Paimon looked a little downcast.
"Is there really no way to just—bam!—become all-knowing and all-powerful in an instant?"
That would save her the trouble of learning anything herself.
Wouldn't that be great?
Unfortunately, it was nothing but a pretty fantasy.
Watching Paimon sigh so heavily, Gu Chen couldn't help but chuckle.
"Stop dreaming. Something like that doesn't exist. Think about it—if it did, the price you'd have to pay would probably be enormous."
"Hmm... you're right," Paimon nodded thoughtfully.
In this world, nothing came free. Everything had a price. Even if it wasn't immediate, the cost would eventually show up in one's fate.
Scratching her head, Paimon muttered, "Then I guess I'll just stay dumb."
So she's... giving up?
Gu Chen's expression turned a little odd, but he decided not to comment.
Meanwhile, in the group chat, everyone was discussing the video of Gu Chen's enlightenment technique—the power to awaken intelligence in beings without wisdom.
Most people agreed that it wasn't hard to gradually nurture intelligence in a beast.
But to do it as Gu Chen had—instantaneously, with a mere flick of the wrist—that was on another level.
No one dared say it was impossible, because there was the video as proof.
[Ganyu]: If only I could've met the old Cloud Retainer from back then! I'd love to ask her what being enlightened felt like. （Ganyu. smile）
Cloud Retainer froze.
Ah, revenge!
So this little qilin was still holding a grudge just because I exposed some of her childhood antics?
Come on, must you go this far?!
[Lishui Dieshan Zhenjun]: Seeing how panicked Cloud Retainer looked when she got caught back then was quite entertaining. （laugh）
[Xiaoyue Zhuyang Zhenjun]: Haha.
Cloud Retainer: "..."
Laugh, laugh, laugh! That's all you know how to do!
How can you all laugh when I can't even breathe from the embarrassment?!
So this was what it felt like when your most awkward moment got replayed in front of the whole world... absolutely mortifying.
[Gechen Langshi Zhenjun]: Come to think of it, Cloud Retainer was enlightened by Gu Chen back then. Do you think the other Adepti were too?
At that thought, several immortals suddenly fell silent.
The image of themselves, mindless and terrified before gaining wisdom—it was... less than dignified.
[Lishui Dieshan Zhenjun]: Suddenly remembered something urgent in my cave. Going offline now. Don't ping me. （leaves group）
[Xiaoyue Zhuyang Zhenjun]: Haha... Zhongli's here at Huaguang Stone Forest. Let's... uh... deal with Azhdaha.
[Zhongli]: Actually, there's no hurry...
[Azhdaha]: No hurry? Then stay right there, old friend! Watch the rest of the video and we'll have a nice... "chat."
[Cloud Retainer]: It seems some hearts are not as serene as they claim. （Ganyu. smile）
[Venti]: So Cloud Retainer's counterattacking now that she's been publicly exposed? （witty）
[Kaeya]: Looks like it. （Hu Tao. mischievous）
[Gu Chen]: Now, now. That's not fair. True Adepti like her are as calm as Mount Tianheng itself—such trifles wouldn't trouble her heart. （serious）
[Venti]: Bro... you getting paid for this? （suspicious）
[Kaeya]: Yeah, I'm starting to suspect something. （alert）
Gu Chen merely smiled.
He had no intention of explaining. After all, Cloud Retainer had just sent him some lovely photos of Ganyu and Shenhe as a "thank-you gesture."
"Pretty, aren't they?"
Lumine's voice suddenly came from behind him, distant yet chillingly close.
"I just took one quick look." Gu Chen closed the private chat calmly and said, "Paimon can vouch for me."
Lumine turned to Paimon.
Paimon nodded solemnly. "Yeah, he only looked once... but didn't blink."
Gu Chen: "..."
In the video, centuries had passed since Gu Chen had first enlightened that crane.
He never cared for the passage of time—only for meaning.
"It feels like... there's something I'm supposed to do," he murmured. "But what exactly?"
He gazed far into the distance. His vision pierced mountains, plains, even the sea beyond—but his heart remained lost.
"Forget it. If I don't know yet, I won't force it."
Just as he sat down to meditate, a streak of green light approached from afar. It landed before him and turned into a crane.
"You?" Gu Chen was mildly surprised.
The crane bowed its head deeply. "Junior, Cloud Retainer (alias)—thanks you for granting me wisdom, senior."
Gu Chen nodded slightly.
Seeing his calm demeanor, Cloud Retainer hesitated, then asked softly,
"Senior, have you been... sitting here unmoving for all these years?"
"Mm." Gu Chen nodded again. After studying her for a moment, he sighed.
"You seem far wiser than when you were first enlightened. Tell me—there's something troubling me. Would you hear it?"
Cloud Retainer was taken aback, but quickly nodded. "Please, speak."
