The Programmer Cultivator

Chapter 75: Chapter 73: Conjuring Clouds and Rain

Zhang Deming pulled the Snake Bone from the Snake Skin, placed both hands directly upon it, and activated the Spirit Nurturing Technique.

He had barely used any Spiritual Power for combat on the way here, so Zhang Deming still had at least eighty to ninety percent of his reserves left.

As an Advanced Apprentice, he could cast the Spirit Nurturing Technique about four or five times before his Spiritual Power would run short.

A massive tide of Spiritual Power surged from his hands, and the entire Snake Bone instantly exploded into countless specks of light.

”Damn, I’m fucking speechless. A whole Snake Bone, worth one Spirit Stone, and it failed!”

Muttering to himself, Zhang Deming picked up the Snake Skin and activated the Spirit Nurturing Technique again.

This time, as Spiritual Power seeped into the Snake Skin and scales, the entire skin dissolved into motes of light, forming a hollow sphere that enveloped Zhang Deming.

’This might work!’

Zhang Deming’s face lit up. After a moment of contemplation, he infused his insights on the Spiritual Shield into the process.

A transparent, miniature eggshell-like Rune instantly materialized before him.

The motes of light forming the hollow sphere then shot back, converging on the miniature eggshell.

It coalesced into a glass bead right before Zhang Deming’s eyes. At the bead’s center, a transparent eggshell shimmered faintly.

’Success!’

’With this third Spirit Nurturing Ball, I’ll have an income of nearly twenty Spirit Stones after I get back and sell it. Another fortune.’

’At this rate, gathering the three to five hundred Spirit Stones needed for advancement to the Tai Chi Stage won’t be that difficult after all.’

Zhang Deming finished tying up all the loose ends and put away the Spirit Nurturing Bead.

After scanning his surroundings, Light Wings materialized at his heels, and he shot away, vanishing from the spot.

He needed to hurry back. After all his maneuvers, there was only a very slim chance that anyone would suspect Lu Ze had been murdered and launch an investigation.

But no matter how small the possibility, he had to be fully prepared. He needed to be completely above suspicion, to the point where no one would even think to doubt him.

The Sect had always taken an attitude of tacit approval toward conflict among its members, even letting it run its course, viewing it as a form of unorthodox tempering.

The Sect’s philosophy was likely that those with ability but no Talent would eventually make their way to the top after enduring the struggle among the masses.

If they couldn’t rise to the top, then so be it. They didn’t have Talent anyway, and their failure to succeed just meant they lacked ability as well.

A person with no Talent and no ability was not worthy of attention.

As for those with Talent, the Sect had always adopted an attitude of extreme importance.

Of course, this Talent referred not only to one’s Spirit Root but also to a few extremely rare, special aptitudes.

However, while the Sect was permissive and even hands-off, there was one exception: members of the same sect killing each other.

This was a major taboo within the Sect. Otherwise, why would Zhang Deming have gone to such great, painstaking lengths to kill someone?

’As for whether it was worth it?’

Zhang Deming felt it was a matter of principle, not something to be measured by personal gain.

’If he started weighing his principles against personal gain, then he wouldn’t be a realist—he’d just be a common opportunist.’

’As for the saying, ”For a gentleman, ten years is not too long to wait for revenge”...’

He, on the other hand, wasn’t a fan of that. Given the choice, he preferred his revenge served not in ten years, but between dawn and dusk.

His mind raced with a thousand thoughts. About an hour later, Zhang Deming returned to Qingshui Lake and landed at the entrance to his Cave Mansion in Qingshui Prefecture.

A smile touched Zhang Deming’s face when he sensed that the Restriction was completely undisturbed.

He sat down inside his Cave Mansion and began to meditate to restore his Magical Power.

...

Time flew by, and soon it was mid-afternoon. Zhang Deming’s Magical Power was fully restored. He checked the time. It was a little early, but that didn’t matter.

Zhang Deming deactivated the Restriction, floated into the air, and headed toward Qingshui Town.

As he reached the outskirts of the town, Zhang Deming’s brow furrowed slightly.

