"This… is a bit hard to accept."
Zhongli coughed lightly, casting a wary glance at the carefree Venti.
Though the fellow technically had no gender, for all these years he had appeared in the form of a man.
And yet…
The thought of a grown man in white silk stockings, paired with Jiang Yan's words about the unusual predilections of certain male cultivators, left Zhongli with a faint sense of crisis.
"It's only within the cultivation world."
Jiang Yan waved it off, his voice calm.
"In short, Chongyun's Pure Yang Constitution is a special physique suited to cultivating arts of extreme yang and unyielding force.
Once he steps upon that path, his progress will surely advance by leaps and bounds."
These words left Zhongli slightly startled.
"Sect Master, Chongyun's Pure Yang Constitution, even without cultivation, already leaves him unable to control himself when exposed to yang-type substances. If he were to practice pure yang techniques, wouldn't that be…"
Jiang Yan smiled faintly.
"It is true that the cultivation world often warns that rigidity leads to breaking, and that the Dao lies in the balance of yin and yang.
But extremes of yin and yang can also form a path.
Tell me, First Seat Zhongli—what time of day is said to be when yin energy is strongest?"
Zhongli thought for a moment, then answered slowly:
"The former Sect Master once said that at midday, when yang reaches its peak, it begins to turn toward yin. At noon, what seems like the height of yang is, in truth, the beginning of yin.
And similarly, in the hours before dawn, yin turns to yang—so that moment, too, is the utmost of yang.
It is the instant of transition, when yin becomes yang and yang becomes yin, that their energies surge most powerfully."
Saying this, realization dawned upon him.
Seeing his understanding, Jiang Yan nodded with satisfaction.
"Just so. There is no such thing as absolute yin or absolute yang.
When yang reaches its utmost, it naturally becomes yin. This is the eternal cycle of yin and yang, the Dao of heaven and earth.
Chongyun already bears a Pure Yang Constitution. If he cultivates pure yang methods, it will suit him perfectly. When he reaches sufficient attainment, yin and yang will balance within him.
Therefore, Chongyun ought to cultivate a pure yang art."
Below, Hu Tao and the other Liyue disciples more or less understood.
Tartaglia and the rest, however, were completely baffled.
Still—the one fact that was clear was this: Chongyun had a special constitution. That alone was enough to inspire envy.
"Thank you, Sect Master, for clarifying."
Zhongli cupped his hands in gratitude, then added:
"However, as of now, Mount Shu possesses only a few core techniques: the Jade Scripture of the Yellow Court, cultivated by the Sect Master himself; the Crimson Emperor Heaven-Burning Art, Klee's exclusive true-transmission method; the Guiding Scripture of Dragonhead Peak of Dragonhead Peak; and the general circulation art, Zhou Tian Circulation Method.
The Jade Scripture of the Yellow Court is your personal method, not to be spread. The Crimson Emperor Heaven-Burning Art is Klee's sole inheritance.
The Guiding Scripture of Dragonhead Peak contains no pure yang intent, and the Zhou Tian Circulation Method is a balanced art of yin and yang.
None seem suited for Chongyun's Pure Yang Constitution, do they?"
At this, Jiang Yan smiled meaningfully, but did not answer. Instead, he said aloud:
"Chongyun, you will join Windreturn Peak.
With your Pure Yang body, focus on forging artifacts and nurturing spirits. In this way, you will put your abundant yang qi to use, lessening its influence on yourself.
And artifacts forged by a Pure Yang body will naturally carry the intent of pure yang."
Though still somewhat bewildered, Chongyun hastened to bow.
"I shall follow the Sect Master's decree."
After arranging Chongyun, Jiang Yan finished assigning the Five Qixing and Ningguang's three secretaries.
This time, he did not simply throw them all onto Dragonhead Peak.
Though Baiwen, Baishi, and Baizhu, along with the Qixing, excelled at administration, the Hall of Discipline was not for governance—it was for oversight and punishment.
And since Dragonhead Peak already had the most disciples, it no longer needed reinforcement.
