Watching the Mountain

Chapter 255: Chapter 161: Fellow Disciples

And Shen Wuchen?

’He’s already reached the Nascent Soul Stage, and he’s the youngest Nascent Soul True Monarch the Cultivation Realm has seen in a hundred thousand years. And he’s *still* not confident?’

Still, after thinking it over, he supposed he could understand. This was Shen Wuchen’s first time teaching a disciple, so he had no experience.

That he was having these thoughts also showed one thing: he was taking the matter of teaching his disciple, Lu Mingchen, very seriously.

It was precisely because he felt a great sense of responsibility that he was afraid of failing to teach him well.

Understanding Shen Wuchen’s concerns, Xu Ran readily agreed.

From then on, in addition to his own cultivation, Xu Ran took on a new task: observing Shen Wuchen as he taught his disciple, Lu Mingchen.

The first lesson Shen Wuchen gave Lu Mingchen was the same one Xu Ran had taught him: ”Once you begin cultivating the Flying Immortal Stream, you can no longer worry about saving face.”

Lu Mingchen had heard about his master’s track record when he first joined the Sect. He didn’t find his master’s history shameful in the slightest; on the contrary, he admired him immensely.

In his eyes, for his master to have come this far despite constantly losing... that perseverance alone was something he had to learn from.

Xu Ran’s presence was only meant to put Shen Wuchen at ease; he never once interfered with his teaching.

At first, after every lesson with Lu Mingchen, Shen Wuchen would secretly find Xu Ran to ask how he did and if there were any problems.

’Xu Ran could tell that Shen Wuchen was simply being hard on himself and responsible toward his disciple. As a Nascent Soul True Monarch, there was no way he would make mistakes when teaching the fundamentals of cultivation.’

After receiving Xu Ran’s approval and encouragement several times, Shen Wuchen finally relaxed. From then on, he taught Lu Mingchen with great composure.

Xu Ran was very pleased with this development. Since Shen Wuchen hadn’t suggested leaving, he saw no reason to ask him to. Besides, his Cave Mansion was large enough; even another eighty or a hundred people wouldn’t make it feel crowded.

During this time, he heard some rumors about the Demon Race. Apparently, a new power called the Demon Court had emerged. It boasted many powerful experts and was causing quite a stir among the demons.

When the Demon Court first emerged, many assumed they were preparing to unify the Demon Race and force all its factions to submit to their rule.

However, what happened next defied everyone’s expectations. Instead of conquest, the Demon Court began establishing schools all over the Demon Race’s territories, teaching local demons various Cultivation Techniques and... the principles of being human.

When Xu Ran heard this, his jaw nearly hit the floor. ’Opening schools among the Demon Race to teach Demon Cultivators the principles of being human?’

He knew without a doubt that this must be Qin Yufeng’s idea. The real question was how on earth he had come up with such a bizarre plan.

What was even more incredible was that the Demon Race had actually agreed to it.

The Immortal Ancient Cultivation Realm and the Demon Race had been allies for countless ages, maintaining constant communication and cooperation throughout that time.

Yet in all those long years, the Demon Race had always clung to its own feral culture and customs, never once leaning toward the ways of the Human Race.

But as soon as Qin Yufeng showed up, he’d managed to do it.

’It made Xu Ran wonder: was Qin Yufeng’s charisma just that overpowering, or had he slipped the Demon Race some kind of love potion?’

It was utterly absurd.

Aside from that, however, there had been no other major moves from Qin Yufeng.

Xu Ran found this puzzling. When the Secret Realm had merged with this world, Qin Yufeng had proclaimed that the heavens were about to change. And the result?

All this time had passed, and still, nothing had happened.

Still, Xu Ran was more than happy with this outcome. He’d been constantly worried that Qin Yufeng would make some grand move and stir up trouble, shattering his peaceful existence.

’Things were good like this. If possible, he hoped they would stay that way forever.’

*

*

*

From the very beginning, Xu Ran never thought Shen Wuchen’s disciple could surpass Zhang Zhentian’s. That was why he had tried to persuade Shen Wuchen earlier, hoping to prevent him from developing an obsession.

And in fact, things turned out more or less as he had predicted.

The very first time Li Daoyi and Lu Mingchen met, the latter was completely won over, becoming his adoring follower and shadow.

”Senior Brother Li, how did you train your swordsmanship? It’s just incredible!”

”Senior Brother Li, you’re already so powerful. Why do you still push yourself so hard in your cultivation every day?”

