Chapter 4: The Recruitment Mission
The Great Sect Expansion
The morning sun bathed the ruins of the temple in soft golden light. Lin Feng stretched, feeling the weight of his newfound responsibility as Sect Leader. Beside him, Yan Qing looked a bit less ragged after a good night's rest. The aura of cultivation had already begun to stir inside him, though his Qi was still weak.
"So," Yan Qing began, wiping the sleep from his eyes, "what's the plan for today, Sect Leader?"
Lin Feng cracked his knuckles. "Today is a big day. We start recruiting disciples, and we make our sect the sect to join in this region!"
Yan Qing raised an eyebrow. "You do realize we don't have anything to offer them, right?"
Lin Feng grinned widely. "That's exactly why we'll be offering something no other sect can give: A chance to become stronger. You'll see—our sect will grow fast!"
[Mission Unlocked: Recruit 3 disciples! Reward: Sect Advancement!]
The system chimed in with a cheerful notification.
"See?" Lin Feng pointed at the notification. "We've already got a mission! Time to make things happen!"
Yan Qing folded his arms, skeptical. "A 'chance to become stronger'? How are we supposed to offer that when our sect is literally in ruins?"
Lin Feng's eyes gleamed with determination. "That's what makes it fun! We start small and work our way up. Now, I need you to help me scout out potential disciples."
Yan Qing looked around at the desolate temple. "Alright. I'll find someone. But if they run away, don't blame me."
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The First Test of Recruitment
After gathering a few rations from nearby villages, Lin Feng and Yan Qing made their way to the closest town. The bustling market square was filled with people selling wares and gossiping. Lin Feng couldn't help but feel excited—this was the first step to building his own empire.
"You know, Sect Leader," Yan Qing said while eyeing the crowd, "you've got the charisma of a rat looking for cheese. Are you sure you can recruit anyone?"
Lin Feng scoffed. "My charm is undeniable!"
[Ding! Charm stat has increased by 2 points.]
"See? Told you."
Yan Qing rolled his eyes. "Sure. Sure."
They approached a small group of cultivators standing near the market stalls. One of them was a young man with a messy ponytail, dressed in tattered robes. His Qi was weak, but Lin Feng could sense the potential in him.
"Hey, you!" Lin Feng called out, walking toward the man. "Are you looking for a sect?"
The young man looked up, surprised. "A sect? Why would I need a sect? I'm not good enough to join any big ones."
Lin Feng's eyes gleamed. "That's exactly why you should join my sect. We're a growing sect, and we offer real opportunities for those willing to train hard!"
The young man scratched his head. "I don't know. I heard there are a lot of scams going around these days..."
Yan Qing leaned over to Lin Feng and whispered, "Are you seriously going to recruit him? He's just some guy wandering around."
Lin Feng shot him a confident smile. "You'll see. I've got a way with words."
Turning back to the man, Lin Feng continued, "Think of it this way: If you join our sect, you won't have to worry about being stuck at your current level. With my guidance and some real training, you could become far stronger than you are now. And you'll always have a place to call home."
The young man blinked. "I… I suppose that sounds good, but I don't have much to offer."
Lin Feng nodded sagely. "You don't need anything right now. Just your determination. The rest, we'll take care of."
[Ding! New disciple recruited: Zhang Wei!]
A golden light enveloped the young man, marking his official induction into the Supreme Sect.
Zhang Wei looked at his new Sect Leader in awe. "I'm really part of your sect now?"
Lin Feng grinned. "Of course. Welcome to the family, Zhang Wei!"
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A Difficult Decision
The next few hours were spent recruiting more disciples. Lin Feng and Yan Qing had successfully brought in two more members, both young cultivators looking for a way out of their stagnant cultivation. Their names were Mei Ling, a quiet girl with an affinity for poison techniques, and Chen Bo, a large, boisterous guy who claimed he was "born to fight."
Now, with three disciples, Lin Feng felt a spark of excitement. The Supreme Sect was officially growing.
However, not everything was going according to plan. As they walked back toward their newly upgraded base—the now slightly less-dilapidated temple—Yan Qing raised a troubling question.
"Sect Leader, are you really sure about this?"
Lin Feng glanced at him. "About what?"
Yan Qing hesitated before speaking. "I get that we're building this sect from scratch, but… do you think we can actually make it big with just these three? I mean, our sect's reputation is basically zero, and we're still lacking in resources."
Lin Feng stopped and turned to face him. "Yan Qing, if we want to build a great sect, we have to believe in it first. If we don't, no one else will."
[Ding! New mission: Prove the Supreme Sect's Worth. Mission Reward: Sect Reputation Boost.]
The system chimed in once again.
Lin Feng nodded with a determined look. "We'll prove ourselves. One step at a time."
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The First Test of Strength
Back at the temple, the new recruits gathered around the campfire. Lin Feng stood in front of them, ready to make his announcement.
"Now that you've all joined, we need to see where each of you stands in terms of cultivation and ability," Lin Feng said. "Today, we'll be holding a sparring session. Don't hold back. This is the first step to becoming real cultivators."
Mei Ling raised an eyebrow. "Sparring? With who?"
Lin Feng smiled. "With each other. And with me, of course."
Yan Qing stepped forward. "Wait—YOU'RE going to fight them?"
Lin Feng grinned. "Of course. How else will they know the true powe
r of the Supreme Sect?"
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End of Chapter 4