The Programmer Cultivator

Zhang Deming was aware of this. In recent years, with the shifting trends in cultivation, Cultivators rarely used Magical Artifacts of the same Tier, mostly relying on their own Techniques and cultivation.

’Hmm... this refers to the traditional use of Artifacts, the old way of doing things. The traditional path, where a Cultivator would venture out for Magical Combat carrying a pile of Magical Artifacts and treasures, is rarely seen anymore.’

The exception is the non-traditional, new-style Artifact Cultivators. These aren’t the ancient kind—the Iron Forgers who perform Artifact Refining for others. Instead, they are like Sword Cultivators who bond with and cultivate a Sword Artifact as part of their very being. This new school of thought has developed to a staggering degree.

In fact, many cultivation paths have started to incorporate minor elements of it.

After all, this path grew out of the concept of Lifebound Treasures. After being refined by countless Cultivators, it has now blossomed into a diverse field, severely encroaching upon the niche of traditional Iron Forgers.

Furthermore, traditional Cross-Tier Magical Artifacts are either prohibitively expensive or come with numerous restrictions and even severe side effects. As a result, the general use of Magical Artifacts has declined.

Of course, this decline refers to their critical role in combat—the old way, where the outcome of Magical Combat depended heavily on Artifacts. Their functional use, however, remains quite common, much like how one would use tools in the modern world.

That’s why the Artifact Refining path is still incredibly prosperous. Anyone claiming its main pillar is about to collapse must be a traditional Iron Forger—the kind of old fossil who refuses to acknowledge these new-style practitioners as true Artifact Cultivators.

After all, many traditionalists in the Artifact Dao believe: ’If an Artifact Cultivator doesn’t know how to ’forge iron,’ what kind of Artifact Cultivator are they?’

’They only focus on constructing their own Life Artifacts, and just because it’s tangentially related to the Artifact Dao, they get to call themselves Artifact Cultivators? What a load of nonsense!’

Many of the old-school forgers share this view, especially the older generation.

So, it’s less that the Artifact Dao is collapsing and more of a classic conflict between schools of thought. Not literary schools, but schools of forging. The traditional Artifact Cultivator school is simply on the decline!

·········

In the time it took for their brief conversation, the leaf had already come to a steady halt, hovering about ten meters above their heads.

A moment later, Spiritual Light flashed several times from the leaf. A solid Array Light Screen, like a wall of air, materialized section by section, forming a translucent staircase that extended all the way to the ground.

Glancing at the staircase, Zhang Deming, with Yang Guangfu and Qin Shizhong following behind, began to walk up alongside Song Huidong. As they ascended, he remarked:

"I read in the files that the Cyan Feather Green Ship is a classic example of a Magical Artifact where the Array Dao supersedes the Artifact Dao. I was wondering if such an artifact would seem a bit strange, but now that I’ve seen it in person, this application seems to be even better, wouldn’t you say?"

Song Huidong chuckled. "It’s all more or less the same, really. Hmm... but Junior Brother Zhang, if you’re referring to aesthetic appeal and ease of use for Low-Tier Disciples, then yes, this type of Magical Artifact is indeed a significant improvement."

Zhang Deming smiled. ’As someone with a modern perspective, I’m well aware of how important the appearance of a vehicle is. Good looks are an inevitable trend for future development.’

’Of course, that’s assuming Hongmeng can actually overcome the Tier restrictions on Artifacts, making them accessible to lower-level users and enabling their widespread use.’

’As it stands now, a Three-Star Magical Artifact requires a Three Talents Cultivator to power it fully. The market dynamics for something like that are completely different.’

Yang Guangfu and Qin Shizhong followed silently behind, not uttering a single word. In the time it took for the brief exchange, they had all reached the top of the leaf.

The top and bottom of the leaf were a study in stark contrast. The underside was minimalist, with the entire base being nothing more than a simple leaf.

The top, however, was covered in numerous buildings. Pavilions, terraces, and towers dotted the landscape, turning half of the leaf’s surface into what looked like a large, sprawling settlement.

It was a settlement complete with all sorts of amenities, all exquisitely arranged upon the leaf. The other half of the area was a massive open plaza, like the deck of a ship.

The spot where they emerged was right in the middle of this plaza. A number of Disciples were already there, standing in neat formations, silently awaiting their arrival.

After Zhang Deming’s group arrived, they saw the person in charge. He was a middle-aged man who looked to be about forty, with a completely ordinary face, just having reached middle age.

In fact, everything about him, from his appearance to his demeanor, was so exceedingly ordinary that it would be incredibly easy to overlook him. He was like a Cultivator of the Concealing Path.

If they hadn’t received a notice from the Sect with his information, Zhang Deming and the others would never have guessed he was a Three Talents Cultivator. There was absolutely nothing special about him.

He even seemed to possess some kind of Concealing Path Artifact, as even his Cultivation fluctuations were exceptionally faint.

If not for the fact they had prior information, and that he was standing in the most conspicuous spot at the front of the crowd, Zhang Deming and Song Huidong might have overlooked him completely on their first glance.

Looking at the man, Zhang Deming and the three others with him bowed in unison.

"Greetings, Master Guan!"

"Greetings, Ancestor Guan!"

"·······"

Guan Shouxin nodded, glanced at the group, and said, "I’m leading the expedition this year. Your Spirit Nurturing Peak is the last rallying point. Are you ready?"

Upon hearing this, Song Huidong immediately replied, "Master Guan, we have been ready and waiting for some time."

Guan Shouxin glanced at the group leaders and said, "Since you’re ready, have them board the ship at once. Let’s get going. The sooner we leave, the sooner we’ll be back!"

"As you command, Master!" Song Huidong bowed respectfully, then turned, walked to the entrance of the transparent staircase, and called down to the disciples below, "Board the ship!"

His voice wasn’t loud, yet it carried clearly to the ears of every Disciple below. The assembled Disciples then began to board the ship in an orderly fashion.

Guan Shouxin seemed to have an extreme aversion to social pleasantries. After his brief exchange with the two, he simply turned and walked away, leaving Zhang Deming and the others to organize the boarding process.