My Cultivation Has a Progress Bar

Chapter 354: Chapter 83: Yang Hou Enters the Realm

Guangxuan arrived at Qianmu Temple when the Dharma Assembly began. He flew directly to Wang Ping’s Dao Field, greeted him, and then went to Yu Cheng Taoist’s small courtyard on the back mountain.

Both he and Yu Cheng Taoist were required to attend the Dharma Assembly, while Wang Ping no longer needed to concern himself with the sect’s affairs.

After the sect’s Dharma Assembly began, Wang Ping went to the nearly completed pavilion for the Barrier Formation, located halfway up the main peak of Qianmu Mountain. The pavilion’s main structure was finished, and its auxiliary building, located in the Fire Institute, was also nearing completion.

Wang Ping could have used his puppets to start arranging the Array Runes in the main building right away, but he didn’t want to spoil the mood. After all, it was the Spring Festival, a time when everyone wanted to rest. If he started working, no one in the sect, from top to bottom, would dare to take a break.

So, after a brief stroll, he settled back into his Dao Field to await visits from his disciples and other guests.

When the Dharma Assembly in the front hall concluded, Wang Ping personally went to his wine cellar, selected a jug of fine, aged yellow wine, and sat back in the pavilion at the edge of his Dao Field, leisurely watching the disciples from the various institutes compete.

Just then, Zuo Xuan’s identity projection flashed across the horizon, and in the blink of an eye, she landed beside Wang Ping.

Zuo Xuan’s current Dao Field was also at Qianmu Temple. Disciples from her lineage were participating in today’s tournament, led by her Direct Disciple, Zuo Liang.

Just as Wang Ping was about to greet Zuo Xuan, a dense surge of Wood Spirit Qi suddenly erupted from deep within the forests on the back mountain.

’Someone is breaking through.’

’It’s Yang Hou!’

After decades in seclusion, he had finally reached the threshold of his breakthrough at the critical moment when his lifespan was about to run out.

"He certainly knows how to pick a day!"

Yu Lian chuckled, descending on a cloud to hover above the pavilion.

Wang Ping’s consciousness flickered, and he dissolved into motes of flowing light, reappearing where Yang Hou was in seclusion. Yang Hou was seated in the center of a fixed Array, using his body’s Spirit Veins to guide a Wood Spirit. He was attempting to merge the Wood Spirit into his Qi Sea, an act that triggered the celestial phenomenon.

His preparations had been thorough. The Wood Spirit’s consciousness was stable, and its compatibility with his Spirit Veins was exceptionally high. It was now slowly fusing with his Spirit Veins and moving toward his Qi Sea.

This step was extremely perilous. The slightest mistake could cause the Wood Spirit to resist, leading to a failed ascension and causing the cultivator’s Spirit Veins to spiral out of control.

"His emotional state is very stable, bordering on the Emotionless Realm. As long as he isn’t disturbed, his ascension should proceed without any issues."

Yu Lian appeared beside Wang Ping, shrinking down to perch on his shoulder as she spoke.

The moment she finished speaking, Zuo Xuan also appeared beside Wang Ping and added, "To merge a Wood Spirit with one’s own Qi Sea and Spirit Veins to achieve a breakthrough... the senior who created this Cultivation Technique was audacious. Practicing this technique is tantamount to constantly walking across a narrow log bridge—a single misstep, and you plunge into the abyss."

But Yu Lian countered, "Achieving a breakthrough with this Cultivation Technique is actually quite simple. As long as you adjust your own consciousness to maintain balance with the Spirit Body’s consciousness and avoid being tainted by mortal desires, it’s virtually impossible for anything to go wrong."

Zuo Xuan shook her head. "But if something does go wrong, not even the gods can save you!"

"Once he reaches the Third Realm, cultivates a Primordial Spirit, and completely subjugates the Wood Spirit Consciousness, the sky will be the limit. Thousands of years of freedom will await him!"

"The easiest path, and yet the hardest."

Yu Cheng Taoist provided the concluding thought, having already delegated full responsibility for the Inner Sect’s tournament to Zhao Wan.

Then, Guangxuan also transformed into a streak of light and landed behind Wang Ping.

"Currently, there are six people within the sect in seclusion, awaiting their own moment to break through. They are all leaders of their respective institutes. I estimate their opportunity will come within the next few years. If only all of them could be as smooth as Yang Hou’s breakthrough."

