Watching the Mountain

The ordinary disciples of the Profound Pure Sect were incredibly excited. Of the Ten Major Sects in the Eastern Domain, aside from the detached Upper Three Sects who rarely involved themselves in worldly affairs, the prodigies of the current younger generation from the other Seven Major Sects had all arrived.

The entire Eastern Domain was composed of thirteen counties. The Upper Three Sects were located in Taixu County, a region several times larger than the other twelve counties combined.

Besides Taixu County, there were also Profound Celestial County and Cyan Cloud County. Each of these two was individually several times larger than the remaining ten counties combined.

The remaining seven of the Ten Major Sects were all in Profound Celestial County, while Cyan Cloud County was home to seventy percent of the sects below the Ten Major Sects that were presided over by a Divinity Transformation Daoist Monarch.

Among the remaining ten counties, only four possessed powers with a Divinity Transformation Daoist Monarch. The rest, like the Profound Pure Sect’s own Evergreen County, only had Nascent Soul True Monarchs as their strongest authorities.

Therefore, for the ordinary disciples of the Profound Pure Sect, unless there were special circumstances, they had almost no hope of ever interacting with disciples from factions presided over by Divinity Transformation Daoist Monarchs.

But now, seven of the Ten Major Sects and thirteen other Divinity Transformation Influences had arrived. They were naturally ecstatic to be able to interact with disciples from so many top-tier factions at once.

However, compared to the ordinary disciples, the higher-ups of the Profound Pure Sect were not happy at all.

They understood perfectly well that the young prodigies from the various sects were not truly here to exchange pointers and discuss the Dao. Their real purpose was to probe the condition of their own Chief Disciple, Yue Qingyu.

This made their expressions turn incredibly ugly. ’Are we just supposed to roll over and let them probe her?’

For one thing, Yue Qingyu was in the middle of closed-door cultivation, and even they themselves didn’t know her current situation. But even if she weren’t, they wouldn’t take it lying down when someone came knocking on their door to challenge them.

But with so many factions gathered here now, they couldn’t afford to offend them.

’What should we do now?’

’Should we have Yue Qingyu come out of her seclusion immediately?’

The higher-ups of the Profound Pure Sect were so worried about this they felt their hair was turning white.

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Xu Ran had no interest in the gathering of prodigies at the Sect. He had always kept a low profile; it was already a feat that he hadn’t hidden himself away immediately to avoid being noticed.

However, Teacher Qing Xuan told him that with Yue Qingyu in seclusion and unable to be disturbed, his identity might prove useful if things became desperate.

The Spirit Rice he had developed was already circulating throughout the Cultivation Realm. One could say the entire Cultivation Realm owed him a favor.

This was especially true because among the visiting sects were many from the ancient factions, just like the Profound Pure Sect. These ancient factions had always valued integrity and righteousness. If he were to reveal his identity, he couldn’t be sure about the other sects, but these ancient ones would very likely show him some respect.

After all, as the contemporary Shennong, he had never asked anyone for anything. The respect granted for a first request would be especially significant.

Of course, this was only for a desperate situation; he wasn’t being told to go and announce his identity right away.

More importantly, Teacher Qing Xuan had told him to go and witness the prowess of the various prodigies and broaden his horizons.

He had always been unwilling to take a single step outside the Sect. Now that the prodigies of the younger generation from the entire Cultivation Realm had come to their doorstep, it would be inexcusable for him to hide away and not go see them.

Xu Ran was convinced. Senior Sister Yue’s path of cultivation was at stake; if it was truly necessary, he could indeed reveal his identity.

Besides, just as Teacher Qing Xuan had said, it was time he witnessed the prowess of the various prodigies in the Cultivation Realm for himself.

*

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Although Xu Ran had decided to go and observe, he didn’t go alone. Instead, he squeezed in with the crowd of disciples to watch from a distance.

What puzzled him slightly was that the groups of prodigies seemed to be divided into two camps.

One camp was led by a woman in a white dress, whose beauty was no less than that of the bewitching Little Witch, Ye Qingxue.

But compared to Ye Qingxue, this person’s aura was the complete opposite. If one had to use a single word to describe it, that word would be: Righteous.

Thoroughly of the Righteous Dao. No matter how you looked at her, you would feel that this woman was a valiant and awe-inspiring figure of justice.

The other camp was led by a man in black robes. He was handsome, with sword-like brows and star-like eyes, but his aura was exceedingly cold and arrogant.

It was different from Shen Wuchen’s feigned coldness, which was born from inner nervousness.

This man’s coldness emanated from within, making one’s entire body turn cold with just a single glance.

From the discussions of the disciples around him, Xu Ran learned the identities of the two.

The woman in white was Liu Yunge from the Creation Sect, a representative of the Righteous Immortal Sects. She was not yet a hundred years old and had a Golden Core Stage cultivation.

The man in black was Zhao Wuyang from the Netherworld Sect, a representative of the Immortal Ancient Demon Dao. He was also not yet a hundred years old and had a Golden Core Stage cultivation.

After learning their identities, Xu Ran had a moment of dawning realization. Because of the matter with the Evil Demon Race and Phoenix Race, he had almost forgotten that the Cultivation Realm was also divided into the Righteous and Demon Daos.

The conflict between the Righteous and Demon Daos was one of ideology, an eternal struggle within the Cultivation Realm. Even if they might unite against a common external enemy, it didn’t mean they had reconciled. This struggle would likely never cease, not even at the end of time.

At the same time the Profound Pure Sect disciples gathered to watch, the prodigies from the various sects who had just arrived also began sizing them up.

After just a moment, Zhao Wuyang of the Netherworld Sect spoke coldly, "What’s this? So many of us have come to the Profound Pure Sect to exchange pointers and discuss the Dao, yet their Chief Disciple is nowhere to be seen. Are they looking down on us?"

Hearing this, Xu Ran, who was in the crowd, furrowed his brow. It wasn’t that he had an opinion on the matter; he just felt the words were beneath someone of Zhao Wuyang’s status and lowered his standing.

As soon as Zhao Wuyang finished speaking, Liu Yunge of the Creation Sect smiled faintly and said, "Fellow Daoist Zhao, don’t be hasty. Perhaps Fellow Daoist Yue is currently occupied with something. We have come to exchange pointers, not to provoke. It would be best to remain amicable."

Hearing this, Zhao Wuyang snorted coldly. "Hypocritical."

He snorted coldly again. "I don’t care about any of that. Since I have come, the Profound Pure Sect must naturally show some courtesy, not just leave us standing here waiting."

The moment his voice fell, a towering Sword Intent suddenly surged into the sky, pressing down on the gathered prodigies.

Sensing this Sword Intent, the expressions of the prodigies changed slightly, and they all turned to look in the same direction.

In the direction they were looking, a young man with an ordinary appearance, aura, and attire was slowly walking toward them, his steps unhurried and composed.

Although the newcomer looked completely ordinary, not one of the prodigies present dared to look down on him.

For this person was none other than the man whose name shook the Cultivation Realm: the Deceitful Blade, Chen Chang’an.

Chen Chang’an cupped his hands toward the gathered prodigies and said, "How about you let me accompany you all in an exchange of pointers?"

As his voice fell, Zhao Wuyang waved a dismissive hand and said coldly, "You won’t do. Everyone knows that you, Deceitful Blade Chen Chang’an, win one match and lose the next. It’s pointless."

Chen Chang’an’s gaze sharpened. "And what if I keep winning?"

At these words, the scene instantly fell silent. Everyone stared at him in shock.