"Sect Master, she has already…"
Zhongli hesitated, but Jiang Yan simply raised his hand to stop him.
"The will of a person is limitless. Believe in her."
Jiang Yan looked at Furina with deep emotion.
Unlike Baizhu, who carried a fanatical obsession for cultivation, Furina did not. She was born far more suited to stepping through the Heart-Testing Array.
She did not harbor much fixation toward cultivating immortality—perhaps, she might not even understand it all that well.
What supported her was a different kind of conviction.
And normally, in the Heart-Testing Array, such a thing was all but impossible.
Without obsession for cultivation, at best one would stop at the sixth trial.
That she had made it this far was already breaking the impossible.
If so…
Then even the final trial might not be out of reach.
She was one who bore both the boundless nature of humankind and the perfection of a god.
She would not stop here.
Finally, Furina trembled as she pushed herself to her feet, unsteady but resolute, and stepped into the ninth and final stage of the Heart-Testing Array.
All of Mount Shu fell into an unprecedented silence.
Everyone's breathing slowed; even the chirping of birds and the cries of beasts and cicadas vanished.
Between heaven and earth, it was as if only Furina's figure remained.
This silence stretched on longer than ever before.
Zhongli and the others fixed their eyes tightly on her, ready to pull her out at the first sign of trouble.
But strangely, after stepping into the ninth stage, Furina's aura did not diminish—it grew.
As she reached the brink of her limits, that nearly tangible willpower and conviction erupted outward with a thunderous force.
It swept across the Heart-Testing Array, and in that instant, everyone clearly felt what had carried Furina this far.
Fontaine!
The people of Fontaine stared at her in a daze. For the first time, they understood how deeply Furina loved Fontaine—how deeply she loved her people.
Uncontrollably, the Fontainians burst into tears.
With such a Hydro Archon, they were the happiest people in the world.
At least from this moment on, in the hearts of these Fontainians, the title of Hydro Archon was bound to Furina.
Other than her, no one else could bear that name.
The raging tide of willpower slowly dispersed.
Furina opened her eyes.
The hollow sheen was gone; her gaze now shone with clarity and unyielding resolve, as though not even the collapse of heaven could shake her.
The ninth stage of the Heart-Testing Array—shattered, by Furina's conviction for Fontaine.
From this day forth, she was the second person in Mount Shu's history to step through all nine stages.
She was the first—and perhaps the last—to pass the trial without any obsession for cultivation, relying only on another belief.
For the first time, Zhongli and the others were visibly moved, staring at Furina in shock.
Such will left them in awe.
Jiang Yan smiled in relief and spoke softly:
"Congratulations, Furina…"
The tangled memories of nine lives slowly faded. Furina lifted her hand, staring at herself in disbelief.
"I… really passed the ninth stage?"
"Do not doubt it. You truly stepped through the Heart-Testing Array—and without any fixation on cultivation."
Jiang Yan beckoned lightly. Furina floated involuntarily, landing before him.
Standing so close to Jiang Yan, the warmth and serenity he radiated calmed the turbulence in her heart.
She could not help but fall into stillness.
"In all the history of Mount Shu, you are without precedent."
"The Heart-Testing Array serves as the formation by which Mount Shu recruits disciples of the Dao. It tests not only one's will and Dao-heart, but also one's devotion to cultivation."
"Yet you stepped through by holding onto nothing but devotion to your nation. Though it strays from the array's original intent, it is all the more astonishing."
"Furina, your future is boundless."
Her eyes flickered as she gazed at Jiang Yan, at a loss for words.
"Once again, congratulations, Furina. You have made history."
With a wave of his hand, Jiang Yan sent her back to stand beside Clorinde and the others.
"Lady Furina, are you alright?"
Clorinde studied her nervously—the state Furina had been in after the eighth trial had truly frightened her.
"I…" Furina parted her lips, then shook her head. "I'm fine."
"That's good…"
Clorinde let out a breath of relief, but her gaze at Furina grew complicated. After a long silence, all her emotions condensed into a single sigh.
"Thank you, Lady Furina. No matter what, you are the perfect Hydro Archon in my heart. To live under your rule in Fontaine—I am honored."
Furina's heart trembled. For some reason, she suddenly felt the urge to cry.
"Compose yourself," Ningguang approached with a gentle smile and nodded slightly.
"What comes next is the most important moment."
Furina nodded vaguely. Her feelings were tangled, difficult to describe. But…
No matter what, she had reached this step.
What lay ahead—that was what mattered most.
Forcing away the chaos in her mind, Furina followed Ningguang and the others toward the plaza.
Jiang Yan stood atop a high platform, hands clasped behind his back, the mountain breeze lifting his black robes.
In that instant, he seemed less a man of this world than an immortal on the brink of ascension, ethereal and unearthly.
The bearing of a cultivator flowed unchecked, and those who had passed the trial were naturally overjoyed.
Those who had not could only brood in silence.
Jiang Yan swept his gaze over the crowd, then spoke slowly.
"Whether you gained or not, I congratulate you all on enduring the Heart-Testing Array."
"However, the number of disciples Mount Shu can admit is limited. Most here, in the end, will return empty-handed."
