Peace returned.
Which, Lin Chen had learned, was usually when trouble started planning.
Three days after Stone River Sect's visit, Azure Cloud Sect was calm to the point of suspicion. Disciples cultivated. The land breathed evenly. Little Green was polishing a new sign that read:
NO UNAUTHORIZED STEPPING
Lin Chen watched it work and felt uneasy.
"…Why do I feel like we're being too comfortable?"
The mountain did not answer.
That worried him more.
---
The system chimed—soft, but persistent.
> System Notice:
Sect Influence Expanding
Unregistered Effects Detected
Cause: External Dependence
Lin Chen frowned. "External dependence?"
Almost immediately, a commotion arose at the mountain gate.
Not cultivators.
Villagers.
Dozens of them.
---
They knelt.
All at once.
Lin Chen nearly tripped rushing forward. "Wait—stop—don't kneel!"
An elderly man looked up, eyes shining.
"Immortal Sect Master… our fields no longer fail. The floods stopped. The soil listens."
Lin Chen froze.
"…It does?"
The ground pulsed gently.
Traitor.
---
The villagers bowed again.
"We brought offerings."
They unloaded baskets of grain, tools, and handwoven cloth.
Lin Chen felt his cultivation stir.
And immediately panicked.
"Oh no. No no no."
---
> System Warning:
Faith-Based Resonance Detected
Risk: Sect Path Deviation
Potential Outcome: Accidental Divinity
Lin Chen paled.
"I did not sign up to be a god."
---
Little Green held up a sign:
WE CAN RETURN THE GIFTS
EXCEPT THE TURNIPS
THEY LOOK NICE
Lin Chen rubbed his temples.
---
He helped the villagers up personally.
"We are not deities," Lin Chen said firmly.
"We are caretakers."
The villagers nodded enthusiastically.
"Yes! Divine caretakers!"
Lin Chen winced.
---
The system chimed again.
> Critical Choice Approaching:
Accept Worship: Power Surge, Heavenly Attention
Redirect Faith: Stability, Long-Term Growth
Reject Entirely: Backlash Possible
Lin Chen inhaled deeply.
"Alright," he muttered. "Time to set boundaries."
---
He addressed the villagers.
"Azure Cloud Sect will help the land," Lin Chen said.
"But you must rely on yourselves—not pray to us."
The land pulsed approvingly.
The villagers hesitated… then nodded.
"We understand."
Mostly.
---
> Sect Doctrine Established:
Path of Stewardship
Faith Converted → Responsibility
Lin Chen felt the pressure ease.
His cultivation stabilized instead of surging wildly.
He exhaled.
---
That night, Lin Chen sat alone beneath the stars.
Azure Cloud Sect was no longer just a sect.
It was becoming a pillar.
And pillars attracted weight.
He looked down at the mountain.
"Easy," he whispered. "One step at a time."
The land answered with a steady heartbeat.
But far away—
Other sects began to notice something troubling.
Not power.
Not dominance.
But influence.
And influence, Lin Chen knew well—
Was far more dangerous.