Watching the Mountain

Chapter 376: Chapter 205: Reversal, Mountain Guardian

”Ninety-nine?” Xu Ran was taken aback. ”Just how many female confidantes do you have?”

”One hundred and one,” Wang Zhenye replied nonchalantly.

A vein on Xu Ran’s forehead twitched. He knew Wang Zhenye had many female confidantes, but he was still shocked to hear the exact number.

He stared silently at Wang Zhenye, unable to comprehend it. ’How is a scoundrel like him so popular?’

”Senior, is something wrong?” Wang Zhenye couldn’t help but ask, noticing Xu Ran staring at him.

Hearing this, Xu Ran let out a soft breath and waved his hand. ”It’s nothing. I was just lost in thought. Since you’ve already found the Dust-Sealed Stones, you should hurry and give them to your confidantes. Best not to keep them waiting.”

Wang Zhenye gave him a peculiar look, then nodded. After bidding him farewell, he turned and left.

After watching Wang Zhenye leave, Xu Ran heaved a long sigh. ’That guy’s finally gone.’ He was the kind of person who would make any man burn with envy. Even Xu Ran found it hard to remain calm in his presence.

Still, hearing about Wang Zhenye’s success made him think that Elder Xu’s search would likely go smoothly as well. He would probably be back soon.

And indeed, just as he had thought, Elder Xu of the Instructor Hall returned a few days later.

However, contrary to his expectations, Elder Xu did not look well upon his return. His face was pale, and his spirits were low.

”Elder Xu, are you injured?”

Xu Ran asked, concerned by his appearance.

Elder Xu nodded slightly at his words. He sighed deeply and replied, his voice low with despair:

”The Dust-Sealed Stones are incredibly difficult to find. I searched for a very long time but didn’t see a single one. As I was leaving a valley, I was ambushed. It took everything I had just to escape.”

He sighed again, shaking his head.

”But while I was lucky to escape with my life, my path to the Great Dao is now severed. I’ve already returned the Dust-Sealed Stone the Sect had allocated to me. In my current condition, there would be no point in being Dust-sealed.”

Xu Ran was stunned to hear this.

He remembered Wang Zhenye telling him just the other day that the Dust-Sealed Stones were quite easy to find. He had simply wandered around for a bit and found ninety-nine of them.

Both had gone searching for Dust-Sealed Stones, yet the outcomes for Elder Xu and Wang Zhenye were worlds apart.

Xu Ran had always known Wang Zhenye was lucky, but the man’s story had given him a false impression. He’d thought that no matter how bad Elder Xu’s luck was, he shouldn’t have come back with nothing at all.

Now it seemed he had completely misjudged the situation.

Everyone’s fortunes were truly different.

’That guy, Wang Zhenye, must be one of Heaven’s favorites. How else could he live such a charmed life?’

As Xu Ran was lost in these reflections, Elder Xu spoke again.

”In truth, it’s not such a great loss. I was already wondering if I should even attempt being Dust-sealed at my age. Now, at least, I don’t have to agonize over the decision anymore.”

He raised his head slightly to look at Xu Ran. ”Hidden Mountain Elder, I’ve always believed the Hidden Mountain Spell you created has great potential. After the Heaven and Earth Dao Concealment, the Sect will need Mountain Guardians.”

”I’ve made my decision. For the years I have left, I will dedicate myself to training those seven disciples. Consider it the final contribution these old bones can make to the Sect.”

”I will do everything in my power to train those seven disciples. After the Heaven and Earth Dao Concealment, they will be the Sect’s Mountain Guardians.”