There is a progress bar in my cultivation of immortality

A month goes by in a blink of an eye.

During this month, Wang Ping spent most of his time sitting quietly on the summit of Jiuxuan Mountain watching the clouds, or wandering leisurely among the mountains and rivers of Jupiter, using the mundane world and the pleasures of nature to nurture his humanity, which had become somewhat indifferent due to his long slumber and cultivation.

However, looking at the entire Taiyan Sect and even the wider starry sky, the scene is completely different.

Within the Taiyan Sect, cultivators from various halls and departments were in a hurry. The scenes of discussing the Dao and metaphysics that used to be common were much less frequent. Instead, there was a constant flow of spiritual light as supplies were transported and arrays were inspected.

Airships laden with resources frequently took off and landed, and teleportation arrays leading to various important strongholds were constantly operating at full capacity. A silent sense of tension permeated the entire sect. Everyone knew that the True Lord's will would determine the future fate of the Taiyan Sect, and they had to be fully prepared.

During this period, large flying boats were continuously forged at the Vajra Temple, and preachers from all over the starry sky gathered in the ecological zone around Venus.

The star field controlled by the underground gate was even more silent, but various rare refining materials were being continuously sent into the depths of Saturn, clearly indicating that they were speeding up the refining of war artifacts.

As the Dragon Lord's base, the Linshui Prefecture was rife with undercurrents. The restrictions on many of the palaces and waterways were fully lifted, and the Dragon Lord's elite aquatic forces were frequently mobilized, with their patrol range significantly expanded. A chilling atmosphere permeated the vast waters.

Even on the front lines, the demonic cultivators became eerily quiet, coldly observing the movements of the two giants of the starry sky, awaiting the outcome of the clash between Dragon Lord and Wang Ping.

The entire starry sky, after Wang Ping awoke from his slumber and decided to reset history, was like a bow being drawn taut, waiting for that decisive moment.

The time for a meeting has arrived.

Wang Ping was fishing by a river at the moment, but his consciousness was focused on the projection hall of the lower courtyard of Jiuxuan Mountain.

Inside the projection hall, statues of two saints hung high, their gazes lowered, as if they had been watching over everything that was about to unfold here since time immemorial.

Suddenly, subtle spatial ripples spread out, and four figures solidified almost simultaneously. The leaders were Tiangong and Diwen, two True Monarchs with calm expressions, but their eyes lacked their usual gentleness, only showing a solemnity like a deep pool. Following closely behind were Bai Xin and Hou Ji from the demon race, their auras sharp and fierce.

The four appeared but did not rush to sit down. Instead, they turned in unison to the statue of the saint in front of them and bowed solemnly. After the ceremony, they remained silent and moved to the left side of the hall, standing quietly like four statues, waiting. Unconsciously, an invisible pressure spread out.

A few breaths later, a ripple appeared at the entrance of the main hall, and Zhu Wu and Wang Xuan appeared at the same time. The two great demons first bowed respectfully to the statue of the saint, and then their eyes briefly met those of Tian Gong and the others before they walked to stand beside them in tacit understanding.

The next moment, a clear light shimmered.

Quan Xing, Niu Pan, Zang Yi, and Yue Xi appeared in the main hall one after the other. Their faces were solemn. They first bowed to the statue of the saint, their demeanor full of respect. When they straightened up, their eyes met those of Tian Gong and the others on the left.

Without words or polite greetings, their eyes met in the air, carrying an uncompromising intent. After a brief exchange of glances, Quan Xing and the other three naturally moved to the right and stood there, while both sides lowered their eyes.

A quarter of an hour passed in deathly silence.

Finally, a clear light flashed again at the entrance of the main hall, and Xuanqing's figure appeared leisurely. He still had that detached demeanor. First, like everyone else, he solemnly bowed to the statue of the saint. Then, his gaze swept over the two distinct groups of people on the left and right. His face was neither sad nor happy. He simply brushed his Taoist robe and was about to step aside.

