Watching the Mountain

Chapter 60: Chapter 54: Pill-Digging Witch

Shen Wuchen had a habit. Whenever he was nervous, he would put on a cold, expressionless face. Paired with his sharp brows and piercing eyes, it gave him an especially distinguished air.

Any stranger who saw him like this would surely exclaim in their heart: ’This man is extraordinary!’

Seeing Shen Wuchen put on this expression, Xu Ran quickly said, "Alright, stop with that face. You’re willing to share your insights with me, so I’m nothing but grateful. How could I possibly find fault with you?"

As he spoke, a relieved expression appeared on his face. He patted Shen Wuchen’s shoulder and said,

"I was worried that after your breakthrough, with your higher Cultivation, you’d start looking down on this old man. But you came to share the good news with me right away and are even willing to share the insights from your breakthrough. I’m truly gratified. This proves I wasn’t wrong about you."

Hearing Xu Ran’s words, Shen Wuchen said solemnly, "How could I? If it weren’t for you, Master Xu, I might still be stuck at the Qi Cultivation Third Layer, mocked by my peers and with no hope of a breakthrough."

The scenes from back then were still vivid in Shen Wuchen’s mind. At first, he had been the one to break through to the Qi Cultivation Third Layer the fastest, becoming the most dazzling among his peers.

He had been incredibly arrogant at the time, looking down on all his peers. Who would have known that not long after, the tables would turn? As everyone else’s Cultivation gradually caught up to and surpassed his, he remained stuck at the Qi Cultivation Third Layer.

The whiplash from this complete reversal had caused him immense pain. That was, until Xu Ran appeared. Now, he was once again the first among his peers to break through, this time to the Foundation Establishment Stage.

Even if his actual combat power at the Foundation Establishment Stage was a bit lacking, it was still infinitely better than being stuck at the Qi Cultivation Third Layer with no hope of a breakthrough.

He could now peacefully accept that he was the weakest in terms of combat power among those in the same Realm.

’So what if my combat power is poor? It doesn’t matter. On the path of cultivation, the Realm is supreme. As long as I can keep breaking through, when I face cultivators of my generation, not only can I crush them with my higher Realm, but I’ll also outlive them.’

’They can only win on one front, while I can win on two. It’s a sure-fire profit.’

Seeing Shen Wuchen’s state of mind, Xu Ran also nodded in satisfaction. His biggest worry had been that Shen Wuchen was too thin-skinned and wouldn’t be able to accept his low combat power, unable to hold his head high among Cultivators of the same Realm.

’This is much better. Why would a Cultivator need to worry about face?’ This showed he had truly grasped the essence of the path that prioritized the Realm. Now, Xu Ran could finally rest easy.

*

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*

Both Little Xiyue and Shen Wuchen held nothing back from Xu Ran. This was especially true for Little Xiyue, who seemed to wish she could repeat every single tiny detail of her breakthrough to him countless times to emphasize them.

Shen Wuchen, on the other hand, was a different story. Although he appeared very enthusiastic, there was really not much to say about the insights from his breakthrough. With his A+ Root Bone, he hadn’t needed a Foundation Establishment Pill to break through at all. As for his comprehension of the Dao, it had been forcibly instilled in him by Zi Teng Master for him to memorize.

So when he described his insights to Xu Ran, it could be summarized as: do this, then do that, and finally, breakthrough complete.

After listening to his explanation, Xu Ran raised an eyebrow, staring at him in disbelief. ’With this kind of teaching method, how did he have the nerve to act so enthusiastic earlier?’

Shen Wuchen, however, was completely oblivious to Xu Ran’s attitude. Instead, his enthusiasm only grew as he said,

"I heard from Senior Sister Ning that you, Master Xu, have already achieved Bright Heart Illuminating Self and passed the most difficult hurdle of the Foundation Establishment Stage. In that case, I imagine Foundation Establishment will be no problem for you at all."

"The hardest part of Foundation Establishment is all the various comprehensions. As for the rest, it all falls into place naturally. It’s very simple. This disciple will be here waiting to congratulate you on reaching Foundation Establishment and attaining the Great Dao soon."

Hearing this, Xu Ran sighed with a melancholy expression, his mind recalling the scene of his first meeting with Ye Shan.

’The brains of these geniuses are wired differently from ordinary people. In a way, Shen Wuchen is also a genius.’

’That’s why I really hate talking to geniuses.’

’It’s completely impossible to communicate with them.’

’Little Xiyue is better. She knows her master’s level of talent, so she broke down the entire process of Foundation Establishment and explained it to me over and over, afraid I wouldn’t understand.’

’As expected, one’s own disciple is the most considerate.’

*

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*

Xu Ran’s Cultivation had been stuck at the Qi Cultivation Eighth Layer for a long time. He had broken through during his first introductory sermon to Shen Wuchen’s generation of disciples; moved by the scene, he had a sudden epiphany and broke through naturally.

It was the smoothest breakthrough he had ever had in his cultivation journey.

Now, more than a decade had passed. Coupled with the incident involving Wang Xingye and the others, he had gained many new insights, and his accumulation was more than sufficient.

After Little Xiyue and Shen Wuchen finished imparting their insights on Foundation Establishment to him, he took out the Jade Bottle that Ye Xingchen had given him, his expression heavy.

Inside was the Awakening Liquid, which could enhance one’s Comprehension.

In truth, according to the grading system of the Cultivation Realm, the Awakening Liquid was only a Third Grade Spiritual Object. Otherwise, it wouldn’t have been a group of Foundation Establishment Stage Cultivators like Wang Xingye and his companions fighting over it.

It was unrealistic to expect it to dramatically improve his Comprehension all at once.

But as Xu Ran held it in his hand, it still felt incredibly heavy, for it contained the blessings of Wang Xingye and Hao Daniu—their hope that he could attain the Great Dao.

