The aroma of freshly cooked badger meat, even if unseasoned, wafted through the secret vault the next morning. Li Xuan, feeling surprisingly invigorated after a night of deep sleep and consistent cultivation (he was now at Body Tempering Realm (Stage 1 - 88% progress)), ate his share. Qing'er, too, seemed energized, her small figure radiating a subtle vibrancy that confirmed her rapid progress at Body Tempering Realm (Stage 2 - 45% progress).
"We need to find more meat, Qing'er," Li Xuan stated, finishing his meal. "And I'll try to set some traps. We need more Sect Points." He carefully avoided any mention of the System or points, keeping his explanation to the practical needs of the sect. "More meat means more food for us, and resources to trade, eventually. And more points means we can get better tools, or better ways to help you grow stronger."
He consulted the Basic Farming & Gathering Manual in his mind. It had sections on identifying local flora and fauna, and basic trapping methods. He pictured the simple snare traps, made from vines and bent saplings. They weren't complex, but they were effective against smaller game.
"I need to gather some strong vines and flexible saplings," he explained to Qing'er. "While I do that, can you look for anything edible in the forest? Berries, roots, anything that looks like what's in the manual." He mentally projected the images of common edible plants from the manual for her. Her absorption of knowledge, thanks to her cultivation and youth, was impressive.
They ventured into the forest again, this time with a specific purpose. Li Xuan moved cautiously, his senses heightened. He was looking for signs of small game – tracks, disturbed undergrowth, burrows. He also kept an eye out for larger animals, determined not to be caught off guard again.
He located a thick cluster of sturdy, flexible vines and began to cut them with the small knife from his cooking kit. It was slow work, the blade not quite sharp enough for the task, but he managed to gather a decent bundle. He also found a few young, springy saplings suitable for the trap mechanisms.
As he worked, Li Xuan mentally reviewed the Sect Store again. He only had 2 Sect Points. He still needed 3 more for the Basic Water Purification Kit. He needed 10 for the Basic Cooking Pot & Utensils (which he already had), 20 for the Basic Wood Axe or Pickaxe. And a daunting 50 for the Qi Condensation Breakthrough Pill.
He needed a way to earn more points, quickly. The Gather 10 kg of Processed Wild Game Meat objective was his immediate target, promising 10 Sect Points. He still needed to procure roughly 6 kg more raw meat to process.
He began to set the traps, meticulously following the instructions in the manual. He chose narrow game trails, areas where animal droppings were visible, and near water sources. He built three snares, carefully camouflaging them with leaves and twigs.
Meanwhile, Qing'er, surprisingly adept, had found a patch of wild berries. They were small, dark blue, and looked exactly like a picture in the manual. "Sect Leader Li Xuan! Look!" she called out, her voice bright. "These are edible!"
Li Xuan walked over, relieved. "Good job, Qing'er! That's excellent foraging. We can eat these raw, or add them to the pot." He stored the handful she'd gathered into his Sect Inventory.
As the sun began to set, painting the forest with hues of orange and purple, Li Xuan decided to check his first trap. He led Qing'er back to the first snare he'd set earlier. As they approached, a faint rustling sound reached their ears.
Li Xuan's heart quickened. Had they caught something? He moved slowly, cautiously, peering through the undergrowth.
And there it was. Not a badger, but a much smaller creature, struggling in the snare. It looked like a large, plump rabbit, its fur a mottled brown. It was alive, but clearly trapped.
"A rabbit!" Li Xuan whispered, a surge of triumph going through him. This was perfect. Easier to handle than a badger, and more meat.
He quickly dispatched the creature, feeling a pang of regret but hardening his resolve. Survival in this world demanded it. He stored the rabbit into his Sect Inventory.
[Item: Rabbit Meat (Raw) x 1.5 kg. Item: Rabbit Fur (Untreated) x 1.]
"Excellent!" Li Xuan exclaimed, a genuine grin on his face. "This is exactly what we needed. Let's check the other traps quickly before it gets too dark."
They checked the other two traps. The second was empty. The third, however, held another, slightly smaller rabbit. Li Xuan dispatched it as well, adding its meat and fur to his inventory.
[Item: Rabbit Meat (Raw) x 1.2 kg. Item: Rabbit Fur (Untreated) x 1.]
He now had roughly 2.7 kg of rabbit meat, plus the 4 kg of badger meat, bringing his total to 6.7 kg. Just 3.3 kg more to hit the 10 kg objective! And with the rabbit fur, he was starting to gather more diverse resources.
As they walked back towards the sect, the forest floor dimly lit by the rising moon, Li Xuan felt a renewed sense of purpose. This wasn't just about survival anymore. It was about methodical growth, about playing the long game, about earning those points to unlock the true potential of his sect. He had a disciple who was rapidly cultivating, a burgeoning farm, and now, a promising method for acquiring more resources and points. The journey to transform the Accidental Sect Leader into a true powerhouse was slowly but surely gaining momentum.