Just then, light and shadow flashed again beside him, and Rong Yang's figure materialized somewhat hastily. As a newly promoted fifth realm cultivator participating in a meeting for the first time, what he saw was not the peaceful discussion of Dao that he had imagined, but a cold confrontation like two armies facing off, and what he felt was the heavy pressure that almost solidified the space.

"Let's go and pay our respects to the sage first."

Xuan Qing's calm voice rang out, slightly breaking the suffocating silence and pulling Rong Yang out of his state of confusion.

Rongyang quickly composed himself, stepped forward respectfully, and bowed deeply to the statue of the saint.

After the ceremony, Xuanqing led Rongyang directly to the far edge of the main hall, near the entrance, maintaining a neutral stance.

As Rong Yang looked at the cultivators on his left and right, he couldn't help but think of Wang Ping. He had fought alongside Wang Ping and discussed the Dao and drank wine together. Now, facing this scene that gathered all the powerful figures in the starry sky, he truly felt how heavy the weight that name now represented.

Another quarter of an hour passed before Bai Yan finally appeared. He first bowed to the statues of the two saints, then stood in front of Quan Xing on the right. His gaze swept over Tian Gong, Di Wen, and the others, but he did not speak or offer any greetings.

Time passed by unnoticed, and everyone present except Rongyang was filled with patience.

Suddenly, a ripple appeared in the center of the hall, revealing a tall figure dressed in a blue and white Taoist robe. His face was ancient and his vertical pupils seemed to hold the surging of ten thousand waters.

Those standing on the left, such as Tiangong, Diwen, and Baixin, all bowed slightly involuntarily to show their respect.

It is the Dragon King descending.

At the very moment that Long Jun's figure solidified, the space around him rippled simultaneously, and then a figure stepped out leisurely. He was wearing a blue Taoist robe and had a peaceful expression.

This was Wang Ping, with a lotus perched on his shoulder, his golden vertical pupils lazily sweeping across the entire scene.

His appearance was not as imposing as that of the Dragon Lord, but rather as if he were a universe of his own, with no end in sight. Quan Xing, Zang Yi, and the others on his right immediately bowed in unison.

Rong Yang raised his head slightly and looked at the blue-clad figure. He had fought alongside him before. Although he knew that the figure was exceptionally talented, he never imagined that in such a short time, the person who had called him a junior would now stand at the pinnacle of this starry sky.

"Greetings, Dragon Lord!"

As the newcomer, Wang Ping first bowed and greeted the Dragon Lord.

The Dragon Lord's vertical pupils, seemingly containing the vastness of a thousand rivers, fell upon Wang Ping. His ancient face revealed neither joy nor anger, but he merely nodded slightly, his voice deep and resonant:
"Fellow Daoist Changqing."

After a brief greeting, the two said no more and instead bowed to the statues of the two saints.

After the ceremony, the two stood up.

Dragon Lord's gaze swept across the entire arena, finally settling back on Wang Ping. His majestic voice rang out once more, cutting straight to the point:
"Now that everyone is here, let's get straight to the point."

He presided over a meeting, but he showed no intention of taking a seat. Instead, he stood beneath the statue of the saint and gazed at the crowd, while Wang Ping stood beside him.

"This meeting has only one topic: dealing with the extraterrestrial demonic cultivators. My idea remains the same as before: to eliminate them directly using the rules of the starry sky." He looked at Wang Ping as he said this, "This matter will require your help, fellow Daoist."

Wang Ping continued, "I agree to clean up the extraterrestrial demonic cultivators, but I don't think it needs to be so complicated. After all, with our current cultivation level, we can suppress them directly, as long as we are of one mind."

Without wasting words, Dragon Lord asked directly, "What if I insist on troubling you, fellow Daoist?"

Wang Ping met the Dragon Lord's eyes and said, "Fellow Daoist, why don't you give it a try?"

