Watching the Mountain

Chapter 10: Chapter 7: Ten Thousand Woods Transformation Spell

Xu Ran had originally thought Qing Xuan Master had summoned him for punishment and criticism. Now, hearing the man’s sudden question, he was stunned for a moment before shaking his head and replying:

”In response to your question, Elder, I have always cultivated in the Mortal Realm. I’ve never interacted with other cultivators, let alone fought.”

Qing Xuan Master nodded slightly upon hearing this. ’So that’s why,’ he thought. ’No wonder Xu Ran’s aptitude for Magic Techniques and combat is so poor.’

It wasn’t just a matter of Spirituality and Comprehension. More importantly, he had always lived in a peaceful environment. It would be strange for someone who had known nothing but stability for over a hundred years, who had never faced a true crisis, to possess any real combat talent.

Once he understood the reason, Qing Xuan Master immediately knew how to awaken Xu Ran’s talent for Magic Techniques and combat.

His expression turned cold. Staring at Xu Ran, he said in a chilling tone:

”I see. You’ve never fought before, so your loss to Zhang Zhentian is understandable. However... you made me lose face in front of all those disciples. I shall spare your life, but I will cripple your Cultivation as punishment.”

A chill shot through Xu Ran. His eyes widened as he stared at the Qing Xuan Master before him.

He simply could not believe that such cruel words could actually come from the mouth of Qing Xuan Master, an Elder renowned for his integrity and impartiality.

’Could it be that the persona he shows the other disciples is just a facade?’

As the thought crossed his mind, Qing Xuan Master slowly raised his hand.

The moment Xu Ran’s gaze met the man’s icy stare, the hairs on his body stood on end, and he turned and fled.

’Faced with this sudden transformation in Qing Xuan Master, I’m not about to gamble on his kindness.’

He had only taken a few steps before Qing Xuan Master’s figure somehow appeared, blocking his path. A cold sneer touched the Elder’s lips. ”You dare resist?”

Hearing this, Xu Ran steeled himself. He marshaled all the Spiritual Power in his body, casting the Quicksand Technique and Cyan Rattan Technique at Qing Xuan Master, then immediately followed up with a rapid barrage of Fireball Techniques.

’I know this won’t hurt him. I don’t even expect it to stop him for an instant.’ He was simply showing his resolve.

’You’re going to cripple me, so why shouldn’t I fight back? Am I supposed to just sit here and wait to be destroyed? Even an ant has the right to struggle for its life, let alone a person like me.’

”Very good. You’ve managed to pique my interest. In that case, before I cripple you, I’ll have some fun toying with you. Remember to struggle hard, you hear? If you fail to amuse me, you might just lose your life.”

Qing Xuan Master’s mocking voice drifted over. His actions matched his words; he seemed to treat Xu Ran as a toy, controlling the power of his attacks while relentlessly tormenting him.

Seeing Qing Xuan Master’s actions, Xu Ran did consider the possibility that the Elder was deliberately trying to temper him.

’But I can’t take that chance. What if he really does intend to cripple me?’

Moreover, while the Elder controlled the force of his attacks, he showed no mercy. Every strike aimed for a vital point, leaving Xu Ran exhausted just trying to defend himself. He had no time to think, only to resist with every fiber of his being.

Over an hour passed in this manner. Xu Ran’s Spiritual Power was long depleted, and the meridians throughout his body felt as if they would tear apart.

Facing the incoming attack from Qing Xuan Master, he was filled with unwillingness, but no matter how hard he tried, his body refused to move. He could only watch helplessly as the strike closed in.

However, just as the attack was about to tear into him, it abruptly vanished.

Then, Qing Xuan Master, standing with his hands clasped behind his back, spoke in a cold voice without turning around:

”Go back and recover. From now on, you will stay behind after the monthly lecture ends. You will continue to do so until I am satisfied.”

Hearing this, Xu Ran was slightly stunned. He then pushed himself up from the ground, struggling to his feet, and gave a respectful bow to Qing Xuan Master. ”Thank you for your guidance, Elder.”

Qing Xuan Master didn’t respond. He simply turned and walked away in silence, leaving Xu Ran with nothing but the sight of his proud, solitary back.

At that moment, Xu Ran finally understood. Qing Xuan Master had been instructing him all along.

He was a disciple with abysmal talent and Comprehension, someone who had gotten into the Sect through connections and was considered to have no potential. For a Golden Core Master to be willing to stoop so low as to put on a villainous act just to instruct him... Such dedication was truly moving.

He carefully recalled the fight. Under Qing Xuan Master’s ”life-and-death” coercion, his use of Daoist Techniques had been the best it had ever been.

’It’s true,’ he thought. ’Only in a life-or-death crisis can a person’s combat instincts truly be awakened.’

He carefully savored the sensations from the ”battle,” analyzing and internalizing the experience to make the lessons his own.

*

*

*

The result of the battle between Xu Ran and Zhang Zhentian naturally spread.

