Who let him join the Sword Sect?!

"Senior brother, what is this?" Lin Feng pointed at the Black King Order in Zhang Ze's hand and asked.

"This? It's the Black King Order." Zhang Ze raised his hand and tossed the token to Lin Feng.

"This... Where did you get it?" Lin Feng looked at the black token in his hand, shocked.

"Got it from Cold City. By the way, can you activate this Black King Order?"

Zhang Ze recalled Lin Feng's skill of opening a Storage Ring barehanded, wondering if he could do the same with the Black King Order.

If it could be reactivated, Zhang Ze planned to start making random prank calls to the other side.

If a daring Hundred Demons Sect Elder answers, Zhang Ze would immediately inform his master.

Let the elder fly over, following the internet cables, wielding a big stick to educate the other side.

Unfortunately, Lin Feng fiddled with it for a while, but the Black King Order had no reaction.

Zhang Ze had no choice but to put the Black King Order back into the Hundred Treasures Bag, postponing the prank calls to the Hundred Demons Sect.

Since Blood Lion fled, Zhang Ze figured that Lin Feng's self-assigned undercover mission should be over.

"When are you returning to the Sword Sect?" Zhang Ze asked.

Unexpectedly, Lin Feng shook his head, "Not for now."

"Huh?" Zhang Ze was confused.

"I still feel more comfortable staying outside," Lin Feng laughed.

Zhang Ze thought about it and agreed. Returning to the Sword Pavilion and entering the Inner Sect would probably mean Lin Feng wouldn't get along with those senior brothers.

He'd have to reenact the "Thirty years east of the river, thirty years west of the river" drama several times.

He might as well skip directly to the "leave the sect, change maps" stage to level up in the wild.

"Why don't you hang a long-term mission at the Mission Hall of the sect? Wouldn't that be the same?" Zhang Ze asked.

Lin Feng still shook his head. Perhaps triggered by Zhang Ze's Black King Order, he seemed determined to continue his undercover action.

Looking at Lin Feng's resolute gaze, Zhang Ze understood Lin Feng was transitioning phases.

Now it's the three-year agreement phase.

Except Brother Feng wasn't trying to break off a marriage. Within three years, he must deal a big blow to the Hundred Demons Sect.

Seeing Lin Feng getting wrapped up in his own ideas, Zhang Ze stopped persuading him.

He felt he should provide some achievable help to Lin Feng.

"This Elder's Token from the Thousand Mechanism Pavilion is for you." Zhang Ze handed Lin Feng a token.

"Use it when you need to buy things here or require help from the Thousand Mechanism Pavilion."

After Lin Feng accepted the token, Zhang Ze took out a box.

Inside the box were five perfectly round small grenades.

"Keep this safe. I just crafted it recently. Though a bit tricky to use, they're lethal to Golden Core Stage cultivators if used right."

Lin Feng quickly took the box and carefully stored it away.

"When I return, I'll help you get an Inner Sect Disciple token from the Sword Sect. After all, your cultivation is enough to enter the Inner Sect now."

"And this..."

Once Zhang Ze finished giving Lin Feng the undercover gift package, he finally mentioned his request for Lin Feng to find him a plot of land.

Lin Feng naturally agreed, promising to inform him as soon as there was news.

The meeting concluded, and Zhang Ze, displaying professional ethics, climbed out of the back window of the inn and swiftly ran back to the Sword Pavilion.

He needed to report the news of Blood Lion Helm fleeing to his master.

"Master, I have some big news to tell you." Zhang Ze stealthily entered Li's residence.

"Go ahead, who are you plotting against this time?" Li appeared behind Zhang Ze with his hands behind his back.

"When have I plotted against anyone? This time it's serious business.

"I've received intelligence that Blood Lion Ancestor has withdrawn from Cyan Thorn and ordered its subordinate bases to each fight independently.

"I suspect they might be up to something devious again." Zhang Ze was rarely serious.

Li listened and just nodded, "Anything else? If not, go practice your sword skills."

Zhang Ze didn't understand his master's calmness, "You're not concerned at all?"

Li looked at his disciple's still intact Tao Heart, feeling appreciative, then patted Zhang Ze.

"You don't really think you're some Heavenly Destiny People, Sovereign of the Four Continents, and that the Sword Pavilion won't function without you, right?"

"Do you know what I did when I wasn't at the Sword Pavilion?"

Li flipped his hand, revealing a blood-red Lion's Mane Treasure Saber emitting a baleful aura.

Zhang Ze found the saber quite familiar. Song Qingpao's essay mentioned it.

It was Blood Lion Ancestor's personal magical artifact.

With the saber in Li's hand, it indicated that Blood Lion Ancestor was likely slain by his master.

