The Programmer Cultivator

Stunned by the immense impact, the Enchanting Spirit Deer froze in place, shaking its head slightly.

After blocking the attack, Li Shifan’s expression turned cold. Crouching at the end of the tunnel, he raised his hand and flicked his Long Sword.

Rune Technique: Sword Control Skill!

The Long Sword streaked through the air like a bolt of lightning, shooting toward the Enchanting Spirit Deer as it shook its head.

Just as the sword was about to strike, the Enchanting Spirit Deer flicked its head again, and its strange antler clashed directly with the meteor-like Long Sword.

”CLANG...”

At the moment of impact, a small piece of the antler shattered, and the Long Sword was flung high into the sky.

Spiritual Power surged wildly through Li Shifan. Still crouching, his hands blurred as he rapidly formed the seals for a Spell.

”Entrusting the spirit to the divine, nurturing life and cherishing truth, let one’s Qi be everlasting—Unity of Sword and God! Sword Control Skill: Qi Stored Meteor Fall!”

The aura of the Long Sword, still flying high in the sky, suddenly entangled with Li Shifan’s. Its Spiritual Light erupted, and after a brief pause, it transformed once more into a meteor and plummeted straight down.

Sensing the imminent danger, the Enchanting Spirit Deer swung its antler once more, aiming it at the descending Long Sword.

This time, the collision between sword and antler was utterly silent.

The antler failed to send the Long Sword flying. Instead, a powerful shockwave of Qi erupted from the blade, pressing against the antler and relentlessly forcing it downward.

From a distance, Li Shifan formed a sword finger with one hand, pointing it at the Enchanting Spirit Deer. He placed his other palm flat on the back of that hand, and with a face flushed from exertion, he roared, ”AAAAARGH... FALL!”

As he roared, he slammed his left palm down onto the back of his right hand, forcing it downward with all his might.

With Li Shifan’s burst of power, the wave of Spiritual Power from the Long Sword swelled once more, pressing down with its full might.

The Enchanting Spirit Deer’s front legs gave way, and it was forced instantly to its knees. A strange crackling sound came from its antler.

Forced to its knees, the Enchanting Spirit Deer’s eyes turned icy. It suddenly strained against the immense pressure and gave its head another violent flick.

SNAP!

”Ngh!” Li Shifan let out a stifled grunt.

As the Enchanting Spirit Deer flicked its head, one of its two strange antlers snapped clean off at the base, and droplets of radiant Essence Blood trickled out.

At the same time, the surging Long Sword was sent flying once more. The spiritual energy upon it plummeted, and its mystical connection to Li Shifan weakened.

After grunting, Li Shifan made a beckoning gesture. The Long Sword, wobbling unsteadily in the sky, flew back to him.

The one-antlered Enchanting Spirit Deer’s eyes flashed with fury. It suddenly opened its mouth and spat out an illusory, still-unformed Demon Pill.

The droplets of Essence Blood that had just seeped from the base of its broken antler floated into the illusory Demon Pill.

Instantly, a strange ripple emanated from the Demon Pill and spread outward.

The moment Li Shifan caught his Long Sword, he was overcome by a wave of dizziness, and the scenery around him began to change rapidly.

Li Shifan’s expression changed. He had not yet achieved a steadfast Sword Heart, so his resistance to mental attacks was weak—it was, in fact, his greatest vulnerability at the moment.

Sensing the eruption of the opponent’s Spirit Bloodline power, he decisively raised his Long Sword overhead. He ignored the roiling Spiritual Power in his body and unleashed another burst of strength.

”Drawing on nature—every thing and every event, every life and every spirit, every form and every action—all are my Qi.

The Cosmos itself is my strength! Forge a Divine Sword of brilliant light, eternally inexhaustible! Sword Control Skill: Unity of Body and Sword!”

His aura surged once more. He began to spin rapidly, his sword pointing forward like the tip of a drill. Before the scenery had finished transforming, he shot toward where the Enchanting Spirit Deer had been.

The moment the illusionary scenery solidified, the Space around them froze for an instant before shattering into a sky full of Spiritual Light.

Li Shifan, merged as one with his sword, stopped his spinning directly in front of the Enchanting Spirit Deer. At the tip of his blade, the illusory orb—the Demon Pill—was now covered in a dense web of cracks.

As Li Shifan’s rotation slowed to a stop, he stumbled forward and landed on one knee. At that same moment, the illusory orb shattered completely, dissolving into a sky full of Spiritual Light.

As Li Shifan landed on one knee, the illusory scenery around them shattered, and the forest vista returned.

The Enchanting Spirit Deer, which had just taken a step forward, froze completely as its illusory Demon Pill shattered. The Spiritual Light in its eyes faded rapidly, and its body toppled over, stiff as a board.

With its level of Cultivation, it couldn’t be like those Great Demons, who had a chance to recover even if their Demon Pill was completely destroyed.

”Such bad luck,” Li Shifan said weakly. ”Why did I have to run into a Demon Beast like this here?”

Before he could even rise, a miniature Scroll appeared in his left palm, and an illusory figure slowly materialized beside it.

Li Shifan looked at Li Cheng in confusion. He knew that for his ancestor to appear, it would consume a great deal of his own Qi Fortune, and Li Cheng never intervened unless it was a matter of life and death.

’Besides, the fight is over. Why would the Ancestor show up now?’

”Ancestor, what are you...?”

Li Cheng ignored Li Shifan. Instead, with a deep frown and a moment of hesitation, he lightly reached out and pointed a finger. A blank Scroll slowly unfurled in the sky.

As the Scroll unfurled, an image was rapidly sketched across its blank surface. As the details solidified, it became clear that it was a bird’s-eye view of the entire region.

As the image was drawn onto the Scroll, Li Shifan, who was already weak, suddenly went limp and nearly collapsed.