My Cultivation Has a Progress Bar

Wang Ping did not choose the Central Army Camp west of Laishan as his command center. Instead, he used Thorny Vines to build a temporary Dao Field on the summit of Laishan for meditative cultivation. From there, he could directly observe the smoke-shrouded True Yang Mountain.

The other seven Third Realm Cultivators each found their own way, erecting temporary Dao Fields beside Wang Ping’s and gazing out at True Yang Mountain in the distance.

For the first three days after his arrival at Laishan, Wang Ping issued no orders. Military affairs were handled in his stead by Zuo Xuan and Liu Shuang. Then, one morning, Hu Qianqian found Wang Ping meditating on the summit, a secret letter in hand.

"The Grandmaster had this sent over through internal affairs."

Hu Qianqian waited for Wang Ping to emerge from his meditation before making her report. She was helping manage all intelligence for the war, as she was sometimes needed to coordinate with the Demon Race.

Wang Ping didn’t immediately take the letter. Instead, he instinctively checked on Yu Lian’s condition. Her soul was stable and steadily growing stronger. Perhaps it wouldn’t be long before she could condense a Primordial Spirit.

After confirming that Yu Lian was fine, Wang Ping extended his left hand. With a gentle flick of his fingers, Wood Spirit Qi coiled around the letter Hu Qianqian held out, delivering it steadily into his hand.

Just as Wang Ping expected, it was a secret message from Wen Yang, written in code and sent via a private channel.

In the letter, Wen Yang stated clearly that the True Yang Sect could dispatch ten Third Realm Cultivators at most. Three of them had to remain garrisoned in the eastern mountains to guard against Xiu Yu in the Liangjiang Region. He also revealed that the True Yang Sect was adopting a purely defensive strategy.

While the intelligence was important, Wang Ping wasn’t satisfied. What he really wanted to know was what he would face if he actually managed to conquer True Yang Mountain.

But he knew that even Wen Yang himself was unlikely to have that information.

Wang Ping gave the letter a slight shake, and the paper disintegrated into dust, scattering on the wind. He then looked toward the opposing True Yang Mountain and asked, "When will the army be fully assembled?"

"We still need another half a month," Hu Qianqian responded.

"How is the training of the assembled troops?" Wang Ping asked again.

"It’s going very smoothly."

"If I were to order an attack on True Yang Mountain right now, would it be effective?"

"That’s something I’m not clear on, Master. You would have to ask Daoist Taishan, Senior Sister Liu Shuang, or Senior Zuo Xuan."

"Then have them come here."

"Yes, Master."

In less than a quarter of an hour, Zuo Xuan, Taishan, Wenhai, and Liu Yu—the highest commander of the Chu Kingdom Court’s forces in the area—appeared before the vine hut where Wang Ping was meditating.

Wang Ping asked them the same question he had just asked Hu Qianqian.

Taishan stepped forward to answer on their behalf. "The war was called hastily, so most of the Chu Country’s elite forces are stationed at Bin Pass. The troops we have assembled, while well-equipped, lack real combat experience—especially in coordinating with Arrays. After a month of training, we only have about two battalions that could be considered barely combat-ready."

"Our reconnaissance shows that the True Yang Sect is in a similar situation. They can commit fifty thousand elite soldiers at most, with another twenty thousand in reserve. This reserve force is assembled at the base of True Yang Mountain’s main peak and can reinforce any battle in the region within five days."

"Furthermore, there is the comparison of our logistical supply lines..."

Wang Ping waved a hand, cutting him off. He looked at Taishan with a gentle expression and said, "Fellow Daoist, just tell me one thing: should we attack? I will defer to your arrangements."

Taishan was taken aback. He met Wang Ping’s gaze and chuckled. "Don’t set me up with such praise, Fellow Daoist. Why not let Patrol Envoy Liu enlighten you?"

Hearing his response, Wang Ping couldn’t help but tease, "What happened to your usual carefree attitude, Fellow Daoist?"

