Chapter 703 - 148: Black Fog 3

He has cultivated for less than a hundred years, yet his followers are countless.

His Cultivation is merely at the Duality realm, yet he has Disciples who have also reached Duality.

While other Disciples search arduously, he can pave a Heaven-Reaching Path for others with a wave of his hand.

He is... the representative of our new generation of Spirit Nurturing Masters, the fourth Peak Master of Spirit Nurturing Peak—Zhang Deming!

As the words were spoken, the dark screen slowly lit up. Zhang Deming, clad in a Daoist Robe with magnificent wings unfurled from his back, appeared on screen. His handsome, perfect figure looked out at the audience through the Light Screen with an indifferent expression.

With that, the entire recording finally came to an end.

Gan Zili: "..."

Yuee Mengsheng: "..."

Guk Liancai: "..."

The three of them were silent for a long while before Guk Liancai spoke, his expression strange. "Junior Brother, don’t tell me this is your promotion announcement video?"

Zhang Deming nodded calmly. "Yes, it is."

Guk Liancai’s face twitched. "Just how much did you torment the Disciples at the Memory Pavilion for them to dare get back at you with an announcement video like this?"

’Do you think everyone is like you?’

Zhang Deming paused before saying, "Well, I chose it myself. I think the traditional introductions are too conventional and unnecessary.

So I chose to present it as a story, sort of like imitating Jian Cheng. Without Ancestor Qianyu’s tales spreading throughout Hongmeng, Jian Cheng wouldn’t be the household name he is today, right?

As for the content... it’s something my disciples put together based on some rumors, with a bit of embellishment."

"Bragging so outrageously in your own announcement... The brothers of the entire Sect, and even peers from other sects, will be laughing at you for centuries, Junior Brother... you..." Even Guk Liancai couldn’t find the right words to roast him.

Zhang Deming shook his head. "I’m not just making things up. This was created by combining Celestial Universe’s ’based on reality, but grander than reality’ cinematic philosophy with a certain degree of dramatization.

Strictly speaking, Pei Xiaoxiao did achieve Enlightenment Dao in Duality. I was the one who brought her back to the Sect, and her path to enlightenment did indeed begin with the Spirit Nurturing Bead I gave her.

The only difference is that we omitted the time that passed between me giving her the Spirit Nurturing Bead and her reaching enlightenment. After all, an announcement video can’t be too long, can it?"

Guk Liancai retorted, "Junior Brother, if you keep talking like that, combined with this announcement, I’ll start believing that we Spirit Nurturing Masters are actually that magical."

Gan Zili spoke up. "When the Shadow Ceremony Department first submitted this, I thought some reckless disciple who didn’t know their place had made it on their own initiative.

When I inquired, they said you insisted on this version. Now, hearing you, Junior Brother... is this for real? Are you really planning to release something so... so... *novel* in your announcement?"

It took Gan Zili a long time to find the right word.

Zhang Deming nodded. "Yes. I’ve thought it over carefully. Don’t worry, Senior Brother, the effect of this will absolutely exceed your expectations."

Yuee Mengsheng frowned. "This thing of yours... it’s completely based on the Celestial Universe Film and Television philosophy, isn’t it?"

Zhang Deming nodded. "Senior Brother Yuee, you’re familiar with it?"

Yuee Mengsheng didn’t answer, instead saying, "It will certainly have a powerful effect. The narrative style will leave a deep impression, and its core theme—disciples desperately seeking their path to immortality—will indeed make all the Disciples in the Sect remember you.

But have you considered how cultivators of our rank will perceive this recording? Spirit Nurturing Masters may be rare, but any Three Talents Cultivator will have at least some understanding of what we do.

And especially when our fellow Spirit Nurturing Masters see it... as Junior Brother Guk said, the things in there are completely divorced from reality."

Zhang Deming smiled. "I have considered it. But this announcement is meant for the Low-Tier Disciples. As for Three Talents Cultivators, our fellow Spirit Nurturing Masters, and so on... no matter how realistic the recording is, wouldn’t they investigate my situation for themselves anyway?

The only consequence is that I might be laughed at. But I don’t think it’s embarrassing. What does it matter if they laugh? As long as the Disciples remember me and the announcement achieves its goal, that’s all that matters."

In truth, Zhang Deming couldn’t care less about being remembered by the Disciples or becoming famous throughout the Sect. The only reason he was so invested was for Qi Fortune.

During his initial Qi Fortune test, the condition for acquiring it was roughly to increase his overall personal influence. Becoming a well-known Cultivator in the Sect was one way to achieve that.

That’s why Zhang Deming was so dedicated to this. He needed to use this to test how becoming a ’celebrity’ Cultivator affected his acquisition of Qi Fortune. If the results were good, he wouldn’t mind using a few tricks later to follow in Jian Cheng’s footsteps.

Yuee Mengsheng was taken aback for a moment. "You’ve certainly thought this through. You see things more clearly than us old folks."

Hearing this, Gan Zili froze, looking at Yuee Mengsheng in astonishment. "Senior Brother, you agree with him releasing this?"

"Why not? It’s not like it’s anything indecent, and it doesn’t bring shame to the Sect. It’s just a bit novel, that’s all. An announcement is mostly a matter of personal preference. What he releases should be his decision, shouldn’t it? Why must we cling to tradition and make something nobody wants to watch?" Yuee Mengsheng replied.

Gan Zili stared blankly, then turned to Guk Liancai. "You say something!"

The fact that he would actively call on Guk Liancai to be the contrarian showed just how much he didn’t want Zhang Deming to release this.

Guk Liancai paused, then said, "I think it’s great. It’ll be fun to watch the spectacle Junior Brother Zhang is about to cause."

Gan Zili: "..."

’His hopes were ultimately misplaced! How could a contrarian possibly play along and argue on his side? If he did that, he wouldn’t be a contrarian, he’d just be backing me up!’