Watching the Mountain

Chapter 51: Chapter 45: This Old Man Will Never Regret

Yue Qingyu didn’t say much about the battlefield, and Xu Ran knew better than to press for details. Instead, he took the opportunity while she was free to ask about how everyone else was doing.

For instance, Flowing Clouds Master, who had sworn to find him a wife; Wang Xingye and Hao Daniu, who had promised to seize some Awakening Liquid to boost his Comprehension and help him achieve his Dao; and Ye Xingchen and Li Qingxue, who wanted to stand shoulder-to-shoulder with him...

Xu Ran’s daily interactions with his fellow sect members were usually professional and business-like. He simply saw them as colleagues from the same Sect, without much personal connection.

He didn’t want to get entangled with too many people. As someone who could live forever, he hadn’t yet reached the point where he could view all living things as mere grass and trees. Too many attachments would only slow him down, so he deliberately kept a certain distance from his peers.

Things had been perfectly fine that way. But on the night before they all left for the battlefield, they had insisted on gathering around him, spouting words about helping him achieve his Dao. It was as if fate itself was trying to make his life more difficult.

Since their promises were related to him, Xu Ran felt that, by all reason, he should at least show some concern. Ironically, the one he didn’t need to worry about at all was Zhang Zhentian—the person he’d known the longest, was closest to, and had the most ties with.

That troublemaker had truly made a name for himself. News of his exploits arrived constantly: who he’d defeated, what position he’d broken through, what merits he’d earned... It even got people talking about Xu Ran himself. There was absolutely no need to worry about him.

When those people were making all their promises that night, Xu Ran’s eyelid had twitched so much it almost went stiff. He was just afraid something terrible would happen to them.

Fortunately, it wasn’t long before Yue Qingyu brought him good news. All the people he had asked about were alive and well; no one had met with disaster.

Hearing this, Xu Ran couldn’t help but feel a little relieved. Yue Qingyu had mentioned before that the war was going surprisingly smoothly. Now that it was in its final stages and everyone would be back in a few years, they would probably be fine. He wouldn’t have to worry about them or bear any karmic burden.

*

*

*

Before returning to the Sect after the grand competition, a small incident occurred. The Purple Mansion emissary from the Wangyue Sect actually sought out Xu Ran and invited him to join their sect.

That would have been one thing, but her words were an invitation filled with compliments like, "We have heard of your deeds," "We sincerely invite you," and "We await your esteemed presence."

And yet, as she spoke, her face was cold, wearing a ’don’t-come-near-me’ expression. Every word sounded like she was mechanically reciting a script, leaving him utterly baffled.

’So, with an attitude like that, are they inviting me or trying to reject me?’ He couldn’t figure it out at all.

Regardless, for them to approach him with an invitation definitely meant they had dug up some information about him—for instance, that the new variety of Spiritual Plant recently introduced by the Sect was his creation.

This made him a little nervous.

The Wangyue Sect was famous for its intelligence network, specializing in uncovering the world’s secrets. He had no idea how much they knew.

More importantly, had they spread that information about him?

Ever since the start of the grand competition, the Wangyue Sect had felt... off. He didn’t know what they were planning.

Xu Ran had no interest in their other schemes and had no desire to dig deeper. He just hoped they wouldn’t set their sights on him.

Otherwise, he’d have no choice but to go dance on their graves countless years in the future. He’d make them party even in death.

*

*

*

Just as Xu Ran had predicted, after returning from the grand competition, the Instructor Hall on Spirit Stream Peak suddenly became deserted.

Previously, even after the initial two-year introductory period was over, many people still came whenever he gave a lecture.

But now, only a dozen or so would show up occasionally. It was said that some disciples had even gone to the Sect to complain, asking why someone with only a Qi Cultivation Stage cultivation was allowed to run the Instructor Hall.

The Sect’s response was that the Instructor Hall on Spirit Stream Peak was personally overseen by a Sect Elder. During the Elder’s seclusion, he had appointed Xu Ran as the temporary replacement. After a Sect investigation, it was determined that Steward Xu’s skills were sufficient to temporarily manage the Instructor Hall while the Sect was short-staffed, and there was no issue.

Furthermore, the Sect specifically addressed the issue of Shen Wuchen’s natural aptitude, stating that Xu Ran’s ability to cultivate him was a skill in itself and not a fault.

Xu Ran understood the disciples’ reactions. ’People, after all, don’t like to blame themselves.’

Before this, they had considered their cultivation level and strength to be normal. Whether they were strong or not was their own problem.

But ever since witnessing Shen Wuchen’s case, they started to think that perhaps their current strength wasn’t entirely their own problem. If someone else were lecturing, maybe their cultivation would be higher and their strength greater.

Whether it was true or not, once the thought entered their minds, they couldn’t help but dwell on it.

’What if? There’s no harm in trying. A change is better than staying the same.’

So, their actions weren’t necessarily about truly blaming Xu Ran. They were just making excuses for themselves, much like someone wanting to live their life a different way.

