For a mighty Archon to fall so low—reduced to a mere herdsman in Mount Shu, teased and toyed with by a Qingluan, yet forced to smile obsequiously and swallow her pride—
The party couldn't help but feel a trace of sorrow for this Archon.
But then again, when they remembered that the very being who had compelled an Archon to bow was now acting as their means of transportation,
a faint, inexplicable sense of delight welled up in them.
Lisa carefully observed the ever-changing scenery of the Mount Shu World below.
Her first impression: immense.
Many mountain ranges had risen thousands of meters higher than before. Those colossal peaks of Mount Shu's Seven Peaks, once merely ten-thousand-meter giants, were now common sights.
Some lakes stretched vast enough to rival the entirety of Mondstadt itself.
Ferocious beasts and savage monsters roamed in abundance. For Mount Shu disciples, this land was manageable, but for ordinary folk—or even Archon's chosen—it had grown perilous.
Lisa reckoned the Hall of Merits would soon be flooded with missions, and the Seven Peaks' heritage was destined for explosive growth.
Overall, it was a blessing.
Yet amid the bizarre wonders of the Mount Shu World, the most striking were the seven peaks that seemed to hold up the very heavens.
The mountains pierced the skies, their bases lost in clouds; the portion visible beneath the clouds alone soared tens of thousands of meters.
They were truly pillars of heaven, exactly as Jiang Yan had once described.
The closer they drew to the Seven Peaks, the more reverence pressed upon their hearts.
Even the mischievous Qingluan grew subdued, flying obediently.
"Magnificent… this landscape…"
Diluc sighed, his voice tinged with awe.
"Had I not seen it myself, I would never believe such a world could exist."
"No words could capture such beauty. No wonder cultivators choose places like this for their practice."
Lumine and Paimon—usually the chattiest of the group—were struck silent, their eyes wide with wonder as they pressed themselves flat against Qingluan's back.
This was a sight Lumine had neither seen in her lifetime nor even imagined possible.
Before such mountains, words failed her.
"So grand… it makes one feel utterly small."
Jean instinctively straightened her back, gazing at the Seven Peaks with deep reverence.
Lisa blinked, then smiled.
"And yet… these magnificent ridges, which make even the strongest in Teyvat feel insignificant…"
"Were crafted by the Sect Master's hand alone."
"The Seven Peaks, before which even the First Seats bow their heads in awe, were created and ruled by him."
"As is this entire world."
"This is what it means to cultivate to the peak—heaven and earth existing at but a single thought. My body may be small, but my will is the will of heaven and earth."
"Only the Sect Master has truly fulfilled this principle. His will is vast and unopposable, like the very heavens themselves."
"The further one walks the path, the more hopeless one feels before him."
"Fortunately… the Sect Master treats us with kindness."
Jean and the others fell into silence. It was hard to imagine such a colossal world born and governed by one man.
Soon, Qingluan glided past the Seven Peaks and descended upon the mid-slopes of Tongtian Peak.
Once they landed, Qingluan shrank into a smaller form and affectionately nuzzled against Lisa's side.
Lisa chuckled and stroked its head fondly.
"Alright, alright… go find Ganyu. But do visit me when you can, little one."
Qingluan nodded, turning into a streak of azure light that vanished even faster than before.
Lumine finally snapped out of her daze and muttered:
"She's clearly a peak Refining Essence cultivator… yet Sister Lisa still calls her 'little one.' That's so strange!"
Lisa laughed behind her hand.
"But in truth, she's no older than Klee."
"That child survived two centuries in the Netherworld, where demon kings roam. Poor thing… everyone in Mount Shu feels for her."
"She may be mischievous, but she would never truly make sport of anyone. If she ever plays with you, don't take it amiss."
Diluc inclined his head gravely.
"Naturally. To survive amidst such dangers is no easy feat."
Lisa smiled and pointed to a grand building not far away.
"That's the Scripture Repository, one of Mount Shu's most important sites. All our cultivation arts are stored within."
"But unless you're a disciple, you cannot come within a thousand meters."
"Otherwise, Elder Alice will take action."
"And another thing—once inside Mount Shu, when you meet First Seat Venti and the others, you must address them by title."
Everyone nodded, sparing a lingering glance at the Repository before moving on.
Suddenly—a thunderous explosion resounded from somewhere near Tongtian Peak.
The group stiffened.
Tongtian Peak was the Sect Master's domain—who would dare cause such destruction there? Could it be… Venti?
Jean tensed.
Lisa chuckled.
"Don't worry. That's Klee. She's the Sect Master's personal disciple and may do as she pleases upon Tongtian Peak. He dotes on her immensely."
"She's likely blowing up some beast-fish again."
Klee…
At her name, Jean's heart tightened with longing. If not for their appointment with Jiang Yan, she would have rushed to find the child at once.
"And what level has Klee reached now?"
Kaeya asked curiously.
Lisa sighed.
