Three days later, something was wrong.
Very wrong.
Lin Chen stood at the edge of the farm, staring at the plants.
The plants stared back.
Not metaphorically.
Actually.
The leaves shimmered faintly with spiritual light. The stalks were thick. Too thick. One of the radishes had grown to the size of a small child and was leaning slightly toward Su Ming like it wanted advice.
"…Master," Zhao Feng whispered, "I think the vegetables are cultivating."
> New Phenomenon Detected:
Spirit-Touched Crops
Cause:
– Spirit Gathering Formation
– Sect Foundation Spring
– Excessive Sect Resonance
Status: Unintended Success
Lin Chen closed his eyes.
"So we failed upward again."
---
Li Yue approached a glowing cabbage cautiously.
"It feels warm," she said. "Like a low-grade spiritual herb."
Su Ming frowned deeply. "Master, should we bow to it?"
"Not yet," Lin Chen said quickly. "If you bow, it might start demanding offerings."
Zhao Feng poked a carrot with a stick.
The carrot pulsed.
Zhao Feng screamed and jumped back.
"I'm sorry! I didn't mean it!"
Lin Chen sighed. "Apologize properly."
Zhao Feng bowed deeply to the carrot.
The carrot stopped glowing.
> Sect Harmony: Maintained
Vegetable Morale: Stable
---
The system chimed.
> New Sect Resource Acquired:
Spirit Crops (Low Grade)
Uses:
– Food
– Minor cultivation aid
– Saleable commodity
Warning: Overconsumption may cause bloating
Lin Chen nodded. "Important warning."
---
That evening, Lin Chen made an executive decision.
"We eat one," he said.
The disciples stared.
"Just one," Lin Chen repeated. "For testing."
They cooked a single spirit radish.
The smell alone made everyone's stomach growl.
Su Ming took the first bite.
His eyes widened.
> Disciple Cultivation Feedback:
Su Ming: Body Tempering Peak 8 → Qi Refinement 1
Su Ming froze.
"…I broke through."
Li Yue covered her mouth. "From a radish?"
Zhao Feng swallowed nervously. "Master… are we allowed to sell these?"
Lin Chen leaned back, smiling.
"Yes," he said. "But carefully."
> Sect Economic Path Unlocked:
Agricultural Sect Development (Rare)
Lin Chen felt a surge of warmth.
> Cultivation Progress: Qi Refinement 5 → Mid 5
He exhaled slowly.
"So this is what it means to be self-sufficient."
---
The next morning, Lin Chen posted a sign at the edge of the farm.
PLEASE DO NOT TALK TO THE VEGETABLES
THEY WILL GET IDEAS
Su Ming nodded solemnly. "Wise precaution."
Li Yue asked, "What if they start talking to us?"
Lin Chen considered.
"…Then we'll promote the smartest one to Elder."
The disciples laughed.
Under the morning sun, the spirit crops swayed gently.
Azure Cloud Sect had become many things:
A refuge.
A growing power.
A rumor factory.
And now—
A sect that might accidentally create sentient produce.
Lin Chen rubbed his temples.
"I just wanted rice," he muttered.