The days blurred into a rhythm of grueling labor and desperate improvisation. Zhang Wei split his time between drilling Xiao Ling in basic qi control, scavenging the mountain for usable materials, and plotting defenses against the impending raid. The system's seven-day countdown loomed like a specter, its warnings flashing red in his peripheral vision.
---
**System Alert: Raid Preparation**
**Time Remaining:** 6 days, 14 hours.
**Recommended Actions:**
1. **Reinforce Perimeter (Priority: High).**
2. **Recruit Additional Disciples (Minimum: 2).**
3. **Stockpile Combat Resources (Weapons, Talismans).**
---
"Lucky, guard the door," Zhang Wei ordered, tossing the dog a charred scrap of boar meat. The mutt wagged its tail, oblivious to the stakes.
Xiao Ling sat cross-legged in the center of the hall, his brow furrowed as he cycled qi through his meridians. A faint blue aura flickered around him—progress, albeit slow.
---
**Disciple Status: Xiao Ling**
**Cultivation:** Qi Condensation Layer 1 (Progress: 68%).
**Loyalty:** 70/100 (Cautiously Optimistic).
**Talent:** Hidden Spiritual Physique (Effect: Cultivation Speed +50%, Unlocks at Layer 3).
---
"Focus on your dantian," Zhang Wei said, pacing. "The qi should feel like a warm river, not a wildfire."
"It feels like ants crawling under my skin," Xiao Ling grumbled.
"Ants are good. Ants mean it's working."
The boy glared but resumed his meditation.
---
Zhang Wei ventured into the forest, axe in hand. The system had marked several trees with faint golden halos—spiritwood, a durable material that could reinforce the sect's walls.
---
**Resource Identified: Young Spiritwood Tree**
**Quality:** Low-Grade.
**Uses:** Construction, Basic Talismans.
**Harvest Difficulty:** Moderate (Requires 10 uninterrupted minutes).
---
He swung the axe, the blade biting into the iridescent bark. The tree shuddered, releasing a pulse of qi that tingled in his lungs. By midday, he'd felled three trees, his robes soaked with sweat and sap.
---
**Quest Updated: Reinforce Perimeter**
**Progress:** Spiritwood Logs Acquired (12/20).
**Bonus Objective:** Craft 5 Spike Traps (Reward: *Crude Formation Manual*).
---
As he dragged the logs back, a figure emerged from the mist—a woman in tattered robes, her hair streaked with gray. She leaned on a staff topped with a cracked crystal, her eyes sharp as daggers.
---
**NPC Identified: Granny Hua (Wandering Alchemist, Qi Condensation Layer 5)**
**Intent:** Trade.
**Threat Level:** Low (Non-combatant).
---
"You're the fool rebuilding this relic?" she croaked, eyeing the spiritwood.
Zhang Wei forced a smile. "Looking to join?"
Granny Hua snorted. "I'll trade. Two healing pills for a spiritwood log."
---
**Barter Opportunity:**
- **Healing Pill (Low-Grade)** x2: Restores minor injuries.
- **Spiritwood Log** x1: Worth 5 spirit stones in towns.
**System Suggestion:** Decline (Spiritwood critical for defenses).
---
"One log for three pills," Zhang Wei countered.
The old woman cackled. "Bold, for a beggar sect. Two pills, and I'll throw in a warning."
"What warning?"
"The Black Viper Gang. They've been asking about you in Pine Ridge."
Zhang Wei's grip tightened on the axe. "What did you tell them?"
"Nothing." She grinned, revealing blackened teeth. "Yet."
---
**Quest Updated: Reinforce Perimeter**
**New Objective:** Interrogate Granny Hua (Optional).
**Reward:** Intel on Black Viper Gang.
**Risk:** Hostility escalation.
---
He handed over the log. "Three pills."
Granny Hua tossed him a vial. "The Vipers have a Core Formation elder. You're outmatched."
