on a chessboard. Jiang Hao's oppression had left wounds in the sect—scars that Ye Tian could exploit.

Factions rise and fall not through power alone but through manipulation, he thought coldly. And those left behind make perfect tools.

From Zhou Lie's humiliation to the scattered disciples' desperation, everything could be turned to his advantage.

Two Days Later

Ye Tian waited in the shadows of a secluded training ground on the outskirts of the sect. The air buzzed with quiet tension as a group of figures approached—Zhou Lie at the front, flanked by four other disciples.

These were Zhou Lie's scattered followers—once a group, now a broken shell of what they'd been. Their faces were uncertain as they approached Ye Tian, clearly wary of what awaited them.

Zhou Lie stopped a few paces away and turned to them. "This is Ye Tian—the one who defeated Feng Hai."

The murmurs of recognition were immediate. Feng Hai's name carried weight, and Ye Tian's victory was proof of his strength.

Ye Tian stepped forward, his golden eyes sweeping over them. "Zhou Lie says you're disillusioned. Cast aside by the sect. I'm offering you a chance to change that."

A tall disciple with a scar across his brow frowned. "And why should we trust you?"

"Because unlike Jiang Hao," Ye Tian said coldly, "I don't step on my own people. Serve me, and you'll rise alongside me. Betray me, and you'll regret it."

The cold conviction in his voice silenced any dissent. Zhou Lie looked at his former followers anxiously as they exchanged glances. Finally, the scarred disciple nodded.

"If you're strong enough to lead us, we'll follow."

Ye Tian smirked faintly. "You'll see soon enough."

A Spark Ignites

That night, Ye Tian returned to his courtyard with Zhou Lie trailing behind him.

"They agreed," Zhou Lie said, unable to hide the relief in his voice.

Ye Tian didn't look at him as he spoke. "Good. This is just the beginning."

Zhou Lie blinked, confused. "The beginning of what?"

Ye Tian turned, his golden eyes glinting in the dim light.

"The fall of Jiang Hao—and the rise of something far greater."

Zhou Lie's heart pounded as he realized the magnitude of Ye Tian's words. For the first time in years, he felt hope.

And in that moment, Zhou Lie understood—he had chosen the right master.