**Chapter 2: The Path to Power—A Vegetarian's Resolve**
Morning in this new world arrived not with digital alarm bells, but with a symphony of ethereal birdsong and the distant rumble of waterfalls. Rajesh stretched, marveling at the vitality surging through him—a sensation no yoga session back home could rival.
He stood, gazing at his reflection in the tranquil river. His face was unchanged, yet a subtle radiance glimmered beneath his eyes. Strength, energy, confidence—it all pulsed from somewhere deeper.
> **System Notification:**
> "Daily mission available: Acquire local information and cultivate for 2 hours. Bonus: 10 System Points."
Rajesh took a deep breath, savoring the crisp air. He glanced at his inventory and withdrew a rice cake, conjured from local spiritual grains. "No oily street food, but at least it's clean." He smiled, wondering if the system would someday let him buy masala dosa from other worlds.
As he walked, Rajesh mentally scanned the Divine Shop, browsing prices and descriptions. The *simplest* starter pill cost more points than he possessed. Techniques with dazzling names—from "Heaven-Splitting Palm" to "Eternal Lotus Sutra"—beckoned, all far beyond his current means.
He rolled his eyes playfully. "So they throw me into a heavenly Walmart, but without cash." Still, his engineering instincts kicked in. Optimization, resource management—these he understood. He would build up his cultivation, collect points, and purchase what he needed most, one strategic step at a time.
**As the sun climbed, Rajesh trekked toward distant sounds: voices, laughter, and the sharp clangor of metal. Cresting a rise, he glimpsed a sprawling sect complex.*
Banners fluttered atop crimson-tiled roofs. Disciples sparred in open courtyards. Grand elders presided on high terraces with imposing auras. This, Rajesh realized, was the foundational world stage: where the young, gifted—or doomed—gathered to train.
Rajesh straightened his kurta—oddly out of place among flowing robes—and strolled down the stone path, attracting curious glances. He located the entryway, where a kind-faced elder greeted him.
"Visitor," the elder intoned, "may I ask your business?"
Rajesh bowed. "I am Rajesh, a wandering cultivator seeking wisdom and spiritual growth." He hesitated, then added, "I follow a strict vegetarian diet, if that matters."
The elder blinked, then laughed. "A rare request, but our kitchens provide for all manner of sect members. Welcome!"
After registering, Rajesh received a jade medallion—proof he'd passed basic entrance requirements. More importantly, he was directed to the disciple quarters, where he'd share meals, attend lectures, and cultivate.
**System Notification:**
> "Mission complete. Reward: 10 System Points."
Rajesh immediately opened the shop. He didn't splurge—his science background told him to invest in fundamentals. Wisely, he purchased:
- A **Basic Body Refinement Pill** (*Vegetarian, plant-based ingredients only*).
- A recipe scroll: "Spiritual Sprout Curry"—a dish capable of restoring a cultivator's qi.
As night fell, Rajesh found his bunk and unfurled the recipe. He gathered native herbs and spiritual roots, channeling energy as he cooked. The resulting aroma drew curious disciples to his door.
"To those who don't eat meat," he announced, "vegetarian food can be just as nourishing, if not more so." Rajesh ladled out portions, winning surprised thanks and a few skeptical glances.
Some tasted out of politeness, but wide eyes and appreciative hums followed. His reputation had begun: Rajesh, the Indian cultivator with a mysterious shop system and divine vegetarian cuisine.
As the sect quieted and stars blinked overhead, Rajesh meditated—system points trickling in as he exchanged friendly words and gathered new friends.
Deep down, he sensed something had shifted. This world would change him, but he too would leave his mark—through strength, compassion, and the flavors of his homeland.
Tomorrow, his adventure would take him to his first outer sect trial—a stepping stone toward power, new companions, and, perhaps, a blossoming romance.
**End of chapter 2**
>
> ✅ Sect Entry Achieved
> ✅ First Official Friends Acquired
> ✅ System Points Spent: 15 (Current Balance: 5)
>
> *Next: The Outer Sect Trials and a Fateful Encounter*