The Programmer Cultivator

In times of crisis, stand tall and unyielding.

This is the belief of the Guardian Tower, the conviction they uphold.

...

With the technique manuals in hand, Zhang Deming returned to his bedroom in the Qingyou Jade Pavilion and took them out one by one.

Three were Oratory manuals, one was a Vine Technique manual, and there was also the Array Dao Technique manual he hadn’t learned yet.

In total, there were three Tier Two and two Tier One manuals. The basic Qi Fortune requirement was eight orbs, and he currently had sixteen in stock—more than enough.

Zhang Deming first took out ”Oratory: Sweet Talk.” With a thought, he began editing the technique.

”1 Ordinary Energy, small-sized plugin editable.

Editing conditions met!

...”

The familiar message appeared. Zhang Deming looked at the generated framework and quickly began editing.

’If (User has a certain amount of Spiritual Power AND casts Oratory: Sweet Talk)’

’{Then, Oratory: Sweet Talk is successfully cast}’

’Else {Then, casting of Oratory: Sweet Talk fails}.’

He clicked ”Test Run.” In front of him, dense lines of code coalesced into a ball of light and flew into his Dantian.

But the instant it coalesced into a Rune, it became entangled with ”Oratory: Rumors” and underwent a mutation.

Upon seeing this, the expression on Zhang Deming’s face showed this was just as he had expected.

His numerous editing sessions had taught him that similar or same-source techniques would usually undergo a fusion-mutation in his Dantian.

For him, it seemed, benign mutations of his techniques were a common occurrence.

After all, he mastered techniques as soon as he learned them, and he had the editor’s help. For others who hoped for a mutation, the hurdle of mastering a technique’s rune form alone was enough to stop the vast majority.

Zhang Deming selected ”Complete,” then picked up ”Oratory: Words” and the Tier Two ”Oratory: Rumors,” editing them one by one.

Once he had finished editing the three techniques, the numerous ”Rumors” Runes in his Dantian immediately underwent a fusion-mutation.

Unlike his other graphical Runes, the Oratory Runes actually condensed into a special Rune in the shape of the character for ’Word’.

It solidified as if it were a physical entity. Although it still felt like a Tier Two Technique, its strength was in no way inferior to a Tier Three Technique.

It even felt more peculiar than Zhang Deming’s jade-like Growth Technique.

Gazing at the newly formed technique, Zhang Deming pondered for a moment before directly consuming one point of Golden Merit.

”Unlock a new mounting slot?”

”Yes!”

Another empty ring appeared in the Cultivation Technique Script.

Zhang Deming took hold of the Oratory Rune and embedded it into the slot.

”Mount this technique? Please note: Aside from the main Cultivation Technique slot, once a technique is mounted in any other slot on the Cultivation Technique Script, it cannot be replaced or removed.”

”Yes!”

Zhang Deming mounted the new Tier Two Technique directly.

Cultivation Technique: Turtle Water Array Skill (Tier Five)

Cultivation: Tai Chi Lv1 (23.4/300,000)

Skills: Spirit Nurturing Summoning Skill Lv3 (0/50), Jade Demon Vine Lv3 (0/50), Enhancement Skill Lv3 (0/500), Oratory Word Spirit Lv2 (0/10)

Spiritual Power Recovery: 100 Spiritual Power / 3 minutes

Experience Growth: 10 EXP / 3 minutes

Zhang Deming was pleasantly surprised as he looked at the newly generated fourth mounted technique.

The technique’s name had also changed completely, signifying that it had undergone a fundamental transformation.

The script was able to partially analyze mounted techniques.

Zhang Deming focused his mind on Oratory Word Spirit, and a stream of information flooded his brain.

Oratory Word Spirit: A new technique born from the fusion of various Oratory techniques. It is extremely close to the very essence of Oratory and can be used in any form.

The only current limitation: it must be spoken aloud.

’So isn’t this a budget version of Words Accompanied by Law?’

Sensing the new technique, Zhang Deming contemplated for a long while before taking out ”Blood-Sucking Vine.”

”2 Ordinary Energy, small-sized plugin editable.

Editing conditions met!

...”

The familiar message appeared. Zhang Deming looked at the generated framework and began editing once more.

’If (User has a certain amount of Spiritual Power AND casts Blood-Sucking Vine)’

’{Then, Blood-Sucking Vine is successfully cast}’

’Else {Then, casting of Blood-Sucking Vine fails}.’

He ran a test. There were no issues.

