Leaving the sect's grand hall, Jean and the others were still dazed, their minds echoing with the marvels they had just witnessed.
Lumine and Paimon revealed to be divine-constitution prodigies…
Sect Master Yan's boundless strength…
Klee, taken in as his personal true disciple…
And the infinite path of cultivation that now lay before them—
All these tangled thoughts left Jean momentarily at a loss.
Yet overall, her heart brimmed with joy and hope.
To cultivate immortality was to step upon a road of endless future.
And upon this road, she could better protect Mondstadt.
Diluc and the others were equally exhilarated.
Though not like Lumine and Paimon—who possessed godlike bodies and could enter Mount Shu without trial—they did not feel discouraged.
Lumine was, after all, a traveler of the starry seas.
Paimon was even more mysterious.
That they were extraordinary was natural. Prodigies existed in every world.
They might feel a touch of envy, but none thought themselves lacking.
From Jiang Yan's words, it was clear enough: in the Heart-Testing Array, their talent was not really being tested. Passing would be little more than a formality.
The true cultivation would come afterward.
At this thought, their anticipation only deepened.
Suddenly Jean smacked her palm, expression darkening.
"Oh no! I forgot something critical. Mount Shu will open its gates to the world in less than a month. But Mondstadt's calamity has only just been resolved. News cannot travel so quickly—very few of our people may make it to Liyue in time for the preliminary trials!"
"How could I forget something so important…"
Guilt weighed on her.
The others too sobered, their excitement dimming slightly.
They had been thinking only of themselves, forgetting the weight this meant for all of Mondstadt.
Lisa, however, smiled faintly and shook her head.
"It's alright. Ordinary messengers would be far too slow, yes—but we cultivators have our own means of sending word."
"Once you pass the trial, Jean, you will be granted a disciple's flying sword. Even if you can't yet ride it, the sword itself can bear you swiftly back to Mondstadt to deliver news."
"Our people will have enough time. And as for passage between Mondstadt and Liyue… once you've joined Mount Shu, Ningguang will be your fellow disciple. Such matters will be easily arranged."
Jean let out a breath of relief, nodding gratefully.
"In that case, I must prepare to visit Ningguang properly when the time comes."
"No need to rush." Lisa smiled again, pointing ahead.
"Look—who do we have here?"
Following her gesture, Jean blinked, then brightened.
"Master Venti! Lady Alice! It has been so long!"
At once, Venti shushed her nervously, peering about like a guilty thief.
Only after confirming no one else was near did he sigh in relief.
"That was close, that was close… if the old man or Xiao heard you, I'd never hear the end of it."
Jean paused, then realized and quickly lowered her head.
"Forgive me, First Seat Venti. Elder Alice. I forgot…"
"Eh-heh, don't worry about it!" Venti waved her off cheerfully.
"It's just the Hall of Discipline being too uptight, really—"
Before he could finish, Alice gave him a strange look.
"Have you forgotten? I am an elder of the Hall of Discipline."
Venti froze, then coughed and forced a laugh, hurriedly changing the subject.
"A-anyway, it's been so long, Jean. You've finally come to seek the mountain. Oh—did you bring Dvalin?"
Diluc couldn't hold back a sigh.
"Not even subtle. You truly care nothing for Mondstadt's affairs, do you?"
"Eh-heh! I only trust Jean to care for Mondstadt better than I ever could."
Venti took the Spirit Bottle Lisa handed him, peering inside at the peacefully sleeping Dvalin.
Thanks to Mount Shu's abundant spiritual qi, the dragon was calm at last.
Venti exhaled in relief, then asked,
"So—you've seen the Sect Master. How did it go?"
The group instinctively looked to Lumine and Paimon.
Jean sighed, explaining the entire matter.
Even Venti was stunned, staring at the two before shaking his head.
"Truly uncanny. One prodigy after another… no wonder the Sect Master always says Teyvat is a gathering place of geniuses."
The deeper one walked the cultivation path, the clearer the power of special bodies became.
Even Venti, native to this land, couldn't help finding it outrageous.
"So you're heading to the Heart-Testing Array now, with the old man watching?"
At once he waved them on eagerly.
"Don't dawdle! We'll come along to watch the fun. Missed Baizhu's trial last time, I won't miss this one too."
"If you're late, the old man will give you an earful. Ever since he took charge of the Hall of Discipline, he's only gotten more stiff and rule-bound. Can't stand it…"
He grumbled bitterly, full of resentment toward Zhongli.
