"How did you open it?"
"Just a little trick, that's all."
The item in Lin Feng's hand was a Space Storage Ring, which was why Lin Feng had a mischievous smile holding the severed hand just now.
By right, this kind of thing should be permanently locked after the owner's death.
But considering that the one who opened it was Lin Feng, it didn't seem like a problem.
If the mortal male lead can't crack a walnut, what kind of male lead is he?
When the plot needs it, you can bite the ring open even with your teeth.
The Storage Ring was not large, and aside from a few intense Immortal Cultivation journals written by Wang He, there was useful stuff.
Zhang Ze and Lin Feng skimmed through the journal and promptly burned it.
Too perverted, too creepy.
Their evaluation of Mr. Wang He shifted from foolish demon path to a fool who deserved a thousand cuts.
The remaining items included a notebook recording Wang He's research on Blood Killing Technique and other Demon Sect cultivation techniques.
Those cultivation techniques were mostly Poison Skills.
Judging from the pristine condition of the Secret Manuals, it seemed they were hardly ever flipped through.
Some Thousand Mechanism Tools blueprints he had designed but not yet crafted.
A few maps of Spiritual Snake Helm's new strongholds, and a stack of correspondence with Demon Path individuals.
The letters contained nothing serious, half were mutual insults, and the other half, recommendations of fun brothels when tired of insulting.
Finally left were Spirit Stones, Spirit Grass, elixirs, and the magical treasures and hidden weapons Wang He usually used.
Identity tokens and spare clothing and such were also among them.
"Brother Zhang, their current stronghold is the Secret Realm I mentioned to you before."
"Spiritual Snake Taoist's cultivation is not low, reportedly already at the Nascent Soul stage, should we still go?" Lin Feng asked.
"Yes, we'll first check the outskirts, if there's no opportunity, we'll slip away." Zhang Ze said, gazing at the system's prompt.
[Key item acquired: Spiritual Snake Helm Map]
[Spiritual Snake Helm instance opened, Cyan Thorn region wild events refreshed]
[Hidden quest unlocked: Unawakened Spiritual Snake]
Of course, these weren't crucial; what mattered was Zhang Ze saw the progress bar of his epic quest, [Thousand Mechanism City], move.
Just like shaving off a bit, it moved 0.1.
But moving was moving.
There might be something very important in the Spiritual Snake Helm.
Brother Feng's luck was indeed unbeatable.
But how to infiltrate required some calculation.
"Never mind, this matter isn't urgent either."
"Let's first divvy up the spoils." Zhang Ze pointed at the items on the ground and said.
"Slaying that demon path foe was entirely thanks to Brother Zhang, I..."
"Brother Lin, do not refuse, without you, I couldn't open this ring."
"Alright then." Lin Feng nodded.
"I want this Thousand Mechanism blueprint and these few Demon Sect Secret Manuals. The remaining Spirit Stones, herbs, and such things all go to Brother Lin, how about it?"
Seeing Lin Feng about to decline again, Zhang Ze waved his hand.
"I won't be at a loss, knowledge is power."
...
Sword Sect, Seventh Sword Pavilion, Pavilion Master's room.
The Main Pavilion of the Sword Sect was personally guarded by the Sect Leader.
The other six Pavilion Masters were all direct disciples of the Sect Leader.
"Knowledge is power, that's what the child said."
The Pavilion Master of the Seventh Sword Pavilion was rubbing his bald head, listening to Elder Li's account.
Although there was an agreement with Zhang Ze, Elder Li was still somewhat uneasy.
After all, Zhang Ze's in-and-out play essentially equated to exploiting the Sword Pavilion.
It was one thing to indulge himself, but now he wanted to drag two elders along, it was necessary to inform the Pavilion Master.
After hearing Li Guanqi's narration, Zhengyi smiled and asked, "Is there anything wrong with that?"
Elder Li sighed, "I always felt something was amiss. By right, I'm his master, yet I hardly taught him anything seriously."
"Though his cultivation is not lagging, he's recently been engrossed in commerce. Furthermore, he's developed an interest in Outer Path cultivation, which is ultimately a latent risk, I'm worried this child..."
"You're afraid he'll stray onto an evil path, correct?" Zhengyi asked.
Elder Li nodded.
