Lin Chen woke up with a plan.
A solid, reasonable plan.
Recruit new disciples.
Increase manpower.
Dilute the radish influence.
It was a flawless strategy.
By noon, it had collapsed completely.
---
Lin Chen stood at the foot of the mountain where a simple banner hung:
AZURE CLOUD SECT
NOW RECRUITING
(NO PRIOR EXPERIENCE REQUIRED)
Zhao Feng squinted at it. "Master… should we maybe specify human disciples?"
Lin Chen waved him off. "Don't be ridiculous."
Behind them, Little Green adjusted the banner.
---
The first applicant arrived within minutes.
A skinny youth bowed deeply. "Senior! I heard this sect can make breakthroughs with vegetables!"
Lin Chen smiled politely. "That is a misunderstanding."
The youth looked past him.
Little Green waved.
The youth's eyes shone. "I KNEW IT."
Lin Chen's smile twitched.
---
By afternoon, the mountain path was crowded.
A burly man shouted, "I wish to duel the Radish Elder!"
A woman whispered, "I brought fertilizer as tribute."
Someone else asked, "Is it true the radish chooses disciples based on fate?"
Lin Chen massaged his temples.
> Sect Recruitment Status:
Applicants: 23
Reasonable Applicants: 4
Here for the Radish: 19
"This is not what I meant by fame," Lin Chen muttered.
---
Things reached a breaking point when one applicant knelt before Little Green.
"Oh Wise One," he pleaded, "please accept me!"
Little Green looked panicked.
It turned to Lin Chen.
Rustle rustle.
"…It's asking what to do," Zhao Feng translated confidently.
Lin Chen pointed sharply. "Tell them you're busy."
Little Green nodded and held up a tiny wooden sign someone had given it:
CULTIVATING. DO NOT DISTURB.
The crowd gasped in awe.
"He's so diligent!"
Lin Chen nearly choked.
---
To regain control, Lin Chen cleared his throat loudly.
"ATTENTION!"
Silence fell.
"This sect does not recruit based on radishes," Lin Chen declared firmly.
"We recruit based on talent, character, and perseverance."
The crowd nodded respectfully.
Little Green stepped forward.
And handed Lin Chen three glowing beads.
> Vegetable Essence (Low Grade) x3
The crowd erupted.
"THE RADISH HAS SPOKEN!"
Lin Chen stared at the beads.
"…You did that on purpose."
The radish avoided eye contact.
---
Despite everything, four disciples passed the trials.
Actual trials.
Running up the mountain.
Meditation under pressure.
Not worshipping vegetables.
One failed the third test immediately.
---
That night, Lin Chen updated the system panel with trembling hands.
> Sect Update:
Disciples: 10
Mascots: Still 1
Reputation: Irreversible
Public Titles:
– Azure Cloud Sect
– Vegetable Dao Sect (Unofficial)
– Home of the Radish Sage (Please Stop)
Lin Chen leaned back.
"This is fine," he said weakly.
Su Ming bowed. "Master, the sect grows stronger."
Li Yue smiled. "And happier."
Zhao Feng added, "And tastier?"
Lin Chen ignored him.
A warm surge flowed through his meridians.
> Cultivation Progress: Qi Refinement 6 → Late 6
He blinked.
"…Alright," Lin Chen admitted. "Maybe this is working."
Little Green climbed onto the throne beside him and struck a dignified pose.
Lin Chen sighed deeply.
"Tomorrow," he said, "we establish rules."
Little Green saluted.
Somewhere, a cucumber trembled in the soil.
And the Azure Cloud Sect continued its unstoppable rise—
powered by effort, unity, and one extremely overachieving radish.