My Cultivation Has a Progress Bar

Chapter 363: Chapter 92: The Lord’s Summons

A Cultivator’s state of mind is largely influenced by their chosen path. To put it simply, it’s their values, which are tied to their environment and personality.

For example, Wang Ping’s values would never allow him to sacrifice tens of thousands of innocent lives to increase his cultivation level. But this wasn’t born from kindness—he possessed no such thing. In another situation, for instance, he might instigate a war between two factions of Cultivators to achieve his own ends, resulting in casualties far exceeding tens of thousands.

The events on Mozhou Road were the best proof of this.

This is human nature, full of contradictions, sanctimony, and hypocrisy. People can feel sincere grief over the tragic, undeserved deaths of a few, enough to shake their Dao Heart, yet they will also unhesitatingly order the start of a war, leading to the loss of even more lives.

Unrestrained kindness and unrestrained malice also exist, but these two extremes are the most dangerous. The choices made by such people are ones that the majority cannot accept.

Truth is absolute, and the absolute nature of truth lies in its very non-absoluteness.

In short, the Dao that each person chooses from the very beginning is their reason to live, as well as the fundamental rule that preserves their humanity. Any deviation will inevitably cause that humanity to waver.

Wang Ping forcefully suppressed his inner turmoil, then purged the unsettling memories from his mind until he finally stabilized.

"Making a decision like that... doesn’t it just give people a reason to fight back?" Wang Ping turned his head, looking at Yu Lian draped over his shoulder.

"That’s too complicated. I don’t want to think about it." Yu Lian flicked her forked tongue. Wang Ping’s mental state had just affected her, leaving her feeling a little drained.

Wang Ping closed his eyes and entered a state of meditation again. Yu Lian coiled around his arm and fell into a deep sleep.

This time, after entering his meditative state, Wang Ping’s Primordial Spirit Consciousness slowly expanded outward, constructing a complete replica of the real world within his conscious Spirit Sea.

This allowed him to observe the projected world in his Spirit Sea from a state of serene detachment, free from joy or sorrow.

He focused his observation, naturally, on the state of the many disciples within Qianmu Temple. Each disciple’s unique thoughts gave him a different sensation, allowing him to experience different lives.

「One day later.」

Wang Ping awoke from his meditation.

Yu Lian was no longer by his side. She had likely gone to Baisui Lake.

He rose and went into his workshop. After he had been busy for Half an Hour, Yu Lian descended from the sky. She greeted the illusory figure of Tongyu Taoist in the courtyard, then leaned against the open window and said to Wang Ping, "Hu Xin should form her Fake Pill within the next two months."

"How is she doing?"

"Same as always. There shouldn’t be any issues. Right now, including Little Qianqian, Baisui Lake has three Pill-Nourishing realm demons. They’re more than enough to keep her safe."

"She came from nothing, and now she’s become the little princess of Baisui Lake that everyone fears. Her state of mind has already become a bit twisted. If it isn’t sorted out soon, it’ll become a liability in the future."

"Don’t you worry. Little Qianqian has had a plan for a while now. She’s more experienced than you when it comes to cultivating the mind!"

"That’s true."

Wang Ping stared at the puppet he was working on. It was being built for the Golden Armor Soldiers, made from refined Centennial Spirit Wood with a core of rattan wood root. This time, he was modeling the puppet after Zhao Yu’er’s internal structure, and he wasn’t yet sure if it would be a success.

Just as he was about to test it, Zhao Yu’er descended from the sky and landed steadily in the courtyard. She curiously eyed the puppet in the workshop.

"That won’t work!"

Tongyu Taoist stated bluntly, "Placing the core in the Qi Sea might allow Spiritual Qi to be distributed more evenly, but the puppet has no Spirit Veins. Moreover, the meridian pathways simulated by the Array Runes have been completely altered. Once activated, the Spiritual Qi in its Qi Sea won’t even be able to complete a single Grand Circulation."

Wang Ping had considered that as well, but some things you had to test to find the flaws. He immediately used the Enlightenment Skill on the puppet.

