My Cultivation Has a Progress Bar

Lu Shan set down the teacup he had just lifted, raised his hand in a salute, and said, "True Man, you are a straightforward person, so this humble Daoist won’t beat around the bush. I want to lead Shanwu Road to join the Datong Court."

Wang Ping was holding a white Go stone in his right hand, his left fingers tapping gently on his knee. He was in a very relaxed state. When he heard Lu Shan’s answer, his expression remained relaxed, showing no great surprise.

CLICK.

Zhang Xinghuai, across from him, placed a stone. After examining the board, Wang Ping met Lu Shan’s gaze and chuckled. "Why are you telling me about this, Fellow Daoist?"

"This is naturally a matter to be discussed with you, True Man," Lu Shan said with a serious expression.

"Mm."

Wang Ping nodded as if in agreement. After placing a stone on the board, he looked at Zhang Xinghuai and asked, "You’ve already discussed this, haven’t you?"

Zhang Xinghuai offered the humble smile of a junior and said, "To answer your question, Martial Uncle, Shanwu Road is very important to us."

Wang Ping said nonchalantly, "You didn’t have to come here specifically to inform me of this."

Lu Shan interjected, "Prime Minister Zhang was afraid you would misunderstand, True Man."

"What is there to misunderstand?"

Yu Lian’s vertical pupils landed on Lu Shan. She sized him up and said with a hint of displeasure, "You came to ask us, but if we disagreed, would you listen?"

Her words immediately made the atmosphere awkward.

Zhang Xinghuai, who had been about to place a stone, immediately stood up at her words. He cupped his fist and said, "It was this disciple who was not thorough enough in his considerations. I ask for your punishment, Martial Uncle."

Wang Ping chuckled lightly, glanced at the Gold Cultivator in the distance who kept his head down, not daring to look over, and then pointed at the board. "Play."

For the next Half an Hour, the only sound around the Go board was the CLICK-CLACK of stones being placed. The sky darkened completely with the passage of time. Below the mountain, boisterous sounds of New Year celebrations erupted from the new recruit camp, forming a stark contrast with the cold wind and quiet desolation on the summit.

Zhang Xinghuai lost the game, because his mind wasn’t on the board.

"I’ll say what I said before: there’s no need for you to come and specifically inform me about the affairs of the Datong Court. The tides of fate in this world are ever-changing, and I am merely drifting along with the current."

Wang Ping lifted his teacup and took a sip, then waved his hand gently, causing the halo of light above the Go board to brighten.

Zhang Xinghuai was about to speak, but Yu Lian cut in before he could. "Don’t be so evasive. Have you forgotten that you’re still a disciple of Qianmu Temple just because you joined the Jimin Association? We’re all from the same family, so why have you started mincing your words?"

"This disciple... is ashamed."

Zhang Xinghuai cupped his fist in a salute. A faint white glow bloomed on his cheeks, starkly visible in the dim light of the evening. He took a deep breath, quickly adjusted his state, and once the glow faded, he said softly, "This disciple has an idea..."

"Spit it out!" Yu Lian urged, clearly annoyed.

Lu Shan silently took a soundproofing array out of his storage bag and activated it, just as Zhang Xinghuai began to speak. "Here is what this disciple is thinking: the final battle between the Chu Country and the Xia Dynasty is upon us. Regardless of who wins or loses, it is nothing but beneficial for our Datong Court. I want to take this opportunity to conquer West Stone Road and the northern part of He Xin Road."

Wang Ping instantly understood Zhang Xinghuai’s intentions and chuckled. "So you even have designs on the Chu Kingdom Court?"

Zhang Xinghuai replied with a placating smile, "I certainly wouldn’t dare right now!"

Which meant he would dare to in the future!

His plan was already quite obvious. If the Chu Country was victorious, Datong could be granted its own fiefdom and then look for another opportunity to unify Zhongzhou amid the future chaos. If the Xia Dynasty won, he would seize the chance to annex the three new regions planned by True Yang Mountain. If it was a war of attrition that left both sides grievously wounded, he would take the opportunity to march into the Central Plains and become its ruler!