Seeing that the situation was getting out of control, Xuanqing stepped forward and said, "I think Fellow Daoist Changqing's suggestion is worth considering. In fact, with our strength, there is no need to directly use the rules of the starry sky."

Long Jun glanced at Xuan Qing, then looked around at everyone present, and finally said to Wang Ping, "Let's not beat around the bush. You should know my plan. With your current cultivation level, my future plans cannot even begin. Only if you reduce some of your cultivation can I feel at ease."

Wang Ping's expression remained unchanged as he met the Dragon Lord's vertical pupils, his tone still calm:

"I admire the Dragon Lord's concern for the future of the starry sky. However, my words, which are devoid of cultivation, are somewhat biased. The birth and death of the universe, the rise and fall of civilizations, all follow their own laws. Our pursuit of immortality is in accordance with the will of Heaven and the people."

He paused slightly, his gaze sweeping over everyone present before finally settling back on the Dragon Lord, his voice clear and resonant:

"All living things depend on the rules of this starry sky for survival and reproduction. This is the foundation of the cycle of heaven. If one were to take such a heaven-defying act for the sake of one person's 'peace of mind,' forcibly stripping away the cultivation of fellow practitioners, how would this be any different from severing the future of the starry sky?"

"We cultivators comprehend the heavens and earth in order to seek the Great Dao and protect the continuation of life in our region. However, we never expected that the Dragon Lord would try to imitate the actions of that demon from beyond the realm, using the destruction of our homes and countries as hostages to force us to submit."

His gaze swept over the crowd, his voice clear yet carrying an invisible weight:
"But, Dragon Lord, do you know? If the demonic energy from beyond the realm truly advances unimpeded, the first to be affected will not be those of us who can already roam the stars, but the countless ignorant mortals clinging to this starry sky, the newly ignited flame of civilization on those stars. Dragon Lord, you have ruled over all waters and blessed countless lives for countless years. Are you going to personally squander all this merit today?"

Wang Ping paused slightly, his gaze refocusing on Long Jun's ancient face, his tone carrying a hint of unspoken sarcasm:

"Or is it that the Dragon Lord is ultimately the Dragon Lord, with noble blood, regarding all living beings in the starry sky as mere grass and ants, believing that as long as he can achieve his goal, it doesn't matter if he turns this world upside down and causes billions of living beings to wail and suffer?"

These words directly exposed the Dragon Lord's threat to the public, characterized his behavior as imitating demonic cultivators, and even used his past merits of benefiting all living beings to turn the tables on him. Finally, they pointed out his inhuman origins, satirized his lack of compassion for all living beings, and placed the Dragon Lord on the opposite side of morality.

Long Jun remained calm. After Wang Ping finished speaking, he slowly cupped his hands, his voice still majestic: "Fellow Daoist Changqing is truly compassionate and merciful."

He raised his eyelids, and within his vertical pupils seemed to be a deep, swirling vortex:
"Sacrificing the small for the greater good is the ancient way of benevolence. Now, with your little bit of magical power, fellow Daoist, you can activate the rules of the universe and wipe out the demonic cultivators, thus bringing peace to the starry sky for ten thousand years. This is an unparalleled merit and the greatest compassion."

His tone suddenly turned sharp, and a cold glint flashed in his vertical pupils:
"How could you, fellow Daoist, be so reluctant to do such a small favor, rather than see countless lives destroyed?"

Wang Ping's expression remained unchanged upon hearing this, but his response was tinged with antagonism: "What a fine 'sacrifice the small for the greater good,' what a fine 'supreme merit'!"

His laughter ceased, his gaze sharpening like lightning, piercing directly at the Dragon Lord:
“Since the Dragon Lord knows that activating the rules of the universe can cleanse the demonic energy, it would be easy for him to overturn rivers and seas. Wouldn’t it be even easier for him to do this ‘easy thing’? However, the Dragon Lord, who possesses boundless magical power, remains inactive and instead threatens me with the demonic tribulation, forcing me to take action and damage my foundation.”

