The morning fog clung to the floating peaks like silk, masking the Azure Heaven Sect in a deceptive serenity. Jin Baiyu stood on a balcony overlooking the Outer Sect courtyards. From this height, he could see everything—the movements of disciples, the energy fluctuations, even the subtle manipulations of lesser cultivators trying to mask their growth.
So weak. So predictable.
He tilted his head, crimson eyes scanning the area. Perfect.
The Plan
Jin had observed the sect long enough to understand its weaknesses. The Outer Sect was a maze of bureaucracy, favoritism, and petty rivalries. Strong disciples were often undermined by jealous peers; weak disciples were used as pawns for political leverage. Even the elders turned a blind eye, preferring tradition over merit.
Jin smirked faintly. A simple reshuffling, a few calculated moves… and the hierarchy bends to me.
He began with subtle manipulations:
Whispering insights to promising Outer Sect disciples, giving them small victories in combat to build trust.
Planting seeds of doubt among rival groups, fostering internal jealousy and infighting.
Offering guidance to disciples neglected by their mentors, gaining loyalty without overt confrontation.
By nightfall, Jin had positioned a network of loyal disciples throughout the Outer Sect, each unknowingly acting in his favor.
Wu Hao, watching from the shadows, whispered, "Baiyu… you're… controlling them… without them knowing?"
Jin's lips curled in a faint, sinister smile. "Control is a matter of understanding the weak. Those who think they make decisions… are merely pieces on a board."
First Coup
The opportunity came during the Midnight Training Ritual, a routine test where Outer Sect disciples channeled their qi to reinforce the sect's spiritual arrays. Normally, the ritual was mundane, designed for observation rather than danger.
But Jin had other plans.
He activated subtle manipulations in the energy arrays, redirecting faint currents of spiritual energy to amplify the abilities of his loyal disciples while suppressing those of potential rivals. Within moments, several of the normally competent Outer Sect elites faltered, their qi sputtering under pressure.
The elders, observing from above, frowned at the unexpected fluctuations.
"Report!" one demanded.
"Elder… the energy surges seem… irregular. Perhaps a misalignment?" another replied.
Jin's network subtly guided them, creating the illusion of chaos caused by technical failure, while positioning his allies to capitalize.
By the time the ritual concluded, his loyal disciples had risen to prominence, earning praise from unwitting elders. Rival groups were humiliated, while Jin Baiyu's reputation quietly solidified as a prodigy rising against the odds.
He stepped back, crimson eyes faintly glowing. The sect bends… not with force, but with subtlety.
Cultivation Breakthroughs
Jin's strategies required more than cunning; his mortal body needed to endure the physical and spiritual strain of extended manipulations. He retreated to a hidden cave beneath the Outer Sect's western cliffs. The space was small, suffused with faint spiritual energy that pulsed with the rhythm of the world.
Closing his eyes, he began the meditation techniques he remembered from the Asura God Scripture. The body, though fragile, responded to the techniques surprisingly well.
Focus qi… realign the dantian… reshape meridian pathways…
The pain was excruciating. Bones cracked softly, muscles screamed, and his chest burned as his mortal body attempted to contain the overwhelming energy. But Jin persisted.
Gradually, the broken meridians began to mend, reforming under his precise control. Qi flowed freely for the first time in decades, no longer forced, but streaming naturally, shaped by his will.
Shadows flickered across the cave walls as the last barrier shattered. A crimson aura bloomed from his chest, faint yet terrifying. Jin opened his eyes: the glow of his dantian now rivaled that of seasoned Outer Sect disciples.
So fragile… yet so capable.
A subtle smile curved his lips. This body may be weak, but it can be forged into something magnificent.
Testing the Limits
To ensure his breakthrough was complete, Jin left the cave and entered the Outer Sect combat arena, an open field where disciples tested their abilities freely.
He summoned shadow tendrils, extending them in intricate patterns across the arena. Rocks lifted, spikes shifted, and the wind itself bent subtly around his movements.
Several Outer Sect disciples, unaware of his power, attempted to attack. Each strike was met with precise, effortless countermeasures:
One disciple's fire qi was absorbed and redirected into the ground, leaving him drained and stunned.
Another's spear was entangled and twisted into a knot by shadow tendrils, rendering it useless.
A small group tried to surround him—Jin split shadows, forcing them apart and crushing their formations with minimal effort.
By the time the elder arrived, observing from above, Jin Baiyu stood alone, completely unscathed, shadows dancing around him like living extensions of his will.
A Warning to All
Word of the breakthrough spread quickly, carried by disciples who had witnessed the display. Even the Inner Sect candidates took notice. Qiu Jian, hearing the reports, clenched his fists.
"He's… he's beyond the Outer Sect now," Qiu Jian muttered, silver eyes narrowing. "This boy… this monster reborn… will upset the balance of the sect."
Jin Baiyu, in his quarters, allowed himself a rare moment of amusement. Let them plot. Let them watch. Fear is far more effective than force. Power must be felt before it is seen.
He extended his hand, shadows coiling lazily along his fingertips. Soon… the sect hierarchy will not merely bend to me. It will kneel.
The first wave of loyalty, the first manipulations, and the first personal breakthroughs were complete. Jin Baiyu's influence had begun, subtle but unstoppable, like a shadow spreading across the peaks.
And yet, this was only the beginning.