There is a progress bar in my cultivation of immortality

Xuanqing arrived in a hurry and left just as quickly, without even having brewed hot tea, before leaving Jiuxuan Mountain with his promise to Wang Ping.

Wang Ping was not as modest as usual, after all, with his current cultivation level, there was no need for it. After Xuan Qing left, he took out the two sealing crystals that Xuan Qing had brought. Yu Lian sensed Wang Ping's emotions and also focused all her attention on the sealing crystals.

When Wang Ping's primordial spirit probed into the crystal, he quickly figured out which one sealed the 'Erosion Edge' demonic source. He immediately put away the other 'Nether Abyss' demonic source, and the mirror array around him silently unfolded.

The next moment, his consciousness appeared in the ecological zone near the star barrier. Compared to before, the ecological zone had expanded the cultivation area, the cold air was well suppressed, and even a refining device for collecting demonic energy had been built.

This is an ecological zone jointly built by Wang Ping, Xuan Qing, and Lie Yang. After all, it is the source of magic provided by Xuan Qing, and he cannot experiment with it in his own experimental zone.

After randomly selecting a puppet whose internal spiritual energy had been transformed and whose foundation had been built with demonic energy, Wang Ping used his consciousness to drive away the Zhenyang Sect disciples who were observing nearby. As the transfer runes inside the mirror array were activated, the 'Erosion Edge' demonic source in his hand appeared in the puppet's hand.

A few breaths later, under Wang Ping's interference, the puppet adjusted its cultivation state, and a beam of emerald light traversed time and space to descend beside the puppet, releasing the seal inside and outside the crystal.

The moment the seal was broken, the crystal shattered silently, turning into a cloud of extremely fine stardust, which was instantly dispersed by the faint energy flowing within the ecosystem.

What is revealed is not a physical entity, but an extremely tiny point of light.

Upon closer inspection, it was discovered that it was not a point of light, but rather a particle of "nothingness" energy existing in reality!
It hovered above the puppet's palm, without temperature or stable shape, leaving only a tiny hole in the field of vision that was constantly and slightly distorted.

It can be seen that even the slightest traces of demonic energy and light are silently shattered the moment they approach it, turning into nourishment for its existence. It does not emit light, yet it makes everything around it appear dim and fragile; it does not emit cold air, yet it makes the observer's primordial spirit feel a sense of being stripped away and disintegrated.

Its very existence is a negation of "structure." The power of metal symbolizes the order of solidity, cohesion, and sharpness, while metal represents the decay of all solidity, the dismemberment of all cohesion, and the collapse of all sharpness.

It specifically gnaws at and dismantles the cornerstones of the Golden Spirit rules within the laws of order. This is the 'Erosion Edge' demonic source, one of the nine root forms of destroying rules, and the natural enemy of the Golden Spirit of Order, Rebellion.

After observing it for a while, Wang Ping recorded its characteristics in his mind. He then used the demonic energy refined within the puppet to sense its internal state, confirming that it was free of impurities. He then used the demonic energy within his body to refine it.

The process went smoothly, much like refining and fusing a magical artifact. After all, the puppet had already completed its foundation building with demonic energy for a long time, and its cultivation level was already at the critical point of the foundation building stage.

The first attempt to merge with the spiritual vein did not increase the progress. Wang Ping strictly followed the rules prompted by the 'Heavenly Eye' and did not attempt a second time.

After ten days of continuous attempts, the fusion progress finally increased slightly. This time might be a long time for a Foundation Establishment cultivator, but it was incredibly fast for Wang Ping.

For the next six months, Wang Ping tried to cultivate the Demon Source Secret Technique using puppets while quietly waiting for news from Xuan Qing. However, Xuan Qing did not reply to him, which meant that things were not going well.

Wang Ping wasn't in a hurry, while Yu Lian was setting up a spirit-gathering array for the calico cat. She chose a location in the far south, where the sunlight from Jupiter couldn't reach, because the calico cat's attributes were yin.

Wang Ping had already used the 'Heaven-Stealing Talisman' to steal enough life force to extend the calico cat's lifespan by two thousand years, and sealed it with the Wood Spirit Secret Technique, entrusting it to Yu Lian for safekeeping. It would take Wang Ping nearly two years to recover from stealing this life force.

Furthermore, when he used the Wood Spirit to quell the karmic obstacles in his consciousness, the fusion progress of the 'Stealing Heaven Talisman' actually increased slightly, reaching (82/100).

Unfortunately, this method cannot be used indefinitely, and this progress is related to his previous cultivation accumulation, not simply the result of stealing a life force once.

More importantly, he needs to preserve enough strength to deal with any possible sudden changes in the situation in the future.

Several months passed in the blink of an eye, and with the end of the year approaching, Xia Wenyi suddenly came to Jiuxuan Mountain to pay his respects. Wang Ping's greatest affection for this disciple came from his master, Daoist Yucheng. Daoist Yucheng had genuinely liked him, but due to his royal status, he had never been given the waist token of a personal disciple.

