Lin Chen had a rule.
Do not panic until the system panics.
Unfortunately, the system was blinking.
> Unusual Lifeform Evolution:
Status: Ongoing
Risk Level: Low (For Now)
Recommendation: Observation
Lin Chen stared at the notification.
"I don't like the words for now," he muttered.
---
The entire sect gathered at the farm.
Su Ming stood at the front, sword ready.
Li Yue clutched her basket like a shield.
Zhao Feng hid behind Lin Chen, peeking out cautiously.
At the center of the field—
A radish stood upright.
Not planted.
Standing.
It was about knee-high, glowing faintly, with tiny rootlets arranged like… arms.
It slowly turned toward them.
"…Master," Zhao Feng whispered, "it's looking at us."
The radish nodded.
> Lifeform Detected:
Spirit Radish (Awakened)
Cultivation Level: None
Intelligence: Low
Disposition: Curious
Lin Chen exhaled.
"Alright," he said calmly. "No one scream."
The radish waved.
Zhao Feng screamed.
---
"Calm down," Lin Chen said, raising a hand. "It hasn't attacked."
The radish took a step forward.
Thump.
Another step.
Thump.
Su Ming tightened his grip. "Master… permission to strike?"
"No," Lin Chen said quickly. "If you strike it, we'll have to explain to the others why dinner was sentient."
Li Yue frowned. "Should we… talk to it?"
The radish tilted its leafy top.
Lin Chen cleared his throat.
"…Hello?"
The radish stared.
Then, very slowly—
It bowed.
The disciples gasped.
> Sect Harmony: Shocked
---
The system chimed again.
> Rare Event Triggered:
Spirit Crop Awakening
Options:
1. Harvest (High Gain, Moral Damage)
2. Nurture (Long-Term Growth, Unpredictable Outcome)
3. Suppress (Safe, Boring)
Lin Chen rubbed his temples.
"Of course these are my choices."
Zhao Feng whispered urgently, "Master, if we nurture it… will it need food?"
Lin Chen paused.
"…That is an excellent question."
---
The radish made a soft rustling sound and extended a root toward Lin Chen.
Something fell into his palm.
A small, glowing bead.
> Item Acquired:
Vegetable Essence (Low Grade)
Effect: Minor cultivation boost
Lin Chen blinked.
"…It's paying rent."
Zhao Feng gasped. "Master! It understands economics!"
Su Ming stared in awe. "A spirit beast born from farming…"
Li Yue whispered, "Can we name it?"
The radish nodded enthusiastically.
Lin Chen sighed.
"…Fine."
He looked at the radish.
"You are now an outer sect… mascot."
The radish puffed up proudly.
> New Entity Registered:
Sect Mascot: Spirit Radish
Sect Resonance: Increased (Slightly Ridiculous)
A familiar warmth surged through Lin Chen.
> Cultivation Progress: Qi Refinement Late 5 → Peak 5
He exhaled slowly.
"So this is my life now," he said. "Raising disciples, rebuilding a sect…"
He glanced at the radish, which was trying to imitate Su Ming's stance.
"…and managing produce with ambition."
The radish saluted.
Zhao Feng dropped to his knees.
"I swear loyalty," he said, "to the weirdest sect in the cultivation world."
Lin Chen sat down on a nearby rock, oddly at peace.
Azure Cloud Sect had officially crossed a line.
Not into greatness.
But into legend.