Watching the Mountain

Two figures flashed through the courtyard. The next moment, Li Daoyi ran toward Xu Ran, his expression filled with concern.

"Martial Uncle, are you alright?"

Xu Ran looked at the streak of blood on his arm. The hand holding his longsword trembled slightly.

It was a tremor of shock.

He stared at Li Daoyi, his expression one of utter disbelief.

’This martial nephew of mine... what he’s comprehended this time is just way off the charts. It completely defies the existing laws of the Cultivation Realm!’

He gave a slight wave of his hand, signaling that he was fine and that Li Daoyi needn’t worry. Only then did he speak, his voice hushed.

"Was that the Power of Space?"

Li Daoyi nodded, his expression placid as he replied:

"It involves the Power of Space. It’s just that my cultivation is too low right now, so I can’t unleash its full power. I can only slightly alter space at the moment of attack."

He finished with a light sigh, his tone tinged with regret as he added:

"If only my cultivation were at the Nascent Soul Stage, I could elevate the Power of Space to the level of a Law."

Watching his regretful expression, Xu Ran’s grip on his longsword tightened involuntarily. The entire blade began to tremble, catching the sunlight with a blinding, cold glint.

’Is he for real?’

When a Cultivator reaches the Nascent Soul Stage, they can generally use simple applications of the Power of Space, such as Shrinking Inches.

But this ability is more like a boon granted by heaven and earth to every Nascent Soul Stage Cultivator, much like the Innate Divine Techniques of the Demon Race. To comprehend space any further—to grasp it at the level of a Law—is considered all but impossible.

According to speculation in the Cultivation Realm, the Space Law is unique. To truly master the Power of Space and comprehend it at the level of a Law, one must first grasp Space Dao Rhyme before ever reaching the Nascent Soul Stage.

After all, every Cultivator in the history of the Cultivation Realm who specialized in the Power of Space had, without exception, already grasped a sliver of Space Dao Rhyme during the Golden Core or Purple Mansion Stage. Only then, after reaching the Nascent Soul Stage, did they manage to master the Space Law.

And those who mastered the Space Law were, without exception, legendary figures who once shook the Cultivation Realm, leaving countless tales in their wake.

’For my own martial nephew to comprehend the Power of Space while still in the Foundation Establishment Stage... that’s far earlier than anyone recorded in the history of the Cultivation Realm. One can only imagine how immense his talent for the path of space must be.’

’The new generation truly surpasses the old,’ Xu Ran mused, looking at Li Daoyi opposite him. ’I knew he was extraordinary from the moment we first met, but his rate of growth has far exceeded my wildest expectations.’

’Back then, I thought it would still be some time before he revealed his true prowess. But not long ago, he and his peers, Luo Qianxue and Chu Lingxiao, had already made their initial mark on the Cultivation Realm during their battle with the Five Young Demon Saints of the Demon Court.’

’And now, their growth is accelerating once more. It won’t be long before legends of them fill the entire Cultivation Realm.’

Xu Ran said to the slightly regretful Li Daoyi, "The Nascent Soul Stage? It’s not that far off for you. Keep cultivating diligently, and you’ll be there before you know it."

Li Daoyi was slightly taken aback. Then, the regret vanished from his face, and he nodded calmly, agreeing, "You’re right."

His tone was matter-of-fact, as if he were stating a foregone conclusion.

While others like Zhao Wuyang and Liu Yunge were still worried about whether they could break through to the Nascent Soul Stage, Li Daoyi had never had such a concern.

For many, the Nascent Soul Stage was a goal they pursued their entire lives. But for him, it was merely an insignificant signpost on the path of cultivation, one he wouldn’t even pause to glance at.

His goal had been crystal clear from the very beginning: to reach, and even surpass, the heights achieved by Ye Shan, and then lead the Profound Pure Sect to glory.

Li Daoyi had once told Xu Ran that his greatest regret in life was this: he had heard all about the man Ye Shan was, but he had never gotten to see him elevate the Sect to a level of glory matching his own personal achievements.

He said that if, by the time he was born, Ye Shan had already led the Sect to a height equal to his own personal accomplishments, then he would not have needed to set such a goal for himself.

He also said that when he first set this goal, he knew the path would be incredibly difficult and exhausting. After all, it is easy for one person to reach great heights, but to lead an entire group to that same level is thousands, even tens of thousands of times harder.

He had foreseen the hardships of the path ahead, but he still chose it without a moment’s hesitation.

When Xu Ran first heard him reveal these inner thoughts, he had asked him, puzzled, "Since you know this path is so difficult, why choose it?"

Besides, he was so young at the time. He hadn’t even joined the Sect or experienced life within it, so how could he love it so much?

After hearing Xu Ran’s question, Li Daoyi fell silent for a moment. He tilted his head back slightly, a faint smile on his face, and replied in a calm voice:

"Honestly, I can’t quite explain it myself. When I was very young, my family’s ancestors and elders, my parents, my brothers and sisters... they often spoke of daily life in the Sect—the happy parts and the sad, the good and the bad."

"I heard them tell countless stories about the Sect. Then one day, my parents brought me for a visit. I watched as new disciples attended a lecture in the Instructor Hall."

"They sat there quietly, their eyes full of yearning for the path of cultivation. The one teaching them was a stern and rigid-looking old man with a full head of white hair. His gaze was terrifying, and his tone of voice was especially harsh."

"At that moment, I saw him scolding a few students in a very severe tone: ’Such a simple concept, and you still can’t grasp it? Fine, if you can’t grasp it here, the least you could do is go back and study it on your own!’"

"’Over a hundred years ago, in this very Instructor Hall, I had a student who was even duller than you lot. That girl, you could tell just by looking in her eyes how clueless she was. But every time I criticized her, it wouldn’t be long before she’d come running back excitedly to find me. She’d tell me she finally understood the concept, then she’d stick her chin up, eyes wide, waiting for me to praise her.’"

"’Of course, I’m not telling you to be like her and fish for compliments. I’m telling you to learn from her effort, her diligence, and her perseverance.’"

"’You need to understand how much effort a girl like that—one so simple-minded you could see it in her eyes—had to put in. How much she had to suffer just to grasp a single concept on her own. And yet, she always managed to do it.’"

"’If you lot had even a tenth of her diligence, I wouldn’t be so exasperated with you all.’"

Li Daoyi finished his story, having mimicked the old instructor’s tone perfectly. He paused for a moment and then went on:

"’After the instructor finished scolding those disciples, I heard him mumble something to himself: ’I wonder how that girl Ling’Er is doing. I hope she hasn’t been led astray by someone. If only I could have swallowed my pride back then and praised her a few more times.’’"

"’After he said that, his sharp gaze swept over the disciples present, and he shouted fiercely, ’The next time I catch any of you making such a stupid mistake, don’t blame me for being merciless!’’"

As he spoke, Li Daoyi smiled faintly. An unreadable light flickered in his eyes as he said in an incredibly gentle voice:

"From that moment on, I felt I had fallen in love with this Sect. I made up my mind then and there that I had to lead this Sect to glory."

"Because a Sect that still worries about even its slowest students... it can’t be a bad place. It’s worthy of my devotion."