My Cultivation Has a Progress Bar

Wang Ping was exceptionally calm.

The two puppets beside him were the first to move, but their attacks struck nothing but air. The sharp glint of light passed through the puppets’ bodies, then through the killing array of iron bamboo swords. There was no impact, none of the collision he’d expected. The glint was like it didn’t exist, a mere projection, as it pierced straight through the dense thicket of blades.

It seemed to have no destructive power, yet Wang Ping’s Primordial Spirit could clearly sense its presence. With each inch it drew nearer, he felt his control over the Wood Spirit Qi weaken. If it touched his Spiritual Body, he would likely disintegrate on the spot!

Just as Wang Ping prepared to use his Pocket World Mirror to evade the attack, Liu Huai’en, who was beside him, opened the Sealing Crystal in his right hand. A bizarre, pitch-black creature emerged. It had the head of a falcon, a single eye, four wings, two legs, and a tail like a dog’s.

Upon appearing, it let out a cry like a magpie. It seemed to grow incredibly excited upon seeing the sharp glint of light. Its form was a blur, a flash of lightning before Wang Ping’s eyes. Like a hen snatching a worm, it caught the glint in its beak and swallowed it whole.

’Is that an Artifact Bird?’

Wang Ping had read many books and had come across descriptions of such a creature. They grew in the Far East Continent and enjoyed feeding on things of a cold, yin nature. But the Artifact Birds he’d read about were ordinary animals, whereas this one possessed an impressive level of cultivation. It looked as if it had merged with some kind of Demon Soldier.

The Sealing Crystal in Liu Huai’en’s hand formed a bizarre, crimson Array in front of him. The Array was connected to the Artifact Bird, suppressing a part of its consciousness.

"It’s the fanatical faction. They possess a Demon Soldier called the ’Spirit Communication Stone,’ designated ’Jia-Xia-07.’ It contains an otherworldly consciousness that can corrode Wood Spirit Qi, making it devastating against Wood Spirit Cultivators. However, the cost of using it is exorbitant, so they normally wouldn’t deploy it."

Liu Huai’en had transmitted this telepathically. Though it was a long message, Wang Ping understood it all in an instant.

Wang Ping’s eyes flashed. "Where are they?"

He couldn’t tolerate such a dangerous thing being in someone else’s hands.

"They’re gone!"

"Gone?"

"That’s right!"

Liu Huai’en glanced in a certain direction, then formed a Spell with his hands. The Blood-colored Array before him flared with intense red light. The Artifact Bird cried out reluctantly before flying back into the seal.

Wang Ping quickly observed the Array’s pattern. Although he had already cultivated a Primordial Spirit, the Array was so complex that even if he had the time to study it, it would take him at least six months to fully comprehend.

"You don’t need to worry. We were prepared for this. The others have already gone to track them."

Liu Huai’en toyed with the Sealing Crystal in his hand, his gaze falling on Yu Lian as he asked, "Want it?"

Yu Lian replied without a moment’s thought, "I do!"

The feeling of powerlessness from before had infuriated her, so she’d had her eye on the crystal ever since.

"It’s yours. It’ll be easier to power with Water Spirit Qi. Just remember to keep the Sealing Array supplied with energy each year. Also, it’s best to replenish its power after every use—Spiritual Objects or Celestial and Earthly Treasures will do."

Liu Huai’en tossed the Sealing Crystal in his hand to Yu Lian.

Wang Ping raised an eyebrow. Yu Lian happily flicked her tail, curling it around the Sealing Crystal and bringing it before her eyes to examine it carefully.

Just then, Zhi Gong and the others gathered around, their gazes sweeping warily over their surroundings.

Only a few dozen breaths had passed since the attack, but everyone had been on an emotional roller coaster. Some were already imagining the worst.

"That aura... if I’m not mistaken, it’s from Elder Yuxiao’s ’Spirit Communication Stone’ from all those years ago. When the Daoist Scripture Hall recorded it, it was designated ’Jia-Xia-07’ because it’s tremendously lethal to Third Realm Wood Spirit Cultivators but completely useless against any other kind of Cultivator."

Huaimo Taoist looked at Liu Huai’en and said, "It seems you knew they were coming?"

Liu Huai’en smiled. "I simply made thorough preparations, considering every possible scenario."

Hu Yin picked up on Huaimo Taoist’s topic. "Elder Yuxiao originally created that ’Spirit Communication Stone’ just to seal an otherworldly consciousness that was ravaging the south. To think someone is now using it as a Demon Soldier."

Liu Huai’en said, "It was cataloged by the Daoist Scripture Hall and labeled as a ’Jia-Xia’ grade Demon Soldier. And Demon Soldiers cannot be artificially created!"

"It’s true that it was originally just a Spirit Stone used to seal an otherworldly consciousness. But later, during the invasion from the north, its spiritual nature mutated. Under the influence of this mutated spirituality, it gradually transformed into a Demon Soldier. Now, the otherworldly consciousness and the Spirit Stone have become one."

"Furthermore, the cost of using it is immense. It requires the energy of two Demon Soldiers of the same attribute, plus nearly a hundred years of the caster’s life. Under normal circumstances, no one would be willing to use it!"

Yu Lian handed the crystal sealing the Artifact Bird to Wang Ping and said, "Such a dangerous thing, and you guys let it fall into the hands of those fanatics?"

"Aren’t we trying to get it back right now? Relax, our plan is thorough this time. There won’t be any mistakes. Even if—"

BANG!

His words were cut off by an explosion from deep within the volcano.

The mountain range and the earth itself began to tremble violently. Some peaks had already collapsed.

In the time it took for Wang Ping to be attacked and for the subsequent conversation to unfold, most of the spectating Third Realm Cultivators had already dived into the volcano’s crater. The ones who remained likely wouldn’t go in now. They had probably gathered here just to watch the show—after all, a commotion like this only came around once in a millennium.

"Should we go in and take a look?" Tongming Wanderer asked.

"There’s no need, right?" Wu Quan looked to Wang Ping.

A wicked idea suddenly surfaced in Wang Ping’s mind. ’What if,’ he thought, ’I sent the Third Realm Puppet inscribed with the ’Five Elements Condensation Art’ into the volcano and activated the Art at a critical moment?’

’Then things would get... But that would undoubtedly make me a public enemy.’

"You could send that puppet deep into the volcano and decide whether to use it based on the situation," Yu Lian suggested. "Besides, if you don’t admit to anything, no one in this chaotic situation would be able to pin it on you."

Wang Ping silently agreed. He met the eyes of those around him and could read their intentions. Tongming Wanderer, the Mountain Guard, and Wu Quan wanted to go down and take a look. The others, however, had no interest in the treasure below; they planned on waiting for the other factions to cripple each other first.

"Once they’ve finished their squabble, all of True Yang Mountain will be ours. There’s no need to be hasty, Fellow Daoists."

Wang Ping’s words were aimed at Tongming Wanderer, the Mountain Guard, and Wu Quan—the ones who wanted to go down. It was a promise, and as soon as it was spoken, the three of them lost most of their interest in whatever was inside the volcano.

Then, Wang Ping slapped his storage pouch and took out a special ’Soldier Talisman.’ He formed a Spell with his hands, materializing the puppet from within the talisman.

This was the very Third Realm Puppet he had refined with the ’Five Elements Condensation Art.’ It currently looked no different from the other Golden Armor Soldiers, except for the two ’Fire Control Banners’ it held in its hands.

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