The Strongest Talent Tree

Chapter 231: Chapter 228: Improper Pursuits

Feng Hao asked in confusion, "Aren’t Inheritance Demon Patterns the foundation of a sect?"

"For ordinary sects, they are. But for Sect Leader Sects, Inheritance Demon Patterns are a means to enlighten the masses and spread their teachings. You’ll understand once you leave the Ancient Cang Realm," the Thief Master said with a grin.

Feng Hao nodded, lost in thought. He asked, somewhat dazed, "What kind of organization is a sect, exactly?"

"They’re organizations that span the entire Inner Star Realm. Currently, there are ten major sects in the Inner Star Realm, two for each ring. The two major sects in charge of the Fifth Ring Star Realm are the All Living Beings Sect and the Taixu Sect. The Ancient Cang Realm falls within the territory of the All Living Beings Sect."

"Theoretically, our Thief God Hall is part of the All Living Beings Sect, but we’re too small to be recognized," the Thief Master sighed.

Feng Hao was taken aback. He frowned and pressed, "Uh, are there any benefits to being recognized by a sect?"

"Besides sounding a little better on paper, there are no benefits. In fact, you have to pay an annual fee." The Thief Master sneered. "In short, according to the old ancestor’s last words, the Thief God Hall will not join a sect unless absolutely necessary."

"No benefits, and you still have to pay? Then it’s better not to join," Feng Hao said in full agreement.

"Haha, spoken like a true apprentice of mine! You’ve got backbone!" The Thief Master praised him before changing the subject. "Alright, you train here for now. I’ll go get you some gear."

"Understood."

With that, the Thief Master turned and left the training grounds without another word.

After the Thief Master left, Feng Hao began to explore with great interest. He had to admit, a training ground for thieves was really something else. Much of the equipment was completely new to him.

’Huh? Why does this Monster Simulator have the Academy Alliance’s logo on it? Don’t tell me they swiped this from them?’

Feng Hao stood before the familiar Monster Simulator, completely dumbfounded. He then inspected every piece of equipment. ’Holy shit! Aside from a few machines I don’t recognize, everything else is stolen! From the Academy Alliance, the Holy Hall, Thousand Blades Valley, the Ghost Realm, the War and Magic Alliance... they have the proprietary equipment from every single sect here!’

’Damn. A sect founded by thieves, through and through,’ Feng Hao thought, clicking his tongue in amazement.

Just as Feng Hao was marveling at the collection, a Divine Sense message from his Fourth Sister, Mei Meimei, echoed in his mind. "Xiaowu! Xiaowu! Is the Thief Master gone yet?"

"He just left," Feng Hao replied, puzzled. "What’s up, Fourth Sister? Do you need something?"

"Good. As long as he’s gone." With that, Mei Meimei abruptly cut the Stone Listening Communication.

Just as Feng Hao was puzzling over this, Mei Meimei popped out of nowhere. As she bounced over cheerfully, the twin peaks on her chest swayed so violently it was a heart-stopping sight.

"What are you doing in the training grounds, Fourth Sister?" Feng Hao asked curiously.

Mei Meimei pointed to a machine in the corner, saying breezily, "I’ve been designing a new device, but it’s not finished yet. Good thing the Thief Master is gone. I can never get anything done comfortably when he’s hovering around."

Feng Hao nodded in realization. "By the way, are First Brother and Second Brother not coming?"

"They’re busy with the preliminaries, so they don’t have time for the training grounds," Mei Meimei answered offhandedly. She then walked over to the device in the corner, set down her mechanical workbench, and expertly got to work.

Greatly intrigued, Feng Hao cautiously followed her.

"What are you working on, Fourth Sister? Can you tell me about it?" Feng Hao asked, his eyes wide with curiosity.

Mei Meimei, expertly operating her workbench, glanced at Feng Hao in surprise. She grinned. "I’m making an improved Magic Energy Decomposer."

"Magic Energy Decomposer?" Feng Hao said, stunned. "The kind used to make compressed Magic Energy Guns?"

