The Programmer Cultivator

Talk of their clans’ dark past had plunged the two into silence.

After a long while, Lu Ya snapped out of it and changed the subject. ”What about your Duan Family? I saw earlier that the Geng Metal Sacrifice seems to have returned to its place.”

Duan Fangchun shook his head. ”I don’t know. Starting from my father’s generation, our branch of the family has had less and less contact with the main family.

In recent years, we’ve lost contact completely.

”Fortunately, the clan has a bit of the Ancestor’s Soul Gold. Its light is incredibly dim, but it hasn’t gone out. If not for that, I would have thought the Ancestor had already passed away.”

That statement hit an awkward note. Lu Ya paused, then quickly tried to smooth things over. ”Don’t overthink it. After all, when your branch was separated, it was decided you would be involved in worldly affairs. It’s only normal that you lost contact.”

”Perhaps,” Duan Fangchun said faintly.

After just a few exchanges, the two fell silent again. This really wasn’t a place for conversation.

This time, neither tried to break the silence. They both waited quietly for the Fire Separation Auxiliary Altar to stabilize so they could leave... or for something else to happen.

...

The two remained silent for a long time as the Fire Separation Auxiliary Altar gradually quieted down.

Duan Fangchun said, ”Let’s go. Since they’ve gone to the Wu Earth Official Family, the return of the four clans must be close.

We should hurry and prepare. We don’t have much time left. Forget three to five years; I doubt we even have three to five months.”

Lu Ya nodded. ”Yes, I think so too. It should be soon—”

Before Lu Ya could finish, he froze. Both of them whipped their heads toward the altar.

The altar, which had just calmed down, now flared with intense Spiritual Power. Strange Runes around its perimeter began to glow with Spiritual Light.

The pool of magma in the altar abruptly dropped.

In the center of the pool, the Firewood and Fire erupted with a WHOOSH, sending a massive flame shooting upward.

As the flame danced, a miniature altar the size of a baby’s palm appeared next to the Firewood and Fire.

The miniature altar flashed, and the flame flickered. A bewitching flower, a metal sphere, a swirl of twisted black mist, and an ugly Puppet floated out of it.

Seeing the four objects, Duan Fangchun and Lu Ya paused. They just watched, offering neither greetings nor salutations.

These were all ancient, monstrous figures. Without putting on an act, they would never bother with such pleasantries.

The flower transformed into the likeness of Guann Zhenzhen. As a pink mist spread from her, her stunning face radiated a deadly, demonic Charm. Caught off guard, Duan Fangchun and Lu Ya faltered. Their eyes glazed over, and they began to show signs of utter devotion.

”So, you are the men from the Fire Separation Lu Family?” Her voice was coy and crisp, yet it carried an undertone of longing to be ravaged.

At Guann Zhenzhen’s words, the breathing of Duan Fangchun and Lu Ya quickened instantly. In certain places, they brazenly began to pitch tents, oblivious to their surroundings.

At that moment, the ugly Puppet grew to the size of a normal person. Its body was covered in festering boils. Slime oozed and dripped constantly to the ground, only to squirm back up onto its body. The Puppet only vaguely resembled Guan Shouxin.

After appearing, he glanced at Guann Zhenzhen, then at Duan Fangchun and Lu Ya. The two had already fallen under her spell and were sinking fast. He figured that with a little more effort from Guann Zhenzhen, they would be completely enthralled.

Guan Shouxin frowned slightly. ”Reel it in. We have business to attend to, and these are men of the Lu Family.”

Guann Zhenzhen beamed. ”Don’t worry, I know my limits. But I’ve never tasted the Essence of a mortal at the Three Talents Stage. Why don’t we handle business later? You guys rest for a bit. I’m just going to... catch up with the Lu Family men?”

Guan Shouxin’s frown deepened. ”Do you really think that just because you’re the only one from the Guann Family here, I can’t do anything about you? That I have to let you do whatever you want?

With that hastily patched-up Duality Cultivation of yours, Guann Zhenzhen, you don’t have the right to be arrogant in front of us. There’s no stupid Monk named Leh Tong here!”

Guann Zhenzhen had just moved closer to Lu Ya and Duan Fangchun, her hand outstretched to caress them. Hearing his words, she froze. Her entire demeanor turned grim, especially after hearing a name that should not have been mentioned.

But Guan Shouxin paid no mind to Guann Zhenzhen’s reaction. With a POP, one of the festering boils on his body burst, releasing an overwhelming stench that spread through the air.

The faint, intoxicating floral scent that filled the hall was instantly overwhelmed.

”BLEGH...”

”BLEGH...”

Duan Fangchun and Lu Ya snapped awake at the same time, both overcome with nausea.

”WAAAGH...”

Lu Ya, perhaps having eaten too big a lunch, was so sickened by the smell that he went from dry heaving to actually vomiting up the contents of his stomach.

He threw up directly onto Guann Zhenzhen. As a Duality Cultivator, Guann Zhenzhen could have easily dodged it or even controlled the vile substance and made him eat it back.

But the overwhelming stench filling the room had frozen her in place, the pink aura flowing around her doing nothing to help. She was completely unable to move.

”AHHHH—”

Sprayed with vomit, Guann Zhenzhen let out a furious shriek. Her body trembled as a pink mist, dotted with flower petals, swirled around her, slowly pushing back the gray, foul-smelling aura.

Seeing that the two were about to come to blows, Qu Wenbai quickly stepped in to play peacemaker. He laughed and said, ”Hehe, come now, we’re all on the same side. Let’s not ruin the harmony over something so small. Everyone, just take a step back.”