The riverbank where the ritual had taken place was now a sea of people, all kneeling in silence. Occasionally, someone would whisper to their neighbor while rubbing their aching knees.

’Judging by the scene, they must have started at noon at the latest, perhaps even in the morning, not long after he left.’

After a moment of consideration, Light Wings appeared at his heels and began to vibrate rapidly. Zhang Deming rose into the air and once again descended gracefully onto the altar.

”We respectfully welcome Lord Dragon Monarch!”

”We welcome the Dragon Monarch!”

”We welcome Master Dragon King!”

”...”

As Zhang Deming descended onto the altar, the masses of kneeling townspeople bowed and kowtowed in unison.

Zhang Deming looked at Town Mayor Xie Dongli at the very front and said, ”I promised your town I would bring clouds and rain within three days, and I naturally will not go back on my word.”

”So why are you all doing this now?”

”Are you afraid I will break my promise? Are you trying to coerce me with this?”

”If that is the case, I’m afraid your town has made a serious miscalculation.”

A look of panic crossed Town Mayor Xie Dongli’s face as he hurriedly replied, ”Lord Dragon Monarch, you misunderstand! I did not organize today’s ritual.”

”They came here of their own accord. I believe they wish to express the respect in their hearts, and some, I estimate, also wish to see the Lord Dragon Monarch and witness your magnificent power to summon clouds and rain.”

”If our presence displeases or disgusts you, my lord, I will send them away at once.”

”We only ask that you not be angry, my lord. We are all deeply frightened and uneasy.”

Having said his piece, he got up as if to disperse the crowd.

Zhang Deming looked at the terrified Xie Dongli, shook his head, and said, ”So be it. Let them watch.”

”Today is the third day. Seeing the rain fall should put all of your minds at ease.”

With that, Zhang Deming turned and walked to the edge of the altar, gazing at the surging Qingshui River before him.

’Initially, he had planned to cast the rain spell at Qingshui Lake, but this place should meet the requirements as well.’

Zhang Deming took a deep breath. To be honest, this was the first time he had ever attempted to cast a rain-making spell at full power.

’All his previous attempts were for gardening, where he would draw a bit of water essence and infuse most of the Spiritual Power directly into the water as it fell.’

’This time, however, the rainwater itself didn’t need any Spiritual Power.’

’Therefore, he needed to use all his Spiritual Power to catalyze the formation of clouds. This was already considered an adaptive use of a Technique, something that required a certain level of proficiency with the Little Cloud Rain Skill.’

The practice of a Technique is roughly divided into three levels.

The first is Entry Level familiarity: practicing and casting the Technique meticulously, step-by-step.

Next is Control. At this stage, the Technique can be applied flexibly, adapted according to one’s will.

The final level is Mastery. There is no clear demarcation between the first two stages.

The third stage, Mastery, has a distinct difference: the Technique manifests as a Magic Rune. The Light Wings of Zhang Deming’s Agility Technique, for instance, are the runic manifestation of the skill after reaching Mastery.

Only when the practice of a Technique has reached this third stage can one begin to develop new abilities based on it.

For example, his Growth Technique was originally just for stimulating growth and entanglement, but now he could develop all sorts of applications for it. By continuing to deepen his mastery, he might even be able to evolve it into a new Technique entirely.

This was how the very first Techniques were developed and evolved, step by step.

It was also because of these three levels that Spirit Nurturing Beads for Tier Two Techniques and above were divided into three grades.

Zhang Deming took another deep breath, his hands a blur as they formed a series of seals.

Suddenly, an idea struck him. He looked at the hundreds of townspeople surrounding the altar. ’Since I’m already putting on this whole song and dance,’ he thought, ’why not see if there’s any Qi Fortune to be gained from it?’

Acting on the thought, Zhang Deming didn’t stop after rapidly completing the hand seals. Instead, he gathered his qi, opened his mouth, and for the first time, loudly chanted his modified version of the Spell. A majestic voice boomed out:

”Waters of the four directions, hear my command! Come!”