Qing'er, her small frame still trembling slightly, finished the water and then gratefully accepted the loaf of bread. She tore into it with an almost primal hunger, stuffing chunks into her mouth, chewing ravenously. Li Xuan watched her, a strange mix of satisfaction and unease swirling within him. He had fulfilled the System's task, secured a week's worth of food, and gotten his first recruit. But seeing her devour the simple bread reminded him of the harsh reality of their situation. This was just a week. What then?
As Qing'er ate, the faint jade-green glow from the Verdant Qi Pill continued to emanate from her injured arm, its warmth visibly easing her discomfort. She looked up at him, her eyes still cautious but now tinged with a nascent trust. "It feels... warm," she murmured, wiggling her fingers gingerly. "Less bad."
"Good," Li Xuan said, a genuine smile forming. "That's the pill working. Now, once you're done eating, we need to talk about getting you strong." He knew he needed to explain the basics of cultivation, as best as he understood them, and start her on the path. The faster she started, the faster she could genuinely benefit, and the faster the sect could truly grow.
He waited patiently as she finished the bread, wiping her mouth with the back of her hand. Her immediate hunger sated, she seemed more relaxed, though still wary.
"Qing'er," Li Xuan began, choosing his words carefully. "This world is full of something called Qi. It's the energy of everything, in the air, in the earth, in us. To get strong, cultivators learn to draw this Qi into their bodies, purify it, and use it." He remembered the System's tooltip for the Body Tempering Realm as the foundational stage. "Right now, you, and even I, are just starting. It's called the Body Tempering Realm. It's about strengthening your physical body with Qi, making you tougher, faster, more resilient."
Qing'er listened intently, her brow furrowed in concentration. She seemed to grasp the concept, perhaps having heard whispers of it in the outside world, or simply being open to new ideas due to her desperate circumstances.
"This world is full of secrets," Li Xuan continued, though within the realm of what she could comprehend, "I possess ancient knowledge of an easier way to teach you. A Lesser Qi Gathering Manual. It's basic, but it's incredibly efficient. It will help you absorb Qi much faster than most." He pulled the manual, not physically, but the mental instruction for it, into his forefront thoughts. He then projected the visual image of the manual and its instructions to her, much like the System had done for him. It was a bizarre process, but it worked.
Qing'er's eyes widened as the detailed instructions for sitting postures, breathing techniques, and mental circulation paths appeared in her mind, clear as day. She gasped softly. "It's... it's like I just know it."
"Exactly," Li Xuan confirmed, relieved. The System made teaching effortless. "Now, I want you to try. Find a comfortable spot here, in the vault. It's quiet, and it feels... safe. Sit cross-legged, like the instructions show, and focus on your breathing. Try to feel that warmth, that tingle, like you felt from the pill, and draw it in."
Qing'er, surprisingly obedient, found a clean patch of floor in the vault. She sat down, her small body still hunched slightly, and closed her eyes, trying to follow the mental instructions. Li Xuan watched her intently. He still felt like an imposter, a gamer playing a role, but now he was responsible for another life. And if the System was right, his and her growth were intrinsically linked.
Minutes ticked by. The vault was silent, save for Qing'er's soft, focused breathing. Then, a faint jade-green shimmer, even softer than the pill's glow, began to emanate from her small body. It was subtle, barely visible, but it was there. She was drawing in Qi!
Li Xuan felt a surge of pride, like a mentor in a game watching his apprentice nail their first spell. "That's it, Qing'er!" he encouraged, keeping his voice low. "You're doing it! Feel the warmth, guide it. Into your Dantian."
Qing'er continued to cultivate, a look of intense concentration on her face. Her progress, while slow, was visibly faster than his own initial attempts. Perhaps it was her youth, her lack of preconceptions, or simply a natural affinity. He smiled. This was good. This was very good. She was raw potential, and the System was giving them the tools to unlock it.
While Qing'er cultivated, Li Xuan started mentally reviewing the other new reward: the Basic Farming & Gathering Manual. Its contents were surprisingly detailed for a "basic" manual: instructions on identifying edible wild plants, simple cultivation techniques for various common crops, basic soil preparation, and even rudimentary irrigation methods. This was the long-term solution to their food problem. He couldn't rely on the System's weekly supply forever. They needed a sustainable income model, and growing their own food was the most fundamental step.
He knew he couldn't start a farm inside the vault, or even the immediate courtyard. He'd need proper land, tools, and sunlight. The manual also outlined how to process certain wild plants into basic medicines or ingredients for future pills. This was incredibly valuable.
He spent the rest of the morning and early afternoon supervising Qing'er's cultivation and mentally poring over the farming manual. He periodically retrieved a piece of bread and some water for himself from the System's inventory, his hunger now manageable.
By late afternoon, Qing'er stirred, opening her eyes. They were clearer, brighter, and her expression was one of bewildered wonder. "Sect Leader Li Xuan," she said, her voice stronger, "I... I felt it! A warmth! And my arm... it still hurts, but it's not as bad. I feel... lighter!"
[Disciple Qing'er has successfully entered the Body Tempering Realm (Stage 1).]
The System's chime rang in Li Xuan's mind, making him grin. "Excellent, Qing'er! You've made your first breakthrough! You're officially a cultivator now. And you just entered the Body Tempering Realm, the first stage of cultivation. You're stronger than you were before."
Qing'er's eyes widened, a mixture of disbelief and awe. "I'm strong?" she whispered, then a faint, shy smile touched her lips. It was the first genuine smile he had seen from her.
"You will be," Li Xuan corrected gently. "This is just the first step. There's a lot more to learn, a lot more to achieve. But you have talent, Qing'er. You pick up Qi faster than I did." He didn't mention he'd spent hours trying to find a digital trigger button.
He stood up, stretching his limbs. "Now, we have a week's worth of food, thanks to your becoming a disciple. But we need more. We need to start farming. And for that, we need to clear some land outside. And get some tools." He looked at the Farming Manual, then back at his still-dusty courtyard. "Tomorrow, we start clearing a proper field."
Qing'er looked at him, then at the entrance of the vault, then back at the loaf of bread she still held. She nodded decisively. "Okay, Sect Leader Li Xuan. I'll help. I can work. My arm will be better soon." The pain in her arm might still be present, but the hope in her eyes was clearly stronger. She had a purpose now, and a future that extended beyond immediate survival.
Li Xuan looked at her, then mentally reviewed the System's tasks. He had one disciple. He needed more. He needed to rebuild the sect physically. And he needed to find a real source of income. This was going to be a long, slow grind. But with a nascent cultivator like Qing'er, and the System's rewards, he felt a spark of genuine optimism. The Accidental Sect Leader's journey had truly begun.