My Cultivation Has a Progress Bar

Wang Ping had just seen the Mountain Guard leave. Upon hearing Wu Quan’s reply, he instinctively took out the divination blocks he carried with him and cast a reading.

CLATTER

The divination blocks separated. Just as the result of the reading was about to be revealed, there was a soft CRACK. Wang Ping’s head snapped up toward the sky. The clouds were still the gloomy gray of winter, with nothing out of the ordinary in sight. Yet, the moment the blocks had hit the ground, his Primordial Spirit had clearly sensed a disturbance from the Heaven-Reaching Talisman.

"How could this be?" Yu Lian said, speaking in a human voice.

Wang Ping looked down. The divination blocks on the ground had shattered, yet his expression showed no surprise.

Liu Huai’en gazed in the direction of True Yang Mountain and said, "This is not a good omen."

At this, Wang Ping, contrary to expectation, grew calm. He glanced back in the direction the Mountain Guard had just gone and beckoned to Hu Qianqian.

Seeing this, Hu Qianqian’s two furry ears twitched subconsciously, and she hurried over.

Just as she was about to bow, she heard Wang Ping say, "Tell Zuo Xuan and Liu Shuang that Sanshui City only needs two thousand guards. All other troops are to withdraw from the main peak of True Yang Mountain and establish a temporary Barrier Formation around its perimeter. All Second Realm Cultivators must return to their posts within four hours, or they will be dealt with as traitors."

"Yes!"

After receiving her orders, Hu Qianqian immediately transformed into a streak of light and flew down the mountain.

Liu Huai’en glanced back at the departing Hu Qianqian and said with a chuckle, "True Man, you certainly never forget the Xiao Shan Lord’s purpose in conquering True Yang Mountain."

The Xiao Shan Lord invaded True Yang Mountain to sweep up the world’s providence. If the chaos on True Yang Mountain were to affect other regions, not only would the Xiao Shan Lord fail to obtain the mountain’s providence, but his original portion would also be affected. Even his spiritual nature could become distorted.

Therefore, when facing the chaos on True Yang Mountain, Wang Ping’s first priority was to ensure the turmoil didn’t disrupt the order within the Chu Country.

Wang Ping ignored Liu Huai’en’s teasing remark. After Hu Qianqian left, he sent a message to the other Third Realm Cultivators, telling them to gather by his side.

This time, in just over ten breaths, the others arrived one by one as streaks of light, landing beside Wang Ping.

Liu Huai’en tactfully stepped to the side, though he showed no intention of leaving. The others glanced at him, some intentionally, some not. Those who knew him gave a friendly nod, while those who didn’t offered a simple fist-and-palm salute.

"From now on, you will all stay by my side and cultivate in a meditative state until this business on True Yang Mountain is over."

Wang Ping’s tone was commanding.

There was a moment of silence. After a few breaths, Zhi Gong, Hu Yin, Ganxing, and Wu Quan clasped their fists and bowed. "We will obey the True Man’s decree!"

They had all tacitly addressed Wang Ping as ’True Man’.

The remaining two, Huaimo and Tongming, also successively voiced their agreement.

’I can be sure now,’ Wang Ping thought. ’The one who plotted with Xin Shi to ambush Hu Yin must be either Huaimo or Tongming. And Tongming is the most likely suspect.’

’I’m sure that with Hu Yin’s millennia of wisdom, she can figure this out too. That means I don’t have to worry about what comes next.’

"You’re right. That Tongming’s Primordial Spirit Consciousness fluctuated greatly just now."

Yu Lian had read Wang Ping’s emotions and had been paying close attention to Tongming and Huaimo. She now communicated with Wang Ping in the Spirit Sea: "As for that Huaimo, his Primordial Spirit Consciousness is utterly silent, as still as a dead man’s. The cultivators of the Yuqing Sect are truly incredible. There’s no fluctuation of a Spirit Vein from him, and the verdict of Heaven and Earth upon him is ’Benevolence’!"

Wang Ping’s gaze unconsciously flickered to Huaimo, then moved to Liu Huai’en. He introduced Liu Huai’en to the group and repeated the news he had brought.

What followed was a pointless discussion, or more accurately, idle chatter.

