The Programmer Cultivator

Shao Jiefeng took the fruit-like container with a puzzled expression. He gently opened it and took a sniff. He paused for a moment, his eyes brightening, and asked, "Blood Emotion Wine?"

Zhang Deming nodded. "I got lucky and came across it.

Originally, there were three. I had to waste one to shake off some pursuers.

Only two are left, weighing a total of eleven catties and three taels. I kept the small remainder for myself.

I had a slight inkling this stuff had the potential to be a luxury item, but I had no idea how valuable it was. If I had known, I wouldn’t have been so wasteful back then."

Shao Jiefeng said in pleasant surprise, "That’s quite a lot! Junior Brother, you might not be aware, but this stuff is sold by the tael. Your luck is truly remarkable."

Zhang Deming smiled without saying a word.

Ma Songhai was already prepared and said, "I contacted a buyer yesterday. They’ve already seen the sample.

The highest price they offered is six Spirit Stones per tael.

Just for the wine itself, that price is already comparable to a Three-Star Spirit Wine.

I’ve also done some research. If you want to sell it quickly, you likely won’t get a better price."

With Shao Jiefeng’s arrival and his friendly attitude, Ma Songhai immediately switched tactics.

Shao Jiefeng, still holding the wine, stiffened. He obviously knew this was the best price anyone could get, even him. After all, this stuff barely qualified as a One-Star Spirit Wine.

Zhang Deming looked between the two of them and nodded. "Alright then. I’ll leave it in your hands, Senior Brothers."

With that, Zhang Deming placed the two containers, one in front of each man.

Ma Songhai was stunned, while Shao Jiefeng looked pleasantly surprised.

Their eyes flickered as they instantly understood the meaning behind Zhang Deming’s gesture.

Shao Jiefeng had been handed a free deal, but a slightly bitter smile touched his face.

Even though Ma Songhai didn’t get to handle the entire deal, the corners of his mouth curved up slightly.

For Zhang Deming, this Blood Emotion Wine was arguably his most unexpected gain.

Who would have thought that the most unassuming ten catties of wine would net him a haul of over six hundred Spirit Stones.

In Spirit Stones alone, this was nearly half of his total earnings from the trip to the back mountains, worth as much as one or two top-tier main materials.

Since the matter of the Soul-Nourishing Fruit was settled, Zhang Deming was no longer in dire need of Contribution points. In the end, he didn’t bring out the Wandering Soul Mist he had prepared.

The men chatted idly for a while. After completing the Soul-Nourishing Fruit transaction, Zhang Deming saw the two of them out.

Of his original two hundred and nine Spirit Stones, only seventy-three remained.

However, all the materials for his advancement were now prepared.

All that was left was to save up Spirit Stones and push for the Tai Chi Stage.

He needed 25,000 Experience Points, which would cost 2,500 Spirit Stones. Even with the 600 he just made, he was still short by eighteen or nineteen hundred.

He was now making seven to eight Spirit Stones per Spirit Nurturing Bead.

Now that he didn’t need to focus on his Cultivation, he could work at a moderately high intensity and produce five or six per day.

He could save up enough in just over a month!

Sitting in his small courtyard, Zhang Deming smiled, lost in his calculations.

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In the afternoon, Zhang Deming went to the street market.

He navigated expertly to a familiar corner and spotted Li Shifan sitting in his usual spot from afar.

Zhang Deming walked right up to him. When Li Shifan saw Zhang Deming, the previous distance between them was gone.

Zhang Deming approached with a smile and said, "Back to running your stall so soon?"

Li Shifan looked at Zhang Deming and nodded. "I have a lot of materials to sell off. Before, I was selling things whole.

So now that I’m selling them piecemeal, I don’t really have a customer base. I have to come out early and stay for several days. I figure it’ll take that long to sell it all.

Senior Brother Zhang, you sent me a message. Did you need something?"

Zhang Deming nodded. "Can you get someone to watch your things? Let’s find a quiet place to talk."

