Watching the Mountain

Chapter 383: Chapter 207: The 100th Year of the New Calendar

One look was all it took to know his life was nearing its end.

Faced with Xu Ran’s concern, Elder Xu waved his hand dismissively and said in a strained voice:

”Hidden Mountain Elder, there’s no need to worry. If nothing else, I am quite confident I can last until the hundredth year of the Hidden Dao Era.”

Hearing this, Xu Ran couldn’t help but fall silent.

It was currently the seventieth year of the Hidden Dao Era. According to Elder Xu, this meant he only had about thirty years of life left.

He had just celebrated his one-thousandth birthday a few years ago. For a Golden Core Stage Cultivator, whose lifespan was twelve hundred years, this was a bit short.

It seemed the injuries he sustained while searching for Dust-Sealed Stones had taken a great toll on him.

Elder Xu had been allocated a Dust-Sealed Stone for himself. He had only been searching for more for the sake of his seven students’ futures, but ended up sacrificing his own in the process.

Such a fate was truly pitiable.

It was even more pitiable when contrasted with someone like Wang Zhenye, who had casually found ninety-nine Dust-Sealed Stones on a whim for his beautiful companion.

Xu Ran sighed with a hint of regret. He looked at Elder Xu, who was deliberately putting on a strong front, and slowly began to speak:

”Elder Xu, I understand your worries. Please, rest assured. If, in the future, you... pass on, I will take good care of your students.”

Xu Ran enjoyed his peace and quiet and disliked trouble. However, faced with the heartfelt wish of a teacher who had exhausted himself for his students, he simply couldn’t bring himself to ignore it.

He cultivated the path of sentiment, and besides, Elder Xu was also the teacher of his own disciple, Jiang Ling’er.

Upon hearing Xu Ran’s words, some color instantly returned to Elder Xu’s pale face. He grabbed Xu Ran’s hand, his expression invigorated, and his tone filled with enthusiasm:

”I knew I wasn’t mistaken about you! Hidden Mountain Elder, you’re truly a great person.”

”You said it yourself; I never forced you. You must keep your word! On behalf of those students, I thank you.”

His energetic tone showed no trace of his previous listlessness, giving Xu Ran the feeling that he had just been played.

He then shook his head. ’So what if I was played? A teacher with little time left put on such a performance just for his students. I can’t bring myself to be angry. In fact, I feel a sense of honor.’

To be trusted by a teacher who wholeheartedly devoted himself to his students was a form of recognition to be proud of.

Therefore, faced with Elder Xu’s gaze, which seemed to fear he would go back on his word, he responded with a smiling nod:

”Rest assured. When I, the Hidden Mountain Elder, make a promise, I will absolutely keep it.”

Hearing this, Elder Xu’s expression relaxed, and he let out a long sigh. He then enthusiastically invited Xu Ran to sit down.

”I have half a tael of treasured Spirit Tea that I’m usually reluctant to drink. Today, I’ll bring it out for you, Hidden Mountain Elder.”

*

*

*

Ever since his conversation with Elder Xu, the seven disciples no longer visited him as frequently, reverting to their once-a-year visit schedule.

Elder Xu probably felt it wasn’t right to keep bothering Xu Ran like this. Since he was still alive, he could continue to nurture those students himself.

This also brought much more peace and quiet to Xu Ran’s life. Amidst these tranquil days, time quickly passed, and the hundredth year of the Hidden Dao Era arrived.

Just as predicted, after entering the hundredth year of the Hidden Dao Era, the density of Spiritual Qi in the world began to decline even more rapidly.

Some of the Spiritual Plants in the Sect began to gradually lose their vitality, and some Spiritual Objects started to grow dim.

Xu Ran’s most obvious observation was that recently, when he cultivated and sought enlightenment, some of the Dao Rhyme between heaven and earth had become obscure and difficult to comprehend. As for the speed at which he absorbed Spiritual Qi, he could clearly feel it had slowed down considerably.

For the time being, however, these effects were still within an acceptable range. It was only the hundredth year of the Hidden Dao Era, and his Cultivation was only at the Purple Mansion Stage. The Dao Concealment’s impact on a Cultivator of his Realm wasn’t that significant yet.

Not long after the hundredth year of the Hidden Dao Era began, Li Daoyi suddenly came to find him.

Xu Ran had assumed he wanted something, but what he said truly astonished him.

”Martial Uncle, the Sect Leader mentioned that you know some very delicious recipes, is that true?”

Xu Ran was momentarily stunned. He had never anticipated Li Daoyi would ask such a question.

Senior Sister Yue had stayed with him for a period while she was re-cultivating. During that time, he had constantly made Spiritual Cuisine for her. He hadn’t expected her to tell Li Daoyi about it.

A moment later, he came to his senses, composed himself slightly, and nodded at Li Daoyi, saying:

”I do know a few. Why do you ask?”

He stared at Li Daoyi, a little puzzled.

Li Daoyi explained with a melancholic expression, ”Over the years, the output of some of the Sect’s resource veins has been steadily decreasing. This is especially true for the Spirit Stone Mines, where both the grade and yield are in constant decline. If this continues, the Sect won’t even be able to pay out the normal Spirit Stone stipends.”

”So, after some discussion, everyone decided to reopen the old cafeteria to provide the disciples with Spiritual Cuisine and help them maintain their Cultivation.”

”However, an Elder pointed out that although the cafeteria’s dishes are plentiful, everyone has grown tired of them after all this time. It would be even better if we could introduce some new dishes, so everyone can enjoy delicious food on top of their Cultivation.”

”I’m currently in charge of this matter, and the Sect Leader told me that you, Martial Uncle, are an expert in this field and that I should come to you.”

After listening to Li Daoyi’s explanation, a complicated expression appeared on Xu Ran’s face. The cafeteria had been a temporary measure introduced back when the Sect was in dire straits to alleviate the resource shortage.

After the Sect’s situation improved, the cafeteria’s function was discontinued, and it began operating like a regular restaurant.

To think that now, after all this time, the cafeteria’s original purpose had returned.

After a silent, emotional sigh, Xu Ran nodded at Li Daoyi and said, ”I understand. Give me two days, and I will sort out the recipes for you.”

Li Daoyi’s face lit up. ”Thank you, Martial Uncle.”

Xu Ran waved his hand, signaling that there was no need for thanks. After Li Daoyi left, he recalled his words and fell into deep thought.

He recalled something Jiang Nian had said. The current situation was just as Jiang Nian had described: people could no longer rely on the heavens to provide for them. If they wanted to live well during the Dao Concealment, they had to rely on themselves.

The decline in Spiritual Qi also had a huge impact on Spiritual Plants. For instance, the Spirit Rice he had previously developed—especially the varieties that could be grown in ordinary fields—would surely see their maturation times and yields greatly affected as the Spiritual Qi waned.

If this continued, by the time the thousandth year of the Hidden Dao Era arrived, the Sect might not even be able to keep the cafeteria open.

At this thought, he couldn’t help but frown. ’Looks like I’ll have to put more effort into Jiang Nian and accelerate his growth.’

Then, his brow smoothed over. He decided to go check on Jiang Nian’s situation in a few days.

The day after he handed the recipes to Li Daoyi, Zhang Zhentian arrived with Shen Wuchen and Ye Qingyue to bid him farewell.

They were ready. It was time to set out for the Overseas Archipelago.