Zhang Ze always felt that Thousand Mechanism Cultivators had a bit of an obsession.
A Pill Cultivator wouldn't dream of their Grain Avoidance Pill performing Tai Chi.
An Artifact Refiner wouldn't dream that their Storage Ring would lick itself to regain health.
But Thousand Mechanism Cultivators do; they always strive for perfection.
On one hand, it's work habit—after all, working for the sect, if they don't make it look stylish, they won't get jobs in the future.
On the other hand, they really want to prove themselves, to show they're cultivators and not mere craftsmen.
Of course, there are always exceptions within a group, like Liu Lili.
Whether it's because her master's death, simply being poor, or for that ultimate Thousand Machines Technique research she keeps secret.
She had an epiphany.
In just one month's time.
After Zhang Ze and Chen Qin's development and Liu Lili's modifications, the Thousand Mechanism Tool named Heavenly Illusion Pendant has already taken Sword Pavilion by storm.
To the extent that everyone has at least one.
Entering the Sword Pavilion feels like returning to Sands City only to be greeted by Jackie Chan.
Even Wang's teapot for drinking tea has the flowing clouds effect.
Li, too, pompously added a dark gold effect to his Big Iron Rod.
But the most eye-catching has to be Senior Sister Qiao Lezhi.
Other people's swords are a normal size, just place them on the Sword Guard and it's done.
But Senior Sister Qiao is different; her door plank is thick and large enough to hang several.
Carrying her door plank around attracts a lot of attention.
Red, orange, yellow, green, cyan, blue, purple—all sorts of effects mixed up, standing at night it could be used as a street lamp.
Zhang Ze's comment on it is that it's even more embarrassing.
And these flashy effects spread as Sword Pavilion disciples went down the mountain for missions.
Now, when Sword Pavilion disciples are recognized outside the mountain gate, there's only one result.
They're licked.
Licked deeply just for one Heavenly Illusion Pendant.
Like Zhang Ze said before, even Loose Cultivators in the Qi Cultivation Stage have a Golden Core dream.
Currently, the most prominent figure in the Cyan Thorn martial world is a Loose Cultivator named Liu Er.
He was the first to acquire the Heavenly Illusion Pendant from a Sword Sect disciple, and then he showed off before half of the Cyan Thorn martial world.
One night, two Foundation Establishment Loose Cultivators had a duel under the moon.
Liu Er, that guy, appeared out of nowhere and put on a show before a hundred martial artists.
That night, Liu Er wore all black, stood on the roof's ridge, with a full moon behind him, holding a sword in one hand, as the moment he drew the sword, cold light emerged, and thunder roared.
It directly scared the crowd of martial artists and the two Foundation Establishment Loose Cultivators into a panic. They thought it was some Golden Core Stage Immortal came to amuse them.
Until one brave person glanced back during the escape and discovered it was Liu Er, that pig head.
Now, those two embarrassed Foundation Establishment Loose Cultivators are hunting Liu Er down, swearing to beat him to a pulp after catching him.
Along with trying to find out from which Sword Sect disciple Liu Er got the Heavenly Illusion Pendant.
Smart individuals naturally see a business opportunity, but they dare not kill for this item.
These Loose Cultivators aren't Demon Path lurkers; they're figures with a reputation. Killing for vanity, such madness is more suited to the Demon Path.
But it's said someone has already paid a hefty sum to hire wild Thousand Mechanism Cultivators to decipher its secrets.
And it's already showing initial results.
Sword Pavilion.
Chen Qin held a round Heavenly Illusion Pendant, wanting to give Zhang Ze's little ball a new skin, but the ball was bouncing around, impossible to catch.
"Senior Brother, what are you really doing this for?"
After struggling for a while and failing to catch the ball, Chen Qin finally gave up on changing the skin plan, sat across from Zhang Ze, and asked.
In the month's time, Liu Lili earned quite a fortune, and subsequently, another batch of Sword Sect Thousand Mechanism Cultivators joined the research effort.
Now there's a small workshop outside Heart Refining Cave; these Thousand Mechanism Cultivators are working enthusiastically.
Zhang Ze shoved the Little Imperial Book he stealthily took from Mei'Er's drawer under the blueprints, and said to Chen Qin.
"Which thing are you asking about?"
"It's about why you don't ban outsiders from imitating the Heavenly Illusion Pendant." Chen Qin said puzzled.
"Because competition leads to progress, my goal isn't to make money. As Mei'Er said, we're not lacking in funds." Zhang Ze stood up with hands behind his back, looking like a high-ranking figure.
"Heavenly Illusion Pendant provided Thousand Mechanism Cultivators with an additional income source.
"Different from serving the sect, this path requires competition.
"When Thousand Mechanism Cultivators are dissatisfied with just effects, they will attempt to integrate martial arts techniques within.
"Yet, since they need to cut costs, they will have to abandon the traditional precise craftsmanship mindset.
"They will start thinking.
"The biggest problem Thousand Mechanism Cultivators face now is they lack a system.
"Since the profession's inception, they've served the sect, pursuing perfection in their work.
"Their personal cultivation and Thousand Machines Technique are separate.
"Pill Cultivators, Artifact Refiners, Beast Tamers—all have complementary heart methods and mature cultivation techniques.
"Thousand Mechanism Cultivators practice various heart methods and use extra time to learn making Thousand Mechanism Tools.
"Junior Sister, with your extraordinary talent, the Thousand Machines Technique won't impact your cultivation before the Golden Core.
"But many can't; making one more Thousand Mechanism Tool means less meditation time.
"Thousand Mechanism Cultivators should have their own cultivation path.
"Comprehending learning dismantling combined arrays surely benefits cultivation.
"While creating simple Thousand Mechanism Tools, dismantle arrays. It's akin to Pill Cultivators refining essential Antitoxic Pills and Grain Avoidance Pills while controlling fire.
"Now it's only been a month, a short time. Yet, given enough time, someone will likely deduce a basic pattern.
"A training procedure that uniquely suits Thousand Mechanism Cultivators by combining array cultivation.
"But for this, just the two of us thinking about it is too troublesome.
"We're still kids, after all.
"Therefore, a hundred or a thousand Thousand Mechanism Cultivators pondering over one thing is much better than just us.
"I created the demand; they'll naturally consider more to earn money.
"Maybe one clever person will have an epiphany."
Zhang Ze pulled out several blueprints from under the desk.
"Honestly, I don't have much talent with arrays."
This was indeed true; Zhang Ze's method has always been using exhaustive trial and error.
Within the system's trial space, reverse dismantling low-tier arrays.
If there's no explosion, then it's correct.
If it explodes, it won't kill him anyway, so just keep trying.
"But Liu Lili, she's actually quite a genius."
Zhang Ze looked at the system panel in front where Liu Lili's avatar appeared alongside the title [Talisman Array of Thousand Mechanisms].
Senior Sister Qiao helped him pick a gem.
"Now those flashy effects, half of them were modified by Lily. I think she can really come up with something."
Just as Zhang Ze was about to say more, Liu Lili rushed in energetically.
"Boss, new invention! Forget sect ancestry, new invention!"