Chapter 619 - 99: Breakthrough Within 50 Years?

The Nine Tripods Sect had at least five Third Realm Artifact Cultivators. This was one of the main reasons they could stand strong despite not having a single Fourth Realm Cultivator.

Wang Ping had thought the Nine Tripods Sect would only send two ordinary Third Realm Artifact Cultivators to help. He never expected the Sect Leader, Lu Shan, to come in person. In that case, he must have other matters to discuss.

There was no grand welcoming ceremony, not because Wang Ping was stingy or ignorant of etiquette, but because Lu Shan himself had requested it. Xia Wen Yi had dispatched a member of internal affairs to lead them discreetly to the Mountain Peak Dojo.

Lu Shan certainly hadn’t come alone; he brought two other Third Realm Artifact Cultivators with him. Because they had traveled on foot from Ningzhou Road to Qianmu Temple, by the time Wang Ping met Lu Shan, it was already half a month after Ying Qing Taoist and Hou Jun had arrived.

During that half a month, Nanlin Road was incredibly eventful. First, pirates harassed various parts of the coastline. Then, warships under the command of the Seventh Prince of Lishui Prefecture wreaked havoc along the coast, clashing head-on with the Shang’an Prefecture fleet twice without a decisive outcome.

In response to the harassment from Lishui Prefecture, the Court urgently issued a recruitment order and conscripted laborers to build fortresses and stockades at strategic points a hundred li from the coastline.

This year’s Spring Festival in Nanlin Road was a troubled one, but it was also more vigorous than in previous years!

"On my way here, I saw Government Soldiers heading south everywhere. Does Lishui Prefecture really dare to invade?" Lu Shan asked after exchanging pleasantries with Wang Ping.

"It’s the age-old story of a man’s greed being like a snake trying to swallow an elephant. The Seventh Prince probably wants to control the Southern Cultivation Realm to enhance his own power and escape his current predicament. However, this move is foolish, and he’s courting death!" Wang Ping’s tone was confident.

After speaking, he cupped his fist at Lu Shan and said, "I must also thank you, Fellow Daoist, for coming to lend your support!"

"We had an agreement. I am merely here to honor it." Lu Shan waved his hand dismissively, offering a polite remark before continuing, "I know you are about to plan for the Fourth Realm, Fellow Daoist. I have a presumptuous request to make."

"Please, speak freely!"

"We can guard Qianmu Temple until you break through to the Fourth Realm, Fellow Daoist. During this time, no matter what happens, we will follow your orders. But..." Lu Shan met Wang Ping’s gaze, his tone growing serious. "But I hope that this assistance will cancel out the five favors I owe you from our agreement. Furthermore, I hope that after you advance to the Fourth Realm, you will provide the Nine Tripods Sect with a measure of protection!"

"He certainly knows how to drive a hard bargain..." Yu Lian commented. Given her usual personality, she was clearly holding back, likely due to their current cooperative relationship.

Wang Ping contemplated this for more than ten breaths before a smile appeared on his face. He replied, "Since you are so sincere, Fellow Daoist, let’s consider it settled. If I am fortunate enough to succeed in my breakthrough, I promise I will help the Nine Tripods Sect once in the future should you face any difficulties!"

"Excellent! It’s settled then!"

Lu Shan stood up, cupped his fist, and bowed.

Wang Ping returned the bow.

Yu Lian reminded him from within his Spirit Sea, "From what I can see, those three have less than two hundred years of life remaining. Are you confident you can break through to the Fourth Realm within two centuries?"

Upon hearing this, Wang Ping subconsciously opened his glowing screen panel and glanced at his Primordial Spirit cultivation progress. It had reached (46/100), having increased by another point in the past half a month. The data for collected Qi fortune had also risen to (4/100), though it had consumed another set of materials for the Qi Fortune Array.

Once his Primordial Spirit cultivation was complete, the next step would be to refine the head of his Spiritual Body. With the assistance of the glowing panel, this step would basically take no time at all.

