BOOOOOOM!
The doors to the Azure Sky Sect's Grand Hall swung open, revealing a chamber of unparalleled majesty.
Massive stone pillars, carved with ancient formations, lined the vast hall. The walls shimmered with profound runes, pulsing with energy that had existed long before any of them had been born.
At the very end of the hall, seated on an elevated golden throne, was the Azure Sky Sect Master. His expression remained unreadable, but his golden eyes gleamed with deep curiosity.
On either side of him stood the Core Elders—masters who had guided the sect's strongest disciples for generations.
And before them—assembled in full force—stood the ranked Core Disciples of the sect.
All of them, even the First-Ranked Core Disciple, Zhao Yan, were still reeling from what had just happened outside.
Qin Chen walked through the grand hall with a calm, unhurried step.
He wanted to make his intentions clear, he would rise, and so would the sect.
Despite his desire to get stronger, and knowing he would forge most of his future path alone, he still had emotions for the sect that he grew up in, and didn't want it to be destroyed.
The atmosphere was suffocating.
Every gaze was locked onto him.
Every disciple, every elder—every person in the room was waiting.
Waiting to see what the monster who had just shattered their understanding of power wanted.
The Sect Master's voice was deep and steady. "Qin Chen, you called this meeting. Speak."
Qin Chen stopped in the center of the chamber. His golden-purple eyes scanned the crowd, lingering on each of the ranked Core Disciples, his gaze calm yet absolute.
Then—he smirked.
And when he spoke, his words shook the very foundation of the sect.
"This sect is too weak."
BOOM!
A single sentence—like a bomb dropped in the middle of the hall.
The Core Elders stiffened. The Core Disciples clenched their fists.
Some were furious. Some were stunned.
The Sect Master's golden eyes narrowed slightly. "…Explain."
Qin Chen exhaled slowly, then continued.
"I don't mean this sect lacks potential. No—I mean that right now, we are nothing but a joke to the real powers of the Northern Wilderness."
His voice didn't rise. It didn't need to.
His presence alone was enough to command attention.
He turned slightly, sweeping his gaze across the gathered Core Disciples.
"Do you think we are ready for the Great Wilderness Tournament?"
Silence.
Zhao Yan, still pale from his earlier defeat, clenched his fists.
Liu Feng lowered his gaze, saying nothing.
The lower-ranked Core Disciples… looked uncertain.
Qin Chen's eyes flickered with mockery. "We are not. And you all know it."
Another Core Disciple growled, stepping forward. "You may be strong, Qin Chen, but don't underestimate the rest of us. We have all trained—"
Qin Chen cut him off with a cold chuckle.
"Trained? Trained for what? To be stepping stones?"
BOOM!
Another wave of silence.
The Sect Master's gaze sharpened. He wasn't offended—he was intrigued.
Because Qin Chen wasn't saying this to insult them.
He was saying it because it was the truth.
The Azure Sky Sect had never once placed in the top 10,000 of the tournament.
It didn't matter if they had a few geniuses. They were crushed every time.
And Qin Chen wasn't here to let that happen again.
He turned his gaze back to the Sect Master.
"You want to raise this sect to a Grade 2 force?"
The Sect Master nodded. "That is the goal."
Qin Chen smirked.
"Then we must rebuild the foundation of our Core Disciples. Not only them, but our elders as well, even you, Sect master."
The Core Elders frowned. "Rebuild? What are you proposing?"
Qin Chen raised a single hand.
And the moment he did—his aura changed.
Not just the domineering presence of the Zenith Sword Soul.
Not just the overwhelming flames of the Fire Sovereign Dao Body.
No—what erupted from him was something even more terrifying.
BOOOOOOOM!
A burst of pure alchemical energy surged through the grand hall.
An aura belonging to a Grade 5 Alchemist.
The Core Elders' eyes widened. The ranked Core Disciples felt their breathing turn uneven.
Even the Sect Master's expression shifted slightly.
Qin Chen smirked. "I will refine the highest quality pills for every Core Disciple who has the potential to reach the tournament, in addition to every core elder."
Gasps echoed through the chamber.
Elder Mu, the sect's only other high-ranking alchemist, looked like he had just seen a god descend from the heavens.
"You… you're serious?!"
Qin Chen crossed his arms. "Of course I am."
He turned toward the Core Disciples once more.
"If the problem is that our disciples aren't strong enough, then let's fix that. Allow me full access to the resources of the entire sect, elders, disciples, all of it. I will make everyone evolve."
He paused.
Then—he smirked.
The disciples' eyes blazed with intensity.
Some were still skeptical. Some were still in awe of his earlier performance.
But one thing was clear—Qin Chen was not offering handouts.
He was offering a challenge.
To claim their place among the strongest in the sect.
To prove that they were worth investing in.
And if they succeeded?
They would rise with him.
The Sect Master leaned forward slightly, his golden eyes unreadable.
Then, after a long moment, he spoke.
"You want to personally cultivate the next generation of tournament participants, the elders, and myself?"
Qin Chen met his gaze. "Yes. If we want to stand a chance, we must act now."
The Sect Master chuckled softly. "Do you realize what you're proposing?"
Qin Chen's smirk widened. "I do. But do you realize the alternative?"
"Even if I place in the top 1000, and we become a grade 2 force, the sect as a whole doesn't have the strength to retain the title."
Silence.
Then—laughter.
Not from an elder.
Not from a disciple.
From the Sect Master himself.
His deep, commanding laughter echoed through the grand hall before he finally exhaled, shaking his head.
"Hah… you are a madman, Qin Chen."
He leaned back, his golden robes shimmering under the ethereal glow of the chamber.
Then—he nodded.
"Fine. I will grant you the authority to do as you see fit."
His voice grew serious.
"But remember—this is not just about your growth anymore. From this moment on, you carry the fate of this sect on your back."
Qin Chen chuckled. "I always planned to carry more than that."
The Sect Master narrowed his eyes, then smiled. "Very well."
"Then let the rebirth of the Azure Sky Sect begin."
BOOOOOM!
With that single decree—the fate of the sect was changed forever.