Chapter 378 - 206: Seven Sons of Profound Pure, New Calendar

Chapter 378: Chapter 206: Seven Sons of Profound Pure, New Calendar

Elder Xu felt that for the Hidden Mountain Elder to single-handedly create two paths—the Flying Immortal Stream and the Hidden Mountain Spell—made him a figure on par with the founding patriarch of a sect. Such a person could not be judged by his Cultivation Realm alone.

A person like that surely had other hidden abilities.

He had asked Xu Ran to meet the seven students because he wanted to squeeze out every last hidden skill Xu Ran possessed, leaving nothing behind.

The path to turning the seven students into the Seven Sons of Profound Pure was long and arduous. He knew his own abilities weren’t enough; he could only place his hopes in the Hidden Mountain Elder.

Xu Ran was unaware of Elder Xu’s intentions, but upon the elder’s enthusiastic invitation, he met the seven disciples who were practicing the Hidden Mountain Spell.

There were seven of them—three men and four women. They were all in their twenties, which was exceptionally young in the Cultivation Realm.

The seven of them looked quite ordinary, with nothing particularly special about them. They each had different features, but in a world like the Cultivation Realm, where handsome men and beautiful women were a common sight, their overall attractiveness was rather average.

Following Elder Xu’s introductions, Xu Ran learned their Daoist names. The four women were named Qing Qing, Qing Mei, Qing Lan, and Qing Ju.

The three men were named Qing Zhu, Qing Ma, and Qing Shu.

Elder Xu had given them their Daoist names. As they were all disciples of Qing Xuan Peak, all their names began with "Qing."

After hearing Elder Xu’s introduction, Xu Ran’s jaw dropped. He couldn’t help but shoot the elder a look, his expression complicated.

Then, he looked over at the seven young disciples, a flash of sympathy in his eyes.

’It must be tough for them, being stuck with a teacher like that.’

’Even Brother Huang from Spirit Stream Peak—the one another Spirit Plant Master calls "Daoist Brother"—could probably come up with better-sounding names than these.’

After Elder Xu finished introducing Xu Ran, the seven disciples looked at him with varying expressions. They bowed respectfully, then stared at him with curious eyes.

They looked like they wanted to step forward and strike up a conversation, but they didn’t seem to have the courage. They held themselves back, their youthful cheeks tinged with a faint blush.

Seeing their reactions, Xu Ran was filled with a strange feeling.

It had been a long time since he’d left the Instructor Hall on Spirit Stream Peak, and he hadn’t seen such bashful gazes since then.

After a good while, one of the seven, a girl with a slightly chubby build and a small, round face, stepped forward. Her expression was full of excitement as she said:

"So you’re the one who created the Hidden Mountain Spell! Thank you for creating such a simple Cultivation Technique. After your technique appeared, we finally realized that cultivation could be this easy."

As she spoke, she secretly glanced at Elder Xu, blinked, and said in a hushed, playful voice:

"You have no idea, our teacher used to be so fierce during class. He scolded us all the time."

"It was only after we started practicing your Cultivation Technique that he started scolding us less..."

Hearing the girl’s tattling words, Xu Ran smiled faintly. Elder Xu had introduced her earlier; her name was Qing Qing. It seemed she, much like his own former apprentice Jiang Ling’Er, was often on the receiving end of Elder Xu’s scoldings.

He often passed by the Instructor Hall on Qing Xuan Peak and had witnessed what Elder Xu was like when he taught.

Though Elder Xu cared deeply for his students, he was absolutely merciless when it came to reprimanding them.

Back in the Scripture Pavilion, his own apprentice, Jiang Ling’Er, would often complain to him about this very thing with red-rimmed eyes.

Although Qing Qing’s voice was quiet, Elder Xu was a Golden Core Stage Cultivator. It was impossible for her words to escape his notice.

He coughed a few times and shot the young girl, Qing Qing, a stern glare, signaling for her to return to her spot.

Seeing this, Qing Qing stuck her tongue out at him before skipping back into formation.

Witnessing the exchange, Elder Xu took a few steps to Xu Ran’s side and sighed with emotion. "They’re all good kids."

Xu Ran nodded slightly and agreed, "They certainly are. Seeing how youthful and full of vigor they are makes me feel a bit younger myself."

The moment the words left his mouth, Elder Xu quickly interjected, "So, Hidden Mountain Elder, after seeing this group of fine children, don’t you feel like showing some kind of gesture?"

Xu Ran slapped his forehead and hurriedly replied, "Ah, my apologies, my apologies. I was so caught up in my thoughts that I nearly forgot the meeting gifts."

Seeing this, Elder Xu quickly reached out a hand to stop Xu Ran from taking out the gifts.

He narrowed his eyes, grinning as he stared at Xu Ran and said:

"Let’s forget about meeting gifts. My Cultivation is a Realm higher than yours, Hidden Mountain Elder, so I’m not in need of any material items. If you truly wish to give something, why not offer them a little guidance instead?"

Seeing the triumphant glint in the corner of Elder Xu’s eye, Xu Ran finally understood.

He finally understood the reason for the elder’s earlier enthusiasm.

’So he’s been treating me like some kind of master all this time.’

This made him hesitate for a moment.

He knew his own situation best. Elder Xu saw him as a master with a wealth of hidden skills, but in reality, he had already revealed pretty much everything he had.

He wanted to offer a few humble words and politely decline, but Elder Xu was staring at him with such fervor. Out of the corner of his eye, he could see that after hearing the elder’s words, the seven young disciples were also staring at him, their eyes shining.

Their youthful faces were filled with anticipation.

Seeing this, Xu Ran fell silent for a moment before saying:

"Besides the Hidden Mountain Spell, I also created four swordsmanship techniques. If you don’t mind, shall I demonstrate them for everyone?"