’In other words, if no one disturbed him and his cultivation went smoothly, he could attempt his breakthrough using the Qi Fortune Array in fifty years. However, he still wanted to continue collecting Third Realm Primordial Spirits. Based on his understanding of the Taiyan Fourth Realm, consuming Third Realm Primordial Spirits to increase his affinity with the Heaven-Covering Talisman would definitely reduce the difficulty of the breakthrough.’

After Wang Ping and Lu Shan chatted for Half an Hour, Lu Shan took the initiative to ask for a tour of Qianmu Temple. Wang Ping didn’t accompany him personally, instead having Xia Wen Yi make the arrangements.

In the blink of an eye, the first month of the year passed, and the weather in the south gradually grew warmer.

「The sixth day of the second month.」

Xia Wen Yi arrived at the Mountain Peak Dojo early in the morning.

"We’ve received word from the Loose Cultivator Alliance. Their first wave of migrating ships is set to depart in two days. They’re asking if we’ve found someone to take over the border defense duties."

Wang Ping had been pondering this exact problem recently. He was inclined to send Dongcan, but he wasn’t entirely confident in him.

"What are your thoughts?" he asked, not answering directly but first seeking his disciple’s opinion.

"Junior Sister Zuo Liang is more than capable of the task!"

Wang Ping had forgotten about Zuo Xuan’s disciple. He asked, "Where is she cultivating now?"

"At the Daoist Palace Headquarters!"

"Go make the arrangements. Tell her that even if there’s any unusual activity in the Liangjiang Region, our primary focus is defense. She is not to attack rashly without my direct order!"

"Yes!"

The day after this matter was settled, Xia Wen Yi appeared at the Mountain Peak Dojo early in the morning again. This time, he was accompanied by an Earth Vein Cultivator who had reached the Initial Realm.

"This is a disciple of Taishan Taoist from Ningzhou Road. He says his master has a personal letter that must be delivered directly into your hands, Master!"

The Earth Vein Cultivator timidly cupped his fist in a salute and handed over the letter without saying a word.

The image of a shrewd and talkative fat man immediately surfaced in Wang Ping’s mind. "Is your master doing well?" That was Yu Lian asking.

"To answer your question, Senior, my master is planning to enter seclusion soon to break through to the Third Realm!"

"He’s finally willing to let go of his duties at the Daoist Palace?"

The Daoist Palace of Ningzhou Road was supposed to be led by Li Miaolin, an heir of the northern Taiyan Cultivators and one of its chief directors. However, he was always focused on Profound Cultivation with his master, Chongxing Taoist, so his position was more symbolic than practical. As a result, the Daoist Palace was actually controlled by Taishan Taoist.

The reason Li Miaolin had been successfully "parachuted in" when the Daoist Palace was first established was because he had been personally appointed by Wan Zhi Daoist. The stated reason was to prevent the Southern Cultivation Realm from falling into the hands of outsiders. Yet, after being elected as a chief director, he had never once shown his face.

By now, Wang Ping had opened the letter. As his eyes swept across it, the contents were imprinted in his mind. Then, in a rare show of emotion, his brow furrowed.

"Wen Yi, take our guest to rest."

"Yes!"

Xia Wen Yi did not hesitate.

Wang Ping, however, picked up the letter and read it again carefully.

"What happened?"

"Li Miaolin, one of the seven chief directors of the Daoist Palace, is arriving to take up his post in half a month!"

"At a time like this?"

"Yes."

「Half a month later.」

The first news Wang Ping received was a message from Hu Yin via a Communication Token. Her Water Race reinforcements had been blocked by Li Miaolin, who cited the reason that the Demon Race was forbidden from interfering in the struggle for the Zhongzhou Divine Artifact. Simultaneously, Li Miaolin ordered all Daoist Palace members to clear the entire backlog of cases within two years, posturing as if he meant to establish a new order in the Ningzhou Road Cultivation Realm.

"If he likes to play by the rules so much, then use the Court’s authority to deploy the Government Soldiers of Ningzhou Road!"

No sooner had Wang Ping given this order to Xia Wen Yi than rebel forces from True Yang Mountain began to attack the northeastern border of Ningzhou Road, causing six cities to fall in succession within a mere five days.