The Programmer Cultivator

Chapter 289 - 18: What is a Sect

Yang Guangfu smiled, watching Qing Danhong’s complicated expression. He didn’t rush her, just waited quietly.

Zhang Deming didn’t interject either. His role in this matter was only to make the initial connection.

From the moment the Sect opened the Cyan Wood Secret Realm, the fate of the Cyan Wood Flower Demon clan was, in fact, already sealed.

Given the existence of that Flower Sea, the only difference for them was this: if they submitted, the few remaining Flower Demon Elves would become the first generation of Flower Demon Elves for the Celestial Spirit Sect.

If they resisted, the Sect Leader would likely take control of them by force. After they had nurtured the Flower Sea, they would be either sold off or killed.

And the new Flower Demon Elves born from the Flower Sea would become the Celestial Spirit Sect’s first-generation Flower Demon Elves.

That was the only real difference in the entire affair.

With the Cyan Wood Secret Realm serving as a foundation of elven flowers, their only real purpose was to provide the initial bloodline.

’Something like... hmm... a stallion, perhaps?’

After a long while, Qing Danhong finally reached out, took the contract, and began to examine it carefully.

Another long silence passed. She finally understood why her clan had chosen to go into seclusion after the Five Elements Blessed Land disappeared all those years ago, remaining hidden ever since.

But even with the turmoil in her heart, she didn’t say another word. Taking the contract, she turned and went to gather her kin.

Seeing this, Zhang Deming said with surprise, "So decisive? I thought she’d want to negotiate the terms!"

After all, this was a vassalage treaty, far more severe than the treaties from his past life that involved ceding territory and paying indemnities.

This vassalage contract was tantamount to a semi-slavery contract—one that was rooted in the bloodline of an entire clan.

Yang Guangfu gave a wry smile. "The terms the Sect offered are already quite generous. Besides, isn’t this the very reason we asked you to come forward, Senior Brother?"

"The Flower Demon clan rarely makes promises, but they value them immensely."

"The Sect knew that from the moment they agreed to your request, this treaty was a done deal. The Strategy Department drafted it, had Master Liu create it directly, and never even considered any revisions."

"If the Dharma Transmission Hall hadn’t pushed back so hard, heh, who knows how much harsher these terms would have been."

"After all, it’s a clan they picked up for free. To those folks in the Strategy Department, it’s all about maximizing profit, I suppose!"

Hearing this, Zhang Deming’s expression grew distant. ’The Sect...’

’Good thing I’m a member of the Celestial Spirit Sect, one of their own. Inherently, this ’machine’ formed by the united force of the departments won’t be aimed at me.’

...

The three of them then followed her.

Having been notified earlier, the dozen or so Flower Demon Elves were already waiting here.

Thus, it took Qing Danhong no time at all to gather all the Flower Demons.

The dozen or so Flower Demons formed a circle, their wings vibrating as they began to sing a strange song—no, it was music, purely instrumental.

As they held their hands before their chests, pink flowers materialized one by one, and they all began to levitate.

When the music ended, the dozen or so Flower Demon Elves tossed the Spiritual Flowers in their hands in unison toward the contract in the center.

Runes flowed across the contract, and special symbols shot out one by one, embedding themselves in the chests of the Flower Demon Elves.

A rune appeared on the collarbone of each Flower Demon Elf.

Zhang Deming took a closer look and saw it was the iconic symbol of the Celestial Spirit Sect. ’It looks suspiciously like a brand logo.’

From this day forward, they belonged to the Celestial Spirit Sect.

As long as the Celestial Spirit Sect was not destroyed, any Flower Demon Elf born of their bloodline would bear this mark and belong to the Sect as a vassal.

When everything was finished, Qing Danhong, her expression somber, held out the contract to Yang Guangfu.

Yang Guangfu accepted the contract with a smile and, right in front of Qing Danhong, passed it to Zhang Deming.

Qing Danhong paused, slightly taken aback, but her expression softened considerably.

Zhang Deming was also stunned. "Why are you giving it to me?" he asked, confused.

Yang Guangfu chuckled. "These are the orders from above. Besides, when it comes to vassal races, if we’re talking about the Flower Demon Elves that will be nurtured later, the various departments up top might still fight for their share."

"But this contract... no matter which of the four departments and four families holds it, it would be a hot potato. It would be impossible to maintain balance."

"This is the Celestial Spirit Sect’s very first vassal race. If they were allowed to fight over it, not a single one would back down."

