Watching the Mountain

Chapter 357: Chapter 199: Cultivation

Xu Ran understood why Li Daoyi felt the way he did. Li Daoyi believed his choice had harmed the Sect’s interests, so he felt he needed to punish himself.

But was that really the case?

Xu Ran, who knew the inside story, didn’t think so.

The day before Chu Lingxiao contacted them, Yue Qingyu had already gathered the Sect’s core decision-makers, Li Daoyi included. She revealed to them the truth about the Heaven and Earth Dao Concealment and the Dust-Sealed Stones. It wasn’t until several days later that the Sect-wide assembly was held.

In other words, when Chu Lingxiao contacted Li Daoyi, he already knew about the Dust-Sealed Stones.

Furthermore, Xu Ran had clearly noticed that ever since learning about the Dust-Sealed Stones, Li Daoyi had often been lost in thought, seemingly pondering something.

As for what he was pondering, Xu Ran hadn’t been sure before. But after Li Daoyi agreed to Chu Lingxiao’s request, he instantly understood.

’This martial nephew of mine has been thinking from the very beginning about how to justifiably obtain more Dust-Sealed Stones for the Sect.’

The usual Li Daoyi would have refused Chu Lingxiao’s request outright and wouldn’t have even asked for a reason.

But on that day, after Chu Lingxiao made his request, he asked for a reason, which showed he was already tempted.

Xu Ran knew his martial nephew well. To his fellow sect members, he was like the morning sun—warm and gentle, showing deep care for every disciple.

But that was only for internal matters. When dealing with outsiders, he was decisive and efficient, never one to drag things out.

All of his gentleness was reserved for the Sect.

He wanted the Profound Pure Sect to stand at the pinnacle of the Cultivation Realm. The Dust-Sealed Stones were crucial to the Sect’s fate; more of them meant a more prosperous future.

But he also understood the Sect’s principles all too well.

As a sect with an ancient lineage, the Profound Pure Sect’s conduct was righteous, possessing the chivalrous spirit of old.

Without a deep-seated grudge or a direct threat to their own survival, it would be nearly impossible to persuade everyone in the Sect to proactively attack, let alone annihilate, another sect.

So he decided to play the villain himself, using the excuse of venting his friend’s anger and asking everyone to indulge his ”whim.”

So in reality, Chu Lingxiao’s appearance had actually helped Li Daoyi. It gave him a reason to act, even if it wasn’t a very good one.

More importantly, the news Chu Lingxiao brought—that the Illusion Spirit Sect had betrayed the Human Race—allowed him to act with a clear conscience, without burdening the Sect with any guilt.

If Chu Lingxiao hadn’t appeared, Li Daoyi would have had to find a target and a reason to persuade the Sect, which would have been far more troublesome.

’Li Daoyi is overthinking things,’ Xu Ran thought. ’After the Heaven and Earth Dao Concealment and the Dust-Sealed Stones were revealed, even if he hadn’t brought it up at the Sect assembly, someone else would have.’

Or, even if no one had mentioned it then, someone else would have in due time. The only difference would have been the target of the conquest.

The vast majority of people would surely want themselves and those around them to survive and see the prosperous age to come.

The first signs of this were already apparent at the assembly.

Back then, after Li Daoyi stated his proposal, no one objected to it. They only had reservations about the target of the conquest.

Otherwise, everyone wouldn’t have agreed so quickly afterward.

’When you really think about it,’ Xu Ran mused, ’Li Daoyi’s excuse of seeking justice for his friend might be a bit childish, but at least it’s an excuse. His relationship with Chu Lingxiao is known to all, which is better than having no excuse at all.’

As long as they could achieve their goal and obtain more Dust-Sealed Stones, any reason or excuse, as long as it was barely passable, would do.

For now, people still needed excuses. Perhaps later, when the competition for Dust-Sealed Stones reached its fiercest, no one in the entire Cultivation Realm would care about excuses anymore.

Xu Ran saw all of this clearly, which was why he felt Li Daoyi had absolutely no need to punish himself. For a prodigy like him, the hope of the Sect, being Dust-Sealed sooner rather than later was the best course of action.

But just as he was about to speak and persuade Li Daoyi, the other man cut him off.

Li Daoyi cupped his hands in a slight bow and said,

”Martial Uncle, there’s no need to persuade me. I know what you want to say. I can see through some of these matters myself, but I must still do this.”

Xu Ran was slightly taken aback. ”Why?”

Li Daoyi shook his head and said, ”Because I was too greedy. Fellow Daoist Chu, the Dust-Sealed Stones... I wanted everything. In doing so, I’ve damaged the Sect’s reputation.”

He let out a soft sigh. ”This reputation may seem unimportant, but when the Sect wishes to ascend to new heights in the future, every step will be shackled by it.”

”My goal is for the Sect to stand at the pinnacle of the Cultivation Realm, so I cannot allow it to bear any stain on its name.”

”Honestly, the better choice would have been to directly publicize the evidence of the Illusion Spirit Sect’s crimes. But because of Fellow Daoist Chu, I felt a pang of compassion. It wasn’t just because I want him to join our Sect, but also because of my personal friendship with him.”

”If I were in his shoes, I wouldn’t want my own sect to vanish under a cloud of disgrace, either... I understand how Fellow Daoist Chu feels, so I chose to grant him his wish.”

”This was my mistake, and it is mine to atone for.”

Xu Ran watched Li Daoyi in silence. He finally understood why his martial nephew had agreed to Chu Lingxiao’s request.

It wasn’t born of friendship, but of empathy. They were both leading figures in their respective sects. Seeing his friend Chu Lingxiao’s plight, Li Daoyi had put himself in his shoes, and that was why he made such a choice.