Lin Chen sensed trouble before it arrived.
Not from the sky.
Not from Heaven.
From arrogance.
> System Alert:
High-Profile Attention Detected
Source: Major Sect
Intent: Questionable
Mood: Condescending
Lin Chen sighed.
"Here we go."
---
At noon, the mountain trembled.
A massive flying ship descended, casting a shadow over Azure Cloud Sect.
Golden banners fluttered proudly.
CRIMSON PEAK SECT
Zhao Feng squinted. "Master… that ship is bigger than our entire sect."
Lin Chen nodded. "Size compensating."
---
The ship docked with dramatic flair.
A group of cultivators descended, led by a young man in luxurious robes.
He glanced around disdainfully.
"This is Azure Cloud Sect?" he scoffed. "I expected… more."
Little Green raised a sign behind Lin Chen:
RUDE
Lin Chen coughed loudly.
"State your purpose."
The young man smirked. "I am Young Master Yan of Crimson Peak Sect."
Lin Chen waited.
Yan continued. "We are here to verify rumors."
"About?" Lin Chen asked.
Yan waved lazily. "Your… vegetable."
Little Green gasped silently.
---
Yan's gaze locked onto the farm.
"That radish," he said, "is an unnatural resource."
Lin Chen crossed his arms. "It's a mascot."
Yan laughed.
"A mascot doesn't trigger tribulation clouds."
Little Green held up a sign:
I APOLOGIZED
Yan's laughter died.
"…It can write?"
Lin Chen nodded. "Very politely."
---
Yan stepped forward arrogantly.
"Hand it over," he said. "Crimson Peak Sect will compensate you."
Lin Chen's smile vanished.
"Leave."
Yan sneered. "You dare refuse?"
Lin Chen's aura flared slightly.
The ground cracked.
The air thickened.
Yan stiffened.
> Power Comparison:
Lin Chen: Qi Refinement 7
Yan: Qi Refinement 8 (Unstable)
Yan recovered and scoffed. "You're still weaker."
Little Green stepped forward.
And bowed.
The sect aura surged.
Yan's face paled.
---
> Sect Resonance Triggered:
Home Advantage Activated
Result: Temporary Suppression of Intruders
Yan's cultivation dropped visibly.
Qi Refinement 8 → 6
Yan panicked.
"W-What is this?!"
Lin Chen smiled coldly.
"Private property."
---
The elders behind Yan stepped forward.
"Calm yourself, Young Master," one said hastily.
He turned to Lin Chen and bowed.
"Sect Master Lin, forgive this offense."
Lin Chen nodded. "Apology accepted."
Yan gaped. "Elder?!"
The elder hissed, "Do you want to die over a radish?"
Yan shut up.
---
Before leaving, Yan glared at Little Green.
"This isn't over."
Little Green waved and held up a sign:
SAFE TRAVELS
Yan nearly vomited blood.
---
As the ship departed, the system chimed.
> Major Sect Relationship Updated:
Crimson Peak Sect: Hostile (Polite)
Reward: Sect Prestige +1
Lin Chen exhaled slowly.
"That," he said, "could've been worse."
Zhao Feng nodded. "They didn't steal the radish."
Little Green puffed up proudly.
---
That night, Lin Chen cultivated deeply.
The sect aura roared like a tide.
> Cultivation Progress:
Qi Refinement Mid 7 → Late 7
Lin Chen opened his eyes.
"…Protecting vegetables builds character."
Far away, on the flying ship, Young Master Yan smashed a table.
"I WILL HAVE THAT RADISH."
And in Heaven's notebook, a new line was added:
'Warning: Radish now causes sect conflicts.'