Chapter 1: The Mysterious Mechanist Master

The Ning Family council hall—

A Spirit Lamp bathed the chamber in a luminous, radiant glow.

Inside, the Ning Family patriarch, accompanied by the young lord and a cadre of esteemed elders, convened. Several jade slips passed among them, meticulously documenting the proceedings of this year's examination of the major families.

The patriarch gently caressed a jade slip in his grasp, his eyes drifting shut as the scenes recorded upon it unfurled within his sea of consciousness, replaying in a continuous loop.

Harnessing a blend of spiritual sense and mana, the mechanical marionette sprang to life, capable of a variety of movements and actions. However, even the most prominent among the young cultivators found themselves limited to relatively elementary tasks this year: walking, performing aerial acrobatics, and executing rolls.

The overall performance left much to be desired.

The patriarch languidly unfurled his eyes, retracting his spiritual sense from the jade slip, delicately resting it on the desk beside him.

"The Ning family patriarch sighed, 'This year's evaluation disinterred no prospective mechanist masters among our younger members.'"

****

Sensing the mounting tension, the academy elder swiftly interjected, "Patriarch, esteemed elders, our Ning family is renowned for its mastery of talismans. Among the myriad disciplines of cultivation, mechanist manipulation is but a minor specialization. Our lineage lacks a robust tradition in this technique, and the academy's instructors for this craft are mediocre at best. How can we aspire to cultivate such talents under these conditions?"

The patriarch of the Ning family reassured, "Please, fear not. I don't hold you at fault.

The Yanhuang Palace of Jīxièshī Immortal City was erected by the forebears of the three sects to pacify the eruptions of Yanhuang Mountain, ensconced deep within its volcanic heart. To unlock the immortal treasures and the mechanist legacy of Yanhuang Palace, the most effective approach is through the expertise of those adept in mechanist manipulation.

[Translator Note: I've modified "Magma Immortal Palace" to "Yanhuang Palace" and "Marionette Immortal City" to "Mù'ǒu Immortal City."

"Jīxièshī" translates to "Mechanist" in English. So, "Jīxièshī Immortal City" becomes "Mechanist Immortal City."

"(Magma)" translates to "Yanhuang" or "Molten rock" in English. Therefore, "(Magma) Palace" would be more fittingly rendered as "Yanhuang Palace."

These adjustments aim to better align with the author's original intent instead of a direct translation.]

"Our Ning dynasty has only recently unearthed the existence of the Yanhuang Palace. The other two major families and the city's lord have long held precedence. They seized the opportunity to covertly nurture the talent necessary, an opportunity we were denied.

We find ourselves arriving belatedly, with time working against us. Our sole recourse lies in enticing external talent with substantial gains to join us as honored guests, thus granting us a fighting chance to compete."

The patriarch of the Ning family produced a jade slip, stating, "Contained within are records detailing Jīxièshī Immortal City and renowned mechanist masters in its vicinity. Please peruse it."

After all the elders had examined the contents, the Ning family patriarch declared, "Our task is to establish connections with every mechanist master we can locate and endeavor to gain their allegiance. Of significant importance is a particular mechanist master, a skilled practitioner within Jīxièshī Immortal City and our foremost target."

The young lord remarked, "The identity of the Mysterious Mechanist Master remains unknown; he has never made a public appearance. Although his mechanisms sell remarkably well, they are exclusively sold in the black market, held only once a month."

"The black market operations are under the control of Sun Lingtong, an external disciple of the No-Void Sect, rendering direct access to the Mysterious Mechanist Master exceedingly challenging for us."

The Ning family patriarch's expression soured. "Xiaoren, I'm not interested in hearing about problems; I need solutions."

Ning Xiaoren, the young lord, felt beads of sweat forming on his forehead as he hastily reassured his father, "Yes, father. I've already dispatched agents to establish personal contact with him, and we should see results soon!"

The patriarch stroked his beard. "Good. I'll await the outcome."

After the meeting, Ning Xiaoren wasted no time in summoning his subordinate, Ning Ze.

