Programmer Within a Cultivation World

A hiss curled through the air, muted but distinct. Then there was the movement of something enormous, its body scraping along the ground in slow, labored movements.

"Damn it," Abel cursed, his gaze fixed on the giant figure in front of him.

Its coat shone like a pearl lying in the bottom of the ocean—luminous, as smooth as jade. Every one of its pale scales reflected the golden light seeping through the trees in subtle ways. It was all white, from head to tail, except for its blood-red eyes and the pale purple tongue darting between its fangs.

As the serpent wrapped around the girth of a massive tree, its eyes never wavered from Abel.

The vision was so stunning, so unexpected, that Abel did not have time to be awed by its magnificence. But even as it loomed before him with an otherworldly, gigantic presence, something familiar struck him. A flash of thought went through his mind—*Northern Jade Snake*.

He had seen one previously. No, he had actually owned one in his manor, although a much smaller one. The beast was valued for its looks, harmless and delicate. But he never thought that it could reach such enormous proportions. 

"It's like two buses stacked together," Abel whispered in awe.

The snake stayed still, eyes fixed on him, as if cautious.

"Is it hesitating?" Abel narrowed his eyes. 

*Smart for a demonic beast,* he thought, suppressing a grin. 

Perhaps because he was already familiar with this species, the fear he should have felt never came. Instead, an odd excitement coursed through his veins. 

"It seems like I'll finally get to use my fire for real."

Abel and the serpent did not move, waiting for the other to take the initiative. Their tension curled like a drawn-out bowstring. 

Then, not able to contain himself anymore, the snake struck.

Its huge mouth stretched wide, releasing a thick, foul saliva. Its two fangs protruded to their longest length, glinting under the light. But Abel was quicker.

He shoved off the branch just in time, jumping to a different tree. His actions were calculated—controlled. The instant he landed, he noticed something.

"It's… slow," Abel grumbled.

Considering its sheer bulk, the snake's speed was insignificant compared to its frightening presence. To his eyes, it was moving in slow motion.

The instant its fangs hit, the tree trunk burst apart, splinters flying in all directions. But to Abel's surprise, the tree stood firm, as if not even touched.

*As to be expected. The Northern Jade Snake is not special other than its looks.*

But one thing puzzled him—how had this specific one lived long enough to grow to such a gargantuan size?

Abel stretched out, calling upon his fire. It hung in the air before him, its heat cozy, almost pleasant. Then, as if destroying something intangible, he wrenched his fist around it. 

**BANG.** 

A immense power burst, surrounding his frame like a guard of protection.

*I can feel it…*

The instinct of what to do next was a natural one to him, as if the flame had existed inside of him to begin with. His eyes went a ghostly white and symbols—ancient, complex—appeared in the air.

"If I alter this… and this…"

His fingers danced with precision, fingers threading through the air as if typing on an invisible keyboard.

The snake struck once again, its huge body hiding the sky from view. But Abel did not blink. He was somewhere else, in his head lost to the beat of creation.

And then, the last instant that the serpent's jaws were big enough to encompass him whole, Abel stared full into its ruby eyes and hissed:

"Eat this."

The air symbols condensed into a blazing net, hurtling forward with awful velocity. When it hit the snake, the flames did not spread as regular fire would. Rather, it grew—distorting, twisting—until it became a net that encircled the creature's head and portion of its body.

The Northern Jade Snake lashed wildly, its huge body vibrating the earth beneath. But however hard it fought, the fire alone adhered to it as a blight.

The snake's body, once so white, started to rust. The beautiful, jade-colored scales darkened, breaking down to show raw, exposed flesh beneath. Its struggles became weaker, its resistance slower.

Abel's body shook. His breathing became ragged.

"Please." he breathed. 

Sustaining this power drained his energy with alarming speed. He could feel his life itself being devoured. The longer he retained it, the more his strength drained away. 

Then, at last, the snake remained still.

Abel let out a trembling breath, his eyes blurring. He felt brittle in his body, his skin unhealthily parched, as if he'd aged decades in seconds. Even his previously dark hair was now pale.

A grim epiphany hit him.

*I see… It's not just wonderful power. There's a cost.*

Because he did not have qi as a result of his shattered dantian, something else must power his skills. The solution was obvious—his **life essence**.

Before he could even think about this anymore, something unusual occurred.

At his back, the blue ring that had materialized earlier reappeared. But this time, it was less vibrant, its shine weak.

The ring started to spin. Faster. Faster. Then, like a whirlpool, it sucked in the dead body of the snake.

The body dissolved into nothing.

Abel stood there, shocked.

And then—his energy came back.

His weakened body felt rejuvenated. The drained life force had been restored as if it had never been drained.

His heart thudded.

"This ring… it sucked up the life energy of a deceased beast?"

His thoughts whirled with the possibilities.

If he could replenish his life energy constantly by sucking up fallen animals, then…

A sly grin spread slowly across his face.

"It's like destiny is compelling me to be a leech."