The Programmer Cultivator

"According to Master Gan, the ceremonial team hadn't returned by the time I left. He told me that whatever you're planning, you should take it easy.

The Sect is severely short-staffed right now. We simply can't spare any capable people to help you. Disciples from the Inner Sect's peaks who are at the Tai Chi Stage or above, and even many Advanced Apprentices, have all been sent to the Sect's various Affiliated Families for disaster relief.

There's simply no one free. If the people I brought weren't Outer Disciples—and ones with very little cultivation, at that—I wouldn't have been able to bring anyone at all," Li Shifan said respectfully.

At that moment, the Flying Ship landed. Dozens of disciples with varying cultivation levels all disembarked. They bowed to Zhang Deming and said, "Greetings, Martial Grand-Uncle! Greetings, Martial Uncle!"

Qin Shizhong watched Li Shifan arrive, his eyes then falling on the dozens of disciples emerging behind him. A look of confusion crossed his face. When he saw that they were all Apprentices—some even just Intermediate Apprentices—he asked in bewilderment:

"Martial Uncle, you don't actually intend for them to lead disaster relief teams, do you? With their meager cultivation, if they run into a few powerful Martial Artists, they'll just be serving themselves up on a platter."

Zhang Deming just smiled and said meaningfully, "Think of it as an assessment of sorts. Didn't you notice? They're all the backup candidates for the shop."

Qin Shizhong's expression flickered. "Senior Brother," he said in amazement, "are you saying that our… 'higher-ups' are also making a move this time?"

Zhang Deming smiled, not answering Qin Shizhong's question. Instead, he sat down cross-legged and raised his hands before his chest. Seeing this familiar scene, both Qin Shizhong and Li Shifan's expressions filled with shock.

But before Zhang Deming could even begin to chant, a peculiar Spirit Species shot out. It rapidly stretched and took form, and the figure of Elder Huang appeared before them.

Li Shifan and Qin Shizhong immediately lowered their heads and bowed respectfully. "Greetings, Elder Huang," they said.

However, the response they received wasn't from Elder Huang, but from Zhang Deming. "Relax," he said. "This isn't Elder Huang. Or at least, not the usual Elder Huang."

Qin Shizhong and Li Shifan paused. When they looked up in confusion, they realized that the figure that had materialized only resembled Elder Huang in appearance. It possessed none of his characteristic aura, and its gaze was dull, lacking any trace of vitality.

"What is this?" Qin Shizhong asked uncertainly.

Zhang Deming waved his hand, creating a sound barrier around them, before smiling. "Do you know why Elder Huang is in charge of all the contracts for the Xuanhua Tower, yet no matter who signs, they only ever see him and never any other disciple or senior?"

Qin Shizhong froze for a moment, recalling his own past experience. "A Scripture Incarnation? The skill that lets one body become thousands?"

Zhang Deming nodded. "Elder Huang is the Alliance's foremost expert on the path of incarnations and doppelgangers. That's why he can manage the entire Xuanhua Tower by himself.

It's also why when people like us signed our entry contracts, we met Elder Huang, and whenever we petition for anything, big or small, it's also Elder Huang who shows up. He's all that's needed. It's as if he's the only person in the entire Xuanhua Tower."

'An expert on the path of incarnations? Is there anything Elder Huang *isn't* an expert in?' For some reason, Qin Shizhong couldn't help but snark internally.

"Then this person is…" Li Shifan trailed off, looking at the vacant-looking Elder Huang.

Zhang Deming smiled. "It's a meeting gift Elder Huang gave me when my uncle took me to see him a while ago. A little trick, you could say!"

If anyone from his previous life had heard this, they probably would have snarked, 'Why don't you just say he gave you three of his monkey hairs!'

Hearing this, the two of them looked at Zhang Deming, the corners of their mouths twitching with a mix of speechlessness and envy.

'Tsk tsk, this Senior Brother of yours is really something else…' Li Cheng's sour-toned words echoed in Li Shifan's mind.

'Isn't that the truth,' Li Shifan mentally shot back, his thoughts full of envy. 'I could get over Senior Sister Ling'er. After all, it's a testament to his own skill that he won over his childhood sweetheart so completely. You have to respect that. He earned the right to be a kept man through genuine ability, so I can't even be jealous. But now this... he's not even hiding his family background anymore, and it's just as infuriating... Ancestor, I'm so jealous! Why didn't you work a little harder back in the day so I could just cruise through life!'

'…' Li Cheng was speechless for a moment. 'You want to be an Immortal Noble Son?' he replied faintly. 'Heh, then work hard and become the father of one yourself! I wish I'd had my own father and ancestor to pave the way for me! You have me, which is already a thousand times better than what I had!'

'Sigh… befriending him was a huge mistake!'

Though his face was a mask of calm, Li Shifan was in the middle of this frantic, snarky exchange with Li Cheng in his mind.

...

While they were talking, another Spirit Species leaped out and once again stretched into the form of Elder Huang.

Qin Shizhong and Li Shifan fell completely silent, quietly watching as one Elder Huang after another was stretched and condensed into being.

In a moment, a dozen or so Elder Huangs had appeared around them, each with the cultivation of the Tai Chi Stage. Qin Shizhong noticed the number was the same as the trainees he had selected earlier. He stared for a moment, then said, "Martial Uncle, you want these Elder Huangs... er, these Incarnations, to be the main force leading the disaster relief?"

Zhang Deming nodded. "Mm-hmm!"

"Then what about these disciples I brought?" Li Shifan asked.

Zhang Deming smiled. "Didn't I tell you? Think of it as a trial and an assessment, to prepare them for being shop staff."

'What Zhang Deming didn't say,' he thought, 'is that without these pawns to act as signal relays, the value of these "Elder Huangs" would plummet. Imagine a hero instantly demoted to a super minion—that's what it would be like.'

With that said, Zhang Deming waved his hand. From the Square Seal before him, a number of smaller seals, equal to the number of Elder Huangs, split off. He then removed the sound-proofing barrier and looked toward the disciples Li Shifan had brought.