The morning after his breakthrough, Li Xuan felt a profound difference. His sleep had been deeper, his body felt lighter, and his mind clearer. He was now in Body Tempering Realm (Stage 2), and the effects were undeniable. The constant ache from physical labor was significantly lessened, his movements were more precise, and his senses felt sharper. He could distinctly hear the distant chirping of crickets from beyond the vault walls, and the subtle scent of damp earth was more pronounced. He was no longer just thinking about cultivation; he was truly experiencing its benefits.
Qing'er, still at Body Tempering Realm (Stage 2 - 70% progress), watched him with wide, curious eyes. "Sect Leader Li Xuan, you feel... bigger," she observed, her young face earnest.
Li Xuan chuckled. "Not bigger, just stronger, Qing'er. Much stronger. That's the power of cultivation." He stretched, feeling the new vitality coursing through him. He imagined swinging the hoe with less effort, clearing land faster. This was a true game-changer.
He checked his Sect Points internally: still 12. He remembered his miscalculation about the Qi Condensation Breakthrough Pill, but his natural advancement tempered the disappointment. Still, he needed more points for future upgrades and to properly repair the sect.
"Today," Li Xuan announced, "we go back to the farm. We plant the seeds, and then we need to set more traps. We still need more resources." He paused, looking at his small knife from the cooking kit. It was adequate for butchering small game, but useless for serious woodcutting. He needed a better tool for gathering wood to repair the sect and eventually for a forge.
He mentally reviewed the Sect Store again. The Basic Wood Axe was 20 Sect Points. He had 12. He still needed 8 more.
"We need to think about how to get enough materials to fix this place," Li Xuan said, gesturing vaguely at the crumbling vault walls and the dilapidated sect beyond. "It's not just about food. A proper sect needs proper buildings."
Qing'er nodded, understanding. "The main hall is very broken, Sect Leader."
"Indeed," Li Xuan agreed. "And that requires wood, stone, tools... and money."
The thought of money brought him back to the distant smoke plume. That was his best bet for a "lucky encounter." He needed to make it happen, but he couldn't just walk into the unknown empty-handed. He needed information, and he needed a strategy.
"Qing'er," Li Xuan said, a daring idea forming in his mind. "We've gathered enough meat to last us a while, and we've planted seeds. What we need now is a way to get outside resources. I've been thinking about that smoke we saw. It might be a village or a town."
Qing'er looked apprehensive. "Out there? Is it safe?"
"We don't know," Li Xuan admitted honestly. "But we can't hide here forever. We need to go out, gather information, and find out what people in this area need. If we can provide something they need, we can earn money. And money means we can rebuild the sect, attract more disciples, and get even stronger."
He thought of the badger hides and rabbit furs in his Sect Inventory. The Basic Tanning Manual was now available to him, once he accumulated enough points. Tanning hides could provide a trade good. Or perhaps the unprocessed meat.
"The manual I acquired," Li Xuan explained, referring to the Basic Farming & Gathering Manual, "also teaches how to make certain useful items from animal parts, and even some basic medicines from wild plants. We could use these."
He grabbed a piece of charcoal from their fire pit and found a relatively flat stone. He began to sketch. "We need to plan this. First, we need to make sure we're not running into a nest of monsters. Then, we need to figure out what they might trade. And finally, how to get there safely."
He drew a rough map of the area as he understood it: a circle for the sect, a squiggly line for the stream, and a small puff of smoke in the distance. He then drew stick figures, representing potential enemies, and coins, representing potential wealth. It was rudimentary, but it was a plan.
"We will process all the meat we have first," Li Xuan instructed, his voice firm. "Then, we'll try to find more game. Once we have a good supply of processed meat and maybe even some tanned hides, we'll make our move. We'll approach cautiously. You stay hidden, observe. I'll make contact."
He was aware of the risks, acutely so after his breakthrough. His enhanced senses made the world feel both more vibrant and more dangerous. But he also felt a surge of confidence. He was the Sect Leader. He had a growing farm, a talented disciple, and a secret source of power. He wasn't just reacting to events anymore; he was starting to shape them. The accidental sect leader was ready to engineer his own luck.