The Programmer Cultivator

Chapter 113 - 3: First Battle

"I’ve noticed it’s been happening more often too," Hua Wei added. "I can’t tell if it’s just in the outer areas or if there’s a problem deep within the Hengduan Mountain Range."

"No point in overthinking it. Whatever’s happening, it’s not really our problem," Hek Tuan said.

Hua Wei nodded. "True."

The group chatted idly as they recovered their spent Spiritual Power.

Another benefit of the back mountain was that the Spiritual Power here was abundant, which made for a rather quick recovery.

A short while later, once everyone had recovered their Spiritual Power, they set out again.

Hua Wei and Hek Tuan watched Zhang Deming and Ling’er finish recovering before they did. They exchanged a look as a few ideas began to take shape.

The minor unpleasantness from the beginning had inexplicably vanished.

The group of six seemed to have truly become a team, united by a common purpose.

After another half-hour of travel, Yuling, who was in charge of reconnaissance, suddenly froze.

The others didn’t need her to say a word; they all stopped instinctively.

Yuling’s hands moved in a flurry of gestures, and her eyes began to shimmer with a faint, purple light.

A moment later, she spoke. "I’ve found a Hundred Poisonous Scorpion. It has a Quasi-Tai Chi Cultivation. Do we engage?"

Feng Mingyou’s expression flickered. "Is there a lair?" he asked.

Yuling nodded. "Yes."

Feng Mingyou said, "Let’s take it. If a Hundred Poisonous Scorpion has built a lair, Cyan Jade Grass is bound to be growing nearby.

"It’s a key ingredient for a Poison Master’s advancement. That, plus the scorpion’s Poison Needle, should be worth at least forty Spirit Stones.

"If we get it, we can pretty much guarantee this trip won’t be a loss."

The others exchanged a look and nodded.

Hua Wei, who had been smiling like a placid peacemaker the whole time, suddenly vanished into thin air.

He was actually an assassin-type cultivator. You really can’t judge a book by its cover.

Under Yuling’s guidance, the group crept forward stealthily.

When the Hundred Poisonous Scorpion came into clear view, everyone turned to look at Feng Mingyou.

Feng Mingyou took a deep breath. Following his Spell, a lively stream of water flowed out from his palm.

It coiled around him like a nimble little snake.

His entire demeanor changed, and a calm, carefree aura emanated from him.

He walked out nonchalantly, right up to the Hundred Poisonous Scorpion.

The Hundred Poisonous Scorpion, which was the size of a bison, assumed an attack stance the moment Feng Mingyou appeared.

However, influenced by Feng Mingyou’s aura, it hesitated to attack immediately.

Feng Mingyou approached the Hundred Poisonous Scorpion, raised his hand as if to hold something, and a spectral teacup materialized in his grip.

The lively stream of water instantly poured into the cup, transforming into wisps of steam that drifted upward.

"I have a tea, called Confusing God. Pray, have a taste."

As he spoke and moved, the rising steam transformed into a rich, intoxicating fragrance of tea that instantly seeped into the mind of the stunned Hundred Poisonous Scorpion.

He then glided backward at high speed, putting distance between them.

"Tsk, tsk. A Tier Two Technique is really something else," Hek Tuan said with envy, looking at the instantly subdued Hundred Poisonous Scorpion.

Zhang Deming shook his head. "It’s not perfect. It still needs work.

"The wind-up takes too long. It’s only effective against less intelligent Demon Beasts. A smarter one could break free before the technique even takes hold."

Hek Tuan glanced at Zhang Deming—who was only an Intermediate Apprentice, yet critiqued the technique with such authority—but didn’t say anything to dispute him.

Just then, Hua Wei, who had been invisible all along, suddenly materialized above the Hundred Poisonous Scorpion’s head. He gripped a dagger that glimmered faintly as he plunged it into a gap in the scorpion’s Armor Shell.

Zhang Deming also tossed out several seeds in quick succession. Vines shot out, wrapping around the Hundred Poisonous Scorpion’s limbs.

Ling’er raised her hand, and one by one, Ice Cones materialized before her and shot toward the Hundred Poisonous Scorpion.

Hek Tuan and Yuling held back, watching quietly.

"CLANG..."

With a soft clang, Hua Wei’s brow furrowed. He tapped his feet lightly on the Hundred Poisonous Scorpion’s head and vanished into the air once more.

The impact from the dagger snapped the Hundred Poisonous Scorpion out of its stupor.

By this point, Zhang Deming’s vines had already bound the scorpion’s legs, pincers, and tail.

Ling’er’s Ice Cones followed right after, speeding toward the Hundred Poisonous Scorpion’s eyes.

"CLINK CLINK..."

The Hundred Poisonous Scorpion blinked, deflecting all the Ice Cones. It then began to struggle violently.

"Careful! This thing must be in the final stages of its advancement," Hua Wei’s voice warned as he reappeared off to the side.

The moment the Hundred Poisonous Scorpion began to struggle, Zhang Deming’s expression changed. He didn’t need the warning; he already knew something was off about this creature’s strength.

Even with a sudden, rapid drain on his Spiritual Power, the vines were still barely holding on.

Zhang Deming’s expression hardened. He suddenly tightened his grip on the vines on one side while slightly loosening them on the other.

The Hundred Poisonous Scorpion quickly adjusted to counter the pull, but just as it did, Zhang Deming abruptly released the vines on the tightened side.

Simultaneously, the vines on the loosened side snapped taut.

Caught off guard, the Hundred Poisonous Scorpion instantly lost its balance and began to topple over.

"Hua Wei!" Zhang Deming yelled.

At the same time, a vine shot out and wrapped around Hua Wei’s waist. It was the first time they had coordinated like this, and Hua Wei froze for a split second.

But his rich combat experience allowed him to react in an instant.

As the vine pulled him forward, he rapidly adjusted his posture. His dagger flashed as he plunged it directly toward the Hundred Poisonous Scorpion’s exposed underbelly.

"Assassination: Broken Bone!"

As the dagger plunged into the scorpion’s abdomen like a streak of light, a web of cracks spread across the pale Armor Shell of its underbelly.

"Ice Technique: Ice Crystal Mirror!"