The Programmer Cultivator

After putting everything away, Zhang Deming hesitated for a moment before entering the Spirit Nurturing Space through the subprogram portal and checking his warehouse.

As he had expected, he hadn’t just gained 1.9 points of Karma this time.

Because he had rescued many people, including the highly influential Traveler of the World party, and had also hindered the movements of the Five Elements Remnants, his gains in Merit and Qi Fortune were significant as well.

He had gained 2.1 points of Merit and a whopping 34.2 points of Qi Fortune! His current totals were now: Merit: 13.5, Qi Fortune: 82.7, and Karma: 8.4.

He had enough Qi Fortune to upgrade a technique to the Law Level again. ’But there’s no rush. I’ll deal with it when I get back. There’s a mountain of things waiting for me outside; now isn’t the time for this.’

His consciousness withdrew from the warehouse, left the Spirit Nurturing Space, and returned to his body.

······

When Zhang Deming’s consciousness returned to his body, he sensed the Spiritual Power in his Dantian was nearly depleted. With a flicker of his Heart Spirit, he split his focus and began to circulate his Cultivation Technique.

As the technique circulated, the Cultivation Technique Subprogram within him also activated, and the Spiritual Power in Zhang Deming’s body began to recover at a rapid pace.

Sensing his Spiritual Power recovering, Zhang Deming clutched a Spirit Stone in his hand. While continuing to circulate his Cultivation Technique, he used his Identity Jade Pendant to deactivate the room’s defensive wards and stepped outside.

Outside, the scene was unaffected by the disappearance of Elder Huang and Pu Hua Bodhisattva. Most people were busy, working under the direction of the leaders from the three factions.

The Celestial Spirit Sect contingent was the busiest of all, as they had the most disciples present.

With a single glance, Zhang Deming spotted Song Huidong at the center of the bustling activity.

The moment Song Huidong saw Zhang Deming, his anxious and frantic expression instantly vanished, replaced by visible relief as his whole body relaxed.

He rushed forward in a few quick strides. ”Junior Brother Zhang, where have you been? You scared me to death!”

He wasn’t exaggerating. A moment ago, he had truly been at his wit’s end. If something had happened to his junior brother, being sent back to Wanghui Peak for labor reform shoveling manure wouldn’t have even been the end of it.

For one, the instructions his own master and Master Yuee had given him before he left were enough to make him take Zhang Deming’s safety extremely seriously. Even Master Guk, Guk Liancai, had threatened him about it.

Guk Liancai had told him, ”If anything happens to Junior Brother Zhang, you might as well not come back. Otherwise, the Sect Leader and Ancestor Dang will likely have your hide.”

On top of all that, there was Junior Sister Ling’er—an utterly unreasonable girl whom even Master Yuee now had trouble reining in.

If she found out that Junior Brother Zhang had gotten into trouble on his watch... based on his understanding of Junior Sister Ling’er over the years, she would truly go berserk—the kind of rampage that not even his own master could stop.

This was why, just moments ago when he couldn’t find Zhang Deming, he’d had a horrifying realization. This wasn’t an escort mission; he was carrying a ticking time bomb on his head, and a priceless one belonging to the Celestial Spirit Sect at that.

If it went off, every major figure involved would be up in arms!

Before, he had only been thinking about the opportunity to build a closer relationship, even feeling that his master was looking out for him by giving him such a fine assignment.

It was only after Zhang Deming disappeared that he, in his panic, realized the truth. ’My master must be someone else’s master; he clearly doesn’t care for me, his own disciple, one bit. This isn’t a fine assignment, it’s a deathtrap!’

······

Song Huidong rushed up to Zhang Deming, not even waiting for a reply before continuing, ”How are you? Are you injured anywhere?”

As he spoke, he waved his hand, and a faint spiritual light began to scan Zhang Deming for injuries.

Zhang Deming was taken aback, made slightly uneasy by Song Huidong’s unusual fervor.

He took a small half-step back to create some distance, looking at Song Huidong with a hint of awkwardness. ”Senior Brother Song, I’m fine. I was just caught in the aftershocks of the battle. I found a place to hide for a bit to recover.”

As Zhang Deming finished speaking, Song Huidong’s scan also completed. Confirming that Zhang Deming was unharmed, he let out a long, deep sigh of relief.

”You really scared me half to death!” Song Huidong clutched his chest, exhaling slowly with an expression of lingering fear.

Seeing this, Zhang Deming’s expression twitched. ’His acting is convincing,’ he thought, ’but isn’t he laying it on a bit thick? Our relationship isn’t close enough to warrant this level of concern!’

Feeling that Song Huidong was well on his way to becoming a drama queen, Zhang Deming promptly changed the subject. ”What’s the situation? And where is Master Guan?”

Hearing this, Song Huidong’s expression darkened. ”It’s pretty bad. A lot of disciples died. Fortunately, the ones who came were all newly promoted... um...”

He trailed off, realizing how inappropriate that sounded. After a pause, he didn’t elaborate, but he didn’t need to. Zhang Deming understood what he had been about to say.

”As for Master Guan, I don’t know.”

Zhang Deming frowned slightly. ”What do you mean, you don’t know? I watched most of the battle from my hiding spot, and I didn’t see any sign of Master Guan. It’s impossible that he was just obliterated by the aftershocks while meditating, right?”

”He’s a Master, after all. Under the circumstances, with two powerhouses like Elder Huang and Pu Hua Bodhisattva present, it shouldn’t have been hard for him to protect himself.”

”I don’t know. Since the incident started, I haven’t seen Master Guan,” Song Huidong said.

”Wait, what did you just say?” Zhang Deming’s expression shifted as he asked in astonishment.

”I said I don’t know. What’s wrong?” Song Huidong asked, confused.

”The last part!” Zhang Deming said.

”Since the incident started, I haven’t seen Master Guan,” Song Huidong repeated dutifully.

”You mentioned before that few people pay attention to Master Guan. In that case, does the sect even have a file on him?” Zhang Deming asked, his eyes turning grim.

Song Huidong stared blankly for a second, then his face filled with shock. ”You don’t suspect Master Guan is involved in this, do you?”

Zhang Deming nodded grimly. ”I do.”

Song Huidong immediately shook his head. ”Impossible. While I’ve never read Master Guan’s file, the Guan Family is a long-standing Noble Family in the Inner Sect. Their roots run deep in every aspect of the sect. Master Guan would never do something like this.”