The last thing Zhang Wei remembered was the glow of his computer screen, the clatter of his mechanical keyboard, and the angry red text flashing across his monitor: *"DEFEAT."* His guild had just lost a world boss raid in *Realm of Ascension*, the MMORPG he'd no-lifed for three years. He'd leaned back in his chair, cursing his healer's laggy connection, when a sharp pain spiked through his chest. Then—nothing.
Now, he blinked at a crumbling ceiling, the smell of damp wood and mildew thick in his nostrils. Cold stone pressed against his back, and when he sat up, a wave of dizziness nearly knocked him over. His head throbbed, and his limbs felt like lead.
*Where the hell am I?*
The room around him was a disaster. Faded tapestries hung in tatters from the walls, their embroidered symbols of dragons and clouds moth-eaten and frayed. A cracked stone altar stood at the far end, littered with broken incense holders and wilted flowers. Sunlight streamed through holes in the roof, illuminating motes of dust floating in the air. The floor was strewn with debris—shattered tiles, splintered wood, and fragments of pottery.
Zhang Wei looked down at his hands—pale, calloused, and unfamiliar. He wore ragged robes, patched in places with mismatched fabric. Panic clawed at his throat as he patted his chest, half-expecting to feel the heartbeat of his old body. Instead, his fingers brushed against a jade pendant hanging from his neck, its surface etched with a character he couldn't read.
*Did I get isekai'd? Seriously?*
Before he could spiral further, a translucent blue screen materialized in front of him. The text glowed softly, devoid of any flourish or fanfare.
---
**System Initializing…**
**User Detected: Zhang Wei. Soul Compatibility: 92.7%. Binding Complete.**
**Welcome to the *Sect Management System*. Objective: Restore the Verdant Cloud Sect to its former glory.**
**Current Sect Status:**
- **Disciples:** 0 (You are the last member.)
- **Sect Rank:** Mortal (Unranked)
- **Reputation:** Forgotten
- **Facilities:** Crumbling Main Hall (Durability: 12%), Ruined Spirit Herb Garden, Collapsed Training Grounds.
---
Zhang Wei stared at the screen. His gamer instincts kicked in—menus, stats, objectives. This was like a twisted version of his favorite game.
"Okay, System," he muttered. "If this is a joke, it's not funny."
The screen flickered, new text appearing.
---
**Primary Quest: Survive the Night**
**Description:** The Verdant Cloud Sect's main hall is on the brink of collapse. Repair the roof before sunset to avoid further damage.
**Reward:** Basic Shelter (Durability +30%), *Woodworking Skill (Novice)*.
**Failure Penalty:** Structural collapse. Hypothermia risk increased.
---
Zhang Wei groaned. The roof looked like a strong breeze would finish it off. He stumbled to his feet, wincing as his legs protested. The air here felt different—thicker, almost electric. He'd read enough cultivation novels to recognize *qi*, but feeling it was another matter.
He pushed open the rotting wooden door and stepped outside. The sect's grounds were worse than the hall. Weeds choked the stone pathways, and the once-grand training courtyard was a graveyard of broken weapons and shattered stone pillars. A faded sign hung crookedly over a collapsed archway: *"Verdant Cloud Sect – Est. 3,722 Heavenly Calendar."*
"How do I even start?" he muttered.
---
**Secondary Quest: Secure Basic Necessities**
**Description:** A sect leader cannot rule on an empty stomach. Find food and clean water.
**Reward:** *Survival Pack (1-Day Rations, Water Flask)*.
**Failure Penalty:** Hunger debuff (-50% stamina).
---
Zhang Wei's stomach growled on cue. *Of course.*
He picked his way through the ruins, noting the overgrown spirit herb garden. A few scraggly plants clung to life, their leaves dull and withered. The system flickered again.
---
**Tutorial: Cultivation Basics**
**This world operates on martial and spiritual cultivation. Stages are divided as follows:**
1. **Qi Condensation (9 Layers):** Absorb qi to cleanse the body.
2. **Foundation Establishment (Early, Middle, Late):** Solidify a spiritual foundation.
3. **Core Formation:** Condense qi into a golden core.
4. **Nascent Soul:** Forge a spiritual avatar.
5. **Soul Transformation:** Merge body and soul.
**(Higher realms exist but are beyond current access.)**
**Note:** Disciples' cultivation levels directly impact sect reputation and strength.
---
Zhang Wei absorbed the information. So he wasn't just rebuilding buildings—he needed to train cultivators. *Great.*
He found a half-collapsed storage shed behind the main hall. Inside, he unearthed a rusty axe, a dented bucket, and a coil of frayed rope. The system pinged.
---
**Item Acquired: Dilapidated Axe (Durability: 20%)**
**Item Acquired: Broken Bucket (Usable: No)**
**Item Acquired: Frayed Rope (Usable: Yes)**
---
"Wow. Truly legendary loot," he deadpanned.
By midday, Zhang Wei had scavenged enough semi-rotten wood from nearby ruins to patch the largest hole in the roof. His hands blistered from swinging the axe, and his robes were soaked with sweat. The system didn't offer shortcuts.
As he worked, he noticed symbols carved into the hall's support beams—faded formations, maybe? He brushed his fingers over one, and a spark of qi tingled in his palm.
---
**Discovery: Ancient Reinforcement Rune (Inactive)**
**Repair Requirement: 10 Spirit Stones or Qi Condensation Layer 3.**
**Effect: Durability +100% when activated.**
---
"Of course it needs magic money," he grumbled. Spirit stones were likely this world's currency, and he had none.
By sunset, the roof was stable-ish. The system chimed.
---
Primary Quest Completed: Survive the Night
Reward Claimed: *Woodworking Skill (Novice).
New Durability: 42%
---
A warm rush flooded Zhang Wei's mind—suddenly, he knew how to notch wood and hammer nails without splitting planks. *Handy.*
He collapsed onto the hall's stone floor, too tired to celebrate. The system flickered one last time.
---
**New Primary Quest: Recruit Your First Disciple**
**Description:** A sect cannot rise without disciples. Find one willing (or desperate) soul to join.
**Reward:** *Basic Cultivation Manual (Qi Condensation Layer 1-3)*, Sect Morale +10.
**Failure Penalty:** Sect reputation drops to *Laughingstock*.
---
Zhang Wei stared at the ceiling. "Tomorrow," he muttered. "I'll find someone tomorrow."
Outside, the wind howled through the mountains, carrying the distant growl of a spirit beast. Somewhere in the darkness, a branch snapped.
He really hoped the roof held.