Watching the Mountain

Chapter 12: Chapter 9: Confronting Life and Death, Fighting for Pride

Ye Shan’s eyes widened, a look of keen interest on his face.

Xu Ran felt quite helpless about this. He knew Ye Shan wasn’t here to mock him. ’Still, isn’t it a bit tactless to show such blatant interest in my moment of failure right to my face?’

However, the thought of the Fourth Grade Elixir Ye Shan had tossed him last time made him pause. After a moment of silence, Xu Ran nodded and replied:

”It’s true. I did lose.”

Ye Shan’s interest was instantly piqued. He stroked his chin and circled Xu Ran twice, staring at him with a curious expression. He clicked his tongue in wonder, as if he’d discovered some strange new object.

His behavior left Xu Ran completely bewildered. ”Senior Brother Ye, what are you doing?”

Ye Shan waved his hand. ”Nothing, I’m just looking.”

”Looking at what?”

”At you.”

”Is there something interesting about me?”

Ye Shan nodded vigorously, his expression firm as he replied:

”Junior Brother, you should know this. I was born a genius. After I began cultivating, most of the people I came into contact with were also geniuses.

”So, when it comes to someone like you, Junior Brother, I’m genuinely curious. How do you usually cultivate?”

”Er...” Xu Ran’s expression stiffened. He felt that while Ye Shan’s talent was immense, his emotional intelligence was severely lacking.

It had been like this before, too. Even knowing there was no malice in his words, it was still infuriating.

’They were both heaven’s favored, but look at Yue Qingyu. She was so gentle, considerate, and thoughtful about everything.’

As he was thinking, Ye Shan, who stood opposite him, suddenly slapped his forehead and said eagerly, ”Oh, right! Junior Brother, can I follow you around and cultivate with you for the next few days?”

He quickly explained, ”I’m just really curious about how you usually cultivate. Don’t worry, I won’t let you be at a disadvantage. As compensation, how about I teach you a swordsmanship I created myself?”

”A swordsmanship you created yourself?” Xu Ran stared at Ye Shan in shock, his mind reeling. He knew Ye Shan was a genius, but he never imagined he had already reached the stage of creating his own swordsmanship.

’The gap between us is just too vast.’

Seeing Xu Ran’s reaction, Ye Shan said proudly, ”That’s right. I used my own swordsmanship to defeat several fellow disciples yesterday. What do you think? Want to learn it?”

”Uh...” Xu Ran was naturally tempted, but then he froze. With a somewhat helpless expression, he said:

”But, Senior Brother Ye... do you think I can even learn it?”

Ye Shan’s expression stiffened at his words, and he seemed to realize the issue. He stroked his chin, thought for a moment, and then said:

”I think it should be possible. My swordsmanship is very simple, with only three forms. It’s not like those overly flashy techniques.”

”Here, I’ll demonstrate, and you’ll understand.”

With that, he waved his hand and summoned his Flying Sword, beginning his demonstration for Xu Ran.

Before, Ye Shan had given off a forthright, easygoing, and even slightly flippant vibe.

But the moment he gripped the sword, his entire aura changed. His gaze became incredibly calm, fixed straight ahead. In his eyes, the heavens and the earth, and all things within them, became a blank sheet of paper—all of it, something to be cut down.

There was no astonishing display of power, yet the instant he swung his sword, an intense, oppressive pressure erupted from him.

His figure vanished in a flash. When he reappeared, countless massive boulders in the surroundings suddenly turned to dust, followed by a rampage of Sword Qi.

A thrust, a sweep, a chop.

The swordsmanship had three forms, and each form was an all-out attack, leaving no room for retreat.

Watching Ye Shan execute his swordsmanship, Xu Ran felt as if he were seeing a high-spirited young prodigy, dazzlingly brilliant, ready to challenge the very heavens.

”So, what do you think? Simple, right?” After finishing his demonstration, Ye Shan turned back to Xu Ran and asked with a smile.

”It is simple, but I can’t learn it.” Xu Ran shook his head.

He could tell at a glance. Ye Shan’s swordsmanship was not about the technique itself, but about his presence, his intent, and his Dao. Only someone with his indomitable, world-devouring mindset—the will to test his blade against the sky itself—could unleash the technique’s true power.

And clearly, he did not possess such a mindset.

”This...” Ye Shan hesitated, seemingly trying to figure out how to persuade Xu Ran.

But at that moment, Xu Ran spoke up. ”Let’s forget about the swordsmanship. There is something else I’d like to trouble you with, Senior Brother.”

”Oh? What is it? Tell me, Junior Brother. As long as it’s something I can do, I won’t refuse,” Ye Shan said, looking at him with great interest.

