Watching the Mountain

Shen Wuchen didn’t dare to meet Xu Ran’s gaze.

He used to think that the world of geniuses was defined by people like the Evergreen Sword Saint, Zhang Zhentian, who could fight—and even defeat—a Core Formation Stage cultivator who hadn’t yet comprehended their own Mental Realm or forged their own path, all while only at the Purple Mansion Stage.

But after witnessing Ye Shan’s power, he realized that was just his own wishful thinking.

The world of geniuses was far beyond what people like him could ever imagine.

How long had Ye Shan even been cultivating?

Yes, everyone knew that the dazzling, magnificent sword strike he had unleashed was only possible because of the Vermilion Bird Array, constructed by Master Vermilion Bird, Senior Sister Ning. The array had gathered the terrestrial energy of an entire region from the Five Domains and infused it into Ye Shan.

Although no one could guess Ye Shan’s exact Cultivation Realm at that moment, they knew he must have been incredibly strong just from having the terrestrial energy of an entire region focused within him.

Thinking about it that way, it seemed the fundamental reason for Ye Shan’s immense power should be credited to Master Vermilion Bird, Senior Sister Ning.

But what Shen Wuchen saw was that Ye Shan could withstand the terrestrial energy of an entire region, that he could comprehend a sword strike that made heaven and earth jealous even with just a Golden Core Cultivation, and that his heart could melt into heaven and earth.

All of this was far beyond what any ordinary person could achieve.

This was the world that geniuses could reach—a world beyond the imagination of ordinary people like them.

And the rival he had chosen for himself was the Evergreen Sword Saint, Zhang Zhentian, a man hailed as a genius on par with Ye Shan.

’If, in the future, Senior Brother Zhang also sublimates to an Extreme Realm like Ye Shan and unleashes such a brilliant sword strike, could I possibly withstand it?’

’So what if my Cultivation is a Realm higher than Senior Brother Zhang’s by then? Or even two Realms, or three?’

He felt he couldn’t. His own strength was already the weakest among those in his Realm.

Xu Ran wasn’t angry at Shen Wuchen’s reaction.

He could understand how the young man felt.

Anyone would be eclipsed after witnessing Ye Shan’s sword strike; even heaven and earth themselves had been.

Ye Shan had shown Shen Wuchen the Realm a genius could reach. It was only normal to feel fear and want to retreat.

However, when a student faltered, it was time for the teacher to step in. This was the very reason for his existence as a teacher.

He didn’t rebuke Shen Wuchen. Instead, he let out a long sigh and asked in a calm tone:

"Do you know what the Evergreen Sword Saint has been doing since that day?"

Hearing this, Shen Wuchen slowly raised his head and looked at him, confused.

"I’ve heard he’s been fighting constantly these past few days."

Xu Ran nodded slightly. "Correct. He fights every day, without a single day of rest. Do you know why?"

Shen Wuchen thought for a moment before answering hesitantly, "To make himself stronger?"

Xu Ran shook his head. "No. Growing stronger has always been his goal, but if that were the only reason, he wouldn’t need to do this. Fighting nonstop won’t make him stronger; it will only leave him physically and mentally exhausted."

"Then why is he doing it?"

"Because he *has* to fight. He has to remain in the public eye. He cannot disappear, and he cannot fall silent."

Shen Wuchen didn’t understand. If anything, he was even more confused.

Xu Ran sighed softly and began to explain in a measured, distant voice:

"Ye Shan reappeared before the world in a blaze of glory after nearly a century of silence. Before that, everyone assumed that after his grievous injury, he would fade away forever. They thought he would silently disappear into the river of history, never to be seen again."

"Many had even forgotten him, no longer remembering that a man named Ye Shan had ever existed. But to everyone’s surprise, he reappeared, and in such a spectacular fashion."

"A single Ye Shan purged the entire Evil Demon Race and Phoenix Race from the Cultivation Realm. For the Cultivation Realm, this was a great blessing. Thus, people could tolerate his existence and his actions. They would even write biographies for him and sing praises of his achievements."

"But what if another Ye Shan were to appear? The Cultivation Realm no longer has an Evil Demon Race and Phoenix Race to deal with. And the ones on the other side won’t attack us for the next ten thousand years."

"For the current Cultivation Realm, the appearance of another Ye Shan wouldn’t be a blessing. It would be a nightmare."

"The Evergreen Sword Saint has always been hailed as the second Ye Shan."