"Ning Ze, your appointment as procurement manager within the Ning family is owed to my support. I entrusted you with the responsibility of contacting the Mysterious Mechanist Master, yet there has been no progress. What's going on?" The young lord's brow knit with displeasure.

Ning Ze, a middle-aged man whose countenance bore the weight of years of stress, silently wished he could evade the responsibility entirely.

"Young Lord, I am profoundly ashamed for betraying the trust you've vested in me. My incompetence in this matter is unforgivable."

"But engaging with the Mysterious Mechanist Master has proven difficult. Despite my repeated attempts to connect with him at the black market, where I purchased the Ruyi Ropes and offered continuous advice, he remains unresponsive. He refuses to engage in anything beyond the scope of transactions."

"The Mysterious Mechanist Master is far too stubborn. I've exhausted every avenue to glean information about him, only to incur the wrath of the black market proprietor, Sun Lingtong. Not only have I lost valuable manpower, but I've also been falsely implicated and forced to pay a hefty sum of spirit stones. Thus far, I've shouldered this financial burden myself..."

"Enough!"

The young lord interjected, his displeasure palpable.

"You've been outmaneuvered, and that's embarrassing in itself. But do you expect the clan to foot the bill for your blunders?"

"This time, our family requires the purchase of 80 Ruyi Ropes; it's your responsibility to oversee."

Ning Ze was shocked.

"Eighty ropes? That many?!"

The young lord stated firmly, "Use this substantial transaction as a catalyst for your mission. Despite numerous interactions with the Mysterious Mechanist Master, you've failed to progress any discussions regarding collaboration."

"Your lack of results leaves me questioning your competence, Ning Ze."

Sensing the weight of expectation, Ning Ze fervently reassured him of his dedication to the task.

* * *

Ning Ze arrived at the southeastern district of Jīxièshī Immortal City, a region infamous for its lawlessness, teeming with its mix of dragons and snakes. It boasted the city's highest rates of theft and the poorest public security, prominently serving as the nexus for the black market.

Approaching one of the entrances to the marketplace, Ning Ze presented a token for inspection.

A stern-faced cultivator scrutinized Ning Ze with suspicion, meticulously inspecting the token before nonchalantly tossing it back to him.

"Follow me."

He ushered Ning Ze into a small hut behind him and lifted the floorboards to reveal a hole.

Descending into the concealed passage, they traversed a winding tunnel that eventually emerged into an underground bazaar, evocative of a small marketplace.

Ning Ze surveyed the surroundings and promptly identified his quarry.

"Greetings, Lord Mechanist Master," Ning Ze addressed the elderly figure with a genial smile.

The Mechanist Master was a seasoned figure, marked by the passage of time and the trials it had wrought upon him. He relied heavily on a cane, his form hunched over like the bow of a lobster.

His countenance bore the marks of time's passage, etched with deep, purple-hued bags beneath his eyes and creases so pronounced they seemed capable of ensnaring insects. His unkempt, black hair cascaded down to his feet like a black cloak.

The Mysterious Mechanist Master loomed near a cart, casting but a fleeting glance in Ning Ze's direction without speaking.

This had always been his attitude, and although Ning Ze felt powerless, he also harbored growing resentment. As a cultivator of the esteemed Ning family, he expected respect from the Mysterious Mechanist Master, yet none was given.

Despite his frustration, the young lord of the Ning family was determined to win him over. With a forced smile, Ning Ze spoke up, "Lord, this time I present an offer..."

"Eighty Ruyi Ropes in total!"

"Consider the magnitude of this deal; could you perhaps offer a more favorable price?"

"I've been a loyal patron of your establishment for quite some time now, consistently supporting your business. And rest assured, there will be more lucrative deals in the future. But it strikes me as a tad unreasonable that the price remains fixed at 200 spirit stones per Ruyi Rope every time, don't you think?"

The elderly man, his hair dangling, offered a slight nod, his voice weathered with age as he agreed, "You make a valid point."

"In that case, let's agree upon 250 spirit stones each."

Momentarily taken aback, Ning Ze chuckled softly, "Lord Mechanist Master, but you must be joking, right? That's not how you lower the price!"

The Mysterious Mechanist Master snorted coldly.

"For every additional word you utter, the price increases by 50 spirit stones."

