The Programmer Cultivator

Chapter 89: Chapter 87: Walking Away with the Oratory Skill

”Alright, that’s all for today. Be careful when you’re paying off those debts. After all, you’re planning to open a shop, so it’s best to tie up all the loose ends so no one can find fault with you,” Zhang Deming instructed.

Qu Qizhong nodded and said, ”Don’t worry, Steward Zhang. If my parents hadn’t just passed away, causing my uncles to act so disgracefully, I never would have left such an oversight.

”If I didn’t have a few tricks up my sleeve, when my uncles came knocking, they wouldn’t have just settled the accounts and left. I might still be hundreds in debt right now!”

Zhang Deming nodded. The reason he had chosen Qu Qizhong was precisely because he could tell the young man was not as simple as he seemed.

Therefore, a certain degree of hands-off management was necessary. Otherwise, if Qu Qizhong became even slightly famous later on, he would be even less capable of handling things, and the trouble of exposing the Spirit Nurturing Master behind him would arise.

’If he came running to me every time something went wrong, I might as well open the shop myself!’

”I’ll be waiting for your good news, then,” Zhang Deming said.

Qu Qizhong said, ”You can count on it, Steward Zhang.”

Zhang Deming walked right to the window. Just as he was about to jump out, he paused.

Qu Qizhong asked doubtfully, ”Is there anything else you need to discuss, Steward Zhang?”

Zhang Deming nodded. ”Do you still need that copy of *Oratory: Rumors*?”

Qu Qizhong pulled the Magic Book from his bundle and said, ”Would you like to take a look, Steward Zhang?”

Zhang Deming nodded. ”I’ve never encountered a Word Spirit series Technique before, so I’m quite curious.”

Qu Qizhong handed it directly to Zhang Deming. ”I’ve been studying and memorizing this thing for as long as I can remember. I can recite it backwards and forwards now.

”The only reason I carry it with me is for sentimental value.

”Now that I don’t have to carry it around while on the run, it’ll probably just go back to gathering dust in a hidden room.

”If you’re curious, Steward Zhang, please take it. It’s not worth much anyway.

”In the Oratory series, Rumors is the most common Technique.

”But I should warn you, Steward, my father once told me that the Oratory series of Magic doesn’t necessarily require much talent in one’s Spirit Root.

”Don’t be fooled by the fact that Oratory doesn’t require hand seals, which makes it seem like a huge advantage.

”But cultivating it is extremely picky.

”If your personality isn’t a good match, forget about even reaching the Entry Level—it’s a complete waste of time.

”Besides, Oratory has many limitations. Otherwise, Word Spirit wouldn’t just be a major special branch within Techniques; it would be its own separate category.”

Zhang Deming nodded and said, ”I’m just curious. I wanted to have a look.”

Taking the Magic Book, he went to the window again, vaulted out, and the Light Wings on his heels flickered slightly.

Just as he was about to leave, Zhang Deming’s expression changed. In his panel’s inventory, white Qi Fortune Light Balls were rapidly forming.

The rate of growth was no slower than when he had encountered Li Shifan, and was perhaps even faster. In an instant, three of them had materialized.

The Blue Sky Alliance had been founded, right here in this small, dilapidated courtyard.

Its initial establishment had rewarded Zhang Deming with an income of three Qi Fortune Light Balls.

”Is something else the matter, Steward Zhang?” Seeing Zhang Deming suddenly stop in the courtyard outside, Qu Qizhong walked to the window and asked with confusion.

Zhang Deming came back to his senses slightly. ”It’s nothing, I just remembered something. Goodbye.”

With that, the Light Wings on his heels vibrated, and Zhang Deming leaped directly onto the roof, speeding away.

Qu Qizhong watched Zhang Deming’s disappearing figure for a long time, the gloom in his heart finally lifting.

A surge of heroic spirit and ambition was born in his heart at that moment.

After tonight, his life—Qu Qizhong’s life—was bound to be different!

’But I can’t be hasty. I must take it slow.’

...

Zhang Deming made his way back to the inn with great caution, only letting out a long sigh of relief once he arrived.

There were numerous Cultivators in Celestial Spirit City, so traveling at night by leaping across rooftops was not a wise thing to do.

You never knew when you might accidentally land on the roof of some hidden expert.

While it wouldn’t get you killed in the city, if you got caught, you’d be in for a harsh lecture.

Back at the inn, tonight’s mission was complete, and with an unexpected bonus, no less.

After securing his room, Zhang Deming took out *Oratory: Rumors*.

Looking at the four and a half white light balls in his inventory, he knew that while he already had enough Basic Techniques...

...he should be preparing for a Secret Level Mid Grade Tier Two Technique. However, as a Spirit Nurturing Master, having a reserve of Techniques was also crucial.

Besides, he now had a full four light balls in his inventory, leaving him with plenty to spare.

Therefore, after a moment of contemplation, Zhang Deming decided to learn this *Rumors* Technique.

’After all, based on my past life experience, the ability to win with words is an incredibly powerful skill.’

Holding the Oratory book, his consciousness gently touched one of the light balls in his inventory.

”Ordinary Energy: 1. Small plug-in is now editable.

”Editing conditions met!

”Only the Dantian Disc category is currently open. Please enter a command to jump to the Dantian category and begin plug-in editing.”

He skillfully entered the command ’/Dantian’.

Zhang Deming: Dantian > if () {Rumor will be realized} else {Rumor remains a rumor}.

’Hmm, so the code generated for an Oratory Technique has a slightly different basic framework and logic?’

’I need to be careful with the conditional statement to avoid any accidents.’

After thinking it over for a long time, Zhang Deming began to modify the code with caution and care.

if (state a rumor with a certain degree of realism and consume a certain amount of Spiritual Power)

{then, the rumor will be realized to a certain extent}

else {then, the rumor remains a rumor}.

’With such careful and detailed modifications, nothing should go wrong.’

Zhang Deming checked it one more time, then clicked ’Complete and Upload’.

The code transformed into countless Runes, which gathered into a white light ball. The ball then slowly changed into a miniature lip print and flew into Zhang Deming’s Dantian.

It began to float and revolve around the Cultivation Technique script, along with the Spiritual Shield, Growth Technique, and others.

After finishing the edits to the Oratory Technique, Zhang Deming closed the panel.

He opened his eyes, looked at the table in front of him, and said, ”I heard a rumor... that this table can move.”

The room fell silent after his words, and Zhang Deming felt a wave of embarrassment.

’So an Apprentice Level Oratory Technique really does have to follow certain rules. It can’t just make anything happen.

’It’s a good thing I was cautious when I modified the code; otherwise, it would have very likely failed.

’It’s a shame I can’t just talk my way through the world. Bad review!’

Zhang Deming mentally reviewed the night’s events. Finding no issues, he lay down on the bed and went to sleep.

...

The next morning, Zhang Deming woke up on time and began his exercises.

A few people in the inn glanced over, but upon seeing that his movements were all for show, they shook their heads and looked away.

After finishing his exercises and eating breakfast, Zhang Deming thought for a moment and realized he had nothing else to do.

So, he set off immediately, heading back to the Sect.

For now, the cash flow problem was more or less sorted out.

There shouldn’t be any major problems in the short term. Some trouble might arise once the shop starts to build a reputation, but that was a concern for another day.