The Programmer Cultivator

Chapter 431: Chapter 72: Li Gui Meets Li Kui?

An exceptionally powerful pressure made everyone’s heart clench.

Li Shifan was the most nervous. A single glance told him this was another case of someone calling for backup. Normally, calling for help during a fight was nothing special—after all, he had been the first to do it.

But when Elder Huang had appeared, the light effects were subtle and his presence was silent, almost imperceptible. Compared to this new arrival, they didn’t seem to be on the same level. He started to panic.

Elder Huang’s expression faltered for a moment. He had a strange thought. ’Am I the fake Li Gui who’s just run into the real Li Kui?’

’Has a fake Outer Body Incarnation met a true Outer Body Incarnation Cultivator?’

The pause was brief. Elder Huang’s expression quickly returned to one of indifference. With another flick of his hand, he said, "Such arrogance. Today, I will see what happens when I make a move."

As Elder Huang waved his hand, a ripple of Spiritual Power swept through the countless motes of Spiritual Light that were coalescing.

The motes, which had just begun to form a humanoid shape, scattered and swirled in disarray before rapidly converging again, their speed countless times faster than before.

’Only Three Talents Human Realm Cultivation?’

After sensing the Incarnation’s Cultivation, Elder Huang made no further moves. The heart that had been in his throat settled back down. He clasped his hands behind his back, his white hair dancing in the wind, and quietly watched the points of light converge.

Within a few breaths, a middle-aged man materialized from the points of light. The moment he fully formed, the difference in their abilities was immediately apparent.

Although Elder Huang had also chosen to manifest as an Energy Body, his looked just like a real person.

The middle-aged man, however, was different. Though his form was clear, it was an unstable Energy Body, like a holographic Mirror Image—albeit one solidified by condensed Spiritual Power.

Elder Huang waited for the man to fully coalesce before looking at him and asking, "It was I who moved against your disciple. What are you going to do about it?"

The man stared at Elder Huang, stunned. He clearly hadn’t expected that upon manifesting his Incarnation, he would be met by another Incarnation—especially one whose Cultivation was obviously higher than his own.

Of course, due to differences in the Equal Tier of the Incarnation Technique, one’s level of practice, and one’s degree of Mastery, an Incarnation being stronger than his didn’t necessarily mean the Main Body was stronger as well.

But his Incarnation was only at the Human Realm. His opponent’s was not only at the Peak of the Celestial Realm, but it was also so complete it was as if it had been formed right here on the spot, completely unaffected by distance.

The aura of this Incarnation felt a bit strange, unlike the Outer Body Incarnation Technique from his own lineage. But while Incarnation Techniques in Hongmeng were rare, that was only in comparison to the sea of other Techniques. There were more than a few Incarnation Techniques he had never seen before.

All things considered, he thought, ’there’s a good chance this person is much stronger than I am.’

He didn’t retort immediately. Instead, his face darkened. He turned to Xu Baiqing and demanded, "What happened?"

Xu Baiqing had been on edge ever since Xu Jialiang activated the Protective Talisman. When the middle-aged man questioned him, he stammered nervously, "Reporting to the Ancestor, this... this is..."

But Xu Jialiang was like a newborn calf unafraid of a tiger. In his mind, the Ancestor was the most powerful person in the world, second to none.

He pointed at Elder Huang and the others. "Ancestor, they were bullying the weak with their numbers! They..."

Xu Baiqing’s face fell. Horrified, he reached out and clamped a hand over Xu Jialiang’s mouth.

Hearing this, Elder Huang’s expression turned cold. "Hmph. What a show of bravado. I let it slide before because of your youth, but you dare to spout such lies right to my face? Do you really think I won’t make a move against you?"

With that, Elder Huang flicked his sleeve at him again.

The middle-aged man, Xu Chengrui, moved, placing himself directly in front of Xu Jialiang and effortlessly blocking Elder Huang’s casual attack.

Xu Chengrui’s face then darkened slightly. "Fellow Daoist, you are of a considerable age. To attack a ten-year-old child... surely that is beneath someone of your status?"

Elder Huang stared at him coldly. "Quite some nerve you have. Not only did you attempt to rob my disciple, but now what? You expect me to apologize and admit fault? Or should I just let my disciple be robbed by the likes of you?

"As for me bullying the young—if I had truly wanted to harm him, would you have even had time to show up?

"With that half-baked Outer Body Incarnation Technique of yours, in the time it took you to get here, I could have killed him several times over."

Xu Chengrui was taken aback. His expression darkened, and he turned around. "What happened?"

Xu Baiqing said in a panic, "Ancestor... well... your disciple..."

Seeing Xu Baiqing’s expression and reaction, Xu Chengrui had a good idea of what had really happened. His face as grim as still water, he said, "I’ll deal with you when we get back."

He then turned back to Elder Huang. "I am Xu Chengrui, Master of the Cyan Forest Institute at Quanzhen Temple. It is a pleasure to meet you, Fellow Daoist. You look unfamiliar. May I ask where you cultivate?"

Elder Huang said coldly, "There’s no need for that. I wouldn’t dare try to scale the high walls of your Quanzhen Temple’s Blessed Land. As one of the four great temples of the Hongmeng Holy Land, I am not worthy of your acquaintance."

Xu Chengrui frowned slightly. "Fellow Daoist, why lose your composure over the affairs of juniors? It is somewhat unbecoming."

Elder Huang’s eyes grew cold. "Heh. It’s only ’becoming’ when I decide to give you face. If I choose not to, what do you think I am?

"What, you really intend to fight me? With that half-assed Incarnation? Such audacity!"

Xu Chengrui’s brow furrowed deeply. Seeing Elder Huang’s demeanor, he lost any intention of being friendly. "In that case, Fellow Daoist, how do you propose we handle today’s matter?"

"You ask me how to handle it?" Elder Huang looked at Xu Chengrui. "If I hadn’t come today, my disciple would have been trapped by yours. Not only would his treasures have been stolen, but I imagine he’d also have been subjected to having his tendons pulled out and his soul refined. That would be the natural course of events, right? Why don’t I let my disciple give it a try on yours?"