The Programmer Cultivator

After he finished speaking, Elder Huang stopped teasing them. He swept his gaze over the three of them and said, ”You can call me Elder Huang. I imagine by now, you’ve all realized. It was I who used Detaining God on you.

”I brought the three of you here because my subordinates submitted your applications for review, and you’ve passed the initial screening. That is why you are here now, faced with a choice.”

The three of them froze. Tong Hou and Qian Xiaogong looked utterly bewildered, but a flicker of recognition crossed Nangong Cheng’s eyes as he seemed to remember something.

Nangong Cheng quickly regained his composure. ’After all,’ he thought, ’anyone who could bring me here without me noticing or being able to resist in the slightest must have a cultivation level far beyond my own—perhaps unimaginably high.’

He bowed respectfully to Elder Huang and said, ”May I ask what choice you are referring to, Elder Huang?”

As he spoke, the bewildered Qian Xiaogong and Tong Hou both glanced at him before turning their attention back to Elder Huang.

Elder Huang clasped his hands behind his back and turned to look out of Xuanhua Tower. The three could only see his profile as a gentle breeze rustled his hair and made his Daoist Robe flutter, revealing a truly transcendent air.

After gazing at the island outside for a moment, Elder Huang finally spoke. ”To be precise, it’s an opportunity. An opportunity to join the Alliance.”

”The Alliance?” Tong Hou asked in confusion.

Elder Huang nodded. ”That’s right. The Blue Sky Alliance. A faction from Hongmeng that has existed since before the ancient ages.”

None of the three were ignorant Loose Cultivators, and upon hearing this, they all frowned.

After a long pause, Nangong Cheng spoke up. ”Elder Huang, I don’t consider myself to be completely uninformed, so why have I never heard of the Blue Sky Alliance?”

Elder Huang nodded. ”That’s entirely normal. The Blue Sky Alliance has been a secret organization since the ancient ages. Other than Alliance Disciples, almost no one knows of its existence.”

Hearing this, Nangong Cheng’s brow furrowed even deeper.

Elder Huang glanced at him and continued, ”You, in particular, have a certain connection to the Alliance. The Oratory you used to change your path and the half-complete scripture you used for your Enlightenment Dao—one is a Secret Skill belonging to one of the Alliance’s Noble Families, and the other was left behind by an ancient Alliance master. That is why you were granted this opportunity.”

Qian Xiaogong and Tong Hou once again glanced at Nangong Cheng.

Nangong Cheng was also taken aback by this, and a bright glint appeared in his eyes.

Elder Huang paused, then looked at Qian Xiaogong and Tong Hou. ”As for you two, you were each nominated for review and given this opportunity due to your own unique karmic affinities.”

”So what you’re saying is, we’ve been selected by a secret organization, and you’re now giving us the choice to join. Is that correct?”

Tong Hou and Qian Xiaogong were slowly starting to piece things together and get a handle on the situation. It was Tong Hou who asked the question.

Elder Huang nodded. ”That’s more or less it.”

Hearing this, Qian Xiaogong spoke up. ”What are the consequences if I refuse to join?”

Elder Huang chuckled. ”No real consequences. I’ll simply strip you of your current memories, and you’ll go back to wherever you came from.”

Qian Xiaogong’s expression shifted. He was just about to speak when Elder Huang’s next words made him swallow them back down.

”However, if you do refuse, then no matter how much your mother damages her own foundation to support you, with a Spirit Root of seventeen, you’ll never amount to anything in this lifetime.”

Tong Hou and Nangong Cheng glanced at Qian Xiaogong in surprise. Nangong Cheng, in particular, was shocked. ’This is the first time I’ve ever heard of a seventeen-point Spirit Root being considered important.’

”You’re spying on me!” Qian Xiaogong said, his face turning grim.

Elder Huang shook his head. ’This child is still too young,’ he thought. ’Without a good Spirit Root to grant him early wisdom, it’s inevitable that his mind would still be somewhat immature at this age.’

”Spy on you? You’re not even worthy of my attention!”

With that, Elder Huang ignored Qian Xiaogong and turned to Tong Hou and Nangong Cheng. ”And what about you two? What is your choice?”

Nangong Cheng looked at Elder Huang, then glanced around their surroundings before asking, ”Sir, could you tell us more about the Alliance in detail?”

Elder Huang replied, ”There isn’t much to say. The Blue Sky Alliance has endured since the ancient ages.

”At this point, its nature is equivalent to a coalition of many different powers.

”To put it in a way you can visualize, you could think of it as a joint organization formed by the union of the Three Great Holy Lands.”

Nangong Cheng fell silent at his words. Tong Hou, however, had a sharp glint in his eyes. ”If I choose to join, what will be required of me, and what will I receive in return? Also, are there any restrictions on one’s path of cultivation?”

Elder Huang glanced at Tong Hou. ”The Alliance has evolved to the point where it’s now more of a platform.

”In most regions of the Alliance today, we operate on a mission-based system. Once you join, your gains and your contributions are entirely up to you.

”As for restrictions on your path... if I had any prejudice against the Sacrificial Dao, would you have been brought here in the first place?”

Through this exchange, the three of them had begun to grasp the general nature of the Alliance. The only uncertainty was whether this faction was truly as mysterious and powerful as Elder Huang claimed.

”Then what must we abide by after joining the Alliance?” Nangong Cheng asked the crucial question.

Hearing this, Elder Huang waved his hand, and a contract materialized before the three of them. ”All you need to abide by is what’s on this contract,” he said. ”Anything else is permissible.”

The three of them stared at the contract. Seeing the clauses that mandated obliteration for violations sent a chill down their spines.

However, the three also noticed that while these rules were harsh, their fundamental purpose was simply to prevent them from revealing the Alliance’s existence. Beyond that, there were very few restrictions.

”In that case, how do I join?” Tong Hou asked decisively after a long moment of contemplation, becoming the first to speak.