The Programmer Cultivator

Previously, when he fought alongside Zhang Deming, he had only thought Zhang Deming’s Vine Technique was ’masterful.’ But now, experiencing it nearly firsthand, he realized that ’masterful’ was no longer sufficient to describe it.

As for the Sword Shadows darting around him, they were, without exception, pierced by the spikes and burst into a shower of Spiritual Light.

But as the Spiritual Light scattered, it didn’t disappear. Instead, it transformed into streams of light that flowed into the palm of Li Shifan’s left hand. No orbs dropped to the ground. Li Shifan, his expression tense, froze for a moment and fell into a daze.

Zhang Deming, who was watching all this, paused slightly. He glanced at the dazed Li Shifan, then turned his head away. After all, there was still another problem to solve.

Zhang Deming turned his head again, looking toward the stationary chessboard.

Two Sword Shadows hovered not far from Nangong Cheng, right in front of him. Nangong Cheng himself looked a bit disheveled; clearly, the two Sword Shadows had been overwhelming him. Seeing this, Tong Hou, who had retreated, had once again used his Trapped Position to buy some time.

A thick aroma of tea rose from Tong Hou’s body, and the buff he had cast on Feng Mingyou was already pushed to its absolute limit.

But after holding the trap for several seconds, his face had already flushed red, a sign that he was about to reach his limit.

With Zhang Deming’s arrival, Tong Hou’s eyes darted, and the chessboard beneath everyone’s feet began to spin slowly.

Technique: Chess Dao Shell Shedding!

Tong Hou vanished once more, taking Feng Mingyou with him. The instant he disappeared, the chessboard shattered.

Nangong Cheng, who had been prepared, took a large step forward, shooting out a fair distance like a streak of light. Zhang Deming, also prepared, used the same move again, pressing both hands to the ground.

Developed Technique: Thorny Dreamland Spike!

Dozens of Jade Spikes erupted once more, piercing the two Sword Shadows and shattering them into fragments of Spiritual Light.

CLINK...

Two ethereal-looking orbs fell to the ground. Zhang Deming extended a vine to pick them up.

With all five Sword Shadows dealt with, Zhang Deming turned around and found Li Shifan still standing stiffly, trapped amongst the Jade Spikes. He wore a dazed expression, as if he were once again communing with his Ancestral God.

He paused. The surrounding vines dissolved into motes of light. Seeing that the other man was still standing there blankly, he had a vine poke Li Shifan’s shoulder and said, "Hey, snap out of it..."

The moment the vine poked him, Li Shifan’s aura suddenly surged. He shot away as if he’d been spooked, transforming into a streak of light and vanishing into the distance.

Zhang Deming: "Uh..."

Zhang Deming stood frozen on the spot, his arm half-extended and his mouth slightly agape. He stared after him with a look of utter bewilderment. ’The fight’s over, so what was all that about?’

Li Shifan flew a good distance on pure instinct before he gradually came to his senses. A miniature scroll in his palm slowly faded away.

"So, uh, what was all that about?" Zhang Deming asked, still looking completely baffled.

Li Shifan paused, then said, "Um, I just zoned out for a second."

Zhang Deming paused and glanced at the other man’s palm. ’Zoned out? Looks more like you got a little too excited during your divine communion!’

Just then, Nangong Cheng and the others came over, so Zhang Deming didn’t press the issue about the disappearing Spiritual Light from the Sword Shadows.

Li Shifan also walked back, and the five of them regrouped. No one rushed forward; instead, a somewhat heavy silence fell.

Zhang Deming paused, then asked, "Any thoughts?"

Hearing this, Nangong Cheng hesitated before speaking. "This place is too dangerous. Those Sword Shadows might have an obvious weakness, but they’re so unique that if your cultivation path isn’t the right counter, you’re completely helpless against them.

"And their attacks are as powerful as the Three Talents Level. This is what we encountered right at the entrance. If we go deeper, who knows what we’ll find. I don’t think we should proceed.

"After all, judging from the lingering aura, this is clearly a battlefield left behind by at least a Three Talents Great Cultivator. It’s far too risky for us."

Although Feng Mingyou and Tong Hou didn’t speak, their expressions clearly showed they agreed.

Zhang Deming turned to the silent Li Shifan and asked, "And you?"

Li Shifan paused for a moment, then said hesitantly, "I want to try."

Hearing this, Nangong Cheng frowned slightly. "You don’t even have a basic way to deal with the enemy. How do you plan to ’try’?"

Li Shifan hesitated, then said, "I just remembered... I think I have a technique that should be able to counter these things."

The three of them froze.

’You just remembered now? Are you serious?’

The group fell silent. No one dared to speak rashly. For a newly formed team to face a life-threatening disagreement without immediately falling apart was already a testament to everyone’s conscious self-restraint.

If it weren’t for the Alliance, a randomly thrown-together team would have likely dissolved right then and there.

After a long silence, Nangong Cheng finally spoke. "Judging by the aura, this place is clearly a battlefield left by a Sword Cultivator and a Summoning Dao Cultivator. You’re so insistent on going in, and you were asking for Sword Spirit Ore before... Are you preparing resources for your advancement to the Duality stage?"

Li Shifan remained silent. He didn’t confirm it, but he didn’t deny it either, which was a tacit admission.

Nangong Cheng glanced at Li Shifan. "From what I can see of your cultivation, you’ve only just reached the initial stage of Three Lives Tai Chi. Advancing to Duality should still be a long way off. Why the rush?

"Sword Spirit Ore is precious, but you can usually find a piece or two every few decades. Why risk your life for it now?"

Li Shifan paused and glanced at Nangong Cheng, but he didn’t mention that it had only taken him two years to get from the Mid-Term of Apprenticeship to his current level.

Instead, he said, "My aptitude is truly limited. I’m afraid if I delay for decades or even a century, I’ll miss the optimal age for advancing to Duality. By the time I find the resources, it’ll be too late."