A Useless Person's Rise to Power

Chapter 16 Proud Protagonist, One Palm Suppresses and Establishes Authority

The three major events that occurred in quick succession—slaying the Wolf King in Black Wind Canyon, breaking through to the Spirit Sea Realm in a single day, and ascending to the top of the Inner Sect—have already thrown the entire Qingyun Sect into turmoil.

The outer disciples saw Qin Zhan as their hope for a turnaround, and their eyes gleamed when they saw him; the inner disciples were filled with awe and would avoid him when they walked; the core disciples all had gloomy faces, as if their own opportunities had been snatched away; and the powerful elders gathered in the hall every day to discuss him, and the way they looked at Qin Zhan was as if they were looking at the future pillar of the sect.

Only one faction harbored resentment—the old loyalists led by Law Enforcement Elder Zhao Canghai.

They have controlled the sect's resources for many years and value lineage and background the most. Qin Zhan, a disciple who rose from the outer sect, surpassed all the core geniuses in a short period of time and even took charge of the inner sect's punishments, which is equivalent to directly taking away their power.

Qin Zhan and Su Qingyuan walked side by side on the mountain path of Qingyun Inner Sect, their clothes fluttering in the mountain breeze, their figures outstanding.

Su Qingyuan frowned slightly and whispered a reminder: "Zhao Canghai's lineage has been operating in the sect for decades, with disciples and former officials all over the place. Now that you are in charge of the inner sect's life and death, you have taken away a lot of power from them. Some people will definitely be unwilling and will try to find ways to cause trouble for you and shake your prestige as the head of the sect."

Qin Zhan smiled faintly, his tone calm yet undeniably domineering: "If they want to play, I'll play along; if they want to fight, I'll beat them until they're convinced. But some people have neither the strength nor the brains, yet they insist on jumping out to be clowns. Then don't blame me for turning this farce into a joke."

Su Qingyuan looked at his profile and felt a warmth in her heart.

She admired not only Qin Zhan's combat prowess, but also his composure in the face of adversity and his ability to plan carefully before acting.

As soon as the two arrived at the inner sect's martial arts arena, they were surrounded by a group of disciples.

In the center of the crowd, the young man in brocade robes stood with his hands behind his back, his face feigning arrogance, but his eyes could not hide his anxiety and jealousy. His spiritual energy was steadily centered at the second level of the Spirit Sea Realm, and he deliberately exuded his aura, as if afraid that others would not be able to see that he was highly skilled.

It was Zhao Canghai's grandson, Zhao Tianyou.

Zhao Tianyou has been unable to eat or sleep properly these past few days.

In the past, relying on his grandfather's power, he acted recklessly in the inner sect, and could even stand on equal footing with Lin Xiaotian, the number one in the inner sect. But Qin Zhan suddenly appeared, gathered his Qi to slay the Demon Emperor, and suppressed all the heroes in his spiritual sea, becoming the head of the inner sect overnight. He, on the other hand, became a "washed-up genius" in the mouths of others.

His mind was racing with calculations:

Qin Zhan has just broken through to the Spirit Sea Realm, and his foundation, however strong, is not yet stable. If I challenge him in public and can withstand a dozen or so rounds, forcing him to use more force, I will immediately feign weakness and plead my innocence, proclaiming that he "brutally suppressed his fellow disciples as soon as he took office." Then, I'll have my grandfather speak to the elders in the hall, labeling him as "disrespectful to elders and bloodthirsty," which will gradually shake his position as head disciple. At that point, public opinion will be in turmoil, and the core disciples' lineage will naturally regain control of the inner sect.

After thinking for a moment, he deliberately raised his voice and said in a sarcastic tone, "Oh, isn't this Qin Zhan, the famous figure of our Qingyun Sect and the newly promoted head of the inner sect? He's really in awe, even his walk exudes an aura of power. We almost didn't dare to walk."

The surrounding disciples fell silent instantly, each lost in their own thoughts:

"Is Zhao Tianyou just courting disaster? Even the Wolf King died at Qin Zhan's hands, and he, a mere second-level Spirit Sea Realm cultivator, dares to provoke us?"

