Morning dew still clung to the Spirit Herb leaves when Tyler gathered his disciples at the Meditation Garden. Birds chirped lazily from pine branches, and the faint scent of herbal incense floated in the air.
Tyler sipped from his Spirit Tea cup, feeling the Qi-rich liquid settle warmly in his core.
The system chimed.
[New Quest: Expand Sect Infrastructure]
Objectives:
Build 2 New Facilities
Recruit 1 Outer Disciple
Rewards:
Sect Expansion Feature Unlocked
Resource Flow +20%
Spirit Herb Farm Upgrade Available
Tyler read it twice, then grinned. "Time to grow more than just plants."
Grubroot, Calmleaf, Lian, Sparkwind, and Jun sat in a loose circle, curious.
"We're upgrading the sect," Tyler announced. "More facilities. More people. More vibes."
"More hammocks?" Sparkwind asked hopefully.
"Maybe," Tyler said. "First, we need to figure out what we actually need. Any ideas?"
Grubroot raised a thick finger. "Storage. Spirit Herbs need drying. Curing. Processing."
Calmleaf nodded. "Also, an Archive. A place to store cultivation manuals, insights, and meditation scrolls."
Jun hesitantly added, "Maybe a little kitchen? For, uh, dumpling production?"
Tyler laughed. "Noted."
He opened the system interface, swiping through blueprints.
[Facility Options Available:]
Spirit Herb Drying Shed
Cultivation Archive
Meditation Pavilion
Training Ground Enhancement
Outer Disciple Lodges
"First two are obvious," Tyler said, selecting the Drying Shed and the Archive.
The blueprints materialized into shimmering ghost images over two empty areas—one near the Spirit Field, the other nestled against the bamboo grove.
He slammed his palm against the confirmation button.
The valley rumbled softly as construction materials shimmered into place—planks of Spiritwood, bundles of enchanted vines, smooth Spiritstone tiles.
"Alright, Leaflings," Tyler said, rolling up his sleeves. "Construction montage, let's go."
The Drying Shed went up first. Grubroot handled the heavy lifting, stacking Spiritwood beams like matchsticks. Calmleaf wove preservation arrays into the walls with a few graceful brushstrokes, making sure the herbs inside would retain maximum potency.
Sparkwind installed a ventilation system made entirely of cleverly bent lightning currents. It worked better than anyone expected, though occasionally the shed gave off a faint buzzing sound.
Meanwhile, Lian organized the budding Cultivation Archive with quiet precision. She cataloged the Verdant Leaf Sect's first official techniques, including the Path of Verdant Transcendence manual and various Spirit Herb guides Tyler hastily wrote down between tea breaks.
Jun showed surprising skill at painting neat signage, crafting delicate Spirit Brush labels that glowed faintly when touched.
By the end of the day, the sect had two brand-new buildings—and a serious sense of accomplishment.
[Facility Construction Complete!]
[Sect Infrastructure +2]
[Disciples' Efficiency Increased.]
Tyler stood between the Archive and the Drying Shed, hands on his hips, grinning.
"Look at this. A real sect. A weird sect—but a real one."
Grubroot bowed solemnly. "Roots deepen. Tree grows strong."
Calmleaf gave a serene nod.
Sparkwind tried to lean against the Drying Shed, got zapped by his own ventilation rune, and yelped.
"Okay," Tyler said, laughing. "Next objective—new blood."
The Verdant Leaf Sect was, so far, a tightly knit group. But Tyler knew they couldn't stay small forever. The system had made that clear.
[Recruitment Options Available:]
Open Application to Nearby Villages
Issue Spirit Herb Trials
Passive Attraction via Sect Doctrine Resonance
Tyler tapped the third option. He didn't want just anyone. Verdant Leaf wasn't about martial conquest or ruthless ambition. It was about chill growth, spiritual expansion, and a deep respect for the herb.
The system responded with a soft pulse of energy radiating from the Sect Flag. A beacon—subtle, but enough to call the right kind of soul.
Now it was just a matter of waiting.
Or so he thought.
Two days later, as mist pooled in the valley's low places and the morning sun broke over the mountain peaks, a stranger appeared at the gate.
She wore plain robes dyed a soft green and brown, and carried a battered satchel slung over one shoulder. Her hair was tied back in a loose braid, and a sprig of unknown herb tucked behind her ear glowed faintly with natural Qi.
Tyler, Calmleaf, and Grubroot approached cautiously.
The girl bowed deeply.
"My name is Willow," she said. "I heard the call. I seek a place to root myself and grow."
Tyler raised an eyebrow. "You cultivate already?"
"A little," she admitted. "Mostly plant affinity. Healing Qi. I can help herbs grow stronger, or soothe wounded roots."
Grubroot looked impressed.
Calmleaf asked, "What do you seek from cultivation?"
Willow smiled. "Peace. Balance. A garden without thorns."
Tyler's system chimed.
[Compatible Spirit Detected.]
[Recruit Willow as Outer Disciple?]
Bonuses: Farm Boost +5%, Healing Qi Available
Personality Alignment: 92% Verdant Doctrine
He didn't hesitate.
"Welcome to the Verdant Leaf Sect," Tyler said, offering her a Spirit Herb sprig instead of a handshake.
Willow accepted it reverently.
[New Disciple Recruited!]
[Sect Expansion Feature Unlocked.]
[Resource Flow Increased.]
The valley itself seemed to breathe easier.
Tyler led Willow on a tour of the fields, gardens, and Meditation Garden. Sparkwind gave an impromptu (and dangerously unstable) lightning show. Lian demonstrated basic sword forms in slow, graceful arcs. Jun shyly offered her a dumpling.
By evening, Willow had already planted a small herb patch of her own—tiny healing flowers that glowed softly in the twilight.
The Leaf had gained another caretaker.
Later that night, Tyler sat by the fire, staring up at a sky full of stars.
The sect had two new facilities. A new disciple. A growing Spirit Field. Even a philosophy.
It wasn't flashy.
It wasn't famous.
It wasn't powerful.
But it was real.
And for the first time since he'd stumbled into the Qi-Realm, Tyler didn't just feel like he was surviving.
He felt like he was building something.
Not a kingdom. Not an empire.
A sanctuary.
A home.
The system chimed again, almost gently.
[Next Phase Unlocked: Verdant Leaf Sect Expansion Plan – Phase 2]
Objectives:
Establish Trade Connection with Neighboring Villages
Develop Intermediate Spirit Herb Strain
Host Outer Disciple Spirit Gathering
Tyler smiled, the firelight dancing in his eyes.
Tomorrow would be even busier.
And he couldn't wait.