The Programmer Cultivator-Chapter 67 - 65: Lake Bottom

"Really? I can go back with you, Senior Brother?

When I was reading my great-grandfather’s journal, it mostly talked about life in the Sect. I was so envious," Pei Xiaoxiao said, pleasantly surprised.

Zhang Deming nodded and said, "Yes, not only can you, but it’s also my duty to bring disciples like you, whose families have fallen on hard times, back to the Sect.

However, you’ll have to wait until I’ve finished my business and completed the Rain Praying Task."

"Okay, I’ll wait for you, Senior Brother." Pei Xiaoxiao still couldn’t contain her happiness.

Then, the two of them looked at the materials, worth about half a Spirit Stone. Zhang Deming said, "The Snake Marrow, which can be refined for its Essence Blood, goes to you. The Snake Skin and Snake Bones will be mine.

Normally, you’d be getting the short end of the stick with this split, but you don’t have a way to carry all this stuff. So, strictly speaking, it’s an even split."

Pei Xiaoxiao shook her head. "I asked you to help me kill the snake, Senior Brother. I haven’t even paid you yet. I can’t take any of the loot."

But Zhang Deming shook his head. ’Are you kidding me? If we split it like that, wouldn’t it mean I was just hired help?’

’If we really find some treasure later, I wouldn’t have any say in how we divide it.’

’This wasn’t about being calculating; it was just being practical.’

Zhang Deming said, "What are you talking about, payment? We’re exploring together. A fair distribution is essential.

Otherwise, turning on each other will be inevitable."

Pei Xiaoxiao hesitated for a moment, but seeing Zhang Deming’s serious expression, she had no choice but to nod. "Alright, I’ll take it then."

She then took the small vial containing the Snake Marrow and looked at the enormous Snake Bones and the complete Snake Skin. "Uh, Senior Brother, can you carry all this?"

Zhang Deming smiled. "Normally, after some processing, the Snake Bones would be much smaller. I could barely manage to carry them away like a giant whip.

But I can’t be bothered with the hassle. I’ll just leave it in the Cave Mansion for now. When I’m done with my business, I’ll come back and use it directly as material."

With that, the two of them coiled the Snake Skin and dragged the Snake Bones back into the cave.

After they finished, they stood at the edge of the cave opening. Zhang Deming spoke up, "Let’s go. Let’s get in the water and see if there’s any treasure in the snake’s lair."

Pei Xiaoxiao nodded. "Mm, I was thinking the same thing."

Then, the two of them jumped down from the not-so-high cave opening. The height was perfect for a dive, and it felt great.

’This is why I said Pei Qingfeng was a man of culture,’ Zhang Deming thought. ’What an enjoyable life. This is practically a giant swimming pool right outside his front door. It’s a shame he died young for the sake of his Tai Chi.’

Both of them were Intermediate Apprentices. Even without formal training, Pei Xiaoxiao had figured out the basics of using Spiritual Qi through trial and error. Holding her breath for three to five minutes was no problem.

Zhang Deming, on the other hand, directly activated his Spiritual Shield. He was like an air bubble in the water, able to move and breathe freely.

Since the Shocking Water Snake reigned supreme over Qingshui Lake all by itself, its lair wasn’t hidden at all.

After searching for a short while, they found a cave on a cliff face at the bottom of the lake.

The two exchanged a glance, and Zhang Deming led the way with his Spiritual Shield active.

They swam forward for a moment and abruptly passed through a membrane, finding themselves in a cave completely devoid of water.

’This is...?’

’A natural Array Restriction?’

Zhang Deming sensed it briefly and discovered the existence of a Restriction, one that was nearly at the level of a One-Star Array.

Sensing it more carefully, he discovered the Restriction had two effects: isolating auras and repelling water.

Because it was at the bottom of the lake and had been tampered with, the Array Restriction’s effects were suppressed. The water-repelling effect was entirely channeled into the mountain body where this cave was located.

As a result, the entire mountain had a water-repelling effect, which was what caused the lack of rain in Qingshui Town.

After roughly figuring out the cause, Zhang Deming’s heart instantly blazed with excitement.

A place that could naturally form such a Restriction was bound to have a treasure.

The two of them followed the cave for a while and reached the bottom. Here, they found a stone chamber with a style identical to the Cave Mansion above.

The stone chamber was filled with a thick mist. In the center was a stone platform, and on it, two red jade stones rested in a concave area.

On the ceiling directly above the stone platform, a stalactite-like Stone Cone had been artificially carved.

From the tip of the Stone Cone, a drop of transparent liquid fell onto the jade stones in the concave area, instantly making a "TSSSS" sound.

It was as if the drop had landed on a hot iron. Steam instantly rose, making the mist in the room even denser.

Seeing all this, Zhang Deming was momentarily stunned.

He suddenly realized that the Cave Mansion above might not have been built by Pei Qingfeng himself.

’Perhaps this really is the ruin of an Ancient Cultivator,’ he thought. ’It was his great opportunity, but he was ill-fated and only discovered the upper level, never finding the core below.’

The mist swirled within the stone chamber, contained by an invisible membrane of light at the entrance.

Zhang Deming reached out and poked it. The membrane rippled like water, and his finger passed through without any resistance.

They exchanged a look, and Zhang Deming walked inside, his Spiritual Shield still active.

He stepped inside and found nothing out of the ordinary, but when he turned his head, he was taken aback.

He saw that Pei Xiaoxiao had followed him in, but her face was flushed. She quickly sat down cross-legged and began to cultivate right then and there.

Zhang Deming paused, stunned, and then deactivated his Spiritual Shield.

The mist instantly surged toward him. Upon first contact, Zhang Deming’s face also flushed red, and he almost couldn’t catch his breath, nearly choking on the spot.

It was like an ordinary person who had long adapted to the thin air of a high plateau suddenly entering a super-concentrated oxygen environment that could cause oxygen intoxication.

The Spiritual Qi, so dense it had become a mist, hit Zhang Deming full in the face, and his complexion instantly turned crimson.

"Experience Points +10"

"Experience Points +10"

"..."

Instantly, a sharp glint flashed in Zhang Deming’s eyes.

Without a moment’s hesitation, he sat down on the spot just like Pei Xiaoxiao and began to cultivate.

"Experience Points +10"

"Experience Points +10"

"..."

Unlike others, Zhang Deming could clearly see just how absurd the gains were here.

The stone chamber fell silent. As the two of them absorbed the misty Spiritual Qi, the membrane of light at the entrance rippled faintly. As the mist thinned, the membrane grew more and more transparent.

When not a single trace of Spiritual Qi was left in the chamber, Zhang Deming opened his eyes. The Spiritual Qi surged within him; he had successfully broken through from Intermediate Apprentice to Advanced Apprentice, and he wasn’t just a novice at this new level either.

Cultivation Technique: Cyan Wood Divine Refining Technique (Tier Two)

Cultivation: Apprentice Lv3 (5145/45000)

Skill: Spirit Nurturing Skill Lv1 (0/2)

He opened his cultivation plug-in. He had indeed reached Advanced Apprentice. The growth in his maximum experience points was manageable—only a fivefold increase.

Although 45,000 experience points was still a headache, it was countless times better than the hundredfold increase from before.

Zhang Deming roughly understood the principle. If his Cultivation Technique’s level exceeded his Cultivation Level, the increase in maximum experience points was normal, or perhaps even slightly less.

However, if his Cultivation Technique’s level was lower than his Cultivation Level, the maximum experience points would increase dramatically.

That extra experience was most likely being used to upgrade the Cultivation Technique itself.