The Programmer Cultivator

Zhang Deming replied, ”Then take my theory, connect it to everything that’s happened today, and think it through carefully!”

Song Huidong froze, his expression blank as he sank into thought. As he replayed the events in his mind, the more he thought about it, the more something felt wrong. He wasn’t sure if he was just being influenced by Zhang Deming’s words. But after mulling it over, he suddenly felt there truly was a problem.

”Impossible. Absolutely impossible! Master Guan would never do that! So many disciples from our peak, from our Sect, died today!” Song Huidong exclaimed, shaking his head relentlessly.

Zhang Deming watched his companion’s sudden emotional outburst. Although he didn’t share those feelings, he understood them. After all, Song Huidong had lived in the Sect since childhood, for decades, if not centuries.

Coupled with his excellent Talent and opportunities, he had done very well for himself within the Sect, and thus had a deep affection for it. It was only normal that he couldn’t accept certain things.

”Yes, it could just be our speculation. Let’s wait for people from the Sect to arrive and conduct a proper investigation. For now, we should get back to handling the emergency.”

”We were in charge of the reception, and a disaster of this magnitude happened on our watch. I wonder if we’ll be punished when we get back.” Seeing Song Huidong’s intense reaction, Zhang Deming deliberately changed the subject.

Song Huidong, however, fell silent. He didn’t reply, instead quietly beginning to deal with the aftermath. Seeing this, Zhang Deming also got to work.

······

A good while later, a Disciple leading a rescue team came before Zhang Deming and Song Huidong. Zhang Deming looked at him and immediately asked, ”How are the rescue efforts going?”

Upon hearing the question, the man immediately replied, ”Reporting to you, Masters. The disciples who were at the gathering have been accounted for. Most of the injured have already received emergency treatment, and we’ve done our best to recover the bodies of the junior brothers who perished.”

”The only exceptions are the senior brothers from the Array Department. When the incident occurred, they were in either the main control room or one of the sub-control rooms, and they didn’t rashly emerge afterward.”

”As it fell, they were all trapped inside. Because the Cyan Feather Green Ship is so severely damaged, the disciples don’t dare start dismantling it to get them out. They’re still trapped, and we don’t know their condition or the number of casualties.”

”This Disciple came to ask you, Masters, whether we should wait for the Sect’s main force to arrive before deciding, or if we should start dismantling the ship to rescue them immediately.”

Before Zhang Deming could speak, a dejected Song Huidong said, ”Dismantle the ship and rescue them first.”

The Disciple paused and said hesitantly, ”But Master Song, the Cyan Feather Green Ship has been modified over the years to function more as a Ritual Artifact. Its construction was heavily focused on its arrays, which means the hull itself isn’t very sturdy.”

”Normally, that’s not a problem—it even makes things like expansion more convenient. But now, with most of the arrays disabled and the hull severely damaged, the entire vessel is on the verge of collapse.”

”The current search parties don’t have any powerful Array Cultivator senior brothers to supervise, and the disciples are afraid that if they start cutting into it, they’ll make the whole ship fall apart.”

”Are the people more important, or is the ship?” Already in a foul mood, Song Huidong’s face darkened at the words, and he looked ready to explode.

”This Disciple...” The one in charge was at a loss for words. Seeing Song Huidong’s expression, he didn’t dare to talk back for fear of suffering the consequences.

The few Duality Masters nearby, who were in charge of other matters, also hesitated and didn’t dare to interject.

”That’s enough. You may go. A terrible disaster has occurred, so your Master is in a foul mood,” Zhang Deming said, patting Song Huidong on the shoulder as he addressed the Disciple.

The man was clearly responsible, however. He didn’t just turn and leave. At great risk, he carefully asked, ”Then, about the rescue...”

”Dismantle it,” Zhang Deming said calmly. ”If something goes wrong, we Masters will be here. The blame for something this big won’t fall on you. You couldn’t shoulder it even if it did.”

Hearing this, the man let out a long sigh of relief. He bowed to Zhang Deming and the others and said, ”This Disciple understands.”

With that, he turned and hurried off.

The remaining senior brothers in charge of various tasks exchanged glances before falling into silence once more.

······

Time passed quickly. Several hours later, Zhang Deming and his group had finished their initial triage, but the Sect’s rescue team had yet to arrive. A sense of unease began to spread through them all.

It wasn’t just them; no one had come from the Bai Shu Sect, either.

It was understandable that no one from the Buddhism Xuande Temple had come. Even for a Four-Star Cultivator traveling at top speed, the journey wasn’t a short one. But it shouldn’t have been the case for their two sects.

Zhang Deming and his group had traveled on the Cyan Feather Green Ship, a vessel that, at full speed, could rival a professional Speed Dao Three Talents Cultivator. But that was the key—it had to be at full speed!

They had been acting as an Honor Guard, traveling slowly and making a show of their procession, which was why the journey had taken them nearly a full day.

A Duality Cultivator capable of flight could have made the journey at full speed in little more than half a day.

For an incident of this severity, the responding party should at least be a Master of Three Talents; the vanguard might even be a Supreme Elder.

Under those circumstances, they should have arrived hours ago.

After handling the initial matters, the three parties had gathered. As time continued to pass, everyone grew to feel that something was wrong.

”Why aren’t they here yet? And the Sect hasn’t given any reply,” Zhang Deming said with a frown, pulling out his Identity Card.

His voice wasn’t quiet; in fact, he seemed to have spoken a little louder on purpose.

Bai Zhixin, the leader from the Bai Shu Sect, paused. She glanced at Zhang Deming and immediately chimed in, ”It’s the same for you, Senior Brother Zhang? We’re in the same situation. After an initial reply to our messages, there’s been nothing but silence. Senior Brother Huixin, what about you?”