Morning arrived with an unfamiliar sound.
Voices.
Lin Chen opened his eyes instantly and sat upright on the Sect Master Throne, instinctively radiating authority.
> Authority Aura: Active
Outside the main hall, three figures stood at the foot of the steps—two young men and a girl, all dressed in travel-worn robes. Their cultivation levels were low, but their eyes darted around with barely concealed excitement.
"Is this really Azure Cloud Sect?" one of the young men whispered. "It doesn't look… terrifying."
Lin Chen sighed internally.
Feared (Minor), my foot.
He stood and stepped forward.
"I am the Sect Master of Azure Cloud Sect," Lin Chen said calmly. "State your purpose."
The three stiffened.
The girl bowed deeply. "This junior heard rumors that a hidden master repelled the Black Iron Sect with a single gesture. We came to seek enlightenment."
Lin Chen coughed lightly.
"A single gesture?"
She nodded enthusiastically. "They said you pointed and the enemy flew away!"
Lin Chen glanced at Su Ming, who was standing to his side.
Su Ming nodded solemnly.
"It was a very profound point," Su Ming confirmed.
> Sect Myth: Established (Unintentionally)
Lin Chen decided not to correct them.
---
"Why do you wish to join this sect?" Lin Chen asked.
The first young man answered eagerly. "I heard this sect is powerful!"
The second scratched his head. "I heard it's mysterious!"
The girl hesitated, then said honestly, "I heard you accept anyone because you're… short on people."
Lin Chen's smile froze for exactly half a second.
"Honesty," Lin Chen said slowly, "is a virtue."
> Sect Master Approval: +1
He gestured toward the courtyard.
"Azure Cloud Sect does not recruit lightly," Lin Chen said. "There will be a test."
The three straightened immediately.
"What kind of test?" the first young man asked nervously.
Lin Chen hadn't planned that far.
"…A comprehensive one," he said.
---
The test began with Su Ming leading them to the Spirit Gathering Formation.
"Sit," Su Ming said sternly.
They sat.
"Cultivate," Su Ming said.
They cultivated.
Five minutes passed.
One of the young men raised his hand. "Um… is something supposed to happen?"
Lin Chen nodded thoughtfully. "Yes."
Another five minutes passed.
The girl's eyes widened. "My cultivation feels smoother!"
> Disciple Candidate Detected:
Spiritual Sensitivity: Above Average
The first young man frowned. "Why do I just feel hungry?"
Lin Chen nodded again. "Different people resonate differently."
The young man accepted this explanation with surprising ease.
---
Next came the Courage Test.
Lin Chen stood at the top of the steps, arms folded.
"Walk past me," he said.
The candidates swallowed.
The first young man took a step—and immediately froze as Lin Chen's authority aura washed over him.
His knees shook. "I feel like I'm disappointing my ancestors."
"That means it's working," Lin Chen said calmly.
The girl gritted her teeth and pushed through, face pale but determined.
> Candidate Evaluation:
Mental Fortitude: High
The second young man ran.
Lin Chen watched him disappear down the mountain path.
"…Is that a fail?" Su Ming asked.
"Yes," Lin Chen replied. "But an efficient one."
---
Finally, Lin Chen led the remaining two into the main hall.
They both stared at the Sect Master Throne.
The girl whispered, "That chair looks expensive."
"It is," Lin Chen said proudly. "More expensive than the sect."
They bowed deeply.
"Please accept us, Sect Master!"
Lin Chen looked at the system interface.
> Recruitment Success Rate:
2 Candidates Detected
Warning: Insufficient Resources for Rapid Growth
He smiled gently.
"Azure Cloud Sect accepts disciples slowly," Lin Chen said. "One step at a time."
He nodded.
"Welcome."
> New Disciples Acquired:
Disciples: 1 → 3
Sect Resonance: Significantly Increased
A surge of warmth rushed through Lin Chen's body.
> Cultivation Progress: Qi Refinement Peak 3 → 4
He inhaled sharply.
"…Recruitment really is effective."
Su Ming looked at the two new disciples and straightened his back.
"From today onward," Su Ming said seriously, "you will call me Senior Brother."
The girl nodded eagerly.
The young man hesitated. "…Even though you're younger than me?"
Su Ming narrowed his eyes and pointed.
The young man stiffened instantly.
"…Yes, Senior Brother."
Lin Chen leaned back on his throne, deeply satisfied.
Three disciples, he thought.
One formation.
One chair.
Azure Cloud Sect had officially entered the stage of minor inconvenience to others.
And somehow—
That felt like progress.