It had to be said, it was an excellent plan.

A victory for the Chu Country would mean the Xiao Shan Lord had successfully ascended. At the Realm of True Monarch, he would certainly no longer intervene directly in the affairs of Zhongzhou. Thus, even though the Chu Country would hold the advantage on the Zhongzhou Continent after the decisive battle in Shangjing City, the land would still be fraught with turmoil.

If the Xia Dynasty were to win, it would certainly be a Pyrrhic victory, giving the Datong Court even more opportunities. A scenario where both sides were grievously wounded was the outcome the Datong Court most wanted to see, and the chances of that happening were very high.

Wang Ping’s position was the most critical. Regardless of whether the Chu Country won this decisive battle, as one of the most influential leaders in the Southern Cultivation Realm, Wang Ping would play a decisive role in the future of Zhongzhou.

"I understand your meaning. As for me, I have no official stance. I won’t get involved in your struggles. As for how the disciples of my sect choose sides, that will depend on your own abilities."

Wang Ping’s stance was now perfectly clear.

With his current arrangements, he would get a share of the spoils no matter who obtained the Zhongzhou Divine Artifact in the future. As such, he didn’t need to specifically support anyone. If he entered the fray, others would certainly follow suit, and that was when things would become truly difficult to control.

"This disciple understands."

Zhang Xinghuai cupped his fist in a salute once more.

Wang Ping, however, shifted his gaze to Lu Shan. "Care for a game, Fellow Daoist?"

"Yes!"

After answering, Lu Shan took the initiative to clear the board.

This time, Wang Ping played with the black stones and went first.

An hour passed without notice. Wang Ping found this game particularly difficult; Lu Shan’s skill at Go was comparable to Zuo Xuan’s. It ultimately ended in a draw—though, if one were to be precise, it was Wang Ping who had lost, since he had played black and gone first.

’He was going easy on you,’ Yu Lian said to Wang Ping in his Spirit Sea after the game. ’He was relaxed and cheerful the entire time, while you were the one struggling with calculations. You might as well have just used your Primordial Spirit; you could have calculated more than one hundred and fifty moves ahead in the blink of an eye.’

Wang Ping didn’t respond to Yu Lian. ’If he used his Primordial Spirit to calculate the game’s paths, Go would become meaningless to Cultivators like them.’ After studying the board by himself for a good while, he invited Zhang Xinghuai to analyze it with him.

Zhang Xinghuai gladly agreed.

Watching the enthusiastic Zhang Xinghuai, Yu Lian said in the Spirit Sea, ’His skill at Go is likely the best of anyone you know. Not even Zuo Xuan would be his match.’

"Oh?" Wang Ping was puzzled; he had never gotten that impression before.

Yu Lian continued in the Spirit Sea, ’Everyone who plays against him has a very comfortable match. When he plays, he never loses when he’s supposed to win, and never wins when he’s supposed to lose. Haven’t you noticed? Every time you play against him, the game feels exceptionally smooth, and he controls the length of every match to under Half an Hour.’

Wang Ping subconsciously cast his mind back and realized it was true. He couldn’t help but look up at Zhang Xinghuai. ’This kid’s mind runs even deeper than I imagined.’

The three of them then began to discuss various set Go patterns. Before they knew it, it was late into the night, and in a blink, it was dawn. Lu Shan took his leave after sunrise, but Zhang Xinghuai said he wished to stay behind.

"The Chu Country’s army should be able to take Moon Mountain soon. I want to go see my master!"

Zhang Xinghuai said this after Lu Shan left. He had been expelled from Zhonghui Academy after helping the Northwest Region become independent. At the time, he had desperately wanted to go to Liu Zixiu’s grave and say a few words, but that had been unrealistic.

Now that the opportunity had arrived, he didn’t want to wait a moment longer.

Wang Ping naturally had no objection. He changed the subject, asking, "Can you tell me in detail about that Saint from the Jimin Association?"

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