Chapter 9: Bricks, Banners, and Bogus Disciples

---

[Morning – Eternal Radiance Divine Sect, Sort of Peaceful… Until]

Li Qingyu yawned, stretched, and stepped outside—only to immediately trip over a large plank of wood covered in glitter and angry calligraphy.

He blinked. "Who writes 'We bleed, we build, we deserve drip' on construction material?"

A loud whistle echoed across the half-built meditation hall.

Out marched the construction crew in formation, led by Foreman Wu, who wore a ceremonial chicken bucket helmet and held a wooden spear duct-taped to a trowel.

Behind him: picket signs.

> "NO ROBES, NO ROOFS!"

> "YOU HAVE ALCHEMY PILL REVENUE. WHERE'S OUR THREAD COUNT?"

> "EGGY DIED FOR THIS."

Ziyan sipped tea on a roof beam and commented, "Honestly, they have a point."

Li Qingyu frowned. "You're supposed to be on my side."

"I am. But I also enjoy revolutions. From a distance."

Su Jian joined, holding a broom like a flag. "They've unionized. I heard one of them filed for worker's compensation after being scared by a spirit mouse."

Daniu added, "They want sect robes. With pockets."

Li Qingyu groaned and opened his system shop window.

> System Notification: Morale Crisis Detected!

Suggested purchase: Builder Robe Pack – Limited Edition (30 Spirit Coins)

Includes: rugged robes, toolbelt loops, and optional knee support enchantments.

"Fine," he muttered, clicking 'Buy.'

With a whoosh, a crate descended from the sky and exploded into shimmering confetti.

Inside: a pile of gray-and-gold uniforms with glowing embroidery that read "Eternal Radiance Divine Sect – Construction Core Division."

Foreman Wu held one up and choked back emotion. "...It has knee pockets. For snacks."

The strike disbanded instantly.

---

[Courtyard – Fashion Showdown: Construction Core vs Cultivator Couture]

The construction team emerged in full force, strutting around like runway models at a sect-themed fashion week.

One summoned a spirit drill while posing in slow motion.

Daniu clapped like an excited seal. "They look like battle engineers!"

Ziyan squinted. "They look like backup dancers for a 'Sect Idol' musical."

Su Jian nodded. "I'd watch that. With subtitles."

Li Qingyu crossed his arms. "Fine, they can cosplay cultivators. As long as they keep building."

> System Notification: Construction Speed +15%

Builder Morale: Jubilant. One has written a folk song.

---

[Midday – Enter: Mo Chen, Grifter Extraordinaire]

Just as calm returned, a lone figure appeared down the path.

Tall, glowy, dramatic wind.

Mo Chen.

White robes. Fancy sword. Shiny fan.

He struck a pose and declared, "I am Mo Chen, last disciple of the legendary—if tragically forgotten—Thousand Bamboo Sect."

Everyone stared.

Ziyan squinted. "That's… definitely fake."

Su Jian checked a book. "There's no such sect."

Mo Chen gasped. "Lies! Slander! You wound my ancestral dignity!"

Li Qingyu blinked at the System pop-up:

> Mission Progress: Recruit 2 Inner Disciples

Eligible Candidate Detected: Mo Chen (Delusional, Possibly Useful)

Li Qingyu smiled. "Welcome to the sect!"

Ziyan dropped her teacup. "Oh come on! We're recruiting cosplay cultivators now?"

Mo Chen bowed dramatically. "You will not regret this… for I bring the Way of Bamboo."

"...You mean hitting people with sticks?"

"It's a philosophy."

---

[Afternoon – The Flag of Chaos]

With his disciple count growing, Li Qingyu declared, "We need a proper sect banner. One that reflects our glorious insanity—I mean, spirit."

The system provided a DIY Spiritual Banner Kit™ with a cheerful warning:

> "Infuse with sect spirit. Do NOT overcharge unless you enjoy spontaneous poultryification."

He gathered everyone.

"Pour your essence into the flag," he said.

Ziyan painted a phoenix holding a blade.

Su Jian added glowing alchemy glyphs.

Daniu drew a smiling turnip.

Mo Chen added a single stalk of bamboo... weeping.

Li Qingyu infused it with qi.

The flag shimmered. It floated. It vibrated.

Then it screamed.

Then it exploded into rainbow mist.

A nearby bird transformed into a duck with three eyes.

Ziyan coughed. "Well done. We've created a psychedelic war banner."

Mo Chen bowed solemnly. "It represents inner turmoil."

---

[Evening – Battle for the Bunk Beds]

The builders had finished a new dormitory. Everyone was impressed.

Except the disciples. Who all raced to claim the best rooms.

Daniu dove onto a top bunk, yelling "Victory to Turnip Tribe!"

Ziyan summoned sword qi to block the stairs.

Mo Chen glided in, laying bamboo leaf sachets on every pillow "to establish dominance."

Su Jian summoned a tiny storm cloud to zap anyone who got too close to the alchemy-friendly bunk.

A chaotic brawl broke out.

Li Qingyu sighed, pulled out a scroll, and began writing labels:

> "Room 1: Brooding Edgy Girl"

"Room 2: Bamboo Nonsense"

"Room 3: Sad Turnip Cultivator"

"Room 4: Potion Gremlin"

Peace was restored.

Temporarily.

---

[System Notification]

> Mission Update: Inner Disciple Count – 4/5

New Reward Available Upon Completion: System Shop Tier 2 Unlock

Bonus Alert: Sect Banner Awakened. Now Self-Aware. May Explode Randomly.