Lin Chen hoped—briefly—that Heaven would forget.
Heaven did not forget.
Heaven took notes.
---
The next morning was unnaturally quiet.
No birds.
No wind.
No humming vegetables.
Lin Chen sat cross-legged in the main hall, cultivating cautiously, like a man afraid his breathing technique might summon lightning.
> System Notification:
External Attention Detected
Source: Unknown
Distance: Very Far
Mood: Curious
Lin Chen opened one eye.
"…That's worse than hostile."
---
At breakfast, the disciples whispered.
Su Ming leaned in. "Master, something feels… watched."
Zhao Feng nodded. "Even the radish is behaving."
They all turned.
Little Green sat perfectly still, hands folded, expression solemn.
A sign lay in front of it:
REFLECTING ON MY ACTIONS
Lin Chen shuddered.
"I preferred the chaos."
---
By noon, visitors arrived.
Not disciples.
Not merchants.
Inspectors.
Three figures descended from the sky, robes embroidered with clouds and lightning.
The middle-aged man at the front spoke calmly.
"We are from the Heavenly Observation Pavilion."
Lin Chen stood slowly.
"…Of course you are."
> High-Level Entity Detected:
Cultivation: Way Above Yours
Threat Level: Polite but Deadly
---
The inspector's gaze swept the sect.
The training grounds.
The formation.
The farm.
His eyes stopped on Little Green.
He froze.
"…Is that," he asked carefully, "a spirit entity?"
Little Green bowed respectfully and held up a sign:
HELLO
The inspectors collectively inhaled.
---
The woman beside him whispered urgently, "Did it… almost ascend?"
Lin Chen answered honestly.
"Yes."
They went pale.
The third inspector scribbled furiously on a jade slip.
---
"This sect," the leader said slowly, "has violated no heavenly laws."
Lin Chen relaxed slightly.
"However," the man continued, "you have… confused Heaven."
Lin Chen nodded. "That's fair."
---
The inspector turned to Lin Chen.
"Sect Master," he said seriously, "how did you nurture a spirit crop capable of triggering tribulation clouds?"
Lin Chen thought.
Then answered truthfully.
"I tried to grow rice."
Silence.
Even Heaven seemed embarrassed.
---
> System Update:
Heavenly Record Created
Entry Title: 'The Azure Cloud Anomaly'
Classification: Monitor Closely
Lin Chen swallowed.
"That sounds permanent."
---
Before leaving, the inspectors issued a warning.
"If your spirit entity attempts ascension again," the leader said, "Heaven will respond."
Lin Chen bowed deeply. "Understood."
Little Green raised a sign:
SORRY FOR THE INCONVENIENCE
The inspectors stared.
Then—against their will—bowed back.
---
That night, Lin Chen stood alone under the stars.
The sect was stronger.
The disciples were growing.
The radish was… restrained.
Yet the system chimed again.
> Long-Term Quest Unlocked:
'Guide the Unorthodox'
Objective: Lead Azure Cloud Sect along a path never walked
Reward: Unknown
Failure: Unknown
Lin Chen smiled faintly.
"Of course."
Behind him, Little Green quietly planted itself back into the soil.
A small sign popped up beside it:
NO MORE ASCENDING
FOR NOW
Lin Chen looked at the heavens.
"Please," he said sincerely,
"Let me have at least one normal day."
Somewhere far above—
A thundercloud drifted away, unconvinced.
And the legend of the Azure Cloud Sect continued to grow—
written not only in history—
But in Heaven's personal notebook.