The Programmer Cultivator

’Coding theory might actually work.’

’What is Enhancement? What’s the essence of Enhancement?’

’It’s using an external force to tamper with and strengthen the original object. That’s what Enhancement is!’

A glint flashed in Zhang Deming’s eyes as he realized its essence.

’Input Assignment Theory. Pin and peripheral assignment. Modifying established values through corresponding interfaces. All of it. Every Assignment Theory I can think of.’

’This should work. Isn’t this the same principle behind Eldest Sister Keli’s ”as long as you’re rich” method?’

’Even killing monsters to level up is fundamentally the same thing!’

’Thinking about it that way, this could totally serve as a core foundation for development in multiple directions!’

Zhang Deming dumped every Assignment Theory he knew into the editor all at once. A waterfall of code cascaded down the screen, interspersed with various Runes, creating a dazzling display as the editor began its work.

Zhang Deming watched intently, occasionally making manual modifications or deleting sections.

After a long while, Zhang Deming finished his work.

*”This is a Dao-level edit. The trial run function cannot perform a complete check as the target of the edit is the body. Do you wish to confirm?”*

Zhang Deming checked it over one last time. Seeing no major issues, he selected ”confirm.”

As Energy was consumed, the fused Rune of the Spirit Nurturing Summoning Technique and the Enhancement Skill trembled for a long time before separating once more.

However, the Spirit Nurturing Summoning Technique at the center of the Rune Core was now immeasurably more complex. Its three-dimensional lines pulsed with endless mystery as a new ability was born from within.

The instant the Enhancement Skill Rune separated, the sky above the entire Celestial Spirit Sect—and the surrounding territories of Bai Shu and Hua Shui—erupted with golden light. Endless golden rays enveloped the many prefectures around the sect.

It had no discernible beginning or end.

Amidst the surging golden rays, illusory Golden Lotuses attempted to bloom, but they ultimately failed to fully manifest due to a lack of subsequent power.

The result was a sky filled with roiling golden light.

The Celestial Spirit Sect and the dozens of prefectures around it were bathed in a golden glow, covering more than half the territory of the Hundred Spirits Blessed Land.

A faint, ethereal Dao Sound drifted between Heaven and Earth. At the center of the endless golden light, a Rune was coalescing, but it was so blurry that no one could see it clearly.

At that moment, countless Cultivators felt a stirring in their hearts. They emerged from their Cave Mansions and turned their gazes to the heavens, toward the sky above the Hundred Spirits Blessed Land.

······

「In the Celestial Secret Grotto Heaven of the Celestial Secret Temple, Hongmeng Holy Land.」

On an open-air Observatory Platform, three white-haired, white-bearded old Daoists stood in a triangular formation, their hands clasped behind their backs. They stared up at the sky, stunned into a long silence.

After a long while, one of them spoke. ”Senior Brother, it seems we failed to prevent the Variable after all.”

Another laughed bitterly. ”We took every precaution, but what was fated to happen has happened. I wonder if the result of our calculations will be a blessing or a curse.”

The elder at the forefront remained silent for a long time before saying somberly, ”When we decided to perform the calculation, we should have known this would be the outcome. When one tries to divine the heavens and question the Dao, it is inevitable that the heavens will shift and a Variable will emerge.”

”I just never expected that this Variable would be an entirely new Dao.”

”Ten thousand years ago, our Master cast a single divination to question the heavens about the future of Hongmeng. He foresaw the emergence of the Spirit Nurturing Path. It was a mixed blessing; Hongmeng entered a golden age and the Spirit Nurturing Path flourished, but our Celestial Secret Dao was nearly annihilated.”

”Our Grotto Heaven has remained hidden for ten thousand years. Must the three of us now follow in our Master’s footsteps? This Celestial Dao... it is truly unjust!”

The one who had spoken first sighed, his expression desolate. ”Alas... ’When divining the Celestial Secret, do not reveal, do not act, do not scheme.’ Our Master broke this ancestral teaching ten thousand years ago. How is what the three of us have done any different?”

”Faced with the backlash from the Celestial Dao, where will our Celestial Secret Dao find refuge...?”

······

「In the Merit Pool of the Spirit Mountain Holy Land.」

The Merit Golden Wheel shone with a dazzling brilliance.

Outside the Merit Pool, a host of Buddhas and Bodhisattvas stood with solemn, majestic expressions.

······

「In the Spirit Nurturing Holy Land.」

The Spirit Nurturing Celestial Bead was now pulsing incessantly, as if in celebration.

The Spirit Nurturing Celestial Bead, not yet ten thousand years old, had the disposition of a child. For it to react so joyfully, the event was clearly something wonderful.

This filled the people of the Spirit Nurturing Holy Land with intense curiosity about the newly emerged Dao.

······

Only after the upgrade was complete did Zhang Deming look at his script.

······

Rune Core: Spirit Nurturing Summoning Technique Lv4 (0/100)

Branch Rune: Enhancement Skill Lv4 (0/600)

······

The proficiency increase for a Technique’s upgrade from Tier Four to Tier Five wasn’t too outrageous; at least it was much better than the fivefold jump from Tier Three to Tier Four.

Zhang Deming took a moment to feel the changes. Both Techniques had improved immensely. The Spirit Nurturing Summoning Technique could now summon four Mirror Images at once, and the Enhancement Skill now provided a roughly fivefold boost.

In addition to these upgrades, by fusing the Runes of the two Skills, he could use a new ability: Spirit Nurturing Enhancement.

As he sensed this new ability born from the Fusion, a brilliant light flared in Zhang Deming’s eyes.

Spirit Nurturing Enhancement Technique: Enhances a target, granting it a brief but massive boost. Currently limited to the user’s own Techniques and living targets related to the Spirit Nurturing Stars.

Note: This is an all-around boost. If a target Crosses a Tier due to the enhancement, it will become a standard Cultivator of that Equal Tier. However, the Skill has an extremely short duration and an immense Energy cost, which varies depending on the target.

’On the surface, this ability seems a bit lame. It can only give my subordinates a temporary power-up?’

’The cost is huge, and the duration is short. Wouldn’t a normal amplification Technique be stronger than this after reaching Tier Four?’

’If it were anyone else, they might actually think that.’