My Cultivation Has a Progress Bar

Wang Ping’s master, Yu Cheng Taoist, had his Spirit Veins wither once due to a Heart Demon. Fortunately, with the Heart Demon purged, his Spirit Veins were now gradually recovering.

However, while he was plagued by the Heart Demon, he had survived solely by taking life-extending elixirs—and on more than one occasion. In this world, everything comes at a price. The repeated use of elixirs caused a great deal of elixir poison to build up in his body. Even though it was now cleansed, much of his original lifespan had been consumed in the process.

Currently, Wang Ping’s master had about ninety years of life remaining. This was not nearly enough time for him to advance to the Third Realm by practicing the *Taiyan Talisman* normally. The only way was to use external forces to help him prematurely form a Spiritual Body and Primordial Spirit. As for a spot in the Third Realm, Wang Ping had already secured one during his first visit to Shangjing City.

His current search for a Divine Soul Guide was, first and foremost, for his master, Yu Cheng Taoist; his own Primordial Spirit cultivation came second.

Wang Ping asked Zi Luan about this because he felt Xiao Shan Lord must have passed down most of the Magic he knew. He himself had obtained the Divine Technique Formation, so the Secret Technique for the composite array was most likely with either Zi Luan or Xiu Yu.

As for why he hadn’t asked Xiao Shan Lord’s projection directly, it was because he simply hadn’t thought that far ahead at the time. After all, he had just been through the ordeal in Shangjing City, and with the future so uncertain, his thoughts were understandably muddled.

While studying the *Essence Wood Technique* over the past few days, he also began to consider his master Yu Cheng Taoist’s cultivation path. That was what made him think of Xiao Shan Lord’s composite array and the possibility that Zi Luan might have it.

Zi Luan’s denial didn’t arouse much suspicion in Wang Ping. His mind subconsciously drifted to Xiu Yu, and to the still-sealed portion of Xiao Shan Lord’s memories within his Spirit Sea.

"Don’t waste your energy. You should know that even if we could obtain Master’s Secret Technique, it wouldn’t necessarily be suitable for your master. His divine soul couldn’t withstand the strain of being empowered by our Primordial Spirits. And if you were to substitute two Second Realm Perfection Taiyan Cultivators, they wouldn’t be compatible with the array’s required strength."

Zi Luan advised, "You might occasionally find a shortcut in cultivation, but shortcuts don’t work for everyone. Otherwise, the path of the Dao wouldn’t be so difficult. Let’s take a step back—even if you obtained the method for constructing this array, you would be doomed to fail. You don’t possess the power of the Fourth Realm, and its casting requirements would likely be so daunting you’d give up before you even started."

Wang Ping took his words to heart. Cupping his fist in gratitude, he said, "Thank you for the reminder, Fellow Daoist. Do you have any other suggestions?"

Zi Luan shook his head, his gaze drifting toward Xiao Shan Lord’s courtyard Dao Field. "Gain and loss are the most common parts of life," he said softly. "You have to get used to it. You have thousands of years ahead of you. If you advance to the Fourth Realm, that becomes tens of thousands. I assume you know what that means."

Yu Lian tilted her head back to look at Zi Luan. "That doesn’t sound like you," she said.

Zi Luan chuckled. "Then how am I supposed to sound?" he asked.

Just as Yu Lian was about to reply, a sound of whistling air echoed from above. It was a Taiyan Cultivator who had just reached the Entering Realm. Wang Ping turned his head to the sky, and in an instant, he made out the newcomer’s appearance through the flowing Wood Spirit Qi.

He was a young-faced Cultivator wearing a Daoist Robe of pale purple brocade. His belt was a brilliant, opulent gold, and he wore a golden coronet. The collar of his robe was embroidered with qilin patterns. One look at his attire was enough to tell he was a descendant of a Duke’s Family from the Chu Country.

"That’s my young disciple, Qin Zifeng."

As Zi Luan introduced the newcomer, his tone was filled with doting affection, and a smile unconsciously graced his features.

In the Spirit Sea, Yu Lian said to Wang Ping, ’An Entering Taiyan Cultivator who isn’t even a hundred years old. His aura is similar to Hongchen’s.’

