Watching the Mountain

Chapter 342: Chapter 194: In the Name of Shennong

Just as Wuya Daoist Monarch had worried, once his figure had completely disappeared from the Profound Pure Sect’s vicinity,

Yue Qingyu’s unwavering form finally swayed.

COUGH.

A trickle of crimson blood spilled from her pale lips, like a red plum blossom blooming in the snow—beautifully tragic and jarring to the eye.

All the color instantly drained from her face, leaving it nearly transparent. Only her cold, clear eyes remained bright, though they failed to conceal the weakness welling up from within.

She forced herself to remain steady, her white robes fluttering in the wind. She maintained the proper bearing of a Sect Leader, as if she were not the one who had just battled a Divinity Transformation Daoist Monarch and suffered grievous wounds in the process.

She raised a hand, casually wiping the blood from the corner of her mouth. Her gaze swept over the Profound Pure Sect disciples below, who were overcome with the joy of surviving the calamity, and her voice was calm and serene.

”Elder Wuya has departed. Everyone, carry on as usual. Apply yourselves to your cultivation.”

As soon as she finished speaking, she looked at no one. Her body transformed into a streak of cold light, vanishing in an instant into the depths of the Profound Pure Sect.

It was as if staying for even a second longer would have shattered the fragile composure she was desperately holding onto.

Ye Shu’s aged face was filled with worry as he murmured, ”The Sect Leader... she can barely stand.”

Xu Ran gripped the Ye Shan Sword, remaining silent. Ever since he met Senior Sister Yue in Xu Family Village, she had always been aloof and unperturbed. This was the first time he had ever seen her injured.

He couldn’t quite put a name to the feeling in his heart.

*

*

*

When Xu Ran and Zhang Zhentian rushed to Profound Celestial Peak, they found several Supreme Elders pacing anxiously inside the Sect’s main hall.

”Supreme Elder Zi Yun, how is Senior Sister Yue?” Xu Ran quickly found True Monarch Zi Yun and asked.

True Monarch Zi Yun sighed, his expression grave. ”The situation is dire. Her other injuries are manageable, but her Divine Soul has been grievously wounded and her Dao Foundation is damaged. Our Sect has no Elixirs or Spiritual Objects capable of treating such wounds. If this continues, it will likely impact her entire path of cultivation.”

To completely heal Yue Qingyu’s wounds, ordinary Elixirs and Heavenly Materials and Earthly Treasures were insufficient. It would require, at minimum, a Spiritual Object from the Divinity Transformation Stage.

The Profound Pure Sect was merely a Nascent Soul Sect, and situated in a remote area like Changqing County at that. It would be incredibly difficult to find an opportunity to acquire such a Spiritual Object.

”Is there really no other way?” Xu Ran asked urgently, hearing that Senior Sister Yue’s path of cultivation was at risk.

”Well...” Supreme Elder Zi Yun looked at Xu Ran’s expression, hesitated for a moment, and replied,

”Across the entire Cultivation Realm... putting others aside, I am certain the Creation Sect has what is needed to completely heal the Sect Leader.”

”I recall, Hidden Mountain Elder, that you seem to have some connection to Liu Yunge. I wonder if you might ask her for help? Whatever the cost, the Sect will do everything in its power to meet it.”

Supreme Elder Zi Yun didn’t know the specifics of Xu Ran’s relationship with Liu Yunge. He only knew that she had been present when Xu Ran went to the Demon Race’s territory to rescue Jiang Ling’er, and that the two of them seemed to get along quite well.

Even as he said it, however, he didn’t hold out much hope. A Spiritual Object of that grade would be incredibly precious even to the Creation Sect. They wouldn’t necessarily be willing to trade it. Most importantly, the Profound Pure Sect had nothing of value to offer them.

Hearing Supreme Elder Zi Yun’s words, Xu Ran had a sudden realization. ’That’s right, the Creation Sect is renowned for its Path of Life!’

He immediately and eagerly took out his Communication Jade Talisman to contact Liu Yunge.

When Liu Yunge heard Xu Ran’s request, she hesitated. ”Well... Fellow Daoist Hidden Mountain, that kind of Spiritual Object... Our Sect has them, but they are exceptionally precious, even to us. I don’t have the authority to make that decision.”

Xu Ran wasn’t surprised by Liu Yunge’s reply; he was already prepared for this.

”Fellow Daoist Liu, I know such a Spiritual Object is incredibly precious. But I’m not asking for a handout. I’ll trade you an opportunity for your esteemed sect to go down in history. What do you say?”

”An opportunity to go down in history?” Liu Yunge asked, her voice laced with confusion. ”What are you referring to, Fellow Daoist Hidden Mountain?”

She wasn’t actually very interested in such things. ’An opportunity to go down in history? Is that something you can get just by saying so?’

She only asked out of politeness.

Xu Ran replied without the slightest hesitation. ”The solution to the world’s current malaise. I will give you the method, and you can announce to the world that you discovered it. How does that sound?”

This was the bargaining chip he had devised. The Creation Sect was one of the Ten Major Sects of the Eastern Domain. Given their stature, they would certainly look down on anything the Profound Pure Sect could offer.

But something like solving the world’s malaise... that was another matter entirely.

The world’s malaise was the current calamity plaguing the entire Cultivation Realm. Whoever could solve this calamity would be forever recorded in the annals of cultivation history.

For the Creation Sect, a power that had already reached the apex of the Cultivation Realm, this was an unmissable pursuit. Xu Ran was confident they would be tempted.

Xu Ran had already figured out the general method for solving the world’s malaise; there was just one key problem he hadn’t been able to resolve.

He hadn’t been able to find the answer before, but after witnessing the Dao battle between Senior Sister Yue and Wuya Daoist Monarch, he suddenly realized how to solve it.

Xu Ran felt no heartache about giving this method away. He was aware that having the Profound Pure Sect propose the method might have been a way to combat the slanderous rumors they faced.