Today, Chen Qin came to find Zhang Ze, mainly to have him take her out for some fun.
In the past, Chen Qin's idea of travel and sightseeing was just wandering around, looking at the scenery without much interest.
But recently, the routes Zhang Ze took her on were quite innovative, thrilling, and exciting.
So, as soon as Zhang Ze suggested taking her out, Chen Qin readily agreed.
"Where are we going? Is it far? If it's far, I'll have Mei'Er prepare the flying ship for us."
Mei'Er is Chen Qin's maid, at the Golden Core Stage of cultivation.
Every time Mei'Er saw Zhang Ze, her expression was always filled with vigilance.
Like Old Ascender, who looks through the window at Yellow Hair, stopping his ghost fire downstairs.
"Not far, not far."
Half an hour later, it was already dusk.
Mei'Er walked behind Zhang Ze and Chen Qin, gazing at Zhang Ze's silhouette, half wary and half puzzled.
On the way here, her Mistress had instructed that it was good for the young lady to go out wandering, and when she was bored, just bring her home.
Before meeting Zhang Ze, the young lady was indeed a bit bored.
She had mentioned missing home several times during evening chats.
However, lately, she hasn't brought it up, and every night before bed, she enthusiastically asks people to prepare equipment.
All are things like cloud ladders, flying ropes, and mountain-climbing centipede hooks - low-tier magical artifacts.
Although there are places where the young lady could have Mei'Er fly her up, she prefers stumbling and climbing alongside Zhang Ze on cliffs, enjoying it greatly.
Fortunately, the young lady currently doesn't harbor any romantic feelings towards Zhang Ze, but who knows about the future?
Thinking of this, Mei'Er felt a bit headachy.
After all, even the Sect Leader and Mistress have no say over the young lady, and she is just a maid.
"We've arrived."
Zhang Ze stopped in front of the Heart Refining Cave.
"Sigh."
The sound of a sigh from the sword spirit echoed behind Zhang Ze.
"Do you treat this like your own home?"
Zhang Ze said with a cheeky smile, "Just seeing senior feeling bored, I plan to find something interesting for you."
The sword spirit didn't respond but glanced at Mei'Er standing not too far away, finally lowering its gaze to Chen Qin beside Zhang Ze.
Chen Qin, as the Sect Leader's daughter, had seen countless sword spirits.
Even her infant toys contained a low-tier guardian sword spirit.
But a sword spirit with such rich emotions like this one, she indeed hadn't seen.
She gazed at the sword spirit, filled with curiosity.
"Who are you?" The sword spirit asked in confusion.
Chen Qin's appearance was almost identical to Mo Jingchun's maiden form.
The sword spirit's old memories began to revive, seemingly seeing the girl standing with a sword long ago.
"The lady who dismantled you back then was called Mo Jingchun.
This is her daughter."
Zhang Ze tried to cozy up to the sword spirit by putting an arm around its shoulder.
But the sword spirit's image flickered and appeared elsewhere, causing Zhang Ze to grab at nothing.
Zhang Ze brought Chen Qin running over to the sword spirit again, waving for Mei'Er to come too.
"Senior, don't leave, I really have something for you today."
As the trio and the sword spirit gathered, Zhang Ze whispered.
"I want to pull off something big."
Mei'Er, who hadn't interacted much with Zhang Ze, was only puzzled, thinking what major thing could an outer disciple do.
Chen Qin, thinking there was new fun, was somewhat excited.
The sword spirit took half a step back, understanding Zhang Ze's usual antics.
"You better do something proper."
"I guarantee on my honor this is something proper, a great thing."
Although skeptical, the sword spirit saw Chen Qin's anticipation and still let them enter the cave.
After all, the sun was setting, and it was pretty chilly outside.
No need to light inside the cave, as the sword spirit itself served as an adequate bulb.
After adjusting to a suitable brightness, the sword spirit heard Zhang Ze speaking.
"Senior, you're not keen on working, are you?"
When Zhang Ze mentioned work, it was naturally about being a spar partner.
Someone from the inner sect had come to inspect today; likely, this Heart Refining Cave would soon restart.
As a high-tier sword spirit, it would probably have intense duty, acting as a spar partner for those inner sect Golden Core disciples.
Before the sword spirit could speak, Zhang Ze waved his hand.
