My Flight Landings Are Still A Bit Dramatic

The journey back to the Azure Cloud Sect was a lot more crowded than the trip to the market.

Little Lyra, the Foxkin girl, clung to my hand, her golden eyes wide with a mix of wonder and lingering fear.

She was quiet, absorbing everything, occasionally glancing up at my white robe and (retracted) wings with a look of utter fascination.

"Don't worry, Lyra," I told her, squeezing her small hand gently. "When we get back to our sect, the Heavenly System Sect, I'm going to make you something strong. Something that will help you feel safe. Something amazing."

She just nodded, her fox ears twitching slightly. My dashboard remained silent, no point gain for being a good Samaritan. But the feeling of having done something truly right was better than any points. (Though, points would still be nice.)

Sect Master Gu Ran, Lyra (the commander), Urg, and Zephyr walked ahead, occasionally glancing back at me and the Foxkin girl.

Commander Lyra, in particular, seemed to watch the younger Lyra with an almost unreadable expression. Was it concern? Curiosity? Or just a subtle "why is this kid named after me?" vibe?

Two days later, we were flying. Well, I was flying. My [Basic White Wings System] had finally reached a point where I could sustain flight for long periods, and even execute surprisingly graceful turns.

My landings were still a bit dramatic, but I was getting there. I soared above the caravan, enjoying the wind in my (metaphorical) hair, occasionally looking down at the tiny figures of Gu Ran and the others.

"Sect Master Alex!" Gu Ran's voice, amplified by Qi, boomed up to me. "Your flight has truly improved! But do not stray too far! The mountain paths can be treacherous!"

"No worries, Sect Master!" I yelled back, doing a little barrel roll just to show off. (My inner System was probably groaning at my theatrics.) "Just enjoying the view! And keeping an eye out for rogue banana peels!"

As I flew, a thought struck me.

My Heavenly System Sect was growing, but it needed more resources. The Azure Cloud Sect had promised annual spiritual stones, but that was for the future. I needed immediate funds, immediate power for my sect.

I landed gracefully (mostly) beside Gu Ran. "Sect Master," I began, trying to sound humble but firm. "My Heavenly System Sect is growing, but it's still a young sprout. We need resources. Can the Azure Cloud Sect provide some immediate financial assistance? Some spiritual stones, perhaps? To accelerate our growth?"

Gu Ran stroked his beard, a thoughtful expression on his face. "Alex, my friend, I understand your eagerness.

But the Azure Cloud Sect has already invested significantly in your venture, both in resources and in the systems you allocated. And the Dragon Egg… well, that went to my brother, so I didn't earn anything from this tournament in terms of direct material wealth for the sect."

"Oh," I said, deflating slightly. Right. The Dragon Egg was the prize. Gu Ran didn't get a huge payout. My points were my own personal gain.

"Besides, Alex," Gu Ran continued, a knowing glint in his eye, "if you truly wish to be a real Sect Master, you must learn self-sufficiency.

A sect does not grow simply by receiving handouts. It grows through the efforts of its disciples. Give your students missions. Let them earn the resources. Let them forge their own path, and in doing so, they will forge the sect's path."

My eyes widened. Missions? Earning resources? That was… actually brilliant. It wasn't just about me handing out systems; it was about empowering my disciples to contribute, to grow, to become self-reliant. It was like a real-world RPG, where my disciples were my party members, and I was the quest-giver.

"You're right, Sect Master!" I exclaimed, a new wave of excitement washing over me. "That's perfect! Missions! Resource gathering! Beast hunts! We'll be a self-sufficient powerhouse!"

Gu Ran smiled, a proud look on his face. "Indeed. Now, if you'll excuse me, I must return to the Azure Cloud Sect.

You, Alex, are free to return to your Heavenly System Sect. It is now your domain, your responsibility. You are no longer merely a Branch Sect Master under my direct command. You are… an independent ally. The Heavenly System Sect is yours."

My heart swelled. Independent! This was it! The System's "Sect Master" requirement for the shop was about to be fulfilled!

"Thank you, Sect Master Gu Ran!" I said, giving him a deep, respectful bow. "Thank you for everything. I won't let you down. The Heavenly System Sect will make you proud!"

