The Programmer Cultivator

”What if the rhythm is off? If the Music Skill isn’t in sync, it’ll mess with the Heart Spirit Array’s immersive functions. They’ll just get kicked out, won’t they?”

”Don’t worry about that.”

”But Master Song from Spirit Nurturing Peak is the one giving out rewards for this tournament. If Senior Brother Dang gets kicked out in the middle of his Magical Combat, he’ll come down here and give us hell, won’t he?”

”We’re not taking the fall for this. We told every last one of them countless times before they got on stage that they had to register the complete details of their techniques. But what did they do? They gave us the bare minimum, holding everything back.

They hide some of their techniques so well that even the detection Arrays can barely scan them completely. Fine. But if you’re going to hide it, don’t use it in the arena!

They’re so secretive, as if they’re terrified someone will uncover their background. But the second they see an opening, they whip out their hidden moves. Do they really think we Array Cultivators are mind-readers? That we can just magically create the effects for these Virtual Techniques just by thinking about it?

My Illusion Array simulates the effects of Techniques. How am I supposed to do that without a template? Just imagine it into existence?

When this happens, what’s it got to do with us? It’s his own damn fault. He can deal with the consequences!”

”Well... alright then... I’ll apply the standard protocol. But if something goes wrong, boss, don’t you dare make me take the fall. I’ve made a recording of this entire conversation.”

”...”

...

The scene on the Light Screen was chaotic. A dozen people were shouting nonstop as more and more Light Screens popped up. One by one, the Array Cultivators made frantic gestures at the screens—virtual grabs, swipes, and throws.

Two people were playing a Magical Combat game in ”virtual reality” on the stage above, supported by thirteen Tai Chi Array Cultivators below who were already so busy they were about to run their legs off.

It was like prying open the hood of a sports car only to find a bunch of people inside furiously pedaling bicycles!!!!!!

The scene was so cringeworthy I could barely watch. It was just... unbelievable...

”Before Rune Life emerged, this so-called ’virtual reality’ was just a toy. The Sect would never waste its energy building something like this, mainly because the leadership isn’t very supportive.

The only reason one was built here was to serve as a pilot program. You could also say, if you’re being generous, that it adds a bit of prestige for the Sect,” Song Huidong said, watching the bustling scene.

Zhang Deming’s face twitched as he watched, utterly dumbfounded. ’This is ”virtual reality”???!!!’

’Is something wrong here? Or do I have some fundamental misunderstanding of what ”virtual reality” is?’

’No wonder they said it was simple to create. No wonder they ”easily overcame” a technological bottleneck... This doesn’t even count as a cheap knockoff. It has nothing to do with some great breakthrough.’

Zhang Deming watched the dozen-odd, frantically busy Array Cultivator disciples on the Light Screen with a bizarre expression. ’This is their ”virtual reality technology”? Ha! Who could possibly afford to use this?’

’It takes this much just for two people to have a Magical Combat. If you wanted online interaction, would you have to lock up every single Hongmeng Array Cultivator in a dark room and use them as human processors, like a biological supercomputer?’

’No, wait. How can you even call this virtual reality technology? Where did they get the audacity to say it was simple to create?’

’All they did was create a facade. A beautiful facade, sure, but to claim you’ve built the whole thing based on this... isn’t that a bit much...?’

’Eh, that’s not quite right either. It’s not just a facade.’

’To be more precise, the hardware is more than sufficient. But the software... is still in its infancy, starting from scratch...’

’When you look at it that way, it’s not entirely wrong to say they’ve created virtual reality. After all, strictly speaking, running the software is supposed to be the job of Rune Life.’

As these thoughts flashed through Zhang Deming’s mind, the two Disciples in the Magical Combat both unleashed their ultimate moves, their bodies surging with Spiritual Light.

But the moment they did, both of them froze. The entire arena shuddered, and before the two palm-sized avatars could even collide, they exploded into a shower of Spiritual Light.

Then, the two clumps of Spiritual Light automatically transformed—one into a Fist Skill, the other into a Music Skill—and crashed into each other without anyone’s control.

”BOOM...”

”Congratulations, you have achieved a draw!”

The surrounding audience: ”...”

Zhang Deming: ”...”

Song Huidong: ”...”

Watching this obvious bug, the area fell into a strange silence. The faces of many in the crowd twitched, and some of the Array Cultivator Disciples felt a phantom ache in their teeth.

”Changg Shaoqing, get the hell out here!!!”

As silence fell over the crowd, two special jade boxes on either side of the arena, which looked a bit like Hibernation Pods, suddenly opened.

A youthful Dang Xiyong flipped himself up with a dark expression, strode to the edge of the arena, and kicked it with a furious roar.

”Changg Shaoqing, get out here and explain yourself! What’s the big idea, kicking us out like that!” Zhou Bai yelled, climbing out of the other jade box.

No one emerged from below, but the scenery on the stage slowly faded away. In its place, a holographic image of the person in charge of the control room—the young man named Changg Shaoqing—appeared.

He glared at Dang Xiyong and Zhou Bai, his face livid. ”What are you shouting about? Didn’t I tell you to provide detailed registrations before you went on stage? Didn’t I stress what would happen if you held back?

Now you get kicked out and you come looking for me? Ha, you’ve got some nerve. I let you use this for free, and now that you’ve caused your own problems, you expect the Array Department to take the blame?

Hah! You must have been cooped up in the Celestial Spirit Secret Realm for too long. We’re not taking the fall for this. Now get lost!”

With that, his holographic figure vanished, and all the Array’s effects across the stage dissipated, leaving behind nothing but a bare platform.

”You...” Dang Xiyong was choked with anger, wanting to lash out, but he glanced at the surrounding Disciples and swallowed the furious words on the tip of his tongue.

”You get back here! If you don’t give me a proper explanation, I’m going to find my second uncle when I get back! I guarantee I’ll have all of you sent to Wanghui Peak for penal labor!” Zhou Bai roared, his anger boiling over as he threw caution to the wind.