The next morning, Tyler woke up to the sound of someone arguing with a rock.
"No, you roll this way," Sparkwind muttered, crouched next to a stubborn Spirit Stone that refused to budge. Sparks danced across the ground every time he poked it with a twig.
Grubroot stood nearby, arms crossed, frowning so hard the earth vibrated underfoot.
Tyler rubbed sleep from his eyes and sat up. The hut still smelled like yesterday's victory—Spirit Herb tea, smoldering incense, and a hint of mountain dew. Morning mist coiled lazily over the fields, and the Spirit Kush shimmered faintly under the rising sun.
The system chimed.
[New Opportunity Detected: Recruitment Chance]
Nearby: Wandering Cultivators – 1 minor, 1 intermediate.
Status: Lost. Low Threat. Curious Vibes.
Tyler blinked. "Wait. Already?"
He pulled up the mini-map. Two tiny glowing dots drifted just outside the Verdant Leaf boundary, bobbing near the bamboo thicket like confused fireflies.
"Guess we're getting popular," he said, rolling to his feet and stretching with a yawn.
He snagged a pinch of dried Spirit Herb from the pouch Calmleaf had given him yesterday, crumbled it into a fresh cup of hot water, and took a long, savoring sip. Immediately, his thoughts settled into a mellow buzz.
"All right, squad," he called out, stepping into the clearing. "We might have visitors. Play it cool."
Grubroot nodded solemnly. "I am cool."
Sparkwind saluted, accidentally setting his sleeve on fire. "Cool as lightning."
Calmleaf appeared without a sound, robes immaculate as ever, sipping his own tea. "Shall we prepare a welcoming gift? Perhaps… herb?"
Tyler grinned. "That's the spirit."
He swiped open the system's recruitment interface. A few tips floated by:
Recruitment Tips:
Offer shelter, food, cultivation opportunity.
Align values.
Bonus effect if offering spiritual herb samples.
Warning: sketchy vibes repel recruits.
"I'll handle the talking," Tyler said. "Y'all just vibe."
They made their way toward the bamboo grove at the sect's edge. Birds chirped lazily, and somewhere overhead, a Spirit Crane flapped by, leaving trails of soft luminescence in the air.
As they approached, the visitors came into view.
The first was a tall girl, maybe seventeen, wearing simple traveler's robes and carrying a beat-up sword strapped to her back. Her brown hair was tied messily behind her head, and she had the unmistakable look of someone who hadn't had a decent night's sleep in a week.
Next to her was a skinny boy even younger—probably fourteen—whose robes were patched in three different colors. He clutched a wooden staff like it was his last lifeline.
Both stared at Tyler's crew like they'd just stumbled into a hallucination.
"Uh," the girl said, glancing at Sparkwind (still smoking slightly). "Is… this Verdant Leaf Sect?"
"Yep," Tyler said, spreading his arms wide. "Welcome to the chillest sect this side of the Eastern Ridge."
The girl blinked. The boy coughed nervously.
Calmleaf stepped forward and bowed slightly. "Would you like tea?"
The girl hesitated, then nodded slowly. "I… guess?"
Tyler led them back to the Meditation Grove, where Calmleaf brewed a fresh pot under the flowering spirit trees. The two newcomers sat awkwardly at the stone table, looking around like they weren't sure if they were about to get recruited or robbed.
Tyler leaned back and let the tea's aroma work its magic. After a few minutes, the girl finally spoke.
"My name's Lian," she said. "This is my cousin, Jun."
Jun waved weakly, his staff rattling.
"We were part of the Misty Hollow Wanderers," Lian continued. "But… the sect broke apart."
"Bandit raid?" Sparkwind asked, spinning a twig between his fingers.
"Internal collapse," Lian muttered. "The elders fought over a broken spirit artifact. Took the whole place down with them."
"Classic," Tyler said sympathetically.
"We've been wandering ever since," she said. "We heard rumors of a new sect starting up. One that wasn't about power games."
Tyler grinned. "You heard right."
He opened the recruitment panel.
[Potential Recruits:]
Lian: Body Cultivation Potential – Moderate. Mind Cultivation Potential – Low. Qi Sensitivity – Moderate. Personality: Loyal, Stubborn, Blunt.
Jun: Body Cultivation Potential – Low. Mind Cultivation Potential – High. Qi Sensitivity – High. Personality: Anxious, Curious, Hardworking.
System Recommendation: Suitable. Alignment: 78%.
Tyler tapped [Recruit].
"You're welcome to stay," he said aloud. "We focus on cultivation through growth, not violence. We respect the Leaf. We grow before we go."
Lian's face twitched into a smile. Jun visibly relaxed, his white-knuckle grip on the staff loosening.
"Do you have room for us?" Jun asked, voice small.
"We've got plenty of room," Tyler said. "And more Spirit Kush than we know what to do with."
Lian coughed into her hand, obviously trying not to laugh.
The system chimed.
[New Disciples Recruited: Lian and Jun!]
Disciples: 5/10
Sect Reputation Increased: +Minor Local Curiosity
Grubroot clapped Lian on the shoulder so hard she stumbled. "Welcome."
Calmleaf poured them each a fresh cup of tea.
Sparkwind grinned. "We should celebrate! I'll make fireworks."
"No fireworks," Tyler said instantly. "No explosions near the Spirit Field."
Sparkwind deflated, muttering something about "stifling creative spirit."
Tyler stood up and raised his cup. "To the new sprouts of Verdant Leaf."
Everyone toasted, even Jun, who accidentally spilled half his tea on himself but still smiled shyly.
The rest of the morning was spent showing Lian and Jun around. The field of glowing Spirit Kush. The Meditation Grove. The training ring that doubled as a dumpling cooker. (Jun was especially impressed by that.)
Both new disciples immediately felt the pull of the valley's peaceful energy. Jun practically collapsed into a hammock under the Spirit Vines and entered meditation within minutes. Lian, meanwhile, asked for a practice sword and started running drills near the riverbank.
By sunset, Tyler sat at the edge of the Spirit Field, watching the stars come out one by one.
The system chimed again.
[Sect Growth Milestone Achieved: 5 Disciples]
Reward: 1x Spirit Formation Seed (Used to create permanent spiritual infrastructure.)
He held the Spirit Formation Seed in his palm. It looked like a tiny glass bead, swirling with mist.
"You know," he said to Calmleaf, who appeared beside him, "this place… it's really starting to feel alive."
Calmleaf nodded, his gaze serene. "Growth begins with a single sprout."
"Tomorrow," Tyler said, smiling, "we start planning Verdant Leaf's first real cultivation tournament."
Calmleaf raised an eyebrow. "A tournament?"
"Yeah," Tyler said, grinning wider. "Nothing crazy. Sparring. Games. Some Spirit Herb prizes."
"And dumplings?" Sparkwind called from the tree above.
"Definitely dumplings."
Grubroot gave a grunt of approval from somewhere deeper in the grove.
Tyler leaned back against the soft earth, breathing in the scent of Spirit Kush and the cool night air.
He wasn't a warrior.
He wasn't some chosen hero.
He was just a dude who wanted to grow the best damn weed the Qi-Realm had ever seen.
And right now?
It felt like he was exactly where he was meant to be.