The Programmer Cultivator

”When a new school is founded, how many are its trailblazers? But who remembers them now? They are all nothing but stepping stones!”

After a long moment, hearing Yuxing’s words, Xu Weihai gradually realized what had just happened.

Once he understood, he shot Yuxing a rare, resentful glance.

If it weren’t for his extreme respect for Yuxing, it would have been outright hatred. After all, he had struggled and clawed his way up from the bottom for decades. He was on the verge of Enlightenment Dao, only to be forcefully interrupted by someone else who then told him not to continue down that path.

Resentment was truly putting it mildly.

Yuxing looked at his expression and said, ”What? Are you dissatisfied with my arrangements? If you truly wish to debase yourself like this, you are free to continue your Enlightenment Dao after I leave today.

After all, this so-called ’Enlightenment Dao’ of yours is nothing more than an opportunity I took, tore apart, broke into pieces, and fed to you bit by bit.

Now, all you have to do is piece it all together to complete your Enlightenment Dao.

Therefore, if you can’t bear to let this opportunity go, you are free to continue after I’m gone.

But if you are such rotten wood, don’t expect me to continue expending effort to carve you. After all, no matter how careful one is, rotten wood will eventually crumble. That is an inevitable end.”

Xu Weihai paused. He smoothed away his resentful expression, recomposed himself, and said respectfully, ”Elder Xing, please rest assured. Without your permission, this Disciple will absolutely not take that final step into Foundation Establishment.”

Hearing this, Yuxing’s expression softened. He nodded and said, ”Let’s continue our discussion on the differences between Magic Runes and Array Dao Runes, and the possibility of their Fusion.”

The two resumed the lesson. Yuxing began to explain the encoding rules, Rune variations, and Fusion in a way that was both deep and easy to understand, laying the groundwork for what was to come.

After a long while, Yuxing felt he had explained enough and had crammed sufficient knowledge into him. He said, ”Alright, let’s stop here for today. What we discussed today is of the utmost importance. Afterwards, you must fully grasp and internalize it. This will be the core of your foundation, a crucial part of your Dao Foundation.”

Xu Weihai immediately replied respectfully, ”This Disciple understands.”

Seeing this, Yuxing said, ”Then that is all. Remember not to construct the encoding rules recklessly and end up on a different path.”

Xu Weihai nodded earnestly and said, ”This Disciple will remember.”

Yuxing nodded. His form instantly disintegrated, turning into a sky full of Spiritual Light before vanishing into the air.

Xu Weihai sat where he was, stunned for a long, long time.

·········

Back in the Spirit Nurturing Space, Zhang Deming reflected for a moment. ’The things I taught Xu Weihai today, combining memories from my past life and from Xue Su, have thoroughly laid his foundation.’

’His Enlightenment Dao at the exchange conference is now a certainty. This nail has been hammered in for good. I can let him be for now and just wait for the opportunity to arrive.’

After thinking for a long while, Zhang Deming still felt a little uneasy, afraid his ’nail’ might ’cripple his own Martial Arts.’

He simply beckoned, and the Surveillance Elf orb from the sky of the Spirit Nurturing Space flew down to him.

Zhang Deming quickly tinkered with it for a moment, setting up a temporary, special monitoring process to keep a constant watch on Xu Weihai. This was to prevent any cliché situations like him suddenly achieving Enlightenment Dao in his sleep.

After setting this up, Zhang Deming left the Spirit Nurturing Space. He checked the time; it was almost noon.

Zhang Deming habitually made himself something to eat, then took out his Command Token and entered the Cyan Wood Secret Realm.

”Daddy...”

He hadn’t been here in half a month, but nothing had changed; the place remained the same. Zhang Deming looked on with a helpless expression as the three little ones clung to him.

The one with translucent, feathery wings was the first to fly over, skillfully taking the lead and perching on his head as if it had seized the Dragon Throne, its face a picture of smug pride.

The remaining two sat on his left and right shoulders, hugging his neck and nuzzling him nonstop.

Looking at the three exquisite little ones—whether they were boys or girls, their Bloodline made them exceptionally cute, the epitome of adorable. A single moment of carelessness, and you could die from the cuteness.

Against kids like these, Zhang Deming was truly helpless. No wonder the Flower Demon Elves were so highly valued by the Sect.

’Damn, regardless of whether you’re a man or a woman, who could possibly resist this!’

’Plus, I’m the one who personally nurtured them. The fondness in my heart is mixed with a bit of parental love, making me even more of a pushover for the three of them.’

A moment later, Yi Huaihai also hurried over, following respectfully behind him.

Letting the three kids do as they pleased, Zhang Deming walked over to the corner tower to check on the situation. Pei Xiaoxiao’s Agility Technique was still not at Entry Level; she was still practicing hard.

Qing Xiaolu was still sleeping, as he did every day. His waking hours were extremely limited.

After a familiar survey of the area, Zhang Deming came to the courtyard and whispered, ”Spirit Rain!”

As his Cultivation had improved, this had become increasingly effortless for him.

Clouds churned in the sky, and moments later, fine strands of Spirit Rain began to drift down. The Flower Wood seemed to sense something and swayed joyfully.

Whenever this happened, the three little ones would rush out excitedly to frolic and play in the Spirit Rain and amidst the Flower Sea, creating a dreamy, fairytale-like scene.

’The Cyan Wood Flower Sea... this really is a good place for a salted fish to live out his days. Not only is it good for retirement, but it also touches that soft spot in your heart. It’s truly a wonderful place!’

The Spirit Rain nourished the area for half the day. In the afternoon, Zhang Deming began his daily Spirit Nurturing once more. He only stopped for the day after completing one, not continuing further.

·········

「Several days passed in a flash.」

On this day, Li Shifan, whom Zhang Deming had been constantly monitoring, finally stumbled his way back to the Sect. This at last put Zhang Deming’s worried heart at ease.

The first thing Li Shifan did upon returning to the Sect was not to immediately come to the Flying Spring Waterfall Tower to make his delivery. Instead, he returned to his Cave Mansion and began a ritual.

After receiving the ritual’s signal, Zhang Deming quickly entered the Spirit Nurturing Space, changed his form into that of Zhang Wu, and arrived at the All Living Beings Tower.

Then, with a wave of his hand, Zhang Deming summoned Li Shifan’s speck of light. With a gentle tap, a passageway appeared.