The Programmer Cultivator

As a Law-Level Technique, the Growth Technique’s healing effect was more than enough to treat ordinary injuries, though it wasn’t as powerful as the combination of a Dark Pawn and a Blood-Sucking Vine.

After more than half a month on the road, the three of them had become quite practiced.

Moreover, as time passed, Wang Qian grew more skilled in using the Agility Technique, and her efficiency slowly improved.

It was just that she had only recently begun her cultivation. Even though the Agility Technique’s toll was small, it was still significant for her. Thus, after clearing a city, she was often exhausted, even with Zhang Deming’s help.

She never once complained about being tired, and Zhang Deming didn’t coddle her. ’If you want to gain something, you must be willing to pay the price.’

Several hours later, after they finished their work in Pann City, the trio arrived at the city’s special formation of captives to once again conduct a preliminary interrogation.

"Martial Uncle, why does it feel like these Martial Artists... have gotten weaker?" Qin Shizhong asked, looking at the Human Field Formation.

"You’re right, they have gotten weaker." Zhang Deming paused, then added, "To be precise, starting with the last city, the Manager was already gone.

It’s just that in the previous city, Zhizhong City, only the Manager had vanished. But here in Pann City, it looks like they only left behind some cannon fodder.

The main force leading the operation seems to have already fled. And as for the so-called Martial Alliance members in Pann City, we didn’t find a single one."

"Why? Where did those Martial Artists go?" Qin Shizhong asked, his brow tightly furrowed.

Zhang Deming shook his head. "Who knows? But I did anticipate their disappearance. I expected as much after the interrogation in Jing City."

Zhang Deming looked at the puzzled Qin Shizhong and explained, "Back in Jing City, their leader was shocked to see us. He thought our response was too fast, that we shouldn’t have shown up when we did.

In other words, after these people destroyed the main communications control room, they also estimated the Celestial Spirit Sect’s response time in advance. Why?

They were clearly estimating how much time they had to commit their crimes. It’s just that the previous leaders were also cannon fodder—abandoned personnel—so they didn’t know any of this.

Now, while not everyone in Pann City was cannon fodder, we’ve been on this rescue mission for over half a month. By their estimation, no matter how slow the Sect’s response, rescue operations should have already begun.

Besides, the Sect’s response wasn’t slow; they found out on the first day. After more than half a month, they’ve likely begun a rescue operation across the entire Celestial Spirit region.

It’s just that the Sect probably prioritized the major Noble Families and surrounding sects, and hasn’t gotten around to the mortals yet. That’s why we haven’t encountered any other rescue teams.

With the entire Sect mobilized for disaster relief for over half a month, as long as they weren’t dealing with Three Talents Martial Artists everywhere, the main operations should be winding down, and they should be getting ready to move on to the mortal territories.

In that case, it would be strange if the teams that aren’t cannon fodder *didn’t* start to retreat."

"But... why would they cause such a stir just to retreat into hiding again?

Besides, this incident is huge. Even if they were well-hidden before, the main reason they weren’t discovered was likely due to their Invisibility.

Now that something this major has happened, once the Sect is free to conduct a serious investigation, how could they possibly find nothing?" Qin Shizhong retorted.

Zhang Deming shook his head. "Who knows what they’re really up to? We haven’t gathered any useful infor... mation..."

𝕗𝗿𝕖𝐞𝐰𝗲𝕓𝐧𝕠𝕧𝗲𝐥.𝚌𝐨𝚖

BOOM—

As the two were talking, a world-shaking boom echoed from the distance. Even from so far away, it sounded like a clap of thunder. Immediately after, the entirety of Pann City trembled as if caught in an earthquake.

Zhang Deming spun around, his gaze fixed on the west of Pann City.

Pann City was situated in a hilly basin, but not all the surrounding mountains were low and small.

To the east of the city were small hills. The farther out one went, the flatter the terrain became; the closer one got to Pann City, the more it undulated. To the city’s west, however, the mountain ranges grew much taller.

The entire layout of Pann City resembled a hand curled into a claw. The city itself was the palm, the western mountains were the fingers, and the eastern hills were the elbow.

Of course, this didn’t mean there were only five peaks, but that the staggered, uneven layout of the mountains was very much like one.

So when Zhang Deming looked west, he saw a series of mountain ranges. With a slight stir of his Heart Spirit, his eyes flickered with Spiritual Light, and his vision rapidly zoomed in on the distance.

The once-hazy distant scenery sharpened as if he were looking through a telescope, pulling closer with perfect clarity. Amidst the western mountains, on what was one of the highest surrounding peaks, Zhang Deming saw plumes of smoke.

"That direction is... the gathering place for the Noble Sects of Pann City?" Qin Shizhong had been studying the map of Panzhou for half a month and was now quite familiar with the region’s layout.

After all, the area was quite barren; in all of Panzhou, very few factions were considered noteworthy by the Sect.

Zhang Deming nodded. "Yes, it should be."

He finished speaking and paused in thought. ’My Splitting Dao is at the Law Level now. This Subprogram body no longer needs a signal relay to use Fusion with a Bean Soldier Incarnation just to maintain sufficient combat power.’

Therefore, after a moment of consideration, Zhang Deming looked at the two of them and said, "You two continue to handle things in Pann City. I’m going to go check out the situation."

"Martial Uncle..." Qin Shizhong hesitated, about to speak.

"That’s final."

Zhang Deming cut him off before he could finish. Qin Shizhong paused for a moment, then reluctantly nodded.

Zhang Deming paid him no further mind. Light Wings emerged from his back, and he shot swiftly toward the western mountains.