The Programmer Cultivator

’It would be one thing if these had been slowly developed over time, but if they were created during the collaboration over the last half a month, then this is a serious problem! There’s a huge difference between the two.’

...

As Zhang Deming observed his surroundings, the hundreds of robots besieging the Shield all paused in unison. They turned their heads mechanically, having all spotted his arrival.

Several dozen of them stopped their assault on the Shield, turned mechanically, and broke away from the siege formation to head toward Zhang Deming.

When the robots got close, they each brandished Energy Light Sabers infused with Spiritual Power and hacked at Zhang Deming.

With a flicker of his Heart Spirit, a checkerboard pattern appeared beneath Zhang Deming’s feet. He extended his right hand, and as threads of light intertwined, a jade-green Long Sword materialized.

Zhang Deming immediately clashed with the robots. After the very first exchange, his brow furrowed slightly.

These robots did indeed have the energy level of the Duality realm. Although it was a watered-down version, they had another notable characteristic: they were extremely durable.

’Combined with their sheer numbers,’ he thought, ’if research on this junk continues, they might actually be able to mass-produce an army.’

As Zhang Deming fought the robots, it only took him a moment to figure out their patterns. Vines erupted from his body like threads, gleaming with a cold light as they stabbed toward each robot’s Shield.

”Flawless Jade, a thousand discs take form. Each piece holds Qiankun; each disc seals heaven and earth. Tracking Dao: Jade Disc Sealing!”

Zhang Deming had just made his move when hundreds of platter-sized Jade Discs appeared. Each one flew to a position above a robot’s head and emitted a strange energy pulse.

Even though their Energy Shields were not broken, every single robot stopped in unison, frozen like statues.

Zhang Deming turned his head and saw Dang Xiangjun and another elderly man strolling over, leading a group of disciples.

Zhang Deming looked at the elderly man beside Dang Xiangjun and paused. He recognized the man—one of the Sect’s three public Supreme Elders and the current patriarch of the Yang Family: Yang Guizhong.

He was a stark contrast to the rest of the Yang Family; he wasn’t fat at all but was instead extremely gaunt.

His hair was as white as snow, and his face was weathered as if he had lived through countless ages. He was also one of the oldest Supreme Elders in the Sect.

Watching the two approach, Zhang Deming immediately bowed and said, ”Greetings, Master Dang. Greetings, Master Yang.”

Since the robots had all stopped, Dang Ketao also hurried forward, bowed, and said, ”Greetings, Grandfather. Greetings, Master Yang.”

Dang Xiangjun gave the two a slight nod in acknowledgment, but Yang Guizhong ignored them. Instead, he scanned the surroundings. After a moment, he frowned, turned to Dang Xiangjun, and asked, ”Did you find the control source?”

Dang Xiangjun was a Cultivator of the Reconnaissance and Tracking Dao. To put it in more modern terms, he was an Information Dao Cultivator—of the ancient school, that is, not the modern information-focused school of Array Cultivators.

The function of his Jade Discs was not to restrain the robots here, but to cut off their information exchange with the outside world.

And under these circumstances, the robots had frozen solid. This meant that their previous attacks had definitely been directed by a Main Brain.

As Four Symbols Cultivators, regardless of their particular path, they were more knowledgeable about matters of the Outer Realm than most people, since Hongmeng and the Celestial Universe Federation were now in full contact.

Therefore, upon seeing this, both of them knew a Main Brain was in control. But since Yang Guizhong couldn’t find it, he asked the more specialized Dang Xiangjun.

Hearing this, Dang Xiangjun shook his head. With a wave of his hand, a Jade Disc carrying a strange box appeared before everyone.

”Here,” he said. ”This should be what was commanding them. Based on the tracks, its owner disappeared more than half a day ago.

”Timing-wise, it was probably when this kid here led his people into the Geng Metal Core. Whoever was here sensed the disturbance and just fled, without even going back to check,” Dang Xiangjun said, gesturing toward Dang Ketao.

Yang Guizhong frowned. ”These remnants are truly elusive. Now that the situation in the various states has stabilized, we old-timers finally have our hands free. We should join forces and help you drag them out.”

Dang Xiangjun didn’t agree right away. Instead, he looked at the massive, opaque light barrier and said, ”Come on, let’s check on our ’Outer Realm Study and Exchange Group’ first. We can deal with hunting people down later.”

With that, the two of them led the group of disciples to the front of the energy barrier.

Dang Xiangjun and Yang Guizhong gave a slight bow. ”On behalf of the Celestial Spirit Sect, Supreme Elders Dang Xiangjun and Yang Guizhong welcome our fellow Daoists from the Celestial Universe for discourse and exchange.”

Their attitude was reasonably polite—a night-and-day difference compared to Huixin’s group, whom no one could even get a meeting with.

Following their greeting, the scorching-white, opaque light barrier flickered a few times and then shattered. The surrounding Hexagram Array shattered along with it, and everyone found themselves back in the forest.

”COUGH, COUGH...”

”Captain...”

”Boss...”

As the Array and Shield dissipated, a fit of coughing and the nervous voices of many people could be heard.

Everyone looked inside and saw a large group of people huddled tightly together where the Shield had been. A rough estimate put their number at over one hundred.

At the very front of the crowd, a middle-aged man was kneeling on the ground, coughing violently. He wore an outfit that blended elements of a Magic Robe and a pilot’s uniform.