Yu Cheng Taoist said with a cheerful laugh.

As soon as these words were spoken, Guangxuan’s face filled with envy. Gazing out at the mountain range of Qianmu Temple, he felt for the first time the true extent to which the sect had grown into a regional power.

"Hasn’t Liu Chang arrived?" Wang Ping asked, looking for a new topic of conversation with Guangxuan. Liu Chang was their primary liaison with Lishui Prefecture.

"His cultivation method is different from ours. He remembered the time incorrectly and won’t wake up until noon. He’ll come over on his own when he’s up," Guangxuan replied with a laugh.

"Come on, let’s go to my Dao Field for a few drinks."

"Sounds good!"

After their exchange, Wang Ping bid farewell to his master, called out to Zuo Xuan, and then returned to his Mountain Peak Dojo.

Before long, the long, drawn-out notes of a zither once again filled the quiet garden. This time, it was Zuo Xuan playing. Her music was softer than Hu Qianqian’s, but tinged with a cold detachment, lacking Hu Qianqian’s lively spirit.

Wang Ping and Guangxuan played Go in the pavilion at the garden’s edge. A stove beside them warmed a pot of yellow wine. They sipped their drinks, commented on the matches of the Inner Sect Disciples below, and occasionally raised their cups to toast.

By the time two games of Go had concluded, the tournament below was also drawing to a close. Sixteen disciples remained, six of whom were from Zuo Xuan’s lineage. Artifact Cultivators truly had an advantage in combat.

Wang Ping’s opponent in Go then became Zuo Xuan. Her skill was at least on par with his, if not better, allowing Wang Ping to finally find some real enjoyment in the game. Meanwhile, Guangxuan sat on the pavilion roof, tapping a small bronze drum that produced a rather pleasant sound.

Before his game with Zuo Xuan was over, Liu Chang arrived at the Mountain Peak Dojo in a flurry. Seeing Wang Ping and Zuo Xuan’s match, he immediately leaned in with great interest.

Seeing this, Yu Lian said, "Little one, let’s you and I play a game!"

The ’little one’ she referred to was Liu Chang. And technically, she wasn’t wrong. Compared to Yu Lian’s true form, Liu Chang really was just a little one in her eyes.

"Alright!"

Liu Chang didn’t mind Yu Lian’s impudence in the slightest.

Just as their game began, Hu Qianqian and the other juniors arrived at the Mountain Peak Dojo in a group, making the Dao Field even more lively.

As his match with Zuo Xuan neared its end, Wang Ping called out to Shen Xiaozhu, who was chatting with Hu Qianqian in the distance, "Xiaozhu, go with your junior brother and bring out some of the hundred-year-old vintage from my cellar."

"Yes, Master!"

Shen Xiaozhu replied and called out to Xia Wen Yi, who was observing Yu Lian and Liu Chang’s game. But Xia Wen Yi didn’t react; he was completely engrossed, occasionally whispering and conferring with Liu Chang.

SMACK!

Shen Xiaozhu walked over and smacked Xia Wen Yi right on the head.

Xia Wen Yi jumped in surprise. When he saw it was his senior sister, a smile reappeared on his face. "What is it, Senior Sister?" he asked.

"Master told us to get the wine."

Just as Shen Xiaozhu and Xia Wen Yi were heading toward the cellar behind the small courtyard, Zhang Xinghuai, Su Hai, and Wang Yang arrived at the Mountain Peak Dojo together. While they were greeting Wang Ping in turn, Yang Rong also entered the courtyard, beaming with joy. She had just won first place in the tournament.

"Xiaorong, come here!"

Wang Ping called out happily to Yang Rong. She immediately trotted obediently into the pavilion. As Wang Ping smiled and shifted his gaze to the yellow wine warming nearby, Zhang Xinghuai instantly stepped forward, picked up the wine jug and an empty porcelain bowl, and handed them to him.

"You performed very well, but your path of cultivation is still long. You must continue to strive, understand?"

As he spoke, Wang Ping stood up and personally poured a cup of wine for Yang Rong. Perhaps it was the tragedy of Liu Ling and Zhao Yu’Er that made him pay special attention to her.

"Thank you, Grandmaster!" Yang Rong was overjoyed as she accepted the cup.