Watching the Mountain

Ye Shu was clearly an old man with white hair, yet he still spoke like a child who had never grown up. Every other word was about what his mother had taught him.

Everyone thought him an unfilial son, but Xu Ran knew he was actually a thoughtful and gentle person who held the utmost respect for the Little Witch. Her every word, her every lesson, was etched in his heart.

Furthermore, while he appeared mild-mannered, he was actually incredibly stubborn. He would never waver on matters he had set his mind to.

When Ye Shu used his mother’s teachings to refuse him, Xu Ran knew that no amount of persuasion on his part would change the man’s mind.

At this thought, he sighed in resignation. "In that case, are you confident you can break through to the Foundation Establishment Stage?"

Ye Shu shook his head. "I’m not sure. Mother said not to worry about such things during cultivation. You just need to plant your feet firmly on the ground and take it one step at a time. Hard work will pay off."

Xu Ran fell silent for another moment before offering a word of encouragement. "If that’s the case, then just do your best."

He took out an Identity Jade Talisman and placed it in Ye Shu’s hand. "From now on, you can come work with me at the Scripture Pavilion. Your ’look’ is a pretty good fit for the place, anyway."

Speaking of his ’look’, a wry smile touched Xu Ran’s lips. He remembered how, back on Spirit Stream Peak, a few of his colleagues had told him the Sect’s Scripture Pavilion was like a retirement home, filled with people who already had one foot in the grave.

His own previous appearance had been a perfect match for the Scripture Pavilion, but now that he had regained his youth at Little Xiyue’s urging, he looked rather out of place.

However, this worked out perfectly. With his current appearance, the disciples who frequented the Scripture Pavilion mistook him for one of them, a fellow disciple there to study Cultivation Techniques. Whenever they needed to check one out, they would always approach his colleagues, which left him quite idle and rarely disturbed.

After Ye Shu accepted the Identity Jade Talisman, he bowed respectfully to him. "Thank you, Uncle Xu."

Xu Ran gave a slight nod, not trying to stop him. Ye Shu was just that sort of person; all his courtesies were performed strictly by the book, and it was useless to argue otherwise.

*

*

*

After getting Ye Shu settled, Xu Ran quietly left the Cave Mansion and headed off in a specific direction.

"Life Creation Pills... Where did you get them?"

Flowing Clouds Master’s eyes widened as he stared at Xu Ran in utter shock.

He was currently holding a Jade Bottle containing two Seventh Grade Life Creation Pills.

The Ninth Grade Life Creation Pill that Liu Yunge had previously swindled from her master had gone unused. After Xu Ran heard about the elixir’s powerful effects, he had asked her if the Creation Sect had any elixirs that could expel Dao scars.

In response, she had produced these Seventh Grade Life Creation Pills. Of course, Xu Ran had purchased them with Spirit Stones, a transaction that had cost him nearly thirty percent of his Sect Contribution Points just to gather enough stones.

Instead of answering Flowing Clouds Master’s question, Xu Ran simply said:

"Senior, just tell me—will this elixir be of use to you?"

Flowing Clouds Master rolled his eyes. "What kind of a stupid question is that?" he snapped.

Xu Ran nodded. "Then that’s settled. Take them and use them."

Flowing Clouds Master was taken aback. He stared at Xu Ran in silence for a long moment before nodding firmly. "In that case, this old man thanks you."

Then, he asked curiously, "Why are there two?"

"I shouldn’t have to tell you who the other one is for, should I?"

Sixty years had passed, and the Evergreen Sword Saint, Zhang Zhentian, was still fighting. He had built a fearsome reputation, and the mere mention of his name struck terror into many hearts. The frequency of his battles had dwindled from several a day in the beginning, to one every few months, and then to one every few years.

Now, a full decade had passed since his last fight.

Back then, he had faced a siege by several prodigies who had made a great name for themselves on the New Domain Battlefield. The battle had raged for months. In the end, his opponents retreated in defeat, but Zhang Zhentian was left soaked in his own blood.

However, when his battle-hungry gaze swept over the onlookers, they all bowed their heads and slowly dispersed. No one dared to cross him.

And with that same imposing might, he sat silently at the forefront of the Profound Pure Sect’s battle lines.

He sat there for ten years.

No one challenged him again. His wounds remained as fresh as ever, as if he had never undergone any treatment.

Some said he was nurturing his Dao through battle, hoping to use the experience to break through to the Nascent Soul Stage.

If no one challenged him, his path would be cut short. Moreover, his old injuries would damage his Dao Foundation, and perhaps in time, he would simply collapse on his own, without a single blow being struck.

Hearing Xu Ran’s words, Flowing Clouds Master heaved a long sigh. That grandson of his had been a constant source of anxiety since the day he was born; not a single day had passed without him causing worry.

He then gave Xu Ran a solemn, clasped-fist salute. "This old man understands."

He did not say "thank you" again, because at this point, words were meaningless. A debt of this magnitude could only be repaid through action.

*

*

*

When Flowing Clouds Master had first proposed binding Xu Ran to one of the Evil Demon Companions, Xu Ran had refused. However, the master had forcefully overridden his refusal, insisting on it, which led to his current state.

Therefore, the leg he had lost was not, in truth, directly Xu Ran’s responsibility. Nevertheless, Xu Ran kept the matter etched in his memory, hoping Flowing Clouds Master could be restored to health.

Compared to Flowing Clouds Master’s leg, however, the arm Ye Xingchen had lost was Xu Ran’s direct responsibility.

After all, when they had offered to find the Awakening Liquid for him, he had not refused. And in the end, they had actually brought it back, and he had taken it.

One small vial of Awakening Liquid, with its negligible enhancement effects, had cost Wang Xingye and Hao Daniu their lives, and Ye Xingchen his arm.

The Profound Pure Sect had Healing Elixirs, but for some reason, after all these years, Ye Xingchen had never restored his arm. His cultivation had reached the Purple Mansion Stage, yet he remained one-armed.

When Xu Ran found Ye Xingchen and presented him with a Fifth-Grade Life Creation Pill, Ye Xingchen accepted the elixir in silence, without a word.

"Don’t you want to restore your arm?" Xu Ran asked, looking at Ye Xingchen, who stood ramrod straight and exuded a battle-hardened, iron-and-blood aura.

Ye Xingchen was silent for a moment. Instead of answering the question, he spoke softly, "Senior Brother Xu, did our Awakening Liquid help you?"

Xu Ran fell silent. He did not answer the question directly. Instead, he closed his eyes for a moment. When he opened them again, a profound and mysterious aura had enveloped the world around them.

Ye Xingchen stared blankly at Xu Ran. In that moment, he felt as if he were immersed in an ocean of life. A gentle warmth flowed through his heart, suffusing his entire body.

"What is this?" he asked, staring at Xu Ran in shock.

Xu Ran smiled faintly and replied softly, "Spring Warmth. It is also the warmth of all living things. It is precisely because of you, Xingye, Da Niu, and all the people I have met who have always treated me with kindness that I have been able to feel the warmth that comes from the human heart."

"The warmth you’ve all given me will become the wellspring for my path to proving the Dao."

"Xingchen, perhaps the me of this very moment is watching you from the future."

Ye Xingchen gave him a stunned look. Then, without another word, he consumed the Life Creation Pill.

"Senior Brother, I will walk this path with you."

He knew his Senior Brother’s words were a declaration of his attitude and determination in seeking the Dao. His reply was his own declaration of the same.

He had never dared hope he could prove the Dao himself, but that didn’t stop him from declaring his stance.