The Falling Leaf Sect had become a crucible of cultivation, its very air vibrating with burgeoning spiritual energy. The influx of new disciples from Brightwood, coupled with the tireless effectiveness of the Enhanced Cultivation Chamber, had ignited a competitive fire within the sect. The chamber hummed with concentrated Qi day and night, its passive formations tirelessly drawing spiritual energy into its confines. Disciples rotated through it, their meditation sessions yielding gains that would have taken months in the outside world. The constant training on the Basic Training Ground honed their bodies and their burgeoning Qi, transforming them into more effective cultivators.
Li Xuan himself pushed relentlessly towards his next breakthrough, aware that his own cultivation was the final, critical piece for the sect's elevation. He spent every available moment in the Enhanced Cultivation Chamber, his mind a vortex absorbing the dense Qi. The resistance to advancing from Qi Condensation Realm (Stage 1) through Stage 2 and into Stage 3 was immense, a tangible barrier of accumulated energy. He felt the internal pressure build, the Qi in his Dantian swirling, compacting, and then expanding with each successful cycle. He pushed past the aches, past the mental fatigue, driven by the vision of the Falling Leaf Sect's future.
One predawn morning, as the first hint of light touched the horizon, Li Xuan felt a profound shift within his Dantian. The vast reservoir of Qi he had painstakingly accumulated compacted further, solidifying into a more refined state. Then, with a subtle thrum that resonated through his very being, it surged, expanding, deepening his spiritual perception and invigorating his entire body with a newfound power. He breathed out slowly, a wave of calm, potent energy washing over him. He had broken through two minor stages, his will fusing with the accelerated cultivation.
[Sect Leader Cultivation: Qi Condensation Realm (Stage 3 - 1% progress)]
The System's notification was a quiet, powerful affirmation. He had achieved it. He was now a Qi Condensation Realm (Stage 3) cultivator, his strength, speed, and Qi manipulation significantly enhanced, his spiritual senses keenly sharpened. This was the final personal milestone required for the Minor Sect rank.
Meanwhile, his core disciples, driven by a thirst for power and the direct, undeniable results of the sect's methods, pushed even harder. Their breakthroughs came in rapid succession, fueled by the Enhanced Cultivation Chamber and their personal dedication.
Elara, with her innate talent and disciplined focus in the Enhanced Cultivation Chamber, was the first. Her Qi, already flowing with remarkable fluidity, reached a peak, then broke through the internal barrier, ascending rapidly through the intermediate stages. [Disciple Cultivation: Elara (Body Tempering Realm - Stage 5)]
Kael, his robust physique now a conduit for significantly stronger Qi, soon followed, his breakthrough accompanied by a deep, resonant hum as his meridians expanded. [Disciple Cultivation: Kael (Body Tempering Realm - Stage 5)]
Ren, the sharp-witted recruit from Brightwood who had quickly proven his dedication and leadership, demonstrated an unexpected burst of talent. Days later, he, too, broke through to the fifth stage. [Disciple Cultivation: Ren (Body Tempering Realm - Stage 5)]
Roric, methodical and unyielding, achieved his breakthrough with quiet determination, his steady progress finally culminating in the crucial advancement. [Disciple Cultivation: Roric (Body Tempering Realm - Stage 5)]
And finally, the resilient Lyra, whose initial frailty now seemed a distant memory, pushed through with a fierce willpower, her breakthrough a testament to sheer perseverance. [Disciple Cultivation: Lyra (Body Tempering Realm - Stage 5)]
Five core disciples, all at Body Tempering Realm (Stage 5) or higher. This fulfilled the second major cultivation requirement for the Minor Sect Rank. The remaining disciples were also making rapid progress, many now firmly in Body Tempering Realm (Stage 2) and some approaching Stage 3, a clear indication of the sect's accelerated growth methods.
Li Xuan's eyes swept over the fully functional Basic Living Quarters, the bustling Basic Training Ground, the stocked Basic Storage facility, and the powerful, yet discreet, Enhanced Cultivation Chamber. He mentally reviewed his resources: 300 Sect Points and 150 Gold Coins. The trade with the Hamlet of Clear Stream was stable, providing basic necessities. Their reputation, though still nascent, was spreading through the Brightwood trade routes, fueled by whispers of their unique methods.