Lisa raised a brow, while Alice murmured aside:
"Two nights ago he tried sneaking spirit herbs from the fields to soak in wine. Zhongli caught him red-handed and docked thirty thousand contribution points. He's still mourning the loss."
The group shared knowing looks.
Wherever Venti went, he never changed.
No matter how many times punished, he'd repeat the same antics.
Likely half the Hall of Discipline's annual record was filled by him alone.
At the Heart-Testing Array
They hurried and arrived just in time.
Moments later, Zhongli descended as well.
His gaze first swept over Venti, then settled on Jean and her companions.
Lisa immediately bowed.
"Greetings, First Seat Zhongli."
The others hastily followed suit.
If Venti and Alice radiated freedom and ease, Zhongli was the opposite: solemn and heavy, like a mountain pressing down.
Much like Xiao, his bearing was shaped by the Hall he led.
And precisely because of this, Jean and the others instinctively felt he was the stronger one.
Which, indeed, was true.
Zhongli raised a hand lightly.
"Enough courtesy. Begin the trial."
"I am here by the Sect Master's order, but only to ensure you do not become lost within the formation. Everything else depends upon yourselves."
"The Heart-Testing Array has nine layers. Since you have been permitted to test early, your talent needs no further proof. All that matters is whether you can endure the trials of the heart."
With that, his figure flashed to the high platform opposite the array, where he sat cross-legged.
Venti whispered reassuringly,
"Don't mind him. The old man never jokes during duty, but he bears no ill will. You'll understand in time."
Jean nodded softly.
"We know. The Hall of Discipline's work demands rigor. First Seat Zhongli is simply responsible."
Lumine tilted her head curiously.
"So… First Seat Zhongli is actually…"
Venti grinned, nodding.
"That's right—the Geo Archon himself. Though he intends to step down soon, to devote himself wholly to cultivation. As for me, I might just…"
He trailed off, but Diluc and the others already guessed the rest.
In the face of immortality's path, who cared whether archons retired or not?
Just then, several streaks of light flew in from afar.
Ningguang and her companions had arrived.
After brief greetings, Ningguang turned to Jean with a smile.
"Jean, so you've finally come to cultivate. Earlier than I expected, too."
Jean stared, momentarily dazed by the immortal aura flowing faintly from Ningguang.
"Just weeks ago I wrote you a letter, and in less than a month you've already reached such heights…"
"Merely fortune in joining Mount Shu." Ningguang shook her head gently.
"I heard you were to be tested today, so we came to observe. Later, if you don't mind, please share your experience. It will help us prepare before the gates open to the world."
At that moment, Cloud Retainer interjected, holding out an ancient-looking wooden gourd.
"Venti, the Wine Immortal Gourd you asked for has been completed."
Venti's eyes sparkled as he eagerly took it, probing with his true essence.
"A basic magic tool…" he muttered.
Cloud Retainer sighed.
"This is the best we can manage for now. Only the Sect Master himself could craft a true spirit artifact."
"Eh-heh! No matter." Venti scratched his cheek, strapping the gourd to his waist.
"I was only asking, don't take it too seriously. I'll send the contribution points later."
This gourd was an idea he had found in the Nine Nether Secret Realm , inspired by relics of Xuanxing.
Among them had been a painting of the famed Wine Sword Immortal—standing bold upon a massive wine gourd, carefree and unrivaled.
Jiang Yan had later confirmed: the Wine Sword Immortal truly used such a gourd as his main treasure.
A gourd that served as cup, steed, and weapon all at once.
In battle, it could swallow foes, dissolve their essence into wine, then let the wielder drink to gain power.
That legendary gourd was a genuine high-grade treasure.
Venti had been smitten at first sight, pestering Cloud Retainer to make him one.
At last they produced this prototype—only a basic tool, but a beginning.
In time, it could be refined further.
Moreover, it functioned as a storage artifact too.
Delighted, Venti poured all his stockpiled wine into it.
With a pat, the gourd re-hung itself at his waist.
A pulse of true essence, and wine flowed out on its own, pouring sweetly into his mouth.
"What a treasure!" he exclaimed, clapping his hands in glee.
Diluc and the others could only sigh and cover their faces.
But with the trial before them, they had no time to dwell on Venti's absurdity.
Steeling their hearts, they stepped into the Heart-Testing Array.
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