Two days after their glorious-yet-unexpected duel victory, the Eternal Radiance Divine Sect was still riding high.
Daniu spent the morning chiseling "Champion of Handsome Defeat" onto a rock in honor of Ziyan. Su Jian successfully brewed a pill that only made someone mildly hallucinate. Ziyan practiced blindfolded swordsmanship by slicing fruit out of the air. And Li Qingyu, Sect Master Extraordinaire, was meditating on the roof with a chicken feather in his mouth.
The feather wasn't symbolic. He just liked how it felt.
"System," he murmured, "status report."
[Sect Status:]
Name: Eternal Radiance Divine Sect
Sect Fame: 2
Sect Level: Beginner Tier (Unranked)
Sect Points: 180
Defensive Formation: Whirling Grass Array (Basic)
Disciples: 3 / 5 Needed for Inner Court Unlock
Current Objective: Recruit 2 More Disciples
Li Qingyu opened one eye.
"Time to expand the family."
---
Mission Plan: Wild Disciples Hunt
Location: Lower Moon Forest, two hours south
Known Hazards: Demonic Beasts, Poisonous Flora, Rabid Squirrels
Recruitment Target: Anyone still breathing
Su Jian raised an eyebrow. "You want to search there? Isn't that place infamous for bandits and beast nests?"
Li Qingyu grinned. "Exactly. The best disciples are forged in danger—or, ideally, running from it."
Ziyan sheathed her blade. "You want all of us to go?"
"Nope. I'm taking Daniu."
Su Jian blinked. "You're trusting the fate of our expansion to Hu Daniu?"
"He's got… enthusiasm."
---
Two Hours Later
"Master, I'm stuck in a bush!"
Li Qingyu sighed and turned around. Daniu had somehow wedged his entire body into a thorny tangle of underbrush. Again.
"Stop flailing. You'll attract snakes."
"There are snakes!?"
"Yes."
Daniu stopped moving.
After a few comedic rescue attempts, Li Qingyu and Daniu finally reached a shaded glade surrounded by mossy trees and the subtle stench of monster droppings.
Li Qingyu closed his eyes. "Spread your spiritual sense. Do you feel anything?"
Daniu stretched out his senses… and immediately squealed.
"There's someone over there! Two someones! One's fighting! The other is… crying?"
"Perfect," Li Qingyu said. "Let's go disciple-shopping."
---
The source of the disturbance came into view quickly.
A thin teenage girl with wild green hair was swinging a rusty spear at a massive, tusked boar-like demonic beast. She was losing. Badly.
Behind her, curled into a ball and sobbing into his sleeves, was a pale young man in ragged blue robes muttering, "Why did I leave the city? I miss bread... I MISS BREAD!"
Li Qingyu watched from the treetops.
"Two potentials," he whispered. "One brave but reckless. One pitiful, but maybe he can type really fast."
Daniu scratched his head. "Should we help?"
"Nah," Li Qingyu said. "Let's see how they fail first. That's when a person shows their true colors."
---
The girl grunted, spinning her spear and narrowly dodging the beast's tusks. Blood ran down her arm, but her expression was fierce.
"Get up, Tian Feng!" she shouted. "If I die, I'm haunting you!"
"I didn't ask to be rescued!" the boy wailed. "You dragged me out here! I was an accountant!"
The girl charged again—then tripped.
The beast reared back, ready to gore her.
Li Qingyu sighed.
"Okay, time to recruit."
---
With a flick of his wrist, Li Qingyu threw a Spirit Bomb Talisman. It exploded with a BANG, sending the beast stumbling back in shock.
He dropped into the clearing like a hero from a bad novel. Dust swirled around him. His robes fluttered.
"Need a hand?" he said, smiling.
The girl looked up, confused.
The boy peeked through his fingers. "Am I hallucinating? Is that… a cultivator with style?"
Daniu rolled in from the side and tripped over a root.
"...Almost stylish," Tian Feng corrected.
---
Together, they made quick work of the beast. Ziyan would've done it in five seconds, but Qingyu took his time, showing off some footwork and broom techniques to impress the kids.
When the beast finally fell with a groan, the girl sat down on the ground, panting.
"Who are you?"
"I am Li Qingyu, Sect Master of the Eternal Radiance Divine Sect. And you… might just qualify to join us."
Tian Feng blinked. "You're a sect?"
"Officially registered."
"Do you have a headquarters?"
"It's… rustic."
"Do you have other disciples?"
"Three. But one is very angry all the time."
The girl stood up, spear dragging behind her.
"My name's Lin Yanyu. My family sold me to a merchant. I ran away. I want power. And food."
"Welcome aboard."
Tian Feng hesitated. "I have no talent. I can't fight. I get nosebleeds when people shout."
"But you survived this far," Qingyu said, smiling. "That's something."
"I also cook really well."
"You're in."
---
[Ding! Recruited New Disciples!]
Lin Yanyu (Spear Cultivation, Fierce Spirit)
Tian Feng (Support Class: Logistical Strategist, Potential Alchemist)
[Inner Court Unlocked!]
Facilities Unlocked: Inner Hall, Mission Board, Cultivation Pool (Tiny), Storage Pavilion
New Feature: Sect Reputation Rankings (Local)
New Target: Improve Rank to Top 1000 in Region]
Li Qingyu grinned.
"Let's go home."
---
Back at the Sect
Su Jian examined the two new recruits like a suspicious merchant checking fake pills.
"Hmm. One bruiser. One bookworm."
Ziyan grunted. "At least we're not outnumbered by chickens anymore."
"You were never outnumbered by chickens!" Daniu shouted.
The sect bustled with new energy. The formation glowed brighter. The halls echoed with more footsteps. Even the bamboo seemed prouder.
As the sun set, Li Qingyu stood on the main path, looking out over his strange, growing family.
"Now," he said, "we build."