Watching the Mountain

Chapter 339: Chapter 193: Qingyu’s Battle

Hearing this, a complex expression appeared on Wuya Daoist Monarch’s face as he sighed wistfully.

”You’re right. Every prodigy is a person of firm will, with principles they refuse to abandon. At a time like this, retreat is impossible.”

”But that is precisely why I feel such a profound sense of regret.”

”Those who are kind and righteous at heart always feel compelled to act for the sake of what they wish to protect, even if it means facing unbeatable foes.”

”Such people often think in simple terms, believing that if they just defeat their enemies, the world they want to protect will become a better place.”

”They charge to the front lines and pay with their lives, while those with sinister motives who cling to life hide in the shadows, brazenly stealing and enjoying the fruits of their victory.”

”Just like your Sword Dao Ye Shan. He was far too naive. He thought that by eliminating the members of the Evil Demon Race and Phoenix Race hiding in our Immortal Ancient Cultivation Realm and pre-emptively destroying the Outer World that was about to invade, this world would be safe and sound.”

”He thought things were too simple. This world is far more complex than he imagined.”

”You must understand, the Evil Demon Race and Phoenix Race descended upon this world countless eons ago. We have been at war with them ever since. How many have given their lives in that time? And how many survived to become the peerless experts who now stand at the pinnacle of this world?”

Yue Qingyu watched Wuya Daoist Monarch, a thoughtful look on her face. With her intelligence, she instantly understood his meaning.

Combining his earlier statement—that the righteous paid with their lives while those with sinister motives survived—his implication was self-evident.

Ye Shan’s sword strike back then hadn’t been thorough. He only cleansed the external threats, but the internal problems remained. That was why Wuya Daoist Monarch was forced to appear here.

Wuya Daoist Monarch observed Yue Qingyu’s reaction, then spoke slowly after a moment of silence.

”I’ve heard you are exceptionally wise. In that case, you should understand why it is I who has appeared here, shouldn’t you?”

Yue Qingyu nodded lightly and replied, ”Because, Senior, you are a righteous man famed throughout the world.”

Wuya Daoist Monarch nodded, his expression mournful as he lowered his head and said,

”That’s right. Because I am Wuya Daoist Monarch, the ’good man’ known to all. As long as I am the one to attack you here, your... fate is all but sealed.”

Yue Qingyu fell silent for a moment. Just as he said, if Wuya Daoist Monarch attacked today, the outcome would no longer matter.

After today, most people in the world would believe that the ’sickness’ of Heaven and Earth was caused by Sword Dao Ye Shan, by the Profound Pure Sect.

The Profound Pure Sect would be reviled and condemned by most of the Cultivation Realm, allowing those with ulterior motives to target it with a clear conscience.

”Senior, must you act?” she asked quietly.

Wuya Daoist Monarch nodded, his expression serious as he replied, ”I must.”

”I, too, have something I wish to protect. For that... I will act, even if it means betraying my own heart and the Dao I have upheld for so long.”

Yue Qingyu’s expression shifted slightly. She had heard that Wuya Daoist Monarch’s Dao Companion was nearing the end of her lifespan. He had always wanted to help her break through to Divinity Transformation, but he had been unable to do so.

Heavenly Materials and Earthly Treasures that could help a Nascent Soul cultivator break through to Divinity Transformation were exceedingly rare, but not nonexistent.

Perhaps he was doing this to help his Dao Companion break through to Divinity Transformation, or perhaps his Dao Companion was being threatened.

In any case, with Wuya Daoist Monarch’s appearance, one didn’t need to ask to know that the only thing that could force him to act against his conscience was something related to his Dao Companion.

After speaking, he sighed, a look of defeat on his face. ”I never thought the day would come when I would be burdened by my own reputation, forced to act against my own heart.”

Wuya Daoist Monarch looked at Yue Qingyu and said, ”If Sword Dao Ye Shan doesn’t appear today, the Profound Pure Sect will be completely annihilated. If you change your mind, I can injure you and then let you leave.”

”You can find a place to hide. Once you’ve grown strong enough, you can come and seek revenge on me.”

Wuya Daoist Monarch’s reputation wasn’t built on the flattery of others. It was earned through his silent adherence to his principles over the years, which eventually won him the recognition of the world.

He had always been a righteous Knight, and he was genuinely unwilling to personally snuff out a peerless prodigy with limitless potential. Even at the risk of future retaliation, he was willing to let Yue Qingyu go.

