Watching the Mountain

"This shows that my path is the correct one. As long as my cultivation stays ahead of Senior Brother Zhang’s, I’ll be able to defeat him sooner or later."

After he finished speaking, he couldn’t help but add with feeling, "This was the most satisfying battle I’ve had since I began cultivating. It’s the first time I’ve ever fought for so long. Even though I lost, it was exhilarating."

There was a faint hint of excitement in his eyes. His previous fights had always ended quickly—either his opponent swiftly defeated him, or he easily crushed a weaker foe.

The most hard-fought battle he’d ever had was against Ye Qingyue during the grand tournament between the sects.

This battle with Senior Brother Zhang, the Evergreen Sword Saint, was the first time he had ever truly experienced the joy of combat.

Xu Ran stared at him with an odd expression upon hearing this. ’My word, this student of mine has an incredible mindset. Before, when he was at the Golden Core stage fighting another Golden Core, he lost quickly. Now, as a Nascent Soul cultivator fighting a Golden Core, he lasted a month, and he takes that as proof that he’s gotten stronger.’

’But does that really need proving? Doesn’t everyone know that the Nascent Soul Stage is stronger than the Golden Core Stage?’

’Still, this is good,’ Xu Ran thought. ’It saves me the trouble of having to console him. In fact, I rather admire this kind of mentality.’

"Then cultivate diligently. Once you reach the Nascent Soul Middle Stage, you’ll surely be able to defeat the Evergreen Sword Saint."

Xu Ran offered a word of encouragement.

Shen Wuchen shook his head. "There won’t be a chance. Senior Brother Zhang told me that he can already see the path to the Nascent Soul Stage. He’ll probably break through before long. I’ll just have to wait until I reach the Divinity Transformation Stage to fight him when he’s at the Nascent Soul Stage."

Hearing this, Xu Ran couldn’t help but feel happy for Zhang Zhentian. True Monarch Flowing Clouds was constantly worried about his grandson; he would surely be relieved to hear this news.

"Then are you confident you can reach the Divinity Transformation Stage?"

In response to Xu Ran’s question, Shen Wuchen nodded with absolute certainty. "Rest assured, Master Xu. I will not let you down."

Hearing his student’s words, Xu Ran felt completely at ease. He offered a few more words of encouragement, and then Shen Wuchen took his leave.

After Shen Wuchen departed, Yue Qingyu emerged from her private cultivation chamber.

She gazed in the direction Shen Wuchen had gone and commented, "I’ve met that student of yours. He’s quite impressive."

Hearing Yue Qingyu’s praise, Xu Ran felt a swell of pride. He then asked, "Senior Sister, do you think he can make it to the Divinity Transformation Stage?"

Yue Qingyu mused for a moment before replying, "His chances are very high, but..."

Xu Ran trusted his Senior Sister Yue’s judgment. If she said so, then it was almost certain. Her hesitation, however, piqued his curiosity. "But what?"

After a moment of silence, Yue Qingyu shook her head. "It’s nothing. I just feel his current strength is a bit lacking."

Xu Ran glanced at her doubtfully. He had a feeling that wasn’t what she truly meant, but since she was unwilling to elaborate, he didn’t press the issue.

"Starting tomorrow, please add another two barrels of Spirit Rice to my daily portion."

"Senior Sister, has your cultivation broken through?" Xu Ran was stunned for a second before he realized the implication and hurriedly offered his congratulations. "Congratulations!"

"Something like that," Yue Qingyu said with a faint smile. "I’ll have to trouble you, Junior Brother."

*

*

*

「One month after the battle between Shen Wuchen and the Evergreen Sword Saint」

On that day, Xu Ran received a message from Spirit Stream Peak. Someone bearing his token had arrived, looking for him.

The moment he heard the news, he instantly thought of the descendants of Wang Xingye and Hao Daniu.

He had told them to go to Spirit Stream Peak when he left the tokens, so it was only natural that they would end up there.

And indeed, things were just as he had expected. When he arrived at Spirit Stream Peak, he saw two people holding his tokens.

They were a young man and a young woman.

