Watching the Mountain

Xu Ran was always diligent in his daily cultivation. When he was in his Cave Mansion, he spent most of his time cultivating to raise his Cultivation.

When he was in the Scripture Pavilion, he would study and absorb the insights of his predecessors. He would also research various Cultivation Techniques and Magic Techniques. Through this research, he would draw parallels and deepen his understanding of his current techniques, or even of the Dao itself.

Ever since Teacher Qing Xuan had instructed him to earnestly perceive and experience everything around him, he had been doing just that. No matter what he was doing, he would experience it with full attention, or reflect on it from different angles to enrich his understanding.

He didn’t know what it was like for geniuses such as Ye Shan and Chen Chang’an, who claimed to be cultivating at all times, but he was now essentially doing the same.

A leisurely and comfortable life was just his attitude; it didn’t mean he was lazy. He had never slacked off when it came to his cultivation.

Otherwise, given his natural talent, he would never have reached his current Cultivation even with several times the amount of time.

His current Cultivation Realm of Foundation Establishment Late Stage, with a self-formed Dao Seed, was proof enough. How many people in the world were trapped in the Foundation Establishment Early Stage or Foundation Establishment Middle Stage for their entire lives?

This was true even in recent years while guiding that somewhat dim-witted student of his, Jiang Ling’Er. For him, guiding her was also a form of cultivation.

Speaking of which, Jiang Ling’Er’s cultivation progress was indeed a bit slow. He had asked her about it. During her Sect entrance assessment, her Root Bone and Comprehension were both rated Lower Grade B. She wasn’t a genius, but she wasn’t terrible either.

At least she wasn’t, as he had imagined, someone who had slipped through the Sect’s cracks.

When he met her in the Scripture Pavilion, her Cultivation was already at the Qi Cultivation Third Layer. Now, three years had passed, and she was still stuck at the Qi Cultivation Third Layer.

The crucial part was that under his guidance, she had already grasped Dao Rhyme. This meant that as soon as her Cultivation was sufficient, she could break through directly to the Qi Cultivation Fourth Layer.

This wasn’t difficult in the Profound Pure Sect. The Sect had long since resumed distributing the elixir stipend, and the benefits had even increased by thirty percent compared to when he first joined. In three years, as long as Jiang Ling’Er wasn’t slacking, her Cultivation should have already improved.

Harboring this doubt, Xu Ran questioned Jiang Ling’Er about it during their session today.

Faced with his question, Jiang Ling’Er hemmed and hawed, saying that her cultivation speed was just naturally this slow and that she hadn’t been lazy.

Jiang Ling’Er seemed to think her answer was perfect and wouldn’t arouse any suspicion.

But just as a fool never realizes they are a fool, when someone like her tried to lie, her entire being was full of tells.

However, Xu Ran didn’t expose her. He looked at Jiang Ling’Er’s stammering and thought of her usual, innocently foolish demeanor, and a possibility suddenly occurred to him.

’Someone like her, who looks so easy to bully and deceive, might have had her Elixirs stolen or been tricked out of them.’

Xu Ran silently made a mental note of this. On the day the stipends were distributed, he quietly went to the vicinity of the Internal Affairs Hall. After watching Jiang Ling’Er collect her stipend, he followed her from a distance.

To his surprise, however, he didn’t see anyone approach her to bully, rob, or trick her out of her Elixirs along the way.

This left him thoroughly confused. ’Could I have been overthinking it? Is she really just that stupid?’

’But that can’t be right. Refining Elixirs has nothing to do with being stupid.’

It wasn’t until he followed Jiang Ling’Er to the residence assigned to her by the Sect that he saw her rush inside, excitedly shouting, ”Xiaohui, Xiaohui, I’m back!”

Just as Xu Ran was wondering, he saw a big yellow dog run out from inside and leap into her arms. It then stuck out its tongue and licked her fair, delicate face, making her burst into laughter.

”Hahaha, Xiaohui, wait a second! Don’t be so rowdy. The Sect just gave out the stipends, so you can cultivate again. Just you wait, I’ll go mix it with water for you now.”

After speaking, she led the big yellow dog into the small courtyard.

Xu Ran certainly couldn’t just follow her inside. He waited outside for a moment. When he figured enough time had passed, he walked up to her small courtyard and triggered the array that announced a visitor’s arrival.

”Teacher, what are you doing here?”

When Jiang Ling’Er opened the gate and saw Xu Ran standing outside, her face was filled with surprise.

Hearing this, Xu Ran said coolly, ”I came to see you. May I come in?”

Jiang Ling’Er heard him and quickly nodded. ”Of course, Teacher. Please, come in.”

But just as Xu Ran took a step forward, her expression suddenly stiffened. She said in a flustered tone, ”T-T-Teacher, c-c-can you wait a moment while I tidy up a bit first?”

She was so nervous she could barely speak clearly.

Hearing this, Xu Ran revealed a kind and amiable smile. He grinned at her, and just as she was sighing in relief, he slowly replied:

”Of course not. It’s very impolite to leave your teacher standing here. Do you want to be an impolite student?”

At his words, Jiang Ling’Er’s soft little face froze. She quickly shook her head and said, ”N-no, I don’t! Please come in, Teacher. I-I’m very polite.”

Xu Ran smiled faintly and stepped into her small courtyard.

The place Jiang Ling’Er lived was extremely simple. It didn’t even look like the residence of a Cultivator. Normally, a Cultivator would plant some Spirit Medicines or Spirit Fruits inside their Cave Mansion.