The Programmer Cultivator

Nangong Cheng looked at them and paused. His lips moved, but he didn’t say a word. ’Compared to these kids, how much better off am I?’

’My Literary Gallbladder is broken and my Dao Heart is covered in dust. Even if I get out, my life is probably over.’

With a dazed expression, Nangong Cheng was attended to by four young servants. They helped him bathe and change into a clean set of Confucian robes.

Then, he was once again supported by two disciples as they led him from the room and into a new one.

This room was arranged like a reception hall, but in the center stood a small, round table.

The middle-aged man in the Daoist Robe, Hua Zhengyu, was already seated at the table. Beside him sat Little Monk Huineng, his posture somewhat strange.

The three of them sat at the small, round table, looking at each other from just a short distance away. For a time, no one spoke.

However, when Little Monk Huineng and Hua Zhengyu met Nangong Cheng’s gaze, both of them paused. Faintly, within Nangong Cheng’s eyes, a few words seemed to flicker: ’Find a way to send a message out.’

But the words were fragmented, as if pieced together from countless shards, and they vanished in a flash. The three of them instantly averted their gazes as if nothing had happened.

None of the several disciples standing guard nearby noticed anything unusual.

A moment later, Guann Zhenzhen walked in.

Behind her, a frame was being carried in. On the frame was a round platform, and seated on it was a middle-aged man. He sat there staring blankly, completely motionless. If not for his roving eyes, one might have mistaken him for a statue.

The surface of the platform was covered by a shimmering, multicolored light shield.

If Zhang Deming had been there, he would have instantly recognized this man. It was none other than the old monster from the Scripture Pavilion in the Turtle Water Secret Realm.

The three men looked at the platform and the middle-aged man upon it, a flicker of uncertainty in their eyes.

The frame was lifted and placed on a high dais next to the round table, positioned so the middle-aged man on the platform had a clear view of the three of them.

Guann Zhenzhen looked at the three and said, ”Well then, let’s get started.

Oh, right, I forgot to mention. This time, aside from the main vow, you’ll also need to make a small vow. We’ll talk about that later.”

After speaking, Guann Zhenzhen’s hands moved rapidly through a series of signs. A spherical light shield enveloped the entire round table.

The moment the eggshell-like shield was complete, wisps of black smoke began to rise from the men’s old wounds. The smoke slowly gathered behind them, forming a dark specter that stared at the three of them.

At that moment, the dormant Spiritual Power within their bodies began to stir. Slowly, the three recovered their original Cultivation. At the same time, a line of text appeared on the table before them.

Final result required. Vow: Shatter the seal without consequences!

The three men read the words on the table. Without exchanging a single glance, they all shook their heads and said, ”We can’t do it. This is a Tier Four or even a Five-Star Sealing. Even with our United Force, we can’t shatter it without consequences.”

The text on the table changed: Then minimize the consequences as much as possible. If I detect any of you holding back, you can go back to enjoying the ’appetite.’

Hearing this, two of the men turned in unison to look at Hua Zhengyu.

Hua Zhengyu took a deep breath. An Eight Trigrams symbol emerged between his brows. He spread his hands slightly, and an ethereal Eight Trigrams diagram began to spin within them.

After a long moment, he gazed at the diagram and said, ”I have a friend who says: The origin of this sealing shall reveal itself.”

As he spoke, his unique power of lies activated. As it drove the Eight Trigrams, it transformed into the Power of Prophecy. A line of text slowly materialized on the diagram.

This Daoist was actually a Word Cultivator who majored in lies, and he had already completed the initial leap from lies to prophecy—the Tier Four sublimation of his Rune Core.

The moment the information appeared, Hua Zhengyu’s face instantly paled.

Sealing: Demon Spirit Sealing Soul Array

Information: In the Near-Ancient Era, Leiyin Temple used this Array to seal the Five Elements Remnants.

The three men stared at the information from the Eight Trigrams, stunned. They all turned their heads in unison to look at the middle-aged man on the platform.

Hua Zhengyu took another deep breath and said, ”I have a friend who says: This Array can be broken.”

The Eight Trigrams diagram was driven once more, and another line of text appeared.

Method: Counter it with a power other than the Five Elements. Break it at its nodes.

Array Node Information: ...

As the second block of information appeared, Hua Zhengyu spat out a mouthful of blood, his face turning exceptionally pale.

”Are you alright?” Nangong Cheng asked with concern.

Hua Zhengyu shook his head. ”It’s nothing. I was merely injured from using prophecy to spy on the Blessed Land, Leiyin Temple.”

Seeing this, Nangong Cheng looked at the information on the Eight Trigrams and said, ”In that case, it’s my turn!”

He raised his hand and made a grasping motion. A writing brush materialized in his grip. After a moment of contemplation, he began to write: ”The nodes of Leiyin Temple’s Demon Spirit Sealing Soul Array will fluctuate, shattering at a touch.”

When his brush stopped, the words shone with a brilliant light. The other two men watched his actions, slightly stunned.

Little Monk Huineng stared at the beginning of the sentence—the two words ”Leiyin Temple”—with an inscrutable expression, his eyes flickering for a moment.

”Little Monk, quickly! My Literary Gallbladder is shattered. I can’t hold on for long,” Nangong Cheng said urgently.

Little Monk Huineng paused, brought his palms together, and declared, ”This humble monk, Huineng, makes a vow today. My vow is: The nodes of Leiyin Temple’s Demon Spirit Sealing Soul Array will fluctuate, shattering at a touch. To fulfill this vow, this humble monk is willing to sacrifice one hundred years of his lifespan and perform asceticism to repay the karmic debt.”

Hua Zhengyu and Nangong Cheng were taken aback. They hadn’t expected the young monk to pay such a steep price. Even Guann Zhenzhen, who was outside, was stunned and looked at the Little Monk in confusion.