The man looked to be in his early twenties. Dressed in shimmering gold clothes, he had a rather frivolous air about him.

The young woman wore a simple dress and had a gentle, graceful temperament. She looked to be only fifteen or sixteen.

Seeing them arrive together, Xu Ran initially assumed they were family, but after asking, he realized he was mistaken.

The young man was named Wang Zhenye, and he came from Wang Family Village.

The young woman was named Hao Miaomiao, a descendant from Hao Daniu’s brother’s line.

Xu Ran was surprised to learn their identities. The two of them lived a great distance from each other, yet they had unexpectedly arrived on the very same day.

’Perhaps this is...’

"This is fate! It seems we were destined to meet, young lady."

Before the thought could even fully form in Xu Ran’s mind, the frivolous-looking Wang Zhenye exclaimed loudly, then shot a suggestive look at Hao Miaomiao.

Xu Ran frowned at the sight.

’I’ve been to Wang Family Village with Little Xiyue before. The people there were simple and honest. How could a place like that produce someone like him?’

His first impression of Wang Zhenye was not a good one.

Hao Miaomiao, on the other hand, simply shot Wang Zhenye a cool glance in response to his flirting, her expression impassive, and made no other reaction.

Xu Ran nodded slightly at this. Contrast certainly made things clear. His impression of Hao Miaomiao, for example, was now exceptionally good.

But regardless of his personal impressions, since they had both come to him with the tokens he had left, he certainly wouldn’t go back on his promise because of a first impression.

Both had come seeking to cultivate. They were past the usual age for new disciples in the Cultivation Realm and couldn’t join a sect through the normal channels, which was why they had sought him out.

Xu Ran agreed to their request without the slightest hesitation. With his current status, arranging for them to join the Sect was a simple matter.

As he led the two of them toward Qing Xuan Peak, Xu Ran asked out of curiosity, "Why have you both decided to start cultivating at this age?"

Hearing his question, the forward-natured Wang Zhenye was the first to reply. "Because I never thought about cultivating before. You should be familiar with the rules in our Wang Family Village. I only recently remembered this opportunity."

"Oh? Why the sudden change of heart?"

Wang Zhenye sighed. "I used to be quite fond of Widow Wang, who lived next door. She was stunning. But a few days ago, I suddenly realized she’s grown old and faded. She’s lost the allure she once had."

"Oh? So you want to cultivate so you can make her young again?" Xu Ran asked, curious.

"No." Wang Zhenye shook his head. "Seeing her change, I suddenly realized that if I just keep going like this, my own carefree days are numbered. I’ll get old too, and then I won’t be able to live this life of leisure and pleasure anymore."

"A mortal’s life is just too fragile. That’s why I want to cultivate. I was even willing to be disowned by my clan for it. I want to become a cultivator and live a life of pleasure forever. That’s my goal."

’To feel the fragility of life and decide to walk the path of cultivation all because a widow he fancied got old.’

Xu Ran didn’t know what to make of it, but he could sense the young man’s unshakeable resolve to pursue the Dao.

"And you?" he asked, turning to Hao Miaomiao.

Hearing his question, Hao Miaomiao gave him a slight bow and, in a soft, gentle voice, began to recount her story.

It turned out that her beloved aunt, who had doted on her, had been struck by a sudden, terrible illness and passed away at a young age. She thought that if she had been a cultivator who had mastered Daoist Techniques, she might have been able to prevent such a tragedy.

The loss of her aunt made her feel the fragility of life. Having experienced the grief of losing a loved one, she never wanted to see such a tragedy happen again.

That was why she wanted to cultivate—to learn Daoist Techniques so she could travel the mortal world, healing the sick and saving lives, and prevent others from having to experience the same grief she had.

After hearing both of their answers, Xu Ran found the situation rather fascinating.

Both of them had decided to embark on the path of cultivation after being confronted with the fragility of life.

One, however, did it for himself, seeking eternal pleasure and a carefree existence.

The other did it for the sake of all people, hoping to rid the world of disease.

This made him curious. He couldn’t help but wonder how far these two would ultimately go, and which of them would go farther.