My Cultivation Has a Progress Bar

’Zhi Gong Daoist’s following words are pure pleasantries. You’d have to be a fool to take them seriously,’ Wang Ping thought.

Hu Xin seemed to see what Wang Ping was thinking and added, "While Senior Wan Zhi is in charge of the Southern Daoist Lineage, she will not be returning to the Earth Cave Sect; she’ll be staying at the Six Heart Sect. Also, I have another piece of news for you. Brother Zi Luan has agreed to take over as Sect Leader of the Six Heart Sect, but not for a few years. He plans to stay in Pingzhou Road for a while."

Wang Ping deliberately frowned and asked, "Why does Fellow Daoist Zi Luan want to stay in Pingzhou Road for a few years?"

Hu Yin answered, "He seems to have a different understanding of the Dao of cultivation. He plans to face Shangjing City and enter meditative seclusion for a few years."

Zhi Gong Daoist spoke again. "As I said before, my master has no designs on the Southern Daoist Lineage, nor can she take it. This matter concerns an agreement between True Monarchs. Barring any surprises, no one can easily change it."

Wang Ping believed her. The Southern Daoist Lineage truly belonged to True Monarch Yuan Wu. Before the rise of the Human Dao, his temples were already widespread throughout the Southeast Islands. Later, when the great clans of the Southeast Region migrated to Zhongzhou, most of them remained in the south, and the faith in True Monarch Yuan Wu naturally migrated with them.

Although the Taiyan Sect later expanded throughout the south, it never managed to diminish True Monarch Yuan Wu’s status. In fact, with the rise of the Human Dao, his temples could be found all across the Zhongzhou Continent.

"Qianmu Temple will give its full support to this matter!"

Wang Ping betrayed no emotion, giving Zhi Gong Daoist the same reply.

At his words, Zhi Gong Daoist looked toward Hu Yin.

Hu Yin was silent for two breaths before saying, "Fellow Daoist, we came to visit today to formalize the verbal alliance we made with you at True Yang Mountain."

Wang Ping put on a suitable expression of surprise. The verbal alliance Hu Yin spoke of was the one they had agreed to when Wang Ping used the Spiritual Body of a Third Realm Cultivator to refine the ’Five Elements Condensation Art’ for the two of them.

"An alliance with you two would be a great boon to Qianmu Temple. Of course I agree."

Wang Ping’s reply was swift.

A formal alliance was not as simple as a verbal agreement between the three of them. A verbal agreement was just a pact between the three individuals, allowing them to ask for help now and then. A formal alliance, however, not only established a mutual defense pact between them but also meant their respective sects would become allies. In ordinary times, their disciples would also be expected to engage in mutual exchanges.

In this way, the relationships between their disciples would grow increasingly close. After several hundred years, their sects would become so deeply intertwined that it would be impossible to deny the alliance, even if they tried.

The three of them discussed the alliance for a long time. Yu Lian quietly hovered by the teapot, refilling their cups.

As their discussion concluded, Zhi Gong Daoist suddenly asked, "We don’t know where Daoist Xiu Yu has gone. Hu Yin and I haven’t been able to find any trace of him. Do you happen to know anything, Fellow Daoist?"

Wang Ping shook his head with regret. "I’ve been looking for him as well. There is some friction between us, and with him lurking in the shadows, I’m always on edge."

"In that case, I have a proposal..."

Zhi Gong picked up the steaming teacup at her side and spoke very slowly. "Previously, Fellow Daoist, you and Zi Luan changed the Daoist Scripture Hall into the Daoist Palace, but the change was only implemented in Mozhou Road, Nanlin Road, and Ningzhou Road. Other regions are still using the name, relay stations, and administrative system of the Daoist Scripture Hall. This has led to constant conflict within the cultivation circles of the various regions in Chu Country..."

