Mechanism

The situation had reached a stalemate, and even Ning Ye had no idea what to do for the moment.

After thinking it over, he decided to throw the problem back to the other party. "So what do you want to do?"

The strange being was at a loss, too.

He wouldn't believe it if the other party said they would simply call it quits and leave. He couldn't let this Extreme Joy Sect cultivator go, but he couldn't kill him, either. He had already spent a great deal of energy fighting the cultivator, and was probably no match for this person. The other party had known how strong he was and still dared to come here, which meant he likely had something to rely on—especially since he had somehow figured out a Hualun cultivator's weakness.

One had to understand that the gap between major realms was nothing like the gap between minor ones. There was a vast gulf in strength between Cang Xiang and Hualun. At the same realm, it wasn't all that rare for someone at a lower minor stage to defeat someone at a higher one.

But for someone at the peak of Cang Xiang to defeat a Hualun cultivator in the initial stage? That was far too difficult. Anyone who could do it was a peerless talent among men, a genius among geniuses.

This man's cultivation was lacking, but his origins were mysterious, and he dared to challenge a Hualun cultivator in the initial stage. That alone made it clear Ning Ye was inferior to him.

He couldn't win if they fought; he couldn't let the man go; and there was no way he could escape.

The strange being was at a loss, too.

Ning Ye said, "You'd better decide quickly. Two battles have taken place here, and someone will notice soon. I can leave, but you might not be able to."

The strange being fretted, "I know. You Immortal Sect cultivators are so detestable. You'll never leave us alone. If I weren't clever, I'd have died at your hands long ago."

Ning Ye smiled. "I have an idea, though I don't know if you'll be willing to hear it."

"Go on."

"Submit to me and become my subordinate," Ning Ye said.

"No!" the strange being cried. "Wouldn't that mean I'd lose my freedom? Besides, how do I know you won't kill me afterward?"

"Freedom?" Ning Ye sneered. "Do you really think you're free right now?"

The strange being froze. It thought about how it spent every day like a stray dog, constantly on edge. This so-called freedom was honestly worse than the life of a household dog. So if this man could treat it well, selling itself into servitude might not be out of the question. The problem was, how could it be sure he wouldn't take it apart and absorb it?

Ning Ye continued, "You're an earth-element strange being, skilled in earth-element spells. That's good. The path I cultivate demands a great deal, but I can't be in two places at once, so I can't cover every aspect. With your help, I could worry less about the earth-element path. Intelligent strange beings are exceedingly rare. I think you have great potential, and if you follow me, you'll have more room to grow. I also know many secret arts, and I can teach you earth escape. With that art, you'll find it much easier to flee in the future."

The strange being said impatiently, "After all that, why should I trust you?"

Ning Ye replied, "There isn't much time. You have no choice but to trust me. If you keep dragging this out, you may not be able to leave. The worst that could happen to me is that my sect discovers I plotted to steal a strange being and punishes me. For you, it's a matter of life and death."

That was what truly struck the strange being's weak spot.

It had taken the Hualun cultivator hostage, but the leverage wasn't enough to make Ning Ye yield.

The strange being realized that time was running out. It could only take a gamble. "You really won't hurt me?"

"Even if I killed you and absorbed you, I might not gain much, especially since my strength is low right now. No matter how profound your mysteries are, I wouldn't be able to digest them. But if I keep you around, I'll have the equivalent of a Hualun cultivator in the initial stage helping me, even if you're one of the weakest in Hualun."

"What about when you grow stronger?"

"You'll grow stronger, too. Strange beings can't be controlled by any known method. The Immortal Sects have always sought to absorb strange beings; they've never researched how to control them. I don't know how, either. If you think I'm untrustworthy, you can look for another chance to escape... You'll only expend some of your essence, and you'll recover after a while. But I believe that once you follow me, you won't leave even if I tell you to."

The strange being looked at him disdainfully. It didn't believe Ning Ye, but reality left it no choice. It could only say, "All right. I'll take a chance."

As it spoke, it released the Hualun cultivator.

Ning Ye didn't make a move. "Kill him."

"Me?" The strange being was surprised.

"What? You just agreed to become my subordinate, and now you're going against my wishes?" Ning Ye said.