After a thousand years of refinement, Xia Wenyi seems to have rediscovered the motivation for cultivation. At this moment, he stands tall and straight like a pine tree, no longer showing the listlessness he once had when he was entangled in worldly affairs and inner demons.

The confusion and struggle that once lingered in his eyes have faded, replaced by clarity and tranquility. As his gaze sweeps over every blade of grass and tree in the mountains, it carries a gentle yet focused expression, revealing that his Daoist heart has returned to clarity and his cultivation has become even more refined.

"Very good. Have you made up your mind to take the final step? I will protect you as you advance to the fourth realm of the Taiyan Talisman. The key to your advancement lies in the will deep within your heart. If you hesitate even slightly, you will be doomed."

Wang Ping said this after Xia Wenyi greeted him.

Xia Wenyi responded decisively without hesitation: "This disciple is ready."

Wang Ping didn't say anything more. Saying too much about some things would only wear down one's will. He simply nodded and then instructed, "Go find your junior brother Xuan Ling. He will prepare all the necessary supplies for your advancement, and he will also protect you during your advancement."

"Yes, the disciple retire."

Yu Lian watched Xia Wenyi's departing figure and said to Wang Ping, "He is undoubtedly a cultivation genius, but there are countless geniuses in this world, and geniuses think a lot. For example, Hong Chen, whom we encountered at the beginning of our cultivation, who would have thought that he would suffer from a cultivation deviation? And Wenyi's biggest crisis is that he may encounter inner demons when he advances to the fourth realm."

Wang Ping nodded in agreement, "That's why he was left to remain silent for a thousand years. If he still had any doubts in his heart, then this was his fate, and there was nothing we could do about it."

Upon hearing this, Yu Lian didn't say anything more and continued to busy herself with setting up the spirit-gathering array for the calico cat.

As the year drew to a close, Liu Shuang and Shen Xiaozhu, knowing that Wang Ping had returned to Jiuxuan Mountain, brought their respective disciples and grand-disciples to pay their respects, allowing Wang Ping to enjoy more than ten days of family bliss.

Shortly after the New Year, Wang Ping unexpectedly received a message from the rat demon Quan Xing, who wanted to invite Wang Ping to a temporary gathering and asked Wang Ping to set a time.

Wang Ping had nothing to do, so he decided to hold the event at Chenshi (7-9 AM) three days later.

three days later.

Wang Ping appeared on time in the projection hall of the impromptu gathering, and then Yu Lian connected her primordial spirit consciousness in.

Quan Xing had been waiting for a long time, but Zhi Xin did not appear. The hall had undergone a fundamental change. Wang Ping's seat had become the central position, with most of the light converging around it. The chairs were also different from the others. "Greetings, True Lord Changqing!"

Upon Wang Ping's arrival, Quan Xing immediately rose from his seat, clasped his hands in a fist and bowed to Wang Ping, displaying an excessively humble attitude.

Yu Lian, perched on Wang Ping's shoulder, scrutinized the bowing Quan Xing with her vertical pupils, then said in her spiritual sea, "Is this rat going to pledge allegiance to you?"

Wang Ping did not respond. He carefully examined Quan Xing, sat down in his seat, and waited for Quan Xing to continue speaking.

Seeing that Wang Ping remained silent, Quan Xing quickly cupped his hands and said, "Since the True Lords turned to cultivate the secret methods of the Xuanmen, nearly ten thousand years have passed since the rise of humanity. I too have lived in seclusion for ten thousand years. Last month, while guarding the border, I suddenly felt a slight tremor in my spiritual platform, as if I saw an opportunity to advance my Dao foundation. However, the entire game of the world is in the hands of the True Lords, so I have come to bother you, humbly requesting your guidance."

His expression was serious, and his demeanor was extremely formal, like a mortal emperor and his ministers engaging in a dialogue.

Wang Ping couldn't help but extend his left hand, using the characteristics of his 'Heavenly Eye' and 'Space-Time' to deduce something. After a moment of silence, a smile appeared on his face as he asked, "Where do you want me to point you out?"

Quan Xing clasped his hands in a fist again, then bent over and bowed deeply, saying loudly, "I beg the True Lord's protection; this humble Taoist will gladly give his life!"

Just as Yu Lian had predicted, Quan Xing's impromptu gathering this time was actually an attempt to pledge allegiance to them.

Yu Lian immediately communicated with Wang Ping in her spiritual sea, saying, "This rat is really opportunistic and knows how to change its tune with the wind. Why didn't you join his service when you were promoted?"

A feeling of happiness welled up in her mind, but then she felt a little dissatisfied.

Wang Ping remained seated upright and dignified, showing no sign of unease in accepting Quan Xing's generous gift. Unlike his initial humility upon entering the fifth realm, this stemmed from the confidence that came with his current cultivation level.

He remained silent, and Quan Xing continued to bow in reverence for more than ten breaths before finally asking, "How do you want me to protect you?"

