Chapter Two: The Quest to Establish a Sect

The information for Tang Wan was identical to Jiang Yan’s, but Tang Wan had an extra item in the weapon column: a Light Spirit Sword. Tang Wan’s sect details, like Jiang Yan’s, were entirely blank, with no data to display. Jiang Yan shifted his gaze to Mu Yun, Nanmen Luo, and Yun Ying. The translucent interface popped up with information for all three.

Name: Mu Yun
Sect: — To be created
Position: Disciple of Mount Hua
Cultivation: Unranked
Weapon: Light Spirit Sword, basic mortal grade

A tremendous shock suddenly surged in Jiang Yan’s heart. Before traversing to this world, Jiang Yan had played a game featuring a sect master system to aid sect development. Now, it seemed this magical system had crossed over with him...

Tang Wan’s eyes brimmed with tears as she glanced at Jiang Yan, who stared blankly at her. In a low voice, she asked, “Senior brother, senior brother, what’s wrong?”

Hearing Tang Wan’s call, Jiang Yan snapped out of his reverie. He realized he was still before the master’s memorial tablet. He glanced at Tang Wan, her eyes swollen from crying, at Nanmen Luo, whose tiger-like eyes were filled with tears, at Mu Yun whose small eyes were full of sorrow, and at Yun Ying, her little face twisted in grief. Jiang Yan spoke, “Tonight I will keep vigil. Tang, you take the younger disciples to rest.”

Still wrapped in the shock of hearing the sect master system after his transmigration, Jiang Yan decided not to rest tonight. Taking the opportunity to keep vigil for his master, he would thoroughly study this sect master system.

Tang Wan frowned slightly at Jiang Yan’s words. “Senior brother, it’s better to have several disciples keep vigil tonight. That way, our master can depart peacefully…” Her small nose twitched, and fresh tears spilled from her eyes.

Jiang Yan looked at Mu Yun, Nanmen Luo, and the tottering Yun Ying. He made a decision: tonight, he would keep vigil with Mu Yun and Nanmen Luo for their master, while Tang Wan would take care of the young Yun Ying and let her rest. Tang Wan gazed at the exhausted Yun Ying, sighed softly, picked up the sleepy child, and quietly left the shrine.

Jiang Yan knelt on a straw mat in the large hall with his two junior brothers, keeping vigil for their master. After gently comforting Mu Yun and Nanmen Luo, Jiang Yan’s thoughts sank back into the sect master system.

“Ding, would you like to create a sect?” The system’s voice sounded again in Jiang Yan’s ear.

“Create a sect,” Jiang Yan silently recited the words in his heart upon hearing the system.

“Ding, you’ve accepted the sect creation task. Complete the task to officially enter the sect master system and receive the novice pack.”

Jiang Yan frowned. This was somewhat different from the online games he’d played before—creating a sect required completing a task. But before he could react, the translucent interface reappeared, the task bar flashing red to signal that tasks awaited him.

Thinking of the novice pack, Jiang Yan’s spirits lifted. His master had perished hunting demons, Mount Hua suffered heavy losses—the sect’s only two first-grade inferior spiritual weapons were gone, cultivation manuals lost, spiritual stones missing… Now Jiang Yan was to take over as sect master. In three years, the demon hunt would return, and the giant rival sect, the second-grade Tianshan Sect, loomed before him like a beast, threatening to devour Jiang Yan and tiny Mount Hua at any moment. The urgency to develop the sect became paramount.

The novice pack was a vital tool for low-tier sects. Jiang Yan remembered in the game, it provided essential items for early sect construction: cultivation manuals, spatial bags, spiritual weapons, and various magical tools—all desperately needed by the impoverished Mount Hua. He eagerly turned to the task bar.

Sect creation task—find the boundary stele for the sect’s residence. After locating the stele, embed the sect’s treasure in it to establish the territory and prepare for activating the sect’s protective formation.

“Ding, you’ve received the task item: Sect Treasure—Sword Token.”

With the system's prompt, the air before Jiang Yan rippled oddly; then, with a “ding,” a small black sword dropped before him, stabbing firmly into the ground.

Jiang Yan glanced at Mu Yun and Nanmen Luo, who were meditating nearby and showed no reaction. He quietly drew the Sword Token, tucked it at his waist, and began studying the sect boundary map provided in the task bar.

“Thump, thump…” Footsteps approached, and a middle-aged woman and a gray-haired elder appeared at the hall entrance, each carrying a tray with food. They were Mount Hua’s only two servants: the woman, Aunt Wu, cared for Tang Wan and Yun Ying; the old man, Uncle Chen, was the sect’s handyman.

