The Programmer Cultivator

In the end, he could only stare at the last two beads. If he wasn’t mistaken, they had to be Spirit Nurturing Beads for a Tier Two Array Dao Technique—Mastery Level ones, at that.

He had this suspicion because he had tried almost every method imaginable for the sake of his Tai Chi.

Over the past year, a shop had opened in Celestial Spirit City that surprisingly sold individual Spirit Nurturing Beads, and he had been a frequent customer.

Unfortunately, he had never seen an Array Dao Bead for sale, let alone a Tier Two one.

Even so, he had managed to learn a great deal about Spirit Nurturing Beads, and he had done extensive research on the Array Dao Bead in particular.

That was why he recognized it almost at a glance. It was the Spirit Nurturing Bead for *Rune Heart Calculation*, the most common Foundation Establishment Technique among Tier Two Array Dao skills.

After a long, anxious moment of examining the two beads over and over, he finally managed to calm his excitement and hid them away.

’Now I just have to recover from my injuries and then give it a try. If I can gain some insight from it, I’ll have a real hope of achieving Foundation Establishment Tai Chi.’

...

Zhang Deming flew through the sky. His Tier Two Reconnaissance Technique effortlessly penetrated the substandard protective array below.

Taking it all in, Zhang Deming’s lips curled into a slight smile before he turned and left.

Afterward, Zhang Deming checked on the remaining two individuals from his list but didn’t find anyone more satisfactory. With that, he decided not to waste any more time.

Instead, he returned to Qingyou Pool, mounted an Immortal Crane, and flew back to the Flying Spring Waterfall Tower.

He had run two tests at once and should see the results within a few days. ’But as for this final control subject—someone with absolutely no chance of ever stepping onto the path of cultivation—how am I supposed to find one?’

’I’ll just have to take my time. If I really can’t find anyone, I can always tag along on a disciple recruitment trip to the remote regions.’

Zhang Deming returned to his Cultivation Room and entered the storeroom. He emptied the Spirit Nurturing Beads from his storage bag into a box, then took a large quantity of materials from a corner and packed them into the bag.

For several months now, Zhang Deming had been making Spirit Nurturing Beads sporadically each day.

With his current cultivation, he could easily produce five or six Tier One Spirit Nurturing Beads in an hour. He had made quite a few in his spare time each day.

Therefore, he could more than meet the shop’s monthly quota of one hundred and fifty. His storeroom now held one to two thousand Tier One beads and several dozen Tier Two ones.

These items would become useful once all his plans were in place. He felt he would only ever have too few, never too many.

So, while things were still relaxed, Zhang Deming would make a few more whenever he had free time, building up his stock for the future.

Holding his materials, he began his usual cultivation routine in the Cultivation Room: passively cultivating while making Spirit Nurturing Beads. When he got bored, he would browse through informational materials to expand his knowledge.

’After all, just lying around and passively cultivating is pretty boring!’

...

The next day, after completing his daily exercises, Zhang Deming went to the Cyan Wood Secret Realm. He had just finished the daily nurturing of his Awakening Skill when, before he could begin the Spirit Awakening, his Identity Card began to vibrate faintly.

Zhang Deming’s expression flickered. He took out his Identity Card and tapped open the Light Screen to take a look.

Gan Zili: ”Junior Brother Zhang, meet me at the Guest Welcoming Hall in the Mountain Peak Cloud Pool. We have business to discuss.”

Zhang Deming paused as he read the message. ’Aren’t those three old geezers supposed to be in seclusion in the Cyan Wood Secret Realm, nurturing a Flower Demon Elf? Why are they out and about today?’

Puzzled, Zhang Deming typed a reply on the Light Screen: ”One moment.”

Zhang Deming then gave Yi Huaihai a few instructions before leaving the Cyan Wood Secret Realm and returning to the Flying Spring Waterfall Tower.

Zhang Deming walked to the window and said, ”Flying!”

Half-sized wings sprouted from his back and began to beat rapidly. A current of Spirit Wind rose beneath his feet, and Zhang Deming launched himself into the sky from the third floor, heading toward the Mountain Peak Cloud Pool.

The direct distance between the two locations wasn’t great, and in a few moments, Zhang Deming arrived at the complex of buildings on the mountain peak. Since their previous meeting had been at the Cultivation Pavilion behind the main hall, he had never been to the so-called Guest Welcoming Hall. However, a single glance from the sky was all it took for him to get his bearings.

At the moment, only one place stood out.

The Cloud Pool complex wasn’t usually very lively and didn’t see much foot traffic.

Today, however, one area looked rather bustling.

Many disciples were currently bustling in and out, preparing various things. From the looks of it, they were in the final stages of preparation.

Zhang Deming landed. Many of the disciples bowed to him before continuing with their tasks.

Zhang Deming glanced at the plaque. It was the Guest Welcoming Hall, alright.

He strode into the main hall but paused, slightly surprised, as he didn’t see Gan Zili.

Zhang Deming stopped a passing disciple and asked, ”Have you seen the Second Peak Master?”

The disciple paused for a moment before replying, ”The three Peak Masters are all behind the hall, enjoying some tea.”

Hearing this, Zhang Deming nodded. ”Thanks.”

With that, Zhang Deming headed toward the back of the hall, passing through a cluster of buildings until he arrived at the rear.

The three of them were currently enjoying tea while discussing something.

When Zhang Deming arrived, he bowed to the trio and said, ”Greetings, Senior Brothers.”

Gan Zili said, ”Junior Brother Zhang, you’re here. Come and sit.”

Zhang Deming stepped forward, took a seat, and asked, ”Senior Brothers, what’s all this...?”

”What else could it be? We’re entertaining a client, of course,” Guk Liancai said bluntly.

Zhang Deming was speechless. ’The way he said that makes me feel like I’ve stumbled into the wrong sort of establishment today!’

Gan Zili smiled. ”Don’t you remember us discussing this a while back? Madam Qian of Yousheng Residence wants to commission a custom Inheritance Bead Set for her young son.”

Zhang Deming nodded and said, ”Oh, I remember now. I don’t recall many of the other details from the order, but her flagrant display of wealth certainly left an impression.”

”Starting at five thousand Spirit Stones, with no upper limit...”

”That certainly sounds like someone who has plenty of Spirit Stones to throw around, doesn’t it?”