The Programmer Cultivator

Chapter 125 - 9: Let’s Elope

Seeing Zhang Deming’s confident expression and realizing he had a plan, Panx Juan’er fell silent.

She silently began working to circulate her Spiritual Power, trying to expel the strange interference within her and restore its chaotic flow.

While running, Zhang Deming and Panx Juan’er’s ears twitched simultaneously, and they turned to look back.

In the distance, four figures swiftly appeared in the sky, flying toward them.

"They’re using Magical Artifacts similar to jetpacks," Panx Juan’er said.

Zhang Deming’s expression turned grim. It seemed that even without its Black Technology, the pure science of the Celestial Universe Federation was at least an entire era ahead of his past life.

He quickly jumped down from the tree and ducked back into the bushes. This time, however, Zhang Deming didn’t break into a run.

Instead, he raised a Spiritual Shield, enveloping them both. Outside the Shield, vines and the gray mist of the Hidden Breath Skill rapidly wrapped around him.

Then, Zhang Deming moved carefully, completely concealing himself in the shadows of the trees within moments.

In less than two minutes, their four pursuers had arrived. They landed on a large tree, scanning the area with tactical visors for a moment.

Jicao frowned and said, "Captain, it’s in this area. The trail went completely cold."

Pang De started to say, "It must be—"

"Watch out!"

Before Pang De could finish his sentence, Yiding tackled him, and they fell from the tree.

Jicao and Shan Honglai also leaped away, dodging swiftly.

From the woods, several vines shot out, lashing toward the men.

As the four dodged, they almost simultaneously pressed something at their waists. Four Energy Shields, somewhat similar to Zhang Deming’s Spiritual Shield, slowly materialized.

Once the Shields were fully formed, the men stopped dodging and began firing continuously at the vines.

The four of them stood back-to-back and fired, but it had little effect. Instead, they were on the verge of being surrounded by the vines.

"Ordinary bullets are useless! This is Druid Magic! Switch to blades!" Seeing this, the experienced captain, Shan Honglai, commanded.

The four instantly put away their guns, drew their Quantum Energy Blades, and began rapidly hacking at the vines.

The situation was instantly reversed; the vines that had been unstoppable were now being rapidly chopped apart.

Watching from the shadows, Zhang Deming felt a deep sense of frustration. ’This gear gap is just ridiculous.’

With a flicker of his Heart Spirit, countless vines began to swarm, no longer trying to encircle the men, but lashing out at them ceaselessly.

The four men continuously fended off the vines, their tactical visors rapidly scanning for the target.

After a few strikes, Zhang Deming realized their Energy Shields were no weaker than his own Spiritual Shield.

Seeing this, Zhang Deming frowned. But just a moment later, he paused in surprise.

After a moment of frantic hacking, even though Zhang Deming hadn’t landed many hits on their Energy Shields, red warning lights began to flash at their waists almost simultaneously.

Hmm?

Looking at the familiar red glow, Zhang Deming instantly recognized it as a warning.

’Are they overloading? Too much power draw?’

’So that means these Energy Shields are still cutting-edge tech, not as convenient as my Spiritual Shield.’

’This thing... it’s probably not meant for continuous defense. It shouldn’t be kept active constantly, right?’

His thoughts raced, connecting this to the common sense of his past life.

’Once I get rid of these turtle shells... With my knowledge of technology, if I play my cards right, they’re just well-armed regular people. Strength built on equipment is a fatal flaw if it lacks a robust defense system, especially against a Cultivator like me, whose power is his own.’

’Even in my current state, I can think of several ways to deal with them.’

Seeing a glimmer of hope, Zhang Deming abandoned the thought of quietly slipping away.

He began to burn through his Spiritual Power, rapidly conjuring wave after wave of vines to whip at the four men.

After about three minutes of this, the alarm at the Energy Shield button on their waists was no longer flashing but shining a solid red.

"Old Pang, the Quantum Pulse Bomb!" Yiding said quickly, looking down at the Energy Shield alarm on his waist.

"Didn’t that have no effect before?" Pang De asked.

"We’ve even activated our Quantum Shields, which only official personnel have right now. If it were really one of us, they’d have spotted the issue by now. They wouldn’t still be hiding, not even showing their face. So it’s definitely not our people. At worst, it’s someone from one of the mega-corporations. In that case, dodging the pulse before was probably a fluke or some other trick. It doesn’t mean they’re immune," Yiding said rapidly.

Hearing this, Pang De turned to look at Shan Honglai beside him.

The team had brought two pieces of One-Star Black Technology for insurance this time. One was already used, and the one he had was the last.

When Shan Honglai saw Pang De’s questioning look, he nodded. "Use it! As long as it’s not an official Dark Pawn, it’s not trouble we can’t clean up."

At that, Pang De quickly pulled a cylindrical grenade from his waist.

He pulled the pin and threw it.

Hiding in the shadows, Zhang Deming saw the familiar object, and his gaze sharpened.

Before he could put up a defense, the grenade erupted with a powerful energy pulse.

Under the pulse, Zhang Deming’s Spiritual Shield instantly rippled like water, and then, with a POP, it vanished.

"Ngh..."

"Eep..."

Zhang Deming and Ling’er grunted in pain at the same time. Having been mentally prepared, and with the Spiritual Shield absorbing part of the blast, neither of them passed out this time.

The Spiritual Power in Zhang Deming’s body was instantly thrown into chaos, and the snake-like vines formed by his Technique instantly dissolved into specks of light.