The Programmer Cultivator

"Your position only requires you to maintain a steady output of Spiritual Power. Hmm, if you can, try to project a bit of an imposing aura. That shouldn’t be a problem for you, right?"

Zhang Deming nodded. "Understood."

The disciple bowed again, then said to Yang Guangfu and Qin Shizhong, "You two Senior Brothers, please come with me. Your ritual positions were assigned long ago."

With that, he led the two of them away.

Zhang Deming looked back at the perfectly orderly crowd. By now, the formation was almost completely assembled. Before, he might not have thought much of it.

But after witnessing that scene in the arena, Zhang Deming couldn’t help but think that the Array Department disciples in charge of the Honor Guard must be swamped.

About ten minutes later, Zhang Deming felt a sudden, gentle tremor. All across the plaza, the ground beneath everyone’s feet lit up with Spiritual Light.

At that moment, Zhang Deming felt a slight stir in his Heart Spirit. A connection was attempting to establish itself, but it wasn’t forceful. If he were to refuse it, the connection would likely fail.

Knowing about the Ritual Skill, he, of course, wouldn’t refuse. As the connection was established, Zhang Deming immediately perceived a thought: ’Master Guan, the Array Department is ready. The formation is complete with no abnormalities. Requesting permission to activate the Skill?’

Guan Shouxin replied mentally, ’Don’t ask me. I’m only responsible for the Beak Section and ensuring safety. For leading the Skill, find Crown Feather or Tail Feather from Spirit Nurturing Peak.’

The head of the Array Department paused for a moment. Zhang Deming felt their attention shift to his Heart Spirit.

’Junior Brother Zhang, shall we begin the ritual?’

Zhang Deming paused, still getting used to this mode of mental connection. He replied, ’Begin the ritual!’

At Zhang Deming’s reply, his Heart Spirit trembled slightly, and the surrounding Arrays flared with intense Spiritual Light.

"Activate the Skill! Or pass command down, or delegate control!" A Mind Guidance prompt appeared in Zhang Deming’s mind.

As the prompt sounded, he could suddenly see through the Heart Spirit Guiding Array. All the disciples behind him were looking at him.

Zhang Deming took a deep breath. As his hands flew through a series of seals, he declared, "Begin the ritual!"

At Zhang Deming’s command, all the Tai Chi Disciples began to channel their Spiritual Power. At the same time, the Duality Disciples at every key node of the Array also began to form hand seals.

Zhang Deming also felt his Spiritual Power being drawn away, but the pull was neither strong nor sudden. His position was so easy that even a disciple at the Tai Chi Stage could handle it, let alone someone with his Duality Cultivation. It would just be a little more strenuous for them.

As everyone moved in unison, rings of light on the ground beneath their feet rose to form protective domes, enveloping the disciples.

Then, with a collective jolt, the lightbulb-shaped Shields that had formed from the rings broke away from the main group, carrying the disciple inside each one as they shot into the sky.

As they flew, the lightbulb-shaped Shields began to transform, slowly turning into enormous cyan feathers. The disciples within vanished from sight. In an instant, the sky was filled with cyan feathers.

"Starry eyes unblinking, sharp as a hawk’s; golden bells ringing, testing the cyan plumes. My heart defends the Celestial Spirit, I cultivate myself through Magic and the Daoist Callection. Ritual Skill: Cry of the Cyan Feathered Eagle!"

As Zhang Deming led the Skill, the disciples within the ritual all channeled their Spiritual Power.

SKREEEEEE...

An ear-splitting eagle cry tore through the sky. At the sound, the scattered cyan feathers seemed to find a focal point and began to converge.

Below, the Cyan Feather Green Ship trembled slightly and transformed into the skeletal frame of a bird. The feathers scattered across the sky converged upon it like streams of light.

In moments, a giant cyan bird appeared in the sky. Its entire body was covered in resplendent feathers, making it look both magnificent and strangely beautiful. It also emanated a peculiar sense of comfort.

It was an Ancient Alien Species—the Charming Fortune Cyan Feathered Eagle. Legend said that anyone who saw this bird would be graced with Blessed Fortune and was sure to have a joyous event come their way. Other tales claimed the bird was a symbol of Marriage.

SKREEEEEE...

After appearing, the Charming Fortune Cyan Feathered Eagle let out another long cry, spread its wings slightly, and shot off toward its destination as a streak of cyan light.

Wherever the Charming Fortune Cyan Feathered Eagle passed, it left a long, cyan trail composed entirely of a unique Spiritual Power. The cyan Spiritual Power Light Points drifted down slowly, like a blessing.

The scene was surreal and breathtakingly beautiful. The trail lingered in the air, capturing the gazes of countless Cultivators.

...

They hadn’t been far from their destination when they began the ritual. So, even though the Charming Fortune Cyan Feathered Eagle wasn’t flying particularly fast, they arrived in just a few moments.

From a great distance, the Celestial Spirit Sect disciples within the eagle formation could see a massive, jellyfish-like creature floating toward them.

The jellyfish was nearly as large as their own formation. On its back rested a massive dome of light, inside which was a sprawling complex of buildings that included its own plaza.

But unlike their Cyan Feather Green Ship, these buildings weren’t constructed on the creature’s back; they were just temporarily placed there.

In other words, the Celestial Spirit Sect’s Cyan Feather Green Ship was itself a Magical Artifact. The Bai Shu Sect, however, had simply placed a building-type Magical Artifact on the jellyfish’s back, with the creature itself merely serving as a beast of burden.

On the plaza, two distinct groups were clearly visible. One was from the Bai Family, and the other was a group of damned bald Monks from Xuande Temple. Both groups were composed of very young people, and each was led by a single individual.

The Bai Family from the Bai Shu Sect was led by a woman—the family’s current prodigy, Bai Zhixin;