My Cultivation Has a Progress Bar

The Southern Region, which had been quiet for two years, suddenly became active.

This made the neighboring Liangjiang Region and the Qi-Yang Regime somewhat nervous. The Court in Shangjing City was even more concerned, immediately dispatching spies.

They soon received an incredibly shocking piece of news: the South was also going to establish its own court!

And the news that followed was even more shocking: they were actually using a vote to decide who would control the Divine Artifact.

For a time, the world was in an uproar.

Upon hearing the news, Xia Yao immediately wrote a letter to Wang Ping. Although she knew the letter would most likely not reach his hands at this moment, she still had a trusted subordinate send it out, holding on to a sliver of hope.

When Yang Kui of Qi Country heard about it, he became even more nervous than the Xia Imperial Family in Shangjing City. He actually sent an envoy, intending to reprimand the South’s "barbaric rudeness" in his capacity as Emperor. However, his envoy couldn’t find anyone to reprimand. In the end, a few clerks from the Nanlin Road Inspectorate exposed his identity, and he was given a sound beating on the street by a group of young masters from the great families.

Yang Kui’s anxiety and worry were not unfounded. Once the South became independent, it would inevitably push north. If that happened, Pingzhou Road and Yunjiang Road would be caught between two fronts.

But all he could do was send an envoy or two to state his position.

Compared to Yang Kui’s impotent rage, the Court acted with a degree of decorum. They submitted a formal letter of negotiation through the Hai Zhou Governor’s Mansion and the Inspectorate. However, the talks ended on bad terms, and they ultimately lost control of both the Hai Zhou Governor’s Mansion and the Inspectorate.

In the end, the Court requested that the Daoist Scripture Hall convene a high-level council. Unfortunately, not a single one of the true decision-makers showed up. Several ministers from the Cabinet went to the Daoist Scripture Hall headquarters in person, only to discover that in the entire, vast complex, there wasn’t a single Third Realm Cultivator. There were only a pitiful two Second Realm Cultivators.

"The Daoist Scripture Hall is dead in all but name!"

Zhong You, the Minister of Political Affairs and Minister of the Ministry of Rites, murmured this soft lament as he walked out of the Daoist Scripture Hall’s main gate, gazing up at the sky over Shangjing City, which was shrouded in a golden, flowing light.

His words quickly spread throughout all of Zhongzhou.

By the time the news reached Zuo Xuan’s ears, it was the evening of the third day of the seventh month. She was in the middle of a discussion about the next day’s ceremony with the Pacification Envoys and Patrol Envoys from the other three roads’ Daoist Scripture Halls. Wu Quan, Ganxing, three other Third Realm Cultivators, and two powerful demons were also in attendance as honored guests.

When those present heard this news, some were secretly pleased, some were worried, and others were simply gloating.

In truth, one could get a glimpse of the current state of the Daoist Scripture Hall just by looking at who was participating in Zuo Xuan’s meeting. There was clearly a severe hierarchy based on status. For example, Liu Shuang was merely a Second Realm junior, yet she held the high position of Patrol Envoy, while people like Wu Quan and Ganxing could only watch in silence.

"The Daoist Scripture Hall will not perish. Once order is restored in Zhongzhou, it will continue to exist in another form." The speaker was Zhi Gong Daoist, the Newly Appointed Pacification Envoy of Mozhou Road, who had the appearance of an old crone. She spoke slowly but firmly after hearing the news.

The moment Zhi Gong Daoist finished speaking, Wu Quan, who was sitting opposite her, let out a disdainful sneer. This was due to the mutual animosity within the Earth Cave Sect, not because he disagreed with her words.

"Since the Daoist Scripture Hall has already disbanded, is there any need for us to sit here and discuss this?"

A Snake Demon seated at the far end of the table spoke, his voice tinged with mockery. Combined with the unique sharpness inherent in a snake demon’s voice, it was enough to make an ordinary person’s teeth chatter.

Zuo Xuan lifted her teacup and smiled. "If Senior Bai Xi has other matters to attend to, you may leave first."

Her attitude was polite, her tone relaxed.

