My Cultivation Has a Progress Bar

Chapter 355: Chapter 84: Disciples

Before dinner, Guangxuan’s two disciples arrived at the Mountain Peak Dojo. They were followed by the disciples of Su Hai and Zhang Xinghuai. The last to arrive was Hu Xin. She had also participated in Qianmu Temple’s Inner Sect competition, representing the Baisui Lake Dao Field. Many of the Demon Race at Baisui Lake had become Cultivators under Hu Qianqian’s guidance.

Wang Ping had prepared a massive table for dinner that evening. The kitchens outside the Dao Field had been busy preparing the meal since the afternoon. After Wang Ping had spoken with each of his disciples, he notified the kitchen staff to begin serving the dishes.

Similar gatherings were taking place in other Dao Fields throughout Qianmu Temple. Yu Cheng Taoist on the back mountain, for instance, had invited many old friends this year, along with disciples from various schools who were prominent enough to have established their own Dao Fields. Without exception, they were all bustling with people.

Qianmu Temple had, almost imperceptibly, risen to become a major sect in the Southern Region.

After a pleasant meal, no one made a move to leave.

Liu Chang immediately pulled Zuo Xuan aside for a game of chess, with Guangxuan looking on. In a corner, Su Hai and Wang Yang chatted with their respective disciples. Shen Xiaozhu, still smarting from her defeat that afternoon, was deep in a discussion about cultivation with Yang Rong, while Xia Wen Yi fawned over her nearby.

Wang Ping relaxed in a lounge chair beside a Spirit Wood Tree. Nearby, Hu Qianqian knelt on a fur blanket, skillfully preparing tea. Zhang Xinghuai knelt just below her, speaking with her in a low voice. Meanwhile, Hu Xin and Zhang Xinghuai’s disciple, Liu Huai, were in the middle of some kind of argument.

Yu Lian was coiled around a branch of the Spirit Wood Tree behind Wang Ping. Inhaling the fragrance of the tea Hu Qianqian was preparing, she kept one eye closed and the other open, carefully observing everyone in the garden.

"Humans and demons should never mix! Even if they force a relationship, it will only end in tragedy." Liu Huai’s voice was suddenly loud, his face flushed and agitated.

"You only think that because you’re prejudiced against the Demon Race," Hu Xin retorted coldly.

The two were arguing over the worldly affair of romance between humans and demons. The disagreement seemed to have escalated into a matter of racial prejudice. In recent years, with the development of Baisui Lake, many from the Demon Race had chosen to settle in Wudao Prefecture. A good number had even obtained official identification papers, making contact with humans inevitable.

As more demons frequented the cities, romances between humans and demons inevitably occurred, especially among Cultivators. But without exception, these relationships failed to receive the blessings of family and friends. The issue had even become a major point of friction between the two races.

Eventually, Hu Qianqian had to step in and negotiate with representatives from the Wudao Prefecture Cultivation Realm. They established a regulation prohibiting intermarriage between the common folk of the two races, though the rules for Cultivators were not as strict.

"I think *you’re* the one who’s prejudiced. From the moment you brought this up, you’ve shown nothing but contempt for ordinary people. I suggest you read the entirety of the *Human Dao*. Then you’ll understand why commoners are forbidden from marrying into the Demon Race."

Liu Huai noticed his master, Zhang Xinghuai, looking over, and his agitated emotions immediately subsided.

Hu Xin clearly wanted to say more, but Hu Qianqian cut her off. "That’s enough, Xin’Er. I know your thoughts on this, but the matter is settled. Don’t bring it up again."

Leaning back in his chair, Wang Ping had already guessed Hu Xin’s intentions. ’She probably couldn’t get through to Hu Qianqian, so she’s trying this to get me to make the decision.’ Yu Lian sensed Wang Ping’s thoughts. She opened her other eye, and looking at Hu Xin on Wang Ping’s behalf, she asked, "What is it you want to say?"

