My Cultivation Has a Progress Bar

Baisui Lake.

The Dao Field atop the cliff.

Although Wang Ping didn’t usually come here, the place was always kept clean and tidy.

Night had now fallen. Inside the thatched hut next to the Dao Field’s bamboo forest, it was as bright as day. Wang Ping sat on a bamboo chair in the courtyard, gazing at the sparse Star River in the night sky. A series of soothing zither melodies drifted between the bamboo slips and the thatched hut, and Wang Ping couldn’t help but close his eyes to listen.

The one playing the zither was Liu Shuang. Wang Ping had brought her along when he left the Six Heart Sect. After going to Jinhuai City to confer with Daoist Zhi Gong, he’d had Zuo Xuan take over the subsequent arrangements in Liu Shuang’s stead, while he returned to the sect with her.

As Wang Ping had expected, Daoist Zhi Gong immediately agreed after hearing his plan and intended to implement it personally.

Wang Ping had no interest in her plan. While returning with Liu Shuang, he passed by Wudao Prefecture and, realizing it had been a long time since he’d admired the scenery of Baisui Lake, decided to land there for a brief rest.

As he relaxed, Wang Ping remarked, "This view would be even more beautiful with some music." Liu Shuang immediately took out her zither and began to play. Yu Lian, who had no interest in music or scenery, waited until Wang Ping was resting on the bamboo chair before descending to Hu Qianqian’s Dao Field below the cliff to go play with her.

Just as the song ended, the sound of light footsteps approached from outside the thatched hut.

’It must be Hu Qianqian.’ He didn’t even have to guess. She placed great importance on etiquette, yet the path she cultivated was one of natural freedom. Thus, beneath her dignified and grand exterior lay the playfulness and liveliness of the White Fox Race.

"Master!"

Hu Qianqian first bowed to Wang Ping, then clasped her fist to Liu Shuang and said, "Senior Sister."

As she bowed, two White Fox Demons, a head shorter than her, appeared by her side. They nervously performed a deep kowtow, calling out, "Greetings, Changqing Zhenren."

"These are two juniors from my race. According to the generational etiquette of the Human Dao, they should call me ’Grandmother’!"

As Hu Qianqian spoke, her fluffy tail fanned out behind her and gently swatted the two juniors. The White Fox on the left spoke first, "This junior, Hu Miao, greets Changqing Zhenren."

Then, the White Fox on the right added, "This junior, Hu Xin, greets Changqing Zhenren."

They were two young boys.

"Since you are our own, there’s no need for such formality."

Wang Ping waved his hand lightly, sending two Blessing Talismans into their bodies. He used Wood Spirit Qi to repair the damage to their limbs and meridians caused by the convergence of demonic qi.

Feeling the changes within their bodies, Hu Miao and Hu Xin kowtowed again. "Many thanks, Changqing Zhenren!"

As they spoke, their tails wagged ceaselessly, looking especially endearing.

𝚏𝗿𝗲𝐞𝐰𝚎𝕓𝐧𝚘𝘃𝗲𝐥.𝐜𝚘𝕞

Wang Ping gave a slight wave of his hand and closed his eyes once more.

Seeing her master’s expression, Hu Qianqian gave the two boys a look. Understanding the signal, the boys’ eyes darted about for a moment before they transformed into two small, white-furred foxes and tiptoed out of the courtyard.

Liu Shuang watched the two little ones leave, fighting the urge to grab one to raise as a pet. She then glared at her Spiritual Dog. The Spiritual Dog had been about to bark at the fleeing Little White Foxes, but after being stared down, it could only close its mouth in grievance.

Just then, Hu Qianqian walked over. She reached out to pat the Spiritual Dog’s head, then used her furry, clawed palm to smooth the fur on its neck.

Beside them, Liu Shuang smiled and gave up her seat. Her zither skills were only at a beginner’s level; fine for occasional self-cultivation, but not quite good enough to play for her master.

Hu Qianqian, however, was different. She regularly enjoyed studying such arts.

Before long, music filled the air once more. Hu Qianqian’s furry ears twitched rhythmically with each note. After the song ended, she habitually stretched her legs and kicked them a couple of times, then scratched the fur at the corner of her mouth with her palm.

