The Programmer Cultivator

Zhang Deming was stunned. "You turned the Traveler of the World Exchange Conference into a monkey show for the new disciples?" he asked.

Song Huidong paused for a moment, then burst out laughing. "Haha... a monkey show... hahaha... Junior Brother Zhang, that metaphor of yours is actually... pretty spot on.

That’s right. The higher-ups are treating the reception of those bald donkeys like it’s a monkey show. After all, we can’t just let them come here year after year to show off their power, can we?

We let the new disciples go have a look and broaden their horizons. If they’re unlucky enough to get picked on, it’ll teach them a lesson and inspire them to work harder. It’s a kind of resource utilization, you see."

Zhang Deming’s expression shifted. "With a name like Traveler of the World Exchange Conference, I thought it was going to be some unprecedentedly grand event. But now... you tell me this? Why wasn’t any of this in the archives?"

Song Huidong gave Zhang Deming a strange look, as if to ask if he was serious.

’It’s one thing for everyone to know about it, but to make a record of it—especially in a commonly accessed archive—is another. Would that not be like openly taunting Spirit Mountain?’

’Some things are better left unsaid, understood tacitly. To turn it into a formal piece of knowledge for everyone to memorize would be taking it too far.’

Zhang Deming was taken aback by Song Huidong’s look. After a moment of reflection, he understood.

Song Huidong had been a supervisor for a long time; he was no fool when it came to social cues. After that glance at Zhang Deming, he smoothly changed the subject and said:

"If a Saint Heir from the other two Holy Lands came to travel like this, the Sect would indeed put on a proper show. Debates on the Dao, Magical Combat—we’d try to promote our Sect’s reputation.

After all, such a visit might only happen once in a hundred or even several hundred years. There aren’t many Saint Heirs with the guts to challenge all of Hongmeng, and even fewer would do it just for fame without any tangible benefit.

Not everyone is Jian Cheng, who can achieve enlightenment again and again from it. In a situation like that, if you happen to lose, you’d be disgraced across all of Hongmeng.

But Spirit Mountain..."

Song Huidong paused, then continued, "These years, they come every few decades, and they only ’debate,’ never fight. Empowered by their Oratory, who would want to debate a Wish Cultivator? It’s not just a simple argument.

Even Master Guk was helpless against their Oratory... He couldn’t hold his own at all."

At this, Zhang Deming’s interest was piqued, his gossipy side surfacing. "From the sound of it, Master Guk actually went up against them before?" he asked.

Song Huidong’s face twitched, but he didn’t answer. He had no desire to gossip about Master Guk. He wouldn’t mind casually gossiping about Master Yuee or his own master, though.

If word got out, given his position, a little harmless gossip wouldn’t cause any trouble. Of course, with his status, he couldn’t possibly get involved in any serious rumors.

As for Master Guk?

’Best to just drop it. He was someone I couldn’t afford to offend and had no desire to provoke whatsoever.’

’I already have a hard enough time just trying to avoid him; why would I willingly walk into the line of fire? After all, Master Guk is famously unreliable. Whenever he gets put in his place by my master, he often comes looking for trouble with me!’

So, as if he hadn’t heard Zhang Deming’s gossipy question, Song Huidong continued, "Under these circumstances, it’s only natural for the Sect to handle it this way to annoy the folks from Spirit Mountain. After all, their visits every few decades are meant to annoy us, aren’t they?"

"That’s really... It would be better not to do it at all than to do it like this." Seeing this, Zhang Deming gave up on the gossip and lamented.

Song Huidong said, "The Sect doesn’t want to hold it either, but it’s hosted by a Blessed Holy Land and has become something of a custom, so we can only go through the motions.

As for Spirit Mountain, this ’Traveler of the World’ business is a highly coveted role that everyone fights for. Why would they ever stop it voluntarily?

To be a Traveler of the World... debating the Dao, practicing asceticism, witnessing the suffering of the masses, and experiencing all walks of life. They enter the Red Dust, and amidst great rights and wrongs, they transcend their mortal attachments, establish a Great Vow, and forge a Golden Body. Be it through a wrathful gaze, a smiling face, a life of hardship, or the reflection of all living beings, they ultimately become a Bodhisattva.

This practice is perfectly suited to the cultivation methods of Wish Cultivators. Why would they ever willingly cancel it?

They probably wish they could send one out of the mountains every year for a tour of Hongmeng."

’When all is said and done, it’s because those bald donkeys lack tact. They’re killing the goose that lays the golden eggs. Or rather, from the very beginning, they never adopted the right attitude when dealing with the various Upper Sects below them.’

’Just look at the study group from the Outer Realm. Before they even arrived, the winds of public opinion were already blowing in their favor, guided by all sorts of media manipulation and constant little schemes.’

’They’re both doing the same thing—traveling. Yet one group becomes anticipated guests of honor, playing coy and mysterious despite a thousand pleas for their appearance, while the other is turned into a monkey show for rookies to gawk at.’

’It’s the exact same type of event, but because of different public relations and a bit more tact, the results are completely different. This must be what they call ’setting the narrative,’ being a ’trendsetter.’’

As the two chatted, Zhang Deming came to fully understand the nature of the so-called conference and the Sect’s attitude. He laughed and said, "It’s a good thing these two exchange conferences aren’t held one right after the other. If they were...

For the first, you herd a bunch of new disciples to watch a monkey show. For the other, all the departments are putting in a United Force—our Spirit Nurturing Peak even specially bred a whole colony of subordinate Flower Demon Elves just for this exchange conference, all to maintain the Upper Sect’s prestige.

Every department in the entire Sect is giving it their all. It’s obvious everyone will be actively participating.

When you compare the two, the difference is massive!

If they were held one right after the other, with that huge of a contrast, those guys from the bald donkey’s side would probably be so furious they’d suffer internal damage!"

Song Huidong said, "Mm, indeed. But who knows, maybe the bald donkeys would actually want to see such a scene. After all, it helps them temper their Dao Hearts!"

Ha!

’Is he being serious, or is he just mocking them?’