Watching the Mountain

Chapter 221: Chapter 152: Killing Star

Xu Ran had always felt that Ye Shu’s innate talent wasn’t bad at all. His cultivation was simply slow, a direct result of his personality.

He did everything at a leisurely pace, so it was only natural that his cultivation was also slow. For instance, he had broken through to the Foundation Establishment Stage at the age of a hundred without even using a Foundation Establishment Pill—proof enough of his talent.

With such aptitude, it seemed impossible that he wouldn’t be able to break through to the Purple Mansion Stage.

In the past, whenever Xu Ran had checked in on Ye Shu’s cultivation, Ye Shu had always claimed everything was going smoothly and told him not to worry.

And now, this was the result of Ye Shu’s ”smoothly”: here he was, looking like he was at death’s door at two hundred and ninety, his breakthrough nowhere in sight, coming to say his goodbyes.

It wasn’t that the thought hadn’t crossed his mind that Ye Shu was just putting him off. But even knowing that, he couldn’t help him with a cultivation breakthrough.

That was why he had thought of practicing swordsmanship. He felt that perhaps Ye Shan could accomplish what he couldn’t.

And even if Ye Shan couldn’t, he still had a Lifespan Extension Pill he could use to forcefully prolong Ye Shu’s life.

As for this duel, he would just treat it as a lesson from an uncle to his nephew.

It was time to teach the boy a lesson so he’d remember it. ’All he ever does is put me off.’

Xu Ran gazed at the rusted longsword in Ye Shu’s hand and fell silent.

He was all too familiar with this sword; after all, Ye Shan had used it to spar with him for over a month back then.

Ye Shan’s sword had never been some great Divine Weapon. It was just an ordinary Dharma Artifact, not even qualifying as a Spiritual Artifact.

Xu Ran had asked Ye Shan about it—why not use a better sword?

Ye Shan’s reply was that as long as it was in his hand, this sword was the sharpest in the world.

To that, Xu Ran could only say that it was very much in character for Ye Shan.

Now, having lost its master, the sword had become flecked with rust.

Time ages men, and it ages swords as well.

”Uncle Xu, I’ve never learned swordsmanship. This sword... how do I use it?”

Ye Shu asked, holding the sword awkwardly.

Upon hearing this, Xu Ran thought for a moment before saying, ”Don’t worry about a thing. Just charge and attack me.”

Ye Shu fell silent for a moment after hearing this. Then, without further hesitation, he gave Xu Ran a slight bow before swinging the sword and charging forward.

The very instant he charged, the ring of a sword suddenly echoed out. The rust on the longsword in his hand flaked away, revealing its original, brilliant edge.

It was incomparably sharp.

Even from dozens of feet away, Xu Ran could feel a bone-chilling sharpness, his skin prickling as if pressed by countless needle points.

’This incredibly familiar feeling... It really is Ye Shan’s sword.’

The thought flashed through his mind, and Xu Ran instantly summoned his own Flying Sword, striking not at Ye Shu, but at the sword in his hand.

Ye Shan had once said his swordsmanship had only three forms.

Coincidentally, the swordsmanship Xu Ran had created himself also had only three forms.

Silent Sparrow, Autumn Sorrow, and Melting Snow.

He unleashed all three of his sword forms at once.

And Ye Shu, relying on the longsword, managed to block all three attacks.

After the third clash, Xu Ran withdrew his sword and stood tall.

Ye Shu, on the other hand, stood there dumbfounded, gripping the longsword. He couldn’t believe he had been the one to unleash those attacks.

Xu Ran, however, was perfectly calm. The moment the rust had flaked off the sword in Ye Shu’s hand, he had heard a voice:

”Junior Brother Xu, I knew you’d convince this foolish boy to practice the sword. Come on. I know you’ve always wanted to fight me. Now’s your chance. Give me everything you’ve got.”

The battle just now had appeared to be between Xu Ran and Ye Shu. In reality, it had been Xu Ran, fighting Ye Shan across the endless void of time and space, with Ye Shu’s body as the conduit.

Xu Ran felt a slight daze come over him.

’To think I’ve reached the point where I can cross swords with Ye Shan.’

’Even if it was through Ye Shu, at least I didn’t fall behind in that exchange.’

He stared silently at the longsword in Ye Shu’s hand, and through it, he could almost see the young Ye Shan of the past—a youth as brilliant as a scorching sun.

After their exchange, Ye Shan’s voice rang in his ears once more:

”Junior Brother, this foolish boy’s path is different from mine. You only need to teach him basic swordsmanship. Let him walk the rest of the way on his own.”

After a moment of silence, he took out a manual, ”Divine Sword Peak Swordsmanship Introduction,” and handed it to Ye Shu.

Ye Shan had once been a disciple of Divine Sword Peak. By teaching its introductory swordsmanship to Ye Shu, Xu Ran was, in a way, passing on a legacy.

”Take this back and study it. Starting tomorrow, you will begin learning swordsmanship with me.”

Ye Shu stared blankly at the ”Swordsmanship Introduction” in his hands. After a moment, he put it away carefully, bowed slightly to Xu Ran, and said, ”I will heed your teachings, Uncle Xu.”

Starting the very next day, Ye Shu began learning introductory swordsmanship from Xu Ran, practicing the four most basic moves: the thrust, the chop, the upward slash, and the point.

During this period, Ye Shu abandoned all other cultivation to practice only these four movements, day in and day out.

「Three months later.」

A profound and mysterious aura arose from within his body.

His Dao Seed had formed.

Xu Ran looked at Ye Shu, gave a slight nod, and said, ”Go on. Focus on your breakthrough.”

Ye Shu bowed slightly, said nothing, and silently turned to leave.

A month later, Ye Shu’s cultivation broke through to the Purple Mansion Stage.

Seeing Ye Shu brimming with vitality once more, Xu Ran heaved a long sigh of relief.

He then tilted his head back slightly, gazing at the scorching sun in silence.

*

*

*

After Ye Shu’s breakthrough, Xu Ran did not continue to teach him. Ye Shan had said to let the boy walk the rest of the path on his own.

Several months later, he emerged from his Cave Mansion. On his way, he happened to overhear some disciples discussing a piece of news.

Apparently, a ”star of slaughter” had emerged in the lands of the Demon Race. A seemingly gentle and weak human girl had single-handedly slaughtered hundreds of demon tribes.

Wherever she went, rivers of blood flowed in the wake of endless slaughter. She was now being hunted by the entire Demon Race.

Yet, months had passed, and this star of slaughter was still alive and well, sparking endless discussion among cultivators.

Xu Ran only paused to listen further because he heard the words ”human girl.” His own disciple was, after all, a human girl living among the Demon Race.

He didn’t believe, however, that this person could be his disciple. The so-called star of slaughter was said to be at the Nascent Soul Stage, whereas his disciple had only reached the Foundation Establishment Stage a century ago.

Reaching the Nascent Soul Stage in a hundred years was a feat that not even the likes of Zhang Zhentian had accomplished, let alone his own disciple.

Besides, given Jiang Ling’Er’s disposition, she would never do something like this, even if she had the power. He simply couldn’t picture her stained with blood.

His concern was whether the actions of this human killer would affect Jiang Ling’Er’s life among the demons. For instance, would some of the Demon Race take out their anger on all human cultivators as a result?

However, when he took out his Communication Jade Talisman, he still couldn’t get in touch with Jiang Ling’Er. A sense of helplessness washed over him. ’What has that girl been up to? Does she think she’s all grown up now? Doesn’t she need my praise anymore?’