Patriarch Qingxuan leaned back, clearly intrigued by the audacity of the proposal. “Go on. What is the next phase of your restructuring plan?”

Sun Yi straightened his collar. Time to pitch the Open Source Initiative.

“Knowledge Management,” Sun Yi declared. “I propose we democratize the Scripture Library. Effective immediately, the entire database—excluding Class A Classified files—will be open-source for all employees.”

Qingxuan blinked. “Open access? Without charging contribution points?”

“Correct. A freemium model,” Sun Yi explained. “We allow staff to browse cultivation techniques, combat manuals, and secret arts freely. This lowers the barrier to entry for upskilling. It increases workforce competency and, more importantly, loyalty. If you want to scale the company, you cannot put a paywall on employee training.”

The Elders remained silent, letting the boy dig his own grave.

“However,” Sun Yi added, “the ‘Premium Tier’—the second half of top-tier manuals—will remain locked behind a performance assessment. We give them the teaser to get them hooked, then demand results for the full upgrade.”

Qingxuan nodded slowly. “A controlled release. Acceptable.”

“Next: R&D and Branding,” Sun Yi continued. “Our manufacturing division—the Miscellaneous Arts Hall—is losing market share rapidly.”

“Losing share?” Qingxuan asked.

“Patriarch, look at the market,” Sun Yi said, gesturing as if pointing to a graph. “We produce generic Qi Gathering Pills. The Seven Star Tower produces the same pills, but at a lower marginal cost and with higher brand recognition. In a blind taste test, customers choose Seven Star every time. They are the Amazon of the Chaos Demon Commandery; we are a corner store.”

“Amazon?” Qingxuan looked confused.

“A dominant monopoly,” Sun Yi clarified. “To compete, we need a Unique Selling Proposition (USP). We need to incentivize innovation. If a disciple invents a pill that increases lifespan or breakthrough probability, we grant them patent rights and royalties. We need to own the Core Technology. We cannot just be a generic manufacturer; we need to be an IP powerhouse.”

“Interesting,” Qingxuan murmured. “Intellectual property…”

“Hmph. Grandstanding,” Elder Jin Jue sneered. “Just buzzwords.”

Sun Yi turned to the Head of Law Enforcement. “Elder Jin, what is the single most critical asset for a sect’s growth?”

“Talent,” Jin Jue answered immediately. “Top-tier Spirit Roots. Unicorns. Without geniuses, a sect is nothing.”

Sun Yi wagged his finger. “Incorrect. The most critical asset is Liquidity.”

“Resources. Spirit Stones. Cash Flow,” Sun Yi emphasized. “If our revenue increased ten thousand percent, could you not buy your way to the Nascent Soul stage? With enough capital, we can headhunt any genius we want. Talent follows the money.”

The five Elders froze. The mention of reaching the Nascent Soul stage hit them like a dopamine injection. It was a pie-in-the-sky promise, but it worked.

“Our current burn rate is unsustainable,” Sun Yi pressed. “We need new revenue streams. The Myriad Demon Forest project is our Series A funding round. But to secure long-term stability, we need a Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) strategy.”

“I plan to mobilize the sect to pacify the Chaos Demon Commandery,” Sun Yi announced. “We will deploy disciples to every mortal city. Not as overlords, but as service providers. We will handle drought relief, flood control, and security. We will erect ‘Transmission Monoliths’ in town squares to teach basic cultivation to the masses.”

“What?!” Elder Ye Luo exploded. “You want us to serve lowly mortals? Are you insane? We are cultivators, not babysitters! And do you think the Black Wind Stockade is just a decoration? They will crush us!”

Sun Yi sighed internally. Classic elitist mindset. They don’t understand User Acquisition.

“Lowly mortals?” Sun Yi turned on Ye Luo, his voice cold. “Elder Ye, check your ego. You were born from mortals. Your ancestors were mortals. Mortals are the User Base. They are the supply chain for all future talent.”

“I am from a cultivation family!” Ye Luo argued proudly.

“And where did your family start?” Sun Yi shot back. “Do not forget your roots. My strategy is to build an Emotional Moat.”

Sun Yi paced the floor. “I’ve analyzed our churn rate. In the last century, we recruited several ‘Unicorn’ talents. Where are they now? Poached by headhunters or left during the last crisis. Why? Because they had no brand loyalty. They were mercenaries.”

“By protecting the cities, we create a psychological contract,” Sun Yi argued, passionately. “When we recruit a child from a city we saved, they aren’t just an employee; they are a believer. They will fight for Qingyun because Qingyun fought for their family. We don’t need mercenaries; we need zealots.”

He paused, glancing at the Patriarch. He knew Qingxuan’s backstory—a refugee saved by the previous sect master. This was the closer.

“Take Patriarch Qingxuan,” Sun Yi said, his voice softening with reverence. “A man of peerless character. Top-tier aptitude. Headhunters offered him fortunes to leave, but he stayed. Why? Because he identifies with the Mission. He is a true stakeholder. If our entire workforce had his integrity, we would already rule the continent.”

Qingxuan sat up straighter, his face flushing with pride. The flattery was thick, but it was surgical. It hit every insecurity and validated his entire life’s philosophy.

He’s buying it, Sun Yi thought. Hook, line, and sinker.

Qingxuan stood up, his aura expanding to fill the hall.

“Well said!” Qingxuan declared, his eyes shining. “I had almost forgotten… when I was a mortal, my village drowned. It was my Master who parted the waters. That is why I never left. Sun Yi, your ‘Emotional Moat’ strategy is approved.”

The Patriarch looked down at Sun Yi. “You have the vision. You have the plan. I appoint you as Acting Sect Leader. You have a one-year runway to prove this model works. If you fail to hit your KPIs, I will personally terminate your contract.”

“As for the Black Wind Stockade,” Qingxuan added, frowning. “That is a hostile market. Can you handle the competition?”

“We will acquire them or liquidate them,” Sun Yi promised. “But first, we secure the base.”

Target acquired, Sun Yi thought. I’m the CEO.

He looked around the room. The Patriarch was beaming, but the five Elders were radiating killing intent. He had humiliated them, stripped their budgets, and insulted their worldview.

I have the job, but the Board wants me dead, Sun Yi realized. I can’t rule with just a mandate.

He needed to pivot from ‘Hostile Takeover’ to ‘Retention Strategy.’

Time to offer some stock options, Sun Yi thought, his mind racing. Even a father-killing enemy can be bought if the price is right.

“Patriarch,” Sun Yi said, “while the reforms are harsh, I believe the Board of Directors deserves a revised compensation package to align our interests…”