"Heh, don’t you start with me. I never wanted any part of this mess with the Xiao Shan Lord in the first place. But I was tricked into taking the post of Pacification Envoy for Ningzhou Road. Looking back, it seems you were all in on it, setting me up from the start, weren’t you?"

Taishan was a disciple from the branch of the Xiao Shan Lord’s senior brother’s lineage. Within the Six Heart Sect, he had tried to remain above worldly affairs. His position was respected, and he lived a carefree life, though he lacked access to cultivation resources.

When Wang Ping was first ordered to investigate the Crescent Mountain case, he had discovered that Xiu Yu and Zi Luan were behind it, casting spells on each other. In the end, the Xiao Shan Lord had given Taishan control of Ningzhou Road. At the time, Taishan had been overjoyed to take the post.

Over the years, Taishan had moved nearly all the disciples from his branch to Ningzhou Road to build their foundation there. Meanwhile, the Six Heart Sect had fallen completely under the control of the Xiao Shan Lord’s own branch. That was why Taishan claimed he’d been tricked.

Wang Ping chuckled softly and changed the subject. He knew Taishan was just posturing; Taishan was likely eager for an excuse to break away from the Xiao Shan Lord.

"You, speak," Wang Ping said, turning to Liu Shuang and ending his banter with Taishan.

"Yes, Master."

Liu Shuang bowed, then paused for several breaths to gather her thoughts before she began. "Our front line against the True Yang Sect spans eight hundred thirty-two li. Daoist Xiu Yu is responsible for three hundred ninety-two li of that front."

"The section of the front we’re responsible for consists mostly of rugged, mountainous forests. Along this long, narrow front are three critical points: Pingshan to the west, Laishan in the center, and Lishan to the east."

"Before Pingshan lies a vast, open plain. The troops stationed there are primarily the Government Army, with command coordinated by one of General Liu Yu’s governors. Lishan’s terrain is a mix of rivers and mountain forests, garrisoned mainly by the allied forces of the Demon Race. Command there is coordinated by a disciple of Senior Hu Yin."

"Finally, there is Laishan, our current position. It is the most critical point. If we can break the True Yang Sect’s front line here, we can march directly on the main peak of True Yang Mountain. Alternatively, we could lure their entire main force here for a decisive battle."

Liu Shuang paused. "In a head-on, decisive battle, our odds of victory are much higher. But that’s on one condition..." She looked up at Wang Ping. "And that condition is that no unconventional forces interfere in the war."

Wang Ping nodded slightly. "So, you’re all saying we can attack?"

"Yes. And it must be a three-pronged attack," Liu Shuang said with conviction. "Our current intelligence suggests the initial phase will be a fierce stalemate. Both sides will be locked in a war of attrition for two to three months. But attrition is a war we can win. If necessary, we can mobilize an army of five hundred thousand from the rear, not to mention the hundred thousand Demon Race troops ready for battle at a moment’s notice."

As soon as Liu Shuang finished her confident reply, Zuo Xuan quickly added, "The commanders at Pingshan and Lishan have submitted their attack plans in the last few days. Their morale is high."

Wang Ping’s gaze settled on Taishan. "In that case, I will be counting on you, Fellow Daoist Taishan."

Taishan nodded and said nothing more.

「The next day.」

Liu Shuang came to Wang Ping with a detailed plan of attack. After a brief review, Wang Ping handed her the Identity Token he carried with him.

On the morning of the ninth day of the seventh month, the sky was a vast, cloudless blue.

From the Laishan encampment, a Vanguard Army of ten thousand strong began to move. As orders were barked out one after another, they marched slowly out of the sprawling camp, taking the newly constructed road around the mountain’s base and advancing toward Shuanghe City, just beyond the Fire Candle Forest.

An hour later, the thirty-thousand-strong Central Army had assembled. To the sound of shouted commands, they broke camp. After Noon, an additional fifty thousand troops of the rear guard began to gather at the forward encampment northeast of Laishan.

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