Watching the Mountain

Chapter 52: Chapter 46: Alchemy? Insect Control? Array?

To break through from the Qi Cultivation Stage to the Foundation Establishment Stage, one must achieve "Bright Heart Illuminating Self."

As the saying goes, "It is easy to know others, but difficult to know oneself." At this stage, a Cultivator must clarify the direction of their future path and forge the foundation of their Great Dao.

Xu Ran had not yet reached this stage in his Cultivation, so he didn’t know much about it.

The Elder in charge of recruiting disciples who had been in contact with him was named Zi Teng Master, a veteran Core Formation Stage Cultivator.

After Xu Ran shared his plan with him, he entrusted Shen Wuchen to his care.

As Shen Wuchen left with Zi Teng Master to break through to the Foundation Establishment Stage, the disciples of the Spirit Stream Peak Instructor Hall, after calming down for a while, also began to trickle back to listen to his lectures.

The Sect and the various Elders strongly supported Xu Ran, allowing him to remain in charge of the Instructor Hall. The disciples themselves hadn’t been very resolute in their boycott. After all, nothing had ever gone wrong while listening to Xu Ran’s lectures before. They were the ones who needed to learn, so they naturally wouldn’t be foolish enough to act out of spite. When it was time to attend a lecture, they would come.

However, they had now been in the Sect for ten years, and their Cultivation had improved. With the next batch of disciples due to enter the Sect soon, the number of people coming to his lectures was certainly not what it used to be.

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While Shen Wuchen was working on his breakthrough to the Foundation Establishment Stage, Xu Ran began to think about his own training—not his Cultivation level, but his proficiency in the Hundred Skills of Cultivation.

After decades of study and research, and perhaps because he was truly talented, he could be considered to have mastered the art of the Spirit Plant Master.

This wasn’t to say there was nothing left to learn, but that his current knowledge was more than sufficient. Deeper study wouldn’t yield significant benefits at his current stage.

Besides, his fundamental reason for studying the art of the Spirit Plant Master was to repay his debt of gratitude to Yue Qingyu.

He had even figured out how to increase the yield of Spirit Rice. As far as he was concerned, he had done everything within his power. He couldn’t say for sure if he had fully repaid his debt to Yue Qingyu, but at least he no longer felt the same unease in his heart.

Therefore, it was time for the next stage: learning and mastering a new skill from the Hundred Skills of Cultivation.

Currently, there were two options that suited him best: Alchemy Master and Insect Master.

He had the prerequisite knowledge for both professions. For Alchemy, he already had an in-depth understanding of various Spirit Medicines, Spirit Fruits, and Spiritual Plants.

As for becoming an Insect Master, he had also conducted deep research when he developed the Heaven, Earth, and Human Talents Pest Control System.

He had a thorough understanding of various pests like the Lingxi Insect and the Gold-devouring Insect. With this as a foundation, transitioning to study as an Insect Master was also a viable option.

Both professions seemed quite good. The path of an Insect Master was particularly appealing, as it would be an excellent means of self-preservation for him at his current level.

However, Ning Xiyue had recently returned from a mission, and she had even shown Xu Ran her skills as a Tier Two Array Master.

Xu Ran’s eyes burned with envy as he watched her demonstrate all sorts of Arrays. Killing arrays, Defense Arrays, illusion arrays, trapping arrays—the variety dazzled him.

Then, an idea struck him. He turned to Little Xiyue and asked, "What level does an Array Master need to be to set up something like a Teleportation Array?"

Hearing Xu Ran’s question, Little Xiyue gave him a puzzled look before replying:

"That depends on the distance. A Tier Three Array Master can set up a short-range Teleportation Array, but it won’t take you very far—a few dozen or maybe a hundred li at most. It’s not very useful."

Xu Ran’s expression flickered. He immediately followed up, "Can an array like that be inscribed on an Array Plate to be activated at any time? And how long does it take to activate?"

Little Xiyue pondered for a moment before answering, "A Teleportation Array usually requires fixed nodes at two locations to work. A one-way teleportation is risky; you can’t guarantee the destination."

Xu Ran waved his hand dismissively. "That doesn’t matter. The key is the activation time. How long does it take?"

"If it’s inscribed on an Array Plate in advance, it can be activated instantly, like a teleport."

Xu Ran’s face lit up with joy. "Good! That’s the one! I want to learn this! My good disciple, please teach me the art of Arrays."

