Sect Chronicles: I Flattened the Demonic Path by Taking Disciples

(Epic worldbuilding + accepting disciples + ensemble cast + protagonist's growth + a touch of angst + everyone is intelligent, with a fast pace and many twists, no transmigration, no System. The old demon wants to possess me through my inner demon, but I use that inner demon to grow stronger and stronger!) His father dies in battle, his elder brother defects to the enemy, and his beautiful master is heartbroken and enters seclusion. As the Lingxiao Sect teeters on the verge of collapse, Mo Nian is entrusted with a grave responsibility and succeeds the sect master. Each disciple is gifted with extraordinary talent, yet their backgrounds are shrouded in mystery. Behind every conspiracy lies another conspiracy. Is the voice in his mind an inner demon or a divine revelation? Did his father's death result from simple defeat, or did someone betray him? The woman he loves most returns from the dead, only to become his enemy, while his two most prized disciples go from brotherly harmony to bitter enemies. But no matter what, Mo Nian must restore the former glory of the foremost sect and return to the summit of the Nine Provinces.