Lisa stared thoughtfully at the demonic art in her hands, a faint realization dawning in her heart.
It seemed this technique was deliberately luring Klee here.
Klee's Fire Spirit Body—especially one that was evolving toward the Crimson Emperor's Heaven-Burning Body—was a natural sun for all fire-type arts.
No wonder the Hellfire Soul-Burning Art resonated with her. Yet because of its nature, it was something far too dangerous for a pure-hearted child like Klee to cultivate.
So…
Was this the technique meant for her instead?
Then this cultivation method must be…
But Klee didn't seem to care much what it was. She only nestled against Alice, blinking her big eyes as she clutched the jade slip in her arms.
"Klee, sweetheart, can mommy take a look?" Alice asked gently.
Klee nodded and handed it over.
The moment Alice touched it, familiar streams of information surged into her mind.
After sorting through it all, Alice couldn't help but sigh—her daughter's luck was simply too outrageous.
"Yellow-rank Supreme-grade Technique: Southern Brilliance Flame Condensation Method."
"A method to condense one of the Ten Primal Divine Flames of the Immortal World—the Southern Brilliance Flame. Requires a special fire constitution to cultivate."
"The Southern Brilliance Flame is the primordial fire of the Immortal Phoenix that guards the southern pole of the Immortal World. The strongest innate fire of the Li position."
"This method allows the practitioner to condense a seed of the Southern Brilliance Flame, absorbing myriad fires to refine and strengthen it."
"In ancient times, Daoist Xuanxi of Mount Shu cultivated this art, fusing the flames of heaven and earth, transforming his own body into a furnace. After his ascension, Mount Shu's ancestor retrieved the source flame from the Immortal Phoenix."
"Ultimately, this technique evolved into an Immortal Dao Divine Power: True Phoenix Flame of the Extremes."
"Its potential for growth is immense, though its requirements are exceedingly harsh. Since its creation, only Patriarch Xuanxi has succeeded in elevating it to a Divine Power."
Placing the jade slip back into Klee's arms, Alice sighed again.
"This might be the strongest technique on the entire first floor of the Scripture Pavilion… and considering its growth potential, perhaps among the top even in the whole Pavilion."
"Klee's luck is… as ridiculously good as ever."
Hearing this, both Venti and Lisa grew curious about what treasure Klee had stumbled upon.
To think that even the demonic art had seemed to nudge her toward it—this was clearly no ordinary technique.
Alice gathered herself and explained softly:
"The Southern Brilliance Flame Condensation Method. It's the art once cultivated by Patriarch Xuanxi, which eventually became a Divine Power of the Immortal Dao."
"…"
At that, Venti, who had just been celebrating his own new technique, instantly felt attacked.
So in cultivation, luck was the most important thing after all, huh?
He had gone up to the second floor for a Profound-rank technique, yet it still paled in comparison to what Klee had casually obtained on the first floor?
Sure, for now his technique was higher rank, but in the long run…
Anyone could see which one had greater prospects.
"But it's said this method is extremely difficult to evolve. Since its creation, only Patriarch Xuanxi ever succeeded." Alice added.
Venti muttered under his breath:
"Wasn't Patriarch Xuanxi also someone with the Crimson Emperor's Heaven-Burning Body?"
"Heehee, that's true! But I believe in Klee's talent and luck. My little darling is the best!" Alice beamed, planting a kiss on Klee's cheek.
Lisa's own dilemma about cultivating a demonic art seemed less pressing now.
Seeing Alice in a good mood, Lisa seized the moment:
"Lady Alice, then what about this Hellfire Soul-Burning Art…?"
Alice paused, her gaze turning complicated as she looked at Lisa.
"Must you cultivate this demonic art, Lisa? This method requires refining one's fire seed with living souls."
"That alone is extremely dangerous. If word spreads, you could become the enemy of all Teyvat."
But Lisa only shook her head with a calm smile.
"This too is a chance fated to me, isn't it?"
"Besides, as long as the sect master permits it, what's the problem?"
"Mortal rules of Teyvat don't bind disciples of Mount Shu."
Seeing her resolve, Alice no longer pressed the issue.
"Very well. I don't understand this path fully anyway. Let's return and let the Sect Master judge."
"But think carefully—if the Sect Master forbids it, you'll have wasted this trip to the Pavilion."
"And if you try to cultivate it in secret, the Hall of Discipline will strike you down."
"Zhongli, in particular, is merciless when it comes to enforcing the rules."
Lisa nodded firmly.
"I've decided. I won't regret it."
Alice gave a small nod.
"Then let's leave for now."
The group walked out of the Scripture Pavilion.
Zhongli, waiting outside, greeted them softly:
"You took quite some time inside. It seems you've gained much."
"It's a long story…" Alice's expression was conflicted, torn between joy and worry.
She glanced at Lisa, then said:
"Lisa chose a demonic art."
"What?!"
Zhongli's expression turned stern instantly, his sharp gaze locking onto Lisa.
The very first prohibition of the Hall of Discipline:
Strictly forbid disciples from falling into the demonic path and endangering the common people. Any violation—Mount Shu will hunt you down to the ends of the earth.
Zhongli had heard of Lisa's reputation—
The Genius Witch.
But now she was a disciple of Mount Shu. If she fell into the demonic path… regretful as he might feel, he would show no mercy.
That was the rule of the Hall of Discipline. The rule of Mount Shu.