"That’s enough."

Wang Ping, his eyes still closed, stopped Hu Qianqian from continuing and directly entered a state of meditation.

Hu Qianqian looked toward her Senior Sister Liu Shuang...

Liu Shuang was also on a nearby cattail cushion, having entered meditation. Once she did, her Spiritual Dog stealthily rose, tiptoed out of the courtyard, and vanished into the night.

Hu Qianqian stretched lazily. Noticing the light in the courtyard was gradually fading, her body flashed with a faint halo of light, and she transformed into a snow-white fox. She spun around in a circle, found a comfortable spot, and lay down, preparing to spend the night there as well.

An unknown amount of time passed. A sea breeze blew in, and Yu Lian’s massive body slowly shrank in the darkness. Then, riding a cloud, she landed on Wang Ping’s shoulder, slid down to his chest, glanced up at his cheek, and closed her eyes.

At that moment, the light in the courtyard was completely extinguished.

「Time quickly passed into the latter half of the night.」

Suddenly, brilliant flashes of color streaked across the distant sky. Various identity tokens were projected beneath the clouds, followed by the echoing sound of Entering Cultivators tearing through the air.

Wang Ping opened his eyes. As his consciousness returned, the courtyard became bright once more.

"It’s the auras of Guangxuan and the others!"

Yu Lian reminded him.

Wang Ping looked at Liu Shuang, who had also opened her eyes, and ordered, "Go and bring your Martial Uncle Guangxuan here."

"Yes, Master!"

As Liu Shuang replied, her Spiritual Dog came trotting happily into the courtyard, only to be swept up into the air by the Wood Spirit Qi that emerged around Liu Shuang.

Hu Qianqian also awoke beside the zither. She subconsciously shook her fur, then very gracefully transformed into her human form and sat with dignity beside the zither.

「A moment later.」

Liu Shuang returned, and with her were Zuo Xuan and Guangxuan. The moment the three of them landed, their Spirit Pets began to tear around the courtyard like mad. Yu Lian raised her head and spat three water projectiles, drenching all three Spirit Pets and making them calm down considerably.

"How did things go?"

Wang Ping asked as he invited Guangxuan and Zuo Xuan to sit.

Zuo Xuan was the one who answered. "Daoist Zhi Gong’s methods are quite crude. She first attacked the residences of other sects, framed the Cultivators of Hai Zhou Road, and then stirred up trouble to wipe out the Hai Zhou Road Cultivators in one fell swoop."

Guangxuan added, "Although the methods are crude, most of the sects are willing to cooperate. Oh, right, this matter is being presided over by Daoist Liu Shibin, the Pacification Envoy of Mozhou Road. Daoist Zi Luan has not made an appearance, using the excuse that he needs to enter seclusion for Spirit Refining before taking over as Sect Leader."

Liu Shibin, the Pacification Envoy of the Mozhou Road Daoist Palace, is Daoist Zhi Gong’s junior martial brother, which naturally makes him a disciple of Wan Zhi Daoist. He is also one of the seven chief disciples of the Daoist Palace.

"In that case, our reasons for pulling out are somewhat weak. But it doesn’t matter. They don’t have the authority to decide whether I stay or go." After saying this, Wang Ping looked at Zuo Xuan.

Zuo Xuan understood and said, "The Hai Zhou Road Cultivation Realm can no longer pretend to be ignorant this time. Just before we wiped out those Hai Zhou Road Cultivators, we agreed to launch a preemptive strike. I estimate that Daoist Zhi Gong will make her move within the year. I request to represent Qianmu Temple in this operation."

Wang Ping nodded. "Very well. It’s time for our sect’s disciples to go out and see the world. They’ve been in quiet cultivation for too long and are getting restless."

After speaking, he looked at Liu Shuang and instructed, "You’ve spent more than ten years in Mozhou Road, back and forth. You won’t participate this time. Accompany me in closed-door cultivation instead."

Liu Shuang hesitated for a moment before replying, "Yes, Master!"

Wang Ping then turned back to Zuo Xuan and asked, "Has there been any news about the ’Divine Soul Guide’?"