The Programmer Cultivator

Li Cheng’s ethereal figure waved a hand, catching the incoming Spirit Ore and two other Spiritual Materials. He watched Li Shifan with his full attention. Before Li Shifan, Runes flickered, and of the three Rune Balls, two slowly faded away.

One of them burst with a POP, transforming into a complete Rune and sinking into the Long Sword before him.

Li Cheng, who had been preparing for a long time, ignored his own terrible condition. A Sword Spirit appeared, and with a single strike, it split open the Sword Spirit Ore.

The moment the mechanical shell around the Spirit Ore shattered, it took the ore’s outer layer with it. Inside, a pure Shield enveloped the crystal-clear Sword Spirit Ore, preventing it from any contact with the outside world.

After all, it was priced as a Two-Star Magical Artifact, and a Disposable Magical Artifact at that. While expensive, its effect was quite good.

However, after the Magical Artifact shattered, the protection on the Sword Spirit Ore’s surface wouldn’t last long. Thus, as soon as it appeared, the surface of the crystal-clear Sword Spirit Ore began to flicker incessantly.

Then, Li Cheng turned the other two Spiritual Materials into Spiritual Power Light Points and tossed them, along with the Spirit Ore, in front of Li Shifan.

At this, Li Shifan paused. The Rune Core from between his brows flew out and plunged directly into the Spirit Ore. The Sword Spirit Ore instantly shattered into Spiritual Light, which flowed like water into the Long Sword.

As the light merged with it, the Long Sword began to tremble violently. After a moment, the trembling became very rhythmic, like a heartbeat. With each pulse, it absorbed a significant amount of the surrounding Broken Sword Spiritual Light.

After a long while, a Rune materialized on the Long Sword. As the Rune appeared, the Long Sword gave a violent shudder. A massive vortex began to form, but as the Broken Sword Spiritual Light surged into the sword, the vortex dissipated before it could fully materialize.

Not only did the Long Sword’s vortex disappear, but it even began to leak wisps of Spiritual Light, as if it had eaten so much it was about to burst.

Even so, about a tenth of the Spiritual Light from the Broken Sword still remained.

But now, not only was the Long Sword surging with Spiritual Light, but its Tier Three Sword Control Skill Rune Core had even advanced to Tier Four. It was so full it couldn’t possibly take in another speck.

The Sword Control Skill Rune on the Long Sword flickered. The Long Sword instantly shrank, turning into a miniature sword that flew into the space between Li Shifan’s brows.

As a sword-shaped Rune emerged between his brows, Li Shifan himself began to float. The aura around him began to climb rapidly, surpassing the Duality realm in an instant.

And it showed no signs of stopping. His Cultivation soared all the way to the Peak of First Transition, only halting at the very brink of breaking through to the Second Transition.

Seeing all this, Li Cheng’s ethereal figure finally let out a slight sigh of relief. He waved a hand at the remaining Broken Sword Spiritual Light, and the light surged into the Scroll. The cracks on the Scroll began to disappear rapidly.

In a moment, the miniature Scroll was restored to its original state. Within the Scroll, all the numerous round beads had vanished. No new Sword Spirit was born, but a Sword Heart had appeared inside.

A Sword Heart that could continuously nurture new Sword Spirits. Li Cheng’s path had finally taken a turn for the better; he had truly made it possible to switch to the path of Soul Artifacts and could now embark on a new Dao.

And so, because of a strange mutation, the two of them had devoured the Life Artifact of a Three Talents Sword Cultivator and both achieved a great leap forward.

One advanced in rank, while the other, just by hitching a ride, found an opportunity to change his entire path. Truly worthy of a protagonist’s fate.

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After a long time, once Li Shifan and Li Cheng had both finished digesting their gains, they reopened their eyes.

Without taking a moment to sort through the rewards of their advancement, the two immediately turned, bowed to Elder Huang, and said, "Thank you for your help, Elder Huang. We, grandfather and grandson, will engrave today’s kindness in our hearts and never forget it for all eternity."

Hearing this, Elder Huang chuckled and said, "Don’t thank me. I didn’t do much. When all is said and done, it’s because this grandson of yours has a Blessed Source."

When other people’s Life Artifacts disintegrate, they just disintegrate. After all, it’s the culmination of a person’s entire life of cultivation.

But your grandson is something else. I merely activated the final vestiges of a fellow Daoist, and he used that opportunity to cause the disintegrated Life Artifact to undergo a mutation.

Because of the aura left behind by the Soul Control from before, drawn by karma, he actually devoured the other person’s Life Artifact and turned it into Resources for his own advancement.

It’s a perfect illustration of ’fortune lies within disaster, and disaster hides within fortune.’ He truly has a Blessed Source. It seems his path aligns quite well with this old Daoist’s.

Hm, and you’re not bad either. Last time we met, I just happened to mention that you should look into the path of Soul Artifacts and try to switch your Dao.

And now, you’ve gone and used my hand and your grandson’s to build the very foundation for that change in path. So, I suppose what I said came true, didn’t it?"

Hearing this, a joyful expression appeared on Li Cheng’s face. He said, "It is all thanks to Elder Huang’s great kindness. My grandson and I will always remember such a favor."

"Haha, little one, are you trying to say this old man’s mouth is blessed with good fortune, that whatever I say comes true?" Elder Huang laughed.

Li Cheng nodded. "Yes, it really seems to be the case!"

Elder Huang chuckled and shook his head, looking at Li Cheng. "You little rascal, I really have taken a liking to you. Now that your path forward is promising, don’t you dare disappoint me!"

Li Cheng immediately bowed and said, "This Disciple will never forget Elder Huang’s teachings. I will stay true to my original intentions and strive to advance."

Elder Huang paused. He saw how Li Cheng had taken his few words of guidance and run with them, already calling himself a Disciple. He just shook his head and said no more.

Instead, he turned to look at Zhang Deming and said, "The Celestial Spirit New District has been fully established, so this petition is no longer covered under the protection period. Although there are benefits for the new district, a certain amount of Contribution is still required. After you complete this mission, go find Zhang Wu yourself. He will tell you the cost of petitioning in the new district."