Who let him join the Sword Sect?!

As for the birthday of Junior Sister, it was rather plain and simple, without a flood of guests or grand banquets, just like an ordinary family celebration.

Though everyone is different, happiness tends to be always the same.

After the afternoon, Chen Qin took Li and Rongrong somewhere unknown, probably to have fun.

As soon as Chen Qin left, Old Tang, who was idling around the Sword Pavilion in Jing State, sneaked over.

However, it was clear that the excuse to come wasn't just to celebrate the young girl's birthday; he was there to find Wei Zhuang.

No one knew what Old Tang was plotting. After calling Chen Qianhu and Wei Zhuang, the three big shots found a secluded place and started playing a big game.

Mysterious, and whatever they talked about, none of them spoke a word afterward.

A few days later, the breakthrough progress was made in the cracking work of the Underground Palace in Dongqi.

It's estimated that soon the secrets within will be revealed.

As for whether this matter is related to Wei Zhuang, it's still unknown.

In short, we'll have to wait a while to see the results.

Zhang Ze also joined in the excitement over there. After all, looking back over his life, he seemed to be an Innate Secret Realm-Breaking Saint Body.

If he kicked the door of the underground palace a couple of times, perhaps it would open.

But this time, whether due to running out of luck or simply being out of touch, Zhang Ze spent half the day researching around the underground palace without any clue or new discovery.

He still had to resort to clumsy methods, like peeling back layers, to slowly break through that sensitive barrier.

Days later, Chen Qianhu gave Zhang Ze another task.

But this time, it wasn't heading north or west; instead, he was asked to return to Cyan Thorn and take a break for a while.

To cultivate well, and by the way, help the Thousand Mechanism Pavilion prepare next year's Qinghe Association.

The Qinghe Association, as its name suggests, is a gathering by the Qinghe River.

The Six Sects are far apart, while the big shots can come and go freely over thousands of miles, but for their disciples, meeting each other relies purely on outdoor encounters.

To encourage disciples to move around more, the Six Sects gather every thirty years, each bringing their generation's outstanding disciples to a chosen place.

They spar and socialize to build relationships.

Not only the Six Sects, but minor sects and schools can also join if they wish, and each Qinghe Association can reveal a few geniuses.

Geniuses that outshine the Six Sects' young talents aren't unheard of.

In short, the Qinghe Association is very important.

And the best spot for the gathering is by the Qinghe River.

Although Qinghe is called a river, it runs through the entire East Continent, so every sect within the Six Sects has a Qinghe River at its doorstep.

Next year, it's the Sword Sect's turn to host the Qinghe Association, and the venue is set in the region of Cyan Thorn.

It's quite a big event and a pleasant task, outsourcing it to the Thousand Mechanism Pavilion shows great trust.

Furthermore, Zhang Ze really felt a bit homesick.

This journey had taken very long, after wandering outside for months, he had no idea how the Thousand Mechanism Pavilion had become by now.

...

Cyan Thorn.

Seventy miles outside the Thousand Mechanism Pavilion, Zhang Ze and Chen Qin stopped.

"What's wrong?" Chen Qin asked.

"A bit scared," Zhang Ze replied.

"What's there to fear about your own home?" Chen Qin was puzzled.

"It's not my home I'm scared of; I'm scared of Lily. Let me probe a bit first."

In the past few months, at the Thousand Mechanism Pavilion, it was like a mountain without tigers, with Lily being the king. Ever since she returned from the Cang Mountain Beast Taming Sect, she's been researching that Spatial Magical Artifact bomb.

Zhang Ze was genuinely afraid that Lily might cause a big commotion and blow a hole in the house.

And the best way to probe Lily was to see if she would answer the phone.

He took out the small walnut to contact Lily, but after a long wait, there was no reply, causing Zhang Ze's heart to sink.

...

In front of the Thousand Mechanism Pavilion, in Thousand Mechanism Town.

The streets of Thousand Mechanism Town were filled with people, all curiously looking towards the Thousand Mechanism Pavilion.

"There's no festival today, so why are they setting off fireworks?" A loose cultivator who had newly arrived asked.

"Young one? Whose fireworks are so powerful?" An elder from Thousand Mechanism Town stroked his beard and interjected.

"Then what do you think it is?" The young man remained puzzled.

"I'm not sure, but I suggest you start saving money, as the Thousand Mechanism Pavilion might be releasing new products," said the old man, pulling out a small walnut to take a selfie.

"Distance is not an issue for a close friend; from ends of the earth, you are not forgotten, in my heart you reside, greetings are never missing, as spring flourishes, seasons with you."

After editing a senior-friendly message, he sent it out.

"The world has changed," the young man, still adapting to the Thousand Mechanism Pavilion's style, muttered to himself.