The Programmer Cultivator

Even for a Monk, he was slowly starting to lose his temper. His fighting style grew much more violent. However, the disparity in their strength didn’t seem to lessen just because of his emotional outburst.

Pu Hua was still being suppressed. If this continued, a single moment of carelessness or one unforeseen event was all it would take for his clone to be destroyed.

His brows knitted tighter. The destruction of his Relic Clone was a minor issue. What truly worried him was that they still hadn’t pinpointed the location of the incident. Once his Technique was broken, Huixin, who was sheltered within his Golden Body, would lose all protection.

And what awaited Huixin would be far from pleasant.

If she fell into the hands of other Demon Cultivators, there might still be a chance for a rescue. But in the hands of the Five Elements Remnants, a Buddhist Disciple—especially a highly-valued one—would face an utterly tragic end with no other possibility.

Thus, even as he fought, he was desperately trying to think of a countermeasure.

”What? Thinking of running away?” The Puppet fighting him keenly sensed Pu Hua’s state. A cold sneer spread across its face as it spoke.

”For all these years, we’ve been in the exact same situation you are now. It’s about time your Buddhist Sect got a good taste of it! Today, not a single one of you bald-headed bastards is getting away!”

”Sigh...”

The Puppet was answered by a faint sigh from the sky, a sound filled with an ancient weariness, as if it had lived through countless mortal lifetimes and seen all the world had to offer.

The two combatants in the midst of their Magical Combat paused simultaneously, stopping their attacks and warily looking to the side.

As the sigh faded, a peculiar Spirit Species materialized. Before their eyes, it instantly transformed into the calm and detached figure of Elder Huang.

’This aura... an Outer Body Incarnation? Hmm, and Scattering Beans into Soldiers? Is this a Technique developed through fusion?’ Pu Hua’s expression flickered as he watched Elder Huang’s Incarnation form, his thoughts racing.

Just as Elder Huang’s transformation completed, Zhang Deming’s body, in the room below, disintegrated into countless Spirit Species that flowed into Elder Huang.

Elder Huang’s aura shifted once more, solidifying completely until he became a true being of flesh and blood.

’This... a second Incarnation, or is it the Transformation of the Three Pristine Ones?’

Pu Hua’s pupils contracted. He pressed his palms together in a Buddhist salute and asked Elder Huang, ”Fellow Daoist, are you perhaps from Sanqing Temple?”

Elder Huang, with his hands clasped behind his back, gave Pu Hua an indifferent glance. Before he could speak, the Puppet at his side interjected.

”It’s you! How did you receive the news and send an Incarnation? I completely sealed off all Dao Mark transmissions in this entire area!”

The moment Elder Huang appeared, the Puppet froze. The altar-like emblem on its chest flickered, its Fiery Red light turning pitch-black as control switched from Lu Ya to Qu Wenbai.

He stared at Elder Huang with an incredibly grim expression. Although Elder Huang’s aura was considerably weaker than Pu Hua’s, and he wasn’t nearly as famous—in fact, he had no reputation to speak of—Qu Wenbai was exceptionally wary of him.

With his hands still clasped behind him, Elder Huang turned his head to look at the Qu Wenbai-controlled Puppet. Frowning slightly, he said, ”You again, you little brat. Why do you insist on popping up in front of this old Daoist lately?”

The expression on the metallic, spherical head of the Puppet under Qu Wenbai’s control seemed to visibly darken.

But despite Elder Huang’s taunt, he didn’t make a rash move. He looked at Elder Huang and said, ”That junior of yours took an important Artifact from me, and we must retrieve it.”

”What do you say to this? You have your junior return the Artifact to us, and we will immediately let you and your Disciple go. How about it?”

As Qu Wenbai spoke, the Spiritual Light from the altar-like emblem on its chest flickered, as if disagreeing with his decision. Or perhaps, it was simply dissatisfied with Qu Wenbai’s display of weakness.

Qu Wenbai paused for a moment but paid it no mind.

”Heh, should this old Daoist feel honored? At least you didn’t put on airs the moment we met and claim you’ve eaten more rice than I have,” Elder Huang said, his face impassive but his tone dripping with sarcasm.

Qu Wenbai chose to ignore Elder Huang’s sarcasm and continued, ”I advise you to think this through. This time, we have the Celestial Heart Altar and have sealed the entire area. Even if you’ve arrived as an Incarnation, the outcome will be no different.”

”No matter how strong your methods are, given your current state of Cultivation, the most you can do is force us to expend a little more effort and some Resources.”

”However, if you choose to return the Artifact, not only can you leave safely without a fight, but your Disciple will also face no risk whatsoever.”

”Your proposal does indeed sound quite appealing to this old Daoist.” Elder Huang looked at Qu Wenbai impassively, then paused before continuing, ”But I’m afraid there aren’t many things this old Daoist despises in life. And you Five Elements Remnants—this group of things that can’t even be called human—happen to be on that list.”

”So you’re really determined to fight us to the death?” Qu Wenbai’s expression turned ugly as he stared at Elder Huang.

”Heh heh, don’t overestimate yourself. Hasn’t the lesson you learned last time taught you anything, you little brat?” Elder Huang chuckled, his expression still impassive.

”A fight to the death? You lot aren’t nearly qualified. At most, you’ll just be stubbornly fighting this one Incarnation, out of the many this old Daoist uses to handle his daily affairs.”

The implications behind Elder Huang’s casual words caused the black mist within the Puppet’s hollow, metallic eye sockets to churn violently.

Just then, the emblem-like Celestial Heart Altar on its chest flickered. The black light was forcibly driven out, and the altar returned to its Fiery Red color.

Lu Ya had seized control of the Puppet again. He stared at Elder Huang and snorted, ”Hmph. I’ve dealt with my fair share of arrogant Cultivators, but I’ve never seen one as full of hot air as you.”