There is a progress bar in my cultivation of immortality

Ten days later.

The city of Lingkou Prefecture was captured by the army of Marquis Yong'an without a fight, and there was no burning, killing or looting as imagined. After the young Marquis Yong'an entered the Governor's Mansion with his cronies, he immediately ordered his soldiers to post notices on bulletin boards throughout the city, stating that he had no intention of harming a single person.

After a few days, Marquis Yong'an publicly executed several generals who had acted recklessly after entering the city. The people then resumed some production with suspicion, but they did not dare to get too close to those big soldiers.

Not long after, the army of Marquis Yong'an occupied Xiaguan without bloodshed, and built more than a dozen fortresses near Xiaguan. They transported strategic materials from all over Qingpu Road to the fortresses, including millions of "power pills". These "power pills" were purchased through their relationship with Linshui Prefecture.

After Marquis Yong'an occupied Xiaguan, the imperial court sent two ministers to Xiaguan and promised to give Marquis Yong'an a royal title, which Marquis Yong'an did not immediately refuse.

But just when the court was discussing giving more rewards to Marquis Yong'an, 20,000 cavalrymen of Marquis Yong'an marched through the farmhouses east of Shangjing City and occupied the empty East Camp of Shangjing City.

The whole world was in an uproar for a while.

The court immediately split into two factions arguing. Some believed that they should hold on to Shangjing City and wait for the troops from all over the country to come to support the emperor. Others believed that there were no soldiers available in Shangjing City and they should retreat to the northwest or south and then summon the troops to quell the rebellion.

The two sides argued fiercely over this issue, and the final decision-making power fell into Liu Qing's hands. The emperor had been under house arrest in the harem because of the failure of the last coup and had become a real puppet.

In the end, it was a sentence from the Minister of Rites Kong Xian that made Liu Qing make the decision. His original words were:
The runners from various departments in Shangjing City and the servants in the mansions of third-rank officials can only gather 10,000 people at most, plus 20,000 imperial guards who can fight. Moreover, they have no morale. The rebels have 50,000 elite armored soldiers, plus more than 100,000 scattered soldiers, and their morale is high. I am afraid that as soon as the siege begins, our improvised mob will be defeated, and retreating to Anqing City in the northwest will be safe!
There were many points that could be refuted in his opinion, but after Liu Qing heard the words "absolutely safe", he refused to listen to any other advice.

So that night, Liu Qing led the emperor to retreat from the west gate of the imperial palace to Yong'an City, accompanied by dozens of civil and military officials. The other civil and military officials stayed behind under the leadership of two ministers who advocated defending Shangjing City.

...

Just when the chaos was raging in Shangjing City.

On the east side of Qingpu Road, a Taoist temple called Bi Hai Temple was surrounded by Taoist Qi-cultivating monks inside and outside. In the distance, above a river, two Taoist monks wearing light red Taoist robes were besieging a water cultivator.

The fight caused a scene of ice and fire to form near the river. Although water has the property of overcoming fire, the water cultivator was still defeated after more than ten breaths. The two victorious Taoist monks did not give the water cultivator any chance to explain. They immediately cast a wood spirit formation, sucked the water cultivator's soul and body into it and sealed it.

A quarter of an hour later.

All the Qi-cultivating disciples in the Taoist temple were cleared out, and after a while of searching, they soon found the magic array for making corpse soldiers in the underground prison in the inner hall of the Taoist temple. Several Taiyin evil practitioners who did not have time to escape were captured on the spot.

Further away, two cultivators of the second realm were confronting each other. When the cultivators of the Taoist Palace found the magic array of the evil cultivator of Taiyin, one of them snorted coldly and turned away. When the remaining one landed in the main hall of the Bi Hai Temple, the incoming cultivator who had just collected the soul and body of the water cultivator came up and handed him a green crystal with a magic array of the wood spirit.

"Master, what do the higher-ups need this for?" asked the monk who handed over the crystal curiously.

"Don't ask questions that you shouldn't ask!" The second-level cultivator's tone was full of warning, and then he turned into a stream of light and disappeared into the sky.

Three hours later.

The blue crystal finally fell into Ziluan's hands.

At this moment, he was in a dilapidated Taoist temple built in a small village north of Lingkou Prefecture. This was the Taoist temple built by his puppet when he preached here, and his golden statue was enshrined in the temple.

"When did you learn the magic?" A cold voice sounded beside him.

It is Que Cai.

Zi Luan's main responsibility during this trip to the north is surveillance, to ensure that everything goes according to Wang Ping's plan. Que Caixiu's 'Transfer Talisman' can assist in surveillance very well.

"About twenty years ago." Zi Luan responded while looking at his golden statue.

"How do you feel?"

"The state of rationality is very strange. For example, the clear thoughts of self-discipline are fascinating, but they make me want to escape. However, the state of fascination blocks my escape."

