Watching the Mountain

Chapter 417: Chapter 218: Qianxue

Xu Ran gazed at the resolute Li Daoyi. After a moment of contemplation, he asked calmly,

”Do you still believe the Overseas Archipelago is plotting something against our native Cultivation Realm?”

After a moment of silence, Li Daoyi nodded. ”If they had no objective, why would they go out of their way to accelerate the Heaven and Earth Dao Concealment?”

Xu Ran gave a slight nod. He didn’t deny Li Daoyi’s words, but after a moment’s thought, he said slowly,

”Then in your opinion, if they truly intend to make a move against us, how would they go about it?”

Li Daoyi frowned. After thinking for a moment, he replied,

”The great powers made an agreement long ago. Furthermore, now that the world has fully entered the era of Dao Concealment, it’s not suitable for High Realm Cultivators to fight. Therefore, it’s unlikely anyone excessively powerful will make a move.”

”If they truly did plan ahead, waiting to act until after the Dao Concealment was complete, their best option would be to help some Golden Core Stage and Nascent Soul Stage Cultivators extend their lives and have them be the ones to strike.”

”Currently, in our native Cultivation Realm, there aren’t many Nascent Soul Stage Cultivators left. As for whether any Divinity Transformation Daoist Monarchs still remain, that’s impossible to know.”

”They would use Nascent Soul Stage Cultivators as their main force to keep the conflict contained, preventing it from escalating to an uncontrollable point. This is the most logical choice under the current circumstances.”

”If they truly intended to launch an all-out war, they wouldn’t have needed to wait for the Dao Concealment to be complete. They would have struck long before.”

Xu Ran nodded slightly, showing his approval of Li Daoyi’s analysis. He agreed that if the Overseas Archipelago were to make a move, they would certainly not dispatch experts Above the Divinity Transformation Stage. The world in its current state could not withstand a battle between such powerhouses.

’There likely won’t be many Divinity Transformation Stage experts involved, either. The fighting will primarily be at the Nascent Soul Stage.’

At this thought, he fell silent for a moment before speaking to Li Daoyi.

”I can sense your determination to protect the Sect, but all of this is merely your speculation. We don’t know if they will make a move, nor when they might do it.”

”And even if everything you surmise is true, what if they choose to act much later? After all, in a few thousand years, our native Cultivation Realm will be virtually devoid of powerful experts. It’s not even certain if any Nascent Soul Stage Cultivators will be left to guard it. Wouldn’t that be a more opportune time for them to strike?”

Li Daoyi fell silent. After a long moment, he slowly raised his head, looked at Xu Ran, and asked,

”Martial Uncle, are you also against me waiting any longer?”

In fact, for the past century, many within the Sect had been trying to persuade him to enter the Dust-covered state.

After the world fully entered the era of Dao Concealment, these voices reached a crescendo. Facing endless persuasion every day had left him feeling utterly exhausted.

Seeing his reaction, Xu Ran waved a hand and said,

”No, I know you. You aren’t one to act without reason. If you insist on staying behind, you must have some inkling of what’s to come.”

”I trust your intuition.”

Hearing Xu Ran’s words, Li Daoyi’s expression softened. All he had heard recently was endless nagging, people telling him he was overthinking things and worrying for nothing. His Martial Uncle’s words allowed him to breathe a small sigh of relief.

But before he could fully exhale, he heard Xu Ran continue,

”However, you can’t just keep waiting indefinitely. You need to set a deadline. Within that time frame, you can continue to wait while also diligently preparing for war and increasing the Sect’s overall strength.”

”If there’s still no sign of movement by that deadline, then you will enter the Dust-covered state.”

He looked at Li Daoyi’s expression and added with heartfelt gravity,

”Protecting the Sect is not your responsibility alone. You are a prodigy in whom the Sect has placed great hope, the one who can lead our Sect to a glorious future. You can’t waste your life away in an endless wait.”

”Besides, as the Sect Leader, you must learn to trust the next generation. You must have faith that even without you, our junior disciples can ensure the Sect’s safety.”

Li Daoyi nodded lightly. ”Rest assured, Martial Uncle. I never intended to wait forever. According to my plan, if there’s no activity within a thousand years, I will enter the Dust-covered state. As for what comes after, I’ll entrust it to the disciples of the future.”

Xu Ran frowned at his words and waved a hand dismissively. ”A thousand years is too long. The future holds the great struggle of the ages, and that era is far more important for the Sect.”

He stroked his chin, his eyes studying Li Daoyi’s face for a moment before he spoke.

”The Hidden Dao Era Millennium. We’ll set that as the limit. If the Overseas Archipelago hasn’t made a move by then, you must enter the Dust-covered state. What do you say?”

He then added, ”If you don’t agree, I’ll have no choice but to ask your master and the others to step in and force you into the Dust-covered state.”

Xu Ran knew Li Daoyi well. He was a very resolute person; once he made a decision, he would see it through without wavering. If Xu Ran didn’t take a firm stance, Li Daoyi might very well stay in this era for a full millennium.

Li Daoyi looked at Xu Ran’s expression and sank into thought. ’Is it really necessary to keep waiting in this era?’ he weighed internally.

After a long while, he gave Xu Ran a slight nod and replied, ”Then I will do as Martial Uncle says.”

He thought it over carefully. ’If the Overseas Archipelago is truly planning to strike, the most opportune time would be now. If there’s still no movement after the Hidden Dao Era Millennium, it’s unlikely they’ll act anytime soon. Perhaps, just as Martial Uncle said, they’ll wait for several thousand years.’