'No way. It's her? Here? This can't be happening.'
Xiù Feng stared at the young woman standing before her.
Her face was... exactly as Xiù Feng remembered. Petite frame, a dusting of freckles across the nose, lips often set in a slightly displeased line. The same dark green hair pulled back simply, the same blue eyes. It was uncanny. Like looking at a character right out of a screen.
Chu Xingchen, standing beside Xiù Feng, also watched the herbalist. His expression remained guarded, assessing the newcomer with a cultivator's caution.
The shock was so sudden, so absolute, that the name just slipped out before Xiù Feng could stop it.
"Maomao?"
"That is not my name." The girl answered flatly. Her voice was calm, showing no reaction to the mistaken name.
'No, I'm overthinking it. Just a resemblance a look alike. But still... she looks way too...' Xiù Feng blinked, shaking her head slightly.
"My name is Xiaomaō!" the girl stated, her voice suddenly louder, clearer, shattering the moment of confused recognition.
Xiù Feng's thought process just... stopped.
"..." Xiù Feng stared at the girl, Xiaomao, then at the overseer, then back at Xiaomao.
"That's it...Who Writes This Crap!?" she yelled at the heavens causing everyone else except the girl to flinch.
Meng Zhao, who had just started to rise, dropped back to his knees instantly. "Ahh A Thousand Pardons Great Cultivator please.." he stammered, trembling.
"Daoist Feng," Chu Xingchen said, stepping slightly closer to her, his hand moving to his sword hilt. "Are you alright? What troubles you so?" He glanced from Xiù Feng's face, twisted in exasperation, to the calm Xiaomao, trying to understand the sudden shift.
"I am buying her" Xiù Feng stated plainly, cutting him off, her gaze still fixed on Xiaomao. She dropped another small hill of gold taels from her inventory.
Meng Zhao scrambled forward, bowing frantically. "Yes! Yes, esteemed cultivator! A wise choice! She is yours!"
She didn't even bother checking the status screen hovering near Xiaomao's head. What was the point? The data it showed couldn't possibly be as telling as the name itself.
If she is based on a main character she has plot armour right?
Xiù Feng gestured towards the cage where the other girls were. "Stand over there," she told Xiaomao. Xiaomao simply walked towards the cage and stood near it without any fuss, her eyes observing everything with that same detached focus.
"Alright, Meng Zhao, we'll take our stock now," Xiù Feng said, waving a hand dismissively at the overseer still prostrated on the ground.
"Wait, Miss Feng," Chu Xingchen interjected, looking from the group of girls to Xiaomao, then back at their surroundings. "Take them? Here? Now?" He looked around the slave yard. "How do you intend to transport so many?"
"Like this," Xiù Feng said, offering no further explanation.
Without any warning, a powerful spatial fluctuation enveloped the group . The world twisted violently giving those present a dizzying sensation of being stretched thin, like a dough pulled into noodles. Chu Xingchen instinctively solidified his Qi to resist the unnatural force, his eyes narrowed in alarm.
They reappeared moments later in a place that was definitely not the slave yard... It was... much grander. And utterly unfamiliar to Chu Xingchen, who looked around with clear confusion and renewed caution, sword half-drawn instinctively. The air here felt different, vibrant with spiritual energy, yet calm and pure.
"Where are we, Miss Feng?" Chu Xingchen demanded, scanning the surroundings, alert for any danger in this unknown place. "That was a spatial teleportation array… but there was no array visible!"
Xiù Feng just waved a hand, looking around herself with mild interest. "We are in the home base now....I mean sect grounds. Don't worry about the specifics yet, Daoist Chu."
As the spatial distortion faded completely, a new screen popped up in Xiù Feng's vision, different from the status screens.
[SYSTEM NOTIFICATION]
[Five Disciples Recruited! Sect Function Unlocked!]
[Reward: Sect hall unlocked, Alchemist tower unlocked,@#23? Library... Re! Two Library towers unlocked,Qi gathering???!6 Qi gathering array upgraded,sect garden unlocked ]
[Reward: Beginner Sect Resource Pack, Ten Pill bag, 1000X spirit stones,1000X??? Gold ]
[Reward: Sect skill pack]
Xiù Feng blinked at the screen. Five disciples? She'd bought seven girls plus Xiaomao, Maybe the system counted the Elders ones differently? Or maybe Mei Ling'er and Chu didn't count as 'recruited yet in the system's eyes. Whatever. Sect Function unlocked!
*Okay, five disciples minimum unlocked the sect functions. Nice. One step closer to not having to do anything.* Xiù Feng thought, with a sense of satisfaction
'Automatic repair is definitely handy. Saves me a ton of hassle.' Xiù Feng thought happily
The automatic repair was technically not a part of the system it was more of a side effects like of how you upgrade or unlock the main town hall/palace in the game and everything gets naturally restored
The walls had straightened themselves, cracks sealed shut, ancient dust vanished as if swept weeds were replaced by neatly paved pathways made of smooth, grey stone and clean, sturdy buildings constructed from polished stone and dark wood.
In the center of the courtyard a. functional training ground with wooden dummies and weapon racks
A multi-room, two-story building encircled the courtyard serving as a residence for the disciples
The entire sect and surrounding structures seemed automatically repaired, cleaned, and even slightly expanded as a side effect of the unlock. It looked like a basic, functional sect base, quiet and waiting, far more impressive than Xiù Feng's dilapidated ruins had appeared.