"But there is no need to be disheartened. Mount Shu is being rebuilt—this is a time of need. Unlike the novels you may have read, we will not open the mountain only once a century."
"The next opening may be in a year, or three to five years. You can prepare early."
"The human path is narrow, the immortal path vast."
"To seek the Dao, fate must lead the way."
"Even the mightiest cultivators cannot defy the heavens."
"All is bound by fate. Everything lies within one's own heart."
"Go forth—your Dao will always lie beneath your feet."
Some heard only the sound of his words; others grasped their meaning.
Regardless, all bowed together.
"Thank you for your teaching, Sect Master."
Jiang Yan inclined his head slightly, then nodded toward Zhongli—and in an instant, vanished like ink dissolving into the air.
"After you settle those who came to Mount Shu, bring the inner and outer disciples to Tongtian Peak to see me."
"Yes, Sect Master."
Zhongli answered, then turned toward the crowd.
"Thus ends the Mount Shu Opening Ceremony."
"A thousand disciples have been chosen. The inner sect disciples have been decided—twenty-one in total."
"For the outer sect, there are nine hundred seventy-nine places remaining. Outer Sect Elders Yunqing and Yunhua—step forth."
The two came forward, bowing.
"Yunqing (Yunhua) is here."
"Select the nine hundred seventy-nine outer sect disciples based on their performance in the Heart-Testing Array."
"Also, choose three thousand servant disciples to fill the mountain."
"The rest—select thirty thousand promising youths to cultivate martial arts in the Mount Shu, and wait for the next opening."
The two answered loudly:
"As you command."
With that, they and the other outer sect elders began their selection.
First, those who had passed the second stage were assured of entry to the outer sect.
Next came those who had at least attempted it.
Finally, from those who had only managed the first stage, they chose the more talented.
The rest were all assigned as servant disciples.
The process was simple enough.
The outer sect disciples were of roughly similar aptitude.
The better ones had dual or triple spiritual roots, at best mid-grade.
Some had four roots, which was weaker.
As for five roots, there was no need to even consider them.
Though Teyvat produced many geniuses, the majority were still of average talent.
Whether these people could ever reach the level of inner sect disciples remained uncertain.
With their aptitude, even breaking into Spirit Transformation would be difficult.
Even if possible, it would likely take centuries.
Some might remain stuck at Refining Essence into Qi for their entire lives.
Though many of the outer sect elders had not begun cultivating themselves, they had been given means by Jiang Yan to test aptitude.
Before long, all qualified disciples were selected.
Those not chosen hung their heads, the mood heavy across Mount Shu.
But those accepted—even those left to train martial arts—were thrilled.
After all, they had gained a foothold in the cultivation world. That alone was a great harvest.
Seeing this, Zhongli nodded and stood tall.
"Outer sect elders—escort the rejected candidates back to Liyue Harbor, settle the servant disciples, and those who will remain here to train."
"As for the rest of the inner and outer disciples—follow me to Tongtian Peak."
Now came the most crucial moment. Instantly, the chosen disciples could barely contain their excitement.
Zhongli raised a command token high toward the heavens.
In that moment, a massive rainbow bridge appeared—one end stretching down from Tongtian Peak, the other falling upon the plaza.
Gasps of awe erupted across the crowd.
Furina, having recovered, grabbed Clorinde's arm in excitement.
"Look, Clorinde! Did you see that? Such a beautiful rainbow!"
"Does this mean… it's to lead us up?"
Clorinde was nearly shaken apart by her, pried Furina's hands away with a pained sigh.
"Lady Furina, I'm not blind. Of course I can see it."
Furina giggled.
"So once we cross this rainbow bridge, does that make me a true cultivator?"
Clorinde didn't answer, her eyes fixed on the bridge—it seemed alive, a spectacle even amidst the wonders of Mount Shu.
Even here, where such mystical things abounded, the sight of such a colossal rainbow bridge in motion was breathtaking.
"Do not tarry. The Sect Master awaits. Follow me across to Tongtian Peak," Zhongli reminded, stepping onto the bridge first. Ningguang and the others followed close behind.
The thousand disciples quickly rushed after them.
The moment they set foot upon the ethereal rainbow bridge, it began to retract, carrying everyone swiftly toward Tongtian Peak.
Hu Tao and Furina exclaimed in awe, unable to contain their excitement.
Guuji Yae—smiling playfully—glanced back at the two.
"Are you ready?"
"Huh?"
Furina and Hu Tao blinked in confusion, but upon meeting her sultry gaze, their faces flushed, hearts racing.
If even they felt that way, the rest of the disciples fared no better, bowing their heads in shyness.
Guuji Yae's Heavenly Allure Body was slowly awakening.
"Watch closely."
She smiled as she spread her arms with languid grace.
"The true splendor of a cultivator's sacred land is about to enter your eyes."
Before the crowd could react to her words, their gazes fell forward—and they froze.
For what lay before them was…
A sight more breathtaking than any scenery they had ever witnessed in their lives.
If there was only one landscape in the world worthy of being called a celestial paradise, it was here—Mount Shu.
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