It was already deep into the night, and Zhang Ze was studying his System Panel.
After several days of experiments, Zhang Ze discovered that not everyone would unlock Achievements or long-term Side Quests.
Only those with ironclad destinies who would one day be able to shake the world of Cultivating Immortality were worthy of Achievements.
Take Elder Wang, for example. The two of them were as close as brothers now, but no Achievement had refreshed for him. He only occasionally received some odd-jobs tasks.
As for those Senior Brothers and Junior Sisters whose names Zhang Ze still had not memorized, they did not even have tasks.
But those two living treasures, Lin Feng and Chen Qin, had unlocked the Achievement and Favorability systems after just a few casual words, followed by a huge pile of Side Quests with hidden states.
On the Panel, there were also dimmed Titles behind their names.
Lin Feng. Lone Star of Sword Fiends.
Chen Qin. Demon Sword Drunken Moon.
In a sense, Elder Li had been right. They really were two Living Fathers.
As for Elder Li...
His Cultivation Level was about the same as Elder Wang's, yet he had a Hidden Quest.
However, judging from the fact that no Achievement could be obtained from him, Elder Li's Hidden Quest seemed more like a prerequisite for another task.
Moreover, it should not be very long. Perhaps Zhang Ze would receive the final reward after taking only one or two more steps.
He might even unlock a new Map.
As for Lin Feng and Chen Qin's questlines...
Zhang Ze thought for a moment and decided to set them aside Temporarily. He would let things take their natural course with Lin Feng, while keeping Chen Qin's Favorability active for now.
Keeping Chen Qin's Favorability active was, of course, for the subsequent Sword Sect Main Pavilion Side Quest and to unlock the Sword Sect Main Pavilion Map ahead of time.
It absolutely was not because of some immortal-demonic Dao Companion or some big-busted loli.
Pushing the big-busted loli out of his mind, Zhang Ze rubbed his hands together like a Fly and finally reached the Loot Box Opening segment he was most interested in.
【Cultivation points x3】
【Cultivation points x4】
【Exchange Points 300】
How tragic. It was all bits and pieces; not even a golden dragon-slaying sword had dropped.
The Cultivation rewards from all the minor Side Quests over the past half-month added up to the equivalent of double the Cultivation progress.
Zhang Ze was not particularly delighted. His progress seemed incredibly fast, but that was only because the tasks that had appeared were all very Simple.
They were basically errands such as finding cats and dogs.
He estimated that once he Ascended, reached Body Integration, and entered the Nascent Soul stage, the Side Quests he refreshed would probably be...
Go kill that Demon Venerable within three days.
No longer thinking about the future, Zhang Ze decided to focus on the present.
He opened the System's exchange Panel.
It could not exactly be called dazzling, but it was definitely disgusting.
The Exchange List defaulted to displaying the expensive items first.
Zhang Ze looked at the Cultivation Manuals in the top ten, each radiating Golden Light and shining Golden.
The required conditions for the exchanges were likewise shining Golden.
If you cannot afford it, do not touch it.
Feeling the System's malice, Zhang Ze directly dragged the Panel to the very end.
He felt much better this time.
The Exchange List contained not only the Sword Sect's own Cultivation Methods, but also immortal arts and Daoist Magic from other sects.
There was even a separate section for Demonic Sect Cultivation Methods. If Zhang Ze wanted to switch to the Demonic Path, he could change over seamlessly on the spot.
Although Zhang Ze currently had only 1,500 Exchange Points available, enough to exchange for at most four Low-level Cultivation Methods.
However, Cultivation Methods below the High-level category in the System could be tried before payment.
In other words, as long as he could afford something below High-level, he could try to Exploit a bug for free.
Everyone knew that Cultivating Immortality sects had no spirit of open source. The Low-level and High-level Cultivation Methods of every sect were all Treasures.
They would rather let them sprout maggots under their quilts than teach them to Outsiders.
There was not even the slightest spark of intellectual exchange. How could anyone improve like that?
Zhang Ze Casually clicked on two Low-level Cultivation Methods.
【Demonic Sect Cultivation Method, Blood Fiend Technique】
【Dragon Tiger Mountain Talisman Art, Five Ghosts Transport】
The advantage of the Blood Fiend Technique was that it was Simple to learn and took effect quickly. All one had to do was bleed and use the blood to injure one's enemies.
Its drawback was also that it took effect quickly. Since the blood flowed too fast, one would die before long. Generally, this technique was used for Self-detonation.
Within the Demonic Sect, it was a Cultivation Method that not even dogs would learn. It was too Unlucky.
Five Ghosts Transport was somewhat stronger than the Blood Fiend Technique, but only by a limited amount.
