Who let him join the Sword Sect?!

Lin Feng almost didn't recognize Zhang Ze at first sight.

Zhang Ze was wearing a loose, exaggerated robe with a broken iron sword hanging at his waist. His face was full of wrinkles, appearing to be in his thirties or forties, yet his voice was still that of a young man.

Lin Feng was startled.

However, luckily, Lin Feng had a calm demeanor.

When not pretending, whether shocked, curious, confused, or angry, Lin Feng always had the same expression.

So Nameless did not notice anything unusual about Lin Feng's expression.

Zhang Ze glanced at Nameless and then turned to Lin Feng, "Looking for me, Brother Lin?"

"My friend here wants to visit the Thousand Mechanism Pavilion, so I hope Brother Zhang can make it convenient." After speaking, Lin Feng slipped several spirit stones into Zhang Ze's hand.

Zhang Ze immediately understood, stored the spirit stones safely, and said, "No problem, no problem, this is easy to arrange."

"May I know how to address my friend?" Zhang Ze looked at Nameless.

"My surname is Wu, named Dan." Nameless smiled at Zhang Ze, looking completely harmless.

This was Nameless's usual identity, a mild-mannered and agreeable Pill Master loose cultivator.

The identity of a Pill Master made it convenient for him to plant gu, while the persona of a good-natured person allowed him to better blend into the crowd.

Nameless greatly enjoyed this feeling of lurking in the shadows and observing others.

This state gave him a thrill of having everything under control.

"I am called Zhang Yida, feel free to call me as you wish, Brother Wu." Zhang Ze cupped his hands towards Nameless.

After a few casual exchanges, Nameless suddenly asked, "What happened to your voice, Brother Zhang? Why does it sound so youthful?"

Zhang Ze's expression was sad, and he sighed, "To tell the truth, there's nothing wrong with my voice; it's my face that's been ruined by the Thousand Mechanism Technique. I'm actually not even 20 years old."

Nameless's interest was piqued; he was very curious about what kind of Thousand Mechanism Technique could cause such an effect.

Yet after a while, Zhang Ze showed no intention of continuing, only sighing repeatedly.

Nameless, though impatient inside, did not show it and patted Zhang Ze's shoulder.

"I, Wu, am just an idle pill cultivator; perhaps I can help you."

"Really?" Zhang Ze's excitement seemed genuine.

Nameless nodded, signaling Zhang Ze to continue.

Then Zhang Ze began to tell a pre-prepared story.

This story was adapted from the heartless Liu Lili, with a multitude of added details.

The protagonist of the story was changed from Liu Lili to a wicked woman named Ma Qima.

The reason for not vilifying Lily was because Zhang Ze felt he'd have to tell this story many more times in the future.

He feared Lily might get assaulted over this when walking alone at night.

In this new story, the wicked woman Ma Qima deceived Zhang Yida's pure feelings.

She tricked Zhang Yida into participating in a dangerous Thousand Mechanism Technique research.

The runaway array devices turned Zhang Yida into his current state.

Not only was his appearance destroyed, but his meridians were also injured.

The entire matter was covered up by the wicked woman, though he received compensation, his face could never be restored.

And Ma Qima's terrors did not end there; she also liked to make people her dogs!

"That bad woman named Ma Qima is truly terrifying..."

"But Brother Wu need not worry, as this woman is not currently in Cyan Thorn."

In terms of acting, Zhang Ze was a performance faction, having rehearsed this story multiple times.

As he spoke, it seemed entirely believable.

Listening to Zhang Ze's fabrication, Nameless felt that this female cultivator named Ma Qima was indeed a born demon seed.

Loyal to the Hundred Demons Sect, Nameless decided to report to the main helm if the story was true.

He wanted the main helm to send higher-level elders to contact this woman called Ma Qima, aiming to recruit her into the Demon Sect.

"Brother Wu, do you have a way to heal my face?" Zhang Ze looked at Nameless and said.

"Let me think..." After hearing Zhang Ze's story, Nameless hesitated.

Initially, he planned to give him a Heart Control Pill.

But now, hearing Zhang Ze's meridians were injured, Nameless thought it was not worthwhile, considering the cost.

The Heart Control Pill was rather expensive, giving it to such a wreck was simply not worth it.

Feigning examination, Nameless sighed.

"Apologies, but for such an injury, I am indeed powerless."

"No problem, I've gotten used to it. Please follow me, Taoist Friend Wu."

Zhang Ze led the way, feeling at a loss in his heart.

Before coming, Zhang Ze made full preparations, and he first went to the Sword Pavilion's mission hall to exchange many things.

To ensure a perfect disguise, he exchanged for a jade pendant capable of releasing the Celestial Sect's Hundred Facets Divine Skill once.

