The scent of roasting rabbit meat filled the secret vault. Li Xuan, still gritty from his morning trap-checking, hummed faintly as he stirred the pot. He'd meticulously skinned and butchered the two rabbits they'd caught yesterday, adding their meat to the remaining badger portions. The Basic Cooking Pot and Basic Fire Starting Kit were invaluable; starting a fire was now a swift flick of the wrist, and cooking was no longer a hazardous guessing game.
His personal cultivation was still steadily progressing at Body Tempering Realm (Stage 1 - 92% progress). He felt a consistent, subtle strengthening of his core, a growing internal warmth that assured him he was getting closer to his own breakthrough. Qing'er, on the other hand, was blazing through the initial stages. She was now at Body Tempering Realm (Stage 2 - 70% progress), her Qi flow visibly more robust, her movements more fluid. Her arm, once painfully broken, now showed no signs of injury, a testament to her rapid cultivation and the initial aid of the Verdant Qi Pill.
"Sect Leader Li Xuan," Qing'er said, watching the pot with an eager gaze. "The meat smells good!"
"It does," Li Xuan agreed, a small smile playing on his lips. He was proud of their progress. He glanced at the raw meat still waiting to be processed from his inventory. He had roughly 6.7 kg total so far. He needed 10 kg for the objective. He mentally checked the System.
[Objective: Gather 10 kg of Processed Wild Game Meat.]
[Progress: 6.7/10 kg.]
"We need a bit more, Qing'er," he said, indicating the remaining raw meat. "We'll need to go out again after we eat. Hopefully, the traps caught something else."
After their meal, Li Xuan continued processing the remaining meat. It was tedious, messy work, but he pushed through, driven by the thought of those coveted Sect Points. As he portioned out the last of the badger meat, the familiar blue shimmer appeared, followed by a triumphant chime.
[Item: Processed Wild Game Meat x 10 kg. Objective: Gather 10 kg of Processed Wild Game Meat Complete!]
[Reward: 10 Sect Points, Basic Tanning Manual (Common Grade) acquired!]
A wave of exhilaration washed over Li Xuan. Ten Sect Points! This was huge! He immediately checked his total: 12 Sect Points (2 from previous balance + 10 from this objective).
His eyes immediately darted to the Qi Condensation Breakthrough Pill in the Sect Store. It was 50 points. Still a significant way off, but within reach! And the Basic Tanning Manual was now in his mental inventory, a valuable skill for utilizing the animal hides they were accumulating.
He then looked at his current cultivation progress: Body Tempering Realm (Stage 1 - 92% progress). He was so close. The thought of that Qi Condensation Breakthrough Pill was incredibly tempting. It would bypass weeks, maybe months, of slow progress. He was at a pivotal point. He could invest in tools for the sect (like the axe or pickaxe), or he could invest in himself, a direct power boost.
The System's voice, though silent to Qing'er, resonated clearly in Li Xuan's mind. A Sect Leader's strength is paramount. A strong leader inspires loyalty and provides protection.
Li Xuan took a deep breath. His logic brain kicked in. He needed to be strong to protect Qing'er, to defend the sect, to truly lead. He couldn't just rely on a Spirit Sword he barely understood. A breakthrough would give him access to its full power, and potentially unlock new abilities.
"System," he thought, his decision firm. "Purchase Qi Condensation Breakthrough Pill."
[Confirm purchase: Qi Condensation Breakthrough Pill (50 Sect Points)?]
[Current Sect Points: 12. Remaining Sect Points: -38. Insufficient Sect Points.]
Li Xuan's triumph deflated like a punctured balloon. "What?! -38? I only had 12!" He had been so focused on getting 10 points, he hadn't realized how far he still was from 50. His gamer brain, used to smaller increments and quicker rewards, had made a critical miscalculation.
He mentally facepalmed. Of course. Fifty points was a lot. He had let his excitement get the better of him. He still needed 38 more points. That meant more objectives, more processing, more recruits.
He let out a long, frustrated sigh. "Well, that was a bust," he mumbled to himself, earning a curious glance from Qing'er. "Just... some planning issues," he clarified vaguely.
He still had 2 Sect Points after the fire starter purchase. The 10 points for the meat objective had just increased his balance to 12. So close, yet so far from that pill.
He looked at the remaining options in the Sect Store he could afford, or save up for more quickly.
Basic Water Purification Kit (5 Sect Points): He still had some water.
Basic Wood Axe (20 Sect Points): Still too expensive.
He needed to think smarter. He needed a significant influx of points.
Establish a Basic Sect Income Source (20 Sect Points): This objective was worth a lot. But how? Trading farm produce? Perhaps making something with the animal hides once he learned tanning?
Recruit 1 Disciple (10 Sect Points): Finding another orphan in the wilderness was still a long shot, but a possibility.
Suddenly, a dull ache blossomed in his Dantian, a familiar pressure. He felt a surge of warmth, stronger than before, then a tingling sensation spread throughout his body. It was a profound, internal shift, like a dam breaking. The Qi in his body, diligently cultivated over days, began to flow with a newfound vigor, expanding his meridians, purifying his essence.
His eyes snapped open. He hadn't bought the pill, but his cultivation...
[Cultivation Breakthrough Achieved! Li Xuan has entered the Body Tempering Realm (Stage 2)!]
A triumphant chime echoed solely in his mind, louder than any before. He gasped, a profound sense of power coursing through him. He felt lighter, stronger, sharper. His senses were heightened. He could hear the distant chirping of crickets with astonishing clarity, feel the subtle drafts of air in the vault. His muscles twitched with new, vibrant energy. He was stronger. Significantly stronger.
His progress bar now proudly displayed: Body Tempering Realm (Stage 2 - 0% progress).
He hadn't needed the pill after all! The intense physical labor, the constant danger, the mental strain of planning, combined with his dedicated cultivation, had pushed him past the bottleneck. It was a natural breakthrough, hard-earned.
Qing'er, who had been meditating, opened her eyes, looking at him with awe. "Sect Leader Li Xuan," she whispered, her voice filled with wonder. "You... you feel different. So much stronger!"
Li Xuan grinned, a true, unadulterated grin of triumph. "That's right, Qing'er!" he declared, his voice resonating with newfound power. "I just made a breakthrough. We're both getting stronger. And that means the Falling Leaf Sect is getting stronger, too!"
He still needed more Sect Points for other things, but this breakthrough felt like a massive victory. Now, with a strengthened body and a slightly clearer mind, he could face the challenges ahead with greater confidence. The distant smoke on the horizon seemed less daunting. He was ready to tackle the outside world, and ready to get more disciples and resources for his burgeoning sect. The Accidental Sect Leader was finally getting a taste of true power.