Ning Ze's eyes widened in shock, momentarily paralyzed.

His chest swelled with rising indignation, itching to knock the old man before him to the ground. Yet he managed to quell his fury, muttering, "Fine, we'll accept your terms."

"However, my clan desires to incorporate some additional functionalities to better align with our techniques. The specifics of the modifications…"

The Mysterious Mechanist Master sternly interjected.

"No modifications. Take it or leave it. If you're not interested, leave."

Ning Ze was nearly speechless with rage.

After taking a deep breath, he finally nodded with a resigned smile, acquiescing to the terms.

The Mysterious Mechanist Master remained motionless, but from the roof of the carriage before him, several marionettes dangled.

These machanical marionettes, animated by threads, each one appeared almost lifelike, emitting eerie giggles.

They tumbled and leaped about, jostling and shoving one another, but eventually, they managed to open the circular hatch within the carriage.

One by one, they descended into the opening beneath the cover, and then, like extracting a series of serpents, they pulled out the Ruyi ropes.

Each time Ning Ze witnessed this spectacle, he was filled with awe.

The precision of these suspended-thread marionettes was honed to such a degree that the poupée like figures seemed almost sentient.

If the young cultivators from the Ning family undertaking the examination possessed even a modicum of this expertise, the command of their puppets would unquestionably be exemplary.

"Mechanist techniques are ranked lowest among the hundred arts of cultivation, encumbered with myriad deficiencies. The most conspicuous flaw lies in the methods of control!"

"Consider these Mechanical Marionettes, for instance; a mere severing of their threads would render them immobile."

After concluding the transaction at the black market, Ning Ze swapped the spirit stones for the Ruyi ropes before making his departure. It was at this moment that a subtle yet unmistakably sinister and enraged expression surfaced on his face.

"Mysterious Mechanist Master! Every time I extend courtesy to you, I genuinely show you respect."

"This time, I even hired the Huang Family Three Ghosts for you! I even meticulously prepared this 'gift' for you!"

"If you decline to collaborate with me, then you'll undoubtedly suffer."

Ning Ze found himself backed into a corner, compelled to take a dangerous risk.

His strategy was straightforward: enlist the Huang Family Three Ghosts to confront the Mysterious Mechanist Master initially, then swoop in to rescue and thereby gain favor. Should the Mysterious Mechanist Master sustain significant harm, Ning Ze didn't rule out the option of coercing him into submission.

Regardless, his foremost priority remained shattering the deadlock and fulfilling the mission entrusted to him.

As for additional matters, those were worries for the rest of the Ning family members!

Following the conclusion of the black market affair, the Mysterious Mechanist Master, laden with his gains, traversed a shadowy alleyway.

Suddenly.

A Sealing Talisman!

An activated talisman immediately sprang into action, encasing the area around him in a binding cage.

The Mysterious Mechanist Master came to an abrupt standstill, rendered immobile by the spell's effects.

"Heeheehee…"

A soft, ethereal laughter resonated through the air as three ethereal figures materialized from the vicinity, diminutive in stature, launching an assault on the Mysterious Mechanist Master.

The Mysterious Mechanist Master remained as motionless as stone until the spectral figures drew near. At that moment, his form trembled, and several bird marionettes cascaded out, hurtling forward.

Mechanist Technique—Soundless Thunderbirds

Amidst the darkness, a series of lightning bolts streaked through the air, erupting into noiseless bursts of electricity.

In a fraction of a second, the Soundless Thunderbirds had dispatched the three diminutive figures.

"How is this possible?"

"We used the Sealing Talisman; you shouldn't be capable of using your divine sense to manipulate you Marinettes!"

"Something is amiss. He's evidently employing marionettes, yet I didn't see him using any threads to control them."

"It's inconsequential. Let's advance as a group!"

The Huang Family Three Ghosts lunged forward in unison, showcasing their individual talents to besiege the Mysterious Mechanist Master with unkempt, flowing hair. Suddenly, over a dozen spectral figures materialized, encircling the vicinity from all angles with their eerie and menacing visages, teeth bared and claws poised.