Wang Ping took a step forward; although his aura was not ostentatious, it possessed an imposing presence.
"How is this any different from that of a street ruffian who holds a knife and forces someone to mutilate themselves? Do not do to others what you would not have them do to you; you can do it yourself, yet you coerce others to do it. Dragon Lord, do you have no shame?"

His final question was as sharp as metal, directly condemning the Dragon Lord's despicable and shameless behavior, tearing away his hypocritical mask completely. As soon as he finished speaking, the air in the entire hall seemed to freeze, and even the flowing spiritual light paused for a moment.

At this critical moment, Xuan Qing, who had been standing quietly by the door, stepped forward again, cupped his hands, and said, "Fellow Daoists, please hear what I have to say."

Xuanqing's voice remained calm, yet it clearly entered everyone's consciousness, carrying a power that calmed their minds.

"The troubles of demonic cultivators concern the survival of the starry sky, and are not a matter for one family or one sect. Since you two fellow Daoists have your own insistence, I have a humble opinion."

He glanced at Long Jun and Wang Ping and slowly said:

"Why don't you two fellow Daoists each send your elite troops to jointly sweep away the demonic cultivators from beyond the realm, so as to demonstrate the unity and cooperation of the righteous path in the starry sky?"

"As for the leader of the demonic cultivators, Wu Nian," Xuan Qing said in a slightly somber tone, "his cultivation is unfathomable, and we are no longer able to eliminate him. Why don't Dragon Lord and Fellow Daoist Chang Qing personally take action and suppress him completely with overwhelming force? What do you two think?"

Xuanqing's words, though seemingly a compromise, actually pointed out the key reason why Longjun and Wang Ping were so wary: if they fought to the death, Wunian, who had been lying in wait, would likely become the ultimate winner who would reap the benefits.

This risk is one that neither Long Jun nor Wang Ping can ignore.

"Okay, let's do it that way!"

The Dragon Lord agreed readily and didn't even glance at Wang Ping again before disappearing instantly.

At this moment, Yu Lian said in Wang Ping's spiritual sea, "Fortunately, your cultivation has improved, otherwise we would have had to sheepishly agree to the Dragon Lord's proposal."

While exchanging words with Yu Lian, Wang Ping also left the projection space.

Little did they know, that was exactly what the Dragon Lord had been thinking, but unfortunately, Wang Ping's cultivation level had improved too quickly.

The suffocating tension within the hall suddenly eased, but a deeper sense of oppression quietly spread. The previously clear-cut confrontation lost its meaning after the two chess players left, leaving only endless emptiness and shock.

On the left, Tiangong, Diwen, and the others remained standing still, but the calmness on their faces had long been replaced by an indescribable complex expression. They looked at each other and saw deep fear and a trace of powerlessness in each other's eyes.

Once upon a time, Wang Ping was nothing more than a promising junior in their eyes. Although he was worthy of attention, he was far from being able to stand on equal footing with them or even determine the fate of the world.

However, during the heated exchange just now, Wang Ping not only refused to back down, but also accepted Xuan Qing's mediation plan in a position almost equal to that of the Dragon Lord.

Long Jun's decisive "Let's do it this way" was less about giving Xuan Qing face and more about his final recognition and compromise with Wang Ping's strength.

At this moment, both the Heavenly Craftsman and the Earthly Script clearly recognized a fact: the "latecomer" in their eyes had truly stood at the pinnacle of this starry sky, becoming a transcendent being like a dragon king.

Standing at the entrance, Rong Yang was deeply moved and unable to calm down for a long time. He had witnessed firsthand how the junior who had fought alongside him years ago had, in this hall gathering the strongest beings in the starry sky, declared the arrival of his era with an undisputed presence. (End of Chapter)