Spells—they were something Zhongli and the others could understand. The immortals of Liyue also had no shortage of miraculous techniques.
The difference was that most of theirs involved elemental power.
But when it came to real combat, spells were rarely the mainstay.
Elemental skills…
Could those even be considered spells?
Either way, techniques like Jiang Yan's—purely created for battle—were rare.
No… they simply didn't exist.
Jiang Yan could read the thoughts on Zhongli and the others' faces, and explained lightly:
"As I've said before, while cultivators pursue immortality, we also pursue strength.
Our combat abilities are divided quite precisely.
What I just showed you was the most basic form—spells. Above that level are divine abilities."
As he spoke, Jiang Yan once more summoned the Five Elements Spell. Just like before, power began to manifest.
Gold turned into water, water condensed into plants, plants ignited into flame, flame decayed into soil…
Finally, the soil blossomed into gold once more.
Zhongli's eyes flickered with realization.
"This is…"
"The cycle of mutual generation and restraint among the five elements—one of the most fundamental laws of heaven and earth, and a technique every cultivator must master: the Five Elements Spell."
The shifting elements paused on flame. Jiang Yan flicked a finger, and the flame, like a playful fish, slithered toward a large tree in the distance.
To everyone's astonishment, the tree didn't burn—it remained verdant and full of life.
Jiang Yan chuckled softly.
"The Five Elements Spell is not elemental power. At its height, the elements it creates don't behave like the elemental forces you command.
With a thought, it can be born. With a thought, it can be destroyed."
A thought passed through him. The flame surged, engulfing the tree completely—yet under the blaze, the tree thrived even more vigorously.
If he hadn't known it was an ordinary tree, Zhongli might have suspected it was a transplanted Pyro Regisvine.
"What you're seeing is not an element—it is my true essence, the spiritual energy of heaven and earth.
The uses of true essence are endless. For example…"
Before he finished speaking, the tree that had been growing so vibrantly suddenly crumbled into ash.
The fire reversed itself into green radiance, and once again, plants bloomed anew.
Birth and death in a single cycle.
For a fleeting moment, Zhongli felt he'd grasped something profound.
"This is the Five Elements Spell. By using the laws of mutual generation and restraint, one can accomplish things beyond your imagination. For a cultivator, this is the bare minimum."
Cloud Retainer pursed her lips, conflicted.
"So… that doesn't count as controlling multiple elements, does it?"
Jiang Yan smiled faintly and formed a hand seal.
A wisp of fire and a stream of water appeared from nowhere and collided.
In an instant, Teyvat's unique elemental reaction system burst forth.
Meeting Cloud Retainer's bewildered gaze, Jiang Yan explained:
"Though it is the power of true essence, I can still trigger elemental reactions if I wish.
In other words…"
Zhongli regarded Jiang Yan with a touch of awe.
"You keep the useful traits and discard the useless ones. Is that right?"
Jiang Yan only smiled.
"Truly… a domineering system," Zhongli murmured, unable to help himself.
Even he, for once, couldn't help but call it monstrous.
These cultivators were, in essence, adventurers walking a path that sought to encompass all things.
"You used the Divine Sword Commanding the Thunder during your tribulation…"
The quiet voice came from Shenhe, who had been silent until now. She gazed at Jiang Yan calmly, without betraying any emotion.
"That was a technique close to a divine ability."
Since she had asked, Jiang Yan was happy to explain.
"It appears to be controlling lightning, but in truth, it harnesses the might of heaven itself against the enemy.
In another world, it was the strongest mountain-guarding art—one of the ultimate moves."
Shenhe seemed to nod slightly. After a brief silence, she appeared to want to ask more, but held her tongue.
Jiang Yan checked the time. He had already told Zhongli and the others more than enough about cultivation for one day.
There was no need to keep lecturing them—especially since he wasn't planning to leave Liyue anytime soon, and his system task was still hanging over him.
There would be plenty of opportunities to let them see the wonders of cultivation for themselves.
"A cultivator has far too many abilities. I can't make you understand them all at once.
But if you think in the broadest terms—there's almost nothing a cultivator cannot do.
If something can't be done, it only means the cultivator isn't strong enough yet."
Hearing such an arrogant declaration, Zhongli's interest was piqued.
He already knew cultivators were outrageous—he'd seen it in Jiang Yan's tribulation.
But to claim something like that…
It made him think.
"Anything at all?" Zhongli repeated softly, taking a sip of tea with studied calm.
"Including resurrection?"
At once, Cloud Retainer and the others straightened, eyes sharp.
If anyone else had asked, they might have scoffed, but when the words came from Zhongli, they carried a different weight.
Perhaps… he had a specific idea in mind.
And if it was Jiang Yan, maybe it wasn't impossible.
Everyone turned to him. Jiang Yan didn't rush—he took a slow sip of tea.
After a pause, he said casually:
"Among the Thirty-Six Heavenly Gang Techniques, there is one called 'Returning the Dead to Life.'
That's the simplest method. Do you want to hear the others?"
He wasn't exaggerating.
Even if the ones Zhongli wished to revive were immortals or archons, in the end, they hadn't transcended.
At most, they were at the Spirit Transformation Stage.
The Heavenly Gang Thirty-Six Techniques were divine abilities that required true immortality—not something simple to achieve.
From that height, resurrecting a few beings of such low cultivation was hardly difficult.
Even if they'd been dead too long, Jiang Yan had more than one method to bring them back.
For a cultivator, physical death meant little.
The body could be remade.
True death only came with the scattering of the true spirit.
Given the chaos of the Archon War, Jiang Yan seriously doubted the gods of Teyvat had the means to annihilate a true spirit.
For Zhongli, neither great strength nor a long life was tempting.
But resurrection—and the preservation of Liyue—were things he could never refuse.
Conveniently, Jiang Yan could offer both.
Perhaps… the sect's First Elder was about to be decided.
Zhongli's expression remained still as a deep pool. Hidden beneath his hood, no one but Jiang Yan could see his true face.
After hearing Jiang Yan's words, Zhongli did not answer immediately.
Instead, after a long time, he slowly lifted his teacup…
So slowly, in fact, that by the time it reached his lips, some of the tea spilled.
"What are your plans… after your tribulation?" he asked at last.
A clumsy attempt at changing the subject.
Jiang Yan smiled inwardly. He could imagine the tidal wave currently raging through Zhongli's mind.
That he could even manage to speak was already proof of his composure.
Jiang Yan didn't expose him. His tone turned serious.
Finally—they were getting to business.
"Then…
Allow me to reintroduce myself.
I am Jiang Yan, cultivator of the Spirit-Refining and Void-Returning Realm, Sect Master of Mount Shu."