The Programmer Cultivator

Guk Liancai was completely baffled. ”That’s it?” he asked. ”Isn’t everyone like that?”

Gan Zili shook his head again. ”That’s precisely why I’m happy,” he said. ”It proves that Junior Brother Zhang genuinely wants to settle down in our Sect.”

Yuee Mengsheng then said, ”I’ll personally speak to the Sect Leader about the shop. After all, even if Junior Brother Zhang only mentioned being Tier Four to borrow the Sect Leader’s clout, I doubt he’s exaggerating by much. Perhaps our Celestial Spirit Sect will truly produce a Tier Four Spirit Nurturing Master.”

Gan Zili nodded in agreement. ”Mm, there’s no harm in taking this seriously.”

The three then left the grand hall.

...

After leaving the Mountain Peak Cloud Pool, Zhang Deming wore a joyful expression that he couldn’t hide.

He jumped down from the waterfall and flew back to his pavilion. It was quite some time before Zhang Deming finally calmed down.

Now that everything was in place and he’d secured the last crucial piece, it was time to set his plans for the Business Alliance’s chain of stores in motion.

Once he calmed down, Zhang Deming thought for a long while and finally made a decision about the alternate identity he had been hesitating over.

’I won’t create a new persona; I’ll use Zhang Wu as the face of the operation. If any problems arise, that identity can also leverage the Sect’s power.’

’Besides, Zhang Wu is set up as a newcomer in the Alliance. I can gradually invent a reclusive Zhang Family for him later on. His backstory will be perfect then.’

’After all, running a Business Alliance makes it impossible to stay completely hidden. And my current status doesn’t require absolute secrecy anyway; I’m not that newly promoted Outer Disciple anymore.’

Having made his decision, Zhang Deming sent his Heart Spirit into the Spirit Nurturing Space. With a single step, he appeared inside the meeting pavilion he had prepared long ago.

He thought for a moment and named the pavilion the ’All Living Beings Tower’.

Once that was done, Zhang Deming waved his hand, summoning all the starlike points of light representing the people he had contacted.

Zhang Deming looked at the points of light and began to make his selections. This would be the first meeting, a council of founders, so to speak.

’First, Golden Fleece, Li Shifan. He has to be there for the first meeting. Then the Qu Family grandfather and grandson. Feng Mingyou... he’s great for setting the mood, a walking special effect, so let’s add him.’

’Mm, Xu Weihai, too. He’s mainly a tool, to be used to demonstrate the power of the Alliance...’

After deliberating for a long time, Zhang Deming finalized the roster.

Li Shifan, Feng Mingyou, Qu Qingxian, Qu Qizhong, Qin Shizhong, and the most recent addition, Xu Weihai—these six would constitute the first representative council of the Blue Sky Alliance.

’Hmm, have I forgotten anyone? Someone I’ve contacted who has significant potential to be cultivated?’

’Tong Hou? Nah, forget him. That guy is too mysterious. I’ll keep observing him for now.’

’Alright, six people it is!’

Once his decision was made, Zhang Deming waved his hand. A large, round table began to transform, and eight chairs arranged themselves around it in an octagonal pattern.

Zhang Deming took the seat at the head of the round table. After a moment’s thought, a rune that looked like a Rune Core appeared on his chair.

Zhang Deming then deliberated for a moment. A ball of light slowly condensed into the form of his true self and sat down to his right.

A fantastical light flickered in his hand, coalescing into a transparent, virtual heart, which Zhang Deming tossed directly into the body’s torso.

Light began to shine in the formerly vacant eyes of the duplicate body.

With all preparations complete, Zhang Deming beckoned. The point of light representing the Qu Family’s ancestor, Qu Qingxian, appeared before him.

Zhang Deming reached out and tapped it, and a portal materialized.

...

In the Qu Family estate in the East City of Celestial Spirit City, Qu Qingxian had spent most of his time in seclusion ever since he had finished condensing the Tai Chi Three Lives Rune. He was polishing his Spirit Water Technique, preparing to advance to the Duality stage.

Just then, his expression flickered. He quickly sat down cross-legged and closed his eyes.

...

Within the green jade All Living Beings Tower in the Spirit Nurturing Space, Qu Qingxian appeared in a daze. A rune flashed between his brows, the Three Lives Rune spinning above his head.

This time, he didn’t vomit. After a moment of disorientation, he came to his senses.

He surveyed his surroundings, and his gaze landed on Zhang Wu.

”Steward Zhang, where are we?” Qu Qingxian looked at Zhang Deming and was the first to speak.

”I’ll explain once everyone is here.”

Zhang Deming glanced at Qu Qingxian, cutting him off. He pointed to a chair to his left and said, ”Sit.”

The moment Qu Qingxian sat down, the rune of a Water Dragon slowly materialized on his chair.

Zhang Deming glanced at him and said, ”You should put away that Three Lives Rune above your head. As for the Dao Foundation between your brows, you can leave it or hide it as you wish.”

Qu Qingxian paused. Before he could even ask how to hide it, the thought had barely formed in his mind when the three spinning orbs of light above his head vanished.

After this, Zhang Deming waved his hand again. Immediately, five figures with blurred faces appeared beside the other chairs.

...

「Spirit Nurturing Peak, Flying Spring Waterfall Cliff」

Qin Shizhong, deep in his cultivation, paused slightly and closed his eyes.

...

「Inner Sect, White Rock Peak」

Feng Mingyou’s expression shifted. He quickly entered his room, sat down cross-legged, and closed his eyes.

...

「Hengduan Mountain Range」

Just as Li Shifan was about to leave his cave, his expression froze. With a flip of his hand, a scroll appeared, and Li Cheng floated out leisurely.

The two nodded to each other. Li Shifan sat down cross-legged and closed his eyes.

...

「Little Hui Peak Array Department; Celestial Spirit City Blue Sky Branch」

Qu Qizhong and Xu Weihai both entered their respective Cultivation Rooms.

...

The five were dazed for a moment. After coming to their senses, they took a look around. Having gone through a similar experience once before, all of them had an inkling of what was going on.