The Programmer Cultivator

Dang Xiangjun paused. ”What do you want the Daoist Canons for those two methods for? Could it be that in your past life, you advanced to the Three Talents realm using a Tier Four Cultivation Technique?

No, that can’t be it.

If that were really the case, you’d be after the *Celestial Spirit Heart Scripture*.

Among the Sect’s three great Tier Five Cultivation Techniques, the *Celestial Spirit Heart Scripture* not only has the greatest potential but is also the most suitable for Spirit Nurturing Masters.”

Zhang Deming smiled. ”I’m just a little curious, that’s all.”

This was clearly a dismissive answer, and it made Dang Xiangjun frown. He said, ”Those two methods were originally obtained primarily by the Yang and Fanx Families. So, even though our Dang Family manages the Dharma Transmission Hall and oversees the Scripture Pavilion, the Guardians of the Tower also assigned control over them to those two families.

Accessing a Tier Five Daoist Canon, especially a Cultivation Technique, is no simple matter. It’s not easy even for a Tier Four, Law-Level Spirit Nurturer like yourself.

With Yunfei pulling some strings for the Fanx Family, the *Wu Earth Storage Qi Method* is a bit easier to obtain.

But for anyone not from the Yang Family, there are no shortcuts to viewing the *Fire Separation Body Cultivation Method*. The Guardians of the Tower at the Scripture Pavilion require concrete, officially-delegated authority before they’ll grant access.

And you give me such a flimsy excuse? How am I supposed to make this happen for you?”

Zhang Deming paused for a moment. ”So you’re saying the *Wu Earth Storage Qi Method* is no problem, but the *Fire Separation Body Cultivation Method* requires some great merit or something, is that right?”

Dang Xiangjun nodded. ”If you give me a passable reason, one that puts my mind at ease, I could grit my teeth, swallow my pride, and try to make it work.”

A faint smile touched Zhang Deming’s lips. With a flip of his wrist, he placed a book before Dang Xiangjun. ”And what if I add this to the deal?”

Dang Xiangjun looked at the book on the table with suspicion. The moment he saw its title, a sharp glint flashed in his eyes. ”Is this... *Turtle Water*?”

That’s right. The Cultivation Technique Zhang Deming had produced was none other than the *Turtle Water Defense Array*.

Zhang Deming nodded. ”Correct. I obtained this Cultivation Technique through a fortuitous encounter.

It’s because of this technique that I looked into many texts, which is what sparked my curiosity about the Sect’s *Fire Separation Body Cultivation Method* and *Wu Earth Storage Qi Method*.

So, what I said earlier wasn’t a flimsy excuse in the slightest. I really am just curious.”

Dang Xiangjun paused, then said, ”Curious? Don’t tell me you’re thinking of piecing together the *Five Elements Secret Scripture*?”

Zhang Deming chuckled sheepishly at his words. ”Well... there’s no harm in just thinking about it, is there!”

Dang Xiangjun was genuinely taken aback by Zhang Deming’s reaction. After a long moment, he shook his head. ”You weren’t very old in your past life, were you?”

Zhang Deming paused. ”I wasn’t that young. I was over a hundred.”

’A hundred years old? Not young?’

Dang Xiangjun gave a wry smile. ”No wonder you could befriend that person from a few days ago as a Loose Cultivator. This talent of yours... it’s really something else.”

Zhang Deming, not wanting to linger on the topic, quickly asked, ”What do you think, Master Dang? If I hand this over, will it be enough?”

Dang Xiangjun paused. ”Theoretically, if you were to submit this to the Scripture Pavilion, with a bit of maneuvering on my part, forget just getting two techniques—you could probably have your pick of all three to study.

After all, you’d be adding a Daoist Canon to the Sect’s collection, especially with your status.

But this is a copy, and an ordinary one at that. It lacks even a trace of the Dao Essence that a Law-Level Cultivation Technique should contain, which makes it hard to verify its authenticity. That makes things exceedingly difficult to arrange.

For the Sect to accept this into the Scripture Pavilion, they would first have to verify its authenticity and then find someone to cultivate it to a certain degree.

Only then could they use the power of the Calligraphy Dao to inscribe it as a true Daoist Canon, imprinting it with insights. And only after all that would they feel safe letting the Sect’s disciples cultivate it.”

Zhang Deming paused. ”What if I can guarantee its authenticity?”

”What good is your guarantee? And how would you even... Wait, did you copy this yourself?” Dang Xiangjun asked, stunned.

Zhang Deming put on a look of utter confusion. ”Huh? Master Dang, what are you talking about? I don’t understand!”

Dang Xiangjun watched Zhang Deming tell a bald-faced lie with an air of complete innocence. He was finally starting to get a handle on this disciple’s personality. ’What a cunning little devil.’

Dang Xiangjun shook his head. ”What’s with that act? Are you afraid I’m going to steal your Daoist Canon or something?

If you really did copy it, just let me see the original Daoist Canon. After I’ve compared it, I’ll act as your guarantor. The Scripture Pavilion should then agree to archive it as a proper Daoist Canon.

While re-inscribing it is a bit of a hassle, as long as the risk of testing out the technique is removed, it’s no big deal for that bunch of lazy bums at the Guardian Tower. It’ll give a lot of them something to do with all their idle time.”

Hearing this, Zhang Deming shook his head. ”I’m afraid I can’t actually produce the original.”

Dang Xiangjun frowned. ”And why is that?”

Zhang Deming replied with a wry smile, ”The Daoist Canon I obtained was on a Jade Scroll, and it was a single-use one. It shattered right after I finished reading it.

You want me to produce an original, Master Dang? You can’t expect me to cultivate for a decade or so and then painstakingly try to inscribe it myself, can you?

I’m not a Calligraphy Cultivator. For you to ask me to inscribe a Tier Five Daoist Canon... how could I possibly manage that without several years of effort!”

Upon hearing this, Dang Xiangjun fell silent, studying Zhang Deming for a long while before finally speaking. ”Are you absolutely certain you didn’t make any mistakes when you copied this technique?

Think this through carefully. If I act as your guarantor and something goes wrong over at the Scripture Pavilion during the inscription or subsequent cultivation practice, I’ll be the one held responsible.

Those lazy bums are fine when everything’s quiet, but once you get on their bad side, even I won’t be able to cover for you!”

Zhang Deming nodded. ”You can rest easy, Master Dang. As long as you’re talking about this very book in front of you, I can guarantee I made no mistakes in copying it. I can also guarantee the technique itself is flawless.”

’Bullshit. This was the exact technique I cultivated. I’d even successfully fused it and equipped it in my script slot. How could there possibly be a mistake!’