Xu Ran stared at the Jade Bottle for a moment before slowly opening it and downing its contents in one gulp.

As the liquid entered his mouth, a pungent odor assaulted his senses, making his scalp tingle. Nevertheless, he suppressed his nausea and swallowed it.

A moment later, a cool sensation flowed through his entire body and rushed into his mind. He then felt much more refreshed.

Xu Ran closed his eyes, savoring this change. Only after the better part of a day did he slowly open them again.

The Awakening Liquid was just as its name implied. Its effect was like splashing cold water on the face of someone who was groggy from staying up all night.

Its effect of enhancing Comprehension was actually just to make a person more focused during cultivation.

The effect wasn’t particularly dramatic, but it was an improvement nonetheless.

With his already profound accumulation, under this boost, he successfully broke through to the Qi Cultivation Ninth Layer in just half a year. It was completely natural, without the slightest hindrance.

He had already reached the Bright Heart Realm, the most difficult hurdle for Foundation Establishment. This meant that from now on, he just needed to follow the steps, accumulate and consolidate his foundation, and cultivate the Qi Cultivation Stage to the level of Great Success. Then, he could begin his breakthrough to the Foundation Establishment Stage.

And given his current state, Foundation Establishment would likely not be a problem either. At worst, it would just be a matter of consuming a few more Foundation Establishment Pills.

Xu Ran estimated that this process would take a dozen or so years at most. Compared to his entire cultivation career, this was a very short amount of time.

*

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*

In the third year after Xu Ran broke through to the Qi Cultivation Ninth Layer, someone suddenly came looking for him.

It was a woman with a seductive figure. Her features were exquisite, and a beauty mark under her eye added a unique charm to her already bewitching face.

A blood-red dress magnified her bewitching aura countless times over. Upon first glance, people would instinctively avert their eyes, not daring to look at her, because they had a feeling that if they stared, their eyes would be gouged out.

Xu Ran was slightly stunned as he looked at the woman standing quietly in front of his Cave Mansion. He recognized her, as he had seen portraits of her that had been circulated.

This was none other than Ye Qingxue, the infamous Pill-Digging Witch, who was widely rumored to have "a story to tell" with the Profound Pure Sect’s former peerless prodigy, Ye Shan.

’But how did she find out about me, and why has she come looking for me?’

"Greetings, Elder Ye." Xu Ran hurriedly bowed.

Ye Qingxue raised her eyebrows at his words. "I don’t like that title. Change it."

"Uh." Xu Ran’s expression froze. ’What should I call her then? Senior Sister? But she’s already broken through to the Golden Core Stage and is no longer counted among the True Disciples, and she doesn’t have a specific post yet.’

In the entire Profound Pure Sect, only Yue Qingyu had retained her status as a True Disciple after breaking through to the Golden Core.

Seeing Xu Ran’s reaction, Ye Qingxue reminded him with a deadpan expression, "Have you not heard of my title?"

’Title?’

Xu Ran was taken aback for a moment, then said with some hesitation, "The... Pill-Digging Witch?"

Ye Qingxue hummed softly, a satisfied smile appearing on her face.

Xu Ran looked at her with some surprise. ’This person seems a bit... off.’

’Any normal person would instinctively recoil at being called a Witch. What’s more, the Profound Pure Sect is a prestigious and righteous sect. "Pill-Digging" paired with "Witch"—no matter how you look at it, it’s not a respectable title. Yet she actually likes it.’

But Ye Qingxue didn’t find it strange at all. She took the initiative and said, "This is proof of my love for Senior Brother Ye Shan. When he hears this title, he’ll definitely be able to feel how hard I’ve been trying."

Hearing this, Xu Ran instantly understood. ’Ye Shan’s Golden Core was shattered, so her digging up other people’s Golden Cores...’

’Uh, alright. So she’s just a love-fool. That explains everything.’

He then cupped his fists towards Ye Qingxue and asked, "Then, Elder Pill-Digging Witch, for what reason have you sought me out?"

He remembered that she was supposed to be at the Evil Demon Battlefield and had no idea why she had suddenly returned. However, he didn’t ask. It wasn’t a matter he was in a position to inquire about.

Ye Qingxue nodded at him, then her expression darkened. She asked, "Let me ask you, is that girl named Ning Xiyue your disciple?"

"She is indeed my disciple. May I ask why you are looking for her, Elder? Has she offended you? If so, I apologize on her behalf. She is still young and doesn’t know any better. I hope you won’t hold it against her."

"What do you mean ’still young’? She’s old enough to have children."

Xu Ran’s face was a picture of astonishment. ’This Witch is so blunt.’

Ye Qingxue said with an ugly expression, "I’m asking you, what is her relationship with Senior Brother Ye Shan? In the few days since I’ve been back, I’ve often seen her visiting Senior Brother Ye Shan, and they’re always talking and laughing."

A flicker of doubt crossed Xu Ran’s eyes when he heard this. ’Little Xiyue has been visiting Ye Shan again? I’ve been so busy cultivating lately that I haven’t paid attention.’

When he thought about Ye Qingxue’s description of them "talking and laughing," his expression turned anxious. He quickly said to her, "Elder, don’t worry. I’ll take you to them right now to get to the bottom of this."

His face grew grim, and he clenched his fists. ’Senior Brother Ye Shan, I really hope you’re not leading my disciple astray.’

Although he felt that such a thing was unlikely, seeing Ye Qingxue’s reaction still made him unable to help but worry.

Just as they reached the back of the mountain, Xu Ran heard Little Xiyue’s furious voice from a distance, "You despicable liar!"

And then Ye Shan’s voice, trying to defend himself, "I already told you, I, Ye Shan, never lie."