My Cultivation Has a Progress Bar

The room fell silent after Wenhai's departure. Zuo Xuan rather enjoyed the quiet. She gazed at the sunlight streaming through the window, lost in thought.

'The situation in Chu Country seems stable on the surface, but in reality, both its external and internal conflicts have reached an irreconcilable point. Externally, there's the conflict between the Chu Country and the Datong Marquisate, not to mention the independent Cultivator Alliance that emerged from the Shangjing City region. The Alliance skillfully navigates the tensions between the Chu Country, the Datong Marquisate, and the Xia Family of northern Qingpu Road and the Yunhai Grassland.

'Internally, conflicts have erupted among the various factions within Chu Country over the resources of Shangjing City and True Yang Mountain. The establishment of the Daoist Palace temporarily suppressed these disputes, but the Palace has never seriously considered how to resolve them. It merely forces them down while exploiting the discord to seize resources from all over.

'I'm completely dissatisfied with Daoist Zhi Gong's current methods. As a true Southern Cultivator, I hate seeing my people being treated like tools, herded and used. But my words carry no weight.

'And those with real influence have yet to step forward. The seven chief towers of the Daoist Palace may look imposing, but in truth, only Daoist Zhi Gong is ever present. The others are all in seclusion, completely indifferent to the Palace's affairs.'

"Meow."

A meow pulled Zuo Xuan from her reverie. She looked up at the sun-drenched window, where a calico cat was staring at her. As their eyes met, the cat yawned, hopped down from the windowsill, then sauntered over with a perfect feline grace and leaped onto a Grandmaster's Chair, letting out another "Meow."

"Do you want to go back to Dongshui Mountain?"

"Meow~"

"Didn't you grow up here? Why the sudden change of heart?"

"Meow~ meow."

"You're right. This city is losing its appeal. The ugliest of human desires are woven into its very fabric, and every street and alley is filled with businesses that devour people whole."

Zuo Xuan sighed. She rose and walked to the window, gazing toward the distant Imperial Palace in the sunlight. "I used to think the Daoist Scripture Hall was bad enough," she murmured, "but at least it had someone to keep it in check. The Daoist Palace has no restraints at all."

"Meow~"

"You have a point there, too. If I were one of the chiefs, I'd probably love it this way!"

Zuo Xuan gave a self-deprecating laugh. With a gentle wave of her right hand, a stool and an embroidery frame materialized by the window. She pushed aside her wayward thoughts. With a flick of her arm, hundreds of embroidery needles danced across the brocade on the frame, outlining a scene of mountains, rivers, and a setting sun in the blink of an eye.

She gazed at the sunset scene on the brocade, then gathered the embroidery needles and sat on the stool. After carefully observing her work, she picked up a single needle to make fine adjustments.

Before she knew it, the sun at the window had turned a shade of gold. Evening had fallen.

KNOCK KNOCK KNOCK

The sudden knock made Zuo Xuan's hand pause. She looked toward the door, which, being far from the window, was cast in the dim twilight.

It was the Qi Cultivator standing guard outside. He held a letter in his hands. "A message from the Dongshui Mountain Dojo," he announced. "An Inner Sect Disciple delivered it personally."

"Did he say what it was about?"

Zuo Xuan glanced at the calico cat dozing beside her. The cat let out a reluctant "meow."

"He did not!" the Qi Cultivator answered quickly. As he spoke, the calico cat rose, gave a luxurious stretch, and padded gracefully to the door. It leaped up, neatly plucking the letter from his hands with its mouth.

As the cat trotted back, the Qi Cultivator took the hint, exited the room, and closed the door behind him.

Zuo Xuan stuck her needle into the brocade and took the letter from the calico cat. She reached out to stroke its head, but the cat dodged her hand with a displeased "meow."

"Heh."

Zuo Xuan chuckled softly. She inspected the letter first, opening it only after confirming it was safe.

It was a handwritten letter from her disciple, Zuo Liang. It relayed a single piece of news: He Jiu had failed in his attempt to break through to the Second Realm and had perished on Dongshui Mountain. Zuo Liang was asking if she, as the Dean of the Dongshui Mountain Dojo, intended to return for He Jiu's encoffinment ceremony.

Zuo Xuan read the letter and remained silent for a long time. Only when the last sliver of the setting sun vanished from the horizon did she reach out to stroke the calico cat. "Do you think," she asked, "I'll be able to break through to the Third Realm?"

"Meow~"

"That's a good idea... but breaking through to the Fourth Realm is so difficult, even for Fellow Daoist Changqing."

"Meow~"

"You seem confident enough!"

"Meow~"

"The letter also says that after He Jiu's breakthrough failed, his body and consciousness merged with a True Spirit and became bound to an Earth Vein Spiritual Artifact. It seems he's evolving into one of the Demon Soldiers. Now that's a novelty. I haven't been back in almost a year. I suppose it's time for a visit."

Upon hearing this, the calico cat leaped happily onto the windowsill. She glanced back at Zuo Xuan, then jumped onto the adjacent wall and vanished into the dim twilight. She must have gone to say goodbye to her friends.

Zuo Xuan, meanwhile, retrieved a crystal from her storage pouch. She activated the Fire Spirit Array within it, and the area around the embroidery frame instantly became as bright as day. She picked up her embroidery needle again, focusing once more on her work.

Time passed, and before she knew it, it was 7:00 AM the next day. The calico cat landed silently on the windowsill and met her gaze. Zuo Xuan stopped her work, put away the embroidery frame and needles, and faced the brightening sky outside the window. She settled into a meditative trance to begin her daily Taoist cultivation.

As the morning sun washed over the land and the quiet city once again filled with noise, Zuo Xuan emerged from her trance. She rose and stood by the window, watching the Emperor of Chu and his ministers leaving the morning court session in the distance. She felt as if she were watching a play unfold.

"Meow~"

"Alright. Let's go. Time to head back and see what's happening."

Zuo Xuan turned, about to step out and give a few instructions, when her spiritual sense told her the Qi Cultivator outside was about to knock. She stopped and waited quietly.

The Qi Cultivator knocked and entered. Meeting Zuo Xuan's gaze, he immediately bowed with his fists clasped. "A message just arrived from Daoist Zhi Gong. It says His Majesty the Emperor plans to enter secluded cultivation to pursue a breakthrough. The throne will be passed to the Crown Prince in two months!"

'How did we not receive any word of this?'

Zuo Xuan's expression remained unchanged, but her mind was racing. 'The Chu Royal Family has always been affiliated with Qianmu Temple and the Six Heart Sect. And they are the descendants of Liu Shuang.'

"I believe Daoist Zhi Gong's side only just received the news as well," the Qi Cultivator answered, his head bowed.

"Oh?"

Zuo Xuan sat back down in the Grandmaster's Chair before the screen.

The Qi Cultivator was silent for a few moments before asking, "Should we go to the Imperial Palace to inquire?"

Zuo Xuan's gaze fell on the calico cat. Ignoring its impatient air, her expression grew cold. "No need," she said. "You may go."

"Yes!"

"Meow~"

"We'll wait a little while," she said to the cat. "If the Imperial Palace doesn't send someone to explain, then we'll go back... back to reconsider our plans."

"Meow~"

"We'll wait for one hour."

In less than half an hour, someone arrived from the Imperial Palace. It was the Crown Prince himself, come to offer an explanation.