The faint plume of smoke continued to rise on the horizon, a distant whisper of civilization in the vast, untamed wilderness. Li Xuan watched it for a long moment, a swirl of conflicting thoughts in his mind. It was a potential source of resources, disciples, and perhaps even money. But it was also an unknown, a risk in a world that had already proven itself lethal.
He was still firmly in the Body Tempering Realm (Stage 1 - 75% progress), his own internal Qi circulation still a slow, steady hum. Qing'er, however, had continued her rapid progress and was now at Body Tempering Realm (Stage 2 - 15% progress). Her rapid advancement was a constant reminder of the cultivation gap between them, and the urgent need for him to catch up. He eyed the Qi Condensation Breakthrough Pill in the Sect Store, its 50 Sect Points seeming impossibly far away.
"Sect Leader Li Xuan?" Qing'er's soft voice broke his reverie. She had finished her morning cultivation and was looking at him expectantly.
"That smoke, Qing'er," he said, pointing towards the horizon. "It means people. A village, maybe a town, or another sect." He turned to face her, his expression serious. "We can't just stumble in there. We need a plan. And we need to be prepared."
He needed more Sect Points. He had 0. The thought of earning points by fighting more badgers was unappealing, especially given how narrowly he'd survived the last encounter. Recruitment was the ideal method, but finding more desperate orphans out in the wilderness felt like a long shot.
He thought back to the Sect Store. He reviewed the items, mentally calculating their value and his urgent needs.
Basic Fire Starting Kit (3 Sect Points): A low-cost convenience. He'd just struggled to start a fire.
Basic Water Purification Kit (5 Sect Points): Clean water was vital, and his current supply was finite.
Basic Wood Axe (20 Sect Points): Would make clearing land and gathering firewood infinitely faster.
Basic Pickaxe (20 Sect Points): Essential for mining the Low-Grade Iron Ore he had in his inventory.
Simple Alarm Formation Diagram (30 Sect Points): Security for the sect was a growing concern.
His eyes lingered on the Qi Condensation Breakthrough Pill for 50 points and the Apprentice Cultivation Manual for 75 points. These were game-changers, but required significant investment.
"System," he thought, "what are the next immediate tasks for earning Sect Points?"
The blue box shimmered, displaying a list of current and upcoming objectives:
Objective: Clear and Cultivate 25 sq meters of Farmland.
Reward: 5 Sect Points, Basic Seed Pack (Common Grade).
Objective: Craft 5 Additional Basic Farming Tools.
Reward: 5 Sect Points, Basic Processing Manual (Common Grade).
Objective: Gather 10 kg of Processed Wild Game Meat.
Reward: 10 Sect Points, Basic Tanning Manual (Common Grade).
Objective: Establish a Basic Sect Income Source.
Reward: 20 Sect Points, Sect Reputation increased to 'Known'.
Li Xuan felt a jolt of excitement. This was excellent! Concrete tasks with clear point rewards. The Farmland objective was particularly appealing – it not only gave him points but also promised Basic Seed Pack, which was exactly what they needed for the farm!
"Qing'er," he said, turning to her, a plan solidifying in his mind. "We're going to focus on the farm for now. We need to expand it, quickly. And we need to craft more tools." He showed her the current objectives mentally.
"If we clear 25 square meters, we will get seeds! And if we make more tools, we will acquire more vital resources!" His voice was filled with renewed enthusiasm. "This is how we make this place shine and become truly self-sufficient."
He looked at the small fire pit he'd improvised in the vault. Crafting five additional basic farming tools would require more raw materials, especially wood, and the Basic Forging & Crafting Manual required a hotter fire than his current setup. He would need to make charcoal.
"We need to gather a lot of firewood, first," he explained to Qing'er. "We also need to process that badger meat into something edible, and maybe even use its hide."
He remembered the Basic Tanning Manual reward for processing 10 kg of meat. That meant using the cooking pot.
"Let's focus on three things for the next few days," Li Xuan outlined, trying to sound like a seasoned strategist. "One, expand the farm. Two, gather more wood for tools and for a better fire. Three, process that badger meat and hopefully find more wild game."
He knew he needed a better way to cut wood. He only had the small knife from the cooking kit. The Basic Wood Axe from the System Store was 20 points – too much right now. But if he earned 5 points from farming and 5 points from crafting, he'd have 10. He'd still be short. He needed something else.
He closed his eyes, mentally re-examining the items in the Sect Store. He was looking for a cheap, immediate utility that could help him achieve the other tasks faster, or generate points indirectly.
Basic Fire Starting Kit (3 Sect Points): This would make fire-starting painless, saving time and frustration for cooking and forging.
Basic Water Purification Kit (5 Sect Points): Essential for health and long-term sustainability.
He had 0 points. He needed to earn at least 3 points for the Fire Starting Kit. He looked at the objectives again.
Clear 25 sq meters of Farmland: 5 points. This seemed the most achievable immediately.
"Okay, Qing'er," Li Xuan said, his mind made up. "Today, we're going to push hard on the farm. We need to clear as much as possible. The faster we reach our goal, the faster we get those seeds, and acquire vital resources for the sect."
He grabbed his hoe, its handle now slightly smoother from yesterday's work. Qing'er picked up her rake, her small eyes reflecting his determination. They had a clear goal, a path to follow, and the promise of more power and resources from the System. The distant smoke could wait. For now, the Accidental Sect Leader was focused on digging his way to prosperity.