Gu Ran nodded, a warm smile on his face. He then turned and, with Lyra, Urg, and Zephyr, continued their journey towards the Azure Cloud Sect, their figures slowly disappearing into the distance.

I turned to little Lyra, who was still clinging to my hand. "Alright, Lyra," I said, a grin splitting my face. "Time to go home. To our sect. The Heavenly System Sect!"

I unfurled my wings, a magnificent spread of shimmering white. Lyra gasped, her golden eyes wide with awe. I gently scooped her up, holding her securely in one arm.

"Hold on tight!" I yelled, and with a powerful beat of my wings, I launched myself into the sky. This time, my flight was smooth, confident, and almost entirely wobble-free. I soared through the air, heading towards the valley where my sect lay.

The journey was exhilarating. The wind rushed past us, the clouds felt close enough to touch. Little Lyra giggled, her fear replaced by pure delight, her fox ears twitching in the breeze.

As we neared the valley, my eyes widened. The Heavenly System Sect. It had grown!

What had been a bustling construction site was now a thriving community. There were more houses, perhaps fifteen or so, built with a charming blend of traditional cultivation architecture and a subtle, almost indescribable "Alex-style" flair.

The training ground was larger, more defined. A proper mess hall stood proudly. And the defense wall, though still incomplete, was significantly taller.

And the disciples! There were so many of them! Not just my initial five, but dozens more. I counted roughly a hundred figures moving about, practicing Qi techniques, assisting with construction, or simply going about their daily lives. My sect had exploded in growth!

I landed gracefully (mostly) in the center of the sect grounds, gently setting Lyra down. She immediately ran towards a group of children who were playing nearby, her fox ears twitching with excitement.

"Sect Master Alex!" Jian's voice boomed. He, along with Fang, Master Glimmer, and a crowd of new disciples, rushed towards me. "You've returned! And you brought… a new member!"

"Indeed, Jian!" I said, beaming. "This is Lyra. She's a Foxkin, and she's our newest disciple!"

Jian nodded, his intense eyes softening as he looked at the little girl. Fang even managed a small, almost-smile.

"Sect Master," Jian continued, his voice filled with pride, "while you were away, our recruitment teams returned! Li, Old Man Huo, and Xiao Mei! They brought back dozens of new recruits from the villages! And Master Glimmer's crew has been working tirelessly! The Heavenly System Sect has grown exponentially!"

My eyes darted around, taking in the bustling scene. This was amazing! My sect was no longer a "mid-sized" dream; it was a rapidly expanding reality.

"And speaking of Li, Old Man Huo, and Xiao Mei," I said, looking around. "Where are they?"

Just then, a small group emerged from the main hall. It was Li, Old Man Huo, and Xiao Mei. They looked tired, but triumphant. And they were surrounded by even more new recruits, perhaps twenty or thirty more!

"Sect Master Alex!" Li cheered, rushing forward, her charisma radiating. "We're back! And we brought… even more!"

Old Man Huo grunted, but a wide grin was plastered across his face. "These villagers, laddiebunch, they were practically lining up to join once they heard about the 'systems'!"

Xiao Mei, clutching her now even thicker book, nodded vigorously. "The 'software update for reality' analogy proved highly effective, Sect Master! We have cultivators, farmers, healers, blacksmiths, and even a few aspiring bards!"

My dashboard, which had been silent, suddenly flashed.

[SYSTEM ALERT: SECT GROWTH DETECTED. USER'S LEADERSHIP PERFORMANCE: IMPRESSIVE (FOR A DOOFUS).]

[SYSTEM STATUS: ALMOST PROUD]

Then, a new message, pulsing with an almost celebratory tone:

THE SYSTEM SHOP IS NOW FULLY UNLOCKED! ENJOY YOUR SHOPPING SPREE. YOU'VE EARNED IT. (MOSTLY.)

My eyes widened. The System Shop! Fully unlocked! 

I looked around at my bustling, rapidly growing sect, at the hopeful faces of my new disciples, at little Lyra playing with the other children. This was more than just points. This was a home.