The Man Who Broke a Sect by Accident
Three days later, rumors outran them.
By the time they reached Azure Cliff City, the gates were already open.
A line of cultivators waited.
Darius groaned. "We're in trouble."
A tall elder stepped forward, beard flowing majestically.
"Great senior, we are honored. Please demonstrate your realm."
Sam blinked.
"I would rather not."
The elder smiled serenely, "Just a small display."
Lyra leaned close. "If you refuse, they'll assume you're insulting them."
"If I comply?"
"They'll assume you're challenging them."
Sam sighed, "Very well."
He extended one finger and thhe sky flickered. The sect's spirit beast fainted, the mountain behind the city leaned slightly to the right. Every cultivator dropped to their knees.
The elder began weeping.
"Peak… beyond peak…"
Sam quickly lowered his hand.
The mountain straightened.
"I tripped," he said firmly.
The elder crawled forward.
"Please! Become our Grand Patriarch!"
"No."
"Supreme Protector?"
"No."
"Visiting Ancestor?"
"No."
Lyra whispered, "You're making it worse."
The elder clutched Sam's sleeve, "We will rename the sect after you!"
Sam looked horrified, "Absolutely not."
Suddenly....The ground rumbled.
Not from him.
From outside the city walls.
Darius stiffened, "Monster signatures."
Hundreds.
The elder gasped. "A siege?!"
Sam pinched the bridge of his nose. "I just wanted to pass through quietly."
***
Outside the walls, monsters formed ranks and at their center stood two commanders.
Two.
They raised their arms simultaneously and the sky darkened.
Sam frowned, "That's excessive."
He stepped forward and the sky brightened.
The commanders paused.
Sam tilted his head. The concept of "siege" unraveled.
Not the monsters.
The idea.
The commanders blinked in visible confusion. Their formations dissolved as if they had forgotten what they were doing.
Lyra whispered, "…Did you just erase a tactical concept?"
"I think so."
The monsters retreated.
The elder fainted.
Darius looked at Sam carefully, "You're not revealing power to grow stronger."
"No."
"You're revealing things that were already true."
"Yes."
"…That's terrifying."
Sam nodded.
"I'm aware."