My Cultivation Has a Progress Bar

Chapter 361: Chapter 90: Zhao Yu’Er’s Advancement

The thought of propulsion led Wang Ping to consider energy sources. He then used the Object Manipulation Technique to reassemble the two dismantled puppets and right the Pill Furnace.

This was due to his mild OCD and had nothing to do with what he was about to do. So, once the puppets were standing again, he simply used his Primordial Spirit Will to make them withdraw.

Next, he formed a spell with his hands and used the Object Manipulation Technique to select a set of refining materials for a Power Pill. He used the array of the ’Five Elements Condensation Technique’ to suppress the spiritual nature of the materials to a uniform level, ensuring their Spiritual Qi content was extremely low.

Before long, a Power Pill with extremely low energy was ready. Wang Ping held it and observed it for a moment, then used his Primordial Spirit Consciousness to carefully examine its interior. He then took out the Yin Yang Vine Skin he had prepared, wrapped the pill, and deliberately left a small hole in the skin.

BANG!

A soft pop echoed. The Yin Yang Vine Skin didn’t tear open, but a large amount of white mist spewed from the small hole Wang Ping had deliberately left. Then, the wrapped skin began to jump erratically around the Alchemy Room.

"What are you doing?"

Yu Lian, who had rushed over, stared in confusion at the jumping Yin Yang Vine skin.

Wang Ping smiled at Yu Lian. "Look," he said. "I’m not using any Magical Power, yet it’s hopping around like a living creature. Don’t you think that’s incredible?"

"Not really!"

Yu Lian tilted her head, her eyes wide with confusion.

Wang Ping resisted the urge to facepalm. Speaking as much to himself as to Yu Lian, he said, "If I use five Energy Gathering Arrays of equal power to construct a ’Five Elements Condensation Technique’ array, letting their reactions continue..." He looked at the now-still Yin Yang Vine Skin. "Then, couldn’t it jump around forever?"

Yu Lian was taken aback. "But wouldn’t the resulting explosion destroy the Energy Gathering Arrays?"

Wang Ping froze for a second. He clearly hadn’t considered that. But he quickly replied, "We could use special materials. As long as the material is stronger than the energy released by the explosion, the array won’t be damaged."

"And what would be the point?"

"It has plenty of uses. For example, building Flying Boats, or even some portable Flying Spiritual Artifacts..."

"But you can already fly, can’t you?" Yu Lian asked, puzzled. "No matter how powerful the energy it releases is, it could never rival a Lord, right?"

Wang Ping nodded and smiled. "You’re right. But this could change the world."

"How so?"

"Because it’s a power that even ordinary people can wield. If applied correctly, an ordinary person could potentially gain the power to stand against an Entering Cultivator!"

Yu Lian tilted her head, looking at Wang Ping. "That’s terrifying. I can’t imagine what would happen. The world is already so chaotic with just a handful of Entering Cultivators. If everyone possessed that kind of power, who knows how many more people would lose their lives because of it."

Wang Ping just smiled. "On the contrary, it might prevent some smaller conflicts. But you’re right, now is definitely not the time to introduce it." He then added with self-deprecation, "The recipe for the Power Pill isn’t actually that complex. I used to have such a narrow view of the world. Thinking about it now, a Lord might not be able to replicate it, but a True Monarch certainly would!"

The main reason the Power Pill’s recipe had remained a secret until now was its extreme internal instability. If anyone’s Primordial Spirit Consciousness probed it too deeply, it was liable to self-destruct.

Wang Ping knew there were many brilliant people in this world, and he didn’t count himself among the most ingenious. This invention was like that communication device he’d seen before—incredibly useful, but he had to keep it under wraps.

"I can’t imagine the power of a True Monarch!"

Yu Lian replied softly, her tone filled with awe—even more than when she spoke of Saints. Saints were beings of legend, but True Monarchs were real.

