Watching the Mountain

"With your current Cultivation Realm, it wouldn’t be difficult to learn, would it?"

Li Tianhe said, looking embarrassed, "It’s not difficult, but I haven’t prepared at all. If I just perform it hastily and it doesn’t turn out well, what will the disciples think of me?"

Xu Ran nodded in sudden realization. He understood now. It wasn’t that Li Tianhe couldn’t perform the technique, but that he was worried his demonstration wouldn’t be perfect and would tarnish his image.

He could certainly understand the feeling. He had been the same way back then, which was why he always went to great lengths to prepare before every lecture.

"So you want me to demonstrate for them?"

Li Tianhe nodded nervously. "Teacher, would that be alright?"

Xu Ran was silent for a moment, then nodded.

Seeing this, Li Tianhe’s face lit up with joy. He then respectfully gestured for Xu Ran and led him into the Instructor Hall.

"Today, I will be teaching you all the Cloud Rain Technique. As it happens, a great expert was passing by, so I have invited him to give you a demonstration. Watch carefully."

Xu Ran looked down at the sea of curious faces, a flicker of emotion in his eyes. ’It’s been a long time since I’ve stood here.’

Facing the expectant gazes of the young men and women, he said nothing. He simply raised his hand and slowly formed a Finger Formula.

A cloud materialized, and raindrops began to fall—sometimes light, sometimes heavy, sometimes fast, sometimes slow. Each drop brushed past the cheek of every disciple present, yet not a single one landed on them.

Then, the raindrops transformed into shooting stars, a shower of swords, and then into bubbles. They soared and plunged through the air until finally, a hundred water dragons spiraled skyward, dispersed, and reformed into a brilliant, multicolored starry sky that slowly faded away.

Everyone, including Li Tianhe at Xu Ran’s side, stared blankly at the beautiful scene, utterly mesmerized.

’Teacher... he’s so much stronger than he was back then.’

He marveled inwardly. When he snapped out of his reverie, ready to thank Xu Ran, he realized that Xu Ran’s figure had vanished just as the starry sky had faded away.

Just as he was about to give chase, a voice drifted to his ear: "When I first taught you, I wasn’t proficient in many of the Magic techniques either. But by the time I had to formally teach them, I had already mastered them."

Hearing this, he froze. After a long moment, he finally came to his senses and performed a deep bow in the direction Xu Ran had left. "Thank you for your guidance, Teacher. I will take your words to heart."

As soon as he finished speaking, the students below, who had also snapped out of their daze, looked at him curiously. "Teacher," one asked, "who was that expert just now? We’ve never seen him before. He was incredible!"

Hearing this, Li Tianhe stood up straighter, a proud smile on his face. "He is my teacher," he replied.

After leaving the Instructor Hall, Xu Ran walked into the Spirit Stream Peak’s Outer Sect Cafeteria and called out, "A bucket of Spirit Rice, one Fire Spirit Chicken, and a pot of Hundred Fruit Wine. Pack it all to go in one of your best food boxes."

"You got it! Will you be paying with Spirit Stones or Contribution Points?"

"With Spirit Stones."

Xu Ran paid with Spirit Stones and took the food box from the Spirit Chef.

Through years of campaigns in the New Domain, the Profound Pure Sect had reaped a great deal of resources. The disciples’ stipends had long since gone back to being paid in Spirit Stones and Elixirs. Not only that, but their compensation had also increased significantly.

The cafeteria had lost its original purpose, but because the Spirit Chef’s cooking was just too good, the disciples couldn’t bear to see it go. After they petitioned the Sect, the Sect began operating it as a restaurant instead.

It was still as lively as ever.

Accepting the food box, Xu Ran glanced at the entirely unfamiliar faces inside the cafeteria and, without lingering, headed off in a certain direction.