Reincarnated With a Million Multiplies System

The night had fallen deep over Void Horizon, and the storm that had been brewing for days seemed to mirror the turmoil within. The winds howled through the valley, carrying the scent of impending conflict. The crackling thunder in the distance, though far from the stronghold, felt all too close, reverberating like the violent pulse of a heart on the edge of collapse. Yet the storm raging within Void Horizon, the one that Yang Yu could no longer ignore, was even more dangerous than the one that threatened to descend from the heavens.

Xiao Mei stood before him, her face a mask of calm determination, though there was a flicker of uncertainty in her eyes that Yang Yu had not seen before. Her rebellion, which had once been a whisper among the disciples, had now transformed into an undeniable force—one that was growing rapidly, consuming everything in its path. And for the first time, Yang Yu felt the weight of it. This was no longer just a matter of control over the sect. This was about the very soul of Void Horizon.

The room was still, the air thick with tension. The disciples who had followed Xiao Mei stood quietly behind her, their faces hard but not entirely without doubt. They had believed in her vision, in the promise of shared power, of a more democratic future for the sect. But Yang Yu could see the fear in their eyes, the hesitation. They were not yet fully committed. There was still time to end this before it spiraled out of control.

He gripped his sword tighter, the cold steel a constant reminder of the path he had chosen. He had known that maintaining control over Void Horizon would require sacrifices. He had always been willing to make those sacrifices—willing to do what was necessary to protect the future of the sect, to ensure its rise to power. But now, faced with the challenge of rebellion from within, he realized that the cost of power was greater than he had ever anticipated.

"You've chosen your path, Xiao Mei," Yang Yu said, his voice calm, but his words were sharp, carrying an icy weight. "And so have I. This sect was built by my hand. It will remain mine, and no one—not even you—will take it from me."

Xiao Mei did not flinch. She stood tall, unshaken by his words. "You speak of power as if it's a burden, Master. But power, real power, comes not from ruling alone, but from sharing it. The disciples know that now. They understand that a single ruler cannot guide them to a future of strength. It's not just your vision that should shape this sect's future. It's all of ours."

Yang Yu's gaze hardened, his eyes narrowing as he stepped forward. The room felt smaller now, the distance between them shrinking with each passing second. The disciples who had followed Xiao Mei seemed to be waiting for a signal, unsure of what would happen next. The tension was palpable, thick like a storm cloud ready to burst. And Yang Yu knew that once this confrontation reached its peak, there would be no going back.

"You want a council," Yang Yu said, his voice low and filled with disdain. "You want to undermine everything I've built. You think you know better than me, than the sacrifices I've made to create this sect. Do you understand what that means, Xiao Mei? Do you understand the cost of defying me?"

Xiao Mei stepped forward, her gaze unwavering. "I understand more than you think, Master. I understand the cost of the fear that you've instilled in this sect. I understand the cost of leadership that isolates itself from the very people it's supposed to lead. You built this sect, yes, but now it's time to let it grow. It's time to give the disciples a voice in the future of Void Horizon."

Yang Yu's expression twisted with a mix of anger and disbelief. "You want them to have a voice?" he asked, his voice rising. "You want to give them power? Do you think they'll use it wisely? Do you think the fear of rebellion won't tear this sect apart? You speak of unity, but your council will do nothing but divide us further. And I will not let that happen."

Xiao Mei's eyes softened for the briefest moment, but her resolve did not waver. "I'm not trying to divide us, Master. I'm trying to save us. If you continue to rule with an iron fist, you will lose everything. You will lose the very disciples who once believed in you. And when that happens, when they turn their backs on you, Void Horizon will fall."

Yang Yu felt a cold shiver run down his spine at her words. He had always known that power was fleeting, but he had never considered the possibility of losing his disciples—those who had stood by him, fought for him, believed in him. But now, in this moment, he realized the truth: loyalty could only be held together for so long by fear. Eventually, that fear would burn out, and what remained would be a hollow shell, crumbling from within.

The silence in the room stretched out like an eternity, and for the first time, Yang Yu felt the weight of his choices—the choices he had made to hold onto power, to maintain control at all costs. The fear that he had cultivated within his disciples had worked, yes. But now it had come back to haunt him, to erode the very foundation of the sect.

Xiao Mei's voice broke through the silence, calm but unyielding. "Master, I've been loyal to you. I've followed your every command. But I cannot follow you down this path any longer. I believe in Void Horizon, in its future. But it cannot be a future ruled by fear. It must be a future ruled by unity, by shared purpose. And that's something I can't achieve if I remain silent."

Yang Yu's gaze flickered to the disciples who stood behind her. They were silent, but their expressions were telling. Some seemed resolute in their allegiance to Xiao Mei, while others—those who had once been loyal to him—were uncertain, their eyes flickering between the two figures at the center of this growing storm. The fracture was spreading, and he could feel it deep in his bones. The battle for control over Void Horizon was no longer just about external enemies; it was about winning the loyalty of his own disciples.

For a moment, Yang Yu stood there, his mind racing. He had spent so long building Void Horizon, crafting its future with his own hands. But now, it seemed as though the very thing he had fought for was slipping through his fingers, undone by his own actions.

His gaze hardened, and the steel in his voice returned. "If you choose rebellion, Xiao Mei, then you choose to stand against me. You choose to stand against Void Horizon's future. And I will not allow that. I've sacrificed too much to let this sect fall into the hands of those who would see it destroyed."

Xiao Mei's expression remained unchanged, but there was a flicker of sadness in her eyes. "I'm not standing against you, Master. I'm standing for the future of this sect. And I believe that future requires more than just one man's vision. It requires all of us."

Yang Yu stepped forward, his sword drawn and his stance firm. "Then prepare for the consequences, Xiao Mei. Prepare for the battle that will decide the fate of Void Horizon. If you want to challenge me, then you will know what it means to defy the very heart of this sect."

The disciples who stood behind Xiao Mei shifted uncomfortably, their resolve wavering. The battle for Void Horizon was no longer just a question of who would lead. It was a question of whether the sect could survive the fracturing of its soul.

"Very well, Master," Xiao Mei said, her voice steady. "If you will not listen, then we will fight. But know this: the future of Void Horizon does not belong to one man alone. It belongs to all of us."

With a final glance at Yang Yu, Xiao Mei turned and walked toward the door, the disciples following her. The weight of their departure hung in the air like a heavy cloud, and Yang Yu was left standing in the silence of the war room, his sword raised in the aftermath of a battle that had not yet begun.

The rebellion had begun in earnest. And now, Yang Yu knew that he would have to fight not just for his vision, but for the very soul of Void Horizon.

To be continued...