My Cultivation Has a Progress Bar

Chapter 334: Chapter 63: The Fire Cultivator’s Storage Pouch

Wang Ping considered for a good while, then took out a blank bamboo slip and began to slowly summarize and categorize the ideas forming in his mind.

Curiously, Yu Lian watched Wang Ping as he wrote with intense focus. Sensing his thoughts, she perched on his shoulder, watching as he inscribed each character one by one.

When the final character was inscribed, Wang Ping let out a long breath. He looked up to see the sky had grown completely dark. The light in the courtyard was an illusory glow, manifested from his own thoughts.

"You’re actually creating a new Entry Secret Technique?" Yu Lian’s head swayed back and forth, her face nearly touching the bamboo slip.

"It’s not yet complete. Perfecting this Cultivation Technique will require extensive testing, and I estimate I won’t have time to work on it until after the Xiao Shan Lord’s promotion. Or perhaps I’ll just leave it as is. After all, this set of techniques somewhat defies the harmony of heaven."

"It’s already incredible!" Yu Lian read the contents of the bamboo slip intently.

"I just had a few thoughts after looking through the ’Body Erosion’ Secret Technique."

Yu Lian was no longer surprised. After all, Wang Ping was the kind of monster who could grasp the concept of a Thunder Law Altar just by observing a Thunder Tribulation. She immediately connected her Spirit Sea to his, attempting to perceive the insights he gained while creating this technique.

"What are you going to name this Cultivation Technique?" Yu Lian asked.

"It’s still a work in progress. I’ll think about a name if I ever get the chance to finish it." Wang Ping shook his head; he wasn’t in any hurry to name it.

"Oh! In that case, let’s check that Fire Cultivator’s storage pouch now. Maybe you can create another new Cultivation Technique," Yu Lian urged impatiently.

Wang Ping smiled and pointed at the sky. "It’s time to meditate and rest."

"With your level of cultivation, you’d be fine even if you didn’t rest for a hundred years, right?"

"But meditation is a form of cultivation. It’s my daily practice."

"Alright."

By the time Yu Lian replied, Wang Ping had already closed his eyes. Bored, she sniffed his scent, then summoned a cloud and headed toward Baisui Lake.

Before dawn the next day, Wang Ping awoke from his meditation right on schedule. He performed his daily ritual of fusing with the Heaven-Reaching Talisman. Just as he finished, Yu Lian descended from the sky.

Afterward, they disguised themselves as mortals and strolled through the morning market in the town at the foot of the mountain. While they were there, Yu Lian told Wang Ping about Hu Qianqian; she had visited Baisui Lake the previous night.

Hu Qianqian was preparing to advance to the ’Pill Nourishing’ realm. For the Demon Race, the ’Pill Nourishing’ realm is actually a type of Fake Pill realm. It’s merely a further awakening of their bloodline consciousness. Some with advanced bloodlines don’t even need a formal breakthrough; they can enter the ’Pill Nourishing’ realm—the Second Realm—as a matter of course.

This step is extremely easy for the Demon Race; failure is nearly impossible. Yet, it is also the most dangerous time, as a demon will be left weakened for at least two years after the breakthrough. Hu Qianqian, however, didn’t need to worry about that.

Furthermore, Core Formation, the Third Realm for the Demon Race, can sometimes be far more difficult than it is for human Cultivators. It often triggers a Thunder Tribulation, and only a rare few can advance without having to face one.

By the time they returned to the Dao Field around 7:45 AM, the morning light already bathed the land.

After a simple breakfast, Wang Ping sat in a pavilion at the edge of the gardens. He admired the morning view of the mountains surrounding Qianmu Temple while refining the Pocket World Mirror. Meanwhile, Yu Lian had run off to the river behind the mountain to catch shrimp.

Just as Wang Ping took out the Fire Cultivator’s storage pouch, Yu Lian landed on his shoulder, right on cue.

He first checked for physical silver. There wasn’t much, only a few hundred taels. There were quite a few silver banknotes, but their total value was just over twenty thousand taels. ’This person must have a permanent Cultivation Dojo in Zhongzhou,’ Wang Ping thought. ’The type who rarely ventures out.’