Zhang Deming clicked ”Complete and Upload.” The Rune Light Ball for Blood-Sucking Vine was directly absorbed by the Jade Demon Rune Ball, causing it to mutate again and its name to change.

...

Skills: Spirit Nurturing Summoning Skill Lv3 (0/50), Jade Demon Blood-Sucking Vine Lv3 (0/50)

...

Zhang Deming could even clearly sense that if he upgraded this technique just one more time, he would be able to transform his body into a vine.

Furthermore, when Zhang Deming held out his hand, an emerald vine sprouted from his palm.

Zhang Deming looked at the vine in his hand. With a flicker of intent, the emerald vine instantly transformed, taking on the appearance of a ruby. It was fantastical, yet held a hint of bewitching allure.

Looking at the ruby-like vine, Zhang Deming smiled. In terms of recovery, he no longer had any shortcomings.

After dispelling the technique, Zhang Deming resumed his editing.

Next was ”Hidden Breath Skill,” a Tier Two Concealment technique.

The test run went smoothly, with no hiccups, and the two same-source Rune Light Balls fused together directly.

However, after Zhang Deming finished editing ”Rune Heart Calculation”—a Tier Two Array Dao technique from his inventory—something unexpected happened. The test run was fine, but upon completing the upload, the instant the Tier Two ”Rune Heart Calculation” Rune Light Ball fused with the Tier One ”Heart Eye Numerology,” an accident occurred.

When he had first finished editing ”Heart Eye Numerology,” a reaction had appeared on the editing panel, but it had only been a faint ripple.

But now...

The very instant the ”Rune Heart Calculation” Rune Ball completed its fusion, it shattered before Zhang Deming’s astonished eyes.

It shattered utterly, dissolving into a shower of glittering motes.

The shattered points of the Rune merged directly into the editor itself.

Zhang Deming was completely dumbfounded, his face a mask of confusion. ’So... did the Array Dao Technique fail?’

Zhang Deming’s eyes flickered. He opened his palm and, with a thought, a Light Screen appeared above it.

’This is...?’

’The effect of a Rune Core?’

’No, it’s not just similar. It’s the exact effect of a Rune Core. There isn’t a shred of difference between this feeling and that of his Spirit Nurturing Summoning Skill.’

Zhang Deming’s eyes went wide as he stared at the Light Screen in his hand.

’So does this mean I now have two Rune Cores?’

’One is a real Rune Core, and the other is the editor?’

’Ha!’

’Does this mean the editor can now evolve step-by-step along with my cultivation?’

Zhang Deming glanced at the last manual, the Tier Three Array Dao technique ”Talisman Heart,” then checked his inventory. He only had eight points of Qi Fortune left.

’I can’t edit a Tier Three Array Dao technique now, but there’s no rush. I’ll have a chance later.’

’I have a little over two points of Merit left, so I can open another mounting slot.’

He looked at the multitude of Rune Balls in his Dantian. He had already mounted techniques for basic attacks, recovery, and surprise attacks, in addition to his Dao Foundation’s Spirit Nurturing Summoning Skill.

’The remaining priorities are Concealment, defense, and speed.’

’Logically, defense should be the top choice. After all, once a technique is mounted, the script can analyze it, giving me a much clearer understanding.’

’I also don’t need to worry about leveling it up; as long as I have Qi Fortune, it’s possible.’

’Moreover, directly upgrading a mounted technique provides a much better effect than buying and fusing an Advanced Technique.’

’All things considered, a defensive technique would be the best choice.’

But when Zhang Deming considered the situations he might soon encounter, he pondered for a long time before his gaze finally settled on the Hidden Breath Skill.

’This is what I urgently need right now.’

After a moment’s hesitation, Zhang Deming mounted it directly onto the script.

...

Skills: Spirit Nurturing Summoning Skill Lv3 (0/50), Jade Demon Blood-Sucking Vine Lv3 (0/50), Enhancement Skill Lv3 (0/500), Oratory Word Spirit Lv2 (0/10), Hidden Breath Technique Lv2 (0/10)

...

Looking at the script’s data, Zhang Deming let out a long sigh of relief.

’All the techniques have been edited.’

Merit: 1.8, Qi Fortune: 8.2, Karma: 1.0.

’I still have a little Qi Fortune left, but only one spare point of Merit.’

Zhang Deming closed the editing panel and went to the edge of Qingyou Pool. He needed to test his techniques, especially Oratory Word Spirit, to understand its specific effects.