"But he is Elder Zhao Canghai's grandson. Qin Zhan has just taken power. Does he really dare to kill him? If this gets out of hand, he will be labeled as bloodthirsty, which would be a loss for him."

"This is going to be interesting. This is not a martial arts contest, but a battle of wits. Let's see how the leader breaks this deadlock."

Qin Zhan didn't even pause, nor did he bother to glance at them; he just found it laughable.

It's the same old, tired trick again. They try to establish their authority through challenges, manipulate public opinion to control the rules, and rely on their connections for protection. Unfortunately, while their calculations are elaborate, their own capabilities are utterly incompetent. Courage without strategy doesn't work this way, and provocation shouldn't be undertaken in this manner.

Seeing that Qin Zhan completely ignored him, Zhao Tianyou instantly lost face. He quickly stepped forward and blocked the road, his voice sharp and stern: "Qin Zhan! Don't be so arrogant! You only managed to kill a severely injured wolf king by luck. Do you really think you're invincible? The position of head of the inner sect is of great importance. Can a nouveau riche from the outer sect like you hold onto it?"

"Whether you are worthy to sit or not has already been decided by the Elders' Hall. If you have any objections, you can appeal to the main peak. There's no need to block the way and bark here." Qin Zhan finally stopped, his tone calm, but every word was piercing.

Zhao Tianyou was secretly delighted: They've taken the bait.

If you respond, they can drag you into a quagmire of conflict.

He immediately roared, his spiritual energy surging violently: "The Elders' Hall values ​​your battle record, but whether it can convince everyone will only be known after the battle! I, Zhao Tianyou, have cultivated diligently in the inner sect for ten years, and today I will challenge you in public! If you defeat me, I will be convinced and honor you as the head; if you fail, you should voluntarily step down and let someone more capable take your place!"

As soon as he finished speaking, the whole room erupted in uproar.

To challenge the head of the inner sect in public is tantamount to defying the sect's rules.

Zhao Tianyou sneered inwardly:

I'm certain that since you've just taken office, you won't dare to depose or kill me in public; at most, you'll only give me a minor punishment. As long as I can hold out for a few rounds, I'll pretend to be defeated and scream in pain, accusing you of "bullying the weak and abusing your power." Public opinion will instantly be on my side. Then, if Grandpa seizes the opportunity to launch an attack in the Elders' Hall, your position as the head of the household won't be secure either.

Su Qingyuan frowned slightly, about to speak to assert her authority as a saintess.

Qin Zhan gently pressed her hand down and chuckled softly, "No rush. Since someone has offered themselves up as a stepping stone, I'll play a few tricks with him. It'll also let the inner disciples see clearly who deserves respect and who deserves to be laughed at."

Seeing that Qin Zhan had agreed to the challenge, Zhao Tianyou no longer hesitated. He immediately circulated all his spiritual energy, his fists wrapped in a light blue spiritual light, and charged fiercely towards Qin Zhan's face.

"Take this! Thunderous Fist!"

The wind howled with each punch, creating an astonishing display of power. It was clearly a martial art he had deliberately cultivated for many years to impress others, with each punch infused with his full strength.

He smugly calculated in his heart:

I unleash this punch with all my might; no matter how strong your foundation, you'll be forced to parry it hastily. Then, I'll immediately change tactics and launch a series of attacks, forcing you to retreat step by step. As long as I gain the upper hand for a moment, I'll win the game.

Qin Zhan remained calm, neither dodging nor avoiding. He lightly raised his right hand, gathering spiritual energy in his palm, and seemingly casually met the opponent's heavy punch head-on.

"Bang--!"

A deep, muffled bang was heard, and a shockwave of spiritual energy spread outwards.

Zhao Tianyou felt a powerful and domineering force, several times stronger than his own, rushing into his fist and arm. His arm went numb instantly, his meridians stung, and his spiritual energy surged out of control. He involuntarily took three steps back before he could barely steady himself.

He was utterly horrified:

How is this possible? I threw a full-force punch, and he just casually blocked it? He clearly just entered the Spirit Sea Realm, how could his power be so terrifying?

Qin Zhan inwardly scoffed:

His strength is weak and his moves are stiff, his power generation is full of flaws, and he hasn't even grasped the most basic principles of boxing. With such limited skills, he dares to talk about challenges? It's laughable.