"Huh? Xiaowu, you know about mechanics too?" Mei Meimei asked in surprise.

"Just a little," Feng Hao said awkwardly. "I only recently started studying mechanics. I’m nowhere near your level, Fourth Sister."

Mei Meimei’s face lit up. "Haha! No wonder I felt a kinship with you right away! So you’re a Mechanic too! Come on, give your big sis a hand."

"Really? Can I?" Feng Hao asked, delighted.

"Of course!" Mei Meimei laughed, tossing him a grimy schematic. "You can read a blueprint, can’t you?"

Feng Hao picked up the schematic and studied it before nodding confidently. "Just the external structure? Should be no problem."

"Great," Mei Meimei said, satisfied. "The materials are over there. I’ll leave the small components on the left side of the blueprint to you."

"No problem."

Feng Hao’s interest was piqued. He set up his own mechanical workbench beside hers and began carefully crafting the parts according to the blueprint.

When Mei Meimei saw Feng Hao’s workbench, her eyes widened in surprise. "Hey, isn’t that a high-end workbench made by the Holy Hall?"

"That’s right. Good eye, Fourth Sister," Feng Hao said with a smiling nod.

Mei Meimei clicked her tongue. "The Holy Hall’s mechanical skills are decent, but their standard-issue workbenches are pretty limited. Once we’re done with this Magic Energy Decomposer, I’ll help you soup yours up."

"Then I’ll have to thank you in advance, Fourth Sister!" Feng Hao said, thrilled.

"Why would you thank me? We’re family, aren’t we?" Mei Meimei said breezily. "If you have any mechanical issues in the future, just bring them to your big sis. There’s nothing I can’t modify."

Feng Hao couldn’t help but give her a thumbs-up. As far as he could tell, Mei Meimei’s mechanical skills were indeed incredible.

The roar of machinery echoed through the training grounds as time slipped by unnoticed.

Mei Meimei occasionally corrected Feng Hao’s technique, and he learned a great deal from her guidance.

However, just as Feng Hao was completely absorbed in his work, the Thief Master returned.

When the Thief Master saw Feng Hao tinkering with machinery, he was completely flabbergasted. "Xiaofeng—!"

"Huh?" Feng Hao looked up, stunned, still holding a freshly polished part. "Master, you’re back?"

"You... you... you..." The Thief Master was so angry he was trembling.

"Huh? Master, what’s wrong? Are you sick?" Feng Hao asked, completely bewildered.

The Thief Master’s eyes rolled into the back of his head; he almost fainted from rage. He stormed up to Feng Hao, his voice seething with disappointment. "You little brat! You have only ten days, and you’re over here pissing them away!"

"..." Only then did it dawn on Feng Hao, and he awkwardly stopped his work.

"Hmph!" The Thief Master snorted. Without another word, he hauled Feng Hao to his feet, marched over to the Monster Simulator, and tossed him inside. "You will practice your Secret Techniques! Don’t even think about coming out until you’ve reached 100 proficiency in [Rapid Shadow Slash] and [Shadow Sparks]!"

With that, he slammed the hatch shut and even placed a restrictive seal on it to prevent Feng Hao from escaping when his back was turned.

Meanwhile, Mei Meimei was furtively inching toward the training ground’s exit.

Unfortunately for her, the Thief Master blocked her path in a single flash step. His expression was grim. "And where do you think you’re going? Trying to run away?"

"Hee hee," Mei Meimei said with a placating smile. "I was just stepping out for a bit of fresh air."

"Hmph. As if I don’t know what you’re thinking," the Thief Master said irritably. "To the ten-times gravity chamber. One hundred reps of the third-generation body-tempering routine."

"Isn’t it normally fifty reps?" Mei Meimei asked, her face falling.

"That was before. Starting today, it’s one hundred reps a day," the Thief Master sneered.

On the verge of tears, Mei Meimei trudged reluctantly into the ten-times gravity chamber.

A few minutes later, Mei Meimei’s agonized screams echoed from inside the gravity chamber...

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