My Cultivation Has a Progress Bar

Jinhua Prefecture City.

Around the Golden Body Divine Statue of the Xiao Shan Lord, altars were arranged. The four surrounding censers were filled with burning incense and candles. Golden Armored Soldiers stood majestically on both sides of the street. Behind them, the common people looked excited, yet they remained quiet, piously praying for their heart’s desires.

To the left below the altars stood Cultivators in various styles of wide-sleeved Daoist Robes. Their expressions were solemn and dignified. Holding either Dusters or Magical Artifacts, they all narrowed their eyes to slits, as if gazing at the tips of their noses, listening to the prayers being read aloud by Ganxing, Zhi Gong, Hu Yin, and Yunshan up ahead.

At the forefront of the group on the left stood Liu Jie, dressed in a python-patterned robe. Behind him were the newly appointed Civil and Military Officials. Like the common people nearby, they were bowed, listening intently.

The recitation of the prayers lasted for half an hour. Some of the ministers were already feeling faint from standing, but they remained in high spirits.

Next, the Sect Leaders of various sects led their disciples in circling the Golden Body Divine Statue of the Xiao Shan Lord while chanting Taoist Scriptures. The first to appear was the Six Heart Sect, represented by Zi Luan’s disciple, Hongyuan, who took the place of the Sect Leader. Xiu Yu’s disciple, Qingjiang, followed close behind.

The second group to appear was Qianmu Temple, led by Yu Cheng Taoist. Behind him were the Deans of Qianmu Temple’s various courts, with Shen Xiaozhu, Xia Wen Yi, and Liu Shuang at the forefront of the group.

This process continued until noon.

Finally, it was Duke Liu Jie’s turn. He first stood piously below the altar and performed the great ceremony of three kneelings and nine kowtows. Afterward, he proclaimed to all under heaven:

"Six hundred years ago, the Celestial Destiny Zhenren descended upon Ningzhou and became the common ruler of the world. He passed down his Divine Techniques to his descendants for over thirty generations, but today, that heavenly mandate has ended."

"Now, heroes contend and the common people suffer. I, a humble military man from Nanlin, have been blessed by the favor of two Saints and the grace of the Lord. Nominated by the people of the world, I have gathered heroes and talents at my side. In the four lands of Nanlin, Mozhou, Hai Zhou, and Ningzhou, I have established the nation of Chu. I have set the era name to Yuan Yongxing. I have posthumously honored four generations of my ancestors as Dukes and established an ancestral temple, honoring the Lord as the temple’s supreme deity. And now, I re-establish the state in Jinhuai."

"I hereby announce to the world: Those who honor my name are my allies. All who oppose me are my enemies!"

When the proclamation was finished, streams of golden light fell from the sky. The light carried with it a fragrant aroma that washed over the crowd, and within it, faint musical notes could be heard.

This was the legendary celestial music and celestial qi.

Then, above the Golden Body Divine Statue, a projection that was both illusory and real appeared. His entire body was wreathed in golden light as he floated cross-legged above Jinhuai Prefecture, and before him sat three figures, their eyes closed in deep meditation.

This was the projection of the Xiao Shan Lord. The three people meditating before him were, of course, Zi Luan, Xiu Yu, and Wang Ping.

"Good!"

As the Xiao Shan Lord’s voice spread, the projection in the sky quickly faded, leaving only the pious prayers of several million people throughout the city.

...

The grand ceremony in Jinhua Prefecture City gradually began to affect other regions as time went on.

First was the Qi-Yang Regime established by Yang Kui. They immediately sent reinforcements to the South Bank of the Nong River and launched several fierce assaults against the Court’s army on the north bank before the onset of winter.

It seemed he wanted to be the first to open a path northward, to prove that he was the one with the heavenly mandate.

But half a month into winter, Yang Kui suddenly passed away. The imperial throne passed to his nephew, Yang Min, who was titled Emperor Jianwu. Although this emperor’s title contained the character for "martial," upon his ascension he immediately ordered the frontline soldiers to withdraw to their defensive zones.

The Court, however, did not send troops in pursuit, nor did it take the opportunity of a new emperor’s ascension to launch a counterattack. This was because the Court faced many problems of its own. While the various Rebel Armies had gradually been pacified over time, regional powers had grown too strong to control. Even the Imperial Guard stationed in Anqing Prefecture was having second thoughts.