"Now, do you understand why he has to keep fighting?"

After hearing Xu Ran’s explanation, Shen Wuchen’s expression froze.

’Ye Shan appeared suddenly after a century of silence, and the Evergreen Sword Saint is called the second Ye Shan. If he were to suddenly disappear and fall silent as well, then...’

’That’s why the Evergreen Sword Saint can only live in the public eye, letting people watch him grow. If he were to suddenly vanish, not only would he be in danger, but perhaps the Sect would be as well.’

At that moment, Xu Ran sighed again and said, "Ye Shan was once the goal the Evergreen Sword Saint always wanted to chase and surpass. After Ye Shan unleashed that sword strike, the person who most needed to calm down and find clarity on his own path was him."

"But he has no time to sort out his own path. He can only fight, endlessly, to show everyone that he is still here."

"While you are here hesitating, wondering if you can ever defeat him, he is out there, not thinking about anything, simply shouldering his responsibility and moving forward."

Master Xu’s words crashed into Shen Wuchen’s heart like a great mountain.

His face paled. After a long silence, he rose slowly, formed a Dao Seal toward Xu Ran, and asked, "Master Xu, what should I do?"

Xu Ran shook his head, his expression calm. "I don’t know. Just as I don’t know what Realm lies at the end of cultivation, or what scenery awaits at the end of the Great Dao."

"What you do is your own affair. If you truly wish to take me as your master right now, I am willing to accept. After all, accepting a disciple whose Cultivation is higher than my own is something worth bragging about."

Shen Wuchen was taken aback by his words. He remained silent for a long while before bowing deeply to Xu Ran. "Please, Master Xu, give me some time. I will find the answer."

*

*

*

After leaving Master Xu, Shen Wuchen wandered aimlessly around Qing Xuan Peak. He wasn’t sure where he had ended up when he saw a handsome young boy with bright, dark eyes sitting on a rock, staring blankly at the sky.

The scene gave Shen Wuchen a sense of déjà vu. He remembered how he himself had once sat on a rock just like that, lost and confused about how to break through to the Qi Cultivation Fourth Layer.

And then, he had met Master Xu.

Now, seeing such a similar scene, he felt a stir in his heart. He slowly walked over to the handsome boy and asked, "Junior Brother, are you facing some difficulty? Would you care to talk about it? Perhaps I can help you."

The boy slowly turned his head at the sound of his voice. Upon seeing him, he rose deliberately and bowed formally. "My name is Ye Shu, Senior Brother. In answer to your question, my cultivation speed is too slow, so I was wondering if I’m even suited for cultivation."

’Ye Shu?’

Shen Wuchen was slightly taken aback by the name. ’This is Ye Shan’s son?’ He had never met him, but he had heard the rumors.

It was said that after twenty years of practice, he was only at the Qi Cultivation Second Layer.

He then thought about Ye Shu’s words, and a thought struck him. ’Isn’t this exactly the same situation I was in when I met Master Xu, lost and confused?’

’This must be fate. Perhaps this is heaven’s will.’

’Back then, Master Xu helped me find my current path. Now, it’s my turn to help the young Ye Shu find his.’

Shen Wuchen recalled the moment he first met Master Xu and, mimicking his tone from that day, said:

"Perhaps I can help you."

He then told Ye Shu about his own path.

When he finished, he stared at the young Ye Shu with an expectant look on his face.

He had expected Ye Shu to react just as he had.

Who would have thought that after listening, Ye Shu would once again give him a formal bow and say slowly:

"Thank you for your kind intentions, Senior Brother. But my mother has always taught me that a cultivator must be down-to-earth and build a solid foundation. Only then can one become a person of integrity who can stand tall between heaven and earth."

Shen Wuchen’s face stiffened. ’This isn’t what I expected. This isn’t how it’s supposed to go.’

After speaking, Ye Shu gave Shen Wuchen another slight bow, said his farewells, and turned to leave.

Shen Wuchen stared blankly at Ye Shu’s departing figure, an immense pressure weighing on his heart.

What pained him wasn’t that he had been rejected, but that the path Master Xu had taught him had been rejected.

’Down-to-earth?’

’Isn’t that just another way of saying that the path Master Xu taught me is an opportunistic, unorthodox shortcut?’

He clenched his fists. ’No. I must prove to the world that Master Xu’s path is also a grand and Righteous Dao—a towering path that can be cultivated all the way to the end of the Great Dao!’