My Cultivation Has a Progress Bar

Liu Shuang had brought Zhao Yu’er along.

Looking at these disciples of his, Wang Ping’s mood naturally brightened considerably.

"Qianqian, how many Second Realm cultivators from the Demon Race do you command?" Wang Ping asked.

"To answer your question, Master, besides Niu Qi and Wang Man, there’s only me." Hu Qianqian stated the answer before explaining, "My people rarely have the patience for cultivation through scripture and sermons. They focus more on cultivating their bloodlines."

Wang Ping nodded. "Mm," he grunted, then said after a moment’s thought, "The First Sect will be joining this war. As you all know, those lunatics never consider the consequences of their actions."

He flicked his sleeves, rose, and clasped his hands behind his back. His gaze swept over the faces of Liu Shuang, Hu Qianqian, and Zhao Yu’er. In that moment, he fully understood why Wu Quan and the others had opposed him earlier.

He suppressed his turbulent thoughts and continued, "But that’s not the most critical part. What’s critical is that the Sun Sect and the First Sect will likely be drawn in as well. I’m sure many would love to see such chaos, like the Court and the Xia Imperial Family. They might seize the opportunity to lay a siege and kill me."

The three of them instinctively wanted to say something, but as they were about to speak, they realized that words would be futile.

"I have ordered Fellow Daoist Zuo Xuan to engage the main force of True Yang Mountain in a decisive battle at the end of the ninth month. I have also ordered all sects to gather their Second Realm Cultivators. If anything goes wrong during the battle, they will be deployed to resolve the issue. And you... will be the commanders of those Second Realm Cultivators."

Wang Ping sighed and finally said, "Remember, do not set foot on True Yang Mountain without my direct command!"

The three of them bowed in unison. "Yes!"

Wang Ping extended his left hand and quickly formed a series of hand seals. Three tangible Armor Talismans materialized in an instant. He sent the talismans into each of their bodies and instructed, "Surround yourselves with people you can trust. When you encounter problems, consult with Fellow Daoist Zuo Xuan."

Again, they replied in unison, "Yes!"

Wang Ping waved his hand. "Think carefully about everything. Understand who your enemies are, and who your friends are. You are dismissed."

Just as Liu Shuang and the others were leaving, Wang Ping saw a lone gray sparrow descend from the sky. It fluttered its wings a couple of times before landing on his shoulder.

It was the Puppet Bird he had given Guangxuan—a method of contact reserved for the most urgent messages.

Thanks to Wang Ping’s intervention, Guangxuan had not been conscripted for the war. The official reason was that the various counties and prefectures needed a number of Second Realm Cultivators to stay behind and guard them. It was a perfect excuse, as all the other sects also had to leave people behind.

Wang Ping retrieved the message from the Puppet Bird’s belly. It had been sent by Yue Ziyu from Shangjing City and relayed by Guangxuan. Its contents confirmed what Wang Ping had just told Liu Shuang and the others.

The Imperial Family was sending people to True Yang Mountain, but Yue Ziyu didn’t know their specific mission or who had been dispatched.

The letter only strengthened Wang Ping’s resolve. Only by making this move on True Yang Mountain would the enemies hiding in the shadows be forced into the light, even if it meant the slopes of the mountain would run red with blood.

After three days of calm, war drums suddenly thundered from within and without the dilapidated Shuangliu City. An army of tens of thousands, split into three columns, advanced on the dust-choked ruins of Fire Candle Forest. After scouts from both sides clashed in the ruins for four hours, the three armies arrived at three frontline fortresses on the outskirts of True Yang Mountain’s main peak.

As the assault began, Taishan came alone to Wang Ping’s temporary Dao Field.

"The strain on our army’s logistics has surged these past two days. If we continue this all-out assault, our supply lines will collapse in less than half a month."

Taishan seemed to be advising Wang Ping to halt the assault, but then, at the crucial moment, he changed tack. "Why don’t I return to Shunyang Prefecture to ensure the waterway from Nanlin Road to Ningzhou Road remains clear?"

He was a clever man.

Wang Ping agreed without much thought. "Excellent. But you will go alone."

Taishan cupped his fist. "Don’t worry. I’ll make sure no one has any grounds for complaint."

With that, he departed, clearly eager to leave.

For the next half-month, Wang Ping’s temporary Dao Field grew quiet. Outside, however, the world knew no such peace.

At Bin Pass on Yunjiang Road, for example, Xiu Yu launched several offensives after taking command, throwing the Southern Region of Pingzhou Road into turmoil. Outside Zhen Shan Pass, the Northern Country’s army relentlessly assaulted the fortifications day after day. Small squads even slipped past the mountains flanking the pass to harass the prefectures and counties of Beiyuan Road, causing the Court no end of grief.

「The Third of the Ninth Month」

Wang Ping finally received a reply from Wen Yang.

In his letter, Wen Yang told Wang Ping that the two chief Lords within the True Yang Sect had yet to issue any specific instructions. Two days ago, Chang Jing had even tried burning incense and praying for a response from Lieyang True Monarch, but the True Monarch had offered not the slightest hint.

"Now this is interesting..."

Wang Ping took out a game board and began playing against himself to suppress the turmoil in his heart. He suddenly felt that the True Yang Sect—no, that True Yang Mountain itself—seemed to have been abandoned.

Halfway through the game, as if struck by a realization, he suddenly looked up at the dim winter sky. ’True Monarchs are truly ruthless,’ he thought. ’Such a vast enterprise is nothing more than a disposable tool in their eyes.’

’Or perhaps there’s another game at play here, one I know nothing about!’

But regardless of the truth, Wang Ping had to proceed with caution. The immediate hurdle he faced was the impending chaos on True Yang Mountain.

True chaos—so chaotic he wouldn’t know who to trust.

This time, more than twenty Third Realm Cultivators had openly gathered on True Yang Mountain. Who among them held blood feuds with one another, and who were allies? Only the heavens knew.

Wang Ping even began to doubt the reliability of his alliance with Wen Yang. Cautiously, he wrote a letter to Yu Cheng Taoist, pouring out all his doubts to his master.

On that same day, the third of the ninth month, the quiet of Wang Ping’s temporary Dao Field was broken.

It was Hu Qianqian. She presented a formal visiting card, sent by an old friend of Wang Ping’s: Fire Box.

Fire Box of the First Sect.

He was not dressed in his usual fashion. Instead, following local custom, he wore a blue, narrow-sleeved Daoist robe and a Daoist Hat that had been popular in Zhongzhou during the previous dynasty. He had tucked all of his curly hair beneath the hat. If not for his high-bridged nose, one would never guess from a casual glance that he was one of the Eastern Continent People.

"Greetings, Changqing Zhenren," he said. "A hundred years have passed in the blink of an eye. Your cultivation, True Man, has reached a level far beyond my reach."

Fire Box bowed deeply with a cupped-fist salute—a formal one. When he straightened, the familiar, cheerful grin that Wang Ping knew so well spread across his face.

After returning the courtesy, Wang Ping invited Fire Box into the small courtyard in front of his quarters in the temporary Dao Field. He brought out a tea set and a brazier, asking as he lit the charcoal, "What brings you here this time, Fellow Daoist?"

He asked bluntly.

Fire Box’s reply was even more direct. "What else? The matter of True Yang Mountain."

He then added with a smile, "I’ve come on behalf of our Sect Leader. As a show of our sincerity, I can offer you a piece of intelligence... It seems the Sun Sect is plotting against you, True Man."

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