However, because of these mutual restraints, the world unexpectedly entered a rare and delicate state of balance.

Time flew by, and in the blink of an eye, three years had passed.

「In the beginning of the third year of Yongxing, also known as early Yuanding 28th Year.」

Princess Xia Yao of the Yunhai Grassland suddenly led two battalions of elite troops back to Shangjing City, frightening the Qi Army in Pingzhou Road into immediately dispatching fifty thousand reinforcements to the border.

After returning to Shangjing City and personally presiding over the summer sacrificial rites, Princess Xia Yao issued an order in the name of the Cabinet to the Qingpu Road Governor’s Mansion, dispatching sixty thousand Government Soldiers from Qingpu Road to the south.

The Qingpu Road Governor’s Mansion received the order and, within half a month, completed the assembly of the sixty-thousand-strong army and began marching toward the Nong River.

Subsequently, Princess Xia Yao appointed two Vice Ministers from the Ministry of Revenue as Imperial Envoys. She sent them to Beiyuan Road and Qingpu Road, respectively, to audit the agricultural taxes of previous years and requisition sufficient military provisions. She also dispatched an envoy to Anqing Prefecture.

This series of actions immediately drew the attention of all the major powers in Zhongzhou.

But this time, Xia Yao followed the noble path of a true ruler, employing no schemes or tricks. In just half a year, she brought Anqing, Beiyuan, and Qingpu Road back under the Court’s control.

「After the autumn harvest.」

The Court launched a counteroffensive against the Qi-Yang Regime in Pingzhou Road, with the sixty-thousand-strong army from Qingpu Road as its vanguard.

At that moment, everyone knew that the final, decisive battle for the future of Zhongzhou was perhaps just around the corner.

...

「Baisui Lake.」

In Hu Qianqian’s Dao Field, things had become much quieter ever since Hu Xin formed her "Fake Pill" and went out to gain experience. Compared to the bustling world outside, Baisui Lake now seemed exceptionally desolate.

When she had nothing to do, Hu Qianqian loved to run wild in her true form through the two nearby forests, which were growing denser by the day. She would leap onto an old tree and listen quietly to the sound of the wind, or she would return to Baisui Lake and take a long nap on her soft cloud bed.

Today, she had run another lap through the forest, and her snow-white fur was covered in mud. She did it on purpose. She loved jumping into Baisui Lake caked in mud and then comfortably washing it all off. She enjoyed the process.

She finished cleaning her fur and sat down in her master’s favorite fishing spot, elegantly grooming her damp coat. Suddenly, a fox more than five feet long landed on the gravel square behind her, accompanied by a gust of demonic energy.

It was Hu Xin.

The moment she saw Hu Qianqian, she bounded over, flopped down beside her, and cried, "Master!"

Hu Qianqian’s blue eyes shifted. Noticing a wound on Hu Xin’s back, she asked, "You’re injured?"

"It’s nothing. I got into a fight with a Tiger Demon. He’s in worse shape than I am!"

"Heh."

As the two spoke, several other white foxes scampered over. Soon, they had surrounded Hu Xin, asking her for the goodies she had brought back from the outside world.

Hu Xin actually pulled all sorts of toys from her storage pouch, delighting the other white foxes so much that they rolled around on the sandy shore of the lake.

After they were done playing, Hu Xin ran back to Hu Qianqian to talk about serious matters. "Lately in Mianzhu County, there have been frequent clashes between our kin and Human Cultivators. I heard there were casualties on both sides. The Demon Realm sent some people to Ningzhou Road. It seems they want to incite our kin in the forests to encircle Shanwu Road."

During her years of training, she had often gone to Ningzhou Road, partly to visit her hometown and partly to gather intelligence on Shanwu Road.

"Some of our kin have already agreed, but Senior Hu Yin hasn’t given his approval. I’ve heard them say that our people in Ningzhou Road are about to split, and a portion of them will return to the Demon Realm."

After listening to all this, Hu Qianqian thought for a long while before asking, "Is there anything else?"

Hu Xin’s eyes darted about, and she lowered her voice. "I heard their target is the True Yang Sect!"

"Are you sure?"

"It’s just what I heard, but I’d say it’s about ninety percent certain."

At this moment, Hu Qianqian recalled what Zuo Xuan had told her before: that her master had said the ’variable’ would lie with the Demon Race. ’Perhaps this is what he meant—the Demon Race attacking the True Yang Sect.’

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