My Cultivation Has a Progress Bar

Chapter 360: Chapter 89: Better-Than-Nothing News

In response to Wang Ping’s question, Guan Xi tugged at the collar of his Scholar’s Robe and smiled. "I’m not sure about that. I have a lot of vague intelligence, and Lishan Hengle Taoist is just one piece of it. I stumbled upon this lead while investigating in the Eastern Continent, and it might be the most reliable one I have."

His gaze fell on the tea set Wang Ping was arranging. His speech slowed a little. "Now that the matter with Yang Guangyuan has been exposed, although I have many leads, very few are useful. Any leads connected to the Kongshan Association have either gone dark or been abandoned. I’ll investigate the leads in the Eastern Continent, and someone is looking into the ones in Shangjing City. As for the south, I’ll have to rely on you, Fellow Daoist."

Wang Ping’s gaze shifted to the kettle. Yu Lian used a Magic she had learned in Shangjing City to bring the water directly to a boil. Hearing Guan Xi’s words, he nodded thoughtfully. "No problem. I’ll take charge of the investigation on the Hai Zhou Road lead."

Guan Xi reminded him, "This lead might already be dead, or it might still be active. They are extremely patient in their methods. You’ll have to be even more patient than they are."

Wang Ping picked up the kettle and, while pouring water over the tea set, said, "I’ll assign people specifically to this task. I certainly have the patience, but I will take direct action when necessary."

By ’when necessary,’ he meant before Xiao Shan Lord’s ascension. At that time, his priority would definitely be to eliminate all hidden threats throughout the south. Regardless of whether these threats led to a bigger catch, he would clear them out first.

Guan Xi understood what Wang Ping meant. He smiled and nodded. "Of course. By the way, if you don’t mind, Fellow Daoist, I can send someone to assist you with this investigation."

"Oh?"

Wang Ping’s thoughts raced. ’Having the Jimin Association’s help would certainly be good, but I’m worried about letting the wolf into the house.’ He poured out the first steep of tea, then skillfully poured more boiling water, remaining silent all the while.

Guan Xi took the initiative to explain, "You should know him, Fellow Daoist. He visited you right before we met for the first time."

An image of a middle-aged man wearing the cap of a Fourth-Grade Military Officer of the Court appeared in Wang Ping’s mind.

"He’s been a good friend of mine for many years, and I trust him completely. His familiarity with the Southern Cultivation Realm might even surpass your own, Fellow Daoist. With his help, you’ll surely be able to get to the bottom of this matter much faster."

"Fine, I agree."

Wang Ping pushed a teacup in front of Guan Xi and invited, "Have some tea."

...

The day after Guan Xi left, Liu Huai’en sent over a formal request for a visit.

When Wang Ping invited Liu Huai’en up, he also specifically sent someone to summon Zhao Wan from the front hall to his small courtyard. He instructed the two of them, "Hand over the network of informants that Internal Affairs has set up in Hai Zhou Road to Fellow Daoist Liu. From now on, the two of you will be responsible for the investigation in Hai Zhou Road."

"Yes!"

The two replied in unison.

After they agreed, Wang Ping dismissed Liu Huai’en in front of Zhao Wan. He then instructed Zhao Wan, "You can let him handle the specific tasks, but you need to know everything he does. Do you understand what I mean?"

"Yes, Master, I understand!"

Zhao Wan bowed in response.

With a wave of his hand, Wang Ping summoned an ordinary puppet to his side. In front of Zhao Wan, he used the ’Enlightenment Skill’ to grant the puppet consciousness and said, "His name is Wang Bing. From now on, he will be under your command, assisting Liu Huai’en with the Hai Zhou Road case."

"Yes!"

The two of them bowed.

Yu Lian watched their departing figures and said, "There’s never a moment’s peace, is there?"

Wang Ping just gave a careless smile.

Another month passed. Wang Ping’s progress in fusing with the ’Heaven-Reaching Talisman’ jumped to (4/100). On a very ordinary morning, while Wang Ping was designing Puppet Soldiers specifically for deploying ’Spiritual Poison,’ Yu Cheng Taoist landed beside the stone table in the courtyard.

