The Programmer Cultivator

"Reaching Duality directly... if this is some kind of special method, once we figure it out, it would be immensely useful to the Sect. It’s a risk worth taking."

Gan Zili nodded. "I was thinking the same. It’s certainly worth a try."

Guk Liancai paused, his eyes gleaming. "Why don’t you let me do the planting?"

Gan Zili froze, glanced back at Guk Liancai, and said, "You? If you were the one to summon the Child, you’d scare them half to death. So much for planting the seed quietly."

"Senior Brother, you..." Hearing this, Guk Liancai was at a loss for words, choking with anger.

"Ha! What’s wrong? You’re allowed to do as you please, but I’m not allowed to comment on it? Just look at what you do to every Child I assign you!

It’s gotten to the point where assigning a Child to you is like going to war.

Many of the Disciples, upon learning they’ve been chosen, would rather intentionally break a rule and get sent to Wanghui Peak for a few decades of punishment.

So tell me, with all that going on, if you were to summon someone, wouldn’t they be scared half to death?" Gan Zili grew more incensed as he spoke, righteously laying into Guk Liancai.

Guk Liancai retorted, "I never berate them. The people you pick are just too incompetent.

Look at the ones you’ve chosen! Every single one of those kids is either dumb as a post or so tongue-tied they can’t even speak properly.

All it takes is a few words from me and they all start questioning their own existence. What kind of future does a Disciple like that have?

To think they’d end up before me... it’s a complete waste of my energy. Disciples like that aren’t worth mentoring!"

Gan Zili paused, looking at Guk Liancai, speechless. "You berate them until they question their own existence and you call that ’not berating’? Dumb? They’re scared stiff by you, alright? I...

Forget it. I can’t be bothered with you. Anyway, if you scare off this Child, don’t come complaining to me that you have no one to run your errands.

Next time, find someone yourself. Even if you try to pull rank on one of my own Disciples, I won’t stick up for you."

The two went back and forth, bickering, the original topic of their conversation long since forgotten.

Guk Liancai was stubborn in his arguments. Since Gan Zili couldn’t win by arguing directly, his method was simple: he’d hit him where it hurt, and once he’d landed his blows, he would retreat and change the subject.

In any case, he handled him with ease. At times like these, it was as if Yuee Mengsheng had activated a Hidden Breath Skill, completely forgotten by the other two.

When their squabble was over, one of them would inevitably remember he was there and say, "Don’t you agree, Senior Brother?"

And every time, Yuee Mengsheng would nod in profound agreement and say, "Mm!"

In truth, he had no idea what he was agreeing to. How much could he possibly have paid attention to while the two were arguing?

This scene had been playing out on Spirit Nurturing Peak for centuries. Barring any surprises, it would likely continue for centuries more.

...

As the three conversed, the Spiritual Power Sea Absorption in the Flower Sea slowly subsided. The two pairs of cicada wings on the back of the enlightened Pei Xiaoxiao began to vibrate.

CLANG...

With another sharp ring of a blade, the surrounding Flower Demon Elves all snapped back to their senses and tactfully dispersed.

As her cicada wings vibrated, Pei Xiaoxiao’s entire body suddenly transformed into a strange longsword.

The blade was as thin as a cicada’s wing—small, delicate, and yet possessing an ultimate sharpness. The two pairs of cicada wings on the blade’s spine vibrated, causing the longsword to flash rapidly across the sky. One moment it appeared in the east, the next it flickered in the west.

After a long while, Pei Xiaoxiao slowly came to a rest. She reappeared in her human form and opened her eyes, a completely bewildered expression on her face, as if she had no idea what had just happened. She looked adorably clueless.

And now, there were subtle yet distinct changes in her figure, her features, and her aura.

...

「In the Hengduan Mountain Range, at the foot of Broken Sword Mountain.」

Zhang Deming had just drifted to the ground when his expression flickered.

He focused his Heart Spirit inward, entering the Spirit Nurturing Space. A scene of Pei Xiaoxiao’s epiphany was playing out within.

But when he saw Pei Xiaoxiao instantly ascend to the Duality realm, Zhang Deming was dumbfounded.

’What the hell?’

’When we first met, reaching the Mid-Term of Apprenticeship in two days was one thing, but now you pull this? Jumping straight to Duality in one go!’

’When other people advance, it’s a breakthrough at best. Why are you making these massive, cliff-like leaps in rank?’

’Are we even living in the same world? Following the same cultivation path?’

While Zhang Deming was still reeling, a fluctuation of Energy from his repository pulled him back to his senses. His Heart Spirit moved to the repository, where orbs of light were continuously coalescing.

After a long time, everything stopped. Zhang Deming stared at the light orbs, stunned.

Ten more points of Merit, and thirty-five more points of Qi Fortune!!!

She was, by far, the one who had provided the most Energy from a breakthrough. And she was the type who usually didn’t yield any wool, but he never expected such a massive fleece-drop all at once.

He checked his repository’s current status: Merit: 45.4, Qi Fortune: 52.7, Karma: 1.4.

Looking at the Energy in his repository, he realized he had enough to upgrade another Technique to the Law Level.

Zhang Deming looked up at Li Shifan, who was flying toward him. ’Heh, you little punk,’ he thought. ’How dare you show off in front of me? Even if it’s not on purpose, it’s not allowed. None of my friends get to show me up!’

"Senior Brother, so this is what it feels like to fly using the Sword Control Skill! No wonder so many people want to be a Sword Immortal," Li Shifan said as he flew down and landed.

Zhang Deming ignored him. With a flicker of his Heart Spirit, he called up the Cultivation Technique Script and fell into a daze.

Logically, he should have chosen to upgrade Scattering Beans into Soldiers first, but a Tier Three version wouldn’t be much of an improvement for him.

At his current Cultivation level, he didn’t lack for Tier Three Techniques. If he wanted to improve his combat strength, Law-Level Techniques were the key. Normally, it wouldn’t matter when he upgraded it, but here in the Hengduan Mountain Range, prioritizing combat power was the smarter move.

Therefore, after only a moment’s hesitation, Zhang Deming made his decision.

"Consume fifty points of Qi Fortune to upgrade Flying Technique ● Remnant to Tier Four?"

"Yes!"

...