She had barely finished her sentence when the man landed directly in front of Wang Ping and Zi Luan.

"Master!"

Qin Zifeng cupped his fist in a salute.

Zi Luan nodded with a broad smile and pointed to Wang Ping. "Come," he said, "greet your Martial Uncle Changqing."

He was actually having his disciple address Wang Ping as "Martial Uncle."

"Greetings, Martial Uncle Changqing!"

Qin Zifeng did not hesitate. Reining in his usual, overweening arrogance, he gave a very serious, respectful bow with his fist cupped.

Yet Wang Ping could sense a faint, almost imperceptible hint of hostility.

Zi Luan, standing nearby, might have sensed the hostility from Qin Zifeng as well, for he explained, "Zifeng has always admired you greatly. However, he has also boasted that he’ll advance to the Second Realm at an even younger age than you did!"

Wang Ping nodded thoughtfully and smiled. "Then let’s wait and see."

In the Spirit Sea, Yu Lian said, ’I’m certain now. This guy is a puppet recreated from Hongchen’s divine soul. Zi Luan’s sense of humor is as twisted as ever.’

Wang Ping’s expression did not change upon hearing this.

Just then, Zi Luan asked, "What brings you here?"

"In the front hall, disciples from a few sects have gotten into a conflict with Zhi Gong Daoist’s disciples. If..."

Before Qin Zifeng could finish, a surge of chaotic Spiritual Qi from the direction of the front hall slammed into the Barrier Formation above the Six Heart Sect, sending pale cyan ripples spreading across the underside of the clouds.

Zi Luan didn’t seem particularly anxious. "And Fellow Daoist Zhi Gong?" he asked.

"About half an hour ago, word came from the Daoist Palace. Daoist Zhi Gong and Hu Yin Taoist will arrive on the day you formally succeed as Sect Leader, Master."

"Quite the grand entrance they’re planning."

Wang Ping remained silent.

Zi Luan glanced at Qin Zifeng and gave a casual order. "You handle it. Make them remember who they are. The Six Heart Sect hasn’t fallen so low that petty rabble can make a scene here."

Wang Ping watched Qin Zifeng’s retreating figure as he flew into the sky, a complex mix of feelings stirring within him. ’If Xiao Shan Lord were here,’ he thought, ’who would dare cause a disturbance on such an occasion? If they did, they’d be struck dead on the spot with nowhere to even plead their case.’

A dozen breaths later.

Qin Zifeng returned to the sky above the front hall’s reception area. Down on the plaza before the great hall, two Foundation Establishment Cultivators were dueling with the most basic Sword Control Technique. Though it lacked any real technical skill, the whistling blades were incredibly dangerous—the slightest misstep would mean getting splattered with blood.

"What did the master say?"

It was Hongyuan who was maintaining order on the scene, and he looked quite anxious when he saw Qin Zifeng.

Qin Zifeng, however, replied at a leisurely pace, "The master told us to handle it as we see fit. In my opinion, we should just kill the two troublemakers."

Hongyuan shook his head, ignoring Qin Zifeng. He ordered the disciples at his side, "Apprehend those two first!"

"Yes, sir!"

He had two Entering Gold Cultivator disciples at his side, more than enough to handle two Foundation Establishment Cultivators.

"You two, stop!"

A metallic luster seeped through the skin of the two Gold Cultivators. They shouted a warning as they descended, landing in front of each Foundation Establishment Cultivator. They then reached out and clamped their hands down on the two men’s spines.

"You two are being awfully meddlesome. Do you have any idea..."

An Entering Cultivator from the Earth Cave Sect with an arrogant expression stepped forward to stop the two Gold Cultivators. But before he could finish speaking, a short sword glowing with a faint green light pierced his chest. It was followed instantly by two more whistling short swords that sliced his body in half.

In an instant, blood mixed with his still-pulsing Spirit Veins stained a wide patch of ground red.

The disciples with lower cultivation levels were frozen in shock, while all the Cultivators at the Entering Realm and above looked up toward the sky.

It was Qin Zifeng who had struck!