My Cultivation Has a Progress Bar

At the entrance to the Mountain Peak Dojo.

Zuo Xuan’s heart was uneasy. Daoist Zi Luan’s return to Nanlin Road was a matter of great importance, and he was certain to take over the Six Heart Sect, which was in a complete mess.

If she wanted to continue on her path and pursue the Third Realm, she had to make a mark in her current position. Otherwise, she would be cast out by the Southern Cultivation Realm. But to accomplish many of these things, she needed Wang Ping’s support.

As she waited anxiously, the courtyard gate slowly swung open. A familiar voice reached her ears. "You seem to have a lot on your mind. Anything interesting happen?"

It was Yu Lian. She was hanging from a beam above the gate, her vertical pupils curiously sizing up Zuo Xuan.

Zuo Xuan let out a breath. Her silver earring flashed with a cyan light, and a Calico Cat materialized from the glow. It looked up at Yu Lian on the beam and let out a "Meow~".

Yu Lian dropped down from the beam, hovering on a cloud before the gate. Watching the Calico Cat, she flicked her forked tongue and said, "Long time no see, little one!"

"Meow~"

The Calico Cat pounced toward Yu Lian, treading on air, only to be swatted to the ground by a sweep of her tail.

Yu Lian took the chance to give chase, and the Calico Cat immediately darted into the dense Spirit Grass of the garden. Zuo Xuan watched Yu Lian and the Calico Cat play as she stepped into the garden herself. She felt the dense Wood Spirit Qi in the air and glanced at the grassy ground beneath her feet. The garden’s small path had vanished, so she had no choice but to head toward the small courtyard from memory.

Halfway there, she heard the sound of splashing water nearby. Turning to look, she saw the Calico Cat catching fish under Yu Lian’s guidance. The joyful scene did much to calm the inexplicable tension that had risen in her heart.

Soon, she saw the courtyard she remembered. It was still the same as before, except the thatched roof had been replaced with black tiles, most of which were now covered in moss. Piles of Spirit Wood were stacked haphazardly in the yard, along with some half-finished wood carvings tossed together.

Of course, what caught her attention most was Wang Ping, sitting by the stone table in the yard. The moment she saw him, she immediately cupped her fist in salute. "Fellow Daoist Changqing, it has been a long time."

"It’s only been seven years." Wang Ping casually pointed to the stone stool opposite him. "Come, sit. There’s no need for such formalities between us."

Zuo Xuan cupped her fist again. As she entered the courtyard and sat down, Wang Ping spoke once more. "Your human nature has been cultivated a bit too fully. It seems you’ve spent too long in the mortal world. You should calm your mind and enter seclusion for a few years."

"You are right, Fellow Daoist. I’ve recently found myself lost in long periods of thought, pondering useless matters," Zuo Xuan said softly. "It’s just that the affairs of the Daoist Palace..."

"The affairs of the Daoist Palace are not important to me, and they don’t seem that important to you either, do they? Besides, this might be the perfect time to retreat behind the scenes," Wang Ping interrupted.

Hearing this, Zuo Xuan fell into thought. After about a dozen breaths, she cupped her fist. "I was overthinking again..." She rubbed her left arm, producing a series of crisp, pleasant-sounding metallic clinks, then said, "Fellow Daoist, you are more considerate than I. Zhi Gong Daoist is acting so arrogantly right now; voluntarily stepping back is indeed a good solution."

She first agreed with Wang Ping’s idea, then continued, "But Daoist Zi Luan is returning to Nanlin Road in half a month. According to the message Zhi Gong Daoist sent to the Southern Cultivation Realm before establishing the Daoist Palace, I’m afraid he will take the position of Sect Leader of the Six Heart Sect upon his return. Coupled with the change of the throne in the Chu Country, our internal balance will be shattered in an instant."

She kept her eyes on Wang Ping as she spoke, but his expression remained unchanged from beginning to end. His gaze was fixed on the tea set on the stone table, his hands busy preparing tea.

Zuo Xuan’s emotions also unknowingly calmed. As Wang Ping poured her tea, she said, "Once our internal problems erupt, external threats will descend. I fear the Datong Marquisate will seize the opportunity to launch a full-scale occupation of Beiyuan Road and threaten the Shangjing City region."

Wang Ping pushed the freshly poured cup of tea in front of Zuo Xuan and smiled. "Now I finally understand why the Daoist Scripture Hall stipulates that a Cultivator cannot serve as a Patrol Envoy for more than ten years. Fellow Daoist Zi Luan didn’t follow this rule, and now he doesn’t even have the courage to advance his cultivation. As for Fellow Daoist Dan Chen, he is overly compassionate, while Yunshan’s sense of justice is far too strong."

"They could have avoided their thoughts falling into the extremes of human nature through meditative seclusion, but the greed in their hearts made them unwilling to let go of the power in their hands. This has entangled them in karma they should have avoided."

"Greed isn’t just what you imagine it to be. Excessive compassion and justice are also forms of greed. Sometimes, the disasters caused by such greed are even greater than those caused by evil people."

Hearing this, Zuo Xuan instinctively retorted, "I don’t see it that way. And I’m not motivated by compassion or justice. Besides, Artifact Cultivators need a full sense of humanity. I won’t follow the path of Yunshan and Dan Chen. I know exactly what I’m doing."

Wang Ping lifted his teacup. "What are you doing?"

"Protecting the interests of the Southern Cultivators!"

"Why do you have this conviction?"

Zuo Xuan fell into a brief moment of thought. After pondering for a while, she said seriously, "I was born into luxury and lived a carefree life until I was fifteen. But even though my life was without worry, my family never gave me a second glance. Then one day, they needed me to get married. I was so happy then—not because I was getting married, but because I was needed."

Her story stopped abruptly there, as she was clearly unwilling to continue.

However, Wang Ping understood the reason behind it, so he didn’t press the issue. This was what Cultivators called the Red Dust Tribulation. Many Cultivators could never overcome this trial in their entire lives, but for those who did, the sky was the limit.

But Wang Ping had a clear goal from the day he began his cultivation. This was the fundamental reason Yu Cheng Taoist had called him intelligent. It was rare for such a person to encounter a Red Dust Tribulation on their cultivation path.

The Red Dust Tribulation might seem simple, but its karmic ties were immense. The slightest carelessness could lead to one’s body and soul perishing. Dan Chen and Yunshan were examples, and even Zi Luan was currently unable to overcome it. Then there was Zuo Xuan, right in front of him, who actually wanted to protect the interests of the Southern Cultivation Realm amidst the current situation in the Chu Country.

’And the karma involved in that is simply endless!’

After taking a sip of tea, Wang Ping asked, "Are you here this time because of Fellow Daoist Zi Luan’s return to Nanlin Road?"

Zuo Xuan picked up her teacup but didn’t drink. Meeting Wang Ping’s gaze, she answered, "Yes!"

"Since you have entered the gates of my Qianmu Temple, you are a disciple of Qianmu Temple. You have your reasons for doing what you do, and in principle, I support you. However, I will not be entangled in this karma. You must bear the consequences of everything yourself."

Zuo Xuan put down her teacup, stood up, and cupped her fist in a solemn Taoist Family salute.

Wang Ping said casually, "It’s good that you know your limits. Also, I won’t be attending Zi Luan’s succession ceremony. You can go in my place. As for the matter of the Chu Country’s throne change, go and discuss it with Shuang’Er. It’s time for her to return."

"Yes!"

After agreeing, Zuo Xuan added, "There is one more thing. There’s news about the ’Divine Soul Guide’ you asked about."