The Snake Demon was about to speak when a Fox Demon next to him, her fur already graying, spoke in the voice of an old crone. "Left Patrol Envoy Zuo, you jest. From the very beginning, we have followed the orders of the Xiao Shan Lord, regardless of whether the Daoist Scripture Hall exists or not." She cupped her hands in the direction of the Six Heart Sect. "It was the Xiao Shan Lord who took pity on us back then, allowing us a place to live here in Zhongzhou. We will never forget this kindness, even in death!"

If Wang Ping had been present, he would have recognized this Fox Demon as the very one who had helped him in Ningzhou Road.

After hearing the Fox Demon’s words, the Snake Demon Bai Xi chose to remain silent. His expression was no longer as spirited as before; it seemed he had completely lost interest in the meeting.

"Senior Hu Yin, you overstate things!"

After this polite remark, Zuo Xuan got down to business. "First, tomorrow at 5:15 AM, we will all enter the city through the South City Gate. We will lead the cultivators from the various sects down Zheng Street and arrive precisely at the sacrificial site at 7:15 AM. The opening invocation for the ceremony will be jointly read by Senior Zhi Gong, Senior Ganxing, Senior Hu Yin, and Fellow Daoist Yunshan..."

These four individuals represented the orthodox Mystic Sects, the Loose Cultivators, the Demon Race, and the Star God Alliance, respectively.

Zuo Xuan finished explaining the entire procedure they had discussed in one go, then asked if anyone had any objections.

There was a brief silence before Ganxing spoke up uncertainly, "Have the great families still not chosen who will be the Duke?"

The Ningzhou Road Pacification Envoy, Taishan, gave a soft chuckle. He shifted his rather portly body slightly and replied, "Don’t you worry. They’ll definitely have it sorted out by tomorrow morning. And if they don’t, we’ll just push someone up there."

His casual tone made many people frown, while others secretly watched on in amusement.

The great families of the Southern Four Roads had gathered together. After ten days of discussion, they decided to use the title of "Duke" instead of "Emperor." This was a suggestion made by the students and professors of Zhonghui Academy, based on ancient customs. The name of the new country was determined to be "Chu."

But they simply could not settle on a candidate for the Duke. For the first four of the remaining five days, they did nothing but argue. Only tonight did they quiet down to seriously consider who to nominate.

It wasn’t just them pulling an all-nighter. Throughout the Prefecture City, every household had hung up lanterns and decorations. Countless people waited all night in the streets and alleys for the next day’s ceremony. The sky was constantly being marked by temporary flight permits, forcing Zuo Xuan to dispatch cultivators from the guard team to set up reception points in the skies around Jinhua Prefecture City.

Furthermore, the long dragons formed by the torches of commoners coming from all over to participate in the ceremony stretched for dozens of miles along the four main roads leading to Jinhua Prefecture City.

Despite so many people gathering, the city was not boisterous. Instead, it maintained a kind of sacred silence.

In this sacred silence, the bright moonlight shifted across the sky. Before anyone realized it, the time had reached 3:15 AM. At last, the great families from all regions finally nominated a candidate.

It was Liu Jie of the Governor’s Mansion of Nanlin Road. He had accumulated considerable prestige during the recent rebellion. Moreover, the Liu Family had been vigorously developing its influence over the years, extending its power throughout the Southern Four Roads.

However, the original written form of his name was considered unfitting for a Duke. So, on the eve of his ascension, he adopted a new, more auspicious character for it that shared the same pronunciation.

Liu Jie’s nomination came with a long list of conditions. For instance, six other great families were also chosen to swear a blood oath with the Liu Family. In the future, the position of Chancellor of Chu Country would rotate among these six families. The Wang Family, descendants of Wang Ping’s bloodline, was one of these six.

And so, Liu Jie, who just a moment ago had been organizing patrols of Government Soldiers, was now being dragged by his family elders into the Duke’s Palace—a temporary conversion of the Inspectorate. His measurements were taken, and in less than Half an Hour, a set of ducal robes that had been prepared long ago was slightly altered and fitted onto him.

The process was filled with absurdity, yet it was also incredibly solemn!

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