"Usually, when things escalate like this, it ends up being handed over to a Supreme Elder or the Guardian Tower to be shelved and forgotten."

"This time, I don’t know what those above were thinking, but they reached a tacit agreement to let our Spirit Nurturing Peak manage it."

"The Peak Masters didn’t object. When I was leaving, Master Song told me to give this to you, Senior Brother, saying that you would ’naturally know’ which Peak Master to entrust it to for safekeeping."

"Master Song also said this was the consensus among all the Peak Masters."

"Honestly, though, I think it was Peak Master Yuee’s idea. It’s always the same. The four departments fight tooth and nail over something, and Peak Master Yuee just finds it to be a huge pain."

"So, Senior Brother, if you really have to pick a Peak Master, you’d best not choose Peak Master Yuee. Otherwise, you’ll probably have a hard time getting it off your hands!"

Zhang Deming’s expression flickered. ’I would "naturally know" which Peak Master to entrust it to for safekeeping?’

’Ha, and I actually do know!’

’Looks like the Celestial Spirit Sect—or at least those old-timers on Spirit Nurturing Peak—truly see me as some reincarnated old monster. I can be almost certain of it now.’

’It seems I can keep up this identity. There’s no need to hide my status as a Spirit Nurturing Master from those three old men anymore.’

’Hmm, but I still can’t admit it out loud. What if I admit it and they assign me a daily quota?’

Zhang Deming nodded. "Alright, I understand."

With that, Zhang Deming flipped his hand and stored the contract away directly.

In that instant, Energy surged in his repository.

Zhang Deming paused, stunned. He looked inward and saw a delightful harvest. He had gained a full two points of Merit, and his Qi Fortune gains were also good, at four points.

Merit: 4.62, Qi Fortune: 20.4, Karma: 1.0.

Seeing Zhang Deming put the contract away, Qing Danhong’s somber expression eased somewhat, but her spirits remained low.

She looked at Zhang Deming and the other two. "If the Upper Immortals have no further business, we will go nurture the Flower Wood now."

"The entire Flower Sea needs to be nurtured by the dozen of us, so we’re a bit overwhelmed."

Zhang Deming hesitated for a moment before saying, "Take your time. Although you aren’t like us in the Human Race, who become ’weakened’ from too much procreation..."

"...if I recall correctly, continuous, rapid nurturing consumes your Life Origin, doesn’t it?"

Hearing this, Qing Danhong looked back at the endless Flower Sea within the Light Curtain and said wistfully, "To be able to see my clan prosper once more... what does it matter if I live a few years more or less!"

Her tone was distant and her expression profound, yet her eyes held a trace of bewilderment.

Zhang Deming paused, not pressing the issue further. ’Our values are fundamentally different. More persuasion would be pointless.’

’Besides, for the sake of nurturing more Flower Demon Elves for the Sect as quickly as possible, those above would be happy to see this situation, wouldn’t they?’

No matter how well-treated a vassal was, they were still a vassal.

’The Sect...’

...

Qing Danhong bowed to the three of them, then led the dozen or so Flower Demon Elves toward the Flower Sea area inside the Light Curtain.

Zhang Deming watched the Flower Demon Elves depart, somewhat lost in thought.

"Senior Brother Zhang, this way, please." Yang Guangfu’s voice broke him out of his reverie.

"Is there something else?" Zhang Deming asked.

Yang Guangfu replied, "The Array Department will probably need another year or so to finish relocating and connecting the entrance to the Secret Realm."

"After all, they’re building an entrance that can withstand a large number of people coming and going for years on end."

"But it’s impossible to go through the Secret Valley every time, so the Array Department has already rushed to produce a few of these special Command Tokens for entry."

"Master Song instructed me before that we need to issue one to you today, Senior Brother, to facilitate your entry and exit in the future."

"Because this item is extremely important, I couldn’t bring it in advance. Someone with clearance has to be present."

"Also, we’ve arranged a residence for you, Senior Brother."

"You’ll need to go take a look. Master Song said it was set up according to the standard of the other three, so there shouldn’t be any issues with the specifications."

"However, if it doesn’t suit your personal tastes, just let me know. I’ll give the order to have it modified to your satisfaction."

"This is because once the Flower Sea’s cultivation begins, the Cyan Wood Forest and Cyan Wood Flower Sea areas will be closed off to the outside."

"So, you need to take a look first, Senior Brother. It would be inconvenient to make changes after the area is sealed."

Hearing this, Zhang Deming nodded and followed Yang Guangfu to the newly constructed building area.