A Useless Person's Rise to Power

Chapter 9: Subduing the Outer Sect's Underlings, Establishing Initial Power that Shook the Eigh

After the incident in the forbidden area, Wang Teng was completely crippled and Chen Fei's martial arts collapsed. The two former enemies who had humiliated Qin Zhan were reduced to even more wretched people than before.

The news spread like wildfire, reaching every corner of the outer sect of the Qingyun Sect.

Nobody is foolish enough to actually believe it was an "accident".

Everyone knew perfectly well that Qin Zhan was behind it, and he did it cleanly and without leaving a trace, so that even the elders couldn't find any fault with him.

In an instant, the way the outer disciples looked at Qin Zhan completely changed.

They no longer just fear his fists, but also his cunning.

A person who is good at fighting, ruthless, and intelligent—you either have to fight them to the bitter end or follow them wholeheartedly.

The consequences of such a deadly struggle are already clear for Wang Teng and Chen Fei.

That afternoon, in the blue stone pavilion next to the outer gate's martial arts training ground.

Qin Zhan sat alone, his clothes clean and neat, his face still indifferent, but with a hint of the composure of a superior in his eyes. He tapped the stone table lightly with his fingertips, his mind already calculating: alone, he could not go far in the end.

Within the sect, factions abound, and the inner sect is even more treacherous.

To rise rapidly, seize resources, and enter the core, he needs his own people, his own eyes and ears, and a force that can openly run errands, shield him, and relay messages for him.

We don't accept reckless people, only intelligent ones.

Do not force them to submit; make them kneel down willingly.

This was the strategy he employed in this move—

Leveraging his previous prestige, he could easily recruit a group of outer disciples, thus avoiding attracting attention while quickly building his own faction.

Before long, a flurry of footsteps sounded outside the pavilion.

A dozen or so outer disciples came in droves, the three in the lead being quite influential figures in the outer sect.

The leading youth was named Lin Feng, a cultivator at the eighth level of Body Tempering. He had a capable appearance and bright, intelligent eyes. He had been bullied by Zhao Hu for many years, daring not to speak out against his anger. Now, standing at the front, his heart was pounding, his mind racing.

Would a ruthless person like Qin Zhan even look at small fry like us? What if he thinks we're just useless cozy people trying to curry favor and teaches us a lesson? We'd lose face big time. But if we miss this opportunity, we'll never be able to latch onto this powerful figure again.

Behind him were two men, one burly and composed, named Shi Hu; the other thoughtful and meticulous, named Wen Hao. Both were disciples with some popularity in the outer sect.

The disciples following behind the three were all people who had suffered enough oppression and had long wanted to find a powerful backer.

As everyone walked outside the pavilion, no one dared to speak first; they all lowered their heads and dared not breathe.

Qin Zhan raised his eyes and swept them over, his gaze calm, yet carrying an inherent sense of oppression.

He saw right through their thoughts at a glance—

There is a mixture of awe, fear, opportunism, and genuine dependence, but overall they are obedient and useful enough.

Lin Feng gritted his teeth, stepped forward, bowed, and tried to keep his voice as calm as possible:

"Senior Brother Qin Zhan, we have come here today because we wish to... follow you and serve you at your beck and call!"

As soon as he uttered those words, more than a dozen people behind him bowed in unison:

"I am willing to follow Senior Brother Qin Zhan!"

Their voices were in unison, and their attitude was respectful.

Qin Zhan looked at them calmly, neither agreeing nor refusing immediately, and spoke in a flat tone:

"Follow me and follow three rules."

Lin Feng was overjoyed and quickly looked up: "Senior brother, please speak! We swear to obey!"

Qin Zhan's voice was calm and unhurried, each word clearly reaching everyone's ears, instantly creating immense psychological pressure:

"First, I don't keep useless people. Anyone who is inefficient or a hindrance can just get out."

Second, you are not allowed to cause trouble behind my back, but if anyone dares to ride roughshod over us, we will beat them to death, and I will take responsibility if anything happens.

Third, betrayal and infighting are strictly prohibited. Anyone who dares to sell out their teammates or harbor selfish motives will face dire consequences.

With his last sentence, his tone turned slightly somber, and an invisible fighting spirit was gently released.

Everyone shuddered, their minds flashing back to the horrific scenes of Wang Teng, Chen Fei, Zhao Hu, and the others. Terrified, they quickly responded in unison:

"We would never dare to betray you! We swear to obey our senior brother's orders to the death!"

Qin Zhan understood as he observed the changes in their expressions.

Fear is the best force of cohesion, and reverence is the most reliable form of obedience.

This group of people is available for now.

Lin Feng was so excited that his palms were sweating, and he was overjoyed:

It's a success! It's really a success! With Qin Zhan as our powerful backer, who in the outer sect will dare to bully us anymore? Following such a brave, resourceful leader with an increasingly strong background, we might even be able to join the inner sect someday!

Shi Hu also breathed a sigh of relief, a determined look appearing on his honest face:

From now on, following Senior Brother Qin, I won't have to put up with other people's attitudes anymore, and I won't have my resources stolen anymore. There's finally hope for the future!

