The Programmer Cultivator

Now we have a chance, and if we take the risk, we might just succeed. If we retreat now... it would be one thing if another opportunity arose, but if it doesn’t, I’m afraid I’ll regret this for the rest of my life."

Though they spoke softly, their stances were firm.

Nangong Cheng frowned slightly. Although he had only shown his Tai Chi Cultivation, everyone knew after two battles that both he and Zhang Deming were actually Duality Cultivators.

That Li Shifan still held this attitude under the circumstances made Nangong Cheng feel he was being rather tactless.

Sensing the tense atmosphere, Zhang Deming spoke up. "How about this? Let’s split up for now."

At this, Nangong Cheng and the others looked over at Zhang Deming, their expressions changing.

Zhang Deming said, "I promised to help Painted Sword..."

"Senior Brother..."

Li Shifan started to speak, but Zhang Deming raised a hand to stop him. "As I was saying," he continued, "I promised to help Painted Sword obtain the Sword Spirit Ore. While this situation is a bit dangerous, it’s still within a range I can accept.

Retreating now would be out of the question. Besides, the environment here is highly likely to have produced High-Tier materials for the Summoning Path. I want to investigate as well.

But for the rest of you, given the limitations of your cultivation paths, there’s no need to take such risks against those strange Sword Shadows we just faced. So, why don’t we just split up here for now?

Painted Sword and I will continue to explore deeper. As for the three of you, you can decide for yourselves whether to wait outside, head toward mission objective number one, or even come with us.

Once we’re finished exploring, the two of us can quickly catch up to you. In any case, objective one is so far that you won’t be able to reach it in a day or two.

And at the speed I travel, even if you decide to go on ahead, we might just meet up again before you even get there, as long as we aren’t delayed for too long.

Plus, with the Book of All Living Beings to guide us, we don’t need to worry about finding each other again. This way, everyone gets what they want. What do you think of that arrangement?"

Hearing this, Nangong Cheng’s expression shifted. He fell into thought, and after a moment of contemplation, he said, "I believe that’s a viable plan."

Zhang Deming glanced around. Seeing no objections, he said, "Then it’s settled. Painted Sword and I will continue exploring ahead. You can decide for yourself whether to wait or proceed to objective one."

Zhang Deming glanced at Nangong Cheng, paused, then turned to Tong Hou and Feng Mingyou. "What about you two?" he asked. "Will you retreat with Speaking Lotus, or will you press on with us?"

Tong Hou hadn’t said a word since the disagreement started, content to remain an observer. Now that the matter was settled and Zhang Deming had directed the question to him, he paused before replying:

"I doubt I’d be much help if I went with you. Judging by the situation in here, I might just get in the way. So, I’ll retreat with Speaking Lotus."

Zhang Deming nodded and looked at Feng Mingyou. "And you?"

Feng Mingyou’s lips twitched, his expression conflicted. After a long moment, he finally sighed. "I do want to go with you, Senior Brother, but in this situation, I’d probably just be a burden if I went in. So, I’ll retreat as well."

Zhang Deming nodded again. "Alright, it’s settled then. Painted Sword and I will head off to explore. It’s up to you whether you want to wait or move on ahead."

Everyone nodded in agreement.

And so, the newly formed team split up just like that.

If not for their obligations to the Alliance and a mutual desire to remain on good terms, they likely wouldn’t have merely split the party—they would have gone their separate ways entirely.

Once the decision was made, the five exchanged farewells. Zhang Deming and Li Shifan then turned and continued deeper inside.

Nangong Cheng and the other two stood and watched their retreating figures until they vanished from sight. Only then did Nangong Cheng say, "We should leave this area before we decide anything else."

Tong Hou smiled. "My thoughts exactly."

Feng Mingyou remained silent. He cast one last glance toward the spot where Zhang Deming and Li Shifan had disappeared, then followed Nangong Cheng and Tong Hou out of the strange battlefield.

...

After splitting from the group, Zhang Deming and Li Shifan walked on for a while before Li Shifan suddenly spoke. "Senior Brother, thank you!"

It was an abrupt, simple thank you, but Zhang Deming could feel the sincerity behind it.

Zhang Deming paused and glanced at him. "Don’t be so sentimental," he said. "When I received the Heart-Connected Lotus Root, I didn’t say half a word to you about it.

I heard back then that you’d not only encountered a Three Talents Great Demon, but you were also nearly robbed of your resources by a Cultivator from the Quanzhen Grotto Heaven. You only managed to get out of it by pleading your case to Elder Huang and paying a steep price.

I heard all about that when I took the lotus root. Did I say a single word then?"

Li Shifan glanced at Zhang Deming but said nothing.

Zhang Deming continued, "Besides, I wasn’t just making things up earlier. The environment here really could produce more than just Sword Spirit Ore.

If we get lucky, we might even find other Summoning materials. Isn’t that what your intel said? If that time comes, believe me, I won’t be shy about taking my share."

Li Shifan smiled. "If that time comes, Senior Brother, I’ll help you get it."

Zhang Deming smiled back and changed the subject. He glanced at Li Shifan’s left hand. "So, about that method you mentioned for dealing with enemies...?"

At his words, Li Shifan’s expression flickered. A miniature scroll slowly materialized in his palm.

Li Cheng’s figure drifted out like a wisp of smoke, slowly solidifying beside the two of them.