Watching the Mountain

Chapter 249: Chapter 160: Hidden Mountain

While Little Xiyue was in a deep slumber, Xu Ran continued to cultivate diligently.

No matter how poor the conditions were, he had to keep cultivating.

Or rather, he felt he should work as hard as possible while he still could. He was worried that if things kept going this way, cultivation might become even more difficult in the future.

Given the current situation, no one could say for sure what the future of this world would hold.

With this mindset, Xu Ran spent his days alternating between cultivating and being sick.

However, these quiet days did not last long before his peace was shattered.

The one to shatter his peace was Zhang Zhentian. Following behind him was a young man who looked to be only fifteen or sixteen years old.

The youth was dressed in magnificent purple robes, his long hair tied back. While his face wasn’t exceptionally handsome, his bearing was extraordinary.

His dark, bright eyes were especially full of youthful vigor, like the morning sun.

Xu Ran’s expression grew distant for a moment. He wasn’t sure why, but the instant he saw the young man, the scene of his first meeting with Ye Shan involuntarily surfaced in his mind.

He had first seen Ye Shan during the Sect’s first Grand Competition after he had joined. At the time, Ye Shan had defeated his opponent on the stage with a single sword strike. Then, he puffed out his chest, basking in the cheers of his fellow disciples below. The smile on his face was one of spirited ambition, as if he intended to challenge the very heavens.

A thought had crossed Xu Ran’s mind back then: ’This man is by no means ordinary.’

And as it turned out, that was indeed the case.

The young man following Zhang Zhentian didn’t seem to possess Ye Shan’s kind of high-spirited demeanor, yet Xu Ran couldn’t help but be reminded of Ye Shan upon seeing him.

He couldn’t understand the feeling himself and was somewhat perplexed.

While he was lost in his confusion, Zhang Zhentian took the initiative to speak and introduce the boy to Xu Ran.

"Senior Brother Hidden Mountain, let me introduce you. This is my disciple, Li Daoyi."

Hidden Mountain was Xu Ran’s Daoist name. Ever since the Sect announced to the public that the Vermilion Bird’s foster father from the rumors had perished, he could no longer use the name Xu Ran.

He had originally wanted to change his name completely, but Senior Sister Yue said there was no need. She said a person’s name held great significance, and it would be too pitiful to lose even that.

If he was only changing his identity, taking a Daoist name would suffice. The Sect would only record the Daoist name on his new identification, not his given name. As for the name Xu Ran, he could keep it for himself.

Xu Ran thought about it and felt that Senior Sister Yue’s suggestion was a good one. Most importantly, he could feel the gentleness contained within her words, so he accepted her proposal without hesitation.

As a Cultivator, it was perfectly normal to have a Daoist name.

Xu Ran had no idea what his Daoist name should be.

As a Longevity Seeker, his greatest pursuit was to make his own Dao last for eternity, to sit at the end of the long river of time and watch over all things in the world. ’Perhaps "Wangyue" would suit me?’

But when he saw Senior Sister Yue’s elegant white robes swaying gently in the moonlight, he silently took back the words that were on the tip of his tongue.

That Daoist name seemed rather ambiguous. Besides, there was already a Wangyue Sect in the world, so it wouldn’t be appropriate to use it.

"Senior Sister, you are the one who guided me onto the path of cultivation. Could I trouble you to choose a Daoist name for me?"

Upon hearing Xu Ran’s words, Yue Qingyu did not refuse.

Her beautiful eyes rested on Xu Ran, sizing him up for a moment before she spoke softly.

"Junior Brother, you enjoy a quiet and peaceful life, like a hermit in the mountains. How about ’Hidden Mountain’?"

Xu Ran gazed silently at Senior Sister Yue, once again marveling at the thought, ’How can there be someone in this world who understands me so well?’ The Daoist name "Hidden Mountain" felt like a summary of his own heart, perfectly suiting his disposition.

Hiding one’s form within the great transformation, sitting and watching the winds and clouds gather and scatter, observing the changes of time.

After settling on the Daoist name, Yue Qingyu helped Xu Ran get a new Identity Jade Talisman. Xu Ran then told those around him about the matter, asking them to call him by his Daoist name, "Hidden Mountain," from then on.

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Xu Ran was slightly taken aback by Zhang Zhentian’s introduction, but he quickly regained his composure.

He was just a bit surprised that Zhang Zhentian now had a disciple of his own. But he soon realized that the man was now a Nascent Soul True Monarch and a Supreme Elder of the Sect. Logically, he should have taken a disciple long ago.

It wasn’t too early; it was actually late. ’It’s just that my own time has stood still.’

After Zhang Zhentian’s introduction, Li Daoyi, who was behind him, stepped forward. He formed a Dao Seal with his hands and bowed. "Greetings, Martial Uncle."

Hearing himself called "Martial Uncle" so suddenly gave Xu Ran a strange feeling.

This was his first time being someone’s martial uncle, so he had no experience. However, he knew that praise was never a bad thing when meeting someone for the first time.

Thus, he did not hold back his praise, complimenting Li Daoyi repeatedly. Then, after a moment of thought, he took out a bottle of Second Grade Life Creation Pills from his Storage Ring and said:

"Since this is our first meeting, please take this bottle of Life Creation Pills as a gift for you, my Martial Nephew. I hope you like it."

Upon hearing Xu Ran’s words, Li Daoyi asked with a slightly surprised expression, "If I may ask, Martial Uncle, are these Life Creation Pills the sacred healing medicine from the Creation Sect?"

"They are."

Hearing this, Li Daoyi cupped his hands in a slight bow and said apologetically, "Please forgive this disciple for refusing. I cannot accept this gift."

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