Unlikely Allies

Li Wei stood proudly in the middle of the village, basking in the afterglow of victory. The villagers cheered, their grateful smiles making him feel like a true hero.

"Who knew becoming Sect Master would feel so good?" Li Wei muttered to himself, his chest puffing up with pride.

Lin Yue, walking up beside him, smirked. "You do realize you almost got yourself killed, right?"

Li Wei waved her off. "Nah, I'm too talented for that. You should've seen my moves—smooth like a river."

"More like a drunk chicken trying to fly," Xuan Tian quipped from behind them, making Li Wei glare at him.

"Why do you always have to ruin the mood?" Li Wei huffed. "Anyway, what's next? Do we celebrate or what?"

Just as Li Wei was about to suggest a feast, a loud commotion interrupted them. Villagers ran past in a panic, pointing toward the forest.

"What's going on now?" Lin Yue asked, her expression turning serious.

A villager ran up, breathless. "There's a group of people approaching—strong cultivators! They claim they want to join the sect!"

Li Wei raised an eyebrow. "Strong cultivators, huh? Maybe they heard about my skills already."

Xuan Tian snorted. "Don't kid yourself. Strong cultivators don't come to a dying sect unless they have something to gain."

"Doesn't matter," Li Wei said, his grin returning. "More people means more power. Let's see what they've got."

The group quickly made their way to the entrance of the village, where a group of travelers had indeed arrived. They were led by a tall, imposing man with long black hair tied in a loose ponytail. His gaze was sharp, and his aura rippled with power.

"Are you the Sect Master of Heavenly Cloud Sect?" the man asked, his voice deep and authoritative.

Li Wei stepped forward, putting on his best 'masterful' pose, which was only slightly ruined by the awkwardness in his stance. "I am Li Wei, Sect Master of Heavenly Cloud Sect. And you are…?"

The man nodded respectfully. "I am Zhao Xian, a cultivator seeking to join your sect. My companions and I have been wandering for some time and heard rumors of your victory over the bandits."

Li Wei raised an eyebrow. "You're interested in joining? Just like that?"

Zhao Xian didn't hesitate. "We've been looking for a sect with potential—one that's on the rise. Your victory shows that you're not just some weakling in the corner. You're someone who's ready to challenge the odds. That's the kind of leader we want to follow."

Xuan Tian scoffed under his breath. "You're either brave or foolish to follow this guy."

Li Wei shot him a glare before turning back to Zhao Xian. "Alright, I'll bite. What can you offer? We're in the middle of nowhere, with barely any resources to speak of."

Zhao Xian smiled, revealing a glint in his eyes. "We're strong cultivators. We can help you build up your sect—cultivate resources, protect the area, and train the next generation of warriors. You provide the leadership, we provide the strength."

Li Wei stroked his chin, pretending to deliberate. In truth, he was already considering it. The more cultivators they had, the better.

"Well, I don't have much to offer, but you'll be treated as valued members of the sect. Welcome to Heavenly Cloud Sect!" Li Wei declared grandly.

Zhao Xian gave a small bow. "Thank you, Sect Master."

However, one of Zhao Xian's companions, a woman with long silver hair, eyed Li Wei suspiciously. "Are you sure about this, Leader?" she whispered to him, her voice low enough for only those closest to hear.

Zhao Xian glanced at her, then back at Li Wei. "It's fine. If this sect is really on the rise, we'll all benefit."

Li Wei noticed the exchange but said nothing. His attention shifted to the rest of Zhao Xian's group.

There were six of them in total. Aside from Zhao Xian, the woman with silver hair, and a lanky man with glasses, the other three appeared younger, but their cultivation levels were evident.

"This is a solid crew," Li Wei muttered under his breath. "Maybe I should start training them too."

Lin Yue, noticing his thoughts, crossed her arms. "Don't get too cocky. You're still a long way from becoming a real Sect Master."

Li Wei grinned. "Hey, even a genius like me needs a bit of help, right?"

As they all began to walk back toward the village, Zhao Xian's group introduced themselves. The lanky man with glasses was named Wu Liang, and he appeared to be the sect's strategist. The young cultivators were all at the Martial Warrior level, though Li Wei could tell they still had much to learn.

"So, when do we start building the sect's foundation?" Li Wei asked, eager to get things moving.

Zhao Xian chuckled. "Patience, Sect Master. You're still weak, and your sect needs time to grow. We should focus on improving our strength first."

Li Wei frowned slightly. "How long are we talking here? I've got big plans, and I don't want to waste time!"

Zhao Xian's smile widened. "Don't worry. With us, you'll have all the time you need."

Meanwhile, in the shadows, a dark figure observed the exchange from afar.

"So the Heavenly Cloud Sect has a new leader. Interesting..."