The Programmer Cultivator

’But they never said I couldn’t sell Spirit Nurturing Beads to outsiders. After all, they only want to control the resources within the Celestial Spirit Sect’s territory. A few scattered beads or a set here and there shouldn’t matter.’

After thinking for a moment, Zhang Deming nodded and said, ”Alright!”

With that, Zhang Deming waved his hand, and a set of Spirit Nurturing Beads appeared in it.

Growth Technique, Tier Two Cyan Jade Growth Vine, Tier Three Cyan Jade Thorny Vine, Tier Two Blood-Sucking Vine, and Tier Two Flower Demon Vine.

Five Glove Beads, twenty-five Mastery Beads. It guaranteed a Cultivator would face no Technique bottlenecks before reaching the Duality realm, making it a very basic Tier Three Inheritance Bead Set.

”All at Mastery Level?!!!” Wu Xinzhuang, who had been quiet the whole time, exclaimed in astonishment.

Wugong Zong was also startled. Then, he frowned slightly and said, ”Fellow Daoist, your set is indeed an Inheritance Set, and one that could even be used for an Extreme Vine Skill inheritance. That alone would normally increase its value immensely.

However, your set is only a basic one, which diminishes its effect.

As you know, those who wish to pursue an ’extreme’ path often can’t cultivate other Techniques. But since your Vine Technique set isn’t complete, it won’t fetch the high price an actual Extreme Inheritance Set would at auction.

At best, it’s only slightly better than an ordinary Inheritance Set. I wonder, Fellow Daoist...”

Zhang Deming looked at him. ’If I were to actually pull out a complete Tier Three Extreme Inheritance Set, it would be about more than just selling it for Spirit Stones. This thing could bring them considerable benefits, and I have no intention of letting that happen.’

Zhang Deming nodded and said, ”I know all this. The very reason I’m selling it is because it’s incomplete. Otherwise, why wouldn’t I keep it for myself, or for my descendants? As for whether I have the rest of it, so you can complete the set? Sorry, but no!”

Hearing this, Wugong Zong said, ”In that case, its value might not be enough to compete with the Infant Spirit Hollow Jade.”

Zhang Deming acted as if he didn’t catch the underlying meaning, treating it as a simple statement. ”Hm, I see. If it’s not enough, then so be it. I brought plenty of Spirit Stones with me anyway.”

Wugong Zong paused, hesitating for a moment. He debated whether he should persuade the man to put up something he was more confident could be traded for the Infant Spirit Hollow Jade.

After a moment of hesitation, not wanting to let the opportunity slip, Wugong Zong expressed himself tactfully. ”Fellow Daoist, you may not be aware, but while our Huayue Auction House is run by an ordinary Noble Family...

...due to our location and reputation, we are quite well-known in the territories of both the Celestial Spirit Sect and the Hua Shui Palace.

An auction like this, held once a decade, is a major event, and our market reach is incredibly broad.”

Zhang Deming nodded. ”Yes, I am somewhat aware of that.”

Wugong Zong: ”...”

Zhang Deming glanced at him, then stood up. ”Well, in that case, I won’t trouble you any further. I’ll just go back and wait for the auction to begin.”

Wugong Zong seemed to understand his meaning and nodded. ”Very well. Fellow Daoist, you can just come directly to the auction when it starts.”

With that, Wugong Zong handed Zhang Deming a VIP card that granted him a private suite.

Zhang Deming took the card. After exchanging brief salutes, he departed.

After Zhang Deming left, Wu Xinzhuang looked at Wugong Zong and asked, ”Second Uncle, does the Celestial Spirit Sect now have a Tier Three Mastery Level Spirit Nurturing Master? I’ve never even heard of them having a Tier Two at the Mastery level. Where did this person come from?”

Wugong Zong shook his head. ”I don’t know. But if a Mastery Level Spirit Nurturing Master has truly appeared, it’s definitely not one of the three elders of Spirit Nurturing Peak.

When Yuee Mengsheng and Guk Liancai were at Tier Two, they advanced to Tier Three from the Control Level. Gan Zili was even further behind, only at the Proficient Level of Tier Two when he advanced.

Therefore, none of those three could have possibly become a Tier Three Mastery Level Spirit Nurturing Master.”

Wu Xinzhuang asked hesitantly, ”Should we investigate him then?”

Wugong Zong shook his head. ”No, don’t. It’s best to get as little involved as possible with matters concerning the Four-Nine Upper Sects. The Ancestor has been preparing to advance to the Celestial Realm these past two years. We might need their help with something when the time comes, so let’s not cause any trouble right now.”

...

After leaving the auction house, Zhang Deming once again began to wander around Huayue City.

Compared to Celestial Spirit City, Huayue City was much noisier. Besides having a more lively, worldly atmosphere, one could often see Loose Cultivators fighting over arguments or some other matter.

Even though the patrol teams were quick to arrive and handed out severe punishments afterward, Zhang Deming still witnessed several such incidents. Perhaps it was because the impending auction had caused a massive surge in foot traffic.

He wandered about for the better part of the day, eventually finding his way to a Spirit Tea Tower. Zhang Deming entered, chose a seat by a window on the second floor, ordered a pot of Spirit Tea, and sat down.

He sipped his tea while gazing out at this different kind of cultivator city, one filled with the bustle of mortal life.

A few moments later, a small commotion suddenly erupted on the street below, catching Zhang Deming’s attention.

Zhang Deming turned to look and saw it was another fight. ’These are getting quite frequent,’ he thought.

But when Zhang Deming saw the scene within the circle of combatants, he froze for a second, a look of astonishment on his face.

’This is...? Nuns?’

Zhang Deming looked down. A crowd had already gathered to watch as several women, dressed in black nun’s habits with matching head coverings, were engaged in a brutal, fist-to-flesh brawl with a few burly men in practical attire.

The stark contrast of the scene instantly captured Zhang Deming’s full attention.

Just as he got a clear look at the spectacle, a voice drifted clearly into his ears, drawing his focus.

”Tsk tsk, these nuns from the Outer Realm are pretty violent, aren’t they? Hey, wild Monk, as their father, what on earth do you usually teach them?”