"No need to say anything, senior, I get your point because I don't like working either."
Then Zhang Ze turned and asked Chen Qin, "Do you like the Thousand Mechanism Technique, do you want to make a wooden kite yourself?"
Chen Qin didn't think twice and nodded vigorously.
Zhang Ze asked again, "Junior Sister, what do you think if we make a bigger wooden kite?"
"And the wings can spew fire, with protective spells at the Foundation Establishment Peak, and from the belly, a bunch of self-exploding Five Elements Little Ghosts can bounce out."
Chen Qin imagined that scene, her mouth wide open.
It seemed she thought of something and giggled.
Every sect employs a number of Thousand Mechanism artisans or masters.
They're responsible for sect repairs, creating simple mechanisms.
But these Thousand Mechanism artisans lack unified heritage, relying on various sects. Their emergence is late, only around five hundred years.
Their status is awkward; essential, yet not valued.
The sword spirit and Mei'Er were baffled; it's fine to entertain a young lady, but dragging the two of us adults in, why?
Besides, the Thousand Mechanism Technique is just a minor art...
Before they could question, Zhang Ze took out a stack of blank paper from the Hundred Treasures Bag, licked his pen, and began drawing.
When Zhang Ze finished, even the sword spirit revealed a surprised expression.
"What's this?"
"Underground city, I'll call it Underground City!
I think the Sword Sect's trials and training methods are way too simple.
We outer disciples can only hunt low-tier demon beasts in nearby forests or spar with fellow disciples.
But Jianghu is perilous, and this level of training doesn't stimulate the potential of Sword Sect disciples at all."
The sword spirit wanted to refute but felt Zhang Ze made sense.
It got sneak attacked when played dirty by him.
"Let's do something big. Incorporate the structure of Demon Sect's outposts, install traps from Secret Realm Caves.
Set new low-tier sword spirit logic to make them more cunning.
Develop more complex mechanisms that test people, in corner shadows or overhead ceilings.
Rather than simple one-on-one sparring.
Set low-tier sword spirits, mechanisms, demon beasts, and earth spirits as enemies.
In one year, we'll create short-term checkpoints that test Qi Cultivation stage cultivators.
In two years, establish the first large-scale underground city at Foundation Establishment stage difficulty.
In three years, launch the third composite underground city, promoting it in Cyan Thorn, enhancing the Righteous Path's strength, earning extra for the sect.
In the fourth year, we will step out of Sword Sect, Cyan Thorn, and head to East Continent!
In five years, expand across West Continent and Northern Territory, establishing the leading status.
In six years, make it big and strong! Gain new heights!
Listen to the applause!"
Chen Qin felt a surge of emotions, her hands clapped red.
Clearly, she's the type that gets easily deceived by pyramid schemes.
"What do we do now?" Chen Qin was genuinely excited, eager to start right away.
"Everyone go home, meeting adjourned!"
"Huh?"
Zhang Ze looked at them, naturally pressing back the sword halfway drawn by the sword spirit.
"This is just a plan; actual implementation will take a while, and there are many details to nail down.
I am not a Pavilion Master or Sect Leader; such a big thing needs to be communicated upwards."
After finishing, Zhang Ze pointed at himself, "Qi Cultivation stage, nothing special."
Then pointed at Chen Qin, "You're also at Qi Cultivation stage, just slightly better than me."
"Disassembling a wooden kite is simple, but making a large one is much harder; many mechanisms require a level of cultivation to craft.
Junior Sister, if we're to make a real Thousand Mechanism City.
What level of cultivation do you think is needed?"
Chen Qin looked into Zhang Ze's eyes, seeming to see her own future within.
Zhang Ze also saw her future.
[All current side missions for Chen Qin reset]
[Title Demon Sword Drunken Moon disappeared, related achievements, side missions vanished]
[Chen Qin's hidden unique title solidified, One Sword, Thousand Mechanisms (awaiting activation)]
[Hidden conditions met, achievement updated]
[New achievement available, Establish Sect, Sect Master's Mighty]
[East Continent's unique epic mission activated, Thousand Mechanism City]
[Related achievements have been updated]
[World line change rewards issued]
[Mission is East Continent's unique mission, no time limit, no side mission requirements]
[This mission will have a significant impact on the land of Four Continents; once accepted, cannot be abandoned, consequences unforeseeable]