“Is this what they call desire and reason intertwined?”

"Maybe!"

Zi Luan nodded.

Que Cai's eyes flashed with a gleam of light, and she said, "This is just like what the Lord of the Mansion said, to blend in with the world."

Zi Luan was slightly startled, and shook his head, "Are you talking about the nameless scripture that the disciples of the Lord of the Mansion studied? That is different from my feelings. The state of self-restraint can only glimpse the surface of it."

Que Cai nodded thoughtfully, then changed the subject and said, "You collect the souls and spirit veins of the water cultivators. Do you want to use them to hatch a spirit snake?"

It is very difficult to make a contract with a born spirit snake. Even Zi Luan failed to make a contract successfully, so he wanted to try another way. He could use Shui Xiu's soul and spiritual veins to nourish the snake eggs of the spirit snake clan and sign a contract before the spirit snakes hatch. Or he could use them to trade with an adult spirit snake couple in exchange for a spirit snake egg that is about to hatch successfully.

Zi Luan looked down at the crystal in his hand and said, "The Spirit Snake Clan is naturally compatible with the Tai Yan Talisman that we practice. I want to try a different method."

"You want to plan for the fourth realm? Why do you plan it now? You have to give up the previous opportunity in vain..."

Quecai couldn't say the following words.

Zi Luan said with a smile: "This is a different time. The Taiyan Sect is about to be re-established. There will not be so many causes and effects in the future."

Que Cai looked at Quan Luan seriously and said, "You are too cautious. It reminds me of the principle of 'fighting and not fighting' described in the Tianren Annotation. Besides, you may not get the chance to win in the future."

"Perhaps you are right. The Lord performed the role of 'fighting and not fighting' very well, but I failed miserably."

"You used the word 'interpretation' well!" Que Cai shook his sleeves, stood up and walked to the door, looking at the sky that had already darkened, and said softly: "The highest virtue is not virtuous, so it is virtuous; the lowest virtue is not without virtue, so it is without virtue."

Zi Luan picked up the teacup and smelled the tea. He looked at Que Cai at the door and said, "It's that nameless scripture again, right? I remember this sentence is the opening of 'Chu Shi Qu Hua'. You seem to be very interested in this scripture written by the Lord?"

Que Cai said softly: "He is a successful person, and we are all losers. Is there anything wrong with losers reading the books written by successful people?"

Zi Luan shook his head. "This book is only suitable for reading. It may be useful when cultivating human nature, but cultivation requires knowing. Knowing does not necessarily mean doing. You may even do the opposite of what you know."

"For example, regarding the current situation on Qingpu Road, he asked us to monitor Linshui Prefecture, but he doesn't care at all. He doesn't care whether the world is in chaos or not. Listen, the voices of those children outside, does he care?"

"Do you care?"

"Ha ha!"

Zi Luan laughed, "You don't seem to understand what I mean. I mean, the Lord is planning to rule the world, but he doesn't care about the world at all, and he doesn't even care about success or failure, because his interests are not here. The reason why he wants us to monitor him is just because he randomly drops a chess piece." Que Cai turned around, looked at Zi Luan, and said, "Don't worry, I know what I should do."

...

It has to be said that Zi Luan understood Wang Ping's thoughts very well. His attitude towards the chaos in the world was really like treating a game. Winning or losing didn't matter. If he failed, the most he would lose was some incense sticks, which were of no importance to him now.

The siege of Shangjing City by Marquis Yong'an was a major event for the people of Zhongzhou. Many people found it incredible because most parts of the world were still in the so-called prosperous era.

Wang Ping continued to meditate and practice every day. When he had nothing to do, he played with the metal ball to refine the consciousness of the star god inside. When the imperial edict to support the king was delivered to Nanlin Road, Wang Ping called Liu Shuang to the dojo and instructed: "Hint those aristocratic families that their opportunity has come!"

Liu Shuang thought for a moment and said, “Many people from the royal family are studying Taoism at Qianmu Temple. After hearing about what happened in Shangjing City, some of them brought some disciples down the mountain. It seems that they are going to reinforce the front line.”

Wang Ping responded without much thought: "The practice of Qianmu Temple emphasizes following the heart. Everyone has different ideas. Since they have not severed their earthly ties, let them overcome this calamity on their own."

At this moment, Liu Shuang thought of Yang Ziping in the past. She thought that her master would advise him, but did not want to let him go down the mountain. In fact, every year many disciples chose to go down the mountain and never come back. It’s just that sometimes it happens to some people related to oneself, and it’s inevitable to feel regretful.

"Any thing else?"

Wang Ping asked while looking at the dazed Liu Shuang.

Liu Shuang shook his head.

"Then come and have tea."

Wang Ping played with the metal ball while pouring a cup of tea for Liu Shuang.

Liu Shuang came over and sat down.