Although Li Shifan acted the part of a cool and aloof swordsman, he had been running this stall for a month or two, so he was familiar with a few of the neighboring vendors.

Hearing this, Li Shifan exchanged a few words with a vendor next to him.

The other vendor nodded, and Li Shifan followed Zhang Deming out of the market to a secluded corner.

After they stopped, Zhang Deming said, "I did have something to discuss with you today. First, about the materials from that Mother Qiu Ape, I’ve already taken care of them.

Even though it was a beast on par with a Tai Chi Great Cultivator, its Bloodline can be exchanged for Contribution points. But since you don’t want to be the one to turn it in, I’ve had to put that aside for now.

Aside from the Bloodline, the other parts like the fur and hide only sold for twenty-two Spirit Stones.

This is your eleven Spirit Stones. You can count them if you want."

Zhang Deming tossed out a small money pouch. Li Shifan caught it, weighed it in his hand for a moment, and tucked it directly into his robes.

Seeing that the other man had accepted the money, Zhang Deming hesitated for a moment before asking, "What are your plans now?"

Li Shifan paused at the question, then said, "I have the Sword Grass for my main material, so I don’t have to worry about that. As for the supplementary materials, I’ll just trade for as many as I can.

As for the rest, I plan on using Spirit Stones to buy them at a premium through the Resources Department’s channels.

It’ll probably be a lot more expensive, but it’s better than waiting around.

So I’m still short on Spirit Stones. I’ll probably have to go into the mountains a few more times.

But I won’t go too deep. Playing it safe and making some quick cash off Mid-Stage Demon Beasts will be enough.

After all, with my current Cultivation, it’ll still be a long time before I reach my peak.

After that, I’ll just focus on contemplating and preparing my Rune Core Technique for the Tai Chi Stage."

Zhang Deming nodded. It seemed Li Shifan’s plans were similar to his own.

"Are you planning to use the Sword Control Skill as your Rune Core Technique?"

Li Shifan nodded. "For certain reasons, I have a fair bit of insight into Sword Dao Cultivation."

Zhang Deming’s eyes flickered. Li Shifan continued, "So, I’ve had my path figured out for a long time.

If I don’t use the Sword Control Skill as my Rune Core Technique, even if I went to the Scripture Pavilion, I probably wouldn’t find anything much better.

After all, out of many Techniques, the Sword Control Skill is the one I selected as the most compatible for me.

And in the Outer Sect’s Scripture Pavilion, a Tier Two Sword Dao Technique isn’t necessarily better than this one."

Zhang Deming nodded. "My reason for finding you is also related to this Technique."

Li Shifan paused, looking at Zhang Deming, who wore a slightly hesitant expression as he spoke:

"You know that I wasn’t able to bring out the item I chose in the Secret Realm. I’d like to buy a copy of the Sword Control Skill from you. Don’t worry about the price; I’ll pay the standard rate for a Tier Two Technique."

’Now that he had confirmed the other’s choice of Rune Core, Zhang Deming had no intention of letting this fatted sheep—the best one he’d seen so far—get away so easily.

He had to fleece him for all he was worth first.’

Hearing this, Li Shifan replied, "It’s just a copy. What’s so difficult about that? I’ll have it ready for you tomorrow, Senior Brother.

As for the price, just pay what you think is fair, Senior Brother."

Seeing him agree, a hint of joy appeared on Zhang Deming’s face. "Then I’ll thank you in advance."

Li Shifan said, "We’ve been through life and death together, after all. There’s no need to be so polite, Senior Brother Zhang."

The two exchanged a few more pleasantries before parting ways.

Li Shifan went straight back to his stall, while Zhang Deming left Little Hui Peak and headed for Celestial Spirit City.

Before leaving, Zhang Deming mentioned Qin Shizhong to Li Shifan, telling him that if he didn’t want to run the stall anymore, he could find Qin Shizhong to quickly sell off his goods.

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