All the established requirements for Minor Sect status were now unequivocally met.
Li Xuan took a deep breath, a sense of profound triumph swelling in his chest. "System," he thought, his voice firm and clear, "Initiate Sect Rank Upgrade: Minor Sect."
The air around him shimmered, and a brilliant golden light erupted from the System interface, momentarily bathing the entire sect in its glow. A magnificent chime, resonant and powerful, echoed not just in Li Xuan's mind, but seemed to subtly vibrate through the very foundations of the Falling Leaf Sect.
[CONGRATULATIONS!]
[Sect Rank Upgraded: Minor Sect!]
[Sect Reputation: Well-Known (Upgraded from Known)]
[Sect Rank Upgrade Rewards:]
Sect Points +500
Gold Coins +200
Blueprint: Basic Sect Defenses (Common Grade)
Unique Martial Art Skill Compendium: Soaring Wind Fist (Uncommon Grade)
System Prompt: Initiate Sect Objective: Minor Sect Challenge
Li Xuan's eyes widened. 500 Sect Points! 200 Gold Coins! His reserves surged to 800 Sect Points (300 + 500) and 350 Gold Coins (150 + 200). The Basic Sect Defenses blueprint was a vital practical reward, providing much-needed protection against external threats.
But it was the Soaring Wind Fist that captivated him. A Unique Martial Art Skill Compendium of Uncommon Grade. This was the exact kind of powerful, distinctive skill he had hoped for. He quickly accessed its details:
[Martial Art: Soaring Wind Fist (Uncommon Grade)]
Rank: Uncommon
Description: A dynamic and aggressive fist art focusing on explosive power, swift evasive maneuvers, and accumulating momentum. Its strikes carry the force of a gale, making it ideal for overwhelming single opponents or breaking through defenses.
Unique Trait: 'Gale Force' - Each successful strike builds momentum, empowering subsequent blows with increasing force and speed, leaving behind trails of wind-infused Qi. When fully charged, a strike can unleash a concentrated burst of wind Qi, capable of easily defeating foes of the same rank, and even higher stages if caught off guard.
Cultivation Requirement: Body Tempering Realm (Stage 3) to initiate, Qi Condensation Realm (Stage 2) for basic mastery.
Sect Point Cost: N/A (System Reward)
"Soaring Wind Fist," Li Xuan murmured, a triumphant smile spreading across his face. This was perfect. The Falling Leaf Blade Art emphasized precision and deception; the Soaring Wind Fist would provide raw, overwhelming power. The 'Gale Force' trait, particularly its ability to easily defeat foes of the same rank, was exactly what he needed to truly differentiate his disciples. It also required a slightly higher cultivation (Stage 3) to initiate, giving his Body Tempering Stage 5 disciples (Kael, Elara, Ren, Roric, Lyra) a new, immediate goal and challenging the swiftly progressing Stage 2 disciples.
A new System Prompt also flashed: Initiate Sect Objective: Minor Sect Challenge. He didn't activate it yet, but he knew it would be his next major undertaking, a trial that would solidify their new rank and further boost their reputation.
The news spread like wildfire through the sect. Cheers erupted from the training ground as Li Xuan announced their official to be elevation to a Minor Sect. Disciples embraced, their faces alight with pride. Their hard work, their dedication, had paid off. They were no longer a struggling group in a ruin; they were a standard sect, a Minor Sect with a unique heritage and formidable methods.
That evening, a simple but heartfelt celebration took place. The disciples feasted on roasted beast meat, their voices filled with laughter and dreams of the future. Li Xuan looked at them all – his loyal Qing'er, the formidable Kael, Elara, Ren, Roric, Lyra, and the dozens of eager new faces – each one a testament to his vision. The sect's reputation as "Well-Known" would begin to spread, attracting more attention, more challenges, and more opportunities.
He knew the path to a higher rank was long, but with his sect now in the Minor Sect standard, possessing unique martial arts and powerful cultivation methods, and with substantial reserves of both Sect Points and Gold Coins, the Falling Leaf Sect was poised for true ascendance. The whispers of the 'Phantom Edge' would soon be joined by the thunder of the 'Gale Force,' ready to shake the cultivation world.