The Programmer Cultivator

Upon hearing this, Dang Xiangjun paused for a moment, then looked at Zhang Deming and said, ”I’m even more curious about this Elder Huang now.”

”Heh.” Zhang Deming just smiled at Dang Xiangjun and didn’t respond.

The four of them continued to chat for a moment before Zhang Deming stood up to take his leave.

As Dang Xiangjun and Yue Mengsheng watched Zhang Deming’s departing figure, Gan Zili spoke up. ”A Grotto Heaven has been secured, a Law-Level Spirit Nurturer has appeared... Is our Celestial Spirit Sect finally about to establish its own High-Suspended Grotto Heaven?”

Dang Xiangjun shook his head and said, ”The Spirit Nurturing Holy Land would be pleased, but with nine Grotto Heavens already looming over us, it’s easier said than done.”

The three of them paused, their gazes turning toward the endless sky, their expressions growing somber.

What disciple of an Upper Sect didn’t want their own Sect to have a Grotto Heaven suspended overhead, establishing a foundation for ten thousand generations and a legacy for millennia to come?

But of Hongmeng’s forty-nine Upper Sects—forget about a lower-ranked one like the Celestial Spirit Sect—how many of even the foremost of the Four-Nine Upper Sects have managed to elevate one in the last thousand years?

It required more than just meeting the basic criteria; the political entanglements were immense.

Most importantly, of the Nine Great Blessed Lands, three belonged to Gui Ling Mountain and four to Hongmeng. The Spirit Nurturing Holy Land, being a recent addition, only had two.

Whether the Celestial Spirit Sect tried to squeeze its way in or pull another down to take its place, the interests involved would spark a conflict at the Holy Land level.

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The following days settled into a peaceful routine. Zhang Deming spent his time letting his cultivation script run, creating Spirit Nurturing Beads, occasionally checking in at the Cyan Wood Secret Realm, and giving lessons to Xu Weihai.

Several months passed in a flash. The one-year deadline for the Flower Demon task in the Cyan Wood Secret Realm was approaching, and Zhang Deming had already nurtured some thirty Flower Demons.

With twenty-four to twenty-five hundred Experience Points per day, on top of the monthly Spirit Stone income from his four shops that converted to nearly 400,000 Experience Points, Zhang Deming finished his automated cultivation in just under three months.

This day, Zhang Deming looked at his cultivation panel.

Cultivation Technique: Water Wood Divine Control Method (Tier Six)

Cultivation: Tai Chi Lv3 (1,200,000/1,200,000)

Rune Core: Spirit Nurturing Summoning Skill Lv3 (10/50)

Branch Runes: Enhancement Skill Lv3 (55/500), Oratory Words Lv3 (10/50)

Skills: Omitted...

Spiritual Power Recovery: 200 Spiritual Power / 3 minutes

Experience Growth: 20 Experience / 3 minutes

He had finally reached Mana Overflow, the threshold of a breakthrough.

Looking at his numerous magical abilities, Zhang Deming was lost in thought.

’Before I break through, I still need to condense the rune for my final Life.’

’I originally planned on using the Vine Technique Rune, but I kept procrastinating until now, for the final Life.’

’If nothing unexpected had happened, it would have been the Vine Technique.’

’But then I accidentally acquired Sleeve Qiankun. Its Space Technique is compatible with the Spirit Nurturing Technique—in fact, it’s a perfect match.’

’This left me conflicted. Should I choose the ’Basic Attack’ or the ’Big Move’?’

’An ordinary person wouldn’t wait until their Third Life to consider a ’Basic Attack’ technique.’

’For ordinary people, there are only two ways to improve a technique: one is to enhance it with materials, and the other is through the advancements that come with the Three Lives.’

’Most ordinary people upgrade a technique with materials until they can’t anymore, then rely on the advancement to achieve the final boost, be it an increase in grade or Tier.’

’Therefore, everyone’s Branch Rune for their first Life is inevitably a ’Basic Attack,’ as it’s the only way for their combat abilities to keep pace.’

’But because of my script, I can use Qi Fortune to improve my techniques. Therefore, the boost a technique gets from condensing a Branch Rune isn’t that important to me. What I care about is the interaction between the Branch Rune and the Rune Core.’

’That’s why my ’Basic Attack’ has been left on the back burner.’

After thinking for a long time, Zhang Deming decided to choose Sleeve Qiankun and just forget about a ’Basic Attack’ technique.

’There are two reasons for this. Others choose a ’Basic Attack’ for their first Branch Rune, one, for No Seal Spellcasting, and two, for the technique’s upward advancement and development.’

’But my script has already taken care of both of those aspects, so there’s no need to waste a Branch Rune slot on a ’Basic Attack’.’

’After all, for me, the primary purpose of a Branch Rune is the profound changes that will occur later from the interplay between it and the Rune Core.’

’Therefore, there’s no need to integrate the Vine Technique. Sleeve Qiankun seems to be a better fit for the Spirit Nurturing Technique and the Spirit Nurturing Space.’

Having made his decision, Zhang Deming began forming hand seals. Following the condensation method of his Cultivation Technique, he started to condense the rune for his Third Life.

Driven by the advancement method in his Cultivation Technique, Zhang Deming opened his mouth and spat out the Rune Ball for Sleeve Qiankun.

With the dual boons of his Mastery and his script’s support, the Rune Ball was not only exceptionally complete, but Zhang Deming also understood it intimately.

He formed a series of hand seals, and a moment later, reached out to tap the Rune Ball lightly. Without much difficulty, the Rune Ball shattered, revealing a complete Rune within.

Zhang Deming then rapidly formed a Spell. The Sleeve Qiankun Rune vibrated a few times and flew directly into the space between his eyebrows. The Rune Core for his Spirit Nurturing Summoning Skill once again began to undergo a complex transformation.

Unlike the condensation of the runes for his first two Lives, this time, there was not the slightest change in Zhang Deming’s Spiritual Power or aura. This remained true right up until three white orbs of light emerged above his head, spinning as they ascended.

Well, Sleeve Qiankun did improve a little, gaining some proficiency.

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Branch Rune: Sleeve Qiankun Lv3 (20/100)

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After condensing the Third Life Rune, a few more steps were required to break through.

Cultivation in Hongmeng followed a path: Tai Chi Ten Thousand Paths and Three Lives, the Duality Dao Foundation Third Transition, the Three Talents, and the Three Realms of the Soul.