Lin Chen woke up to whispering.
Not from disciples.
From wood.
"…No," he muttered, pulling a robe on and stepping outside. "No, no, no."
The Spirit Root Pavilion was glowing softly, its wooden arches flexing like ribs.
Creaaak.
Lin Chen stopped ten paces away.
"If you speak," he said calmly, "I will scream."
The pavilion hummed.
> System Update:
Spirit Root Pavilion
Awareness Level: Basic
Communication Method: Emotional Resonance
Threat Level: Low
Annoyance Level: Rising
Lin Chen rubbed his face.
"I miss when buildings were dumb."
---
The disciples gathered.
Su Ming bowed deeply to the pavilion.
Lin Chen snapped, "Do NOT bow to the building."
Su Ming straightened immediately. "Yes, Master."
The pavilion pulsed happily.
"…Why does it like authority?" Lin Chen asked.
Zhao Feng whispered, "Master, it might have inherited your personality."
Lin Chen refused to respond.
---
To test it, Lin Chen stepped closer.
The pavilion leaned slightly toward him.
"…Stay," Lin Chen said.
The pavilion stayed.
"Good," Lin Chen said. "Very good."
> Structure Obedience: Confirmed
Lin Chen exhaled in relief.
Then the pavilion opened a small hollow in its trunk and dropped something at Lin Chen's feet.
A glowing root fragment.
> Item Acquired:
Spirit Root Core (Fragment)
Effect: Boosts cultivation and structure growth
Lin Chen stared.
"…It gave me a tip."
Zhao Feng gasped. "Master! Even buildings respect you!"
Lin Chen deadpanned. "I would prefer less respect and more silence."
---
Little Green rolled over slowly.
The radish and the pavilion faced each other.
They hummed in harmony.
The ground vibrated.
Lin Chen lunged between them.
"NO COLLABORATION."
Both froze.
The pavilion dimmed.
The radish held up a sign:
FRIEND?
Lin Chen pointed sternly. "Acquaintance at most."
The pavilion creaked apologetically.
---
> System Alert:
Synergy Potential Detected:
Spirit Crop + Spirit Structure
Outcome: Unknown
Probability of Disaster: Moderate to High
Lin Chen mentally screamed.
---
To regain control, Lin Chen declared a Sect Renovation Freeze.
"No more growing," he announced.
"No more awakening."
"No more… expressing yourselves."
Little Green looked crushed.
The pavilion drooped slightly.
Zhao Feng whispered, "Master, you're breaking their hearts."
"They do not have hearts," Lin Chen replied.
The pavilion pulsed faintly.
"…Why did that feel like a lie."
---
Despite everything, benefits rolled in.
Disciples cultivated faster.
Sect aura stabilized.
Visitors stopped challenging the radish and started asking for tours.
Lin Chen banned tours.
Someone tried anyway.
They got lost inside the pavilion for six hours.
The pavilion apologized.
---
That night, Lin Chen cultivated inside the Spirit Root Pavilion.
It felt… calm.
Steady.
Supportive.
> Cultivation Progress:
Qi Refinement Early 8 → Mid 8
Lin Chen opened his eyes.
"…It's doing this on purpose."
The pavilion hummed softly.
Little Green held up a sign from outside:
GOOD TEAM
Lin Chen leaned back.
"Fine," he said quietly. "We'll work together."
The pavilion glowed warmly.
The radish vibrated happily.
Heaven remained silent.
Which meant it was watching very closely.
And somewhere in the roots beneath Azure Cloud Sect—
Something ancient stirred, recognizing a pattern it had not seen in a very long time.