The sun rose lazily over the peaks of the Crimson Serpent Mountains, spilling golden light over the valley Jin Zhen now claimed as his sect's domain. A sharp wind whistled through the highlands, carrying with it the smell of tilled earth, blooming spirit herbs, and something sweeter—success.
Jin Zhen stood at the edge of a newly cultivated field, his black robes rippling like thunderclouds. Around him, dozens of inner disciples and core members were bent over rows of glowing blue-leafed stalks.
They were planting the Heavenly Pulse Grass, a rare spiritual crop known to boost qi absorption when brewed properly. The seeds had cost him over 2000 spirit stones, but they would repay that tenfold in trade.
"You call that straight? A mortal could walk a straighter line drunk on beast wine!" Jin Zhen barked, pointing at a crooked row.
The disciples scrambled to correct it. One young woman yelped as she dropped her seed pouch and face-planted into the soft earth.
The Sect Master sighed dramatically and waved his hand.
[+2 Charisma from public scolding.]
[+1 Sect Morale.]
"Ridiculous... but better than last week," he muttered. "At least they're not setting the fields on fire again."
He turned as a figure approached—the ever-loyal Han Yao, head of the logistics hall. The young man bowed deeply.
"Reporting, Sect Master. The third batch of Blood-Forged Plows has arrived. Also, the beast manure you ordered has... well, it's here."
Jin Zhen gave him a blank look. "It smells like it."
Han Yao nodded solemnly. "We triple-wrapped it in spirit silk. It broke."
The Sect Master waved dismissively. "Get someone to bottle the scent and sell it as alchemical repellent. Make something out of it."
Han Yao blinked. "You're joking, right?"
"I never joke when money is involved."
[+10 Sect Wealth.]
---
Back in his private chamber, Jin Zhen relaxed into a spirit-reinforced chair made of ancient cloud pine. The moment he sat, the [Overlord System] shimmered to life in front of his eyes.
[Status Window]
Name: Jin Zhen
Title: Crimson Overlord | Sect Master of the Blood Origin Sect
Realm: Peak Core Formation (Half-Step Nascent Soul)
Talent Grade: Abyssal Heaven Flame (Mythic Tier)
Body Type: Blood Reversal Physique (Legendary Tier)
Wealth: 132,400 Spirit Stones
Sect Influence: 4.3 Stars
SP: 213
System Features Unlocked:
[Domain Expansion]
[Blood Vault]
[Beast Taming Arena]
[Underworld Trade Link]
[Sect Farming Simulator (Beta)]
He tapped on the last feature, and a small pixelated Jin Zhen appeared on screen, supervising chibi disciples.
"Hmm. They're actually more competent as pixels."
[Joke Registered. +1 Humor Value.]
He laughed, and for once, not a single soul died from it.
He opened the [Blood Vault] tab next. Rows of glowing icons appeared—resources, cultivation manuals, pills, and weapons acquired from fallen enemies and system trades.
"So much junk..."
He flicked aside a stack of low-grade manuals and locked in on a glowing token—Dragon-Fang Battle Formation Scroll.
"Finally, something the elite disciples can use."
With a swipe, he allocated 15 SP to unlock it permanently for the sect.
[-15 SP spent.]
[New Formation Unlocked: Dragon-Fang Convergence—Increases group battle strength by 47%.]
"Now they might not die in the first five minutes of a real battle."
---
That afternoon, he summoned the elite disciples to the central courtyard. They knelt before him in respectful silence, the crimson banners of the sect fluttering above them.
He tossed the formation scroll toward the lead disciple, Bai Ruolan.
"Memorize this. Drill it. Use it. And if you break formation like last time, I'm personally throwing you into the Beast Arena without armor."
"Yes, Sect Master!" they shouted.
He nodded in approval. "Good. Now, go cultivate, spar, or do something useful. If I find any of you sneaking into the alchemy halls to flirt again—"
A few disciples turned red.
"I will assign you to manure distribution. Forever."
They vanished faster than a mortal before a spirit beast.
[+3 Discipline.]
[+8 Sect Efficiency.]
---
Later that night, as he poured over the sect's resource ledgers, Elder Zhou entered, holding an unusual golden scroll.
Jin Zhen frowned. "Unless that's a decree declaring me Emperor of the Nine Realms, it better be important."
"It might be," Zhou said with a strange look. "This arrived via blood raven from the Azure Cloud Sect."
Jin Zhen opened the scroll. His eyes scanned the flowery script. It was an invitation—to the Eastern Warlord Assembly, a rare gathering of sect leaders, warlords, and rogue cultivators.
"An assembly... Now why would they invite me?"
Zhou coughed. "Likely because we've recently taken over four minor sects and two rogue territories. You're starting to be noticed."
Jin Zhen's lips curled. "Good."
He turned the scroll and noticed a line of fine print:
> "Participants are advised to come bearing gifts of goodwill."
He snorted. "They want me to bribe them. As if."
Then he paused. "...or maybe I'll bribe them better than anyone else."
He turned to the system.
[Spend 80 SP to create custom tribute: Black Flame Spirit Wine + Eternal Jade Lotus Cake?]
[Confirm?]
He smirked. "Do it."
[Tribute Created. Notified Azure Cloud Sect in advance.]
[+60 Influence.]
---
The next morning, Jin Zhen walked through the sect, nodding at disciples, inspecting new structures, and checking in on the beast pens.
He stopped as he heard shouting.
"Faster! If this pig escapes again, I'm feeding you to it!"
It was Zhang Wei, the beast-tamer, chasing a spirit boar the size of a house.
The pig turned, snorted, and charged at Jin Zhen.
For a moment, silence.
Then the pig's eyes met Jin Zhen's.
It skidded to a stop, dropped to its knees, and rolled over in surrender.
[You have subdued the Spirit Boar King.]
[Would you like to name it?]
He thought for a moment.
"Call it Bacon."
[Bacon has been added to your Beast Roster.]
[+1 Humor Value.]
[+2 Sect Morale.]
---
As the day ended, Jin Zhen stood atop the main hall, looking down on his growing sect.
The fields glowed under the twilight.
The disciples were stronger.
The treasury was fatter.
Enemies were watching.
And soon, he'd meet them face to face.
"Let them come," he whispered. "Let them kneel."
The night wind carried his voice far into the valley, where even the shadows paused in reverence.