The surrounding disciples were also in an uproar. No one expected that Zhao Tianyou would be at a disadvantage in the very first move.

After his attack failed, Zhao Tianyou's face turned even uglier, and he quickly used his movement technique to try and salvage the situation.

He took quick, rapid steps, his body swaying left and right, attempting to circle around to Qin Zhan's flank and find an opening to launch a surprise attack. This was the advanced inner sect movement technique—Flowing Cloud Flash Step.

"I refuse to believe you can be perfect in every aspect!"

His mind raced:

If I can't defeat you head-on, I'll use my movement techniques to slow you down and deplete your spiritual energy. As long as I can find a sliver of an opening and land a blow or two on you, I'll immediately shout that you're no match for me, and I'll still be able to save face.

Qin Zhan stood still, motionless.

The Chaos Battle Soul operated automatically, making all moves and techniques in the world seem as slow as a tortoise in his eyes. Every step Zhao Tianyou took, every flow of spiritual energy, and every subtle flaw was clearly exposed to his divine sense.

Zhao Tianyou circled Qin Zhan rapidly, his movements seemingly exquisite, yet he couldn't find any opening to strike. Qin Zhan was like a towering mountain; no matter how he maneuvered, he couldn't find a single breach. Instead, Zhao Tianyou's own breathing quickened, and his movements gradually became chaotic.

The disciples present couldn't help but chuckle, secretly thinking to themselves:

"This isn't a challenge; it's practically performing in front of the head of state."

"The head of the household is standing still, and he can't even touch the hem of his clothes. It's too ridiculous."

Zhao Tianyou's face burned with embarrassment, and he was completely panicked:

Impossible! My Flowing Cloud Flash Step is one of the best in the inner sect, how could he have seen through it completely? Did he not even take me seriously?

Having suffered two consecutive defeats, Zhao Tianyou lost all face and had given up entirely.

He gritted his teeth and roared, his hands forming claws, his spiritual energy condensing into a ferocious wolf shape, carrying a fierce aura, and pounced straight at Qin Zhan. It was his trump card move, the Howling Moon Claw of the Azure Wolf, which he had imitated from the monsters in Black Wind Canyon.

"Qin Zhan, take my final blow!"

He was making a desperate gamble:

I've been holding back this move for a long time. Even if I can't defeat you, I'll definitely force you to retreat. As soon as you take a step back, I'll immediately shout, "Qin Zhan is no match for Zhao Tianyou!" Let's see where you put your face in front of all the disciples!

Qin Zhan's eyes turned slightly cold, revealing a hint of mockery.

Using a counterfeit version of the Demon Wolf Claw to show off in front of someone who had killed the Black Wind Wolf King was simply handing himself a gift; it was utterly foolish.

He remained unmoved, lightly tapping his fingertip, and a wisp of blazing spiritual energy burst forth, precisely striking the weakest point of spiritual energy in Zhao Tianyou's claw attack.

"laugh--!"

With a soft sound, the seemingly fierce wolf-shaped spiritual energy instantly shattered and vanished without a trace.

Zhao Tianyou felt as if he had been struck by a heavy hammer in the chest, his blood surging. He was sent flying like a kite with a broken string, tumbling several times in the air before crashing heavily to the ground. His clothes were filthy, blood was spilling from the corner of his mouth, and he looked both miserable and comical.

Three strokes!

Just three moves!

Zhao Tianyou, who was at the second level of the Spirit Sea Realm, was completely outmaneuvered and suppressed by Qin Zhan. He couldn't even touch the hem of Qin Zhan's clothes before he was utterly defeated.

The entire arena was initially deathly silent, then someone couldn't help but burst out laughing, and laughter quickly spread, turning the training ground into a sea of ​​joy.

Zhao Tianyou lay on the ground, wracked with pain and shame, his mind a complete mess, utterly devastated.

Impossible... I had planned everything meticulously, and all the tactics and public opinion were arranged perfectly. How could I have suffered such a crushing defeat? This is too much of a slap in the face. How can I ever face the sect again?

Qin Zhan slowly walked forward, looking down at the disheveled Zhao Tianyou, his tone laced with a hint of mockery and a deeper meaning: "Three moves are over. How does it feel? Is this all the skill you've put together for your carefully planned challenge?"

