The Programmer Cultivator

Gazing at the object, Zhang Deming’s thoughts raced. A dreamlike light flashed, and with a grabbing motion at his head, he pulled a phantom image into his hand.

As the image flickered, an altar appeared.

Zhang Deming stared at the altar, comparing it with his memory for a long time. He found there wasn’t the slightest difference between his memory and the model he had created. Clearly, it wasn’t just his subconscious desire forcing the two to match.

Tossing the memory back into his mind, Zhang Deming’s eyes glinted as he looked at the two virtual models that had fused together.

’So this beat-up box really is the thing from the core of that smaller altar on the main one? What would happen if I put it back?’

Looking at the object, at the two phantom models that fit together perfectly, Zhang Deming’s curiosity was completely piqued.

It wasn’t just curiosity. Based on everything he had experienced, combined with the information he knew, this altar and box were clearly not simple.

Since the other party wanted it so badly, the object was likely a key item. The Celestial Heart Treasure Box, the shattered Celestial Heart Path... Zhang Deming had read his share of storybooks; his imagination was anything but weak.

’If it’s really as I think, then this beat-up box I’ve always looked down on... is actually a world-shaking treasure!!! In my two lifetimes combined, the only thing luckier than this would be my cheat, right?!!!’

After a long moment of thought, Zhang Deming decided to give it a try. With a beckoning wave of his hand, the main body of the Celestial Heart Treasure Box flew out from his storage.

His expression turning serious and grave, Zhang Deming retreated to the doorway of the Magic Room as Spiritual Power surged rapidly throughout his body.

As a massive amount of Spiritual Power was consumed, the illusory altar constructed by the Illusion Array began to change. The Illusion Array’s power shifted into that of a Trapping Array, and the once-illusory altar began to solidify.

But just as the altar was about to fully solidify, an extremely faint attraction formed between it and the Celestial Heart Treasure Box in his hand. With a soft tremor, the balance Zhang Deming had been maintaining between Spiritual Power consumption and recovery was suddenly shattered.

Before Zhang Deming could even react, his Dantian was completely drained.

PFFT...

With his Dantian completely drained, not only did he fail to manifest the altar, but the violent expenditure also left him with a significant internal injury.

As he spat blood and the supply of Spiritual Power was cut off, the entire nearly-solid altar began to flicker violently.

”Damn it, this is bad!”

Seeing the semi-solid altar before him flickering violently, Zhang Deming knew this was bad.

Without a moment’s hesitation, he turned to run. But with his Spiritual Power depleted, how fast could his mortal legs possibly carry him?

BOOM...

A massive explosion erupted behind him, and a powerful shockwave surged forward. Feeling its force, Zhang Deming’s expression turned ugly.

’If this hits me, I’ll be in for a world of hurt. This thing was created with all my Spiritual Power. While it’s not as concentrated or powerful as a Technique, the sheer volume of it is immense...’

In his Dantian, the black-and-white Dark Pawn flickered. Before his Spiritual Power could recover, the shockwave was upon him.

Just then, the Identity Jade Pendant at his waist flashed, triggering a protective function he had completely forgotten about. A defensive Shield, in no way inferior to his own Spiritual Shield, materialized.

However, its method of protection was completely different from a Spiritual Shield; it wasn’t some kind of Spiritual Eggshell Shield. As the Jade Pendant’s Spiritual Power flared, a strange membrane of light clung to his skin, spreading over his entire body in an instant.

The moment the Shield appeared, the shockwave slammed into it. The Shield on his skin flickered once before shattering into a sky full of Spiritual Light, but it had nullified ninety-nine percent of the shockwave’s power.

AHH...

Caught off guard, Zhang Deming was thrown out of the Flying Spring Waterfall Tower by the remaining force of the shockwave.

SPLAT...

He slammed right into the Protective Array of the Flying Spring Waterfall Tower, the entire front of his body plastered against it. Then, he slowly slid down the Array Screen.

The violent explosion shook the entire Flying Spring Waterfall Tower several times, and even the Flying Spring Waterfall Cliff trembled.

The Guardian Cliff Disciples at the entrance all rushed out.

Led by Yang Guangfu and Qin Shizhong, the two of them rushed to the Array’s entrance. Before they could even open it, they saw Zhang Deming, his hair a complete mess, climbing up from the ground.

Ptooey, ptooey...

Injured and still dazed from the blast, Zhang Deming felt his head spin. He finally managed to catch his breath and climb to his feet, only to be met with the dumbstruck faces of Qin Shizhong and Yang Guangfu.

The three of them stared at each other through the Array Light Screen, frozen for a moment. Then, Qin Shizhong and Yang Guangfu stiffly said, ”Er... Greetings, Martial Uncle!”

Zhang Deming paused, then nodded with a nonchalant expression and quickly clasped his hands behind his back. ”Yes... Er...”

He froze before he could finish his sentence.

’Because when my hands went behind my back, they didn’t touch fabric... Was that... my waist? My smooth, bare waist. The kind without clothes on it.’

Zhang Deming froze and looked down.

His Daoist Robe and pants were in tatters. Well, more accurately, the front was perfectly intact while the back had been blasted to smithereens. The only thing still holding on was his belt, made from the tendon of some unknown Demon Beast.

Zhang Deming looked down at his own state, and his expression froze. He glanced back up at the stupefied Yang Guangfu and Qin Shizhong, and then at the crowd of Disciples behind them. He was utterly dumbfounded.

Those Disciples in the back were all incredibly sharp. Could anyone who made it to the Flying Spring Waterfall Tower possibly be an idiot?

While Zhang Deming was still reeling, the Disciples, upon seeing his state, pretended they hadn’t seen a thing. One by one, they turned and walked away, disappearing into their own Cave Mansions.