Watching the Mountain

Xu Ran was deeply concerned that something bad would happen to Chen Chang’an. To his relief, however, after Chen Chang’an arrived on the battlefield, he unleashed his incredible power, a complete reversal of his previous win-one-lose-one style.

After arriving at the New Domain Battlefield, he never lost again. No opponent, no matter who they were, could evade his uncannily treacherous blade.

Nor had he suffered any serious injuries.

The news of his victories put Xu Ran’s mind at ease. ’As expected of Deceitful Blade Chen Chang’an, the man Ye Shan once said possessed half his own flair. He really is strong.’

Chen Chang’an’s arrival stabilized the situation for the Sect on the New Domain Battlefield. While the disciples of the Profound Pure Sect rejoiced, the other sects in the Cultivation Realm could only lament.

’When will it ever end with the Profound Pure Sect? The Evergreen Sword Saint just left, and now a Deceitful Blade has arrived. Do they have an endless supply of prodigies?’

’Chen Chang’an was famous before, but at least he wasn’t invincible. And now, what do you know? He’s become completely unbeatable.’

With Chen Chang’an holding down the fort on the New Domain Battlefield, Shen Wuchen continued his days of accepting challenges to earn Spirit Stones.

However, after the initial hype died down, fewer and fewer people came to challenge him, which troubled him to no end.

"Master Xu, what do you think I should do to get more people to challenge me?"

He went to Xu Ran for advice.

Xu Ran pondered for a moment before replying, "Everyone’s grown weary of it by now. If some event occurred that could capture everyone’s attention, it might rekindle their enthusiasm. For example, if someone broke through to the next stage mid-battle while fighting you."

"But something like that is too unpredictable. It relies on serendipity and can’t be sustained."

After thinking for another moment, he looked at Shen Wuchen and asked, "Are you that short on Spirit Stones?"

Shen Wuchen nodded. "At the Nascent Soul Stage, every cultivation session consumes a staggering amount of Spirit Stones. If I don’t rely on them, my cultivation speed will slow down considerably. I want to reach the Divinity Transformation Stage as soon as possible to defeat Senior Brother Zhang."

Xu Ran nodded and pondered with a frown for a long while. "It’s not that there isn’t a way... You could actually establish yourself as a benchmark."

"A benchmark for what?" Shen Wuchen asked, his face full of curiosity.

Xu Ran smiled faintly. "Here’s the idea: the next time someone challenges you, after you defeat them, evaluate them publicly."

"The standard for evaluation will be how long they last against you. You’ll rate them as Grade A, B, C, or D prodigies based on that."

After a moment of thought, Shen Wuchen understood the reasoning behind the plan. His expression lit up with excitement as he said, "I understand."

*

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*

Before Xu Ran could hear about Shen Wuchen’s new rating system, however, something else occurred.

The Sect had erected two enormous statues outside its main gate, near the spot where Shen Wuchen had previously fought his challengers.

They were hundreds of zhang tall, like great mountains piercing the clouds.

The statues depicted none other than Sword Dao Ye Shan and Master Vermilion Bird, Ning Xiyue.

When Xu Ran saw Little Xiyue’s statue, he felt a surge of pride, but also a twinge of confusion. ’Why would the Sect suddenly decide to erect these two statues?’

’It’s been so long. They hadn’t done it before, so why do it now?’

At that moment, all the members of the Profound Pure Sect, led by Sect Leader Taihua True Monarch, were solemnly paying their respects to the statues of Ye Shan and Little Xiyue.

Standing beside Xu Ran was Qing Xuan True Monarch.

After they paid their respects, Qing Xuan True Monarch chuckled at Xu Ran’s puzzled expression.

"This was proposed by one of the Sect’s Elders. He said those people who came to challenge Wuchen True Monarch were far too arrogant. By placing these two statues here, anyone who comes, no matter who they are, will have to pay their respects first."

"It’s also a way to remind the Cultivation Realm of our Sect’s contributions. And equally important, it’s so that people don’t forget Sword Dao Ye Shan and Master Vermilion Bird, and remember everything they did for us."

Xu Ran nodded thoughtfully. ’He’s probably right,’ he thought. ’This must be related to the recent situation in the New Domain.’

’The Sect has been facing a lot of pressure in the New Domain lately. It’s about time we reminded the Cultivation Realm that Sword Dao Ye Shan and Master Vermilion Bird were from our Profound Pure Sect, and that they once saved the Cultivation Realm from a hidden crisis.’

"Uncle Xu, in the future... will no one remember my mother?"

Ye Shu suddenly posed this question to Xu Ran on their way back from paying respects to the statues of Ye Shan and Little Xiyue.

Xu Ran was taken aback for a moment. Looking at Ye Shu’s expression, he could guess what the boy was thinking.

’Ye Shu knew about his mother’s feelings for Ye Shan. Seeing Little Xiyue’s statue next to Ye Shan’s, and not one of his mother, he must wish the Little Witch’s statue could be there instead.’

After a moment of silence, Xu Ran asked, "Do you really want everyone to remember your mother?"

Ye Shu nodded. "Before my mother passed away, she said that my father would certainly be remembered by the world forever. But since they were never married, she wondered if people would remember that she was his Dao Companion when they spoke of him."

’Back then, the Little Witch hadn’t yet experienced her friendship with Zhao Wuyang and Liu Yunge,’ Xu Ran recalled. ’Her heart belonged only to Ye Shan, so it was natural for her to have such thoughts.’

After another moment of silence, Xu Ran said, "Your father’s single sword strike saved this world. It’s easy for people to forget a person, but it is nearly impossible for them to forget your father."

"If, one day, you also become a great hero like your father, then when people mention you, they will also mention him. And then, they will mention your mother, too."

Ye Shu nodded thoughtfully at his words. Then, he gave Xu Ran a solemn bow and said nothing more.

As he watched the boy’s retreating back, Xu Ran wondered if it was right to set such a lofty goal for him. ’But then again,’ he recalled, ’the Little Witch always taught Ye Shu to become an upright and indomitable man.’

’So, it should be fine... right?’

*

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*

After Zhang Zhentian went into seclusion for his breakthrough, Xu Ran was certain he would be the Sect’s next cultivator to reach the Nascent Soul Stage.

He wasn’t the only one who thought so; everyone in the Sect, and even most people in the Cultivation Realm, felt the same way.

However, the first to break through wasn’t him. It was Chen Chang’an, far away on the New Domain Battlefield.

True to his reputation as an unconventional prodigy, not only did Chen Chang’an avoid the disaster Xu Ran had feared, but he did the exact opposite. In the heat of battle, he broke through to the Nascent Soul stage right on the spot, summoned his heavenly tribulation, and successfully ascended to become a Nascent Soul True Monarch in front of a stunned crowd.

This development took everyone by surprise. Most had assumed the one to break through in the middle of a battle would be the Evergreen Sword Saint. Yet he had done no such thing, opting instead to dutifully return to the Sect for his seclusion.

In the end, the one to break through mid-combat was Deceitful Blade Chen Chang’an, a figure who had been gradually fading from the public eye.

The day after Chen Chang’an’s breakthrough, news came that the Evergreen Sword Saint had also broken through.

And so, of the Profound Pure Sect’s four great prodigies of that generation, two had now broken through: Deceitful Blade Chen Chang’an and the Evergreen Sword Saint. The only exception was the Little Witch, Ye Qingxue, who had perished during her own failed attempt.

This made everyone in the Cultivation Realm all the more curious about the fourth prodigy, Yue Qingyu, who had yet to make an appearance.

Many began to speculate. ’Could she be on her way to becoming the next Ye Shan?’