When their chat lasted until noon, Wang Ping brought out a game board. The Huaimo Taoist immediately dropped his ’cool and aloof’ attitude and demanded to play the first game. Ganxing, however, wouldn’t have it. After some bickering, it was decided that Ganxing and the Huaimo Taoist would play the first match. The others crowded around the board to watch, and for a time, the atmosphere in the small, wisteria-covered courtyard became incredibly boisterous.

This was the contradictory nature of people. One moment they could be trading cold words, the next they could be enjoying each other’s company, both states blending perfectly into their emotions.

Halfway through the game, Wang Ping called for Hu Qianqian to bring out several jars of fine wine.

As the game neared its end, everyone started calling out suggestions for moves, turning the previously harmonious atmosphere somewhat aggressive. Zhi Gong and Wu Quan, in particular, were on the verge of coming to blows. Fortunately, just as they were arguing, Huaimo placed a piece himself, ending the game.

"You lose!"

The Huaimo Taoist sounded rather smug, completely devoid of his usual modesty.

Ganxing picked up his wine cup, drained it in one gulp, and declared with his head thrown back, "Another round!"

But the others wouldn’t allow it. After another round of arguments, the second game was set to be between Zhi Gong and Wu Quan. Yu Lian communicated with Wang Ping in the Spirit Sea, "Why not just bring out another board?"

"Their game isn’t about winning or losing."

"What do you mean?"

Just then, however, Wang Ping turned to look at the sky behind him. The Mountain Guard’s figure streaked across the gloomy clouds. He had originally intended to land at his temporary Dao Field, but upon noticing the situation in front of the wisteria house, he did a flip in mid-air and landed steadily just outside the small courtyard.

"Fellow Daoist Liu?" The first person the Mountain Guard saw was Liu Huai’en, who was standing near the courtyard entrance, watching the impending game from a distance.

"Where have you been?" The question came from Hu Yin, her tone that of an elder reprimanding a junior.

Liu Huai’en turned to give the Mountain Guard a friendly nod, then tactfully stepped aside. Hu Yin immediately moved into the spot Liu Huai’en had just occupied, her eyes fixed sternly on the Mountain Guard. The others also shifted their attention from the game board to him.

A thousand thoughts flashed through the Mountain Guard’s mind. His gaze swept discreetly over Wu Quan, but Wu Quan wore an expression of complete indifference, as if it had nothing to do with him.

"Answer me!"

"I went to see Sect Leader Chang Jing!"

The Mountain Guard actually admitted it directly.

Hu Yin asked again, "For what purpose?"

Her tone softened slightly.

The Mountain Guard lowered his head and replied, "Sect Leader Chang Jing proposed a plan to lure out Wen Yang and kill him. I felt this would be to our advantage, so I agreed."

"One Wen Yang... what can that change?"

It was Wang Ping who spoke. His words immediately drew everyone’s attention. He first scanned the faces around him, then looked at the Mountain Guard and said, "Chang Jing, on the other hand, could be of some use. If we could get rid of him first..."

He let his words trail off artfully. The clever Hu Yin picked up his meaning, her gaze fixed on the Mountain Guard as she asked, "Are you willing?"

The Mountain Guard was silent for several dozen breaths before meeting Hu Yin’s gaze. "I should not refuse a senior’s request," he said, "but Sect Leader Chang Jing once did me a great favor. I can choose not to repay his kindness, but I cannot repay it with malice!"

After speaking, he dropped to both knees and performed a deep kowtow to Hu Yin.

"Fine. You may rise."

Hu Yin didn’t press him.

Wang Ping didn’t push him either. ’As long as the Mountain Guard and Wu Quan don’t get involved, I’m confident that Wen Yang’s side has a high chance of taking care of Chang Jing.’

For the next several days, Wang Ping and the others remained in the wisteria courtyard, either sipping tea and chatting or drinking wine and playing games. From time to time, news from various parties would reach them, and they would spend half a day discussing it. The topic they discussed the longest was the appearance of four Third Realm Cultivators from the Court and Lishui Prefecture southeast of He Xin Road.

Time passed unknowingly, and soon it was the twelfth day of the tenth month.

The two-month deadline mentioned by ’Day One’ was fast approaching. On this day, at around 1:45 PM, while Wang Ping was playing a game with Liu Huai’en in the courtyard outside the wisteria house, a scorching heat suddenly erupted from the northeast of True Yang Mountain’s main peak, shattering the winter cold.

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