"Early Refining Essence stage, awakening the Scarlet Emperor's Burning Sun Physique, training in Elder Xuanxi's Southern Bright Flame Condensation Art."
"That Stormterror of old? Klee could swat him with a palm. Even if he were possessed by the Lord of the Tower, it'd be the same."
"Don't underestimate her. In overall combat power, she surpasses even First Seat Venti."
"The Sect Master engraved eight divine incantations into her spatial ring and armed her with a trove of top-grade artifacts."
"Should they all be unleashed, even a late Spirit Transformation cultivator would be battered half to death by sheer force of treasures."
She added with a rueful chuckle:
"One top-grade artifact costs at least three hundred thousand merit points at the Hall of Merits. Klee has four or five."
"With thirty thousand points, one could equip a thousand top-ranked Vision-bearers. She's by far the wealthiest among us."
"And her supply of spirit stones and pills is endless. To the Sect Master, she's as dear as a daughter. She lives very well."
Jean exhaled in relief, genuinely happy for Klee.
Lumine, meanwhile, could only gaze enviously in the child's direction.
Lisa led the group upward. Though the distance was great, cultivators covered it swiftly.
Along the way, they saw countless wonders of the Seven Peaks. By now, they were nearly numb from awe, yet still deeply moved.
At last—after nearly an hour—they reached the summit, where the Sect Hall loomed.
Lisa turned solemn.
"That is Mount Shu's symbol—the Sect Hall, where the Sect Master resides."
"Though he is kind, don't be unruly. The Hall of Discipline takes such matters seriously."
Everyone nodded, straightening their attire before following Lisa toward the hall.
But before they could arrive, their vision blurred—and Xiao appeared like a phantom before them.
He cast them a calm glance.
"Halt. The Sect Master is in seclusion, attempting a breakthrough. None may approach the Sect Hall."
Lisa blinked.
"The Sect Master is breaking through? But isn't he already at late Spirit Refining and Returning to Void? Could it be… the peak?"
Xiao replied flatly:
"The Sect Master's matters are not mine to question. I was ordered by First Seat Zhongli to guard this place."
His rigid manner left Lisa helpless. Still, if Jiang Yan was in closed-door cultivation, disturbing him was impossible.
She turned back to Jean and the others with a troubled look.
"The Sect Master is secluded. We've come at the wrong time. We can only—"
Before she could finish, an overwhelming aura erupted skyward, scattering the clouds as though swept aside by a tidal wave.
From the Sect Hall above, that supreme presence surged across all of Mount Shu.
Cultivators everywhere paused their training, bowing in salute.
"Congratulations to the Sect Master on a successful breakthrough—immortality lies ahead!"
A faint chuckle echoed through the winds. Streaks of radiant light shot from the Sect Hall, dispersing in all directions.
Two beams descended before Lisa and Xiao.
"Though today's breakthrough is but a small realm, it is a step further upon the path."
"Share in this joy, my disciples. May you all climb higher in the days to come."
Lisa looked down at the exquisite jade bottle before her, its glow fading to reveal pills Jiang Yan had refined casually beforehand.
Though mostly first- and second-grade, they were precious treasures nonetheless.
He had reached the peak of Spirit Refining and Returning to Void. Though merely a small advance, even with his innate Dao body, it should have taken decades.
This success was owed partly to insights from a Unity-stage elder's comprehension of the Huangting Jade-View Sutra
—and partly to his dual cultivation with Ganyu.
Though she hadn't provided direct aid, the shift in mindset after dual cultivation was Jiang Yan's greatest gain.
In his joy, he decided to grant his disciples benefits. After all, with the Sect's founding ceremony a month away, he wanted everyone to reach at least mid Refining Essence into Qi.
Otherwise, how could they call themselves senior brothers and sisters?
"Many thanks, Sect Master!"
The group bowed, delightedly pocketing the pills.
Though only first- and second-grade, they were invaluable to them.
And with the Sect's grand opening approaching, when a thousand new disciples would join, such benefits would be rare. These gifts were meaningful tokens, setting them apart from all who came after.
Jiang Yan swiftly calmed his boiling essence, and the visions in the Mount Shu World subsided.
Then, he sent Xiao a voice transmission, permitting Lisa to bring them in.
Xiao blinked, then addressed the party.
"By the Sect Master's command, you may now enter. However…"
He glanced at Jean's Falcon Sword and at Paimon hovering beside Lumine.
"No weapons may be carried into the Sect Hall, nor may one fly upon Tongtian Peak."
Jean hurriedly sheathed her blade, apologizing.
"Forgive me."
Xiao inclined his head, then turned to Paimon.
The little companion's face fell.
"But Paimon can only fly! It's not like she doesn't want to walk…"
Lumine nudged her gently, looking at Xiao with some difficulty.
"Um… Paimon really can't land. Could you make an exception?"
Xiao studied Paimon for a moment, then nodded.
"So be it."
To read 220+ future chapters, head over to Patreon:
patreon.com/WhiteDevil7554