These days, Xu Ran often saw Lu Mingchen trailing after Li Daoyi, gazing at him with open admiration and asking all sorts of questions.

Strictly speaking, by seniority, Lu Mingchen shouldn’t be calling Li Daoyi ”Senior Brother.” However, a Sect rule dictated that as long as they were disciples, they were all to address one another as peers. This was for the sake of convenience; otherwise, the hierarchy within the Sect would be too chaotic. Many couldn’t keep track of the complex relationships, and a mistake in address could easily lead to displeasure or even cause trouble.

It was just like with Yue Qingyu. As long as she remained the Sect’s Chief Disciple, she was ”Senior Sister” to all other disciples, regardless of who their personal masters were or how recently they had joined.

Li Daoyi had never forgotten what Zhang Zhentian said about Xu Ran’s swordsmanship being taught by Ye Shan. So, a few days prior, he had come to seek out Xu Ran and request his guidance.

This was something Xu Ran had already agreed to, so of course, he didn’t refuse.

After Shen Wuchen, it was as if the Profound Pure Sect’s good fortune had run dry. In the years since, not a single genius of note had appeared.

Now, with the appearance of Li Daoyi—a prodigy in whom everyone had placed great hope—he was also quite curious to see his true strength.

After suppressing his own cultivation to spar with Li Daoyi, Xu Ran had to admit: the young man was worthy of every bit of praise he received.

It was no wonder Zhang Zhentian had said Li Daoyi’s talent surpassed even his own.

Initially, Xu Ran could still suppress Li Daoyi using his Three-Form Sword Technique. Yet, in just a few short months, the young man could already hold his own against him.

’Xu Ran felt no sense of defeat at this. Such was the way of prodigies. A single moment of insight for them could be an achievement an ordinary person might never reach in a lifetime.’

’He might have once slain a Divinity Transformation Daoist Monarch with a single strike, but that was more to the credit of Ye Shan’s sword. To put it bluntly, even a dog at the Divinity Transformation Stage could slay a Divinity Transformation master in one blow if it was holding Ye Shan’s sword—assuming the sword was willing to let a dog wield it.’

After sparring with Li Daoyi, Xu Ran also noticed the difference between him and Ye Shan.

When he used Ye Shan’s sword to slay the Divinity Transformation expert from the Demon Race, Xu Ran had sensed that the sword itself seemed to have no specific goal. Its only discernable intent was a rebellious desire to shatter the very heavens, but this ambition felt hollow and lacked a concrete purpose.

Li Daoyi, however, was different. His sword had a clear, unwavering purpose.

As for what that purpose was...

Xu Ran watched from a distance as Li Daoyi turned to look back at Lu Mingchen, who was following him. He replied in a very serious tone,

”Junior Brother Lu, you’re wrong. I’m not nearly strong enough yet. That’s why I have to train so desperately.”

Lu Mingchen was stunned. ”Senior Brother, you call this not strong enough?”

Li Daoyi nodded. ”Of course. This level of strength isn’t enough to lead the Sect to glory, to make it the most powerful Sect in the entire Cultivation Realm.”

Lu Mingchen was dumbfounded once again. ”Senior Brother, you’re talking about making our Sect the most powerful in the Cultivation Realm? Is something like that really possible?”

He was floored by his Senior Brother’s ambition.

Li Daoyi nodded gravely. ”Of course. As long as I become strong enough—as powerful as Sword Dao Ye Shan once was, strong beyond imagination—then the Sect will naturally become the greatest in the Cultivation Realm.”

He finished speaking and patted Lu Mingchen’s shoulder, his tone gentle as he urged, ”So, Junior Brother, you must work hard too. Let’s make the Sect better and stronger together.”

Lu Mingchen lowered his head. ”Senior Brother, you can count me out. My talent is lacking. I can’t be of much help.”

Seeing his reaction, Li Daoyi sternly refuted him. ”Junior Brother, don’t sell yourself short. The Sect’s strength depends on the effort of every single member. Everyone can play their own part in the process.”

”This...” Lu Mingchen paused, taken aback. Then, he took a deep breath, nodded, and said with newfound conviction, ”I understand, Senior Brother. I’ll do my best.”

Watching the two of them, Xu Ran smiled. A nostalgic look filled his eyes. Ever since the ”plague” had descended, he hadn’t seen such pure, unadulterated camaraderie between sect brothers.

The two of them radiated a feeling of youthful, hot-blooded passion.

Atop Qing Xuan Peak, two youths, different in personality but both in the prime of their lives, dreamed of the future and set a grand goal for themselves.