The Programmer Cultivator

Song Huidong paused for a moment. ”Junior Brother Zhang, I must say, I admire your composure.”

Zhang Deming looked at Song Huidong and said, ”Senior Brother Song, did you need me for something?”

Song Huidong nodded. ”I just received a notice asking me to come check if you were available, Junior Brother. If you are, you’re to go to the usual meeting pavilion at the Mountain Peak Cloud Pool.”

Zhang Deming paused. ”Now?”

Song Huidong nodded. ”Yes, right now.”

Zhang Deming said, ”Alright, I understand.”

Hearing this, Song Huidong said, ”Then I’ll be on my way. There’s bound to be plenty to do on the peak today.”

”Mm, you go ahead and get to it,” Zhang Deming replied.

After they parted ways, Song Huidong hurried off.

Zhang Deming pondered for a moment. Without making any special preparations, he whispered, ”Flying!”

The Light Wings on his back vibrated and a Spirit Wind surged beneath his feet. Zhang Deming rose on the wind, following the waterfall up toward the Mountain Peak Cloud Pool.

The two locations weren’t far apart, and Zhang Deming arrived at the cluster of buildings in just a moment.

He drifted down lightly, landing at the very back of the complex. He used his Identity Card to pass through several layers of the Array Light Curtain and saw the daily meeting pavilion, situated at the mouth of the spiritual vein.

At this moment, four people were already seated inside the gazebo-like pavilion.

His arrival drew the gazes of the several people present.

”Junior Brother Zhang, you’ve arrived,” Gan Zili said enthusiastically as Zhang Deming approached. ”This is the Supreme Elder of the Celestial Spirit Sect, Dang Xiangjun.”

’This old man was somewhat familiar to Zhang Deming. Not because he’d met him before, but because among the Sect’s few Supreme Elders, he was the only one who was active among the Sect Disciples.’

’Well... active in a legendary sort of way throughout the whole Sect, and his legend was particularly widespread among the Low-Level Disciples.’

’It wasn’t just the Inner Sect; his legends even circulated in the Outer Sect. However, the content of these legends wasn’t about impressive accomplishments, but about melodramatic soap operas.’

’There were countless versions, and some of the storybooks had even made their way to a secluded place like Little Qing Mountain.’

Hearing the introduction, Zhang Deming gave Dang Xiangjun a slight bow. ”Disciple Zhang Deming pays his respects to Master Dang.”

Dang Xiangjun nodded in acknowledgment. ”No need to be so formal. Here on Spirit Nurturing Peak, we don’t stand on ceremony in private.”

Gan Zili also chimed in, ”That’s right, Junior Brother Zhang. In private on Spirit Nurturing Peak, there’s no need for so many formalities. Just be casual.”

Hearing this, Zhang Deming glanced at Guk Liancai, who was sitting ramrod straight with his mouth clamped shut, not saying a single word. He was the very picture of docility. ’This doesn’t seem casual at all!’

After taking his seat, Zhang Deming spoke. ”May I ask why Master Dang and the three Senior Brothers have summoned me?”

Dang Xiangjun didn’t speak, instead looking toward the three elders of Spirit Nurturing Peak. Yuee Mengsheng paused, glanced at Dang Xiangjun, and then began, ”Regarding what happened today...”

Yuee Mengsheng started hesitantly and then trailed off, looking at Zhang Deming without continuing.

At this, Zhang Deming grew pensive, as if deep in thought. After a moment, he replied, ”I don’t wish to dwell on the events of the past.”

His voice was low and forlorn, as if laden with heavy emotions.

Zhang Deming paused, then continued, ”I cast everything aside to reincarnate, hoping to give myself a new life.

”So after Senior Brother Yuee chanced upon me, I decided not to continue as a Loose Cultivator, but to settle down peacefully in the Celestial Spirit Sect instead.”

Yuee Mengsheng nodded, acknowledging Zhang Deming’s words.

Zhang Deming continued, ”Over the years, the only connection I’ve maintained with my past life is a single friend. Because he cultivates the Blessed Fortune Path, I needed his help with my reincarnation.

”As such, he was deeply involved with my reincarnation. And to ensure nothing went wrong, he even placed a Dao Mark on me.

”Some time ago, I sensed that my Cultivation was about to return to the Duality realm. Perhaps it’s a result of my reincarnation, or perhaps it’s a feeling born from all I’ve experienced.

”I also sensed that my Spirit Nurturing Technique was on the verge of a breakthrough.

”So I mentioned it to my friend, and unexpectedly, he came rushing over for a chat.

”He is raising an Ancient Exotic Species, and it happened to come along with him.

”I’m the one who put in most of the effort to awaken that little fellow’s Spiritual Wisdom, so you could say we’re quite close.

”So today, when it saw me, it got excited and rushed out. Its Cultivation isn’t yet stable, so it let its aura leak, which caused the whole incident.

”As for this matter, it is indeed my fault. I apologize to all of you, Senior Brothers.”

Guk Liancai couldn’t help but exclaim in astonishment, ”Junior Brother Zhang, are you really about to reach the Law Level?”

Zhang Deming paused, then looked at Guk Liancai. ”Yes. Didn’t I mention it to you three Senior Brothers a while ago? Why do you ask, Senior Brother Guk?”

Guk Liancai replied, ”Really? I just thought you were making it up to get a position in the Sect, that you were just—MMMPH... MMMPH...”

Yuee Mengsheng: ”...”

Gan Zili’s face darkened. ”Shut up!”

Dang Xiangjun raised an eyebrow. A strange fluctuation of Magic rippled out, and Guk Liancai’s face instantly flushed red. He had been placed directly under a Silence spell.

’It was the exact same move the Sect Leader, Dang Jun’an, had used before. Well, or rather, the Sect Leader must have learned it from this man.’

’The only difference was, Guk Liancai could have broken free from the Sect Leader’s Silence spell whenever he wanted. But as for this man’s spell...’

’He’d better just sit there quietly and wait for the spell to wear off!’

Hearing this, Zhang Deming actually breathed a sigh of relief. ’So it’s still the same old Senior Brother Guk Liancai. That’s good. His stiff reaction earlier must have been because of Dang Xiangjun.’