The Programmer Cultivator

Li Shifan paused, then said, ”I’m the one who owes you for saving my life several times, Senior Brother. If I were to haggle over such a trivial matter, then you would have every right to look down on me as your Junior Brother.”

Zhang Deming said, ”So what’s the problem with me helping you now?”

Li Shifan paused slightly, unsure of how to respond for a moment. He mainly felt that he already owed Zhang Deming too much. If he kept accruing debt, it would truly become a lifelong burden.

Seeing his expression, Zhang Deming shook his head and said, ”Besides, my Seventh Uncle has been in the mountains for a while now. He sent some news back a little while ago. As it happens, I have some business of my own and might be heading to the back mountains soon.”

Li Shifan’s expression brightened, and he said happily, ”Really? That’s great! Senior Brother, when are you planning to go to the back mountains?”

’He found it a little more acceptable if Zhang Deming wasn’t making a trip specifically for him. After all, while stopping by on the way and making a dedicated trip might lead to the same result, the intent behind them was completely different.’

Zhang Deming smiled. ”In three to five days, I think. After all, in that Liuying you showed me, even though there wasn’t any combat visible, it’s still better to be careful.”

Li Shifan nodded. ”I was thinking the same thing. Then, Senior Brother, once you’ve set a time to enter the mountains, remember to let me know.”

Zhang Deming nodded. Once the matter was settled, the two began to chat idly.

The two hadn’t seen each other for some time and just chatted casually. Among everyone in the Sect, Li Shifan was the only one who had adventured ’back-to-back’ with Zhang Deming.

Li Shifan’s situation was quite similar to Zhang Deming’s, and with their compatible personalities, they found they got along exceptionally well.

After chatting for a few hours, Li Shifan finally got up to take his leave.

After watching Li Shifan leave, Zhang Deming flipped his hand over and took out a palm-sized map Magical Artifact.

He had looted this item from Qu Wei’s body back then. Because it was quite useful, Zhang Deming had been using it ever since.

By now, the map already contained a general overview of Hongmeng, the rough layout of the Spirit Nurturing Holy Land, and a detailed depiction of the area around the Celestial Spirit Sect.

However, the three marks that Qu Wei had originally made were still clearly visible on the map.

The first was Falling Turtle Lake. Of the other two locations, one was near the mountain peak Zhang Deming had passed when he left the Turtle Water Secret Realm. The last location was completely unfamiliar.

Because there were no notes on the map, Zhang Deming never knew what these two places represented. Furthermore, because of that old ghost in the Turtle Water Secret Realm, he had never given them much thought.

Now that Zhang Deming had screwed over the old ghost, he didn’t know if the Sect had encountered him, but at least his lair had been destroyed. For the time being, the old ghost had probably gone into hiding.

In that case, besides Falling Turtle Lake, the other two locations were worth checking out.

’After all, since that old ghost has his eyes on me, I’m already his enemy. It would be good to learn more about him. Qu Wei marked these places, so they must be important.’

’What if—just what if—there’s Karma there? Wouldn’t that be a massive score?’

...

Zhang Deming pondered for a long time before his Heart Spirit entered the Spirit Nurturing Space.

He held out his left hand, and the Book of All Living Beings flew down from the sky, hovering above his palm.

With a flicker of his thoughts, the Book of All Living Beings slowly opened to the mission page.

Zhang Deming reached out his right hand and tapped the page. A mission window appeared before him. As his thoughts directed it, the page began to change.

Category: Regional Mission

Type: Exploration

Level: Tai Chi to Duality

Participants: Multi-person Mission

Description: During the Near-Ancient Era, a conflict over Dao Lineage caused the Five Elements Blessed Land to fall, giving rise to the Five Elements Remnants. Now, these remnants have reappeared in the Celestial Spirit District. By a stroke of fortune, the Alliance has obtained some information...

Information: Map (Viewable only after accepting the mission and gathering)

Requirement: Investigate the two marked locations on the map.

Time: Five days from now

Reward: To be determined based on results

Note: This is a multi-person mission. After accepting, the Book of All Living Beings can be used as a guide to gather and form a team. This is also the first regional mission for this district and may trigger a review to unlock a new feature for the district, one distinct from ordinary public functions like Contribution, Missions, and Trading. Please cherish this opportunity.

Special Reminder: The rewards for this mission may include a ’Promotion Dao Fruit’.

Publisher: Celestial Spirit Division Steward----Zhang Wu

Zhang Deming reviewed the information, checked it for a moment, and made a few modifications. When everything was more or less ready, he tapped his finger.

The Light Screen before him turned into a streak of light and merged into the Book of All Living Beings.

...

At that exact moment, the nine people who possessed the Book of All Living Beings all felt something. Each of them quickly found a private space, held out their hands, and summoned the Book of All Living Beings.

The nine of them fell silent as they looked at the information in the Book of All Living Beings.

Qian Xiaogong, Xu Weihai, Qu Qizhong, and Qin Shizhong, the four whose Cultivation had not yet reached the Tai Chi realm, dismissed the Book of All Living Beings in disappointment.

Qu Qingxian, who had been preparing to break through for nearly a year and had already pushed her Magic Spiritual Water Technique to the point of mastery, also dismissed the Book of All Living Beings, as she was planning to make her breakthrough soon.

The remaining four people stared at the Book of All Living Beings for a long time. Then, one by one, some decisively and some with hesitation, they chose to accept the mission.

The main reason was that the ’Promotion Dao Fruit’ was simply too tempting. On the Book of All Living Beings, in the section for the Promotion Dao Fruit, there was still a recording of Qin Shizhong receiving his so-called ’promotion benefit’.

And the six people from before had even witnessed it with their own eyes. The thing was just far too alluring.

...

After publishing the first mission, Zhang Deming did not leave immediately. Instead, he stared at the Book of All Living Beings in his hand.