Among them, a disciple named Li Tianhe was the most vocal. He loudly proclaimed in front of the other disciples, "We are all actually geniuses! It’s only because we met a mediocre teacher that our achievements can’t compare to the disciples before us! We were meant for greatness!"

It was only after returning to the Sect that Shen Wuchen belatedly discovered the situation.

He felt incredibly guilty for implicating Xu Ran and angrily went to confront those fellow disciples.

"Master Xu is not the problem! He’s a great, responsible teacher! My strength is entirely my own issue. If it weren’t for Master Xu, my cultivation would still be stuck at the Qi Cultivation Third Layer, and I might never have broken through in this lifetime!"

It would have been better if Shen Wuchen hadn’t explained. His explanation only made the situation more chaotic.

Originally, after hearing the Sect’s explanation, the disciples of the Spirit Stream Peak Instructor Hall had mostly accepted it. They didn’t really think Xu Ran was a problem; they just wanted to try something new. It would be best if the Sect could get them a new teacher.

After all, the other main peaks had Foundation Establishment Stage Cultivators giving lectures, while theirs was only at the Qi Cultivation Stage. It didn’t sound good when you said it out loud, so a change would be for the best.

But now, hearing Shen Wuchen’s explanation, their recently calmed emotions flared up again. Many disciples from the Instructor Hall ran over to persuade him, "You’re the most talented one here! He taught you into *this*, and you’re still making excuses for him?"

"No, my talent isn’t good. Master Xu helped me."

"Oh, come on! Explain this to me: how can the person with the fastest cultivation speed in our generation be ’not talented’? Are you trying to insult us? If you’re not talented, then what does that make us?"

"My Comprehension is poor. You all know that from when I was tested."

"But aren’t you enlightened now? Otherwise, how could you have broken through in your cultivation?"

"I already told you, Master Xu helped me."

"Exactly! He’s the one who caused your Dao Rhyme comprehension to be so poor, and you’re still defending him! Look at how thoroughly he’s tricked you!"

"I..." Shen Wuchen’s face turned beet red, so angry he was speechless.

’Why can’t these people understand what I’m saying?’

*

*

*

"Master Xu, I’m sorry. It’s my fault. If it weren’t for me, you wouldn’t be misunderstood and blamed by everyone."

Having lost the argument with his fellow disciples, Shen Wuchen bowed to Xu Ran, his face filled with shame and unease.

Xu Ran looked at his state, chuckled lightly, and pointed at himself. "Do I look like I care?"

Shen Wuchen looked at him, then shook his head and said with determination:

"No. Master Xu, you have a broad-minded attitude and can ignore these rumors, but I cannot shirk my responsibility as your disciple. Rest assured, I will convince everyone and prove your innocence."

Xu Ran scoffed. "Innocence? Watch your wording. You make it sound like I did something to you."

"Er..." Shen Wuchen’s expression froze. He opened his mouth, about to explain, when he heard Xu Ran continue:

"You don’t need to go out of your way to do anything. The more you explain, the more you’ll trigger their rebellious mentality, making them even more convinced they’re right."

"This..." Shen Wuchen’s expression faltered. ’So I’m actually making things worse?’

He immediately lowered his head in shame, feeling even more uneasy.

"But, to just let everyone keep talking like this..."

He still felt unwilling to accept it.

Seeing his reaction, Xu Ran smiled slightly and said, "If you want to convince them, then just prove it to them with your actions."

"How do I do that?"

"It’s simple. You just need to cultivate diligently and raise your cultivation as quickly as possible. When your cultivation far surpasses your peers, so much so that they can never catch up and are left in the dust, then even if you are the weakest in your Realm, they will only feel envy. After all, in the Cultivation Realm, one’s cultivation level is what matters most."

After speaking, Xu Ran looked at the pensive Shen Wuchen and continued, "Of course, my current cultivation is only at the Qi Cultivation Eighth Layer, not even as high as yours. Your next step is to break through to the Foundation Establishment Stage, and I can’t help you with that."

"But don’t worry. I’ve already found someone who can help you break through."

The person Xu Ran was referring to was the very same Elder who had been in charge of recruiting new disciples. After hearing the news from the grand competition, he had become very curious about how Shen Wuchen had cultivated.

Xu Ran didn’t hide anything and told him his method.

After hearing Xu Ran’s method, the Elder clicked his tongue in amazement, marveling that such a thing was even possible.

Xu Ran then took the opportunity to ask him to help Shen Wuchen continue his breakthrough.

The other party frowned and pondered for a long time before making a request: "This old man can help him break through in his cultivation, but this matter must be kept secret. Absolutely no one else can know."

After speaking, he paused for a moment, looked up, and sighed, "This old man has a reputation to uphold."

Teaching a disciple who ends up being the weakest in his Realm... if word of that got out, just thinking about it was humiliating.

Hearing this request, Xu Ran agreed immediately. He then looked at the Elder with a grin and said, "Just don’t regret it in the future, old sir."

The Elder was stubborn, retorting without hesitation, "A joke! This old man, regret? Impossible!"