Although it had no side effects, it did not have any real positive effects either. The Five Ghosts it summoned would disperse after being kicked once by someone in the Qi Refining Stage.
At most, it could be used to test for land mines, coax children, or steal Underpants.
Demonic Sect Cultivation Methods had great Power, but also great side effects. Orthodox Cultivation Methods had no side effects, but their Power was limited.
If these two could be combined...
Zhang Ze smiled faintly, closed his eyes, and entered trial mode.
Half a Shichen later, Zhang Ze exited trial mode with satisfaction.
He opened the exchange categories, dragged them to the bottom, and tapped with his little finger to acquire three Cultivation Methods.
【Blood Fiend Technique】【Five Ghosts Transport】and a 【Spirit Recognition Technique】 from some unknown Small Sect.
He had not used all his points. He had originally wanted to exchange for a Sword Sect Cultivation Method as well.
But Zhang Ze remembered that he was a Sword Sect Disciple himself and could Get for free from the Library Pavilion, so he let it go and saved the points for later.
After exiting the System, Zhang Ze closed his eyes and began to Comprehend, study, and combine these Daoist Magic techniques, striving to integrate them completely.
The next morning, the System Prompt sound interrupted his snoring.
【Hidden Quest final stage: Old Li's training begins. Forced acceptance.】
Hmm, training?
Zhang Ze was instantly frightened awake. Hearing the bizarre name of the task, he instinctively wanted to Refuse.
However, the sound of Elder Li dragging an Iron rod across the ground was already ringing out Behind him.
Damn it, what was a Sword Cultivator doing carrying an Iron rod every day?
Zhang Ze immediately wiped the Saliva from the corner of his mouth, watched his nose and contemplated his heart, put on a solemn expression, and pretended that he had meditated all night.
"Stop pretending. I could hear your snoring from Outside the hall. Get up and come with me." Elder Li's voice rang out Behind Zhang Ze.
To be honest, Zhang Ze really did not want to go, because that task name was indeed Somewhat unsettling.
But he also dared not refuse. He was afraid Elder Li would conduct the training publicly right there.
Following Elder Li, he saw that a huge crowd of people had already gathered Outside the Martial Arts Hall to watch the fun.
The Junior Brothers and Sisters whispered among themselves, while Elder Wang held his Teacup and nodded at him with a smile.
Lin Feng Frowned slightly and seemed about to say something, but he stepped on the heel of the person in front of him, and the two of them started fighting.
That person's Cultivation Level was several layers higher than Lin Feng's, and he was chasing Lin Feng while beating him.
Lin Feng shouted strange things such as "Don't bully the poor young man" and "You have already embarked upon the Path to Death" as he ran and fought.
No one went to intervene. Everyone was used to it.
Several Senior Brothers who had been forced to Repeat a grade for a long time were Gloating. Old Li's strictness was famous, and these repeaters knew it all too well.
Zhang Ze gave them the Middle Finger.
After walking for quite a while, they arrived in front of a Cave.
"Go inside.
You are not fond of exploring Hidden Maps? Go in and take a look.
This was the place where Old Wang, I, and the others tempered our hearts when we joined the Sword Sect back then.
After the Disciples of our generation, this place was Abandoned.
But it is just right for you now."
Elder Li supported the Great Rod and stood with his Hands behind the back as he spoke.
Zhang Ze actually wanted to say that he had been inside before. There had been nothing in there At that time, and he even knew where the Backdoor was.
He held back and did not dare say it. After all, he could not defeat Old Li.
"Why abandon it instead of using it?" Zhang Ze asked.
"You will know once you go in."
Then Elder Li kicked Zhang Ze inside.
Outside the cave, Elder Li called out loudly, "If you can pass the Heart Questioning Trial, I will accept you as my Personal Disciple."
"If you do not wish to undergo this Trial, you may withdraw on your own. After that, I will no longer concern myself with you."
Holding his Lower Back, Zhang Ze thought that this Old Man was surprisingly sentimental.
It seemed he had no choice but to reveal some Means.
【Old Li's training, task in progress.】
【Sword Pavilion Outer Sect Map exploration reached 50 percent, satisfying the Hidden Condition.】
【The Outer Sect's Sole Hidden Quest, Spirit of Bewilderment, has begun.】
【Side Hidden Quest, Recalling Past Events, has begun.】
【Sword Sect's Seventh Sword Pavilion, overall Map completion: 5 percent.】
The Prompt sound rang out. Zhang Ze closed the Pop-up window, but his mind was occupied with another matter.
That was, why had Old Li just said to him Outside the cave, "If you do not wish to..."
Instead of, "If you cannot..."
There was something wrong with this place.