Watching the Mountain

Chapter 398: Chapter 213: Accelerated Dao Concealment

The two of them were set in their ways, and neither could persuade the other. In the end, they could only let it go.

”Have you contacted them? How is their progress over in the Overseas Archipelago?”

Xu Ran asked Li Daoyi. It was now the 110th Year of the Hidden Dao Era. Five years had passed since Senior Sister Yue was sealed away, and ten years had passed since Zhang Zhentian, Shen Wuchen, and the others had departed for the Overseas Archipelago.

He had sent a message to ask Zhang Zhentian and the others two years prior, and at the time, they had replied that they were still on their way.

As for their safety, they said that aside from encountering some natural disasters and Sea Demons, they had not run into any conflicts with the native Cultivators of the Overseas Archipelago.

Hearing Xu Ran’s question, Li Daoyi shook his head and replied:

”I just contacted Fellow Daoist Chu last month. He told me they still haven’t found the Wangyue Sect. Although Elder Qingyue had contact with the Wangyue Sect, it’s truly difficult to pinpoint their location on the vast sea, especially with the limitations on Divine Sense.”

At this point, Li Daoyi paused slightly, a hesitant expression on his face.

Seeing this, Xu Ran asked doubtfully, ”What is it? Is something wrong?”

Li Daoyi pondered for a moment upon hearing this, his expression complicated as he replied:

”It’s nothing major. It’s just that Fellow Daoist Chu might not be in the best of moods lately.”

Xu Ran gave him a somewhat surprised look. ”Did something happen over there?”

Li Daoyi shook his head gently. ”Fellow Daoist Chu chose to go to the Overseas Archipelago to temper himself and achieve a breakthrough.”

”But in these ten years, he hasn’t encountered a single conflict in the Overseas Archipelago. According to him, the islands are extremely quiet now, completely unlike the chaotic place described in the rumors. It’s even more peaceful and harmonious than our side. He hasn’t even seen a single Tribulation Cultivator.”

”This has left him somewhat disappointed. Without battle, there’s no so-called tempering.”

Xu Ran was a little surprised to hear this. ’The Overseas Archipelago is even more peaceful and harmonious than the Cultivation Realm?’

’This is quite unexpected. Could it be that all the records and rumors in the Cultivation Realm are false, intentionally smearing the Overseas Archipelago?’

However, he didn’t dwell on it. A peaceful and harmonious Overseas Archipelago was more conducive to Zhang Zhentian and Shen Wuchen’s mission. He couldn’t wish for anything more.

Now that the pace of the Heaven and Earth Dao Concealment was quickening, he was also worried about potential mishaps and hoped Zhang Zhentian and Shen Wuchen would complete their task and return safely soon.

Neither Xu Ran nor Li Daoyi could convince the other, so they eventually dropped it. They each returned to their normal lives—Li Daoyi managed the Sect, while Xu Ran cultivated in seclusion, awaiting the return of Zhang Zhentian and the others.

But before he could welcome Zhang Zhentian’s group back, he instead received news that Elder Xu of the Instructor Hall was nearing the end of his lifespan.

As Xu Ran rushed to Elder Xu’s side, he encountered many people along the way who were just returning from there.

Evidently, they had all gone to pay their respects to Elder Xu.

Elder Xu had served as a lecturer in the Qing Xuan Peak Instructor Hall for so long and had taught countless students. Now that his life was nearing its end, an especially large number of people came to see him.

Whether it was by Elder Xu’s deliberate arrangement or not, Xu Ran discovered that he seemed to be the last one to arrive.

When he walked into Elder Xu’s Cave Mansion, the man was lying on a bamboo bed next to a withered old tree.

Qing, Mei, Zhu, Ma, Lan, Ju, and Shu—his seven students—were gathered around the bamboo bed, looking at Elder Xu with sorrowful expressions.

”Hidden Mountain Elder.” Upon seeing Xu Ran arrive, the seven of them bowed respectfully before departing in silence, leaving only him and Elder Xu behind.

Seeing this, Xu Ran was certain it had been specially arranged by Elder Xu. The elder must have something he wanted to entrust to him.

He glanced at the backs of the seven departing students and understood. ’It must be about them.’

After the seven had left, Elder Xu, lying on the bamboo bed, slowly opened his eyes. He managed a smile for Xu Ran and spoke in a weak voice:

”These seven students of mine are quite good, aren’t they?”

Xu Ran nodded slightly. After all these years, the cultivation of those seven had all reached the Purple Mansion Stage.

None of the seven were even two hundred years old. To reach the Purple Mansion Stage at that age, while not comparable to some prodigies, was still quite an achievement.

Their innate talent was only average, and they were in the Hidden Dao Era. To reach the Purple Mansion Stage under two hundred years old in these circumstances was truly remarkable for them.

Xu Ran chuckled softly. ”Don’t worry, Elder Xu. Since I promised to look after them after you’re gone, I will certainly keep my word.”

Elder Xu grinned at his words. ”I’m not worried about that. Since the Hidden Mountain Elder has given his promise, I believe you will definitely take good care of them.”

”I chose to see you last because I have something else to discuss.”

”Oh?” Xu Ran glanced at Elder Xu in surprise, then asked with some curiosity, ”What is it, Elder Xu? Please, speak freely.”

Elder Xu’s gaze fell upon him. He pondered for a moment before speaking, ”I heard that the Evergreen Sword Saint and Wuchen True Monarch went to the Overseas Archipelago?”

Xu Ran nodded. ”That is correct.”

Elder Xu fell silent for a moment before speaking slowly, ”I know you have a good relationship with them, Hidden Mountain Elder. Did you ask them to look for news of Ling’Er after they reached the Overseas Archipelago?”

Hearing his own apprentice’s name, Xu Ran was taken aback for a second. He instantly understood Elder Xu’s true purpose for seeking him out.