With the CLICK-CLACK of turning gears, the puppet gradually awakened. The instant it ’woke,’ Wang Ping used a Spirit Communication Talisman to connect to its consciousness and ignited its Qi Sea.

CRACK... CRACK...

The instant the Qi Sea ignited, the meridian pathways simulated by Array Runes inside the puppet shattered one after another. A large hole was then blown through its abdomen. Wang Ping reached out and caught the ejected rattan wood root. He looked at Tongyu Taoist and said pensively, "The Qi Sea is actually a core in itself, just as important as the one in the chest."

"Correct!"

Tongyu Taoist’s tone was just like that of a strict schoolmaster.

Wang Ping glanced at Zhao Yu’er, who was sitting in the courtyard, and said, "In other words, to establish a true second core in the Qi Sea, I’d first have to implant Spirit Veins into the puppet, and then find a relatively stable Demon Soldier."

Tongyu Taoist shook his head. "Too complicated. You don’t need to implant Spirit Veins. You can use a Spirit Communication Talisman to forcefully merge the Qi Sea of the puppet with that of a Demon Soldier."

He then added, "Of course, if you’re bored and have enough money, you could consider implanting Spirit Veins in the puppet."

"I’ll try the first method."

Wang Ping made his decision. He slapped his storage bag, produced a Token, and handed it to Zhao Yu’er with an order. "Have Zhao Wan find Fellow Daoist Zuo Xuan and ask her to help us acquire some low-value Demon Soldiers."

"Yes!"

Zhao Yu’er accepted the Token. Just as she was about to leave, Wang Ping added, "And have Wen Yi come see me."

Wang Ping was preparing to formally pass on the Taiyan Talisman to Xia Wen Yi. He had sorted some things out in his mind during his last meditation. Xia Wen Yi was a promising talent, and obsession was a part of human nature. Forcibly erasing his disciple’s obsession might be for the best, but it could also prove disastrous for his future cultivation.

Xia Wen Yi arrived on the mountain the next morning. When Zhao Yu’er had gone to find him, he was with a few close friends from the temple, climbing the northern mountains to enjoy the view. After telling him the news, she hadn’t brought him back with her.

When he arrived, Wang Ping was having breakfast with Zhao Yu’er and Yu Lian. As soon as he reached the courtyard gate, he knelt in salute. "Disciple greets Master! Please forgive my transgression, Master!"

"Rise."

"Thank you, Master..."

"I’ve held you back all these years. Have you ever resented me for it?"

"I wouldn’t dare!"

Wang Ping gave a noncommittal response. "From today on, you may establish your own Dao Field. Here is five hundred thousand taels of silver." As he spoke, he produced a thick stack of silver banknotes from his storage bag. "Go and get started once you’re back down the mountain. You’re a grown man. It’s not proper for you to keep living at your senior sister’s Dao Field."

"Thank you, Master!" Xia Wen Yi’s face lit up with joy.

"Furthermore, I’ve already spoken with your senior sister. She will teach you the Taiyan Talisman before she enters seclusion for her breakthrough. After she goes into seclusion, you can come to me if you run into any problems. If I’m not here, ask your grandmaster!"

"Thank you, Master!"

Overcome with excitement, Xia Wen Yi dropped to his knees in a deep bow once more.

Wang Ping sensed the elation in Xia Wen Yi’s spirit and smiled. "Get up and have something to eat."

Xia Wen Yi was about to thank him again when Yu Lian said impatiently, "Just hurry up and come over. All this thanking is so annoying."

「For the next two months.」

Every day, after finishing his own daily cultivation, Wang Ping would go guide Xia Wen Yi on how to set up his Spirit Gathering Array and care for his scholar tree.

In the blink of an eye, August arrived.

Xia Wen Yi had already begun the process of marrow cleansing.

On this day, Wang Ping had just stabilized the detached state of mind brought on by merging with the Heaven-Reaching Talisman when the voice of the Xiao Shan Lord suddenly echoed in his mind: ’Come to my Dao Field!’