Watching the Mountain

Chapter 293: Chapter 178: Dependence

Upon hearing this, Jiang Nian was stunned. Then, with an excited expression, he asked, ”Senior Brother, are you saying that senior has new research? Where is it? How have I not heard anything about it?”

He then looked at Xu Ran in astonishment. ”None of the other disciples have mentioned this. Senior Brother, how do you know?”

Xu Ran replied calmly, ”Because his later work was different from his previous accomplishments. It consisted only of concepts and theories, with no concrete results, so it’s not as well-known.”

”As for how I know, it’s because I hold a position in the Scripture Pavilion on Qing Xuan Peak. His new work can only be found in the Scripture Pavilion of Qing Xuan Peak.”

He waved a hand. ”I know you’re wondering why it’s only in the Scripture Pavilion on Qing Xuan Peak. Just think about it. An ordinary Outer Disciple with no name... and Qing Xuan True Monarch, the Peak Master of Qing Xuan Peak, who used to be in charge of teaching all the new disciples at the Scripture Pavilion on Spirit Stream Peak. Now do you understand?”

Jiang Nian nodded thoughtfully. He looked at Xu Ran with excitement, about to speak, but was cut off again by Xu Ran’s wave.

”Don’t be so anxious. There’s only one copy of his new theories, and unfortunately, an Elder happened to borrow it a few days ago. If you want to read it, come back to the Scripture Pavilion on Qing Xuan Peak in three months.”

’Of course, this was just an excuse. The real reason was that he hadn’t written down his new findings yet.’

’After learning that Jiang Nian had embarked on the path of a Spirit Plant Master because of him, Xu Ran had already made up his mind. For the time being, he didn’t want to reveal his identity, lest Jiang Nian learn who he really was and have his enthusiasm extinguished.’

’So, he planned to use his position in the Scripture Pavilion to periodically release some theoretical findings for Jiang Nian to study and research.’

’It was also a perfect opportunity to continue observing him.’

Upon hearing Xu Ran’s explanation, Jiang Nian had no choice but to rein in his disappointment, however unwilling he might be.

Afterward, Xu Ran gave him a Communication Jade Talisman and told him to come find him at the Scripture Pavilion on Qing Xuan Peak in three months.

*

*

*

”Have you met Jiang Nian, Junior Brother? What did you think of him?”

Yue Qingyu asked, looking at Xu Ran with a smile.

Xu Ran pondered for a moment before replying with a smile, ”He’s great. A young man full of dreams, ideas, sincerity, and passion.”

He then stated his plan, ”I didn’t reveal my identity to him. I want to continue observing him for a while.”

Yue Qingyu didn’t press for details, simply nodding as she said:

”How you choose to proceed is entirely up to you, Junior Brother. The Sect won’t interfere too much.”

Xu Ran quickly replied, ”Thank you, Senior Sister.”

’Only Senior Sister Yue would let him act entirely according to his own wishes. If it had been anyone else, they probably would have already been nagging him to hurry up and take Jiang Nian as his personal disciple.’

’He hadn’t forgotten that the great Deceitful Blade Chen Chang’an himself had left the Sect to roam the world precisely because he couldn’t stand the older generation pestering him to take a personal disciple. They nagged him with the same fervor used to pressure someone into getting married and having children.’

’Even his purpose for roaming the world was to find a disciple to his liking, just so he could have an answer for the Sect’s older generation.’

’It was easy to imagine just how invested the Sect’s older generation was when it came to cultivating the new generation of disciples.’

’But this was also one of the Profound Pure Sect’s good qualities. A Sect that valued the development of its new generation was one with a future, which was reassuring.’

’On this point, Xu Ran was in complete agreement.’

Yue Qingyu waved her hand gently. ”Between you and me, there’s no need for such formalities.”

She then added seriously, ”When I first brought you into the Sect, Junior Brother, I didn’t have any expectations for you. I just wanted to offer you shelter and let you cultivate peacefully within the Sect.”

”But you, Junior Brother, have constantly surprised me, achieving so much.”

”Even so, my original intention hasn’t changed. As long as you are in the Sect, Junior Brother, you can continue to cultivate in peace and do your own thing. The Sect will never demand anything of you.”

She waved her hand, cutting Xu Ran off as he was about to speak. She said softly, ”Junior Brother, you’ve already contributed more than enough to the Sect. Even if you do nothing from now on, it’s sufficient.”

She looked at Xu Ran earnestly and said, ”So, Junior Brother, just stay here and be at ease. You don’t need to feel any burden.”

She then smiled lightly. ”Of course, if there is something you want to do, Junior Brother, then just go and do it.”

”I look forward to that as well.”

Xu Ran silently watched Senior Sister Yue, who was now the Sect Leader. Hundreds of years had passed, yet she was still the one protecting and sheltering him. That had never changed.

Yue Qingyu then told Xu Ran that in a few days, she and several Supreme Elders would be leaving the Sect to attend a council meeting in Taixu County, where the Upper Three Sects were located.

Xu Ran nodded slightly. He was aware of this. Ever since the ”plague” descended, the Cultivation Realm had held a conference every ten years, convening all the sects in the world and some powerful Loose Cultivators.

These meetings were for discussing research findings on the affliction, as well as strategies for the near future, assigning research tasks, and so on, all to ensure the Cultivation Realm did not fall into turmoil.

For example, the Locking God Spell, which allowed everyone to resume normal cultivation, was the result of joint research and deduction by the top experts of numerous major powers.

Since then, few new breakthroughs had been made. But that was to be expected. If this affliction were so easily resolved, it wouldn’t have become a major event that swept across the entire world.

Previously, it was always Taihua True Monarch who led the delegation from the Profound Pure Sect. This would be Yue Qingyu’s first time leading the group to the conference.

After parting ways with Senior Sister Yue, Xu Ran returned to his Cave Mansion and began to earnestly prepare the theoretical findings for Jiang Nian.

Although he hadn’t continued to research deeply into the field of Spirit Plant Masters these past years, nor had he produced any new results, he had still gained some new insights and understanding over the past few centuries as his Cultivation Realm had risen.