Instead, he assigned each according to their individual strengths, distributing them across the seven veins.
Thus, every peak gained new members, balancing the ranks of the inner disciples.
When all had taken their places, Guuji Yae beamed at Jiang Yan.
"Sect Master, now you can tell us about the ancestors' gifts, right?"
Jiang Yan inclined his head slightly and spoke evenly:
"With Mount Shu's founding and rising prosperity, the seals left by our forebears have been stirred, releasing many treasures.
For all of you, this is a great opportunity.
First…"
He paused, meeting the eager gazes around him.
"The Immortal Sutras of the Seven Veins have returned."
"The Immortal Sutras of the Seven Veins?"
Zhongli looked at him in puzzlement.
Jiang Yan explained softly:
"First Seat Zhongli, you've had some time now to study the Guiding Scripture of Dragonhead Peak. Compared to the Zhou Tian Circulation Method, what do you think of it?"
At once, Zhongli's heart trembled, comprehension dawning. Joy filled his face as he replied:
"The Guiding Scripture of Dragonhead Peak is naturally a supreme Dharma, transcendent and immortal. Since cultivating it, the quality of my true essence has risen greatly—far beyond what it was before.
Moreover, the Guiding Scripture of Dragonhead Peak is a true celestial art. The Zhou Tian Circulation Method caps at the peak of Union of Void and Dao. Only with rare fortune might one transcend tribulation to become an Earth Immortal.
But with the Guiding Scripture of Dragonhead Peak, that step is assured."
This was the first time Zhongli had openly acknowledged the Sutra's power. Previously, even when Ningguang and others had tried to probe, the disciples of Dragonhead Peak had remained silent—fearing jealousy and resentment.
But everyone was clever. The surge in strength of those who practiced the Sutra was obvious.
Against those of the same realm, the difference in essence and depth between the Zhou Tian Circulation Method and the Guiding Scripture of Dragonhead Peak was immense.
They all envied it—but said nothing.
Jiang Yan had promised that in time, they too would receive the unique methods of the Seven Veins. There was no need to rush.
And in any case, simply having immortal arts at all was fortune enough. To covet more was to invite greed.
Now, hearing Zhongli confirm it openly—and hearing Jiang Yan bring up the matter—they realized what must be coming next.
Excitement surged in their hearts.
Furina scratched her cheek, leaning close to Ganyu to whisper:
"Senior Sister Ganyu, what level of power is an immortal, really?"
"An immortal…"
Ganyu opened her mouth, but faltered.
Even now, with Jiang Yan's cultivation at the peak of Return to Void, she could not properly describe it.
All she could say was: it was power that could sever worlds.
An immortal… even the lowest Earth Immortal was, undeniably, an immortal.
She, still a Refining Essence cultivator, had no words to convey it.
Fortunately, Jiang Yan had overheard. He answered gently:
"Immortal means transcending the Three Realms, beyond the Five Elements. Immortal is existence that has left behind the form of mere mortals.
It is higher-dimensional life—unknowable, unimaginable, unspeakable.
Immortals are no longer bound by lifespan. Even an Earth Immortal lives as long as heaven itself, shining with sun and moon.
They are beings who roam countless worlds, free and unrestrained.
With a wave of the hand, they can create sun, moon, and stars. Worlds like Teyvat—an Earth Immortal could create countless such realms with a single thought.
To speak on a greater scale… perhaps only Elder Alice might understand."
He paused, then said softly:
"The cosmos of Tree and Sea is a Small Thousand World. Such worlds, an Earth Immortal can create."
Alice fell silent.
It was the first time she had heard Jiang Yan speak so directly of the power of immortals.
She knew he said it to inspire hope.
But…
It was crushing.
The cosmos of Tree and Sea—even the Imaginary Tree itself—was, in her eyes, nearly the very definition of "immortal."
And Jiang Yan had just shattered that perception.
Doubt stirred in her heart. Was she truly worthy of becoming an immortal?
Yet she reflected—she was already at late-stage Spirit Transformation.
