Watching the Mountain

Chapter 1: Chapter 1: Kowtowing to the Sect with White Hair

Xu Family Village.

Xu Ran gazed at the otherworldly woman in white before him, his expression a mixture of disappointment and unwillingness as he asked, ”Do I really have no aptitude for cultivation?”

The woman in white was named Yue Qingyu, and she was from the Profound Pure Sect.

Demon Beasts had appeared in the vicinity of Xu Family Village, and she had come on her sect’s orders to eliminate the threat.

After dealing with the Demon Beasts, she found their appearance in a place like Xu Family Village suspicious. For the safety of the village, she decided to stay temporarily to investigate the cause and ensure there were no lingering dangers before departing.

It was only today that Xu Ran had realized Cultivators actually existed in this world. Seizing the opportunity, he had approached Yue Qingyu to express his desire to cultivate.

Faced with Xu Ran’s request, Yue Qingyu did not refuse. Instead, she stepped forward to examine him, then shook her head and sighed. ”You are not suited for cultivation.”

In response to Xu Ran’s question, Yue Qingyu replied faintly, ”Your aptitude is a bit lacking, but that isn’t the main issue. The problem is that you lack a bit of Spirituality.”

”Spirituality?” Xu Ran was completely baffled.

Seeing his reaction, Yue Qingyu pondered for a moment before explaining, ”In layman’s terms, it’s Comprehension.”

”Comprehension?” A startled cry rang out, but this time it wasn’t from Xu Ran. It came from a round-faced young girl standing beside Yue Qingyu, her hair tied in two buns.

Her name was Xiaoque’Er, and she had come with Yue Qingyu.

Being about the same age as Xu Ran and naturally lively and active, she had quickly befriended him and they had started playing together during Yue Qingyu’s stay in Xu Family Village.

Relying on a few simple games from his past life, Xu Ran had quickly won himself a little fangirl.

It was also thanks to Xiaoque’Er that he had even managed to strike up a conversation with Yue Qingyu.

Although Yue Qingyu didn’t have the high-and-mighty attitude of looking down on mortals like ants that Xu Ran had imagined, she was just too otherworldly. Peerlessly elegant, she was like a Fairy from the Moon Palace, making it difficult for anyone to approach her.

If not for his connection with Xiaoque’Er, he wouldn’t have dared to ask her to recommend him for cultivation in the Profound Pure Sect.

After her cry of surprise, Xiaoque’Er immediately began to argue on behalf of Xu Ran, the omnipotent big brother in her eyes:

”Senior Sister, how could that be? Brother Xu is super smart! He can do anything, he knows everything! How could he not have Comprehension? It’s impossible! Senior Sister, you must have made a mistake.”

In a child’s eyes, the person who could show them all sorts of fun little games and bring them joy was the most amazing person in the world. It was as simple as that.

Xu Ran was also quite perplexed by this. If she had said he lacked the aptitude for cultivation, he could have understood.

’But to say I lack Spirituality, that I have no Comprehension... Isn’t that just a clear-cut way of brushing me off?’

Facing the puzzled gazes of Xu Ran and Xiaoque’Er, Yue Qingyu shook her head gently. ”Intelligence and Comprehension are two different things.”

After speaking, she fell silent for a moment, then looked at Xu Ran and continued, ”Alright. I’ll ask you a question. ’Sink your qi to your Dantian, guard your Purple Mansion with your will, and let your spirit roam the great void.’ How do you interpret that?”

The sudden question made Xu Ran pause for a moment. He thought for a short while before replying:

”It means to relax your whole body, focus your attention on your lower abdomen, clear your mind of all thoughts, and feel yourself merging with your surroundings.”

”’Draw in the essence of heaven and earth, circulate it through the microcosmic orbit, and transform qi into liquid.’ What about that one?”

”Absorb the essence of the heavens, earth, sun, and moon, circulate it within your body, and convert Spiritual Qi into your own Spiritual Power.”

Yue Qingyu proceeded to ask several more questions in a row, and Xu Ran answered them one by one.

After she finished, she tilted her head slightly, looked at Xiaoque’Er, and asked, ”Xiaoque’Er, what did you think of his answers?”

Upon hearing this, Xiaoque’Er’s eyes lit up. She gazed at Xu Ran with adoration and said, ”Brother Xu is amazing!”

Yue Qingyu nodded slightly, then let out a soft sigh and said to Xu Ran:

”This is your problem. You are too intelligent. At such a young age, you already have your own established worldview, more mature than many who have lived for half a lifetime.”

”If I hadn’t just examined your Divine Soul, I would have thought you were a reincarnator who had possessed this body.”

Hearing this, Xu Ran’s heart skipped a beat. ’Thankfully, my transmigration started from when I was a baby. Otherwise, my secret would have been discovered.’

Yue Qingyu then continued, ”But it is precisely because of this that you lack that spark of insight.”

”And that spark of insight is the very key to stepping through the gates of cultivation.”

Hearing this, Xu Ran’s heart sank. He was beginning to understand what Yue Qingyu meant. He had already formed his own rigid worldview; he understood everything, could comprehend anything, yet this very fact meant he was missing something crucial. He was unable to accept new concepts, and this had closed the gates of cultivation to him.

It sounded reasonable on the surface, but when he thought about it more deeply, it felt like utter nonsense. How could he be willing to give up on the path of cultivation for a reason like that?

”Fairy, you yourself said I’m very intelligent. In that case, can I make up for my lack of Spirituality through hard work and study?”

She looked at Xu Ran impassively. ”With your intelligence, you could succeed at anything you put your mind to. There’s no need to be so fixated on cultivation.”

This was as good as telling Xu Ran directly that cultivation was not his destiny in this life.

”But I still want to cultivate.”

At his side, Xiaoque’Er chimed in at the right moment, ”Senior Sister, please just help Brother Xu.”

Yue Qingyu glanced at Xiaoque’Er, then back at Xu Ran’s unwilling expression. After a moment of silence, she slowly began to speak: