---
Back at the base—now slightly less moldy thanks to Yu Shuang's overzealous cleaning and Old Crutchy yelling at rocks—the System delivered a grand announcement:
> [Sect Level: 2]
[Unlocked: Basic Cultivation Hall – Auto-generated structure placed in the least cursed section of your territory.]
[Warning: Due to terrain instability and leftover spiritual debris, your hall comes with... "features."]
A burst of divine light shot out from a crater. A shoddy stone building with crooked pillars and a flickering spiritual formation rose from the ground like a drunk phoenix rising from its own ashes.
Wei Yun stared.
"It's beautiful. In a 'why-is-it-leaning-like-that' kind of way."
Old Crutchy wheezed. "If this falls on me, I'm haunting you."
Yu Shuang clapped with genuine joy. "It's our very own cultivation hall!"
> [Congratulations: Cultivation Speed increased by 15% (or 5% if someone sneezes too hard near the west pillar).]
[You may now assign disciples meditation zones, training regimens, and use the "Training Roulette of Fate."]
"Wait. Roulette?"
> [Yes. Very popular in chaotic sects. May cause breakthroughs, emotional trauma, or spontaneous combustion.]
"...Approve."
---
A huge, spinning spiritual wheel descended from the sky with far too much sparkle for something this cursed.
Old Crutchy muttered, "We're all going to die."
Yu Shuang clapped again. "Let me go first!"
> [Spinning... SPINNING... STOP!]
[Result: "Crimson Lotus Endurance Trial – Stand on flaming bricks while reciting your darkest regrets."]
She blinked. "That's oddly specific."
She did it anyway. Screamed a little. Broke through to Qi Condensation Stage 2.
Wei Yun whistled. "Hot bricks and trauma… effective."
Old Crutchy spun the wheel next.
> [Result: "Lightning Chicken Chase: Survive 10 minutes in the coop of Storm Peckers."]
"…I hate everything."
He emerged covered in scorch marks and feathers—but with glowing meridians.
> [Jian Wubo has reached Qi Condensation Stage 1.]
[Breakthrough achieved via adrenaline-induced desperation.]
Wei Yun nodded sagely. "Truly, suffering is the fastest path to power."
> [Host has gained insight into: "Dao of Painful Growth."]
[Congratulations. You have begun comprehending a unique Dao Path: Dao of Humiliating Ascension.]
[Progress: 2%]
---
A tattered scroll nailed to a tree began glowing.
> [Sect Notice Board Active!]
[New System Features Unlocked:
Daily Missions
Disciplinary Reports
Crutchy's Rant Log
Optional System Events: "Mocking March," "Trash Trials," and "Dumpster Duel Fridays."]
The first complaint was already posted in bad handwriting:
> "Why does the cultivation toilet shoot steam? Not a rhetorical question." – Crutchy
The second read:
> "Would it kill the System to provide pillows?" – Yu Shuang
The third?
> "Found a ghost in the west wing. It cried when I offered it soup. Can we keep it?" – Signed, 'Concerned Crutch User'
Wei Yun squinted.
"…We need more disciples."
> [System Reminder:
Recruit 3 more members to reach Level 3
Begin regional reputation growth
Establish 'Official Uniform' (rags don't count anymore)]
"Time to hunt for more hopeless souls."
---
The system pinged a new objective:
> [Mission: "Find the Forgotten"]
[There are three potential disciples within 10 kilometers:
A blind alchemist girl who blew up her own sect
A boy with cursed luck so bad, even plants trip him
A spirit beast that thinks it's a human cultivator]
Wei Yun's eyes gleamed. "Perfect. Let's go collect more accidents waiting to happen."
Yu Shuang tilted her head. "Should we bring medicine or apology letters?"
"Bring snacks. Cultivation makes people cranky."
Crutchy coughed. "We're becoming a daycare for walking disasters."
"Exactly. And when those disasters grow strong, the heavens will cry."
---
That night, under the dim glow of a slightly cracked moon, Wei Yun sat at the edge of the cliff behind the Cultivation Hall. Below, the fog swirled around like an ancient beast resting.
Yu Shuang slept near the training field, curled beside her cracked sword.
Old Crutchy snored in his shack, occasionally shouting "DAMN CHICKENS" in his sleep.
And the Abandoned Sect… stood.
Barely.
But it stood.
Wei Yun, once mocked, discarded, and broken, now had followers. A base. A Dao of his own.
> [Heaven is watching.]
[Fate is shifting.]
[Your rise has begun.]
[Title Unlocked: Founder of Defiance]
Wei Yun smirked. "Let's see how long they laugh… when we're the ones stepping on the heavens."
---
[To Be Concluded in Part 5/5 of Chapter 1]