Sun Yi performed the requisite corporate bow, clasping his hands with the practiced humility of a newly promoted executive accepting a suicide mission.

“Thank you, Chairman… I mean, Patriarch. I will deliver results.”

Patriarch Qingxuan nodded, visibly satisfied with the display of submission. “Good. I expect you to deliver on your projections. However, while you hold the title of Acting Sect Leader, I will be installing a fail-safe within your meridians. If you attempt to embezzle resources or defect, the consequences will be… liquidating.”

“Please, Patriarch. Go ahead,” Sun Yi replied smoothly, extending his wrist. “I prefer working with collateral. It aligns our interests and assures the shareholders.”

Internally, Sun Yi scoffed. It’s just a non-compete clause with lethal enforcement. Standard practice for a distressed asset. At my current level, a bomb in my chest actually makes me safer—it means the big guy still thinks I’m an asset worth protecting.

Qingxuan waved a hand, and a streak of cold energy burrowed into Sun Yi’s chest. The Patriarch leaned back. “What is your first agenda item?”

Sun Yi smiled, ignoring the foreign energy pulsing near his heart. He turned to face the five glowing, furious figures standing along the perimeter of the hall.

“I’d like to hold an alignment meeting with the Board of Directors.”

The five Elders snorted in unison. The air in the hall thickened with killing intent.

Toxic work environment, Sun Yi noted, reading their body language. They don’t want a CEO; they want a scapegoat. They’re thinking about how to bypass the non-compete and murder me in a back alley.

“I imagine,” Sun Yi said, his voice cutting through the tension, “that you are all calculating the most efficient way to tear me into pieces.”

“You are self-aware, at least,” one Elder muttered, eyes burning like coals. “Enjoy the seat while it lasts, boy.”

Sun Yi didn’t flinch. He walked to the center of the room, treating the hostile glares like a tough Q&A session.

“Let me ask you a question. Based on your current growth metrics and the Sect’s stagnant revenue, what is the statistical probability of any of you reaching the Nascent Soul stage?”

The silence that followed was heavy.

The five Golden Core Elders froze. They were stuck in the mid-stage, plateaued by a lack of resources and ancient cultivation methods. In corporate terms, they had hit the glass ceiling decades ago. They were fighting for the Sect Leader chair because it was the only way to embezzle enough resources to maybe, just maybe, break through.

“I’ll answer for you,” Sun Yi said, his voice dropping to a conspiratorial whisper. “Zero. Even if you sat in this chair, the Sect is bankrupt. You’d be fighting over scraps.”

“And you?” Elder Jin Jue sneered. “You think a Qi Refining intern can print money?”

“I don’t think. I know.” Sun Yi straightened his robes, projecting absolute arrogance. “If you align with my restructuring plan, I guarantee a clear pathway to the Nascent Soul stage for every single one of you.”

“Bullshit,” Elder Qin Chu spat. “What collateral do you have to back that up?”

“Time,” Sun Yi said. “Give me one fiscal year. Twelve months. In that time, I will overhaul Qingyun’s revenue streams and resource allocation. You will see returns you never thought possible.”

He paused, looking each Elder in the eye.

“It’s a low-risk investment. If I fail, you’ve lost one year—a snap of the fingers for immortals like you. You can kill me then and resume your infighting. But if I succeed? You get the golden parachute you’ve always wanted. Why not hedge your bets?”

The Elders exchanged glances. The logic was sound. One year was nothing to a cultivator who lived for centuries.

Patriarch Qingxuan, watching from the throne, broke the silence. “He makes a compelling case. It is only one year. Are your dao hearts so fragile you cannot wait that long?”

Elder Jin Jue let out a breath, his greed winning over his pride. He bowed slightly to the Patriarch. “This disciple is willing to vest his interest for one year.”

“I’ll wait,” Qin Chu grumbled.

“I’m in,” Li Tai added.

“If the returns are real, I have no objection,” Han Yun said.

“Let’s see if the boy can execute,” Ye Luo finished.

“Done,” Sun Yi thought, the adrenaline spiking. Board stabilized. Hostile takeover averted. Now, to delegate.

“Thank you for your vote of confidence,” Sun Yi said, clapping his hands. “Now, let’s assign Q3 objectives.”

He turned to the Patriarch. “Chairman, I need you to lead R&D. Specifically, the Battle Tower.”

Sun Yi handed over a jade slip he had prepared. “I’ve outlined the specs. I need a high-fidelity combat simulator. We need real-time scoring and adaptive difficulty algorithms. It needs to be immersive.”

Qingxuan scanned the jade slip, frowning. “This is… complex. You want a dedicated scorer and realistic illusions? The overhead will be massive.”

“The current ‘trial illusions’ are vaporware,” Sun Yi countered. “We need a premium product. Can you ship it?”

“I can utilize the old array formations,” Qingxuan mused. “Give me two months.”

“Excellent.” Sun Yi pivoted to Elder Jin Jue. “Elder Jin, you are retaining your position as Head of Law Enforcement. But we’re rebranding.”

Jin Jue frowned. “Rebranding?”

“Compliance,” Sun Yi corrected. “The Law Enforcement Hall is currently a PR nightmare. I need a prestigious figure like you to restore its image. From today on, enforcement must be impartial. No nepotism, no corruption. We are auditing the entire disciple base.”

“You want me to punish my own people?”

“I want you to cut the cancer so the body can survive,” Sun Yi said smoothly. “For past infractions, we’ll issue warnings—a general amnesty. But moving forward? Zero tolerance. Can you handle the internal audit?”

Jin Jue, flattered by the term ‘prestigious’, nodded. “Fine. I will ensure the department is clean.”

Sun Yi turned to the next Elder. “Elder Qin Chu, you are taking Operations. You know the inventory better than anyone. I need you to help me digitize the sect’s assets into a unified Points System.”

Qin Chu stroked his thin beard, his ego sufficiently stroked. “Operations… Yes, I suppose I am the only one who understands the logistics here.”

“Elders Li Tai and Han Yun,” Sun Yi continued, addressing the two hawkish men. “You are my M&A team—Mergers and Acquisitions. Your target is the Chaos Demon Commandery.”

The two Elders blinked. “You want us to start a war?”

“I want market consolidation,” Sun Yi corrected. “Black Wind Stockade and Evil Spirit Valley are competitors eating our market share. We will acquire them. If we succeed, your names will be on the company history as the architects of our expansion. But first, we stabilize. Prepare the war room.”

The promise of historical glory worked like a charm. The two Elders nodded, already imagining the statues built in their honor.

Finally, Sun Yi turned to Elder Ye Luo. “And you, Elder Ye. You are the CFO.”

“The… what?”

“Chief Financial Officer. You control the Miscellaneous Arts Hall, which is about to become our primary revenue engine. You are the God of Wealth.” Sun Yi handed him a jade slip. “First project: a new Identity Management System. I want smart tokens for every employee.”

Ye Luo beamed. “God of Wealth… I like the sound of that. Don’t worry, Sect Leader. I’ll handle the budget.”

Sun Yi swept his gaze across the room. The faces that had looked ready to murder him ten minutes ago were now flushed with excitement and purpose.

It’s all just human resources, Sun Yi thought, suppressing a smirk. Give them a title, a promise of equity, and a clear KPI, and they’ll follow you into hell. Now, I just need to build the product before the vaporware allegations start.

“Gentlemen,” Sun Yi said, cupping his hands. “The board meeting is adjourned. Patriarch, please trigger the emergency broadcast. It’s time for an All-Hands Meeting. I need to address the staff.”