Facing the compassionate Wuya Daoist Monarch, Yue Qingyu spoke with a calm expression:

”Thank you for your consideration, Senior. However, this junior believes she can stop you and protect the Sect.”

She didn’t say she was unwilling to back down or that she wanted to try. She stated directly that she could stop him.

Calm and confident, just like her perpetually unruffled expression.

”Oh?” Wuya Daoist Monarch gave her a deep look. ”Stop me?”

Yue Qingyu nodded lightly, her voice still calm. ”Yes. As long as this junior is here, the Sect will be safe, even if our opponent is you, Senior.”

Wuya Daoist Monarch stared at her, stunned. A moment later, he flicked his sleeve and burst into heroic laughter, his voice booming.

”Good! If you can truly stop me, then it will prove that you are, as the rumors say, a person who can stand shoulder to shoulder with Sword Dao Ye Shan.”

”If that is so, then from this day forward, I will willingly become your Dao Protector. I will guard you as you grow, until you can hold up the sky of our Immortal Ancient Cultivation Realm and restore clarity and order to this world.”

Yue Qingyu raised her hands slightly, formed a Dao Seal toward Wuya Daoist Monarch, and said softly, ”Thank you, Senior. This junior will be so bold.”

As her voice fell, she waved her arms, her jade-like fingers flashing as she formed several ancient and peculiar Dao Seals that seemed to contain the profound principles of Heaven and Earth.

When Wuya Daoist Monarch saw the form of the Dao Seals Yue Qingyu was creating, the composure on his face instantly froze. His pupils constricted as he cried out in shock,

”A Dao battle? Have you gone mad?”

His voice was filled with shock and disbelief, and even a hint of urgency.

A Dao battle.

This ancient and brutal form of combat had long been abandoned by modern Cultivators.

It was not a contest of Magical Power or a comparison of Magical Treasures, but a direct collision of the two opponents’ core ”Great Daos.”

This was a hundred times more perilous than any exchange of Magic.

Once initiated, both sides’ Dao Hearts, wills, and comprehension of the Laws of Heaven and Earth would clash head-on without reservation.

The victor’s Dao Heart would remain unscathed. As for the loser, in the best case, their Dao Heart would shatter, their life’s cultivation would turn to nothing, and their Realm would plummet, making further progress impossible. In the worst case, their Divine Soul would be critically injured, their consciousness annihilated, and they would become a complete cripple—or even perish, their Dao obliterated.

It was, quite simply, the most brutal, all-or-nothing way to gamble with one’s life in the Cultivation Realm.

Wuya Daoist Monarch stared intently at Yue Qingyu, his heart reeling in shock.

He was famous throughout the world, valuing chivalry, benevolence, and the protection of young talents above all else.

Seeing Yue Qingyu so resolutely choose this path of no return, his first reaction wasn’t anger, but profound regret and incomprehension!

He said urgently, ”Sect Leader Yue, do you know what you are doing?”

”A Dao battle is incredibly dangerous, not something to be initiated on a whim! I am at the Divinity Transformation Middle Stage; my comprehension of the Dao far surpasses your Nascent Soul Early Stage. With such a vast disparity, how can you possibly contend with me? This isn’t a fair fight at all—it’s tantamount to destroying your own path of cultivation! Stop, quickly!”

He truly did not want to see this peerless prodigy with a boundless future ruin herself before his very eyes because of a moment’s impulse.

Yue Qingyu’s expression remained as tranquil as still water, as if she hadn’t heard his near-roaring plea. She merely focused on maintaining the ancient Dao Seal. An intangible, indescribable aura of ”Dao”—cool and vast—began to envelop her.

Seeing his plea was ineffective and looking at her unshakable expression, Wuya Daoist Monarch’s heart churned with emotion.

Only now did he truly appreciate the almost cold pride and decisiveness hidden beneath the young Sect Leader’s calm exterior.

This was clearly a choice made from the conviction that her own Dao was sufficient to overcome the vast chasm between their Realms.

He took a deep breath, suppressing the regret and complex emotions in his heart. Things had already come to this. The Dao battle sigil had been formed, and there was no turning back.

Wuya Daoist Monarch’s gaze grew solemn, and he said in a heavy voice,

”Fine. Since you are so insistent, I shall accept this Dao battle. Let me see what kind of heaven-shaking Dao you possess that gives you the audacity to challenge the Dao of a Divinity Transformation expert as a mere Nascent Soul.”

His tone no longer held its previous condescension, replaced instead by the solemnity one would show an equal opponent.

Even though the disparity in their Realms was immense, her courage to initiate a Dao battle had earned his serious consideration.