"So, I plan to take this opportunity to bring Hai Zhou Road and the Liangjiang Region into the fold as well. By using a unified name, relay stations, and administrative system, we can bring order to the chaos in the various cultivation circles. We will also establish the Daoist Palace in Jinhua Prefecture City as the headquarters. What do you think, Fellow Daoist?"

Wang Ping picked up his teacup halfway through her proposal. As he drank, he glanced at Hu Yin and confirmed she supported Zhi Gong. The moment Zhi Gong finished speaking, he immediately declared, "I fully support you, Fellow Daoist. What do you need me to do?"

"We need startup capital. Of course, we won’t ask you to contribute for nothing, Fellow Daoist. In the future, the supply of elixirs and common magical artifacts for the Daoist Palace will be exclusively contracted to Qianmu Temple."

"That’s a small matter!"

A smile spread across Wang Ping’s face. He had long coveted the contract to supply the Daoist Palace with elixirs, but that business had always been handled by the Upper Dan Sect. He had also been worried that he and Qianmu Temple would attract too much unwanted attention. Now, with Zhi Gong Daoist taking the lead, he was more than happy to oblige.

’It’s just that, he couldn’t possibly handle this all on his own. But he had allies: Zi Luan, Ganxing, and Wu Quan. Even the two women before him could be partners. For that matter, Ruan Chunzi and Yuan Zheng, who were currently at Qianmu Temple, were also options.’

Zhi Gong also smiled at his words and continued, "For the Daoist Palace Headquarters, I plan to adopt the Daoist Scripture Hall’s six-seat system to coordinate and mediate disputes. However, the original framework is too complex. After discussing it with my master, we decided to select only one hundred and eight seats in total: the top thirty-six seats for Third Realm Cultivators and the remaining seventy-two for Second Realm Cultivators. In addition, one hundred and eight seats will be established at each Daoist Palace branch to manage and supervise their respective regions."

Wang Ping just nodded. "An excellent plan."

Yu Lian, however, suddenly spoke up. "With so many people, won’t even small matters take years of arguing to resolve? How can you possibly mediate and coordinate all the disputes?"

Far from being annoyed, Zhi Gong’s smile only deepened. She explained, "That is why we are also adopting the Daoist Scripture Hall’s chief system. We plan to nominate seven Fellow Daoists to serve as chiefs. These seven will then take turns presiding over and coordinating the Daoist Palace’s affairs. Most matters will be decided by the presiding chief, more important issues will be decided by the seven chiefs in council, and anything with major ramifications will be decided jointly by the top thirty-six seat holders."

After explaining, she paused for two breaths before adding, "The specifics will be written into the Daoist Palace’s official bylaws. We can all discuss and finalize those bylaws together!"

"That’s so complicated!"

Yu Lian thought about it for a moment before deciding it was too much to think about.

Hu Yin chimed in, "This concerns hundreds of thousands of cultivators and tens of millions of common people in the south. It’s only right for it to be rigorous and complex."

Wang Ping repeated his question: "What do you need me to do?"

Zhi Gong hesitated for a moment before saying, "I hope that you, Fellow Daoist, will serve as the first presiding chief of the Daoist Palace."

Wang Ping considered the offer, then replied with a smile, "Thank you for the honor, Fellow Daoist, but my cultivation has just reached a critical juncture. I was just about to enter secluded ascetic training. I’m afraid I am unequal to the task of being the Daoist Palace’s presiding chief. However, if you need help in any other capacity, I will certainly do my utmost to assist."

"Oh?"

Zhi Gong was skeptical at first, but then she remembered that Wang Ping had been cultivating for less than three hundred years. This was precisely the stage at which a cultivator would frequently enter seclusion.

At this thought, she couldn’t help but look at Wang Ping with a touch of jealousy. She quickly suppressed it, however, and said with an even broader smile, "In that case, Fellow Daoist, you should focus on your cultivation. However, you must still take one of the seven chief seats."

This time, Wang Ping did not refuse. He agreed at once. "Very well!"