Watching the Mountain

Chapter 312: Chapter 183: The Beginning

”Fellow Daoist Xu, it seems something unfortunate has happened at your sect.”

Hearing Qin Yufeng’s words, Xu Ran’s eyes sharpened. The man hadn’t contacted him in a very long time, yet as soon as something like this happened to the Profound Pure Sect, he knew about it.

It made him wonder if Qin Yufeng was the one pulling the strings.

Qin Yufeng seemed to guess that Xu Ran would be suspicious of him. Without waiting for Xu Ran to speak, he laughed and said first:

”Haha, Fellow Daoist Xu, don’t get the wrong idea. This has nothing to do with me. I just happened to hear about it and thought I’d get in touch.”

”After all, you’re my only friend in this world, Fellow Daoist Xu. There’s nothing wrong with me being concerned for your safety, is there?”

Xu Ran replied impassively, ”Of course, of course. To have you concerned for me, I am truly touched.”

His tone shifted as he continued, ”From the sound of it, you seem to know something. I wonder if you could tell me a little, so that I might be prepared.”

”If I’m not prepared, you might lose this friend of yours. You wouldn’t want something like that to happen, would you?”

”Haha.” Qin Yufeng chuckled. ”We haven’t been in touch for a while. I was worried you might have grown distant, Fellow Daoist Xu. But your reaction now feels even closer. The fact that you can ask me for help so directly makes me very happy.”

Xu Ran replied flippantly, ”I’m afraid of dying, after all. You should know that about me.”

On the other end, Qin Yufeng hummed lightly before continuing, ”I do know a few things. There’s no harm in telling you.”

”It’s said that a while ago, the Phoenix Race revealed a piece of information to the Immortal Ancient Cultivation Realm.”

Hearing this, Xu Ran’s expression hardened. ’I think I already know the answer,’ he thought, but still feigned confusion and asked, ”What information?”

Qin Yufeng said nonchalantly from the other end, ”The Phoenix Race says that before Sword Dao Ye Shan unleashed that brilliant sword strike, he visited the Phoenix Race’s territory and took a Phoenix Egg from them.”

’Just as I thought,’ Xu Ran said to himself. Outwardly, however, he continued to feign confusion.

”A Phoenix Egg? What does that have to do with what’s happening to our Sect right now?”

Qin Yufeng let out a dry laugh. He didn’t answer the question directly, but said with a somewhat wistful tone:

”Fellow Daoist Xu, our Human Race is a complicated bunch. We can unite against a common foe, but we’re also experts at infighting, seemingly without the slightest hesitation.”

”Take Sword Dao Ye Shan, for example. Everyone knows his power could bring endless benefits to this world. And yet, very few of the Human Race’s great powers actually wish for his return.”

Hearing this, Xu Ran frowned slightly. ’So, everyone who knows about this thinks Senior Brother Ye Shan wanted the Phoenix Egg to use its Nirvana Power for his own rebirth. No one has considered Little Xiyue.’

’That makes sense, though. Anyone hearing this news would probably jump to the same conclusion.’

”Are you saying they suspect Senior Brother Ye Shan arranged for his own Nirvana Rebirth, and they’re using this to test our Sect? But if that’s the case, why not act themselves? Why not just come to our Sect, find the Phoenix Egg, and destroy it?”

Qin Yufeng laughed at this. ”Fellow Daoist Xu, what did you think of the power your Senior Brother Ye Shan displayed with that one sword strike?”

”Extremely strong,” Xu Ran replied without a moment’s hesitation.

Qin Yufeng scoffed, his tone dripping with disdain. ”Exactly. So, with Sword Dao Ye Shan’s reputation as a deterrent, who do you think would dare take that risk personally?”

”Besides, if Sword Dao Ye Shan was truly planning a Nirvana Rebirth, how could he possibly let his Phoenix Egg be found? Any egg that could be found so easily wouldn’t be his true contingency plan. No one is trying to find the egg; that would just be a waste of time.”

”No one’s objective was ever the Phoenix Egg itself. If Sword Dao Ye Shan was truly set to return through Nirvana, by now, he should have already hatched.”

”So, if something were to happen to the Profound Pure Sect right about now, he would surely have to show himself, wouldn’t he?”

”And even if he doesn’t show up right away, it doesn’t matter. As long as they keep probing, bit by bit, I’m sure that one day, Sword Dao Ye Shan won’t be able to restrain himself.”

At this, Qin Yufeng sighed, his tone complex as he said:

”Fellow Daoist Xu, the days ahead for your sect will likely be difficult. They won’t annihilate you all at once, but it will be a long and trying ordeal.”

”I hope you can endure it. I truly don’t want anything to happen to my friend. Good luck.”

Hearing this, Xu Ran’s feelings were also very complex. He was relieved that no one would be coming to look for the Phoenix Egg, which meant Little Xiyue would be safe.

But at the same time, just as Qin Yufeng had said, this meant things were about to get very difficult for the Sect.