Watching the Mountain

Chapter 56: Chapter 50: Annihilation

Once Xu Ran had calmed down, Little Xiyue rushed to his side to congratulate him.

"Congratulations, Master, on achieving Bright Heart Illuminating Self and seeing your path forward clearly. Foundation Establishment is within reach, and the Great Dao is in sight."

Little Xiyue was incredibly excited. Ever since she had completed her own Foundation Establishment, the thing that had worried her most was her master Xu Ran’s cultivation.

Senior Sister Yue had previously claimed to have custom-made a Lifespan Extension Pill for him that would extend his life by three hundred years, so he didn’t have to worry about his lifespan for the time being.

But her master’s talent for cultivation was just so worrisome. To be honest, she had no confidence that he could break through to the Foundation Establishment Stage before his extra three hundred years of life ran out.

The path of cultivation is fraught with peril at every step—this was no mere saying. Forget the Foundation Establishment Stage; even the minor hurdles at the Qi Cultivation Fourth and Seventh Layers could trap many people for a lifetime.

How many cultivators in the world spent their entire lives stuck at the Qi Cultivation Third or Sixth Layers? Such cultivators were innumerable in the lowest echelons of the Cultivation Realm.

The Bright Heart Illuminating Self of the Foundation Establishment Stage was a particularly esoteric realm. For some, it might be a matter of a single thought. For others, they could spend countless years trapped in their own cycles, unable to break through.

Three hundred years seemed like a long time, but in the Cultivation Realm, it was merely the blink of an eye. Little Xiyue truly had no confidence at all.

Now that she had seen Xu Ran break through his own delusions and find his future path, it was as if a great weight had been lifted from her heart. She could finally breathe a sigh of relief.

Although her master’s cultivation was only at the Qi Cultivation Eighth Layer, still a ways from the threshold of the Foundation Establishment Stage, the most difficult hurdle had now been passed. The rest would only take a little time before he could break through smoothly.

As this thought occurred to her, the overjoyed Little Xiyue’s expression suddenly froze. She abruptly remembered that a long time ago, her master had already comprehended the Mental Realm required to break through to the Golden Core Stage.

And now, without even reaching the Qi Cultivation Ninth Layer, he had overcome the Bright Heart Realm, the most difficult part of the Foundation Establishment Stage.

She stared at Xu Ran with a peculiar expression, a question suddenly popping into her mind. ’Is Master a cultivation failure or some kind of eccentric genius?’

Take his skill as a Spirit Plant Master, for example. He had achieved in less than a hundred years what many couldn’t in their entire lives. It was a feat that left most Spirit Plant Masters far behind in his dust.

Xu Ran felt Little Xiyue’s gaze and was a little baffled. "Why are you looking at me like that?"

Little Xiyue shook her head. "It’s nothing. I’m just happy about your breakthrough."

She smiled, skipping the subject. "Master, in a way, you’ve already repaid Senior Brother Wang’s kindness. After all, you fulfilled his greatest wish."

Xu Ran fell silent. He let out a soft sigh, shook his head, and said, "His wish and my debt are two separate things. I can’t just assume that what he did was a matter of course simply because I unintentionally fulfilled his dream."

Just moments ago, Xu Ran had made his decision. He would walk the path of sentiment, not the so-called Supreme Forgetting Emotions. Immortality was not an excuse for detachment.

He used to think that because he would live for so long, he shouldn’t get involved with too many people, treating them as mere travelers passing through his life.

But in truth, all things in creation, regardless of lifespan, are born of and grow in this world. As long as one existed in this world, contact was inevitable. With contact came connection, an unbreakable bond.

Take Xiaoque’Er, for instance. Even though she had passed away, Little Xiyue’s existence meant his connection to her was not severed.

Of course, this didn’t mean he had to change his long-standing personality and habits. He didn’t need to change at all, only his direction. He was still himself; all he had to do was let things take their natural course.

Hearing this, Little Xiyue fell silent for a moment. ’What I said earlier was indeed a bit problematic,’ she thought. ’It sounded like I was trying to shirk responsibility.’

She then looked at Xu Ran and asked, "In that case, Master, what do you plan to do?"

Xu Ran thought for a moment. "First, let’s return to Wang Family Village."

Xu Ran and Little Xiyue then spent a month in Wang Family Village.

During that time, Xu Ran observed life in the village. He improved their existing spinning machines, taught them several improved methods from his past life for raising different types of silkworms, and left behind many recipes.

’The people of Wang Family Village want to live a peaceful life,’ he thought. ’So I’ll make their lives a little more comfortable. They don’t need great wealth, but they can eat well and be warmly clothed.’

As for the token, he still held onto it. He told them that if the people of Wang Family Village ever needed anything, they could bring it to the Profound Pure Sect to find him. He couldn’t promise he could help with everything, but he would do his best.

After leaving Wang Family Village, Xu Ran and Little Xiyue went to the town where Hao Daniu had lived.

Hao Daniu’s situation was different from Wang Xingye’s; his parents were still alive. When Xu Ran told them the terrible news about their son, they were so grief-stricken they nearly fainted.

After most of the day had passed and the initial wave of grief subsided, Hao Daniu’s father clenched his fists, his eyes red, and cried out:

"That’s my boy! He didn’t bring shame to the Hao family."

Then, under the puzzled gazes of Xu Ran and Little Xiyue, Hao Daniu’s father—a coarse, elderly man who looked very honest and simple—explained in a low voice:

"Before he joined the Immortal Sect, I always taught him that he must be loyal to his friends. If he had the ability, he must help his fellow disciples, and once he became strong, he must not bully the weak."

