Watching the Mountain

Yue Qingyu shook her head. "If I were to give the Dao I’ve shed directly to Xiyue all at once, she would simply become a second version of me. Not only would that not help her grow, it would become a shackle holding back her development."

"Therefore, I must first erase my imprints from it, bit by bit, leaving only the purest Dao for her."

After hearing Yue Qingyu’s explanation, Xu Ran was taken aback for a moment. He couldn’t help but marvel internally, ’As expected of Senior Sister Yue. So meticulous, gentle, and considerate.’

"Won’t this affect your cultivation, Senior Sister?" he asked hesitantly. The debt of gratitude to both Little Xiyue and himself was simply too great.

Yue Qingyu gently shook her head. "Rebuilding my cultivation doesn’t mean I have to completely abandon my past Dao. For me, this process is also a form of cultivation."

Hearing her say this, Xu Ran felt relieved. He said no more polite refusals, instead telling her to focus on her cultivation with peace of mind. If there was anything at all he could do to help, she only needed to ask.

At his words, Yue Qingyu pondered for a moment before saying, "I have now dispersed my cultivation and need to rebuild it and my physique. If it’s not too much trouble, would you mind bringing me some Spirit Rice from the cafeteria every day?"

She then added, "Compared to elixirs, the effects of Spirit Rice are purer. Its spirituality is gentle, and it doesn’t have side effects like elixir toxins, making it more suitable."

Xu Ran smiled at her words. "Is that all? No problem. I can cook, so just leave it to me. Senior Sister, just tell me how much you need, and I’ll make it."

Yue Qingyu didn’t stand on ceremony and replied softly, "Three buckets of Spirit Rice a day, then. Thank you for your trouble, Junior Brother."

Upon hearing that amount, the expression on Xu Ran’s face stiffened unnaturally for a second. His eyes swept over Yue Qingyu’s slender, graceful figure.

He quickly concealed his surprise, however, nodding in agreement. "Alright. Please wait a moment, Senior Sister. I’ll go make it for you right now."

*

*

*

Before this, Xu Ran had been worried that Yue Qingyu might feel uncomfortable or unable to eat freely in his home.

A woman faced with three wooden buckets, each thicker than her own waist, would surely be a bit self-conscious about eating so much in front of someone else.

He was even wondering if he should give her some privacy.

But clearly, he had been overthinking things.

After he served the three buckets of Spirit Rice along with a few side dishes he prided himself on, Yue Qingyu began to eat, her expression serene.

She ate incredibly quickly, even faster than the time Ye Shan had wolfed down his food. But compared to Ye Shan’s disheveled state, her movements were exceedingly elegant.

Watching her eat was somehow a tranquil experience, almost like a form of art.

Xu Ran could see it, too. In Senior Sister Yue’s mind, this wasn’t just eating; it was a form of cultivation.

For someone seeking the Dao, why would they care if an act of cultivation affected their image?

"You mentioned before that my aura might give away my identity. What do you think I should do to better match my current appearance?"

In a pause between bites, Yue Qingyu suddenly looked at Xu Ran and asked.

Xu Ran was slightly taken aback. His gaze fell upon Yue Qingyu, studying her for a moment before he said thoughtfully:

"Senior Sister, your current appearance is a disguise to look like an ordinary person. Therefore, your actions and mannerisms should naturally match that appearance."

"The way you carry yourself now definitely won’t do. You have to rein in your aura. Otherwise, no matter how plain your facial features are, anyone who looks at you will still see a transcendent Fairy."

"And it’s not just your facial features. Other aspects need to be disguised, too. Have you ever seen an ordinary-looking person with skin as smooth as cream, a flawless complexion, and a slender, graceful figure like yours?"

"If you want to be ordinary, then everything about you needs to be ordinary. Your features, your figure, your aura—they all have to change."

Yue Qingyu frowned, pondering his words seriously for a moment. ’So my disguise has that many flaws?’

Then, she looked at Xu Ran and gave a slight nod. "I understand. Thank you for your advice, Junior Brother."

Xu Ran waved his hand dismissively. He then stared at Yue Qingyu for a moment before asking with some hesitation:

"Senior Sister, that cultivation technique you have that can change one’s appearance and aura... is it a Secret Technique?"