"From the moment I came to this world, I've felt... a strange sense of purpose. As if there's something I must do. But I don't know what."
Cloud Retainer frowned, pondering. "Is it something you must do?"
"Must?" Gu Chen shook his head. "Not necessarily. I could ignore it completely. But I'd like to understand what it is first."
The crane fell silent for a long time before suggesting,
"Then why not walk among humans? Their wisdom may not be inferior to mine. Perhaps you'll find your answer there."
Gu Chen thought for a moment and nodded. "You're right. I'll do that."
Before he left, he said, "This world is about to enter an age of great conflict. You may struggle to protect yourself. Let me bestow upon you a divine art for protection."
He raised his hand, gently touching the crane's head.
Cloud Retainer tilted her head as a flood of knowledge poured into her mind, leaving her stunned and dizzy.
When she finally recovered, Gu Chen was already gone.
"To summon wind and rain... to turn stone into gold... to ride the clouds..." She trembled. "Could he truly be... an Immortal?"
[Kaeya]: 'Turn stone into gold'? You mean he can literally make Mora out of rocks?! （Paimon. shocked）
[Venti]: Holy Archons, I wanna learn that! （Venti. starry eyes）
[Arataki Itto]: Huh?! That's insane! And that "enlightenment" thing too! If I can make my Onikabuto self-aware, no one in Hanamizaka can stop me! （Itto. excited）
[Paimon]: If I learned to turn stone into gold, I'd never have to worry about running out of Mora again!
[Keqing]: 'Summon wind and rain'—that's powerful too! If a region suffers drought, this divine art could save thousands!
[Xingqiu]: Weren't those things only myths from old stories? I can't believe they actually exist!
[Chongyun]: Don't all Adepti know these kinds of arts?
[Cloud Retainer]: You may be overestimating us...
Indeed, the gap between immortals was vast.
Among the Three-Eyed Five Manifestations, every Adeptus had unique talents—some excelled at talismans, others at formations or spatial arts.
But Gu Chen's casual mastery of turning stone to gold or summoning the elements?
That was beyond them.
She sighed, shaking her head. "Best not to think about it too much. The more I compare, the worse it feels."
Still... What was he truly here to do?
In the video, Gu Chen wandered the mountains and rivers.
He blended seamlessly into nature—so much that even beasts passed him by without noticing.
Perhaps "Teacher of the Adepti," the title shown in the video, was literal.
Was he truly the one who taught all of Liyue's immortals?
"Could it be..." Cloud Retainer murmured, "that he's going to establish a sect?"
That thought sent a shiver down her spine.
Gu Chen walked and walked until the terrain flattened out.
In this land, countless beings struggled for dominion—Archons battling for territory in endless war.
He watched for a time but soon grew weary of the slaughter.
Traveling further, he reached a quiet settlement.
Humans there were building earthen walls—crude but sturdy enough to block wind and rain.
"It seems peaceful," he murmured, "but only because someone's holding back the chaos. How long can it last?"
A sudden gust of wind, and a girl appeared before him.
She was small and delicate, with slate-blue hair tied back by a sapphire clasp, and eyes bright as starlight. Her long sleeves fluttered like clouds, their insides painted with constellations.
"Are you here seeking my protection?" she asked cheerfully.
"Afraid not," Gu Chen replied. "I'm merely wandering."
"Oh?" She tilted her head, studying him. "Then... you're not human, are you?"
"What makes you think that?"
"Only the strong can wander freely like this. No ordinary human could."
Gu Chen smiled faintly. "Yet I am human—just not from your world. I come from beyond the heavens."
"Beyond the heavens?" Her eyes widened. "What's it like there?"
"Not much different from here," he said. "Except there are no gods. Everyone walks the path of cultivation. Power defines everything."
Hearing that, her curiosity waned, but she introduced herself anyway:
"I'm Guizhong—but you can call me Guizhong. And you?"
"Gu Chen," he replied. "Dao name, Taixuan."
They chatted idly for a while until Guizhong invited, "Since you're exploring, why not visit my settlement?"
Gu Chen nodded. "Gladly."
She led him to a lively community—thousands of humans working industriously.
"They're... building houses?" he asked in surprise.
"Mhm! I taught them how to stack soil and make walls," Guizhong said proudly. "Now they don't get rained on!"
Gu Chen stood silently for a long while before murmuring,
"I see. You've taught them much, haven't you?"
"Of course! I only shared what I knew." She smiled brightly.
"I understand now," Gu Chen said at last, eyes firm.
"Huh? Understand what?" Guizhong blinked.
"The reason I came to this world," he said solemnly. "To teach them knowledge. To grant them power. To ignite the flame of civilization—and to set peace for all eternity."
Guizhong stared at him, stunned.
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