Morning sunlight crawled lazily over the ruined rooftops of the Eternal Radiance Divine Sect.
It illuminated cracked tiles, crooked beams, and a majestic spirit chicken meditating atop a stump—its feathers ruffling with enlightenment.
Inside the half-collapsed main hall, Li Qingyu stood before a glowing blue screen, his arms crossed, eyes shining.
> [System Feature: Pavilion Construction – Unlocked]
Available Blueprints: [Main Hall Repair], [Training Ground Leveling], [Outer Courtyard Cleanup]
Labor Estimate: Insufficient workers detected. Estimated Completion: 3–5 Days (Chickens + Low-Level Qi User Labor)
Option: Spend Contribution Points to reduce construction time.
Resources: 400 Wood, 80 Spirit Stones, 2 Spirit Chickens, 1 Enthusiastic Musclehead
Li Qingyu rubbed his chin. "So no instant base-building cheat code, huh…"
Behind him, Hu Daniu proudly slammed a plank into place. Upside down.
"Big Bro, I built the wall!"
"That's a floor beam, Daniu."
"Oh…"
Su Jian lounged across the roof, playing a cheerful tune on his flute. "I'm providing spiritual inspiration," he called.
Lin Ziyan walked past, arms crossed. "Inspiring. In the way watching a duck drown is inspiring."
Qingyu exhaled slowly. "Alright. System, queue construction—Main Hall Structural Reinforcement, Outer Courtyard Cleanup, and Basic Training Ground leveling. Use available resources. No contribution point boost."
> [Ding! Construction Queued.]
Estimated Duration: 3.5 Days (Pending Chickens' Willingness)
Bonus: Minor Experience Gain from Physical Labor Tasks
A spirit chicken stared at the floating blueprint. Then at the shovel beside it.
It turned and walked away.
---
Later That Day...
The sect began to shift—barely.
Hu Daniu carried bricks one at a time. Su Jian rearranged tiles into "feng shui art." Lin Ziyan mostly judged.
Li Qingyu walked the grounds, sleeves rolled up, marking areas with wooden stakes and spiritual chalk.
Every so often, he glanced at the screen hovering beside him, adjusting a blueprint or noting materials.
It wasn't flashy. It wasn't fast.
But it was real.
By sunset, a single corner of the courtyard looked… slightly less like the aftermath of a bandit attack.
Qingyu stood at the center and muttered to himself, "Ten disciples first. Just ten. Once we have that, we earn our name. We upgrade. We dominate."
Lin Ziyan scoffed from under a tree. "Ambitious. But unless you plan to kidnap farmers, I don't see you hitting ten."
Su Jian nodded. "Might I suggest dramatic recruitment flyers and free soup samples?"
Li Qingyu's eye twitched.
Hu Daniu pointed excitedly. "Sect Leader! Someone's coming!"
---
Entrance Gate, Moments Later…
A trio of figures walked through the crooked archway. The one in front wore the blue-trimmed robes of the Azure Wind Sect's outer disciples.
He was tall, clean-faced, and radiated the unmistakable aura of a man born with too much money and not enough personality.
"Well, well," he sneered, glancing around. "So this is the dump everyone's whispering about."
One of his lackeys spat on the dirt. "Looks like a bandit hideout crossed with a chicken farm."
The leader approached slowly, kicking aside a rice bowl meant for the spirit chicken. The chicken blinked at him.
Li Qingyu stepped forward. Calm. Poised. Just a little too smug.
"Welcome to the Eternal Radiance Divine Sect. I assume you're here to apply?"
The youth let out a bark of laughter. "Apply? I came to confirm a rumor. They said someone built a sect out of garbage and ego. Turns out they undersold it."
His gaze landed on Qingyu. "You must be Li Qingyu. Kicked out of three sects, right? What's it like being the joke of the cultivation world?"
Li Qingyu smiled thinly.
> [Ding! Passive Skill Activated: Smug Aura Lv.1]
Effect: Lowers opponent's intelligence by 15% during verbal combat.
"It's not bad," Qingyu replied. "Today I unlocked construction blueprints, began rebuilding the main hall, and had soup that didn't try to murder me. Honestly, I've had worse Mondays."
The youth's smirk deepened. "Let me give you some advice. Shut down this farce before someone real comes and crushes your delusion."
Qingyu took a step forward, raising one finger.
"You get one move."
The Azure Wind lackeys froze. "Elder Brother, don't waste time—"
"I said," Qingyu repeated, "you get one move. Make it your best."
The youth snarled. "You think you're funny? Fine. I'll show you what real cultivation looks like!"
He surged forward, fist glowing with low-tier spiritual energy.
Qingyu didn't move.
Then—he did.
BAM.
One open-palm strike.
Wind exploded. Dust spiraled. The youth flew backward like a sack of arrogance, slamming into the half-finished chicken coop with a crunch.
Feathers filled the air.
Silence.
"…That," Su Jian said slowly, "was majestic."
Even Lin Ziyan blinked. "Okay. That was kind of cool."
Hu Daniu pumped a fist. "Big Bro! You slapped him so hard the chicken bowed!"
The spirit chicken stood on one leg and inclined its head respectfully toward Qingyu.
> [Ding! Mission Complete – Defend Sect Honor]
Reward: +10 Contribution Points, +5 Reputation
The two lackeys scrambled to pick up their groaning leader.
"I SAW A DRAGON IN HIS PALM—" the youth wailed. "HE HAS A DRAGON IN HIS PALM—!"
Qingyu dusted off his sleeves.
"Next time," he said, voice calm, "insult a sect that doesn't have a protagonist with plot armor."
The trio ran off.
---
That Evening…
Under a half-repaired pavilion, the four sect members gathered around a small brazier, eating thin root stew and pretending it wasn't depressing.
"Well," Su Jian mused, "I'd say that was our first real public relations campaign."
"Violence is a brand," Ziyan muttered.
Qingyu leaned back against a beam and looked up at the stars.
"One visitor down. Ten disciples to go."
> [New Quest Unlocked!]
Quest: Recruit 10 Outer Disciples (Phase 1)
Reward: Unlock Sect Shop Feature, Pavilion Upgrade, ??? Hidden Reward
Optional Bonus: First Five Recruits Within 7 Days – Bonus Contribution Points + Mystery Item
He stood, dramatic wind catching his sleeves.
"The revival begins now."
The spirit chicken beside him also stood…
…Wearing a tiny bamboo hat.
---