The Programmer Cultivator

Once this is confirmed and reported, the Celestial Spirit Sect’s standing will change completely. Therefore, if we are to report the Hundred Spirits Blessed Land to the Sect, the Sect Leader won’t take my word for it alone. He will definitely want to see the finished beads for himself.”

Hearing this, Zhang Deming’s brow relaxed. ”I see,” he said. ”That should be fine.”

Yue Mengsheng, however, hesitated slightly. ”There’s no rush,” he said. ”If we’re really going to report this, we need to let a few of the Masters have a look first. After all, Junior Brother Zhang’s identity is...

Even though you say the Rebirth Technique you practice is special, Junior Brother Zhang, it’s best to be cautious. This matter is of grave importance. If we were to accidentally involve Spirit Mountain, the Hundred Spirits Blessed Land couldn’t handle the consequences.”

Gan Zili paused for a moment before nodding in agreement. ”You’re right. Senior Brother is more thorough. In that case, I’ll request an audience with the Sect Leader and inform the two Masters who aren’t in seclusion.

Oh, right. Junior Brother Zhang, if you make any High-Tier Beads in the future and need to focus your mind, you can go to the Source Pearl Hall and use the Enlightenment Meditation Mat.

For certain reasons, the Mat has been combined with the Celestial Eye Peeping Source Pearl, so it can’t be taken out of the Source Pearl Hall. If you want to use it, you’ll have to trouble yourself to go there.

We’ve already granted you the necessary clearance on your Identity Card.

Previously, you had Tier Three Mastery Level Spirit Nurturing Technique, so we didn’t bring it up. Now that you’ve just reached Tier Four, crafting Tier Four beads might be difficult for you. These external aids will help however they can.”

Zhang Deming nodded. ”Mm, I’ll keep that in mind.”

He paused for a moment before returning to his original topic. ”Since I’ve broken through to Tier Four and my cultivation has begun to stabilize, I don’t have anything urgent to attend to for the time being.

That’s why I was reminded of Master Dang’s request from a few days ago. I came up here today to ask you three, which Senior Brother was he referring to?”

Yue Mengsheng paused. ”Junior Brother Zhang, are you thinking of making a Tier Four Glove Bead?”

Zhang Deming nodded. ”Yes, something like that. But I’m not sure about the success rate, so I came to ask about the details first. What are the terms of the Sect’s request?”

Yue Mengsheng looked at Zhang Deming and said, ”If you really intend to make the Glove Bead for this, Junior Brother Zhang, then do it for free. Don’t treat it as a formal commission.”

When Zhang Deming heard this, he turned to find Yue Mengsheng looking at him with a serious expression, and he froze for a second.

’This is...?’

’’Free’ is the most expensive price of all?’

’Besides, this is a favor for one of the Sect’s most powerful figures. They can’t just take what they want and refuse to repay the favor!’

A thousand thoughts flashed through Zhang Deming’s mind, but outwardly he only hesitated for a moment before saying, ”Alright! I’ll go take a look. If it seems doable, I’ll give it a shot for free.”

A faint smile appeared on Yue Mengsheng’s face. ”Senior Brother Fanx’s situation isn’t much of a secret in the Sect anymore,” he said. ”Most of the Secret Group members are aware of it.”

”So, we won’t assign anyone to you. Just ask a Guard Valley Disciple to take you.”

Zhang Deming nodded. ”Alright!”

They chatted for a little longer before Zhang Deming stood up to take his leave. Since he was now planning to craft the Tier Four Glove Bead, Gan Zili didn’t bring up going to the Source Pearl Hall with him again.

...

Zhang Deming left the Mountain Peak Cloud Pool, returned to the Flying Spring Waterfall Tower, and tapped his Identity Card.

A moment later, Yang Guangfu entered, looked at Zhang Deming, and began, ”Senior Brother Zhang...” He paused, then continued, ”This disciple congratulates you, Master, on your promotion to Duality.”

Although in private, particularly with Song Huidong, Yang Guangfu had always referred to Zhang Deming as ”Master,” he had previously still addressed him as ”Senior Brother” to his face.

’Ever since he was transferred from the Secret Group, he had picked up bits and pieces of information about Zhang Deming. He knew the man was remarkable, but he’d never imagined *this* remarkable.’

’It’s only been a year since he entered the Inner Sect, right?’

’And if I’m not mistaken, he’s only twenty years old, isn’t he?’

’A twenty-year-old Duality Cultivator... According to legend, only someone with an Immortal Spirit Root could possibly achieve that!’

’With that kind of Talent, does he really need to be a kept man?’

’Who started these Rumors? And who spread them so convincingly that even I almost believed them?’

Zhang Deming heard him and simply smiled. ”Mm, it was just a bit of luck.”

Yang Guangfu paused, composing himself before he spoke. ”Master, what instructions do you have for this disciple?”

Zhang Deming looked at him and said, ”You’re from the Secret Group. Do you know about Senior Brother Fanx Yunfei?”

Yang Guangfu blinked, then asked hesitantly, ”Ancestor Yunfei of the Fanx Family? The one from the current ’Yun’ generation?”

Zhang Deming nodded. ”Yes, that’s him.”

Yang Guangfu replied, ”This disciple does know a fair bit. What happened with Ancestor Yunfei back in the day was a huge affair. So even though a thousand years have passed, the Secret Group’s files still contain a lot of information on it.”

Zhang Deming paused at this. ”Oh? So the Secret Group considers gossip about the Sect’s ancestors and Supreme Elders to be ordinary information?”

Yang Guangfu nodded. ”Yes. Regardless of a person’s status, if the information was public knowledge at the time and widely known, it usually isn’t reclassified to a higher security level, even if the Secret Group eventually becomes the sole keeper of that information.”

Understanding dawned on Zhang Deming. He nodded, then stood up. ”Let’s go. Tell me about it as we walk.”

Yang Guangfu obediently followed. When the two reached the cliff’s edge, the same disciple as before was on duty, and the mount they were assigned was, once again, Yoo Xiaoluan.

Zhang Deming had gotten used to this by now. Yoo Xiaoluan, too, no longer looked at him with the same unfamiliarity and arrogance as before.

A moment later, settled on Yoo Xiaoluan’s back, Yang Guangfu resumed their earlier conversation. ”This whole affair was quite the entanglement a thousand years ago. Master Zhang, you’re aware of the Celestial Spirit Sect’s four major families, aren’t you?”

Zhang Deming replied, ”The four core divisions are mostly controlled by those four families. I know a little about it.”