My Cultivation Has a Progress Bar

There were still two days until the Six Heart Sect’s succession ceremony for its new Sect Leader. Disciples bustled about, both inside and outside the front hall. In the plaza, the area designated for receiving other sects currently held several hundred people. They were all uniformly dressed in blue Daoist robes, with only slight variations in the patterns on their cuffs and collars.

These were all First or Second Realm Cultivators from other southern sects. It seemed they had already registered with the receiving disciples but were not in a hurry to enter the Six Heart Sect. Instead, they were gathered together, talking in low voices.

Suddenly, a guide disciple from the Six Heart Sect descended from the sky and shouted to everyone in the reception area, "Changqing Zhenren has arrived in Jinhuai Prefecture! Everyone, prepare to welcome him."

Although some of the Cultivators from the various sects present were disdainful of Wang Ping, they were all wily veterans who had cultivated for hundreds of years. None were foolish enough to let their true thoughts show. Thus, while the scene appeared chaotic, it was an orderly chaos. They quickly arranged themselves into two rows based on their current status.

「A quarter of an hour later.」

As a seven-colored light flashed across the sky, Wang Ping’s gleaming golden identity token captured everyone’s attention. A dozen breaths later, Wang Ping and his entourage appeared in the reception area as the light descended. The Six Heart Sect disciple closest to Wang Ping immediately cupped his fist in salute and said, "Greetings, Changqing Zhenren."

The next moment, the Cultivators from the other sects saluted with voices that were not quite in unison, "Greetings, Changqing Zhenren!"

Wang Ping politely returned the salute with a cupped fist. "Fellow Daoists, this is too great a formality. I am but a humble junior, unworthy of such a grand reception from you all."

He had barely finished speaking when Yu Lian quipped in his Spirit Sea, ’So hypocritical. But there are plenty of people here far more hypocritical than you. The souls of several of them are filled with hostility, yet on the surface, they’re smiling so hard their faces might crack.’

Wang Ping ignored Yu Lian’s commentary, exchanged a few words with the representatives of the various sects alongside Liu Shuang and Guangxuan, and was then led by a Six Heart Sect disciple to a courtyard by a mountain stream, specially prepared for him in the rear mountains.

The courtyard was vast, large enough to accommodate fifty or sixty people without issue; in a pinch, it could even house a hundred. Within this compound, Wang Ping had his own private, smaller courtyard, while Liu Shuang was tasked with arranging accommodations for the other disciples.

While Liu Shuang was settling the disciples, Wang Ping, Guangxuan, and Liu Chang caught up in his private courtyard.

However, it was mostly Liu Chang and Guangxuan who did the talking. Their conversation revolved around the cultivation of the Sanhe Temple disciples. Wang Ping maintained an interested expression throughout, while Yu Lian and Guangxuan’s Spirit Bird flew up to survey the scenery from above the courtyard.

At some point, Guangxuan steered the conversation toward his disciples, then made an abrupt transition. "I’d like to sponsor Junior Brother Liu to join our gathering," he said. "What do you think, Fellow Daoist?"

He said this right in front of Liu Chang, which clearly meant Liu Chang had already figured something out.

"We are all brothers here. Why not?"

Wang Ping’s reply was sincere and forthright, but he was inwardly puzzled. ’With Liu Chang’s current intelligence network and resources, aside from what he gets from his father, he has access to almost the same information as Guangxuan. Joining the gathering won’t provide him with any additional resources or intelligence.’

Seeing Wang Ping agree, Guangxuan immediately added, "After Junior Brother Liu returns this time, he will be going back to Lishui Prefecture. He needs to prepare for his ascension to the Second Realm. After he breaks through, I’m afraid he won’t be coming back to Sanhe Prefecture."

As soon as Guangxuan finished explaining, Liu Chang cupped his fist toward Wang Ping and declared, "Fellow Daoist, rest assured. I will be a disciple of Sanhe Temple for my entire life. Should you need anything, I will answer your call without fail."

Wang Ping understood Guangxuan’s intention at once. ’He wants to use Liu Chang’s influence in Lishui Prefecture to obtain intelligence and resources that are beyond our reach.’ At this thought, the expression on his face became even more sincere. He returned the salute with a cupped fist and said, "Then let me be the first to congratulate you on your successful ascension, Fellow Daoist!"