"Forcibly banning it will only deepen the rift between our races!" Hu Xin said, her tone tactful.

"A ban creates a rift. No ban, I fear, will create blood feuds," Yu Lian replied coolly.

"How could that be?"

"Enough!"

Hu Qianqian scolded, "You may have come from nothing, but in the years you’ve been with me, I have spoiled you rotten. You will find the answer to your own question after you condense a Fake Pill!"

Upon hearing this, Hu Xin’s pupils narrowed into vertical slits. She was clearly frightened, but it was also plain to see her resistance had not faded.

Hu Qianqian’s furry ears twitched. Her lips curled back to reveal sharp, menacing fangs, and her stare turned hostile. She was truly furious.

"Your master is right," Wang Ping said, breaking the tension. "If you wish to inherit her mantle, you must first go out and see the world for yourself. Only through firsthand experience will you understand." He turned his head to Yu Lian and instructed, "Take Xin’Er over to join Xiaozhu."

"Okay."

Yu Lian agreed, then looked toward Hu Xin.

Hu Xin had no choice but to rise and give a respectful bow before following Yu Lian over to Shen Xiaozhu.

After Hu Xin left, Zhang Xinghuai instructed his own disciple, "Liu Huai, you go over as well. And listen to your Martial Aunt Xiaozhu."

"Yes!"

Liu Huai’s bow was far more formal, but compared to Hu Xin, it seemed overly rigid.

Hu Qianqian watched Hu Xin’s defiant back as she walked away and sighed to herself. She then pushed the unnecessary thoughts from her mind. ’According to the traditions of the Demon Race, the young must learn things for themselves. All I can do is guide her according to the rules.’

"Master, your tea."

Hu Qianqian offered the cup to Wang Ping.

Wang Ping accepted it, but his gaze fell upon Zhang Xinghuai. "How are matters in the Northwest?" he asked.

Zhang Xinghuai straightened up and cupped his fist. "I was just about to report to you, Martial Uncle. We have established a firm foothold near Shangning Lake. We’ve trained twenty thousand armored soldiers and sixty thousand auxiliary troops, and have stockpiled enough grain and supplies for the main army to campaign for a full year."

"Furthermore, we have recruited three Second Realm Cultivators and thirty Entering Cultivators. We also secured the patronage of a Third Realm Cultivator from the Jimin Association. They have each established Dao Fields in the territory under my jurisdiction, with resources being centrally collected by the army and then allocated as needed."

"Mm."

Wang Ping merely nodded.

Zhang Xinghuai continued, "The Northwest is in utter chaos. The two Lords both appear to be in seclusion. Sizable Rebel Armies have already carved out territory along Zhushan Road and West Stone Road. Not long ago, the rebels on West Stone Road even pushed east, attacking the outskirts of Anqing City."

"I plan to expand our operations westward this year and open a line of communication with the Snowfield. I’ve already sent men ahead to make contact with the Monks there. They, too, have had enough of the bitter cold of the Snowfield..."

"The Monks of the Snowfield are no pushovers."

Hu Qianqian picked up a cup of tea and handed it to Zhang Xinghuai, her tone cautionary. "The path they cultivate is different from that of the Vajra Temple or Lingshan Temple. They are obsessed with sacrificial rites and are internally split into several factions. If you ally with one, you are certain to be attacked by the others. The potential gains aren’t worth the risk."

"But there is another possibility: they will be desperate to cooperate with me." Zhang Xinghuai’s tone was confident as he accepted the tea. "I currently represent the Court, the legitimate authority of Zhongzhou, and the Daoist Scripture Hall. If those Monks want to leave the Snowfield, making an enemy of me would be the most foolish move they could make."

He took a sip of tea at this point. Seeing Yu Lian fly over, wanting some tea as well, he added with more humility, "Of course, that’s all the best-case scenario. Reality is rarely so kind. If I do expand west, the Rebel Armies on Zhushan Road and West Stone Road will certainly move against me."