Wenhao, being more meticulous, secretly plotted:

Senior Brother Qin Zhan, even as he rose to power, knew how to consolidate his influence. He has a long-term vision and is no ordinary person. Joining him now is a great service, and you will surely reap great rewards in the future.

Qin Zhan looked at the three men, each with a different expression, yet all genuinely submissive, and nodded slightly.

"Since you're following me, I'll help you get back all the resources that were stolen from you and all the humiliation you suffered. But remember, power is built together, not given to you by me."

In short, it provides benefits, sets rules, and keeps people's hearts firmly bound.

The crowd was immediately even more convinced.

Qin Zhan casually flicked his wrist, setting aside a portion of the excess spirit stones and low-grade pills he had obtained from the secret realm and pushing them onto the stone table:

"You can take these and distribute them. First, improve your strength and lay a solid foundation."

The spirit stone shimmered with spiritual light, and the aura of the elixir was rich.

Everyone was stunned when they saw it, and then a huge wave of emotions surged in their hearts.

Following the boss not only gives you a powerful backer, but you also get a direct share of resources?!

Lin Feng's voice trembled with excitement: "Senior brother... this is too precious, we..."

"Take it." Qin Zhan's tone left no room for doubt. "Follow me, and I won't let you risk your lives for nothing."

This was yet another layer of his thinking—

To win people's hearts, intimidation alone is not enough; you also need to offer incentives.

First show kindness, then establish authority; by combining kindness and severity, these people will be completely loyal.

No one could hold back any longer, and they all bowed deeply, their tone utterly sincere:

"Thank you, Senior Brother! We will certainly follow your lead!"

Qin Zhan nodded slightly, his gaze falling on Lin Feng:

"Lin Feng, you're quick-witted. From now on, you'll be in charge of information and personnel deployment for the outer sect."

Lin Feng's heart skipped a beat, and he quickly replied, "Yes! I will certainly do my best!"

He knew in his heart that Qin Zhan trusted him and gave him a position in charge. From now on, he would be considered a person of importance in the outer sect.

Qin Zhan then looked at Shi Hu:

"Your cultivation is solid and your personality is steady. From now on, you will be in charge of training everyone. Anyone who dares to slack off will be dealt with immediately."

Shi Hu straightened his back, head held high, and said in a loud voice, "Yes, sir!"

Finally, he looked at Wenhao:

"You are meticulous. Keep an eye on the inner sect's movements and any activity from the elders. Tell me as soon as you have any news."

Wen Hao's eyes lit up, and he bowed, replying, "Understood!"

In a short time, Qin Zhan had arranged the manpower clearly, with clear division of labor and responsibilities, demonstrating his excellent overall management skills.

Everyone was filled with admiration.

The boss is not only good at fighting and scheming, but he's also incredibly good at managing people. You can't go wrong following him!

Just then, several disciples who had previously mocked Qin Zhan but were now all smiles and fawning tried to squeeze over and join him.

Qin Zhan glanced at them, his eyes cold:

"You don't need to."

The man's face stiffened: "Senior Brother Qin, we..."

"When I was down on my luck, you were the ones who attacked me the most." Qin Zhan's tone was calm, but every word was piercing. "Now that I've risen again, you all want to curry favor with me. I don't tolerate opportunists here."

One sentence made those people blush with shame and feel so embarrassed that they could only slink away.

The surrounding disciples, seeing this, felt even greater reverence.

Senior Brother Qin Zhan is clear about right and wrong, doesn't hold grudges, but will never tolerate petty people.

In just half an hour, Qin Zhan had built up his own force in the outer sect.

Although the number of people was small, they were all loyal, capable, and obedient.

The news caused a complete uproar throughout the outer gate.

The outer disciples, who used to be a disorganized mess and bullied by others, now have a leader!

Qin Zhan's name is not only the number one in combat power, but also the true uncrowned king of the outer sect.

On the high platform, the outer sect elders, upon learning of this, not only did not stop it, but all nodded in approval:

"This young man understands how to win people's hearts and build influence; his vision far surpasses that of his peers!"

"By remaining humble and composed, and employing both kindness and strictness, he will surely achieve great things in the future!"

Not far away, under an ancient tree.

Su Qingyuan, dressed in white, stood quietly in the wind, a faint smile on her peerless face.

She gazed at the figure in the stone pavilion, surrounded by a crowd yet remaining calm and composed, her eyes sparkling with a strange light.

From a seemingly useless individual achieving a remarkable turnaround to overwhelming a powerful enemy, and then devising strategies to eliminate threats and subdue forces, Qin Zhan's every step was steady, accurate, and ruthless.

He possesses martial arts talent, political acumen, and leadership qualities.

Su Qingyuan sighed softly in her heart:

Qin Zhan, you certainly didn't disappoint me.

Your game is getting bigger and bigger.

Inside the pavilion, Qin Zhan felt the increasingly powerful aura within his body, and after glancing at the group of subordinates who were respectfully waiting for orders, his fighting spirit surged.

They dominated the outer sects and began to establish their power.

This is just a small starting point in his journey.

The inner sect is the stage he intends to sweep through next.

Qin Zhan stood up, his posture as straight as a spear, his voice steady and resonant throughout the entire venue:

"Cultivate diligently, and in three days, you will join me in entering the inner sect!"

"yes!!"

The crowd responded in unison, their momentum soaring to the heavens.