The Mysterious Mechanist Master remained steadfast, akin to an unyielding mountain, as his long, unruly black locks intricately entwined, coalescing into several lengthy whips.

These shadowy whips thrashed about with the ferocity of dragons and serpents, yet not a single gust of wind stirred. In the unsettling silence, a palpable aura of lethal intent permeated the surroundings.

Mechanist Technique—Whip of the Pernicious Serpent

The whips exhibited a savage violence, seemingly capable of consuming everything in their path, leaving souls scattered and spirits shattered.

The eyes of the Huang Family Three Ghosts gleamed with fierce determination, bracing for a retaliatory strike.

Within the Mysterious Mechanist Master's mind, a treasure seal materialized, vast as a mountain, embodying both benevolence and malevolence, suddenly radiating an enigmatic brilliance.

Treasure—Buddha Heart Demon Seal!

The three ghosts faltered simultaneously, revealing fatal vulnerabilities. Shocked and desperate, they hastily retreated, but their efforts were futile.

Two piercing screams marked the demise of two of the assailants.

The eldest, his eyes ablaze with rage and fueled by vengeance, pushed his foundational energies to their zenith, launching a desperate counteroffensive against the Mysterious Mechanist Master.

His cherished dagger, the embodiment of his hopes, streaked through the air like lightning, aiming for the center of the Mysterious Mechanist Master's forehead.

Ting.

A sharp clang reverberated as metal met metal.

The eldest member of the Huang trio stood motionless, his countenance wrought with incredulity.

Thud, thud, thud.

In an instant, numerous Whips of the Pernicious Serpent converged from all directions, impaling him mercilessly.

The eldest ghost's eyes widened as the whips pierced his body, suspending him mid-air. Blood cascaded down like a macabre rain, splattering the surroundings, all obscured by the thick shroud of night.

Hearing the strange commotion, nearby cultivators hastened to the alleyway to investigate.

"What happened here?" one cultivator asked, bewildered.

In the alley, there was neither a sign of a body nor a single drop of blood.

Meanwhile, Ning Ze's anxiety intensified. "Why is there still no word? It should have been done by now."

"The Mysterious Mechanist Master is at the Foundation Establishment stage, as are the Huang Family Three Ghosts. Even in Mù'ǒu Immortal City, where their combat abilities are suppressed, a three-against-one advantage should have guaranteed victory." He tried to comfort himself.

"I equipped them with a Sealing Talisman and the Green Knife Mantis, a spirit pet capable of slicing through even the strongest of threads. With such meticulous preparations, the Mysterious Mechanist Master should have been thoroughly incapacitated!"

"Just wait a little longer."

But this wait would prove futile.

The Mysterious Mechanist Master marched through the underground tunnels.

Three whips snaked behind him, each gripping the corpse of a cultivator. As he advanced, malevolent shadows writhed on the tunnel walls.

Ahead, a crimson radiance emerged, and the air grew oppressively hot.

Rounding a corner, an enormous furnace loomed before the Mysterious Mechanist Master.

He opened the furnace door and, with practiced ease, cast the three bodies inside.

After sealing it shut, he proceeded to an adjacent storage room.

He deposited several kilograms of fire essence, recently procured from the black market, into the storage room. Over the years, the amassed fire essence had formed a small mountain.

"Only ten more kilograms of fire essence to go," he murmured.

The Mysterious Mechanist Master made his way to the transmission room and activated the teleportation array. In the next moment, he returned to his underground workshop.

The body of the Mysterious Mechanist Master began to transform. The peculiar, floor-length black hair swiftly retracted, and his hunched posture gradually straightened. Beneath the black robe, the old man's body flickered with light and shadow, revealing his true form—an ashen-mechanical armor.

The surface of the armor glimmered with a faint precious light, adorned with talismans and array patterns. A fresh scar marred the helmet, a testament to the final stand of the eldest of the Huang Family Three Ghosts.

The armor's breastplate, abdominal plate, and leg plates symmetrically parted to the sides. From within emerged a young man.

The youth possessed a pallid complexion and eyes as clear as crystal, emitting a tranquil and serene aura.

The armor was named: Mechanical Pewter Han Armor.

The youth's name was: Ning Zhuo.