Being Sect Leader sounded cool on paper.
In reality?
It meant meetings.
Endless, spirit-sapping, Qi-draining meetings.
Three days into his new role, Jin Ye had already passed three new laws:
No meetings before noon.
All sect banquets must include at least three noodle dishes.
Any sect announcement over ten sentences gets burned.
Mu Shun barged into the sect leader's courtyard mid-afternoon.
"Senior Brother! You have to—"
Jin Ye raised a hand without opening his eyes. "Stop. Is it important?"
"Yes! Envoys from the Seven Star Alliance are here!"
Jin Ye cracked one eye open. "Who?"
"They're one of the most powerful cultivation alliances in the eastern continent! And they're here for... diplomatic talks."
"…So basically, they want something."
"Exactly."
The Great Hall
The envoys arrived like they owned the place — three robed cultivators with star-shaped emblems on their chests, each radiating enough pressure to make the floor tiles groan.
At their head was Envoy Master Zhao, a Nascent Soul powerhouse with the kind of smug beard that could start wars.
"Greetings, Sect Leader Jin Ye," Zhao said, bowing just enough to avoid being disrespectful. "We bring offers of alliance."
Jin Ye sipped his tea. "Translation: you want something."
Zhao's smile tightened. "We wish to use your mountain's spiritual vein to refine artifacts in exchange for protection and resources."
Jin Ye tapped the table. "We already have protection. And resources."
"From who?"
"Me."
A younger envoy, clearly not briefed on Jin Ye's reputation, snorted. "You? A Qi Condensation cultivator?"
The room went quiet.
Jin Ye set down his cup. "Stand up."
"What?"
"I said, stand up."
The envoy, confused but stubborn, rose to his feet.
Jin Ye raised a finger.
The envoy was instantly sitting in his chair again without knowing how.
"…What just happened?" the envoy whispered.
"Gravity," Jin Ye said. "You're welcome."
Zhao cleared his throat. "Sect Leader, perhaps we could demonstrate our sincerity—"
The doors slammed open.
Elder Ping stormed in, again.
"I object to this alliance!" he shouted. "These outsiders can't be trusted! We should expel them and—"
Jin Ye flicked a tea leaf.
Ping froze mid-sentence, arms locked, mouth open, eyes wide. A perfect statue.
"Continue," Jin Ye said to Zhao.
Zhao hesitated but pressed on. "Our alliance also has information. Rumors of... movement in the Demonic Sect."
The words shifted the room's energy.
Even Jin Ye's expression sharpened. "What kind of movement?"
"They've gathered three of the Seven Calamity Beasts. Their next target is unknown."
Mu Shun leaned in and whispered, "Senior Brother, those beasts are each the size of mountains—"
"I know."
Zhao added, "If they attack here, your sect would—"
"Win," Jin Ye interrupted.
The younger envoy scoffed again. "You can't possibly—"
BOOM.
A sudden explosion rocked the hall. Screams echoed outside. The protective formation flared red.
A disciple burst in, gasping. "Sect Leader! Demonic Sect forces! They've breached the outer wall!"
Zhao paled. "They followed us?!"
Jin Ye stood, stretched, and picked up his folding chair.
"Good timing. I was getting bored."
The Battle Outside
The sky was black with demonic Qi. Armored cultivators poured through shattered gates, their banners fluttering like shadows.
At their head was a giant, four-armed beast made entirely of bone and fire — a Calamity Beast.
Sect disciples rallied, elders unleashed techniques, and Mu Shun screamed into a conch shell for reinforcements.
Jin Ye walked forward, folding chair over his shoulder.
The beast roared, shaking the mountain.
Jin Ye sipped tea.
A demonic cultivator shouted, "That's their leader! Kill him first!"
Half a dozen assassins lunged at Jin Ye, blades flashing.
He stepped aside.
They hit each other.
Three went unconscious instantly.
Jin Ye kept walking.
The Calamity Beast loomed over him, each step a small earthquake.
Mu Shun yelled from the wall, "Senior Brother! That thing can't be hurt by mortal weapons!"
Jin Ye set his chair down. "Good thing I'm immortal, then."
He crouched.
Jumped.
One heartbeat later, he was standing on the beast's skull.
The beast shook its head, trying to throw him off.
Jin Ye placed one hand on the bone.
"You're loud."
A pulse of invisible force erupted from his palm.
The beast froze.
Then collapsed into a neat pile of bones.
Silence fell over the battlefield.
The demonic cultivators hesitated.
One whispered, "Did he just—?"
"Run," another said.
They ran.
Aftermath
Back in the hall, Zhao and his envoys stared at Jin Ye like he'd personally rewritten physics in front of them.
"We... will not press the alliance matter," Zhao said quickly. "In fact, the Seven Star Alliance offers its unconditional support."
"Good," Jin Ye said. "You can start by fixing my front gate."
Later, Mu Shun approached, still pale. "Senior Brother... you just killed a Calamity Beast with a pat."
"It was blocking the sunlight."
[Heavenly System Log]
User: Jin Ye
Cultivation: Qi Condensation – 6th Stage
Power Output: [ERROR]
Achievement Unlocked: "Local Disaster"
Note: Please stop breaking major plot events ahead of schedule.