In a secret chamber humming with latent power, an imposing old man with a well-built frame sat in a lotus position. His long white hair flowed down his back, and his eyes were closed in serene meditation.
The vital essence of the world seemed to converge around him, rejoicing in his presence. He was on the verge of a breakthrough, teetering on the edge of an epic state of enlightenment, when—
Knock.
Knock.
Knock.
The unexpected sound jolted him from his near-transcendent state. Yet, he neither raged nor succumbed to frustration. Instead, he opened his eyes, calm and composed.
Rising gracefully, he brushed off his blood-red robes, which shimmered faintly with power. At over a thousand years old, he was no stranger to interruptions, and few things could disturb his equanimity.
This man was none other than the sect master of the Stone Mountain Sect.
He exited the chamber silently, his expression unreadable, and was greeted by a familiar figure—Elder Joshua.
The elder leaned in and whispered a few words that immediately snapped the sect master to full attention.
With a sharp intake of breath, the sect master vanished in an instant, leaving only a faint afterimage in his wake.
Whoosh!
Half a dozen breaths later, he reappeared in the sect's secret meeting hall. The space was heavily fortified, with intricate formations and ancient runes ensuring absolute privacy.
No prying eyes or ears could breach its defenses.
Inside, eight of the Stone Mountain Sect's elders had already gathered. Among them stood an exceptionally handsome young man clad in the robes of an outer disciple.
His presence among such esteemed company was unusual, to say the least.
Moments later, the ninth elder arrived, his robes slightly disheveled from haste. Only then did the sect master take his place at the head of the room. Without preamble, the meeting began.
"Speak, young disciple. Tell us about the impending attack by the Dark Obelisk Cult," the sect master commanded. His voice was calm but carried the weight of authority.
He remained standing, as did everyone else in the room. For cultivators, standing for extended periods was nothing—they could move mountains with their bare hands, after all.
"Well… I may have exaggerated a little. Hehehe," Riley admitted with a sheepish laugh, scratching the back of his head.
"Impudent! You dare speak lies before us?! I'll have your tongue cut out and expel you from the sect!" one elder roared.
The elder was an extremely fat towering man, over seven feet tall, with a hot temper to match his massive frame.
His spiritual energy flared wildly, and a powerful pressure radiated from a ring on his finger—a clear indication that it was a treasure of great value.
"Humph!" The elder's outrage was cut short by a mere wave of the sect master's hand.
The gesture was subtle but absolute. The oppressive spiritual essence around the elder dissipated instantly, and he fell silent, his face pale.
"Speak plainly, young disciple," the sect master said, his voice low and calm, yet laced with an unspoken threat.
"I've left my cultivation cave because of you. I pray that what you have to say is worth the effort. You don't want to see me angry."
The atmosphere in the room shifted. Though the sect master released no spiritual pressure, the air grew heavy with an unspoken dread.
The elders instinctively bowed their heads slightly and stepped back. They all knew the sect master's legendary deeds during his thousand-year rise—and none wished to provoke him.
"Forgive me, Sect Master," Riley said, bowing deeply. "I meant no disrespect or trickery. I simply had no other way to see you. However, I believe this will make my words worth your time."
With that, Riley pulled out an ordinary-looking rock he had picked up on his way to the hall.
This was no ordinary gamble—Soul Dominion required that he could see his target, and this was his only chance to ensure success.
He hurled the rock toward the sect master.
Whoosh!
The sect master caught the pebble with ease. For a moment, he inspected it with mild curiosity, but as his spiritual sense delved into the rock, his expression shifted dramatically.
Shock overtook his weathered features.
The room fell silent as the sect master stood frozen for nearly two minutes, staring at the rock in his palm.
"Sect Master? Is something wrong?" an elder asked hesitantly, his voice trembling.
"Leave. All of you. Leave us now," the sect master said, his tone brooking no argument.
The elders exchanged glances but complied without question. The massive doors shut with a resounding thud, sealing the room.
Alone with Riley, the sect master turned, tears streaming down his face.
"It's really you!" he exclaimed, his voice trembling with emotion.
"You have my old master's eyes!"
The sect master's laughter mixed with sobs as he moved in a blur, appearing directly in front of Riley. His hands gripped Riley's shoulders firmly as he stared into the young man's blue eyes.
Those eyes—an uncanny match to his old master's—brought a flood of memories, loyalty, and reverence to the sect master's heart.
Unbeknownst to him, those memories were nothing more than an illusion planted by Riley. The false memories were a masterstroke, ensuring that the sect master's loyalty would remain unwavering.
Controlling a puppet with a semblance of freedom felt far more satisfying than commanding a mindless slave.
In this xianxia world, where only the strong thrived and the weak were devoured, guilt had no place.
Riley's conscience remained clear as he solidified his hold over the sect master, knowing this was merely another step in a dog-eat-dog world.
"So, how has life in the sect been so far?"
"Is everyone treating you well?"
"Are you the son or grandson of my late master?"
The sect master bombarded Riley with questions, his tone a mix of curiosity and excitement. Riley, however, only half-listened, offering vague responses while his attention was focused elsewhere.
Before him, the system interface glowed faintly, its notifications pulling his full focus.
"Ding!"
"Congratulations, host! You have successfully acquired your first minion. Please select one of the three available rewards."