The Programmer Cultivator

The fully formed mud puppet saw Zhang Deming and, without a word, its hands began to flash with Spiritual Light. Rune Technique: Clay Imprisonment!

A glob of brown, slimy clay abruptly appeared over Zhang Deming’s head. It squirmed as if it were alive, dropping toward him. At the same time, the surrounding swamp-like mud began to writhe and clutch at him.

"No player at the board, but pieces are in play. In this small square, the horizon is but a step away. Technique: Yin Yang Chess Path!"

Spiritual Power surged through Zhang Deming’s body. An illusory chessboard rapidly extended from beneath his feet, encompassing the entire swamp.

Zhang Deming’s body felt light as he floated slightly, stepping onto the chessboard an inch above the ground. With a thought, his speed exploded. His short-distance dodges were several times faster than even a full-speed Flying Technique.

After dodging the encroaching mud, Zhang Deming pressed both hands onto the board beneath him.

Rune Technique: Thorny Earth Spike!

Dozens of spikes surged from beneath the puppet’s feet, stabbing rapidly toward it.

In the blink of an eye, the slimy mud on the puppet’s surface dried into an ugly earthen shell. The spikes struck it to no effect.

With a thought from Zhang Deming, the spikes began to soften. But before they could entangle the puppet, the mud at its feet began to squirm, quickly dragging the surrounding spikes down into the swamp until they vanished.

The dried mud on its body melted back into a slimy state.

"Your mastery of Techniques isn’t bad," the puppet said softly to Zhang Deming. "It’s a shame your Cultivation is so lacking. Otherwise, you might have actually given me a headache!"

As it spoke, the entire swamp began to writhe, as if it were coming alive.

"Sigh... I was planning on testing my own combat strength!" Zhang Deming sighed, spreading his hands and shrugging helplessly. "Third Uncle, it looks like I’ll have to rely on you after all!"

As Zhang Deming spoke, a ball of light floated out of his body. To the puppet’s astonishment, it then merged back into him.

Rune Technique: Spirit Nurturing Vine Demon Summoning Technique—Dragon Turtle!

As the light merged into him, Zhang Deming began to change his appearance. In a moment, he transformed into a world-weary, middle-aged man who bore a strong resemblance to his original self.

"An incarnation? Or a possession?" the puppet asked in astonishment, looking at the transformed Zhang Deming.

The way Zhang Deming transformed, combined with the fact that the surrounding Dao Marks were sealed, meant it couldn’t possibly be an Incarnation that came here. This could only be the work of a Cultivator skilled in such arts who left something behind on their junior, which has now been triggered.

After his disguise was complete, Zhang Deming frowned slightly at the puppet and muttered to himself, "This damn kid is getting bolder and bolder. Daring to provoke even a Three Talents Cultivator!"

After muttering to himself, Zhang Deming glanced at the surrounding pool of writhing mud, then looked at the puppet in disgust and said:

"For a dignified Three Talents Cultivator to use Great Magical Power and your high Cultivation to bully a junior... it seems your mastery of Techniques is truly subpar."

"Hmph. You talk big for a mere incarnation," the puppet said, looking at Zhang Deming. As it spoke, it waved a hand. "I’d like to see just how much confidence you really have, fellow Daoist."

Technique: Swamp Flow!

The writhing swamp mud instantly swelled and surged toward Zhang Deming.

But Zhang Deming just shook his head. "Kid, you should fight this kind of trash yourself. It’ll be good for you."

After he spoke, Zhang Deming’s face quickly reverted to his own, but the power did not recede. As the power of the Peak of the Celestial Realm surged, he activated a Technique.

Developed Technique: Growth Vine Forest!

As the Technique was cast, a strange ripple spread through the space. Countless saplings sprouted from the writhing swamp, growing and expanding at a tremendous rate.

In moments, the swamp had transformed into a forest—a forest of strange, vine-like trees that all appeared to be made of jade.

Zhang Deming looked around, clapped his hands, and said, "Crushing people with Great Magical Power? Anyone can do that!"

The puppet’s expression grew cold at Zhang Deming’s taunt. Its entire body began to expand, transforming into a five-meter-tall mud giant before it charged directly at him.

Zhang Deming extended one hand, and a Long Sword appeared in it. He raised the sword with both hands, took a deep breath, and swung it down at the charging puppet.

"HRAA..."

Sensing the lock-on and the ever-expanding Long Sword, the puppet paused. It gravely raised its right hand into a punching stance, aiming in Zhang Deming’s direction.

Rune Technique: Mountain Fist!

A massive earthen fist shot toward Zhang Deming. Due to its immense size, it collided midway with the gigantic, descending Jade Long Sword.

"Urgh..." The puppet swayed on the spot as its earthen fist exploded.

"BOOM..."

The Long Sword that had collided with the earthen fist also shattered into a sky full of Spiritual Light. Zhang Deming was sent flying by the immense force, smashing through the forest and carving a long trench in the ground. He didn’t stop until he slammed into the protective light of his Shield. The massive impact made the entire shielded area tremble.

"Pah..."

Zhang Deming got up and spat out some non-existent dirt. He watched the puppet try to press its advantage, only to be constantly obstructed by the trees. "Looks like I need to get serious," he said.

Developed Technique: Ancient Ape Transformation!

With a mere thought, the Powerful Ape Transformation Bloodline Rune inside his body intertwined with several other Runes. Zhang Deming began to expand rapidly, transforming into a giant ape.