Zhao Tianyou was both ashamed and furious, and roared in a fierce but weak voice, "You cheated! You deliberately provoked me to attack just to humiliate me in public!"

Qin Zhan spoke calmly, his voice carrying clearly throughout the entire area, directly piercing through all the schemes in his heart: "Cheating? From the moment you stood here blocking the way, you wanted to use your challenge to shake my prestige as the leader, to gain sympathy by feigning misery, and to use Elder Zhao Canghai's background to control me. Your calculations were deafening, but unfortunately, your strength is not commensurate with your ambition."

"The foundation of deception is strength. Schemes without strength are nothing more than a farce by a clown."

Every word was piercing, completely exposing Zhao Tianyou's petty thoughts.

Zhao Tianyou's face was ashen, and he was filled with utter despair.

He actually saw through my scheme from beginning to end? Then wasn't I just making a fool of myself in front of everyone?

The surrounding disciples laughed even louder, and their discussions were incessant:

"It turns out Zhao Tianyou tried to play tricks, but he ended up getting completely humiliated by the chief."

"If you lack strength, you resort to trickery; if you lack trickery, you resort to empty talk."

"This is absolutely ridiculous! The best joke of the year!"

"That's what you call a strategy, Chief. He did it so quietly and decisively, completely destroying his image in just three moves, leaving him no chance to turn things around."

Qin Zhan lightly stomped his foot on the ground next to Zhao Tianyou, causing the latter to tremble and be terrified.

According to the sect rules, challenging the sect leader and causing trouble in public could result in the loss of cultivation and expulsion from the sect. However, Qin Zhan did not take drastic measures; he had his own reasons.

Killing Zhao Tianyou would only give Zhao Canghai ammunition to launch an attack; crippling his cultivation would make him appear bloodthirsty and cruel. The best way is to humiliate him in public, making him a laughingstock. This would establish authority, cut off his confidence to cause trouble later, and leave Zhao Canghai with no way to complain.

"Considering this is your first offense and that you are the grandson of Elder Zhao Canghai, I will not cripple your cultivation." Qin Zhan's tone was calm, yet carried an undeniable authority.

Zhao Tianyou felt relieved, thinking there was a chance for things to turn around.

But the next sentence would kill him outright:

"You are hereby punished to go to the outer sect lecture hall for three consecutive days to give lectures to the new disciples. The topic will be called 'If you are not strong enough, do not play tricks.' Be a good negative example for the younger generation of the sect."

As soon as he finished speaking, the whole audience burst into laughter, the sound almost lifting the training ground off its tracks.

Zhao Tianyou lay on the ground, wishing he could disappear into a crack in the earth, his heart filled with utter despair:

I intended to establish my authority and make a name for myself within the inner sect, but instead, I've become the laughingstock of the entire audience. My scheming has turned into a farce, and from this day forward, I, Zhao Tianyou, will never be able to hold my head high again in the Qingyun Sect!

Qin Zhan didn't look at him again, turned around and walked towards Su Qingyuan, naturally taking her hand in his. The intimate and natural gesture drew envy from the surrounding disciples.

Su Qingyuan couldn't help but chuckle and said softly, "You're really ruthless and clever when it comes to dealing with people."

Qin Zhan chuckled softly, "To deal with this kind of clown, killing the filthy hand and severely punishing him would give others a pretext to criticize him. The most ruthless punishment is to humiliate him in public. This will establish the inner sect's authority, prevent others from using this as leverage, and also deter Zhao Canghai's lineage. It's a triple win."

The two walked away side by side, their figures disappearing at the end of the mountain path.

On the training ground, Zhao Tianyou was stared at by the mocking gazes of the crowd, his body stiff and unable to move.

After this battle, all the inner disciples understood completely:

Qin Zhan is not only incredibly powerful in combat, but also possesses exceptional strategic skills, a meticulous mind, and ruthless methods. Anyone who dares to provoke him will not only be crushed by his strength but will also become the biggest laughingstock of the entire event!

Within the inner sect, no prodigy dared to harbor even the slightest thought of provocation.

Qin Zhan's position as the head of the inner sect was completely secured.