"You slew that old lion?" Zhang Ze asked.

"What else?" Li put the saber away.

As for the Hundred Demons Sect hiding the truth from their subordinates...

Zhang Ze estimated it was because the Hundred Demons Sect felt it was too humiliating.

In a few months, Spiritual Snake Helm was completely wiped out.

Then Cold City's Han Yao's three selves were slain, and now Han Yao's seven-day mourning isn't even over, and Blood Lion Ancestor's head was cut off.

Telling the truth to the minor leaders below would make it impossible for the Demon Path to band together.

Understanding the events, Zhang Ze realized his presence was indeed a bit unnecessary; surely, the older ones are wiser.

"Then I shall take my leave, Master."

"Yes, you don't need to concern yourself with the Demon Sect's matters for now. Focus on your own tasks."

Leaving his master's residence, Zhang Ze suddenly found himself idle again.

With Cyan Thorn temporarily peaceful, the Pavilion Master and Wang away, and the reward for the Underground City mission several days away from arriving.

The only things Zhang Ze could do now seemed to be pretending to be a small monster in the Underground City and practicing the Reverse Inference Heart Method.

"Better focus on serious tasks."

However, just as Zhang Ze returned to the Thousand Mechanism Pavilion, he was stopped.

It was Li Jue.

"What's the matter?" Zhang Ze asked.

On that day, Li Jue spoke recklessly in the Underground City and was beaten by Li Yueqi.

Though he wasn't fundamentally harmed, he'd probably be bedridden for a couple of days.

Due to the incident, the Thousand Mechanism Pavilion bore some responsibility, so Li Jue temporarily stayed there to recuperate.

Unexpectedly, he still hadn't left after all these days.

Li Jue pulled Zhang Ze into a small courtyard, where a snow-white Spirit Bird perched upon the roof eaves—the Spirit Beast belonging to Li Jue.

Li Jue invited Zhang Ze into the room, carefully shut the door.

Within the room, the fragrance of medicine spread; this was likely the place of Li Jue's recuperation.

"Brother Zhang, save me!"

Once Zhang Ze sat at the table, Li Jue suddenly bowed, seemingly about to perform a great courtesy.

Zhang Ze quickly stood up and held Li Jue upright, "Explain yourself first."

Li Jue rose, leaned against the window, and sat opposite Zhang Ze, sighing.

He didn't directly state his matter but asked Zhang Ze while looking at his eye, "Brother Zhang, what do you think of my sister?"

Zhang Ze's eyes drifted slightly, his response dry, "Gentle, caring, generous, excellent in cultivation talent, simply the best among the young generation across the Four Continents..."

Seeing Zhang Ze speak like this, Li Jue finally relaxed and began discussing serious matters.

"Let me be candid, Brother Zhang. On that day in the Underground City, I was actually fully conscious." Li Jue poured Zhang Ze a cup of tea.

"And then?" Zhang Ze took the tea, waiting for Li Jue to continue.

"I overheard the entire conversation between Brother Zhang and my sister.

"To be honest, I feel there's something very unusual about the relationship between my sister and Brother Zhang.

"Really, quite unusual.

"Hence, I have an immodest request."

Zhang Ze felt a vague sense of unease and shifted back in his chair.

"I beseech you to marry my sister, Brother Zhang." Li Jue rose, clasped his fists, and bowed deeply to Zhang Ze.

Zhang Ze glanced over at Li Jue's back, but Li Jue, caught up in excitement, failed to notice Zhang Ze's gesture.

"I'll personally return to Cang Mountain to consult my father. As long as Brother Zhang agrees, this matter can surely be settled."

"Once the matter is settled, I can escape my misery."

Li Jue sat back down, pounding the table vigorously.

Li Jue began pouring out his woes to Zhang Ze, trying to garner his sympathy.

Li Jue stated that if Zhang Ze could keep Li Yueqi at the Thousand Mechanism Pavilion, he would be immensely grateful.

Before Li Jue finished speaking, Zhang Ze got up and stepped back, signaling Li Jue to look behind him.

"No way," Zhang Ze declined decisively.

"Why?" Li Jue was puzzled.

"Because... Never mind, you'll find out." Zhang Ze nodded towards Li Jue to turn around.

Li Jue began to sense something amiss. He slowly turned his head to discover that the window was opened at some point.

Li Yueqi stood outside the window, who knows how long she'd been there.

Li Jue's Spirit Bird was cradled in Li Yueqi's arms, explaining to Li Jue with its eyes that it didn't alert him due to uncontrollable circumstances.

"Continue speaking, I'm listening," Li Yueqi said to Li Jue with a cool expression.