The Programmer Cultivator

Chapter 300 - 24: Mind Blown

Zhang Deming took the lead, heading toward the designated Flower Sea area. Pei Xiaoxiao followed close behind, and Yi Huaihai brought up the rear, secretly glancing at Zhang Deming’s back.

His Spirit Root had been decent enough for him to enter the Inner Sect right after joining, becoming a Pseudo-Internal Sect Disciple. It had been almost a year now.

In that year, being mature for his age, he had not only gained a thorough understanding of the Celestial Spirit Sect but had also learned a great deal.

The status of the Spirit Nurturing Peak and Spirit Nurturing Masters was something one could hear about everywhere in the Inner Sect, without even having to ask.

In the eyes of some, it was an even better place to be than the Main Peak.

A few days ago, a windfall had fallen from the heavens and left him completely stunned. He had inexplicably gotten into the current, highly coveted Secret Realm—and not only that, but he was also made a personal Child Attendant, a privilege usually reserved for the Direct Lineage Disciples of major families.

When he finally snapped out of his daze and figured out the reason, he realized it was all because of a single chance encounter. It was simply because, when he had first arrived, he had casually given the reward from his recommender to a senior brother he had just met.

When Yi Huaihai realized this immense good fortune stemmed from just that one act, his feelings were complex, but he also felt incredibly lucky.

He quickly adjusted his mindset. In the past year, he had seen too much.

Since he could receive such preferential treatment just from a single chance encounter with Master Zhang, it spoke volumes about Master Zhang’s status in the Sect—and this was his own opportunity.

But as he learned more, a terrifying suspicion formed in his mind, though he dared not confirm it.

’Now, it seems that suspicion is about to be confirmed?’

Even though he had long suspected it, Yi Huaihai’s heart was still in turmoil.

’The fourth Spirit Nurturing Master of the Celestial Spirit Sect... and one so young! What a dazzling golden thigh to latch onto!’

’That decision to rest at the inn back then was truly a wise one!’

’Who would have thought a simple rest would lead to such an opportunity!’

’If I had known, I shouldn’t have been so casual with that beggar back then. I should have acted kinder and tried to leave a better impression.’

’Looking back now, even though I was later ambushed by Martial Artists, utterly humiliated, and almost lost my life, it was all worth it to meet Master Zhang again and form this karmic bond. It was a Blessed Source of the highest order.’

Watching Zhang Deming’s back, Yi Huaihai followed quietly. His mind raced with thoughts as he considered many things, finally settling on a crucial idea.

’He was determined to latch onto this golden thigh before him. His young age was his advantage.’

’After all, being a Child Attendant was an extremely promising starting position in any Sect.’

’It’s just that... he had heard from some senior brothers that certain Elders had... special interests, which made the job somewhat risky. Master Zhang shouldn’t be one of them, right?’

······

Zhang Deming led Pei Xiaoxiao and Yi Huaihai some distance until they arrived at the Flower Sea Corner Tower.

This corner tower was practically identical to the other four, right down to the unchanged interior furnishings. ’They really did just copy and paste, huh...’

As he had instructed, the corner tower was built in the center of the Flower Sea within his designated area, which would save him a lot of unnecessary walking.

Upon arriving at the corner tower, Yi Huaihai retrieved a Command Token from inside and said,

"Master Zhang, this is the array hub for our area. Because they were in a hurry, and the higher-ups didn’t think it was necessary, it’s just a very rudimentary, large-scale Concealing Array."

Zhang Deming took the Command Token, and as runes flowed in his eyes, he instantly understood the array’s effects.

Just as Yi Huaihai had said, it was a Concealing Array that encompassed the entire Flower Sea he was responsible for.

Because the concealing auras of the arrays in the four areas were different, it normally served to demarcate the zones. This was its first function.

Secondly, if the array was activated, it could block spiritual probes and lines of sight. Of course, because it was so rudimentary, this effect was only superficial.

Anyone who really wanted to could easily see through it.

However, with only a few people in the Cyan Wood Flower Sea, everyone understood the unspoken rule: if the array was active, they would be tactful enough to stay away.

So, while it was a bit different from the isolating array he had planned to build, the end result was more or less the same. It just changed from a hard-enforced isolation to a voluntary one.

Zhang Deming tested it once and then paid it no more mind.

After looking around the corner tower and familiarizing himself with it, Zhang Deming turned to the two beside him and said, "You two can stay here. I don’t like being watched while I work."

Yi Huaihai paused for a moment, then said, "Yes, Master Zhang."

Pei Xiaoxiao nodded. "Understood, Master Zhang."

Leaving the two behind, Zhang Deming went to a corner of the Flower Sea. It wasn’t that he was afraid of his identity as a Spirit Nurturing Master being discovered or anything.

Since these two had been assigned here, they would likely be quietly cultivating here for a long time—at least for a decade or more—until he decided to make a high-profile appearance as a Peak Master.

This was the price for the benefits they received. However, for many Apprentice Stage disciples, this wasn’t a price at all but a blessing they couldn’t even pray for. A One-Star Cave Mansion was not a place for Apprentices.

The main reason was that ever since becoming a Spirit Nurturing Master, Zhang Deming had never properly performed his primary duty—Spirit Awakening.

He spent all his days making Spirit Nurturing Beads to sell for money and had never even tried his profession’s proper work.

Furthermore, as a Secret Level Spirit Nurturer below Tier Three, he was supposed to start with nurturing beasts, but he was jumping straight to semi-plants. As a result, he was a bit clueless and didn’t know what the outcome would be.

That was why Zhang Deming didn’t want anyone following him and seeing his inexperience.

After arriving at a corner of the Flower Sea, Zhang Deming selected a Flower Wood.

The primary work of a Spirit Nurturing Master, Spirit Nurturing itself, generally had two methods: nurturing with Spirit Nurturing Beads, or nurturing directly with Skills.