Watching the Mountain

After Yue Qingyu confirmed her identity, Xu Ran opened the gate to his Cave Mansion.

As they spoke, Yue Qingyu walked inside naturally, without the slightest hesitation.

Upon hearing Yue Qingyu’s reason for re-cultivating, a flash of admiration passed through his heart. Although she had seen a higher and more distant path, not just anyone would have the decisiveness and courage to start all over again.

Especially since she had already reached the threshold of the Nascent Soul realm and could break through at any moment. Perhaps after breaking through, she would have been able to see that higher and more distant path anyway.

After entering Xu Ran’s Cave Mansion, Yue Qingyu began to look around.

Meanwhile, Xu Ran led her deeper inside, chatting casually as they walked.

"Senior Sister, were you looking for a specific Cultivation Technique in the Scripture Pavilion just now? I’m very familiar with the Scripture Pavilion. If there are any scriptures, classics, Cultivation Techniques, or Magic Techniques you want to find, you can just tell me."

"It seems your years in the Scripture Pavilion have been quite fulfilling." Yue Qingyu smiled faintly, then shook her head.

"But there’s no need. I was simply interested in the Heart Method that Senior Qing Xuan created himself. I only went to the Scripture Pavilion after getting his permission."

"I see." Xu Ran replied, realization dawning on him.

After inviting Yue Qingyu to take a seat, Xu Ran served a pot of fine Spirit Tea.

But it was obvious Yue Qingyu hadn’t come here just to chat. After quickly drinking a cup of Spirit Tea, she looked at Xu Ran and asked:

"Where is Xiyue? I came here to find her."

Xu Ran was about to explain when she spoke first, "I know her condition. Junior Brother Ye said he was worried you might dig up his grave in the future, so he told me a few things afterward. He said that if you got truly angry, I should try to talk some sense into you."

"I’ve come this time to give the dao I shed to Xiyue."

"Junior Brother Ye said that in Xiyue’s current state, the more she comprehends before breaking out of her shell, the greater the help it will be for her future cultivation."

Hearing this, Xu Ran was slightly taken aback. He fell silent for a moment, then raised his hands and bowed slightly to Yue Qingyu. "Then, on Xiyue’s behalf, I thank you, Senior Sister."

Yue Qingyu smiled softly. "Don’t forget, not only is Xiyue your disciple, she is also Xiaoque’Er’s child."

Xu Ran was stunned again. ’Senior Sister Yue once said she would always remember Xiaoque’Er, and just as she said, she has never forgotten that little sister of hers.’

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*

After seeing the Phoenix Egg, Yue Qingyu reached out a slender, jade-white finger to gently stroke it. Her expression was a little complicated as she remarked with a sigh,

"I always believed that Junior Brother Ye Shan could get back on his feet. Perhaps he could have broken through to the Nascent Soul realm in one go, or even leaped to Divinity Transformation. It wouldn’t have been impossible."

"But... I still underestimated him. That sword strike... I never expected it."

Xu Ran studied her expression, and after a moment of contemplation, he asked her, "Didn’t Senior Brother Ye Shan tell you what he was planning to do, Senior Sister?"

Yue Qingyu shook her head. "No. If I had known, I would have certainly stopped him. Him being alive is more important than him vanishing after just one brilliant sword strike."

"Then..." Xu Ran wanted to say more, but seeing his reaction, Yue Qingyu at his side said:

"I don’t know why he did it either. Many people say it wasn’t worth it, but I believe he must have had his reasons."

"He had already reached the state of Heart Melt Heaven and Earth. He could see many things that we cannot."

As she spoke, she looked at Xu Ran and asked softly, "Junior Brother, didn’t you notice? In his final days, Junior Brother Ye Shan seemed a bit rushed."

"Perhaps, at that time, he had already reached a point where he had no choice but to unleash that sword strike. Otherwise, something he didn’t want to see might have happened. It’s just that we don’t know what that something was."

"This..." After hearing Yue Qingyu’s explanation, Xu Ran’s expression froze.

He carefully searched his memories. It seemed it really was just as Senior Sister Yue had described. In the time leading up to that final sword strike, both Senior Brother Ye Shan and Little Xiyue had seemed extremely rushed, almost as if something was chasing them.

But they never said anything, which is why no one could make heads or tails of it or understand why he suddenly did what he did.

Ye Shan had said he wasn’t interested in the conspiracies of the Evil Demon Race and Phoenix Race. He only wanted to test his sword against them and send them to their deaths.

And yet, he seemed to have unknowingly averted a great crisis for the Cultivation Realm.

’Senior Sister Yue really is in a class of her own. She sees things so clearly.’

Xu Ran sighed with emotion internally. He then saw Yue Qingyu slowly close her eyes. Her jade-like finger gently touched the Phoenix Egg, and a profound aura flowed from her fingertip into the egg.

After that profound aura dissipated, the Phoenix Egg trembled slightly. A halo of light spread out, and both Xu Ran and Yue Qingyu could feel a sense of gratitude coming from Little Xiyue.

"Thank you for your hard work, Senior Sister." Xu Ran raised his hands and bowed slightly to Yue Qingyu.

Yue Qingyu gently shook her head. She glanced around the secret chamber, then looked at Xu Ran and said:

"From now on, I will impart my comprehensions to Xiyue every day. The entire process will take about three to five years. For the foreseeable future, I’ll cultivate here in your secret chamber."

Hearing this, Xu Ran looked at her in astonishment, his tone filled with surprise.

"Every day? Senior Sister, didn’t you just impart your comprehensions to Xiyue?"