Chu Xingchen watched the place with a mixture of astonishment and disbelief not that the sect was grand or anything it was not bad but rather the way they arrived here
The law of space, Xiù Feng had used the law of space to transport them
He was aware of her of spatial control which she used to store various things in but to be able to use it to this extent
Chu Xingchen was once again convinced that Xiù Feng was a powerful expert with great providence
The girls stood in the courtyard, dazed at the sudden change,
Xiù Feng turned to face the group. With a simple wave of her hand, a ripple enveloped the captives, and the heavy metal shackles around their wrists and ankles fell to the vanished, dissolving into thin air. The girls stumbled slightly, rubbing their freed limbs
"Alright everyone," Xiù Feng announced, walking towards the now-freed group who were looking around with awe and confusion. "Listen up. You're free now. This place is your new home. And you're probably hungry, right? "
She gestured towards a building that looked like a mess hall near the edge of the courtyard, a sturdy stone structure with wide double doors propped open. Through the doors, long wooden tables and benches were visible, and steam rose from platters of what looked like freshly cooked food – piled high rice, steaming buns, and large tureens of fragrant soup. The smell of cooked meat and herbs drifted across the courtyard, a welcome change from the slave yard's stench.
"Food's in there. Go eat your fill. Get cleaned up too, if you like. Your shackles are gone. You're safe here."
Cultivators in the Qi Gathering stage need to eat drink and sleep like normal humans as they don't have the ability to cycle spiritual energy properly yet.
For this reason many consider the Qi layering realm (which is the next realm after Qi gathering) as the true starting point for becoming a cultivator
Xiù Feng led them towards the mess hall, a sturdy stone structure with wide double doors propped open. Through the doors, long wooden tables and benches were visible, and steam rose from platters of freshly cooked food – piled high rice, steaming buns, large bowls of fragrant soup and dishes of cooked meat and vegetables "Food's in there. Go eat your fill. Get cleaned up too, if you like. Your shackles are gone. You're safe here."
The girls hesitated, looking at each other, overwhelmed.
"Go on," Chu Xingchen said kindly, stepping forward slightly. "It's safe here. Your benefactor speaks truly." His voice was calm, reassuring, offering a sense of security.
Slowly, the girls began to move towards the mess hall, some limping, some still wide-eyed
Xiù Feng watched them go, a sense of mild, happiness that they were free
"They're now disciples of my sect," Xiù Feng stated. " they need to learn and grow well here. Train hard. For their own future, and ours. You can help with that, Daoist Chu. Teach them some basics."
"Yes, I suppose I could teach some basic earth ,wind and water spells and simple array forms " He nodded slowly, considering the task "I am not very proficient in wind spells but I do know quite a few illusion spells and protection spells"
Not that he really saw any talent in these half starved girls but then it was his responsibility as an elder
Later, after the disciples had eaten and found places to rest in the cleaned dormitory buildings, Xiù Feng, Chu Xingchen, and Mei Ling'er gathered in a clean, simple meeting room
"Right Elder Chu let me introduce you to Elder Lin Hua she is the sword expert of our sect and has a rare lighting attribute , Elder Lin this is Elder Chu Xingchen who is our formation expert"
"Pleased to meet you Fellow Daoist Chu" Mei Ling'er, who had taken up the false name of Lin Hua gave a polite greetings
"Likewise Lady Lin" Chu Xingchen returned her greetings noting that she was a third stage golden core realm cultivator
"Right," Xiù Feng started, sitting down at a plain wooden table. " "Regarding the first matter what must be our sect' s name "
Chu Xingchen looked thoughtful. "A sect name… it should reflect our purpose, our foundation. Something grand, maybe? Or mighty? A name that inspires strength and respect."
"Perhaps a name that speaks of protection? Given we are offering a home to the lost and vulnerable." Lin Hua suggested
"Strength… protection… alright," Xiù Feng mused, tapping a finger on the table. "How about… Grand Protector Sect? Or Mighty Fortress Sect?"
"Mighty Fortress seems too odd," Chu Xingchen considered. "Grand Protector is… perhaps a name one hears often."
"Perhaps a name that speaks of enduring hardship? Of resilience against trials and storms?" Li Hua said
"Like a great mountain? Iron Peak Sect? Enduring Stone Sect?" Chu Xingchen tried.
"No they aren't really good names who will name their sect as stone ?" Xiù Feng turned the suggestion down
"Enduring Stone speaks of resilience, Sect Master," Chu Xingchen pressed. "Iron Summit suggests strength. Such names are well meaning and symbolic."
"What about tortoise? Or a great turtle?"Li Hua suggested
"Exactly! A great turtle! Or a tortoise! They are tough, they last forever, they bear weight, they are the very image of unyielding endurance! "Xiù Feng beamed
"Still we should associate an element with the chosen animal "
"Iron...iron mountain sec I mean Iron Mountain Turtle Sect" Xiù Feng suggested
The previous sect that was here went by the name of invincible iron mountain sect since they have taken over the sect as this own it's only fair that this new sect should inherit the name from the old one
"Iron Mountain Turtle Sect," Chu Xingchen repeated, the initial strangeness fading, replaced by contemplation. "Mountain, iron… strength, stability. Turtle… unyielding endurance. Persistence through hardship, It is… unique. Memorable. Not like the common names."
"I agree it sounds good " Lin Hua agreed
"Then it's decided" Xiù Feng declared " Today marks the birth of the Iron mountain turtle sect!"