The next breakthrough did not come with light.
It came with paperwork.
Lin Chen stared at the system panel floating before him, eyes dull.
> System Task Issued:
Phase: Stewardship Expansion (Controlled)
Objective:
– Formalize Sect Structure
– Establish Internal Governance
– Prevent Overreliance on Sect Master
Warning:
Centralization Increases Collapse Risk
Lin Chen leaned back.
"…So even my system wants me to delegate."
The mountain hummed approvingly.
Little Green held up a sign:
EVEN RADISHES NEED BACKUP
---
The first reform began immediately.
Lin Chen created Three Pillars of Azure Cloud Sect:
1. Cultivation & Teaching – Led by Zhao Feng
2. Land & Resources – Overseen collectively by senior disciples
3. External Affairs – Temporarily handled by Lin Chen (unfortunately)
The disciples were stunned.
"Master," Zhao Feng said nervously, "I'm not strong enough."
Lin Chen shook his head.
"You're steady enough."
The ground pulsed in agreement.
---
> Sect Effect Triggered:
Distributed Authority
Stability: +20%
Lin Chen's Personal Pressure: -15%
Lin Chen exhaled.
"Why does that feel like leveling up?"
---
News of the reforms spread—quietly, but clearly.
Azure Cloud Sect was not hoarding power.
It was sharing responsibility.
This unsettled observers more than any battle would have.
---
Far away, the observer read the report and frowned.
"They're decentralizing," he muttered.
"That makes them harder to break."
A subordinate whispered, "Should we accelerate containment?"
The observer shook his head.
"No."
Because now—
If Azure Cloud Sect fell,
it would not collapse inward.
It would collapse outward.
And that kind of fallout was dangerous.
---
That night, Lin Chen walked the mountain paths alone.
He felt heavier.
Not weaker.
Heavier the way pillars felt heavy.
He placed a hand on the soil.
"We're moving carefully," he said.
The land responded warmly.
Not with praise.
With trust.
---
The system chimed one last time before sleep.
> Cultivation Advancement:
Stage: Mid-Realm Stabilization
Cause: Shared Responsibility Resonance
Lin Chen laughed softly.
"So power really does come from carrying weight."
Above, the stars remained unchanged.
Below, the roots grew deeper.
And Azure Cloud Sect—
no longer just a refuge or anomaly—
was quietly becoming something far more dangerous to ignore:
A model.
One the world might one day be forced to follow.