"News just came in this morning. Xingshan underestimated the enemy on the Northern Battlefield and advanced recklessly. He fell into an ambush and was killed in battle ten days ago."

There was only a hint of sadness in Yu Cheng Taoist’s words.

Wang Ping was stunned for a moment. He had no special feelings for Xingshan, but Xingshan had rendered great service to Qianmu Temple. Without his indirect control over the Wang Family, setting up the Internal Affairs network in Shangjing City would not have been so easy.

After the northern war broke out and Yu Cheng Taoist had completed his arrangements in Shangjing City, Xingshan wanted to follow Wang Kang’s example and achieve glory on the battlefield. So, he requested a transfer to the Northern Border. Perhaps in his eagerness to earn merit, he fell into someone’s trap.

Yu Cheng Taoist continued, "I have already ordered the Martial Arts Institute to dispatch disciples to the north to retrieve his remains. I have also set up a memorial tablet for him in a side hall of the temple."

Wang Ping nodded. "It’s what he deserves."

Currently, the only memorial tablet in Qianmu Temple’s side hall was Liu Zixiu’s. For Xingshan to be placed there was a great honor.

After saying this, Yu Cheng Taoist left.

Yu Lian added, "With Junior Brother Xingshan gone, besides the missing Eldest Senior Brother, you’re the only disciple left under Master. And if you ask me, Eldest Senior Brother has long been gone too."

Her words deepened the sadness in Wang Ping’s heart.

...

In the blink of an eye, it was the end of the year again.

A letter came from Guangxuan, saying he wouldn’t be visiting this year because his two disciples had entered seclusion for a breakthrough and needed him to act as their Guardian. Liu Chang also had to return to Lishui Prefecture to spend the New Year with his parents, and Zhang Xinghuai sent a letter as well, saying he wouldn’t be coming back.

On the afternoon of the Spring Festival, Hu Qianqian showed up at the Dao Field as reliably as ever. Hu Xin didn’t appear this year, as he was in seclusion consolidating his Fake Pill. Then came Yang Rong, Shen Xiaozhu, Xia Wen Yi, and Wang Ping’s puppet disciple, Song Qu.

On the first day of the New Year, Shen Xiaozhu and the other three went down the mountain to participate in the martial arts competition, and once again, Yang Rong took first place.

On the fifth day of the New Year, after the disciples had left, Wang Ping received a personal letter from Xia Yao. However, the letter wasn’t an explanation of the events in Shangjing City from two years prior, but rather an explanation regarding Xingshan’s death in battle.

Wang Ping never suspected that Xia Yao had a hand in the matter, as there was no reason to. Still, Xia Yao’s explanation did put his mind at ease somewhat.

At the end of the month, Wang Ping took out Cang’an’s Spirit Body. Because it had been invaded by a True Spirit, its Qi Sea had become somewhat distorted, and the meridians in its four limbs were also damaged in many places. Repairing it would be no simple task.

But it wasn’t exceedingly difficult, either; it would just require a great deal of time and effort.

On this cool day, Wang Ping was busy clearing out the excess Spirit Veins from the Cang’an Spirit Body’s Sea of Qi when a soft sound suddenly came from the garden’s Alchemy Room, followed by the sound of something metal shattering.

Wang Ping immediately dropped what he was doing, transformed into a streak of light, and landed in the Alchemy Room. What he saw were two dismantled puppets and an overturned Alchemy Furnace on the floor.

The scene left him momentarily unable to figure out what had happened, but he could read the puppets’ memories.

As the memories surfaced in his mind, a strange expression flickered across his face. It turned out that while one of the puppets was refining a ’Power Pill,’ the Spiritual Power of the Spirit Grass had been suppressed too much, making the Array unstable. It was accidentally activated during the process of being placed inside the Yin Yang Vine Skin.

However, because the Spiritual Power was suppressed too low, combined with the Yin Yang Vine’s ability to insulate Spiritual Qi, the energy from the explosion wasn’t enough to destroy the Yin Yang Vine. But the powerful inertia it generated knocked over the two puppets and the Pill Furnace.

Wang Ping himself wasn’t particularly concerned about the incident, but then a thought struck him. ’This is real power!’