To avoid being poisoned or cursed, he exchanged for several top-grade detoxification pills from Medicine King Valley.

Although the Six Sects often quibble over historical interpretation and minor matters, they always support each other in major affairs.

The Task Halls of the other five sects also exchange divine weapons and Sword Qi Talismans produced by the Sword Sect.

Only the Beast Taming Sect was stingy; they wouldn't sell their spirit beasts.

Zhang Ze had already taken a few top-grade Hundred Refinement Poison Transformation Pills from Medicine King Valley in advance, just waiting for Nameless to poison him.

However, Nameless hadn't poisoned him yet, making the medicine seem wasted.

As Zhang Ze walked, he pondered how to recover his loss from Nameless.

Nameless also pondered, thinking it was inappropriate, he suddenly stopped and grabbed Zhang Ze.

"Although I don't have an instant cure, I have a pill formula that can nourish the meridians."

"I feel destined to meet Brother Zhang, so I'll give you this pill for free."

After speaking, Nameless took out a black pill from the gourd at his waist and handed it to Zhang Ze.

This pill, of course, wasn't any meridian-nourishing spirit pill, but rather an ordinary Gu Pill.

In theory, to control a Foundation Establishment Cultivator, one such Gu Pill should suffice.

But Zhang Ze was unusual; he had taken too much medicine.

As soon as the Gu Pill entered his stomach, it was immediately enveloped by a mass of Clear Qi, ensuring if the Gu insect inside made any movement, it would be killed instantly.

The instructions accompanying the pill from Medicine King Valley mentioned that one Hundred Refinement Poison Transformation Pill has an effect lasting three months after consumption.

Seeing the medicine wasn't wasted, Zhang Ze felt a bit better, but only slightly.

Because he realized the Gu Pill was too low-grade, it was no match for the antidote he took.

So he felt he was still at a loss.

"I must earn back the money." Zhang Ze walked ahead, determined in his heart.

Nameless followed behind Zhang Ze and Lin Feng, enjoying the thrill of lurking in the shadows.

After the group left, three figures appeared midway in the sky.

They were the elders of the Seventh Sword Pavilion.

When Zhang Ze returned to the Task Hall to exchange items, he informed his master along the way.

Upon learning about it, Li called on two familiar elders and arrived early at the location.

These three Divinity Transformation stage big shots had long concealed their figures, strongly observing Nameless from above.

"Guanqi, your apprentice is not bad." remarked the Third Elder, tall and robust.

Li Guanqi glanced sideways at him, "If you like him, I'll send Zhang Ze to you."

"No, no, I have enough disciples, can't manage more." The Third Elder quickly shook his head.

"Stop bickering, what should we do about that person, capture or eliminate?" asked the Sixth Elder.

Li Guanqi shook his head, "This one might be the real Special Envoy from the Hundred Demons Sect, the one reading at the Sword Hall might just be a diversion."

"People like this, even if captured, won't yield any information." The Sixth Elder sighed.

"Let's watch for now." The Third Elder agreed, "Perhaps let your apprentice and that Lin Feng try."

"Who knows, they might extract something."

They weren't encountering such Hundred Demons Sect Special Envoys for the first time.

These people were firm believers of the Hundred Demons Sect, and when they deemed the situation irrecoverable, they would choose death immediately, unstoppable.

After agreeing, the figures of the elders vanished once again.

...

Zhang Ze and his group had arrived at the Thousand Mechanism Pavilion's mountain gate.

By now, the snow near Thousand Mechanism Pavilion had long been cleared, and some crafty demon race members were playing with ice sculptures.

Various quirky ice-chilled foods and drinks were brought out by the demon race.

Like chilled pancake rolls with sunflower seeds.

To be honest, Zhang Ze was tempted to try one but felt it might taste bad, so he bought two.

"Taoist Friend Wu, try this, our Thousand Mechanism Pavilion specialty." Zhang Ze enthusiastically handed pancakes to Nameless.

Truthfully, Nameless had no desire to eat such oddities, but to maintain his affable persona, he reluctantly ate it.

Zhang Ze observed Nameless's expression and confirmed it probably tasted terrible.

So he got an extra piece of oiled paper from Yin Sanlang to wrap and keep his pancake.

"You're not eating?" Nameless asked upon seeing Zhang Ze's actions.

"My health has been poor lately, can't eat cold food, I'll heat it up later." Zhang Ze replied frankly.

Nameless simply smiled at him, refraining from saying anything.

Zhang Ze also smiled at him and then cordially led Nameless toward the Thousand Mechanism Pavilion's shopping street.

As he pulled Nameless, Zhang Ze discreetly stuck a tiny unnoticeable sticky fungus onto Nameless's sleeve.

As long as Nameless didn't change his clothes, Fuji could track him.

Even though his master was watching from above, it was always good to have an extra precaution.