Watching the Mountain

Chapter 344: Chapter 195: Not Injured?

Liu Yunge moved swiftly. When she told Xu Ran to wait a moment, she meant it.

Just a short while later, Xu Ran received a message from Liu Yunge. She had already convinced her master. She told Xu Ran to inform the Profound Pure Sect that they were preparing to use the Cross-border Teleportation Array and needed the Sect to grant them coordinate access.

Xu Ran was overjoyed at the news. He quickly found Supreme Elder Zi Yun, explained the situation, and asked him to grant access to the Sect Teleportation Array’s coordinates.

Supreme Elder Zi Yun didn’t even have time to ask questions. He immediately took Xu Ran to the Sect Teleportation Array. After granting access, he turned to Xu Ran, his face filled with hope, and asked:

”Hidden Mountain Elder, did you really convince the Creation Sect to trade with us? What price must the Sect pay? Give me a list, and I’ll go prepare everything at once. We mustn’t keep the Fellow Daoists from the Creation Sect waiting.”

Xu Ran was deeply moved by Supreme Elder Zi Yun’s absolute trust—he hadn’t asked a single question and had gone straight to requesting a list of resources.

He quickly replied, ”There’s no need. Our Sect won’t have to pay anything this time. I used something else for the trade, but the outcome isn’t certain yet. We’ll only know if it’s a success after they arrive.”

”This...” Supreme Elder Zi Yun paused, taken aback. After a moment of contemplation, he asked, ”Is there anything the Sect or I can do to help?”

”No, that won’t be necessary. Supreme Elder Zi Yun, please go look after Senior Sister Yue. I can handle things here. I’ll do everything in my power to secure the deal.”

After a moment’s thought, Supreme Elder Zi Yun said solemnly, ”Very well. We are counting on you, Hidden Mountain Elder. If you need anything at all, do not hesitate to ask.”

Without another moment of hesitation, he hurried off toward the Sect’s main hall.

Not long after Supreme Elder Zi Yun departed, a spiritual light flared on the Teleportation Array before Xu Ran, and two figures materialized within it.

Beside Liu Yunge, who was dressed in white, stood an old man in a gray robe that left his round belly exposed. His hair was streaked with white.

The old man’s head was as large and round as his stomach. He sported a mustache and a small goatee.

Xu Ran was rather surprised. ’To think that the beautiful Liu Yunge’s master is such a plain, portly man.’

The thought, however, was fleeting. Seeing the two arrive, he hurried forward and bowed respectfully.

”This junior, Hidden Mountain, greets you, Senior.”

He then turned to Liu Yunge and performed a Daoist salutation. ”Fellow Daoist Liu, it’s been a while. Thank you for coming.”

Supreme Elder Zi Yun had already dismissed the disciples on duty, so Xu Ran was the only one there.

Seeing this, Liu Yunge dropped her formal demeanor, waving her hand casually and chuckling. ”Come on, it’s just us. No need to be so formal.”

Then, she introduced the man to Xu Ran. ”This is my master. His Daoist name is Cloud Sea Guest.”

Xu Ran turned to the portly Cloud Sea Guest and formed another hand seal in greeting. ”Greetings, Senior Cloud Sea Guest.”

Cloud Sea Guest smiled and nodded. Then, to Xu Ran’s astonishment, he solemnly raised both hands, performed a Dao Seal, and declared in a reverent tone:

”Cloud Sea Guest greets Shennong.”

Xu Ran was shocked and quickly waved his hands in protest. ”Senior, you mustn’t! How could this junior possibly be worthy of such a formal greeting from you?”

Cloud Sea Guest’s expression was serious. ”Shennong, there is no need for such modesty. To some, you may not seem like much, but to those who respect you, you are worthy of the highest honors.”

He chuckled, patting his round belly.

”And as it happens, this old man falls into the latter category. Hahaha!”

With that, he flipped his hand over, and a Jade Bottle materialized in his palm.

He offered the Jade Bottle to Xu Ran. ”I’ve heard all about it from my disciple, Yun Ge. This is a Thirteenth-Grade Infinite Creation Pill, one of my Sect’s greatest treasures. Shennong, take it and save her. We can discuss everything else later.”

Xu Ran stared at the Elixir he was offered, utterly astonished. He hadn’t expected the man to produce the Elixir immediately, without any preamble.

’He didn’t confirm my identity or even ask to verify my method for solving the world’s affliction?’ This was completely unexpected.

But as Cloud Sea Guest had said, saving a life was the priority. Though his mind was reeling with questions, Xu Ran didn’t hesitate. He accepted the Elixir and said with heartfelt gravity, ”Thank you, Senior.”

Then he hurried away to find Senior Sister Yue.

When he reached the Sect’s main hall, Supreme Elder Zi Yun rushed to meet him. ”I have it,” Xu Ran said. ”Take me to Senior Sister Yue.”

Supreme Elder Zi Yun’s face lit up with joy, and he quickly led Xu Ran to the quiet chamber where Yue Qingyu was recuperating.

Xu Ran pushed open the chamber’s heavy wooden door.

A thick, bitter medicinal scent instantly assaulted his nostrils, but it was pierced a moment later by a faint, cool, and clear fragrance.

’That’s Senior Sister Yue’s unique scent.’ But now, it was as faint as a candle sputtering in the wind, threatening to vanish at any moment.

She sat on a cold meditation cushion, her back held perfectly straight, maintaining the dignified bearing of a Sect Leader.

But the sight that met his eyes made Xu Ran’s breath catch in his throat.

Her face was frighteningly pale. Her delicate skin, devoid of all color, had an almost transparent fragility to it, like the finest eggshell porcelain that might shatter at the slightest touch.

Her ink-black hair cascaded down, making her lifeless face all the more startling.