Wang Ping used the time for a cup of tea to have a brief chat with Liu Shuang. The topic was mainly about the cultivation of his disciples.

Not long after Liu Shuang left, Yu Lian returned from Shen Xiaozhu's dojo with the calico cat.

Yu Lian landed next to the coffee table and said hurriedly, "Xiao Zhu has recovered well. She is now teaching her two new disciples while restoring her spiritual veins. With the elixir refined by Yuan Zheng, there is no need to worry about her for a short time."

"That's good."

Wang Ping's spiritual consciousness spread, and he quickly checked Shen Xiaozhu's condition. Her soul was stable, but the spiritual veins in her body were a little chaotic, but she could recover slowly.

As Yu Lian poured herself some tea, she looked at the calico cat and asked her if she wanted some. The calico cat shook her head in disdain. After drinking a cup of tea, she looked at Wang Ping and said, "There are so many disciples coming down the mountain this morning. Do you really not care?"

"Everyone has their own aspirations!"

Wang Ping shook his head, and his spiritual consciousness enveloped the entire Zhonghui County.

It can be seen that on the official road leading to the north, there are many Qigong practitioners from Qianmu Temple. In the Wang Family Ancestral Hall, the golden statue of Wang Ping is also filled with descendants of the Wang Family. They are also discussing sending clan members to Shangjing City for support. Some people even propose to use the ancestral precepts to abolish Liu Qing's power as regent.

Wang Ping just watched quietly.

Ten days later.

Under Wang Ping's watch, Shangjing City fell into the hands of Yong'an Marquis, and the Linshui Prefecture in Qingpu Road and Pingzhou Road and the lower-level monks of Zhenyang Sect were fighting fiercely.

Half a month later, the armies that came to support the king surrounded Shangjing City. Hundreds of monks who entered the city fought inside and outside the city, destroying most of it. The millions of "power pills" invested in the subsequent siege completely submerged the city.

The bloody battle lasted for six days. When the army was about to block the retreat of Marquis Yong'an, Marquis Yong'an led 20,000 cavalrymen to retreat to the gorge.

The army that came to support the king pursued the victory, and the two sides fought bloody battles for another twenty days at Xiaguan. After the sailors formed by the army that came to support the king arrived at the battlefield, Marquis Yong'an took the initiative to retreat to Lingkou Prefecture.

When the war reached this point, the commanders of the various armies that were sent to support the king all stopped tacitly and submitted battle reports to the court back in Shangjing City.

This is asking for a reward!
The court only reached a conclusion on the eve of the Spring Festival, giving each governor a marquisate, and the remaining generals, captains, etc. also had titles.

Originally, the court planned to nominate a commander to go to the front line to reap the final fruits of victory, but this foolish decision ultimately failed to pass Liu Qing's hands.

Three months later.

The army sent to support the king wiped out the remnants of Marquis Yong'an, but Marquis Yong'an had already led his cronies out to sea from Shangbei Port.

"Ao Bing did so much, but what did he get?" Yu Lian asked this question after listening to Liu Shuang's report on a sunny morning. She had nothing to do recently and was staying at Shen Xiaozhu's dojo, so she didn't pay much attention to the rebellion in the north.

Wang Ping responded calmly, "Our believers in the north have become suspicious of us because of this rebellion. Our next fight against the monks of Linshui Prefecture will be ineffective. Ao Bing can use this to plan for the artifact when the world is in chaos in the future."

"Can you drive them out by force like you did in Liangjiang ten years ago?"

"Yes, but we will completely lose the support of the people!"

"Do you still care about public opinion?"

"I don't mind, but it would take away from the fun!"

Wang Ping was staring at the light screen panel in front of him. This incident increased his progress in fusing the 'Heaven-Covering Talisman' by two points, and the total progress had reached (52/100).

On the third day after that, Ao Hong's disciple Hongze asked for a meeting again.

He still looked shrewd, standing three feet in front of Wang Ping, and said with his head down: "My master has escaped from the seal in the deep pool, but is trapped in an underground vein formation. He needs the Lord's help. For this, we can give everything!"

Yu Lian asked doubtfully, "Earth vein array?"

"It's like this. My master took advantage of the chaos in the heavens and used a secret method to drill into the ground. He wanted to escape through the deep seabed. There was a complex earth vein array at the bottom of the sea. I guess that was the secret method performed by the legendary Master Diwen. What's more terrible is that my master also encountered the ruins of the demon clan buried deep underground. According to what my master conveyed, the ruins are connected to the earth vein array, trapping him underground."

"... "

Wang Ping was speechless after hearing such an explanation, and then asked: "What can I do? Since you can trap Daoist Fellow Ao Hong, I may be powerless to do anything."

Upon hearing this, Hong Ze quickly responded: "The earth vein formation can be unblocked, but it requires a fourth-level earth vein cultivator." (End of this chapter)