The outcome of the fight sparked widespread discussion. Everyone was dumbfounded by Xu Ran’s performance—a man who had cultivated for over a century had actually lost to a boy of twelve or thirteen who had only just begun his training.

As for Xu Ran’s talent, the only way to describe it was ”rarely seen in the world.” He had likely set a new precedent.

No one could understand why Senior Sister Yue would arrange for someone like him to join the Sect. Wasn’t he just tarnishing her reputation?

Then, three days after his match with Zhang Zhentian, Ning Caique, whom he hadn’t seen in a long time, suddenly arrived at his door.

Looking at Ning Caique’s frosty expression, Xu Ran felt a chill run down his spine. He guessed her visit must be related to the disciples’ recent gossip.

’She’s not planning to get physical, is she?’

Just as he’d expected, the moment Ning Caique spoke, she brought up his loss to that brat, Zhang Zhentian.

”Senior Sister Yue was the one who arranged for you to be here. When you do something, you need to consider her, not just yourself. You might not care about your own reputation, but could you please try not to embarrass her?”

Faced with her words, Xu Ran was momentarily at a loss for a reply.

But Ning Caique’s next action was unexpected. She didn’t attack him. Instead, she produced two Jade Scrolls and tossed them into his hands.

Xu Ran stared at the Jade Scrolls, then looked up at her, puzzled.

Ning Caique said, her face cold, ”My Cultivation Insights, and a Magic Technique called the Ten Thousand Woods Transformation Spell. Study them well. I don’t want to hear anyone in the Sect gossiping about Senior Sister Yue because of you ever again.”

”This...” Xu Ran looked at Ning Caique with a complicated expression.

Times had changed. The Xiaoque’Er of the past was now Elder Ning. Yet even at her worst, she had only ever given him cold looks. It was obvious she didn’t want to see him, but she had never used her status or connections to play dirty tricks or make it impossible for him to stay in the Sect.

When he first joined the Sect, she had given him two bottles of Elixirs. Now, she was giving him her own Cultivation Insights and a profound Magic Technique as well.

’It seems the Xiaoque’Er from Xu Family Village, no matter how much she seems to have changed, never lost her innate kindness.’

Or perhaps, she hadn’t really changed at all; the passage of time had simply forced her to become who she was today. ’Maybe, in her heart, she’s still the same Xiaoque’Er she’s always been.’

Xu Ran bowed deeply to Ning Caique and thanked her. Then, recalling the name of the Magic Technique she had mentioned, he looked stunned.

He had heard of the Ten Thousand Woods Transformation Spell. It was an incredibly profound Wood Element Divine Technique, rumored to be comparable to one of the Sect’s Divine Techniques if cultivated to its final stage.

However, this Divine Technique and Art had a peculiar trait: it was exceptionally easy to learn. Practically anyone could master its basic use.

But that was as far as it went.

Advancing beyond that point was considered nearly impossible. Even renowned prodigies and powerful experts of the past had failed to progress further with this technique. Some even speculated that its own creator had never reached the later Realms of the spell.

As a result, despite bearing the name of a Divine Technique, it was generally considered an ordinary Wood Element art. Because of this limitation, very few people ever bothered to cultivate it.

After all, no one wanted to waste time on a technique that was essentially a dead end.

”Elder Ning, this Ten Thousand Woods Transformation Spell...”

In response to Xu Ran’s hesitation, Ning Caique snorted. ”While this technique may be impossible to truly master and is a dead end, its basics are simple. Practically anyone can learn and use it proficiently.”

”With your level of talent and Comprehension, what you need right now is a technique you can actually learn and use proficiently, not some grand art with a distant future. I assume you’re not so foolish as to miss that point, are you?”

Xu Ran nodded. ”I understand.”

’She’s right. For me, right now, the most important thing is to master a few techniques I can actually use. Nothing else matters.’

”But... am I allowed to learn this technique?”

”Relax. I already registered it with the Sect. I exchanged my points for this technique specifically for you. Just remember what I said. I don’t want Senior Sister Yue to be the subject of gossip because of you again.”

Without waiting for a response, she turned and left.

Xu Ran watched her leave, his expression complicated. Though the Ten Thousand Woods Transformation Spell had been relegated to the status of a common art due to its nature, it was still technically a Divine Technique. The Contribution Points required to redeem it were far higher than for an ordinary technique. What’s more, exchanging points for someone else incurred a fifty percent surcharge.

’She really went to a lot of trouble for me.’

Xu Ran let out a long sigh and shook his head. After composing himself, he prepared to examine the Cultivation Insights she had given him.

Just then, a paper crane flew in through the door. It fluttered its wings, circled him once, and then landed gently on his shoulder.

A spiritual light flashed from the crane, and from it came Yue Qingyu’s cool and ethereal voice:

”Pay no mind to the rumors in the Sect. Just focus on your cultivation.”

Just that one sentence, yet it made Xu Ran’s heart surge with emotion.

’It’s my fault that Yue Qingyu is facing so much criticism. I should be the one apologizing to her, but instead, she’s the one reaching out to encourage me.’

’Yue Qingyu... she’s such a kind person.’