“Sect master, third young master, fourth young master, eat something—it’s a long night ahead.” Aunt Wu and Uncle Chen efficiently set the food before Jiang Yan and his junior brothers.

Jiang Yan beckoned to the two disciples, picked up his bowl, and quickly finished the thin porridge. Wiping his mouth, he watched Uncle Chen tidying the offering table and asked, “Uncle Chen, do you know where our Mount Hua boundary stele is?”

After setting out the food, Uncle Chen tended to the offering table in the shrine, occasionally placing offerings upon it. Hearing Jiang Yan’s question, his wrinkled brow furrowed deeply. After a moment’s thought, he replied, “Sect master, Mount Hua does have a stone stele, but I’m not sure if that’s the boundary stele you’re looking for.”

Mu Yun stopped eating and said to Jiang Yan, “Sect master, I know the stele—you follow me.”

Leaving Nanmen Luo to keep vigil for their master, Jiang Yan went with Mu Yun out of the courtyard. By moonlight, they descended to the mountainside. Several peaks converged there, forming a broad platform at the center of which stood a stone stele.

Mu Yun pointed to the waist-high stele. “Sect master, is this the boundary stele you mean?”

Jiang Yan brought up the translucent interface and checked the sect boundary map in the task bar. Yes, this was the place. He nodded to Mu Yun and turned to study the stele.

The stele stood waist-high, its surface dusty and gray. By moonlight, Jiang Yan saw its sharp edges. Both front and back bore two large characters, though his eyesight was poor and he couldn’t make them out.

Jiang Yan walked to the stele, feeling on its top for the slot described in the task instructions—a place to insert the Sword Token. Placing the Sword Token there would complete the sect creation task.

When his fingers found a fine slot atop the stele, irresistible joy filled Jiang Yan’s heart. Yes, this stele was indeed the one required for the task.

He drew the Sword Token from his waist and carefully inserted the black sword into the slot atop the stele. Then he stepped back and waited quietly for the system’s response.

“Ding,” the system’s voice sounded in Jiang Yan’s ear.

“Sect creation task complete. Begin creating the sect. Would you like to name it Mount Hua?”

Jiang Yan paused. Mount Hua? Should he keep the sect’s name as Mount Hua…?

“Would you like to create the Mount Hua Sect?” The system prompted him again.

“Create Mount Hua Sect,” Jiang Yan chose without hesitation. Though the name was not renowned in this world, it didn’t diminish his affection for Mount Hua.

“Ding, begin creating Mount Hua Sect,” the system’s voice continued in his mind.

The translucent interface appeared again before Jiang Yan.

Sect name: Mount Hua
Sect rank: Vassal Sect
Sect residence: — Confirming residence

Sect buildings: —
Sect spirit beasts: —
…

“Ding,” a sudden chime sounded in Jiang Yan’s ear. Immediately, the black Sword Token embedded in the stele radiated bands of black light, wrapping tightly around the stele. The black light, emanating from the Sword Token, slowly sank into the earth beneath the stele…

Behind Jiang Yan, Mu Yun stared, mouth agape, watching the swirling black radiance with a blank expression, unable to utter a word.

“Ding, sect residence confirmed,” the system’s voice sounded again.

On the translucent interface, the residence information rolled over and changed to show Mount Hua.

The black light continued to slowly revolve around the Sword Token. On the interface, the sect building column now displayed “Confirming sect buildings.” Jiang Yan stood calmly, waiting for these basic details to be confirmed so he could receive the novice pack.

“Ding, Mount Hua Sect created successfully.”
“Sect rank confirmed.”
“Sect residence confirmed.”
“Sect creation complete.”
…

The system’s voice rose and fell, announcing the completion progress. Jiang Yan stood excitedly before the stele, waiting for the novice pack.

“Ding, sect creation complete. First entry to the sect master system—please drip blood to confirm the Sword Token.” The creation task was finally complete, and the black Sword Token stood unmoving atop the stele.

Jiang Yan bit his finger and dripped blood onto the black Sword Token. Instantly, it shone with a brilliant crimson glow. The light faded, and the blood vanished without a trace.

After the blood ritual, Jiang Yan felt a sudden sense of spiritual connection. The Sword Token atop the stele transmitted a clear sensation to his mind. His consciousness followed the Sword Token and the ancient stele downward, revealing everything beneath.

Below the stele, a dark curtain of light spread outward from its center, reflecting everything on Mount Hua into Jiang Yan’s mind…

Nearby, his junior brother Mu Yun stood behind him; farther away, Nanmen Luo sat cross-legged in the hall; in the side room, Tang Wan soothed Yun Ying to sleep; at the foot of the mountain, a toad crawled slowly; in the night sky, a flash of sword-light swept overhead…

“Ding, you have a novice pack. Would you like to claim it?”