"I heard people say that the world of Immortals is different from ours, that it’s chaotic. I’m a simple man, I don’t understand all that. But I hoped our Da Niu would always be honest, hold true to his heart, and not be led astray. I didn’t want people to look down on children born as mortals, thinking we’re all just crude, bad people..."

Hao Daniu’s father told Xu Ran and Little Xiyue many stories, recounting various little moments from Da Niu’s life, from his birth to the day he entered the Sect.

Xu Ran and Little Xiyue listened patiently to his stories.

When Xu Ran mentioned wanting to do something for them, they refused, insisting that it had been Da Niu’s own choice.

In the end, Xu Ran had no choice but to have them consume some elixirs to strengthen their bodies and bolster their constitutions, and he also left them some money.

Hao Daniu also had a younger brother, who was already middle-aged and lacked the aptitude for cultivation. Xu Ran gave their family a token as well, telling them to come find him if they ever needed anything, or if a descendant wished to pursue cultivation.

Leaving the Hao family’s home, Xu Ran’s feelings were complicated. In Hao Daniu’s father, he had seen a shadow of his own family from his past life.

Every ordinary person seemed to possess a kindness and integrity that was hard to comprehend. When faced with certain situations, their reactions were all surprisingly similar.

Although Xu Ran hadn’t interacted much with Hao Daniu in the Sect, he knew that he was just as his father had described—always enthusiastic about helping his fellow disciples.

Just like the mission to seize the Awakening Liquid, Hao Daniu had participated purely out of a warm heart and a sense of duty to his peers. There were no other motives.

He was just as his name suggested: simple and ordinary, honestly doing what he believed was right.

Xu Ran let out a long sigh, deeply etching the moving feelings of this moment into his memory.

He hoped that in the future, no matter how much time passed, he would still be moved to tears by the sight of ordinary people and ordinary things.

He did not want an immortality where his heart was like a stone, without a single ripple of emotion. That was not the long life he desired.

Over the course of a year, Xu Ran and Little Xiyue traveled to many places, visiting the hometown of every disciple who had died for the Awakening Liquid.

They encountered many different situations along the way. Of course, not every family was as understanding as Wang Xingye’s and Hao Daniu’s.

It takes all sorts to make a world. Some chose to forgive. Some complained and blamed him. Some didn’t care about the life or death of their loved ones, only wanting to extract more tangible benefits from him.

Xu Ran dealt with each of them in turn. As long as their demands weren’t too excessive, he fulfilled them.

Through this journey, he experienced so much—the scent of life that he could never feel while secluded in the Sect. It was ordinary, full of trivialities, and at times, even maddening.

Yet, when it was all over and they were on their way back to the Sect, he found himself savoring that feeling.

He felt it contained something he hadn’t yet grasped, something veiled by a thin mist. Perhaps some great opportunity lay hidden within, but he had yet to achieve the enlightenment to see it.

But he wasn’t anxious. There would be more opportunities like this; he didn’t need to force himself to grasp it right now.

On the way back to the Sect, Xu Ran encountered an unexpected person: the Purple Mansion leader from the Wangyue Sect, the woman in the green dress from the grand sect competition.

When Xu Ran saw her, his first instinct was to hide. ’After all, the Wangyue Sect and the Profound Pure Sect are rivals. Who knows if she’ll attack me on sight?’

However, the woman seemed to have spotted him as well and was walking straight toward him.

Seeing this, Xu Ran had no choice but to lead Little Xiyue forward and bow respectfully. "Xu Ran of the Profound Pure Sect greets you, Senior."

The woman in the green dress raised her hands, formed a Dao Seal, and spoke softly, "Su Yingxue of the Wangyue Sect."

Then she gave Xu Ran a slight smile. "Is Xu Xiaoyou heading back?"

Xu Ran was taken aback by her smile. He still remembered her cold expression when she had invited him on behalf of the Wangyue Sect. He never expected she would have this kind of attitude now.

But what surprised him more were her words. ’From the way she’s talking, could it be that she knew I was out and about?’ The thought gave him a jolt.

He nodded, keeping his expression neutral. "Yes. And what brings Senior here?"

He glanced a short distance behind Su Yingxue, where another group of Wangyue Sect disciples stood. They looked disheveled, as if they had just survived a terrible battle.

Su Yingxue smiled faintly. "We are on our way to the Overseas Archipelago and happened to be passing through when we encountered Fellow Daoist Xu. Meeting like this is fate. Since our paths have crossed, allow me to give you a gift before I depart."

With that, she flipped her hand over, retrieving a cyan robe from her Storage Ring and presenting it to him with both hands.

"The world believes the Wangyue Sect’s specialty is intelligence gathering, but few know that in ancient times, our founding ancestor was a Weaver. Her skill was in crafting all sorts of beautiful garments. To this day, many of our disciples still carry on this craft."

"This robe was made by three hundred and sixty-five of our disciples over three hundred and sixty-five days. Today, I gift it to you, Fellow Daoist Xu."

"Men till the fields and women weave the cloth. The Wangyue Sect is a sect of women, and I hope our skills have not fallen behind in this modern age."

After her explanation, she turned and walked away at a measured pace without waiting for Xu Ran’s response.

This left Xu Ran utterly bewildered. He wasn’t even sure what had just happened. It felt completely baffling, and now he was holding a magnificent-looking cyan robe.

Unfortunately, Su Yingxue had already left. With no other choice, he and Little Xiyue continued on their way back to the Sect.

Then, the next day, Little Xiyue stared at the Communication Jade Talisman in her hand and suddenly cried out, "Master, the Wangyue Sect... has been destroyed!"