Watching the Mountain

Chapter 14: Chapter 10: He’s Pretty Impressive

Seeing Ye Shan’s reaction, Xu Ran asked with some concern, ”Senior Brother Ye, you’re not backing out, are you?”

He then nodded lightly. ”That makes sense. Training with someone like me really is a waste of your time. It’s okay. If you feel this is too difficult, Senior Brother, you can just leave. Don’t worry about my feelings.”

Ye Shan shot Xu Ran an exasperated glance. ’Was that what I meant?’

He took a deep breath, then waved his hand dismissively and said with feigned anger:

”Junior Brother, what are you talking about? I, Ye Shan, always keep my word. Since I’ve made you a promise, how could I possibly back out?”

”Come on. If you want to continue, Junior Brother, then I’ll train with you.”

’I’m really curious to see just how far this Junior Brother Xu can go.’

”Didn’t I ask you to let me catch my breath? What’s the rush? HUFF... Forget it. Since Senior Brother Ye is so fired up, let’s keep going.”

*

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*

For a full month, Ye Shan continued to train with Xu Ran. During that time, Xu Ran had once asked him curiously, ”Don’t you need to focus on your own Cultivation?”

In response, Ye Shan had casually waved his hand and said, ”It doesn’t matter. For me, every moment is a form of practice. Besides, I’m also very curious about where your limits lie, Junior Brother Xu.”

Xu Ran had lost count of how many times he’d experienced the sensation of death. Each time, it felt as if he had genuinely died once more.

Every time he broke free, he was consumed by an endless, lingering fear that grew more intense with each repetition.

It was a strange phenomenon. Normally, when a person experiences something over and over, they become numb to it, eventually feeling nothing at all.

But when it came to death, the more he experienced it, the more acutely he felt it. His heart and soul recoiled with ever-increasing fear, growing more and more reluctant to face it again.

Fortunately, however, he endured it every single time.

Over the course of that month, he finally learned to break free from Ye Shan’s aura lock, progressing from only being able to lift a single finger at the start to directly resisting with a swing of his sword by the end.

For the latter half of the month, Ye Shan would intentionally suppress his Cultivation Realm and slow his movements, truly acting as Xu Ran’s sparring partner.

The effect of having a top prodigy as a sparring partner was naturally outstanding. In just one month, Xu Ran felt he had gained more than in the entire previous century.

Because of this, when Qing Xuan Master returned to instruct him a month later, just as they had agreed...

...he was rendered speechless. He watched as Xu Ran skillfully and naturally dodged his every attack, even managing to counter from unexpectedly clever angles.

He gazed at the young man before him, who seemed like a completely different person compared to a month ago, his eyes filled with questions.

”How did you do it?”

After a moment’s hesitation, Xu Ran slowly replied, ”This disciple had a fortunate encounter. I received a month of guidance from a Senior Brother of the True Inheritance, who acted as my sparring partner.”

After experiencing the feeling of facing death countless times, Xu Ran felt as if his full potential had been unlocked. His combat instincts and understanding had skyrocketed, and he could now use Magic Techniques with perfect ease.

He was no longer the flustered boy who panicked in the face of battle.

’After all, fighting back against danger is an innate human ability, a survival instinct. How could anyone truly not know how to fight?’

’One just has to experience it enough to naturally understand how.’

Hearing Xu Ran’s explanation, Qing Xuan Master gave him a slightly surprised look. He then nodded slightly, not pressing for more details.

’Whatever his background or fortunate encounters are, they have nothing to do with me. As the Instructor Elder, my only concern is whether Xu Ran can improve his Magic Techniques and combat abilities. That is my duty.’

’Now that Xu Ran has undergone a complete transformation, I no longer need to worry.’

He then clasped his hands behind his back, looked at Xu Ran, and said, ”In that case, continue your training on your own from now on. Of course, if there’s anything you don’t understand, you can always come and ask me.”

Upon hearing this, Xu Ran quickly raised his hands in a respectful bow. His heart filled with gratitude toward Qing Xuan Master. ’This is a respectable Elder and senior, a true master.’

Without hesitation, he posed a question. ”This disciple has a certain feeling, or perhaps a Mental Realm, that I wish to apply to my Sword Dao and Magic Techniques, but I can’t seem to bring it forth.”

He was referring to the feeling of directly facing death he had experienced over the past month. He wanted to channel that feeling into his Swordsmanship, just as Ye Shan did, but he couldn’t manage it.

He had asked Ye Shan about it, but Ye Shan had just stared at him and replied matter-of-factly, ”You just do it. It’s simple.”

Hearing that answer, veins bulged on Xu Ran’s forehead as he fought the urge to throw a punch.

’As expected. It’s impossible to communicate with a genius.’

”Oh?” Qing Xuan Master gave him a surprised look, then asked, ”How far have you gotten with it?”

Xu Ran thought for a moment before shaking his head. ”Every time I try to grasp that feeling, it’s like grabbing a handful of sand. It just slips through my fingers, impossible to hold.”

Qing Xuan Master nodded. ”You’re trying too hard to grasp it. Being so deliberate is a futile effort. You should treat it like a natural emotion.”

”It’s like anger or sadness. Think about it: when a person is angry or sad, why can others intuitively sense their emotional state?”

”That...” Xu Ran was taken aback. He felt like he understood a little, but not completely.

Seeing his reaction, Qing Xuan Master smiled slightly and continued, ”So-called ’aura’ and the Mental Realm don’t have to be forcefully projected, like drawing a sword to strike. You can also pull your opponent into your own emotional world and make them experience what you feel.”

Without waiting for Xu Ran to react, he waved his hand. ”Alright. Everyone says your Comprehension is poor, but this time, I want you to figure this out on your own. If you still haven’t grasped it after a year, then you can come find me again.”

*

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*

While Xu Ran was with Qing Xuan Master, Ye Shan went to find Yue Qingyu.

”Senior Sister, that Junior Brother Xu Ran you arranged to have brought in is actually quite impressive. He’s not nearly as useless as the rumors claim.”

”Oh?” Yue Qingyu sounded surprised, looking at Ye Shan with curiosity and waiting for him to elaborate.

However, Ye Shan didn’t answer directly. He just smiled and said, ”I won’t spoil it. You’ll find out for yourself in due time, Senior Sister.”

Most people would get annoyed by such a cryptic answer, but not Yue Qingyu. She simply nodded calmly and said softly, ”Then I shall look forward to it.”

Ye Shan chuckled, his gaze as sharp as a torch as he looked off into the distance. ”Just you wait, Senior Sister. I guarantee you’ll be in for a huge surprise.”

Yue Qingyu nodded slightly. Just as she was about to reply, she suddenly froze. She took out her Transmission Jade Talisman, and her expression shifted the moment she saw the message.

The message conveyed a single, grim update: Ning Caique was grievously injured and on the verge of death.