Watching the Mountain

Chapter 308: Chapter 182: Parting Ways

”You little punk, you just wait. When my grandson Evergreen reaches the Divinity Transformation stage, I’ll come back and settle this argument with you.”

Xu Ran replied with unruffled composure, ”Oh, I’ll be waiting. But there’s something I feel I should tell you, Senior.”

”There are many Divinity Transformation Daoist Monarchs in the world, but there is only one Array Dao Vermilion Bird. And that is my disciple, Ning Xiyue.”

”You...” True Monarch Flowing Clouds glared at him, grinding his teeth. After a long moment, he retrieved a jar of Spirit Wine from his Storage Ring, slammed it on the table, and said:

”What’s the point of all this talk? Come on, drink with me.”

Xu Ran chuckled. ”It would be rude to refuse.”

For a man like True Monarch Flowing Clouds, who loved wine more than life itself, a single jar of Spirit Wine was all it took to liven up the atmosphere.

He then started animatedly telling Xu Ran all sorts of stories, and as they talked, they inevitably began to argue endlessly over trivial matters again.

Xu Ran, for his part, truly enjoyed drinking with True Monarch Flowing Clouds. There were few people in the world like him—someone you could sit down with and not have to worry about a single thing, someone who would argue and raise a ruckus with you without inhibition.

It was a relaxing and pleasant experience, one he thoroughly enjoyed.

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「Sometime later」

Senior Sister Yue returned from the decennial conference.

She reported that the conferences were becoming increasingly perfunctory; many attendees seemed to just be going through the motions.

Few people were still genuinely discussing how to solve the problem of the blight.

Xu Ran was somewhat surprised to hear this and sighed inwardly. ’How much time has passed since it all began?’

Of course, he didn’t believe that everyone in the Cultivation Realm was so apathetic. He was certain there were many others like him, quietly trying to figure out how to solve the problem of the blight.

It was just that those people didn’t attend the conferences. Or perhaps they had attended in the past but, after a few fruitless sessions, no longer wished to go. That was perfectly normal.

People who truly get things done generally don’t like to speak up.

Shortly after Senior Sister Yue’s return, Lu Mingchen rushed over excitedly to share some good news with Xu Ran: his Cultivation had reached the Foundation Establishment Middle Stage.

As it happened, Luo Qianxue and Chu Lingxiao were also visiting the Profound Pure Sect, so Lu Mingchen eagerly shared the good news with them too.

He also declared that he would cultivate diligently and strive to reach the Purple Mansion Stage before the thirty-year deadline of their pact with the Demon Court’s Five Young Demon Saints.

He was eagerly looking forward to that day. Even if he couldn’t be of much help, he would be content just to watch the trio emerge victorious.

In response, Li Daoyi and the others congratulated Lu Mingchen.

Luo Qianxue smiled and asked, ”It seems Fellow Daoist Lu is really looking forward to facing the Demon Race.”

A brilliant smile spread across Lu Mingchen’s face as he nodded vigorously. ”Of course.”

Luo Qianxue laughed. ”And to think you were so against it before.”

”Because you said you’d win for sure, Fellow Daoist Qianxue.”

”Of course we will! You just wait, Fellow Daoist Lu...”

But as the group was laughing and joking, a sudden, furious roar thundered high above the Profound Pure Sect:

”Profound Pure Sect, answer for my grandson’s life!”

”If it weren’t for your Sword Dao Ye Shan, this blight would never have happened, and my grandson wouldn’t have...”

The roar echoed across the heavens, and the expression on every face in the Profound Pure Sect changed drastically.

Chu Lingxiao, who had been talking with Li Daoyi and the others, froze. His face stiffened as he sharply looked up at the sky.

After a brief moment, he took a deep breath and said to Li Daoyi, ”From now on, we’re on our own.”

With that, he quickly departed, leaving the others staring in stunned silence.

Then, Luo Qianxue explained with a complicated expression, ”The person shouting... I think that’s the Supreme Elder from Fellow Daoist Chu’s Sect.”

She fell silent for a moment, her gaze shifting from Li Daoyi to Lu Mingchen. Her expression was a mixture of emotions as she sighed and said:

”With things as they are now, I can’t take sides with either of you.”

”I’m heading back. Let me know what happens in the end. I hope...”

She trailed off, shook her head, and then departed in silence.

Li Daoyi remained silent, watching her go.

After a long moment, the reality of the situation finally dawned on Lu Mingchen.

He whipped his head around to face the silent Li Daoyi.

”Senior Brother... are we still going to face the Demon Race?”

’He had been looking forward to this for so long. Why had everyone suddenly left?’

’Just moments ago, they were all laughing and joking, excitedly talking about the battles that awaited them in the lands of the Demon Race.’

’Why did it have to be like this?’

Hearing his question, Li Daoyi turned his head slightly, but said nothing.