Watching the Mountain

Chapter 439: Chapter 224: The Assertive Li Daoyi

A few days later, Li Daoyi and Chu Lingxiao found Xu Ran and Chen Chang’an. With a serious expression, Li Daoyi said,

”Elder Hidden Mountain, Elder Chen, I’ve come to ask you to enter the Dust-covered state.”

Xu Ran and Chen Chang’an exchanged a glance upon hearing this, then looked at them in confusion.

Seeing their reaction, Li Daoyi explained,

”Since the course of this war was decided by a consensus reached long ago, there is no need for you elders to remain in this era.”

”Elder Wuya also said that once you enter the Dust-covered state, the process cannot be broken or interrupted, even if the Sect is occupied. Your awakening and return in the future are guaranteed.”

”Since he was so certain, there surely won’t be any problems. The safest course of action is for you two elders to enter the Dust-covered state.”

On second thought, it made sense. The experts from all five powers—the Human Race, the Demon Race, the Evil Demon Race and Phoenix Race, and the Overseas Archipelago—had all entered the Dust-covered state without worry, so they must not have feared it being disrupted.

And it surely wasn’t as simple as making a pact or issuing an iron-clad rule. There had to be many other undisclosed measures in place to prevent interference.

It wasn’t just the experts themselves entering the Dust-covered state, but also their families, descendants, sect members, and friends. Without absolute certainty, how could they possibly allow everyone to enter this state with peace of mind?

Looking at Li Daoyi’s earnest expression, Chen Chang’an fell silent for a moment before slowly speaking, ”The war isn’t over yet.”

Li Daoyi said with a calm expression, ”Fellow Daoist Chu and I will protect the Sect. You two can enter the Dust-covered state without worry.”

Seeing that Xu Ran and Chen Chang’an were about to say something, he cut them off.

”I know that with your personalities, you two elders won’t agree easily. Therefore, I am not negotiating with you now. Rather, as the Sect Leader, I am issuing a direct order: you are to enter the Dust-covered state.”

He stared at Xu Ran and Chen Chang’an, his face devoid of emotion as he spoke,

”In truth, your remaining in this era will not affect the Sect’s situation.”

”Elder Hidden Mountain, your Golden Core Stage Cultivation is inconsequential to the current state of the Sect.”

”As for you, Elder Chen, your duty of guarding the Sect is complete. For the Sect right now, one extra Nascent Soul Stage combatant won’t change the grand scheme of things. Besides... speaking frankly, I believe that Fellow Daoist Chu and I are no weaker than you—and perhaps even stronger.”

”You are our elders. You should enter the Dust-covered state and await the return of the Great Dao’s golden age. As for the Sect, just leave its protection to us, the younger generation.”

”I swear here and now that I will protect the Sect. When you elders return in the future, you will surely see a Sect that is not only intact but even more prosperous.”

Li Daoyi emanated the authority of a Sect Leader, his tone firm and unyielding.

Faced with such an attitude, Xu Ran and Chen Chang’an were momentarily at a loss for how to refute him.

”No. My watch duty isn’t complete until the end of the year,” Chen Chang’an said quietly.

Li Daoyi nodded slightly and said calmly, ”Very well. Then you two elders shall enter the Dust-covered state on the first day of the new year.”

After speaking, he rose slowly and left without waiting for them to respond. His attitude was clear: the matter was decided and not open for discussion.

Only after Li Daoyi and Chu Lingxiao had left did Xu Ran and Chen Chang’an look at each other, remaining silent.

Their feelings were complicated. Time had passed too quickly; the junior they had watched grow up was now capable of dictating their futures with such a forceful attitude.

And yet, there was nothing they could do about this junior.

After a long while, Xu Ran was the first to speak. ”What are you going to do?”

He himself wasn’t worried. Thanks to Senior Sister Yue’s arrangements, he could assume a new identity at any time.

After a moment of silence, Chen Chang’an shook his head. ”Their strength is impressive, but Divinity Transformation Realm experts could target us at any moment.”

Xu Ran nodded slightly and then asked, ”If the Divinity Transformation Realm experts are unable to act, do you think they can protect the Sect?”

Chen Chang’an considered this for a moment, then nodded. ”If the Divinity Transformation Realm experts cannot act, then I can enter the Dust-covered state with my mind at ease.”

Xu Ran nodded lightly. Chen Chang’an’s meaning was clear: if there was no threat from the Divinity Transformation Realm, Li Daoyi and the others could definitely protect the Sect.

He pondered for a moment before saying to Chen Chang’an, ”I have a plan that might be able to neutralize the threat from the Divinity Transformation Realm. I’d like you to look it over and see if it’s feasible.”

He then explained his plan to Chen Chang’an.

Chen Chang’an’s expression turned to one of astonishment. He looked at Xu Ran and asked, ”You mean to use an Array to create an illusion of Senior Brother Ye Shan, project it across the world, and then place a Restriction on all Divinity Transformation Realm experts, forbidding them from acting?”

Xu Ran nodded. ”With Senior Brother Ye Shan’s sword to help me, I can channel a portion of his Sword Intent.”

Chen Chang’an frowned. ”The Overseas Archipelago has a clear objective. A mere projection of Senior Brother Ye Shan will never be enough to intimidate them into stopping the war.”

”But if it’s just to stop the Divinity Transformation Realm from acting...”

He contemplated for a long time before finally nodding. ”As long as you can execute a single sword strike, there shouldn’t be a problem.”

Xu Ran nodded slightly. ”That’s why I need the help of an Array to grant me the temporary power to execute that one strike. The Array my disciple Little Xiyue left behind has been destroyed, so I need to build a new one.”

Chen Chang’an glanced at him. ”Can you finish it before the year is out?”

”It shouldn’t be a problem.”

”Alright. I’ll help you.”

After speaking, Chen Chang’an paused for a moment, then added, ”If this plan succeeds, then we can enter the Dust-covered state without any worries.”

”When the Great Dao’s golden age arrives in the future, seize your opportunities and raise your Cultivation. Then, I will let you witness my Sword Technique.”

Xu Ran smiled faintly and replied, ”Alright.”

Ever since Chen Chang’an had placed the Bamboo Blade meant for Ye Shan into his hands before leaving for the Evil Demon Battlefield, he had been curious about what kind of strike it could produce.

He had already witnessed Senior Brother Ye Shan’s legendary sword strike, seen the Dao of Senior Sister Yue, Zhang Zhentian, and Ye Qingxue, and even the Dao of the younger generation like Li Daoyi.

The only thing he had never witnessed was Chen Chang’an’s Sword Technique—the one born from imagination, based only on Ye Shan’s descriptions.

But he wasn’t in a hurry. He believed that sooner or later, he would get to see it.

’Once Chen Chang’an enters the Dust-covered state, I will remain in this era, quietly cultivating and improving my strength. Then, when the Dao Concealment fades in the future and the golden age arrives, I will surely be worthy of witnessing that Sword Technique.’

Xu Ran shook his head, no longer dwelling on the matter. After discussing some details of his plan with Chen Chang’an, he got up to begin his preparations.