Hearing this, Xu Ran cupped his fists. ”It’s nothing too difficult. I just hope that you, Senior Brother, can suppress your Cultivation and spar with me.”

”Junior Brother, you want me to be your sparring partner?” Ye Shan stared at him, astonished.

”Exactly. Is that possible?”

”I don’t have a problem with it, but are you sure, Junior Brother? I am a Sword Cultivator, and you’ve probably heard about the path I walk. When I strike, I will inflict injury. Even with my Cultivation suppressed, it’s still very dangerous.”

Xu Ran fell silent for a moment. Then, he took a deep breath, looked Ye Shan straight in the eye, and said solemnly:

”Senior Brother, I want to face life and death. I’m begging you.”

Seeing Xu Ran’s resolute attitude, Ye Shan instantly understood his intentions.

’He wants to change his weakness in combat by facing life and death? That’s not an easy thing to do.’

Ye Shan looked at Xu Ran, nodded, and said, ”I understand. In that case, let’s begin now.”

Before Xu Ran could even react, Ye Shan’s figure vanished.

Xu Ran’s vision suddenly went black, and he instantly lost consciousness. By the time he came to, he felt a sharp pain between his eyebrows as a trickle of blood slowly dripped down.

His face turned pale, and his body went limp. He collapsed, gasping for air.

In that moment, he felt as if he had truly died. His heart, his consciousness—everything had stopped. His entire being had plunged into an abyss, unable to even struggle.

Only after regaining his senses did the fear hit him, a delayed wave of terror.

”That should be enough.” Ye Shan glanced at the limp, gasping Xu Ran on the ground and spoke coolly. He then silently sheathed his longsword, turned, and prepared to leave.

”Senior Brother, wait. Again.” At that moment, Xu Ran’s weak voice sounded out.

”Hm?” Ye Shan grunted in surprise and looked at Xu Ran, astonished. ”What? You want to continue?”

”Continue.”

Hearing Xu Ran’s resolute reply, Ye Shan was even more surprised.

In his opinion, after an experience like that, Xu Ran should have given up.

After all, everyone knows that facing life and death can awaken one’s potential. If that were the case, wouldn’t everyone be able to cultivate this way and become a genius?

However, the reality was the complete opposite.

This method of cultivation didn’t create geniuses. On the contrary, it caused countless people’s Dao Hearts to shatter, leaving them unable to recover for a long, long time.

There is great terror between life and death. This was no joke. Many people, after experiencing it once, lacked the courage to go through it a second time.

”Junior Brother Xu, I didn’t truly strike just now. I only let you experience a taste of that feeling. A real strike would be countless times more terrifying. This is not a game. I’m afraid that if you experience it, you’ll never be able to stand up again. Are you sure you want to continue?”

”At your age, Junior Brother, you just need to focus on raising your Cultivation. There’s no need to fight, and no need to force yourself on this front. As for the rumors in the Sect, you can completely ignore them.”

His words were sincere. After all, in his eyes, given Xu Ran’s talent and aptitude, it was already impressive that he could recover from that last blow. Continuing might just ruin him.

”Please continue, Senior Brother.” Xu Ran staggered to his feet, took a deep breath to steady himself, and cupped his fists toward Ye Shan, his tone firm.

A man must fight for his pride. As a Transmigrator who possessed the Longevity Dao Fruit, he was inferior to the people of this world in every single aspect, falling far short of even an ordinary person.

How could he be content with that?

Perhaps, just as Ye Shan had said, all he needed to do was focus on raising his Realm. As long as he stayed in the Profound Pure Sect, he would face no danger.

With his Longevity Dao Fruit, he could even just wait out the endless years, and both his Cultivation Realm and his Divine Communication Technique would eventually improve.

However, he didn’t want to continue down this path any longer.

’I can be ordinary, but I absolutely cannot be mediocre.’

A few days ago, Yue Qingyu’s words of encouragement and comfort still pricked his heart like a thorn.

To have someone who was being criticized by others because of him turn around and comfort him... it truly made his face burn with shame.

’Who says a hundred-year-old man can’t have fighting spirit? If that were true, wouldn’t the Cultivation Realm, filled with people who have lived for hundreds or thousands of years, be completely lifeless? Where would all the conflict come from?’

’Fighting spirit has nothing to do with age; it’s all about what’s in your heart.’

Ye Shan looked at the determined Xu Ran, fell silent for a moment, then nodded slightly. ”I understand,” he said. ”Since you put it that way, Junior Brother, then I shall grant your wish.”

With that, he once again summoned his Flying Sword, gave Xu Ran a nod, and said softly, ”Here I come.”