The Programmer Cultivator

Chapter 296 - 22: Breakthrough

Zhang Deming, however, nodded nonchalantly and said, "A correction: it’s not that I can do it, but that Zhang Wu of Celestial Spirit City can."

Guk Liancai’s lips twitched a few times, but under the threatening gazes of Yuee Mengsheng and Gan Zili, he actually forced himself to swallow the argumentative words that were about to burst out.

His expression soured, as if he had just swallowed a fly.

Despite how uncomfortable it was, he did manage to hold it back. For a super-troll, this was truly a rare feat.

It was clear he held Yuee Mengsheng and Gan Zili in very high regard.

Zhang Deming continued, "As for what this represents... even though I’m not a Spirit Nurturing Master, I still know. After all, I’ve read quite a few documents from Spirit Nurturing Peak.

This means that for Secret Level sets, we have already reached the highest standard of the Spirit Nurturing Holy Land.

This will allow our custom-order market to take a significant leap forward."

The three of them looked at Zhang Deming with inscrutable expressions, not speaking immediately.

Zhang Deming had anticipated this. With a slight smile and a gentle wave of his hand, three Spirit Nurturing Beads appeared on the table.

He had prepared them over the past few days. They contained a Tier One Growth Technique, a Tier Two Spirit Species, and a Tier Three Flower Demon Vine.

Then, Zhang Deming waved his hand again, and another three Spirit Nurturing Beads appeared. These contained a Tier One Growth Technique, a Tier Two Thorny Growth Technique, and a Tier Three Cyan Jade Thorny Vine.

From a single Tier Three Jade Demon Blood-Sucking Vine, through the fusion of numerous techniques, Zhang Deming could create several sets of Spirit Nurturing Beads.

Moreover, they were the type of sets that followed a single lineage, allowing for seamless upward progression, making comprehension exceptionally easy.

The three men’s expressions turned sharp. Three distinct auras of Spirit Nurturing Techniques emanated from their eyes as they gazed at the six Spirit Nurturing Beads on the table.

"It really is a Tier Three Mastery set!" Gan Zili exclaimed in astonishment.

A trace of doubt flickered in Yuee Mengsheng’s eyes. He asked hesitantly, "A comprehensive Vine Path and an extreme Vine Path?"

Zhang Deming smiled and said, "Senior Brother Yuee has sharp eyes. This first set, when combined, can indeed be considered a comprehensive Vine Path.

But as for this second set, calling it an extreme Thorny Vine Path might be a bit of a stretch. It only just brushes the edge."

Receiving an affirmative reply, Yuee Mengsheng smiled. "It’s already excellent. Among Secret Level bead sets, this is absolutely top-tier, even including those from the Spirit Nurturing Holy Land.

We can definitely expand our custom-order market now."

The way the three of them looked at Zhang Deming now held a trace of awe. After all, in their eyes, Zhang Deming was already an old monster.

Now that he had surpassed them on the path of a Spirit Nurturing Master, their respect was only natural.

The men examined the Spirit Nurturing Beads fondly for a long time before carefully putting them down, showing no sign of reluctance to part with them.

After all, what they coveted was the tier of the Spirit Nurturing Beads, not the beads themselves.

As Spirit Nurturing Masters, if they didn’t want to sever their own professional path, they were destined to have no affinity with any Spirit Nurturing Bead for their entire lives.

Therefore, no matter how high-grade a Spirit Nurturing Bead was, its allure to a Spirit Nurturing Master was greatly diminished.

After all, once a Spirit Nurturing Master used a Spirit Nurturing Bead, their own Spirit would become muddled. Advancing their Spirit Nurturing Technique would become nearly impossible, and most frustratingly, the success rate of the Spirit Nurturing Technique would plummet.

In other words, a single bead could be the key to another’s success, but for a Spirit Nurturing Master, using one would half-destroy their career path.

Compared to Spirit Nurturing Beads, the various materials that could help a Spirit Nurturing Master develop their Spirit Nurturing Technique were actually more appealing.

This was also why such materials were becoming more and more expensive in the Hongmeng Realm—because Spirit Nurturing Masters were not short on money!

Seeing that the three had finished their inspection, Zhang Deming put the Spirit Nurturing Beads away and broke the silence. "Senior Brother Gan, didn’t you say we were going to discuss the matter of the Flower Demon Elves today?"

"Oh, right. I was just so stunned by your Vine Technique, Junior Brother Zhang, that I got a little lost in thought," Gan Zili replied.

Zhang Deming smiled but didn’t interject.

Gan Zili continued, "The main reason I called you here today, Junior Brother, was to discuss the cultivation of the Flower Demon Elves.

The Flower Sea is now gestating, and the Spirit Farmers from the Miscellaneous Affairs Department have completed nurturing all the Flower Wood.

The Cyan Wood Flower Sea and the Cyan Wood Forest have also been completely sealed off. Only the four of us can enter, so you don’t need to worry about being discovered by others, Junior Brother.

We were originally worried that the area would be too large and that dividing it into four parts would be too much of a burden for you, Junior Brother.

But since you’ve not only produced Tier Three Spirit Nurturing Beads, but ones with a Tier Three Vine Skill so perfectly suited for the Flower Demon Elves, it’s clear that won’t be a problem.

Now it seems the ones who might struggle are us three old-timers."

Zhang Deming frowned slightly. "If only the four of us can enter, what about Zhang Wu?"

The expressions of the three men twitched in unison. They didn’t know what to say about Zhang Deming’s caution.

Still, it was understandable. The fearsome reputation of the Merit Pool had only grown more exaggerated over the years, and everyone who had been reincarnated was wary of it.

Gan Zili said, "The entry tokens aren’t bound to an identity. Anyone can use them, but they only grant access to one person at a time.

So whatever you do, don’t lose it, or things could get troublesome."

Zhang Deming nodded. "So each of us is responsible for a quarter of the Flower Sea?"

Gan Zili nodded. "For the upcoming Outer Realm study group exchange, we need to complete the Spirit Awakening within this year.

To that end, the Sect has suspended our usual mission quotas and our order quantity requirements for the year."

Zhang Deming frowned. "Complete all the Spirit Awakenings in one year? Senior Brother, I’m afraid you’re being a bit too optimistic."

’That Flower Sea from before... even a quarter of it must have tens of thousands of Flower Wood, right?’