The Falling Leaf Sect buzzed with newfound energy, propelled by the return of Li Xuan and his expanded group of disciples from Brightwood. The sound of tools at work intensified, and the murmur of cultivating voices in the Scriptorium became a constant hum. Li Xuan's 14 disciples, a mix of the original dedicated few and the new, eager recruits from Brightwood, quickly integrated. The Basic Living Quarters, now better furnished with new mats, felt more like a true home. The purchased picks and shovels, along with the carpentry tools, already streamlined their work, accelerating the completion of the Basic Training Ground and Basic Storage facilities.
Li Xuan's immediate focus was on his new disciples. Under Qing'er's patient yet firm guidance and the mentorship of Kael and Elara, the eight new recruits rapidly absorbed the basics of the Lesser Qi Gathering Manual. Their progress, while varied, was notable, a testament to the raw talent that Brightwood had yielded and the sect's effective teaching methods. Within days, several had already felt the first nascent wisps of Qi within their Dantians, marking their entry into the Body Tempering Realm (Stage 0).
The existing disciples, invigorated by the new arrivals, redoubled their efforts. Kael and Elara, both at Body Tempering Realm (Stage 1 - 40% progress), pushed their Falling Leaf Blade Art to new levels, their 'Phantom Edge' becoming more pronounced and their movements more intuitive. Roric and Lyra, both now at Body Tempering Realm (Stage 1 - 20% progress), showed consistent improvement, their understanding of Qi deepening. Finn and Gareth, having just broken through to Body Tempering Realm (Stage 1), began to exhibit the first, albeit clumsy, blurs of their own 'Phantom Edge'. The unique martial art was becoming a shared language, a defining characteristic of the Falling Leaf Sect's growing strength.
Li Xuan spent his own time consolidating his Qi Condensation Realm (Stage 1 - 30% progress), pushing towards Stage 2. He knew his own advancement was critical for the sect's rank upgrade, and he regularly joined the disciples in their training, demonstrating the subtleties of the Falling Leaf Blade Art with his own Falling Leaf Spirit Sword, inspiring them with his effortless power.
With the Basic Training Ground and Basic Storage facilities nearing completion, Li Xuan's mind turned to the Sect Rank Upgrade Requirements once more. He had 14 disciples, a good step towards the 20 needed. His own cultivation was progressing. The crucial requirements now were his core disciples reaching Body Tempering Realm (Stage 5) and the construction of a Dedicated Cultivation Chamber. The 500 Gold Coins requirement also still loomed, though his current 190 Gold Coins were a solid start.
The idea of a Dedicated Cultivation Chamber intrigued him. The System Store surely offered one. He mentally browsed the available options, specifically looking for facilities related to accelerated cultivation.
[Basic Cultivation Chamber Schematic]
Rank: Common
Description: A simple chamber designed to slightly enhance Qi absorption during meditation. Suitable for Body Tempering Realm cultivators.
Effect: +5% Qi Absorption Rate for cultivators inside.
Sect Point Cost: 50 Sect Points.
[Enhanced Cultivation Chamber Schematic]
Rank: Uncommon
Description: A more advanced chamber, designed with minor Qi gathering formations to significantly boost cultivation speed.
Effect: +15% Qi Absorption Rate for cultivators inside.
Sect Point Cost: 150 Sect Points.
[Spirit Gathering Array Schematic]
Rank: Rare
Description: A powerful array that actively draws ambient Qi, concentrating it into the chamber for accelerated cultivation. Requires specific materials beyond Sect Points.
Effect: +30% Qi Absorption Rate for cultivators inside.
Sect Point Cost: 300 Sect Points. Requires 5 Spirit Stones (Low-Grade) for activation.
Li Xuan's eyes lingered on the Enhanced Cultivation Chamber. The +15% Qi Absorption Rate was a significant boost, far better than the basic one, and a direct answer to his need for faster disciple growth. It cost 150 Sect Points. He currently had 190. It was a hefty investment, but one that promised to cut down the time his disciples needed to reach Body Tempering Stage 5. This would be the "unique" boost he'd been considering.
He didn't make the purchase immediately. He needed to ensure all basic facilities were fully operational and that their resources were stable. But the vision was clear: the Enhanced Cultivation Chamber would be the next major upgrade, the true engine for his disciples' accelerated growth. The Spirit Gathering Array was tempting, but the need for Spirit Stones, a resource he had never encountered, made it a distant dream for now.
That night, as the last of the timber was put into place on the storage facility, Li Xuan felt a renewed sense of purpose. The Falling Leaf Sect was no longer just a struggling dream; it was a tangible, growing reality, a force slowly gaining its unique identity, one sharpened blade and absorbed wisp of Qi at a time.