Lin Chen had faced many challenges since coming to this world.
None of them had involved hoes.
He stood at the edge of a freshly cleared patch of land, staring at the uneven soil, the crooked rows, and the disciples holding farming tools like unfamiliar weapons.
"This," Lin Chen said slowly, "is our future."
Zhao Feng squinted at the dirt. "Master… are you sure this isn't a punishment?"
"It's cultivation," Lin Chen replied calmly. "Of the land."
> New Sect Initiative:
Self-Sustaining Food Production
Difficulty: Emotionally Damaging
---
Su Ming was the first to take it seriously.
"If Master says farming is cultivation," he declared, gripping a hoe, "then I will farm with my life."
Five minutes later—
CRACK.
The hoe snapped cleanly in half.
Su Ming stared at the handle in his hands. "…My life may have been excessive."
Lin Chen patted his shoulder. "Moderation is also a virtue."
---
Li Yue knelt by the soil, inspecting it carefully.
"The earth is too dry," she said. "It needs water—and possibly encouragement."
"Encouragement?" Zhao Feng asked.
Li Yue closed her eyes and whispered to the ground.
Nothing happened.
She frowned. "…More encouragement."
Still nothing.
Lin Chen nodded thoughtfully. "The soil has a strong personality."
> Agricultural Progress: Minimal
---
The two newest disciples struggled the most.
One attempted to use spiritual energy to till the ground.
The dirt exploded.
Everyone stared at the crater.
"…We can't eat that," Zhao Feng said quietly.
Lin Chen rubbed his temples. "No techniques above Qi Refinement while farming."
> Rule Established:
No Combat Skills in Agriculture
---
By midday, sweat soaked everyone's robes.
Hands were blistered.
Morale wavered.
Then—
> Sect Resonance Triggered:
Collective Labor Detected
A gentle warmth spread through the land.
The soil softened.
Tiny green sprouts pushed upward.
The disciples froze.
"It worked!" Li Yue gasped.
Su Ming's eyes shone. "Master, the land responds to unity!"
Lin Chen nodded solemnly.
"…And exhaustion."
> Cultivation Feedback:
Sect Master Progress: Qi Refinement Peak 4 → 5
Lin Chen blinked.
"…I leveled up by farming."
Zhao Feng dropped his hoe. "Master, if this continues, you'll reach immortality by planting potatoes."
Lin Chen smiled faintly. "Then we plant more."
---
That night, everyone collapsed around the fire.
Dirty. Tired. Hungry.
But satisfied.
Zhao Feng stared at the tiny sprouts in the distance. "Do you think they'll grow fast?"
Lin Chen leaned back, hands behind his head.
"With this many people," he said, "and the sect's resonance…"
He paused.
"…They'll probably grow faster than our reputation."
The disciples laughed weakly.
Above them, stars filled the sky.
Below them, the land—finally claimed by more than just ambition—began to grow.
Azure Cloud Sect had fought enemies.
It had survived hunger.
Now—
It had entered its most dangerous phase yet.
Agriculture.