Seeing his reaction, Yue Qingyu smiled faintly and asked, "Do you want to learn it?"

Xu Ran nodded. "Yes."

Yue Qingyu nodded slightly. "I created it myself. Since you want to learn, I’ll teach it to you."

"Thank you, Senior Sister!" Xu Ran was overjoyed.

’For a Longevity Seeker, a Secret Technique that can conceal one’s identity is indispensable. It’s a shame I never found one in the Scripture Pavilion.’

’I was just worrying about having regained my youthful appearance, but now, with Senior Sister Yue’s Secret Technique, that’s no longer a concern.’

Overjoyed, Xu Ran praised her inwardly. ’As expected of Senior Sister Yue! She always shows up just when I need her, solving my problems and bringing pleasant surprises.’

Yue Qingyu waved her hand, signaling that he didn’t need to thank her. Then she looked at him and said softly,

"Speaking of which, I haven’t guided you at all in your cultivation since you joined the sect. While I’m here for the next few years, feel free to ask me if you run into any problems. I’d be glad if I can help."

Xu Ran was taken aback. "But, Senior Sister, you’ve only just started rebuilding your cultivation..."

He wanted to tell her to focus on her own cultivation and not waste her time on him, but before he could finish speaking, Yue Qingyu cut him off with a wave of her hand.

"It’s no matter. As I’ve said, for me in my current state, this is also a form of cultivation."

Since she put it that way, Xu Ran stopped being polite and directly asked about some of the issues he had been facing.

Yue Qingyu patiently answered each of his questions.

Moreover, Xu Ran discovered that she seemed aware of his difficulties with comprehension. Each time she answered, she would explain things in terms he could understand, as if her answers were tailor-made for him.

She was the first person since Teacher Qing Xuan whose teachings he could grasp instantly.

But unlike Teacher Qing Xuan, it was Senior Sister Yue’s thoughtfulness that made her answers so easy for him to understand.

*

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*

Coincidentally, on the second day of Senior Sister Yue’s stay, Ye Shu met her and exchanged greetings. Afterward, he told Xu Ran that he had made some progress in his cultivation lately and was preparing to enter seclusion to consolidate his gains and attempt a breakthrough to the Foundation Establishment Stage.

Xu Ran knew Ye Shu was a sensitive person and felt he was likely overthinking the situation, which was why he was making a point of this.

Xu Ran even went out of his way to explain that Ye Shu didn’t need to worry so much, that Yue Qingyu’s presence shouldn’t be a bother, and that as a pure seeker of the Dao, Senior Sister Yue wouldn’t pay his presence any mind.

But Ye Shu told Xu Ran with great earnestness that he wasn’t overthinking things—he truly was going into seclusion to break through to the Foundation Establishment Stage.

Seeing the earnest look on his face, Xu Ran didn’t think he was lying. So, he went and redeemed ten Foundation Establishment Pills, placing them in Ye Shu’s hands.

’With Ye Shu’s aptitude, one or two Foundation Establishment Pills definitely wouldn’t be enough.’ Even as he handed over the ten pills, he reminded him to ask for more if they ran out.

This time, Ye Shu did not refuse. He accepted the Foundation Establishment Pills, gave Xu Ran a solemn bow, and said, "Thank you for your care, Uncle Xu," before heading into seclusion.

Life with Yue Qingyu was peaceful and simple. Every day, she worked on infusing the pure Dao for Xiyue, and every day, Xu Ran cooked for her.

In the pauses between meals, the two of them would chat. If Xu Ran had any questions about his cultivation, she would offer him some guidance.

Beyond that, they didn’t interact much. Xu Ran knew his Senior Sister was a seeker of the Dao and didn’t dare disturb her cultivation, especially since he also had to work hard on his own training every day.

For a cultivator, being able to train at one’s own pace, undisturbed by people or events, was a fortunate and blissful thing.

Half a year passed just like that. Shen Wuchen told Xu Ran that he felt he had now fully adapted to his Nascent Soul Stage cultivation. The sparring and exchanges he’d had with his fellow sect members during this period had also given him sufficient confidence.

He was ready now. He would set out to find the Evergreen Sword Saint immediately.