"Huh?" Little Xiyue was completely stunned. She stared at him with a strange expression and asked uncertainly:

"Master, you’re saying you want me to teach you about Arrays? Are you serious?"

Xu Ran nodded calmly and replied nonchalantly, "Why? Is there a problem?"

’Instant teleportation... Of course I have to learn such an excellent life-saving technique! With a skill like this, I won’t have to be afraid no matter where I go in the future.’

’Even if it’s only a few dozen or a hundred li at a time, as long as I have enough Array Plates, I can theoretically run to the ends of the earth. I’ll never have to fear being hunted down by anyone.’

’With this skill in hand, no matter who I offend in the future, I’m confident that after endless years have passed, I’ll be able to go to their graves, cry a little, and tell them my story.’

Hearing Xu Ran’s words, Little Xiyue took a deep breath to compose herself, then nodded lightly and replied:

"There’s no problem with that. Since you want to learn, Master, your disciple is naturally willing to teach you."

Her tone was cheerful. She had said before that once she mastered her skills, she wanted to be able to help Xu Ran.

But Xu Ran’s life had always been so monotonous that there was never anything she could help him with. Now that he had proactively asked for her help, she was overjoyed. It felt as if a long-held wish had finally been granted.

Xu Ran was a man of action. The moment he said he wanted to learn, he immediately had Little Xiyue begin teaching him.

Little Xiyue didn’t hesitate either, taking out a Jade Scroll and handing it to him.

Xu Ran took the Jade Scroll, titled "Profound Pure Sect Fundamentals of Arrays," pressed it to his forehead to read it, and immediately felt dizzy. The sheer volume and complexity of the content were overwhelming. "Is this what you normally study?"

Seeing his reaction, Little Xiyue smiled knowingly. "The knowledge required of an Array Master is inherently complex. There’s an incredible amount to learn. It’s true that many people feel a sense of dread when they first see it, feeling like the knowledge is endless and impossible to ever fully grasp."

As she spoke, her large, sparkling eyes curved into a pair of beautiful crescents, and she covered her mouth while chuckling.

"But Master, you’re not thinking of giving up already, are you?"

Xu Ran’s expression stiffened. "Give up? How is that possible? You’re underestimating your master. Come on, let’s continue."

Little Xiyue nodded slightly and then took out a small booklet containing the notes she had made while studying Arrays herself.

She spread her notes open in front of Xu Ran and began to speak softly:

"Then let’s start with the most basic concept: recognizing the flow of ley lines. The ley lines of this world..."

She quickly fell into a teaching rhythm, very seriously beginning her explanation for Xu Ran.

Xu Ran also studied very diligently. Although the material was dizzying, whenever he felt his mind begin to wander, he would circulate his Spiritual Power to wake himself up and refocus his attention on his studies.

But after studying for a long time, he suddenly felt that something was a little off. He kept getting the feeling that Little Xiyue, who was sitting beside him and teaching him, would secretly glance at him with a strange look in her eyes.

After the better part of a day, he finally couldn’t take it anymore and asked her irritably, "Why do you keep looking at me?"

At his question, Little Xiyue gave a peculiar smile and said, "It’s nothing. It just feels a little wonderful. You’re clearly the master, and I’m your disciple, but now it’s me teaching you. Hee hee."

She squinted her eyes, her smile a little dreamy and very happy.

Xu Ran was taken aback for a moment. After a long pause, he replied with a calm expression, "What’s so strange about that? ’Master’ and ’disciple’ are just titles. If the disciple’s skills surpass the master’s, isn’t it perfectly normal for the master to ask the disciple for guidance?"

Xu Ran’s expression grew a little distant. He had never actually imagined a day like this would come.

The tiny little girl Xiaoque’Er had entrusted to his care had, in the blink of an eye, become his own teacher, guiding him in his Cultivation.

He had clearly promised Xiaoque’Er he would take Little Xiyue as his disciple, yet now the roles were reversed. All he could say was that time truly flew by.

Little Xiyue nodded slightly. This was indeed the master she knew: incredibly pragmatic, never caring about ’face’ as long as there was a tangible benefit to be had, just like when he used to take her along to sneak into other people’s classes.

Then, she put on a stern face, just like Xu Ran had when he first pushed open the gate to Xiaoque’Er’s courtyard. She stared at him with an imposing air and said:

"In that case, Master, you have to study seriously. Otherwise, I’ll get angry."