My Cultivation Has a Progress Bar

When Xiao Shan Lord mentioned his Ancestral Master, Wang Ping couldn’t help but pay closer attention. But according to both Guan Xi of the Jimin Association and the lore passed down by his own sect, his Ancestral Master had disappeared after entering the Mist Sea Region in search of a breakthrough.

With an attitude of doubt and scrutiny, Wang Ping continued to listen as Xiao Shan Lord spoke. "Deep within the Mist Sea Region lies Canglan Hall. No one knows how long it has existed. I should have told you this before, but the truth I saw and heard back then was that Huishan True Monarch proposed that Elder Yuxiao enter Canglan Hall to complete his ascension. This was because it could suppress the excessive evolution of his Spiritual Body during the process."

"But before that, a major event occurred on the Zhongzhou Continent. The South Sea Taoist used the ’Flowery-Face Mask’ in his possession to throw the spiritual energy of Zhongzhou into turmoil. At that time, Elder Yuxiao led the Southern Cultivation Realm to support the Xia Family of Ningzhou Road. With the help of the True Yang Sect, they eliminated the Kongshan Association, then unified the north and south, establishing temples for state worship. And the Xia Family of Ningzhou Road... they are my blood descendants!"

This consciousness of Xiao Shan Lord possessed no cultivation. As he spoke of this matter, an air of nostalgia inevitably crept in. But his consciousness was, after all, one that held millennia of thoughts. He quickly emerged from his reminiscence, once again raising his head to gaze at the starry sky as he continued to speak:

"My Divine Secret Technique was passed down to me by Elder Yuxiao, but Elder Yuxiao himself never cultivated any Divine Technique. He used my family’s bloodline to create a Divine Technique Formation in Shangjing City, and all of this would have required the assistance of a pioneer in Divine Techniques..."

"It was the Northern Country!" Xiao Shan Lord didn’t try to be mysterious. "Elder True Yang was experimenting with Divine Secret Techniques as early as the flourishing of the Human Dao, and his test subject was the Northern Country. This is closely related to the later split of the True Yang Sect from the Sun Sect."

"Sun Sect Cultivators must learn to control their humanity from the Qi Cultivation stage, allowing them to better monitor the national destiny of the Northern Country. The True Yang Sect, however, grew too arrogant and paid no mind to monitoring Zhongzhou’s destiny. Coupled with trivial matters from the Daoist Scripture Hall, Zhongzhou was led into a state of irredeemable ruin by the Xia Imperial Family. Of course, I had a hand in fanning the flames."

Hearing this, Wang Ping started to believe him. He was aware, of course, that the Northern Country’s Imperial Family cultivated Divine Techniques, but that was the extent of his knowledge. The Northern Country was very isolationist; their only external interactions were the wars and smuggling on the border with the Xia Country. Moreover, the Sun Sect advocated for ascetic cultivation and almost never meddled in external affairs.

"After quelling the turmoil caused by the Kongshan Association, Elder Yuxiao took his followers, the Jimin Association, to the Mist Sea Region to prepare for his ascension ceremony. The next I heard of him was thirty years later, when the Jimin Association brought back news of his failed ascension. The historical secrets I’m telling you now are the truths I heard at that time."

"It was also then that the Jimin Association entrusted the Divine Technique Formation in Shangjing City to me. They also told me that if I ever found myself with no hope of ascending to the Fifth Realm, I could try Elder Yuxiao’s method. Thinking back, that scene was perhaps similar to when Demon Emperor Yaoyi found Elder True Yang five thousand years ago."

"That conversation influenced this world for five thousand years, and perhaps its influence will continue. From that day on, an obsession took root in my heart. Every time I despaired of ascending to the Fifth Realm, this obsession would surface, causing me to choose the same path as the elders before me."

"I originally wanted this matter to end with me, but my subconscious was unwilling to accept that. So, I left this consciousness behind. When I came to Shangjing City, my plan was to leave it to Xiu Yu. But Xiu Yu’s cultivation in recent years has been too rushed, and he has worn away most of his humanity. I feared it would only bring disaster to leave it with him."

Xiao Shan Lord retracted his gaze from the starry sky and looked at Wang Ping. "The Divine Secret Technique is only a small part of the memories I’ve left you. I’ve also left you the latter half of the fourth volume and the entire fifth volume of the *Taiyan Talisman*, as well as some Secret Techniques I researched myself. As long as you continue to cultivate, they will be unsealed."

He suddenly paused, his mood turning somewhat somber.

Wang Ping remained silent, patiently waiting for what was to come. Yu Lian also lay quietly on Wang Ping’s shoulder, waiting with equal patience.

After a silence of more than ten breaths, Xiao Shan Lord continued, "There are a few other things I need to tell you. If you are fortunate enough to reach the point of ascending to the Fifth Realm, you can discuss it with True Monarch Yuan Wu. But do not trust him blindly. The way a True Monarch thinks is different from ours. They have lived for too long. And you don’t have to believe what I’m saying, either. The True Monarch Yuan Wu of today might not be the same as the one who exists a few hundred, or even a thousand, years from now."

"Remember, do not get entangled with these people before you have ascended to the Fourth Realm. But after you ascend, it will be out of your hands, because you will need to understand this world to take the next step."

"When I was just starting Qi Cultivation, I remember my master always used to say, ’Cultivation is a personal journey.’ I pass this saying on to you now. I will also tell you what Elder Yuxiao had someone tell me... The final decision rests with you. If you have another way to ascend to the Fifth Realm, you are free to try other paths."

"One last thing I must tell you: Lieyang True Monarch is planning to reclaim his fire spirit. If you ascend to the Fourth Realm, you will inevitably be drawn into the matter. Be wary of him. I’ve always suspected he and Demon Emperor Yaoyi are plotting something. It’s even possible my own ascension was part of their scheme."

"That’s all I have to say. This consciousness of mine will persist for several more hours, so if you have any questions, feel free to ask." As he spoke, he turned to look at the night sky again, seeming to cherish the view.

Yu Lian raised her head and was the first to ask, "Did you successfully ascend to the Fifth Realm?"

"Since I’m having you activate this Divine Technique Formation, it means I most likely did not succeed. But you could also say that I did succeed. My current state is similar to that of Lieyang True Monarch and Elder Xuanqing. Sometimes, I am myself. Other times, I am not."

Yu Lian quickly asked another question, "Did your Primordial Spirit merge with Huishan True Monarch’s?"

"That is the most likely scenario. This time, it should have been Huishan True Monarch who actively sought me out. He also needed to merge with me; otherwise, I would not have succeeded so easily!"

Upon hearing this, Wang Ping’s right hand touched the storage pouch at his waist as he asked warily, "Do True Monarchs need to merge with lower-realm Cultivators to stabilize their cultivation?"

"No, it’s not necessary. As I said just now, Huishan True Monarch’s Primordial Spirit was once severely wounded!"

Xiao Shan Lord retracted his gaze from the starry sky and fell into a brief contemplation. After seeming to understand something, he said, "Huishan True Monarch wanted to use my Spiritual Body to nourish and repair his Primordial Spirit. This was the key to my successful merger with him. Otherwise, I would not have been able to find him."

"Also, according to theoretical principles, those in the Realm of True Monarch also need to stabilize the Spirit Veins within their bodies and maintain a spiritual balance with their True Spirit. Therefore, it is highly likely that they, much like us, are quite happy to have more Fourth Realm Cultivators—or even cultivators of the same realm—help them stabilize their spiritual connection."

Wang Ping looked at Xiao Shan Lord and asked, "You seemed to have just thought of something. What was it?"

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