His aura as a late-stage Spirit Transformation cultivator burst forth like a tidal wave, scattering the clouds overhead.
Only then did Alice and Venti realize—just a day or two's difference, and Zhongli had already advanced further.
"Whoa, whoa, old man, don't be so hasty."
Seeing Zhongli about to act, Venti hurried forward to defuse the situation.
"This art was once cultivated by Patriarch Xuanxi himself. If Mount Shu forbade it, why would it be stored in the Pavilion?"
That did make Zhongli hesitate. He held his hand, though his gaze still bored into Lisa.
After a long silence, he said quietly:
"Go to the Grand Hall and seek the Sect Master's judgment."
"If the Sect Master forbids it, you must not cultivate this demonic art. Otherwise, according to the rules—you'll be crippled and expelled."
"If you endanger the world because of it, Mount Shu will execute you—no matter where you flee."
Lisa's voice was calm.
"Disciple understands."
Zhongli said no more.
But inside, he was unsettled.
First Klee became the Sect Master's personal disciple, preparing to awaken the Crimson Emperor's Heaven-Burning Body.
Now Lisa had found a demonic art and wanted to cultivate it.
So many changes in quick succession—it all felt like a storm he couldn't quite grasp.
The group quickened their pace toward the Grand Hall.
Soon, they arrived to find its doors already open—clearly, Jiang Yan knew of the matter.
They entered without hesitation and bowed together.
"Greetings, Sect Master."
Seated on a meditation cushion, Jiang Yan opened his eyes slowly, his gaze sweeping over each of them.
He lingered on Klee for a moment, his eyes softening with a trace of warmth.
Then his gaze settled on Lisa.
"I already know. The Hellfire Soul-Burning Art you took is indeed the secret art once cultivated by Patriarch Xuanxi."
"It was deliberately placed in the Pavilion by him and the other ancestors of Mount Shu."
"As for you wishing to cultivate it—there is no problem."
Lisa breathed a sigh of relief, and Zhongli's expression eased as well.
But Alice still looked uneasy. After a moment of hesitation, she said softly:
"Sect Master, this art requires burning living souls to nourish the fire seed… That's an evil method."
"Even setting aside how those souls would be obtained, if she continues to refine them like this… won't it affect Lisa herself?"
Jiang Yan raised a hand slightly, cutting her off.
"I understand your worry. You fear she'll be consumed by this art and turn into a slaughterer, falling wholly into the demonic path."
Alice nodded firmly.
Jiang Yan fell into thought, then said slowly:
"To be truthful, that has indeed happened. Some disciples, eager for the power of this art, cultivated it."
"At first, they kept to the precepts, using it only to exorcise demons and fight evil."
"But later, when they felt the boost from refining souls… they took the wrong path."
"They began slaughtering innocents to fuel their cultivation."
"And every one of those who fell into such darkness—was executed by the Hall of Discipline. None survived."
Hearing this, Alice and Venti's worry deepened. Even Lisa wavered slightly.
"But do you know why, despite this, the art remains in the Pavilion?"
"Why Hellfire Soul-Burning is only one among many demonic arts kept here?"
Jiang Yan's words rekindled a glimmer of hope in Lisa.
"Sect Master, there are… many demonic arts in the Pavilion?" Zhongli asked with a frown.
Jiang Yan nodded.
"Yes. But truly depraved arts that corrupt the mind and wreak havoc—those are destroyed. What remains are those that are… controllable."
After explaining, his gaze turned back to them.
"You all know the truth of cultivation. A master leads you to the door, but cultivation is your own."
"Immortal cultivation is always about the self."
"Every cultivator must be responsible for their own path. The sect does not dictate it—we only set boundaries."
"The road you choose, the consequences are yours alone. If you succeed, the sect is proud. If you fail, the sect cleanses its gates."
"Harsh though it sounds, this is the way of the cultivation world. No one can take responsibility for another."
"So, Lisa—do you still wish to cultivate the Hellfire Soul-Burning Art?"
Lisa hesitated, then asked softly:
"Sect Master… when Patriarch Xuanxi cultivated this art…"
Jiang Yan smiled faintly.
"Cultivation methods are not inherently right or wrong. Power itself is not inherently good or evil."
"This has always been Mount Shu's principle. Aside from truly vile arts, all others are permitted—if they can be controlled."
"Some used the Hellfire Soul-Burning Art to slaughter the innocent. Others used it to protect the people."
"In fact, Patriarch Xuanxi himself cultivated it. But he only nourished his fire with demons and the most heinous of criminals."
"In his hands, the art became an Earth-rank Supreme-grade technique."
"It wasn't because he killed more demons than anyone else… but because the truly wicked carried the deepest karmic sins."
"And karmic sin is the best fuel for the Hellfire."
"Most disciples never understood this. They thought any soul would do. That by refining them, they would grow stronger."
"A laughable mistake."
Jiang Yan let out a faint chuckle, then said calmly:
"The Hellfire is one of the strongest flames between heaven and earth—a punishment fire that descends upon those burdened with sin."
"Karmic sin is its true firewood."
"Patriarch Xuanxi spent his life battling, suppressing demons, annihilating the demonic sects, executing countless sinners. The number of guilty souls under his blade was in the billions."
"On the other hand—those who cultivate this art but themselves accumulate immeasurable karmic sin… now that is the real tragedy."
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