With Mount Shu's vast foundation behind her, and possessing a Celestial Spiritual Root…
If she could not become an immortal, then it would only be her own failure to strive.
Alice could accept his words. But the others were left reeling.
So Jiang Yan thought a moment, then added gently:
"The power of immortals defies description. But if one example may suffice…
An Earth Immortal could grant life to the very sun, moon, and stars of Teyvat."
This time, utter silence fell.
Then, all at once, unprecedented longing surged in every heart.
To live as long as heaven. To wield boundless creation.
If they could attain such heights—there would be no regrets in life.
From this moment, Furina felt a resolve like never before.
The troubles of Fontaine no longer seemed insurmountable. From today onward, she would claim her own life's goal: to ascend and become immortal!
At last, they understood Jiang Yan's words: cultivation was, at its core, an endless struggle to cross to the other shore.
Once embarked, there was no turning back. And none would ever wish to.
"So then, Sect Master—what of the Seven Immortal Sutras of Mount Shu?"
Ningguang could not restrain herself from asking.
Jiang Yan's voice was calm:
"The Seven Immortal Sutras of Mount Shu—each and every one is truly a Heavenly Immortal scripture.
The Dust-Severing Scripture of Tongtian Peak.
The Guiding Scripture of Dragonhead Peak.
The Pure Maiden Scripture of Bamboo Peak.
The Tusita Sutra of Great Bamboo Peak.
The Pure Yang Scripture of Windreturn Peak.
The Inner Vision Scripture of Morning Sun Peak.
The Deliverance Scripture of Sunset Peak.
These seven texts share the same source, yet diverge into opposing paths.
For generations, they have been the exclusive inheritance of the seven peaks' inner disciples.
Now, by our ancestors' gift, they have all returned."
He smiled faintly.
"And so… from today onward, all inner disciples shall specialize in the methods of their own peaks."
At these words, Ningguang and the others could no longer contain their joy. They rose to bow in unison.
"Thank you, Sect Master! Thank you, honored ancestors!"
Jiang Yan nodded, waving them back to their seats.
"These seven immortal sutras have profound origins. You must cultivate them with the utmost diligence.
For they are all derived from the Jade Scripture of the Yellow Court.
And if one among you can fuse all seven into one, returning to the origin—then you will form the Outer Jade Radiance Sutra, a scripture that points straight to Golden Immortal."
This was what Jiang Yan had just discovered after probing the seven texts.
He had long suspected they were branches of the Jade Scripture of the Yellow Court. Yet their union still fell short of that supreme method.
Now he realized: their fusion became the Outer Jade Radiance Sutra.
Outer Sutra—Golden Immortal. Inner Sutra—Supreme Taiyi.
Inner and outer united, pointing directly to Great Luo.
He still could not fathom the true origins of the Jade Scripture of the Yellow Court—only that it was unimaginably fearsome.
"We disciples will cultivate diligently, and never disgrace the name of the Seven Veins' Immortal Sutras!"
Hearing his explanation, their joy only deepened.
The Outer Jade Radiance Sutra… a Golden Immortal art.
Whether they could ever attain it was another matter—but in that instant, their path ahead had opened wide and clear.
If one truly reached Golden Immortal…
Wouldn't they become a figure renowned across countless worlds?
After all, even Erlang Shen and Sun Wukong, whom Alice knew well, possessed no more than Golden Immortal cultivation.
Suddenly, Alice seemed to recall something. She looked curiously at Jiang Yan.
"Sect Master… What of Klee's Crimson Emperor Heaven-Burning Art?"
Jiang Yan smiled.
"Klee's art is a Golden Immortal scripture as well. And Old Ancestor Xuanxi already walked it to its very end.
So long as Klee cultivates it step by step, at the very least she will ascend to immortality."
"..."
Alice's heart turned indescribably complex.
Her daughter was a genius, destined to ascend—an undeniable blessing.
And yet… her daughter was too much a genius.
It left her, as a mother, feeling a little melancholy.
Would she even be able to keep her under control in the future?
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