Watching the Mountain

Chapter 351: Chapter 197: Dust-covered

According to the solution Xu Ran had envisioned for the malady of heaven and earth, Heaven and Earth Dao Concealment was only a possible consequence, and its probability was not particularly high.

The probability was far less than ten percent.

But now, it seemed the powerhouses of the Cultivation Realm had set their sights on this outcome, which had originally been classified as a mere side effect.

They wanted to turn the *possible* Dao Concealment into a *certainty*, and then use the resulting rebound from heaven and earth to artificially create a golden age of cultivation.

And they wanted to find a way to seal away the people of this era, allowing them to awaken when that golden age dawned.

It just went to show that one’s perspective changes with one’s position. At least, Xu Ran had never considered such a play before.

After a moment of silence, Xu Ran spoke into the Communication Jade Talisman, asking Liu Yunge:

”Fellow Daoist Liu, what do you think are the chances of this succeeding?”

The implications were too great. It would have a major impact on the Cultivation Realm, the Profound Pure Sect, and Xu Ran himself, so he couldn’t help but be concerned about its progress.

Liu Yunge shared her thoughts candidly. ”It’s hard to say right now. The seniors are still running calculations and discussing it, but personally, I don’t think it will be a problem.”

Xu Ran frowned in thought for a moment before saying, ”If there’s any progress, please let me know, Fellow Daoist.”

Liu Yunge’s laughter came through the Communication Jade Talisman. ”Even if you didn’t ask, I would’ve told you. After all, this was your proposal. How could we possibly leave you out?”

Liu Yunge was true to her word. A little over a month later, she arrived at the Profound Pure Sect in a flurry to find Xu Ran.

She then took out a fist-sized, irregularly shaped, crystal-clear stone and passed it to Xu Ran with an air of mystery.

”Fellow Daoist Hidden Mountain, the Sealing is a success. Take a look at this.”

Xu Ran took the stone from her. It didn’t feel particularly special to the touch; in fact, it was even a little sharp.

”What is this?” he asked curiously.

Liu Yunge replied, ”This is the fruit of the seniors’ labor: a ’Dust-Sealed Stone.’ It’s a creation of the Heaven and Earth Dao. After a Cultivator enters it, they are no longer affected by the passage of time. No matter how long passes, their lifespan won’t decrease. However, upon emerging, they will have ten to thirty percent of their lifespan severed by heaven and earth.”

’They actually managed to create it, and it’s this miraculous!’ Xu Ran was slightly startled.

A Cultivator’s lifespan varies with their Realm. Yet, according to Liu Yunge, the Dust-Sealed Stone treated everyone equally. Regardless of one’s Realm, the price for being sealed was to have ten to thirty percent of one’s lifespan severed upon re-emerging.

Only a creation of the Heaven and Earth Dao could exact such a fixed cost.

”How did they do it?” Xu Ran asked, unable to contain his curiosity.

Liu Yunge smiled and explained, ”Fellow Daoist Hidden Mountain, you must understand that heaven and earth are without consciousness, yet they also possess it—just like how Sword Dao Ye Shan of your Sect was once able to have his heart encompass heaven and earth.”

”The Heavenly Dao we speak of, while not a living being, knows that it is sick and instinctively wants to recover.”

”I don’t know the specific process. I just heard from my master that these Dust-Sealed Stones will only appear this one time. They are a gift from heaven and earth and will never appear again.”

”So, do you understand now, Fellow Daoist Hidden Mountain?”

Xu Ran nodded thoughtfully. He roughly understood. In simple terms, it was a transaction between Cultivators and heaven and earth.

The Cultivators would cure the malady of heaven and earth, and in return, heaven and earth would bestow the Dust-Sealed Stones—creations of the Dao—as payment.

Seeing that Xu Ran understood, Liu Yunge didn’t explain further. After all, she didn’t know the specific details of the Dust-Sealed Stones herself. Her master, Cloud Sea Guest, had merely explained it to her in layman’s terms.

The actual process was surely not so simple; it was bound to be incredibly complex, far beyond what she could comprehend at her Realm.

She then said to Xu Ran, ”Master said the plan will be officially implemented in one hundred days. At that time, these Dust-Sealed Stones will descend upon places where Cultivators gather throughout the world. There will be enough for about ten percent of the total Cultivator population. The specific method for using the Dust-Sealed Stones will also be announced then.”

”Master also said that this is the very first Dust-Sealed Stone in all of heaven and earth. Those powerful experts gave it to him, and now he has passed it on to you.”

”That’s the general situation. Our Sect is selecting candidates for the Sealing, so I have to get back and prepare. Fellow Daoist Hidden Mountain, you should start preparing, too.”

”Oh, right! Wuyang and I have already decided. We’re getting married after we awaken from the Sealing. You and Fellow Daoist Deceitful Blade have to come to our wedding!”

She made a fierce face at Xu Ran. ”And pass this on to Fellow Daoist Deceitful Blade for us: if either of you dares to miss it, you’d better be prepared to face our wrath.”

”You’d better watch out. I’m terrifying when I get angry.”

Xu Ran understood her meaning. ’She’s saying this because she’s worried that Chen Chang’an and I won’t agree to be sealed.’

He smiled at her words. ”Congratulations to you both for finally making it. Don’t worry, Senior Brother Chen and I will definitely be there to offer our blessings. We promised long ago, and we won’t forget.”

”Haha! Then don’t you forget that promise, Fellow Daoist Hidden Mountain. I’m off!”

With that, Liu Yunge waved to him and left without a backward glance.

Xu Ran could sense her urgency. Otherwise, given her personality, she definitely would have insisted on getting together with Chen Chang’an before she could bear to leave.