Watching the Mountain

Chapter 311: Chapter 183: The Beginning

He couldn’t understand it; he just felt that what had happened was wrong.

This was how nearly everyone in the Profound Pure Sect felt at that moment. Many still couldn’t fathom the reason behind Xu Teng True Monarch’s self-destruction.

But Xu Teng True Monarch’s words alone were enough to make everyone deeply upset. They all felt an overwhelming sense of injustice.

Why?

They were supposed to be heroes who had done great deeds for the world, yet now they were being framed as the villains.

The Profound Pure Sect had never enjoyed the glory it deserved. Now, simply because of the resentment of a few, it had become an outlet for their anger.

This was so unfair.

The injustice of it all was suffocating.

Many disciples had red-rimmed eyes, their fists clenched as they breathed heavily in anger.

It took Lu Mingchen a long time to compose himself. He then looked up in the direction where Chu Lingxiao had vanished and asked Li Daoyi,

”Senior Brother, about us and Fellow Daoist Chu... That Xu Teng True Monarch said he’d already left the Illusion Spirit Sect, didn’t he?”

’If that’s the case,’ he thought, ’then what Xu Teng True Monarch did was a personal act. Maybe... maybe it won’t affect our relationship with Fellow Daoist Chu.’

Hearing Lu Mingchen’s words, Li Daoyi looked straight at him and said expressionlessly,

”Junior Brother, when they decided to direct their hatred at us, did they ever stop to think that Ye Shan had already vanished along with that sword strike?”

”This...” Lu Mingchen’s expression stiffened. He instantly realized how naive he’d been. His face twisted with conflict for a moment before he spoke hesitantly,

”Then what about Fellow Daoist Chu...?”

’He could still see it in his mind: the four of them, excitedly talking about the future. They had said they would go to the Demon Race’s territory to defeat the Demon Court’s Five Young Demon Saints, make a name for themselves across the land, and reach the Nascent Soul Realm, the Divinity Transformation Realm, and even greater heights together. They were going to change the world, to roam the heavens and the earth...’

Those memories were seared into his mind, filling him with a deep sense of longing.

’He couldn’t imagine it—suddenly becoming enemies with the very friend he’d just been dreaming of the future with, facing each other as foes on the battlefield.’

Li Daoyi watched his reaction and lowered his head for a brief moment. When he looked up again, his eyes were filled with resolve. He stepped forward, came to Lu Mingchen’s side, and clapped a hand on his shoulder. His voice was gentle as he said,

”Junior Brother, I want you to remember this: we live in a world where many things don’t go the way we hope.”

”When things come into conflict, all we can do is choose what we care about most, cast everything else aside, and walk steadfastly down that single path.”

He sighed softly, his tone firm. ”Fellow Daoist Chu is my dearest friend. But the Sect... the Sect is the home I have sworn to protect with my life.”

”I will not allow anyone to harm my Sect!”

His words weren’t spoken with great force, but Lu Mingchen could clearly feel the resolve behind them.

After speaking, he gave Lu Mingchen a slight nod and added,

”Junior Brother, go back and get some rest. With what’s happened to the Sect, as the Chief Disciple, I need to go and calm everyone down.”

He then turned, gave a nod to Xu Ran who was standing behind him, and walked away with resolute strides.

Lu Mingchen stared blankly at his retreating back. For some reason, an unstoppable wave of sadness washed over him.

It wasn’t for himself, nor for Fellow Daoist Chu. It was for his Senior Brother.

Of the four of them, his Senior Brother and Fellow Daoist Chu had known each other the longest. They had developed a mutual admiration after a duel in the arena, and that was how their friendship began.

They were both prodigies of their generation, with talent and abilities that far surpassed their peers. That was why they saw each other as equals.

’Now that this has happened, Senior Brother must be the one who’s hurting the most, right?’

’And yet, he hadn’t shown a trace of that sadness. Instead, he had offered a gentle smile to comfort me, and he would use that same gentle smile to reassure his terrified sect-mates.’

Xu Ran was also watching Li Daoyi leave. He wasn’t sure what to make of his martial nephew.

Just now, the young man had instantly seen through the motive behind Xu Teng True Monarch’s actions, proving his wisdom. His choice had demonstrated his resolve.

And finally, that smile showed that he had given all the warmth in his heart to the Sect.

An image surfaced in Xu Ran’s mind: the day Zhang Zhentian had brought Li Daoyi to see him.

The boy who had declared that his goal was never Ye Shan, but to lead the Sect to glory... he was still walking that path.

Xu Ran walked over to the still-dazed Lu Mingchen, patted his shoulder, and said softly,

”Your Senior Brother can be so resolute because he found his path a long time ago.”

”Mingchen, have you ever thought about what your own path is?”

Lu Mingchen was taken aback. ”I...”

He stood there with his mouth agape for a long moment before shaking his head. ”I don’t know. Maybe I just... want to cultivate?”

Xu Ran smiled faintly. ”Then think on it. All that matters is that you find it.”

After a moment of silence, Lu Mingchen nodded. ”I understand.”

Xu Ran gave a slight nod and watched him leave in silence, wondering what path this grand-disciple of his would walk in the future.

He shook his head and was about to go find Senior Sister Yue when the Communication Jade Talisman he carried vibrated slightly. He took it out, formed a series of Finger Formulas, and Qin Yufeng’s voice transmitted from within: