The Programmer Cultivator

”I’ve got some bad news for you. The Secret Realm is about to close. If you keep ambushing people like this, you’re just throwing your lives away.

I’m done wasting words on you. I’ve found it.”

At Zhang Deming’s words, the old man’s face fell.

But then, one of the vines wrapped around the old man moved, pulling a small, round tube from his robes.

’What is this?’

’A Fire-Folding?’

Zhang Deming frowned as he examined the object.

Even under his Spiritual Eye, the thing looked like a perfectly ordinary Fire-Folding—the kind people used to start fires in the old days.

’What the hell?’

He observed it with his Spiritual Eye for a long time but found nothing unusual.

And yet, there were no other strange items on this group of Martial Artists; this was the only thing they all carried.

Moreover, if he recalled correctly, he’d seen this same object from afar during the ambush on the road to Celestial Spirit City.

He hadn’t paid it any mind then, as it had turned to ash. But looking at it up close now, he was sure it was the same thing.

’But why doesn’t it have the faintest glimmer of Spiritual Light?’

After a moment’s thought, Zhang Deming sent a faint wisp of Spiritual Power into it.

But the instant the Fire-Folding came into contact with the Spiritual Power, it burst into flames, turning into a pile of ashes in a heartbeat.

Even a small section of Zhang Deming’s Jade Vine was instantly set ablaze, leaving Zhang Deming utterly stunned.

”AHH...”

”AHH...”

”AHH...”

A series of agonizing screams snapped Zhang Deming back to reality.

Six of the seven men were now nothing but ash. Only the old man before him, the one Zhang Deming had taken the Fire-Folding from, had been spared.

Before Zhang Deming could react, the old man roared, ”So long as the Firewood remains, the Martial Alliance is immortal!”

Then, his entire head exploded right before Zhang Deming’s eyes.

What made Zhang Deming even more cautious was that every trace of the Martial Artists’ auras had vanished when the Fire-Foldings burned, making them completely untraceable.

At the very least, his Reconnaissance Technique at Tier One Mastery couldn’t pick up a single lead.

’Good grief, these Martial Artists are something else.’

’Brainwashing people to this degree... this is on par with a cult, isn’t it?’

’This organization can’t be small!’

’Have I run into some kind of death cult?’

’It seems this whole affair with the Martial Artists isn’t as simple as I initially thought!’

Zhang Deming stared at the headless body of the Martial Artist, lost in thought.

The incident on the road to Celestial Spirit City hadn’t been as shocking. That Martial Artist had self-destructed passively, under the pressure of interrogation.

But this old man... Zhang Deming hadn’t even begun to question him, and he had actively blown himself up. That was taking things to an extreme.

Furthermore, the old man’s strength had genuinely surpassed the Apprentice Level. In terms of Martial Artist Levels, he had surpassed the Grandmaster rank. ’Though, I’m not sure what level that actually is,’ Zhang Deming thought.

From what Zhang Deming understood, the Martial Arts Dao in this world was incredibly underdeveloped. Innate masters were exceedingly rare, let alone Grandmasters.

It seemed he would need to be more careful about certain matters from now on.

”These people...?” Li Shifan asked, his expression now grave and tinged with confusion.

Zhang Deming shook his head. ”I’m not sure either. I’ve just been ambushed by Martial Artists before, so I came somewhat prepared.”

The words had barely left his mouth when both Zhang Deming and Li Shifan’s expressions shifted. The watery mist all around them began to churn, and in an instant, it vanished.

When the mist cleared, Zhang Deming found they were standing in a vast clearing, one that had clearly been flattened by intense fighting.

The area was littered with splintered wood for nearly a mile in every direction. With his sharp vision, Zhang Deming could clearly make out a few other disciples in varying conditions.

They looked to be fellow Sect disciples who had luckily survived the Martial Artists’ sudden retreat.

Some had minor injuries, others were seriously wounded, and a few were barely breathing.

Most looked bewildered, staring at the spots where their opponents had abruptly disappeared.

Zhang Deming and Li Shifan exchanged a glance. ’This means...’

’They sent more than just one or two squads?’

’Was this whole Array divided into multiple zones, with constant battles happening in each?’

Zhang Deming glanced at the only remaining corpse on the ground. ’This must be the only clue, then?’

’So, they were hunting us?’

’Hm?’

Suddenly, Zhang Deming’s expression flickered. He, along with many others, turned to look toward a corner of the clearing.

There, a massive chessboard sat on the ground. In the middle of it, a young man stood frozen, his face flushed crimson. He was surrounded by seven Martial Artists holding a tight formation.

Everyone’s gaze fell upon this last remaining squad of Martial Artists.

Tong Hou, who had been moments from despair with his hand in his pocket ready to act, broke into a joyful grin as he saw the thick fog suddenly vanish.

His joy turned to ecstasy when he saw his senior brothers nearby. ”Help me, Senior Brothers!” he wailed. ”These mortals have designs on my body!!!”

Li Shifan: ”...”

Zhang Deming: ”...”

The other disciples who had just cheated death: ”...”

Zhang Deming stepped forward, looking at the oddball. He’d actually met the guy once before. ’The last time we met, wasn’t he also being chased by Martial Artists?’

’So, are you just that lucky, or... is your body really as tempting as you claim?’

The seven Martial Artists remained frozen, but their expressions changed drastically when they saw the crowd of disciples surrounding them.

”Senior Brother! You, Inner Sect Senior Brother, help me!” Tong Hou’s eyes lit up the moment he saw Zhang Deming, and he cried out in excitement.

Clearly, he recognized Zhang Deming.

Based on their two brief encounters, Zhang Deming could tell the guy was a total clown.

Zhang Deming said, ”Just hang on. I’m going to check these guys out.”

”Okay... uh...”

No sooner had he spoken than the seven men burst into balls of fire, collapsing into piles of ash in an instant.

A chill went down the spines of the surrounding disciples. The process had been incredibly fast, and what’s more, there hadn’t been the slightest damned fluctuation of Spiritual Power.

It seemed like mundane fire, but how could mundane fire possibly incinerate a body in a split second?

And it even purified the site afterward!

”Um... Senior Brother,” Tong Hou said awkwardly. ”This can’t be my fault, can it?”

Zhang Deming shook his head, exchanged a look with Li Shifan, and left without another word.

”Hey... Senior Brothers...” Tong Hou’s voice trailed after them, but Zhang Deming and Li Shifan ignored him completely.

The variously injured disciples nearby conferred with one another for a moment before deciding to group up for the journey back.

Zhang Deming and Li Shifan moved swiftly, and after traveling for most of the day, they arrived back at the Sect just as darkness fell.

After bidding each other farewell, Zhang Deming headed straight back to Qingyou Pool.

...