The Programmer Cultivator

When everyone began to make their move to cross the lake, Zhang Deming and Li Shifan exchanged a glance. Li Shifan spoke up, ”Senior Brother Zhang, you go on ahead. My Sword Control Skill probably can’t get me all the way across.”

Upon hearing this, Zhang Deming smiled and said, ”Perfect. Let’s go together. I’m afraid my Feather Fall Technique won’t let me glide that far.”

Seeing Zhang Deming’s serious expression, Li Shifan hesitated for a moment before nodding. ”Alright then,” he said. ”Should you go first, or should I?”

Zhang Deming’s expression flickered. An emerald vine appeared and wrapped around both their waists. ”I’ll go first,” he said. ”You just act as my support.”

Li Shifan nodded in agreement.

Seeing this, Zhang Deming looked at Li Shifan and said, ”Jump with all your might. Once you’re in the air, make yourself as light as possible.”

Li Shifan nodded again. The two crouched low, then shot upwards and forwards, soaring into the sky.

When they reached the apex of their ascent, a pair of mid-sized Light Wings emerged from Zhang Deming’s back, vibrating rapidly.

He felt his entire body lighten, but Li Shifan began to fall.

The vine around Zhang Deming’s waist tightened, pulling him down along with his companion. A faint Spirit Wind traveled along the vine and enveloped Li Shifan.

The speed of their descent slowed, and they began to glide toward the opposite shore.

However, it would have been a close call for Zhang Deming to glide across by himself. Now, carrying dead weight, they could at most make it a third of the distance.

”AH... ROAR...”

A sudden scream mixed with a monstrous roar came from ahead. Everyone looked over and saw some overconfident fool.

He had only just flown—or rather, glided—most of the way across when he fell onto the surface of the lake.

He attempted to push off the water’s surface to launch himself back into the air.

But the moment his toes tapped the surface, he let out a bloodcurdling scream. His body immediately began to twist and deform, and strange gurgles escaped his throat.

Then, various slimes and disgusting, slippery tentacles began to erupt from his body.

At the same time, the Light Wings on his back disappeared, and he plunged into the lake, vanishing without a trace.

A chill ran down the spines of everyone in the air, each of whom was using their own Divine Abilities to cross.

It was just as Fan Dexian had said: touch the water, and you die.

Seeing this, and noticing they were not far from the lake’s surface, Zhang Deming decisively said, ”Your turn. Don’t worry about moving forward, just get us higher.”

Li Shifan nodded, holding his sword in one hand and raising it over his head.

A sharp, fierce Sword Qi erupted from his body.

As if he had achieved the Unity of Man and Sword with his Long Sword, his entire being shot upwards and forwards, soaring into the sky.

The Light Wings on Zhang Deming’s back vibrated rapidly, and he was carried aloft by Li Shifan, as light as a feather.

After ascending for a good distance, Li Shifan’s fierce aura abruptly vanished. Zhang Deming glanced at the remaining distance; they were only halfway there.

The Light Wings on his back vibrated swiftly, once again supporting Li Shifan as they glided forward. ”Can you do that again soon?” Zhang Deming asked.

Li Shifan nodded. ”I can, but it probably won’t take us as far.”

Zhang Deming paused. ”Don’t worry,” he said. ”I have a plan. That’s enough.”

Li Shifan glanced at the remaining distance and nodded.

They glided for another stretch, then Zhang Deming said, ”Again.”

Li Shifan once again raised his sword above his head. As he did, numerous thread-like vines sprouted from Zhang Deming’s hand, weaving themselves into an emerald Long Sword. The vine around their waists contracted, pulling them much closer together.

Li Shifan faltered for a second. Zhang Deming, looking at him now just inches away, commanded, ”Go!”

Instantly, their auras intertwined. Both erupted with fierce Sword Qi, and they shot toward the island like a rapidly spinning tornado.

In this state, their speed was incredible. In a flash, they landed on the shore almost at the same time as the first group.

The two of them decisively ended the Technique and drifted lightly to the ground.

”Tsk, tsk... could this be the legendary Twin Swords Unite? You two junior brothers must share a deep bond!”

Dang Ruyu put away his Jade Flute, ceased his dance-like steps, and floated lightly to the ground. He looked at Zhang Deming and Li Shifan with a smile.

Zhang Deming’s face twitched. ”You jest, Senior Brother,” he said blandly. ”It was your dancing that was truly dazzling.”

Dang Ruyu paused. They had, after all, only just met. A bit of teasing could bring people closer, but going too far was easy. It was best to stop there.

Zhou Zhixin sheathed his Long Sword, glanced at the pair, and asked, ”Did you two cultivate a joint Sword Control Skill?”

Li Shifan, whose disposition was similar to Zhou Zhixin’s, merely glanced at him and nodded, offering no explanation.

’Truth be told, he had no idea why his Sword Control Skill was so compatible with Zhang Deming’s either.’

’But he obviously couldn’t ask about it in front of so many people.’

Zhou Zhixin gave a slight nod in return. Zhang Deming watched Li Shifan, this total drama queen, and couldn’t stop his own lips from twitching.

’That guy’s a genuine ice mountain,’ he thought. ’And you, you drama queen... what, are you trying to buddy up with him?’

Just then, more people began to land on the island in succession. All told, there were now several dozen of them.

Although not many Tai Chi Stage disciples cultivated Tier Three Techniques, and speed-type Flying Techniques were even rarer among them, this was, after all, a gathering of the Celestial Spirit Sect’s Core Disciples, and the most Elite of them at that.

The fact that only this many were capable of short-distance flight was simply because not all of the thousand-plus disciples had arrived. More were expected to show up later.

The island wasn’t very large. Similar to the Turtle Water Pavilion’s Lake Heart Island, it was only a few *li* across—less than ten.

At their speed, it wouldn’t take long to scout the whole area.

Unlike the flat plains of the Turtle Water Pavilion’s island, however, this one was covered in dense jungle and rolling hills.

The leaders of the group exchanged glances. ”Let’s go,” Dang Ruyu said. ”First, let’s check out the situation on this island.”

Since everyone had crossed using their own various abilities, a few who still had energy to spare chose not to stop at all, continuing to fly straight ahead.

Of course, given the leadership status of Dang Ruyu and the others, many people still instinctively stopped and gathered around them.

Fan Dexian nodded. ”Let’s go. Some of the junior brothers have already gone ahead to scout the path.”

With that, the group, led by these few, headed directly toward the island’s core.

For whatever reason, Dang Ruyu, whether intentionally or not, stayed close to Zhang Deming and Li Shifan.

Thus, what should have been a leading trio became a group of five.

Zhou Zhixin showed no reaction to this, but Fan Dexian seemed to be subtly sizing up Zhang Deming and Li Shifan.

After they had advanced for a moment, Zhang Deming’s brow furrowed slightly.

Dang Ruyu had been keeping an eye on the pair, especially Zhang Deming, who seemed to be the decision-maker. Seeing him frown, he immediately asked, ”What is it, Junior Brother Zhang? Did you find something amiss?”

Dang Ruyu’s question broke the silence, causing everyone to turn toward Zhang Deming. They all extended their Perception, carefully scanning the surroundings.