Sitting in the wheelchair, Zhengyi's thoughts stirred slightly, and the room's window was opened by an invisible hand.
The midday breeze swept away some of the gloomy air in the room.
Zhengyi spoke of unrelated matters.
"For us cultivators, although our lifespan reaches hundreds or thousands of years, ultimately, we haven't yet attained the level of immortality.
"The life of mortals, at most a hundred years, most die at seventy.
"Qi Cultivation, one may live over a hundred and fifty, but after eighty one is still elderly...
"Foundation Establishment, with a lifespan of 270 years, is but a blink of an eye.
"Golden Core, 500 years of lifespan, Nascent Soul can live over a thousand years, Divinity Transformation may last five thousand years, undying.
"Refining Void, Integration, Tribulation Crossing Mahayana cultivator, their lifespan is measured in ten thousand years. Though they may glimpse eternity, they are also trapped by tribulations, every step is like walking on thin ice."
...
Zhengyi commented on the lifespan at each stage, and looking into Li Guanqi's eyes, he said.
"Too short.
"Seemingly long, yet still just a fleeting moment.
"Many cultivators don't have time to study what they love.
"You, Silence, and Jing Chun are all disciples I trained personally.
"Jing Chun loves Thousand Mechanism Technique, you feel that the Spirit Charm of the Sea Race has unique methods, Silence is obsessed with herbology and pill formulas.
"But in the end, you all returned to Sword Dao, why?"
"Because we lack time, we dare not gamble." Li Guanqi, hearing this, already understood in his heart.
"Yes, if you make a wrong bet, you only waste a hundred years of time, even leading to death and disappearance.
The journey is long, the further you go, the harder it is to have epiphanies.
Thus, the major sects hoard their secrets jealously, even Low Tier cultivation techniques are never shared openly.
At least on the surface, everyone maintains this attitude with mutual understanding."
Zhengyi raised a virtual finger, Vast Righteous Qi and Sword Intent interweaving, slicing a cloud in the distant sky.
"Just like this sword of mine, it took me 130 years to understand it, but teaching it to you only takes three days.
"I don't mind who can learn this sword, but many people do.
"Precisely because every phrase, every paragraph of these cultivation techniques is bought at the cost of the gifted one's personal time, their own life.
"Take the insignificant Spirit Recognition Technique as an example, a mistake once made, an entire Puppet Beast Sect was wiped out.
"Celestial Sect always prides itself as the head of the Righteous Path, precisely because they produced a Heavenly Pool Saintess, one art transforming into thousands.
"She pointed the way for the Human Race.
"Yet after so many years, it seems we've each reached our respective ends again.
"A few years ago, that Taoist Dian from Dragon Tiger Mountain sought me out, indirectly brought up this matter.
"Not only him, many in the Six Righteous Sects are contemplating this.
"Yet he and they have not dared to take a single step forward until now.
"Though Dian is daring, dares to defy sect regulations, he doesn't dare gamble his immortal path.
"Because he lacks genius, he doesn't have the gift of that Heavenly Pool Saintess.
"Nor does he possess your disciple's talent."
"You mean? Zhang Ze?" Li Guanqi couldn't believe Zhengyi's implications.
Zhengyi continued with a smile.
"Zhang Ze is very young, younger than any of us, and his Golden Armor Soldiers have already proven some things.
"The time he took to tinker this new cultivation technique was even less than the usual time it takes a cultivator to learn Five Ghost Transport.
"Regardless of whether the boy succeeds.
"We should let him try.
"Perhaps in the future, he will be the one to point out a second path for us."
Li Guanqi felt his heart surging, yet he considered another risk.
"But with Zhang Ze doing this, won't it provoke other sects..."
Hearing this, the long-wise Zhengyi suddenly shed his sage-like appearance.
He whispered sneakily to Li Guanqi.
"No need to worry about that."
"This morning, Jing Chun sent me a letter saying the Sect Leader has already broken through to the next realm."
"Now our Sword Sect..."
"Is invincible in the world!"
In the Cyan Thorn area, in some mountain forest.
"You're unbeatable, Brother Zhang." Lin Feng sincerely remarked by the campfire.
"If there were any other way, only a madman would do this." Zhang Ze said fiercely.
"But why are you practicing a handstand?" Lin Feng asked puzzled.
"I deserved it!" Zhang Ze was on the verge of tears.