Instead of getting angry, the strange being was delighted. From the sound of it, Ning Ye really did intend to keep his promise. It thrust out a stone spike and killed the cultivator.

Then Ning Ye searched the body, took out all the man's belongings, and looked them over. Picking up a small wooden box, he smiled. "What a stroke of luck. Come with me."

Teacup bounced along after Ning Ye.

Ning Ye went to the Stone Lion, cast a spell on the wooden box, then tucked a talisman inside. "Hide this box inside the Stone Lion. Can you do that?"

The strange being understood what he had in mind and was shocked. "You're so devious!"

"If not, how else could I protect you?" Ning Ye asked in return.

"Exactly! Exactly!" The strange being loved hearing that. It followed Ning Ye's instructions and put the wooden box inside the Stone Lion. Then, at Ning Ye's direction, it tampered with the Stone Lion before finally leaving.

On the way back, the strength the strange being had expended gradually recovered.

By then, though, it no longer had any intention of running away.

Just as Ning Ye had said, strange beings didn't truly yearn for freedom. It was only their unique value that left them with no one willing to buy their services.

Now that it had finally found a cultivator willing to shelter it, it would have to be a fool to run.

Ning Ye also gradually learned that the strange being had been born from chaos and knew nothing at all about its own origins. It had originally possessed no intelligence. Once, an immortal had obtained it and tried to refine it, but the immortal was attacked by an enemy, and the refining failed. Even so, the process had awakened its mind. Since then, it had hidden itself every day, afraid to show its true form. Whenever it did, it would find a way to flee as quickly as possible.

Its intelligence was also why it had escaped several times. An ordinary, mindless strange being would likely have been captured by an immortal long ago.

After learning about the strange being's circumstances, Ning Ye smiled. "Since you're nameless, I'll give you a name."

"Great! Great!" The strange being was overjoyed.

Ning Ye thought for a moment. "I'll call you Tianji."

"Tianji?"

"Yes, Tianji. From now on, you're the Heavenly Mechanism Stone!"

The Heavenly Mechanism Stone would be the foundation of the Heavenly Mechanism Sect.

Ning Ye had high hopes for this strange being, too.

One day later.

Young Master Five-Sheep, Gongsun Ye, stood in Ancient Spring Town, with Yue Xiuxiu beside him.

Yue Xiuxiu had reported this place to him. Even though he knew there was little hope, Gongsun Ye had still flown here as quickly as he could.

But when he saw the town in ruins, Gongsun Ye's heart sank.

He looked around and frowned. "At least four groups of cultivators have been here, but only one of them fought. It was the Extreme Joy Sect."

With Gongsun Ye's experience, he could recognize the cultivator's methods at a glance.

He just didn't know whether the one who had succeeded was that cultivator.

Yue Xiuxiu, meanwhile, was still lingering by the Stone Lion.

Although Gongsun Ye had already told her that strange beings could move elsewhere and that this one was no longer inside the Stone Lion, Yue Xiuxiu was still reluctant to leave.

Curiously, she looked at the Stone Lion, feeling as if something on it was drawing her in. She couldn't help asking, "Master, why do I feel like there's something on this Stone Lion attracting me?"

Gongsun Ye didn't even turn around. He answered casually, "You cultivate the Pure Maiden Clear Qi and Water Cloud Sword Art, so you're more sensitive to water spirit energy. Somehow, the Stone Lion has picked up the aura of a Cloud Water Pill. Their energies resonate, so it's no surprise you're drawn to it."

"So that's why." Yue Xiuxiu murmured and patted the Stone Lion's head.

At that moment, the Stone Lion suddenly exploded, spraying out countless poisoned needles. Yue Xiuxiu was caught off guard and instantly became a pincushion. Her body shuddered, and she fell to the ground.

"Xiuxiu!" Gongsun Ye cried out in alarm and caught Yue Xiuxiu. Her body was drenched in blood and laced with poison. She died on the spot.

"Bastard!!!" Gongsun Ye roared.

Someone had ambushed his disciple right before his eyes. Gongsun Ye felt as if he had been slapped hard across the face.

Seeing the shattered box and poisoned needles inside the Stone Lion, Gongsun Ye could no longer suppress his trembling. "Extreme Joy Sect... This is one of the Extreme Joy Sect's traps... How dare they!"

Gongsun Ye sprang to his feet.