Chapter 22: The Hunt for Influence

The faint light of dawn seeped through the misty Inner Sect grounds as Ye Tian stepped out of his courtyard. His steps were calm, but his gaze carried a sharp edge. Power was slowly consolidating, piece by piece. Yet the next phase required not just disciples willing to follow but something far more valuable—resources.

Standing by the gate was Zhou Lie, eager but visibly cautious, his thin frame tense.

"Ye Tian, what's our next move?" he asked.

Ye Tian glanced at him without expression. "Information."

The Fire Spirit Jade

Zhou Lie furrowed his brow. "You mean the Fire Spirit Jade again?"

Ye Tian's lips curled into a faint, cold smile. "The Fire Spirit Jade isn't just a resource—it's a ticket to influence. Whoever possesses it will be favored by the Elders. Jiang Hao's faction is already under suspicion for losing it, aren't they?"

Zhou Lie nodded quickly. "Yes. The Inner Sect Elders are furious. Jiang Hao and his men have been questioned, but they haven't found any answers yet."

"Good," Ye Tian said with an air of calculation. "Rumors are like flames—small at first, but deadly when fanned. If Jiang Hao becomes the prime suspect for stealing something so valuable, his influence will crumble."

Zhou Lie hesitated. "But the Fire Spirit Jade has disappeared. Do you know where it is?"

Ye Tian didn't answer directly, his gaze sharpening. "Leave that to me. Your job is to spread whispers about Jiang Hao and his faction being unreliable."

Zhou Lie hesitated for only a moment before bowing. "Understood."

As Zhou Lie left, Ye Tian moved swiftly into action.

A Dangerous Game

Ye Tian spent the day gathering information, listening to the chatter among Outer and Inner Sect disciples. The Fire Spirit Jade was still missing, and the Elders' anger was growing. Whispers about who might've stolen it swirled everywhere, but no one had solid proof.

Late in the evening, Ye Tian found himself on a secluded mountain trail that overlooked the training grounds. The breeze was cold, carrying faint traces of smoke from nearby cultivation furnaces.

A familiar voice called from behind.

"You're always lurking in strange places, aren't you?"

Ye Tian turned calmly to see Lan Yue, her flowing robes fluttering in the wind. Her bright gaze was fixed on him, curious as ever.

"I prefer quiet places," Ye Tian replied evenly.

Lan Yue tilted her head, her expression softening into amusement. "And yet, everywhere you go seems to cause noise. The duel with Feng Hai, called by an Elder—it's as if you're walking a path filled with chaos."

Ye Tian smirked faintly but didn't respond.

Lan Yue approached, her tone growing serious. "I hear rumors about Jiang Hao and the missing Fire Spirit Jade. You wouldn't happen to know something, would you?"

Ye Tian's golden eyes glinted. "Why would you think that?"

"Because you're always two steps ahead of everyone," Lan Yue replied smoothly. "And because you have won the battle during The Inner Selection Trials. You notice things others miss."

For a moment, Ye Tian studied her quietly. Lan Yue was sharp, far sharper than most disciples. Yet her demeanor was softer around him, as though she wasn't here to pry but to observe.

"Flattering," Ye Tian said dryly.

"It's the truth," Lan Yue replied. "But it's strange. You don't act like a new Inner Sect disciple. It's as if…"

She trailed off, narrowing her gaze slightly, as though trying to puzzle out something deeper about him.

Ye Tian broke the silence. "I'll take that as a compliment. But if you came here to interrogate me, you'll leave disappointed."

Lan Yue chuckled softly. "I'm not interrogating you, Ye Tian. I'm offering you a warning."

"A warning?"

"There's unrest brewing in the sect," Lan Yue said, her tone growing serious again. "The Fire Spirit Jade incident has the Elders watching everyone closely. Be careful where you step, Ye Tian. I wouldn't want to see you get caught up in something dangerous."

Ye Tian's smirk returned, sharp and confident. "Dangerous? I thrive in danger."

Lan Yue looked at him for a long moment before sighing softly. "Suit yourself. Just remember—I won't always be able to help you."

With that, she turned and left, her figure fading into the darkening evening.

Ye Tian watched her go, his expression unreadable. She's observant—but she doesn't know everything. Not yet.

The Perfect Scapegoat

That night, Ye Tian moved in the shadows once more. With Zhou Lie's whispers spreading like wildfire, suspicions about Jiang Hao and his faction continued to grow.

But Ye Tian wasn't done. He needed a final push to ensure the blame fell squarely on Jiang Hao.

The next morning, in one of the smaller resource halls, Ye Tian "discovered" something curious—a fragment of jade buried under discarded supplies. It pulsed faintly with residual fire energy.

Word spread quickly.

Within hours, disciples gathered to inspect the fragment, and the whispers turned into accusations.

"This energy—it matches the Fire Spirit Jade!"

"Who could've hidden it here?"

"I heard Jiang Hao's group passed by this hall days ago. Could it have been them?"

The seeds Ye Tian had planted began to bear fruit. By the time Jiang Hao himself arrived, the crowd's distrust was palpable.

"You dare accuse me of stealing the jade?!" Jiang Hao roared, his face flushed with fury.

But the murmurs didn't stop.

Ye Tian stood in the background, watching silently. His expression betrayed nothing, but inside, he felt satisfaction. Jiang Hao's arrogance and past actions had made him an easy target—one Ye Tian could exploit without lifting a finger.

With chaos comes opportunity, Ye Tian thought coldly. And I'll use every bit of it to rise.

The Rising Shadow

As evening fell, Ye Tian returned to his courtyard. Zhou Lie was already waiting for him, his face alight with excitement.

"It's done," Zhou Lie said, grinning. "Everyone believes Jiang Hao's faction is behind the theft. He's furious, but the Elders will step in soon. This could ruin him."

Ye Tian nodded, his golden eyes gleaming in the fading light.

"Jiang Hao's fall will open a void," Ye Tian said softly. "And we'll be ready to fill it."

Zhou Lie's grin widened. "What's next, Ye Tian?"

Ye Tian turned toward the horizon, his expression cold and ambitious.

"Next, we gather strength. The sect is filled with forgotten talents—disciples no one values. Bring them to me. We'll forge something unstoppable."

Zhou Lie bowed deeply. "I'll see to it."

As the shadows lengthened, Ye Tian's quiet rise continued. With Jiang Hao's influence cracking and new allies gathering at his side, the pieces on the board were shifting.

And Ye Tian?

He was the one holding the strings.