Rummaging further, the only other valuables were some Elixirs and a few fire-attribute crystal blocks. Sealed inside them were Second Realm fire spirits. ’These must be what the Fire Cultivator used to replenish his Qi Sea. The greatest weakness of a Fire Cultivator is their immense energy consumption; during battle, they need to have Elixirs or other Celestial and Earthly Treasures prepared beforehand to replenish their Qi Sea.’

"That’s it?" Yu Lian asked.

"That’s it!" Wang Ping was exasperated. ’This guy is so poor I’m starting to doubt he was even in the Third Realm.’ As he spoke, Wang Ping took out an identity token. The man was also a member of the Daoist Scripture Hall, named Cang’an. There was no record of his sect or other affiliations.

"So poor!"

"He probably just came out on a short trip. All his wealth must be back at his Dao Field."

"Not even a single Magical Artifact."

"Just like Tang Ye. He must have had them on his person. I didn’t think to collect them at the time, which was a nice bonus for the Imperial Guard."

Wang Ping quickly composed himself.

In truth, the most valuable thing Cang’an left behind was his Spirit Body. Wang Ping planned to find some time to fashion it into a puppet.

Then there were the Primordial Spirits of Cang’an and Tang Ye. Wang Ping was tempted to read their memories, but doing so would certainly damage their Primordial Spirits. They might even degenerate into True Spirits before long.

It just wasn’t worth the cost, especially in Tang Ye’s case. His Primordial Spirit represented a spot for a Taiyan Three Realms Cultivator.

’Cang’an’s Primordial Spirit, however, could be partially read. Then, I could wipe its memories and use it as the consciousness for the puppet. A puppet like that would have a natural affinity for cultivating with fire spirits, making its progress incredibly efficient. With a decent Cultivation Technique, it might even reach the Third Realm in the future.’

But just as Wang Ping was about to act on these thoughts, two unexpected acquaintances sent over their calling cards.

It was Ruan Chunzi and... Wen Yang.

Wang Ping received them in the main hall of the front palace with the highest Taoist Family etiquette. After an exchange of pleasantries, the unrelated disciples withdrew, and Ruan Chunzi broached the matter at hand:

"Junior Brother Wen Yang and I have come at the request of another. Junior Brother Wen Yang, as you know, looked out for you quite a bit back on Mozhou Road, Fellow Daoist. As for myself, I can’t claim to have done the same or anything of the sort, so I’m afraid I’m being quite shameless by coming here today."

Ruan Chunzi adopted a very humble posture.

"You’re here for Cang’an’s Primordial Spirit?" Wang Ping understood instantly.

"We are."

Wen Yang maintained his usual cold demeanor in front of outsiders.

Ruan Chunzi glanced at Wen Yang, then gave Wang Ping a meaningful look. "If you’ve already... *used*... his Primordial Spirit, Fellow Daoist, then we’ll have nothing more to say. We’ll simply return and report as much."

Before Wang Ping could answer, Ruan Chunzi continued, "But if it’s still available, we have prepared a generous gift for you."

"Oh?"

"Ten seeds of the Vine-Wood Tree, and the method to cultivate them!" Ruan Chunzi laid his cards on the table.

A glint appeared in Wang Ping’s eyes. He glanced at Wen Yang, who gave an imperceptible nod in return. A genuine smile then spread across Wang Ping’s face. "This Cang’an must have quite the background, then?"

"He reached the Third Realm entirely through a Cultivation Technique he developed on his own. In that respect, he was an admirable man. It’s a pity that after a millennium of ascetic cultivation, he insisted on meddling in affairs that didn’t concern him. In the end, this is the fate he met," Ruan Chunzi said with a sigh of regret.

Wang Ping felt a flicker of empathy. He knew all too well the hardships one must endure to reach the Third Realm by developing a Cultivation Technique on their own.

"Fellow Daoist Cang’an’s Cultivation Technique has not yet been recorded."

Wen Yang stated the key point bluntly, his tone as cold as ever. "If you agree to this trade, once we have recorded his technique, I will see to it that you receive the Secret Techniques for the first two realms."

"Done!" Wang Ping didn’t hesitate any longer.