---
**Item Acquired: Healing Pill (Low-Grade)** x3.
**Intel Gained:** Black Viper Gang Strength:
- **Disciples:** 30+ (Qi Condensation Layers 1-3).
- **Elders:** 1 (Core Formation Early Stage).
---
Zhang Wei's stomach churned. Core Formation cultivators could level mountains. His sect had a teenager, a dog, and a rotting hall.
---
That night, he sketched a crude map in the dirt, marking choke points and trap locations. Xiao Ling crouched beside him, gnawing on dried boar meat.
"We need more disciples," Zhang Wei said.
"Why would anyone join us?"
"Because we'll offer something no one else does."
"Like what? Broken buckets?"
"Freedom." The word tasted hollow, but Xiao Ling's eyes gleamed.
---
**New Quest: Recruit Two Disciples**
**Description:** Strength lies in numbers. Find recruits willing to defend the sect.
**Reward:** *Basic Combat Manual*, *Sect Morale +30*.
**Failure Penalty:** Raid success chance increases by 40%.
---
---
The next morning, they returned to Pine Ridge Village. The market buzzed with rumors of the Black Vipers' growing influence. Zhang Wei spotted a familiar face—the fishmonger, now sporting a black eye.
"You." The man pointed a cleaver at Xiao Ling. "Owe me five coins!"
"He's under my protection," Zhang Wei said, channeling qi into his voice. The air hummed faintly.
The fishmonger paled. "C-Cultivator nonsense."
---
**Quest: Recruit Two Disciples**
**Potential Candidate Detected:**
- **Name:** Erhu (Fishmonger's Apprentice).
- **Talent:** Average (Combat Aptitude: High).
- **Cultivation:** Qi Condensation Layer 0 (Mortal).
---
A lanky teenager ducked behind a stall, his arms laden with stolen cabbages. Zhang Wei cornered him.
"Join my sect, and you'll eat like a king."
Erhu eyed the cabbages. "Do you have meat?"
"Sometimes."
"Deal."
---
**Disciple Recruited: Erhu**
**Loyalty:** 40/100 (Skeptical).
**Trait:** Street Survivor (Stealth +20%, Combat Instincts +15%).
---
The second recruit proved harder. They scoured the village until sunset, finding only a half-starved girl huddled in an alley. Her eyes glowed faintly violet in the shadows.
---
**Potential Disciple Detected:**
- **Name:** Mei (Unknown Origin).
- **Talent:** Cursed Spirit Vein (Cultivation Speed +100%, Qi Deviation Risk +70%).
- **Cultivation:** Qi Condensation Layer 0 (Mortal).
---
"Join us," Zhang Wei said. "We'll protect you."
Mei hesitated, then placed her bony hand in his.
---
**Disciple Recruited: Mei**
**Loyalty:** 30/100 (Fearful).
**Trait:** Cursed Vein (Unstable Power, Hidden Backstory).
---
---
By dusk, the Verdant Cloud Sect had tripled in size—to three disciples and a dog. Zhang Wei distributed ragged blankets and assigned sleeping quarters (a corner of the hall with slightly fewer leaks).
---
**Quest Completed: Recruit Two Disciples**
**Reward Claimed:** *Basic Combat Manual (Sword/Shield Style)*, *Sect Morale +30*.
---
Mei shivered by the fire, her violet eyes reflecting the flames. "They'll come for me."
"Who?"
"The ones who cursed me."
Before Zhang Wei could respond, the system blared.
---
**Alert: Perimeter Breached**
**Intruders Detected:** 3 (Qi Condensation Layers 2-3).
**Affiliation:** Black Viper Gang (Scouts).
---
Lucky growled, hackles raised. Zhang Wei grabbed the Ironhide Amulet and crept to the door. Three shadowy figures lurked at the tree line, their blades glinting in the moonlight.
"Wake the others," he whispered to Xiao Ling. "We fight."