"I thank you for the auspicious words!"

Liu Chang seemed very confident. For someone with the bloodline of a Dragon Monarch, aside from the "walking the waters" trial before the first realm, reaching the Second Realm was merely a matter of time. Reaching the Third Realm, beyond time, was a matter of securing a spot. It was only natural for him to be confident.

Once that matter was settled, Guangxuan glanced toward the entrance, took out an azure crystal, and activated the isolation array within it. He lowered his voice and said, "There’s a new lead on Yue Ziyu. We just received word three days ago that he appeared in Lishui Prefecture a month ago."

"He still dares to show his face in Lishui Prefecture?"

Wang Ping was surprised. ’As a disciple of the Seventh Prince, Yue Ziyu must be implicated in the prince’s affairs. He should be a wanted man in Lishui Prefecture.’

Guangxuan looked toward Liu Chang.

Liu Chang understood the cue and explained to Wang Ping, "The internal situation in Lishui Prefecture is not as simple as you imagine, Fellow Daoist. Let me put it this way: the Third Prince does not represent all of Lishui Prefecture. He only represents the islands under his control. In fact, there are quite a few disciples and islands that support the Seventh Prince."

That one explanation was enough. Understanding dawned on Wang Ping. "Is there internal strife in Lishui Prefecture?" he asked.

"Not yet, but I estimate it’s coming soon. That’s why my father told me to return, to avoid being used by other disciples from Lishui Prefecture while I’m out."

Wang Ping simply nodded without comment. He didn’t care about any turmoil in Lishui Prefecture, as his own interests would be unaffected. Yue Ziyu, however, was a different matter. ’I have to take him down.’

"Where was Yue Ziyu seen?"

"A small island in the easternmost part of Lishui Prefecture called Cangxia," Guangxuan answered. "One of the Eighth Prince’s disciples saw him."

The Eighth Prince of Lishui Prefecture was Liu Chang’s father, Yang Shu.

An image of Lishui Prefecture’s map appeared in Wang Ping’s mind. He frowned. "The easternmost part of Lishui Prefecture... doesn’t that face the Eastern Continent across the sea?"

Liu Chang replied, "That is correct. Cangxia Island is one of the transit islands between Lishui Prefecture and the Eastern Continent. With a large ship capable of navigating deep waters, even a mortal could reach the Eastern Continent in just five days. For a Third Realm Cultivator, the flight would take less than four hours."

Hearing this, Wang Ping unconsciously began to tap his fingers on the top of the Eight Immortals Table beside him. As the rhythmic sound started, both Guangxuan and Liu Chang subconsciously stopped talking. Just then, Yu Lian and the Spirit Bird descended from above the courtyard. The Spirit Bird landed on Guangxuan’s shoulder and hopped about, while Yu Lian floated on a small cloud to Wang Ping’s side.

"Hongyuan is here to see you," Yu Lian told Wang Ping. "It must be on Zi Luan’s orders!"

Wang Ping snapped out of his deep thought. ’Dealing with Yue Ziyu wouldn’t be as simple as he had imagined. Not everyone was like Xiu Yu, who had damaged his mind through excessive cultivation.’

’If he decided to play a waiting game, a Third Realm Water Cultivator could easily lie low for two thousand years!’

Guangxuan, seeing that Wang Ping had finished his thoughts, signaled to Liu Chang beside him. Liu Chang immediately cupped his fist and said, "Fellow Daoist, the conflict between the Seventh Prince and the Third Prince is bound to erupt sooner or later. Yue Ziyu is certain to appear at that time. As long as we prepare in advance, he won’t be able to escape our sight once he shows himself."

He had clearly left his sentence unfinished. Under Wang Ping’s patient gaze, he paused for two breaths before continuing, "I will find a way to persuade the disciples on the Third Prince’s side to cooperate with the Chu Country. Once that happens, things will be much easier."

Just as Wang Ping nodded lightly, Liu Shuang walked in from outside. Standing in the sunniest part of the small courtyard, she cupped her fist and said, "Master, Fellow Daoist Hongyuan is outside requesting an audience."