The Central Square was a sea of murmuring disciples. With over a thousand operatives deployed to the Myriad Demon Forest, only the core workforce of about three thousand remained at headquarters.

The air buzzed with electric anticipation. The rumor mill was spinning at maximum velocity.

“Unbelievable,” a disciple whispered, eyes wide. “Two Senior Executives breaking through to Late Golden Core in a single day? I haven’t seen this kind of momentum in decades.”

“The company was stagnating before,” another replied, nodding sagely. “Since the new CEO took over, the turnaround has been aggressive. We’re finally seeing green candles on the cultivation charts.”

“It’s the Vision Statement,” a third chimed in, pointing toward the Battle Tower. “You know the inscription? ‘My fate is determined by me, not the Heavens.’ They say Elder Jin Jue read that and instantly shattered his bottleneck.”

“Is it really that potent?” a younger disciple asked skeptically. “Sounds like marketing fluff.”

“Fluff? It’s proprietary tech!” the older disciple shot back. “I was there. Two Qi Refining interns read it and hit Foundation Establishment on the spot. It’s not just a slogan; it’s a cultivation catalyst.”

Above the chatter, the atmosphere suddenly grew heavy. Six figures descended from the sky, landing on the high platform overlooking the plaza. The Board of Directors had arrived.

The noise died instantly. Three thousand disciples bowed in perfect unison. “Greetings, Sect Master! Greetings, Elders!”

Sun Yi scanned the crowd. The new uniforms were crisp, and the lethargy of the past was gone. The workforce looked hungry, motivated, and ready to execute.

He stepped forward, raising a hand.

“Team,” Sun Yi’s voice projected clearly across the square. “Today marks a significant milestone for Qingyun Enterprises. Elders Jin Jue and Ye Luo have successfully advanced to the Late Golden Core stage. This is a double victory for our organization.”

He paused for effect, letting the news sink in.

“To celebrate this Q3 performance breakthrough, I am authorizing a special dividend. Every disciple will receive an immediate deposit of ten Contribution Points.”

The silence held for a heartbeat, then shattered.

“Long live the Sect Master!”

“The Board is wise!”

“Best. Boss. Ever.”

The cheers were deafening. Sun Yi smiled, watching the morale index skyrocket. It doesn’t matter what world you’re in, he thought cynically. The proletariat loves a cash bonus. It’s a cheap way to buy loyalty.

He viewed the points not as a loss, but as capital expenditure. A stronger workforce generated higher returns. It was basic investment strategy.

Sun Yi raised his hand again, and the crowd fell silent, disciplined and eager.

“Now, we move to the educational portion of today’s assembly. Elders Jin Jue and Ye Luo will conduct a mandatory training seminar, sharing their insights on high-level cultivation dynamics. Pay attention. This is high-value intellectual property.”

Elder Jin Jue floated into the air, crossing his legs in the void. His voice boomed like a temple bell, resonating in the chest of every listener.

“We begin with the fundamentals.”

He started from Qi Refining, stripping away the mysticism to reveal the core mechanics of energy flow. It was a masterclass in magical theory. He spoke of bottlenecks not as fated stops, but as structural inefficiencies to be engineered away.

Below, disciples sat entranced. For many, it was a moment of Mao Se Dun Kai—sudden enlightenment. The confusing jargon of their manuals suddenly clicked into logical systems.

Sun Yi listened intently from the podium. Even as the CEO, his technical knowledge was patchy. Hearing a veteran engineer explain the system architecture was invaluable. So that’s how the spiritual pressure regulation works, he mused.

After an hour, Jin Jue descended, looking refreshed. The gratitude from the disciples was palpable; they bowed with a reverence that bordered on worship.

“Next,” Sun Yi announced. “Elder Ye Luo.”

Ye Luo took the stage, offering a different perspective. If Jin Jue was the backend engineer, Ye Luo was the frontend designer. He focused on the fluidity of spiritual power and the mindset required to govern it.

Sun Yi absorbed this too, his own understanding of the ‘Golden Core’ concept deepening. He realized that while he had the system cheats, he lacked the foundational theory. This seminar was filling in the gaps in his resume.

When the session concluded, Sun Yi stepped forward for the closing remarks.

“Class dismissed. Digest what you’ve learned. I expect to see these insights reflected in your quarterly cultivation reports.”

He gestured for Er Gouzi to step forward. The young man looked nervous but determined.

“One final announcement,” Sun Yi declared, his voice steely. “Effective immediately, Er Gouzi is rebranded. His name is now Changqing.”

A ripple of surprise went through the crowd. Bestowing a name was a powerful act of patronage.

“Changqing is appointed as the Deputy Sect Master,” Sun Yi continued, his tone brokering no argument. “He is my Chief of Staff. He speaks with my voice. His orders are to be treated as my direct decrees. Any insubordination toward him will be handled by the Law Enforcement Hall. Are we clear?”

“We respectfully obey the Sect Master’s decree!” the disciples roared back. They didn’t care who the Deputy was; if Sun Yi endorsed him, he was golden.

The assembly dispersed, disciples rushing back to their quarters to convert their newfound inspiration into cultivation progress.

On the platform, the newly christened Changqing was trembling. Tears welled in his eyes. A new name. A VP title. Sun Yi had given him a new life.

“Sect Master…” Changqing choked out, gratitude overwhelming him.

“Save the tears for the annual review,” Sun Yi said dryly, though not unkindly. “I’m handing operations over to you and the Board. I have R&D to do.”

He turned to the Elders. “Mentor him. I’m going into deep work. Unless the sect is on fire, handle it internally.”

With a wave of his sleeve, Sun Yi launched himself into the sky, leaving the day-to-day management to his newly assembled executive team. He had a Second Dantian to engineer.