Quan Xing maintained his bowing posture and continued to speak loudly: "I was just about to tell the True Lords that since the Xuanmen has taken control of this starry sky, if we demons want to advance our cultivation further, we must have the support of all the True Lords. Otherwise, we will be treated as traitors."

Upon hearing this, Yu Lian asked, "Is this a written rule? I've never seen it before?"

Quan Xing responded, "How could this be explicitly stipulated in writing? It is an unspoken rule set by the True Lords, and we have not dared to cross it even a step in the past ten thousand years."

Wang Ping continued, "Do you know that once this opening is made, this starry sky may never be peaceful again? What do you want to gain? You're not simply after another advancement in your cultivation, are you?"

Quan Xing fell silent, but only for two breaths before replying, "True Lord, please forgive me. This starry sky has existed for hundreds of millions of years, but my memories have only existed for less than 100,000 years. I do not wish to perish in the next cosmic catastrophe like my predecessors, or at least I do not wish to perish without knowing why."

Wang Ping's gaze was deep as he said, "You really think too highly of me. What virtue or ability do I have to stop the torrent of history?"

Quan Xing replied immediately, "If we can't stop it, it's fate. If I die and my cultivation dissipates, I will gladly accept it!"

Yu Lian then asked, "Why don't you go find the Dragon Lord?"

“The Dragon Lord’s thoughts have been stagnant for a long time. His actions are nothing more than protecting himself. How can he care about our lives? The True Lord is different. You have the capacity to encompass the universe and the ambition to reach the clouds. You are like the Holy Emperor of yesteryear who has returned.”

The 'Holy Emperor' that Quan Xing mentioned refers to the Demon Emperor Yao Xi. When he calls himself the 'Holy Emperor,' his emotions reveal a clear fanaticism and an unspeakable hatred.

However, he quickly masked these emotions.

Only then did Wang Ping extend his hand, pointing to the seat behind Quan Xing, and say, "Sit down and talk."

"Thank you, True Lord!"

Quan Xing straightened up as instructed and sat down in his assigned seat.

Wang Ping stared at him and said, "Tell me about how the True Lords switched to cultivating the secret methods of the Xuanmen back then."

Quan Xing was not surprised by Wang Ping's question. He nodded and fell silent for a few breaths before speaking, "Back then, His Majesty the Holy Emperor led us into the depths of the Misty Sea. We not only discovered the secret techniques of the five sects of the Xuanmen, but also five Xuanmen True Monarchs who were already in a semi-mad state!"

"They could no longer distinguish between reality and illusion. We used some clever words to deceive two of them and seized the water spirit core and gold spirit core of their physical spiritual veins. After His Majesty the Holy Emperor studied the water spirit secret technique and the gold spirit secret technique, he bestowed these two cores upon the current Dragon Lord and the Heavenly Craftsman!"

"And he personally protected the two of them, allowing them to directly transform from Great Luo Realm demon cultivators into Xuanmen Fifth Realm cultivators. At the beginning, their condition was very unstable. It was His Majesty the Holy Emperor who set up an altar and used the spirituality of all living things to stabilize the rampage of their spiritual veins."

"After they completed their transformation, under the leadership of His Majesty the Holy Emperor, we seized the remaining three cores by force. When His Majesty the Holy Emperor gave us a choice, Lieyang, Diwen, and Huishan, whose cultivation levels were the lowest, made their choices without hesitation. But I was too narrow-minded and thought that what His Majesty the Holy Emperor didn't want was just dross."

He spoke of a complex mix of emotions, including regret, relief, and anger, all of which culminated in a sigh. He then bowed to Wang Ping and said, "The True Lord should already know what happened next."

Looking at Quan Xing's expression, Wang Ping pressed, "Are you saying that Dragon Lord and the others directly transformed from demon cultivators into True Lords of the Profound Sect?"

Upon hearing this, Quan Xing assumed that Wang Ping also wanted to make such an attempt, so he quickly said, "Back then, His Majesty the Holy Emperor's talent was comparable to that of a saint. He could understand all the secret techniques in the world in an instant, and he could also use the divine light of the Peacock Clan's bloodline to quell spiritual disturbances. The fact that people like Tiangong and Lieyang were able to successfully switch to cultivating Xuanmen secret techniques was not due to their own strength, but rather to His Majesty the Holy Emperor's protection."

A smile involuntarily appeared on Wang Ping's lips. He understood all too well what Yao Xi meant by "talent." However, even with the help of his "Heavenly Eye," Wang Ping still couldn't make a demon cultivator at the Great Luo Realm transform into a Xuanmen True Monarch with the help of a Five Elements Core.

He couldn't quite imagine what level of cultivation Yao Xi had possessed back then, and that someone with his level of cultivation would actually be assassinated by a villain for trying to predict the future situation.

However, he might try to study the secret techniques of the Four Realms Profound Sect, but upon further reflection, he abandoned the idea. The Profound Sect now had True Monarchs governing its rules, a far cry from the environment Yao Xi had faced. Even if he succeeded, the time required to stabilize his cultivation might be enough to start from scratch and reach the Fourth Realm. (End of Chapter)