The Programmer Cultivator

The connection severed. A moment later, a file arrived, accompanied by a message.

”Please acquire the data immediately. The Array Card will self-destruct in ten seconds!”

”Holy shit!”

Watching the countdown, Shang Tingjie frantically reached out, grabbed the data, and tossed it into another Array Card.

As he tossed the data into the other Array Card, the one in his hand flickered a few times and exploded into a shower of Spiritual Light, leaving not a single trace behind.

”This Mysterious Man Number Three is... a real professional!” one of the first mates, who had watched the entire exchange, couldn’t help but comment.

”Professionalism? He’s just paranoid!” another replied.

”In our current position, the more paranoid, the better! The fact that he’s managed to spy inside the Celestial Spirit Sect for so many years without being exposed proves he’s got real skills. Just look at us since we’ve arrived. How many eyes are watching our every move?” Yuu Guang said.

Yuu Guang’s words silenced the group.

······

In a Cultivation Room at the Flying Spring Waterfall Tower, Zhang Deming stared blankly as the Array Card in his hand exploded into a shower of Spiritual Light.

The news about the Scientific Research Spaceship and the third stage of the Celestial Eye Parasite made him frown deeply. He couldn’t help but feel the Hongmeng Holy Land must have had a screw loose back then.

’Making contact with other worlds... other planets... isn’t the problem. But to allow such comprehensive contact, letting them wander all over your own territory? That’s just idiotic.’

’Of course, perhaps I’m just being short-sighted. Those powerful figures in the Holy Land are as shrewd as they come. They don’t necessarily view things from the same perspective I do.’

’Take time, for instance. He thinks in terms of days; they think in terms of centuries, even millennia.’

After pondering for a long while, Zhang Deming shook his head. He suddenly realized he was worrying about nothing. ’If the sky falls, there are taller people to hold it up. I’m just making trouble for myself.’

’It seems life has been a little too comfortable these past few years. I’ve developed a strong sense of belonging to the Celestial Spirit Sect, to the point that I’m subconsciously thinking about things from Hongmeng’s perspective.’

Pushing those thoughts aside, he considered that most of his tasks were already finished. All he had to do now was wait for the grand assembly to begin.

’Well... perhaps just waiting isn’t an option. The disciples over at the Ministry of Rites have been clamoring for me to pay them a visit.’

’Now that my work is done, I suppose I can head over.’

······

Half a day later, as the grand assembly drew near, the entire Celestial Spirit Sect was abuzz with excitement. The Sect Protection Array, which had been activated when the Liuying announcements were first sent out, had remained active ever since.

The vast, shimmering canopy of the array, faintly visible in the sky, gave many Disciples a sense of security. Combined with the fact that this was a grand event held only once in centuries, the atmosphere was exceptionally festive.

Zhang Deming’s various sets of ceremonial attire all received their final adjustments, just as he had requested.

Of course, with the opening ceremony imminent, no one would dare make any more changes even if he was dissatisfied. He was just going through the motions in a daze, not even sure what he was doing, allowing a flock of Disciples to fuss over him.

He didn’t get a moment of peace until half a day before the assembly was set to begin. By then, every department was making its final preparations, and no one had the time to fuss over him any longer.

Zhang Deming had just returned to the Flying Spring Waterfall Tower and hadn’t yet caught his breath when he was summoned to Spirit Nurturing Peak. He frowned slightly as he read the message. ’Assembling half a day early? Isn’t that a bit too soon?’

Puzzled, Zhang Deming made his way to the Spirit Nurturing Hall. Upon entering, he was taken aback. He saw not only the important figures from his own peak but also a stranger.

The man didn’t look particularly old, perhaps just entering middle age, yet Yuee Mengsheng and the other two elders treated him with considerable respect.

Zhang Deming studied the stranger’s face. The man carried an air of faint, unconscious arrogance, even in the presence of Yuee Mengsheng and the others.

”Junior Brother Zhang, come over, let me make an introduction! This is Luan Lirong, a Tier Four High-Quality Spirit Nurturer,” Gan Zili said warmly, looking at Zhang Deming as he introduced the man.

’Luan?’

Zhang Deming froze for a moment. Several pieces of information flashed through his mind, and his expression turned serious.

’The surname Luan was once rare in Hongmeng. But with the meteoric rise of the Spirit Nurturing Holy Land, the name has been sowed across All of Hongmeng and has become a major surname, but...’

’Most people with that surname are from the Spirit Nurturing Holy Land, and part of the Direct Lineage at that! Add to that his identity as a Spirit Nurturing Master? The unconscious arrogance in his expression? And despite that attitude, the three elders still treat him with such deference?’

’Putting all the pieces together, his identity was obvious.’

Having deduced the man’s identity, Zhang Deming was still a little puzzled. ’Why would someone from the Spirit Nurturing Holy Land show up at the Celestial Spirit Sect’s assembly?’

’After all, the Celestial Spirit Sect isn’t so important that the Spirit Nurturing Holy Land would feel obligated to send someone just to show respect for our grand assembly!’

”Greetings, Senior Brother Luan Lirong,” Zhang Deming said with a slight bow.

As the Celestial Spirit Sect was considered part of the Spirit Nurturing Holy Land’s Direct Lineage Forces, every Disciple of the Celestial Spirit Sect could also be considered an Outer Disciple of the Holy Land itself.

Therefore, it was perfectly appropriate for him to address Luan Lirong, a Three Talents Cultivator, as Senior Brother.

Luan Lirong gave a slight nod in acknowledgment but didn’t reply right away. Instead, he glanced over at the other Disciples in the hall.

Yuee Mengsheng paused for a beat before addressing the Disciples in the hall. ”All of you, step outside and wait. Ensure all preparations are in order.”

”As you command, Martial Uncle!” the Duality Disciples chorused. They bowed in unison and filed out of the hall.