Watching the Mountain

When Xu Ran heard the news, his heart sank. His first thought was: ’This is impossible!’

’Zhang Zhentian lost to Qin Yufeng?’

’No matter how you looked at it, the idea was just too absurd. How long had it been since Qin Yufeng broke through to the Purple Mansion Stage?’

’Zhang Zhentian, on the other hand, had been at it for decades. His Cultivation was already at Purple Mansion, and he was probably not far from the Golden Core Stage.’

’Besides, he was hailed as an invincible existence below the Golden Core Stage. On the Evil Demon Battlefield, he had faced Core Formation Stage experts from the Evil Demon Race and Phoenix Race several times without a single defeat.’

’And *that* Zhang Zhentian had actually lost to Qin Yufeng, who had only just broken through to the Purple Mansion Stage not long ago?’

Yet, the facts were the facts. Many people had witnessed their battle firsthand.

The two fought for half a day before Zhang Zhentian was defeated. Afterward, riding the momentum of his victory, Qin Yufeng departed gracefully under everyone’s gaze, disappearing without a trace.

Zhang Zhentian, once famous for suppressing the Evil Demon Race and Phoenix Race, had now become a stepping stone for Qin Yufeng’s fame.

After this battle, Qin Yufeng’s name spread through the Cultivation Realm like a hurricane. Before, he had no reputation and was merely seen as a remnant of the Flame Sun Sect—a stray dog in the eyes of others.

Many were shocked, never imagining that the already annihilated Flame Sun Sect could produce such a peerless prodigy.

This was the Evergreen Sword Saint they were talking about, an existence who made the Evil Demon Race and Phoenix Race grit their teeth in hatred. Whether facing them or the prodigies of his own generation in the Cultivation Realm, he had suppressed all in his path, never once tasting defeat.

And now, he had actually lost to him.

Many sighed endlessly, thinking that the old ancestor of the Flame Sun Sect had been far too foolish. With such a prodigy in their Sect, why did he need to risk everything by doing... that?

If he had just waited quietly for two or three hundred years, perhaps Qin Yufeng would have fully matured, and the Flame Sun Sect would never have faced the risk of annihilation.

Even more people lamented Qin Yufeng’s misfortune. To think he was born into the Flame Sun Sect! If he had been born into any other Sect, he might have become as famous throughout the Cultivation Realm as the Evergreen Sword Saint long ago.

Now, what a pity.

However, after defeating Zhang Zhentian, Qin Yufeng vanished completely. No one saw him again, much to the disappointment of the many who wished to witness his legendary style for themselves.

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After Xu Ran accepted the fact that Zhang Zhentian had been defeated, he suddenly recalled something Flowing Clouds Master had told him years ago.

He had asked whether, if Zhang Zhentian were to be defeated one day, he could accept it as calmly as Shen Wuchen had.

The moment that thought surfaced, his heart lurched. He rushed off to find Zhang Zhentian, unable to wait a second longer.

However, he breathed a sigh of relief to find that Zhang Zhentian showed no sign of dejection. He was acting just as he always did.

In response to Xu Ran’s concern, he just smiled faintly and said,

"Don’t worry, Senior Brother. It was just one loss; I haven’t taken it to heart. How many powerful experts have walked their path without ever experiencing failure?"

"I’m no different. This defeat just proves that I still have shortcomings. My opponent isn’t Qin Yufeng; he will not become my Heart Demon. What I must do is conquer myself, surpass myself, and become stronger, so that I will fear no opponent in the future."

"That is true strength."

Hearing Zhang Zhentian say this, Xu Ran finally felt relieved.

The fact that he could say such words proved that he truly hadn’t allowed this defeat to become an obstacle in his path. Instead, he had transformed it into motivation, filling him with fighting spirit to become even stronger.

He thought of his argument with Ye Shan a few days prior, and now he felt even more confident.

A man like Zhang Zhentian, who could calmly accept defeat and turn it into motivation, would absolutely grow into a truly powerful expert.

Xu Ran looked at Zhang Zhentian with a gratified expression, then asked with some curiosity,

"So, what’s the deal with that Qin Yufeng? I’ve had contact with him before, and in my memory, he didn’t seem this powerful."

Hearing this, Zhang Zhentian fell silent. He pondered for a moment before shaking his head and saying,

"I can’t say for sure. I just felt that his state was a bit strange. The one who fought me didn’t seem to be the real him. But I also asked people from the other Major Sects who were watching the battle, and they said that based on his performance, it didn’t look like he had been possessed."

"Not possessed, but in a strange state?" Xu Ran was taken aback. "Could it be that someone else’s Divine Soul is parasitically attached to him or something?"

Zhang Zhentian was slightly stunned by the question. After a moment’s thought, he shook his head. "That’s even more impossible. If it had been someone else’s Divine Soul I was fighting, it would have definitely shown."

"But when I fought him, I could feel that both his Divine Soul and his Spiritual Power were genuinely his own."

He shook his head again as he spoke. ’Perhaps the feeling that I wasn’t fighting the real him was just my imagination.’

Since Zhang Zhentian had no leads regarding Qin Yufeng, Xu Ran saw no point in pressing the matter further.

Seeing that Zhang Zhentian was otherwise fine, he offered a few words of encouragement and left, his mind at ease.

Over the next few days, Xu Ran often saw other disciples stopping Zhang Zhentian on the path to offer some encouragement:

"Evergreen Sword Saint, don’t worry about that loss. It’s just one defeat, nothing to make a big deal about. You’ll just have to beat him next time."

"That’s right, Senior Brother Zhang! It’s just one measly loss. We all believe in you. The next time you face that Qin Yufeng guy, you’ll definitely defeat him."

Whenever faced with his fellow disciples’ encouragement, Zhang Zhentian would offer a warm smile in response to each of them, saying:

"Thank you all for your trust. Rest assured, everyone. I will remember this defeat and use it to spur on my Cultivation. I will absolutely not let you down."

"I, Zhang Zhentian, swear an oath here and now: a defeat like this will never happen a second time."

The disciples would cheer in response, "We believe in you!"

Witnessing this, Xu Ran also revealed a relieved smile. It seemed the disciples of the Profound Pure Sect were more forgiving toward Zhang Zhentian than he had imagined.

At least, in all this time, he had never witnessed any unfriendly encounters.

Everyone showed their most friendly side when they interacted with Zhang Zhentian.

When he saw Zhang Zhentian, he couldn’t help but remark with a sigh, "This is so much better than what Senior Brother Ye Shan went through back then."

Who would have thought that just as the words left his mouth, Zhang Zhentian would clench his fists and say in a low voice, "That’s because, in everyone’s mind, Ye Shan never needed comforting."

"This..." Hearing this, Xu Ran’s expression froze. For a moment, he was speechless.

Just then, Zhang Zhentian turned his head, a serious expression on his face as he said to Xu Ran,

"Senior Brother, I came this time to say goodbye. My recent defeat made me realize I still have many shortcomings. The Sect is currently organizing a pioneering expedition to the New Domain, and I’ve already signed up. I hope to use this opportunity to temper myself and become stronger."

Xu Ran was slightly taken aback. It seemed like every time Zhang Zhentian came to find him, it was to say goodbye.

Before, it was the Evil Demon Battlefield.

This time, it was for the pioneering expedition.

But, the last time Zhang Zhentian came to say goodbye, he went on to become the Evergreen Sword Saint, famous throughout the Cultivation Realm.

’Surely, this time will be no different.’

He looked at Zhang Zhentian, nodded lightly, and said, "Take care."

"You too, Senior Brother. Take care."

Zhang Zhentian nodded, then silently turned and walked away.