Wang Ping took out a blank jade slip and recorded everything that had just transpired. He then wiped the puppets’ memories. With all that done, he buried this unexpected discovery deep in his mind and resumed clearing the excess Spirit Veins from the Cang’an Spirit Body’s Sea of Qi.

「By the time February arrived.」

Zhao Wan came to the Garden Dojo to present Wang Ping with a list of candidates from each institute who were ready to become Entering Cultivators. Halfway through his report, a crimson mass dropped from the sky. It was an extra-planar object, drawn by the Fire Institute’s Demon Soldiers. It landed unerringly in a deep pit prepared in advance, where it was caught by a Sealing Array.

At the same time, Zhao Yu’er, imprisoned in the Dao Field on the outskirts of Yongshan County, began to assault her seal. Wang Ping immediately transformed into a streak of light, appearing in the sky above her Dao Field.

In the Dao Field, which was encircled by a dense jungle, Zhao Yu’er tried to escape by air, half of her body wreathed in flames. But each time she took flight, vines shot up from the jungle, entangled her, and slammed her ruthlessly back to the ground.

Upon Wang Ping’s arrival, the furiously growing vines rapidly withdrew.

Seeing the vines withdraw, surprise, then joy, flickered across the unburned side of Zhao Yu’er’s face. When she saw Wang Ping, however, her expression shifted to fear and resentment, but there was no trace of hatred.

"Greetings, Grandmaster."

Zhao Yu’er bowed respectfully, her attitude as deferential as ever. As she bowed, the flames on her face completely receded, revealing her once-delicate features.

Wang Ping used his Primordial Spirit to carefully size up Zhao Yu’er. Within the Inspiration Realm, he could see the Wood Spirit Qi and Fire Spirit Qi around her body tangled together in a chaotic mess. The Wood Spirit Qi, ensnared by the fire, resembled withered vegetation, a sight that made Wang Ping, as a Wood Cultivator, deeply uncomfortable.

Yu Lian communicated with Wang Ping through his Spirit Sea: "Her emotional state is stable. It seems she’s managed to get the fused Demon Soldier under control."

Wang Ping himself also sensed it. When Zhao Yu’er had attacked the Sealing Array, she wasn’t going berserk; she was testing it with purpose.

"Have you been reading the Taoist Scripture I gave you?"

Wang Ping landed smoothly in front of Zhao Yu’er. He reached out and took her left wrist, choosing a more direct method to investigate the condition of her body.

Zhao Yu’er remained relaxed. "I haven’t dared to neglect it for a single day," she answered.

Wang Ping stared into Zhao Yu’er’s lucid eyes. Internally, she was no longer human. The Wood Spirit Vein she had cultivated was now completely fused with the Demon Soldier’s fire. Her Dantian had been completely taken over by the Demon Soldier, and her internal organs had been replaced by the tainted Spirit Veins.

In other words, Zhao Yu’er had actually used the Demon Soldier to advance to the Second Realm. The Demon Soldier had taken the place of her heart, supplying her body with the energy it needed to survive.

After a moment, Wang Ping released her hand. Staring into her eyes, he asked, "Were you trying to get that extra-planar object that just fell?"

Zhao Yu’er cupped her fist. "I implore Grandmaster to grant my request!"

"Why do you want it?"

The question came from Yu Lian.

Zhao Yu’er looked toward Yu Lian. "In answer to your question, Grandmistress, I have a premonition that fusing with it will take my power to the next level."

Wang Ping, however, frowned. "The two energies inside you have just reached a perfect balance. If you rashly absorb that extra-planar object, you will likely lose consciousness instantly. Your thoughts are being influenced by the Demon Soldier within you."

Zhao Yu’er froze, then fell silent.

Wang Ping studied her silent form. "This place is no longer suitable for you," he said. "From now on, you will stay with me. Once you can completely control the madness brought on by the Demon Soldier, I will grant you your freedom!"

Zhao Yu’er’s face filled with disbelief, as if she had misheard him. Then, she knelt and performed a deep kowtow. "Thank you, Grandmaster!" she said, her voice filled with gratitude.