On the summit of Mt. Tianheng, Zhongli and the others remained silent for a long while. Perhaps it was the wind at this height, but they felt a faint chill seep into their bones.
After some time, Cloud Retainer sighed wistfully.
"I now believe what Jiang Yan said about the power of the Great Luo. If, at only the Spirit-Refining and Returning to the Void stage, he can accomplish such feats within a single world… then one who has reached far higher realms truly could possess the ability to perceive all heavens."
Moon Carver pursed her lips, glancing worriedly at Zhongli.
"My Lord…"
Zhongli lifted a hand slightly, interrupting her.
"No matter. Jiang Yan is our friend — there's no need for concern. Besides, I doubt he has the leisure to keep constant watch over Teyvat."
"And this Xuanyuan Mirror…?"
Moon Carver pointed toward the plain, unassuming mirror on the table.
According to Jiang Yan, it held a single Golden Light Talisman — the very kind that had purged Xiao's karmic debt.
But what the group cared about most was this: could a mirror with only a single talisman truly kill a god?
From the moment Zhongli held it in his hands, he no longer doubted. Jiang Yan had been almost understated in his description. Even Zhongli could feel a threat to his very life emanating from the mirror.
He was, after all, a cultivator equivalent to the Nascent Soul–Divine Transformation stage within the immortal system. Jiang Yan was only a single major realm above him — yet even so, Zhongli couldn't withstand one talisman?
The gap between cultivation realms, it seemed, was terrifyingly vast.
"As Jiang Yan said, this mirror is of great importance to Liyue. It not only grants the power to deal with formidable foes, but can also oversee the world — even if only Liyue. That alone makes it an extraordinary treasure.
Take it to the Qixing. Only in their hands can it be used to its fullest potential.
As for now…"
Zhongli turned, gazing toward the distant, almost invisible Jueyun Karst.
"We go to Liyue Harbor. Call a meeting of the Qixing — and this time, every adeptus and every Qixing must be present!"
"Yes, my Lord!"
Streaks of light crossed the skies, leaving Mt. Tianheng behind.
Far away, in Jueyun Karst, Jiang Yan flicked a hand, dispersing the water mirror before him. Within its surface had been Zhongli and the others, though their image took up little space.
Most of it… had been filled with other scenes: Mondstadt beset by dragon plague; Lumine and Paimon journeying there; the storm-darkened skies of Inazuma; Nahida sleeping within the Sanctuary of Surasthana; Furina seated in the opera house, observing a trial; the Ice Archon meditating upon her throne; Alice toying with a god at the borders; and… high above, the floating Sky Island.
A water mirror — just a small observational technique, hardly worth mentioning. Any cultivator could use it, and Jiang Yan had even mastered the True Explanation of Basic Spells.
In his hands, the technique had reached perfection.
As for observing an entire world? That was simply a matter of one's own strength. Zhongli, with his water mirror, could at best watch over Liyue. But Jiang Yan was a Spirit-Refining and Returning to the Void cultivator.
The breadth of Teyvat lay within a single thought. Without even using movement techniques, he could reach the Quantum Sea in the blink of an eye. This so-called "cage atop the World Tree" posed no constraint to him whatsoever.
Still, he had no real interest in monitoring it all. Once he blocked out Zhongli and the others' chatter, he turned his mind to more important matters.
The foremost among them: opening the Celestial Abode of Mount Shu.
Rising to his feet, a violet haze swirled in Jiang Yan's eyes, gradually condensing into crystalline clarity.
In his vision, a projection of a world appeared — much like Teyvat itself.
Creating a Celestial Abode was hardly difficult for him. For an immortal of his realm and skill in the Huangting Jade View Classic, it was simple.
An Abode was not a full world; it required no impenetrable boundaries or complete laws of existence. It was merely a dimensional pocket tethered to a world — though the one he intended to create would be rather… large.
"Hidden vistas, gathered essence — Abode, open!"
In an instant, violet qi bloomed at a single point before him, flowing like a spring until it swirled into a deep vortex.
Jiang Yan stepped forward, unhurried, through the Abode's gate.
The world before him darkened for a heartbeat, then burst into dazzling clarity.
A newborn Celestial Abode — no mountains, no rivers, no seas, only an endless sky and an infinite plain. At the farthest horizon, heaven and earth touched.
The Abode's marvelous principle — Yellow Court Concealed Vista.
Though the Huangting Jade View Classic was a path of cultivation, to say it held no special techniques would be laughable. As a scripture that pierced through the immortal way itself, it had more than earned its reputation.
Celestial Abodes were rare in Liyue, but not unknown — Granny Ping could craft them, though she required a vessel, materials, time, and effort, and hers were far smaller.
If Zhongli and the others could see what Jiang Yan had wrought, they might well question reality.
This Abode was not only stable, but as vast as the whole of Teyvat — borders and the Dark Seas included.
"That will serve well enough for the foundation of the Mount Shu I've fabricated."
In a flash of light, Jiang Yan traversed the Abode, surveying every stretch of land within the span of a teacup's time.
It was empty, yes, but perfectly stable. His first attempt at opening such a space had gone surprisingly smoothly — perhaps thanks to the Sutra. His every action felt utterly natural, without a trace of awkwardness.
"A pity… for all its vastness and stability, it remains only an Abode. To truly match the seat of a cultivation sect, it would need to be an entire self-sustaining world. But… that will come later."
He drew a deep breath — for the first time since his tribulation, channeling his full power.
Creation was far harder than destruction. He could shatter Teyvat without effort, but to create a living world like Teyvat? That was beyond any but an immortal of the highest rank.
"Mountains, rivers, lakes, and seas…"
With each gesture, violet qi surged through the Abode like rolling mist.
Towering mountains rose from the plains; the ground split to form rivers and lakes; in the distance, land collapsed into a boundless ocean. Rainforests, grasslands, and countless other biomes began to take shape.
Finally, his gaze turned to the central mountain range, still climbing toward the heavens. Feeling the strain on his reserves, he frowned slightly.
"As I thought, creation of this scale is taxing… but this will do."
In Teyvat, this Abode was perfectly secure — there was no need for further defenses. Despite its looming decline, the world was rich in spiritual energy; what he'd spent would replenish in half a day.
With that thought, Jiang Yan unleashed the last of his true essence.
The central mountains, already two thousand meters tall, surged upward like they had been fed a divine elixir.
At last, seven towering peaks pierced the clouds, each more than ten thousand meters high.
Six of them, magnificent and unique in form, encircled the loftiest, most majestic peak at the center.
"From this day forth — the Seven Peaks of Mount Shu: Tongtian Peak, Dragon's Head Peak, Little Bamboo Peak, Wind-Returning Peak, Great Bamboo Peak, and Morning Sun Peak.
Since I've already invented Mount Shu, a few specialties from Qingyun Gate would be fitting. After all, I am the master of the Divine Sword Lightning Command."
With a flick of his sleeve, his dark robe billowed like drifting clouds. Standing upon the summit of Tongtian Peak, Jiang Yan truly looked the part of an immortal.
As his words fell, bold, ancient characters appeared upon the peaks, each proclaiming its name. Though not in Teyvat's script, they bore his will — anyone who saw them would understand.
Feeling the last remnants of his essence, Jiang Yan pondered for a moment before smiling broadly.
"Since I've come this far, why not add a little embellishment? Besides, these mountains are tall enough that ordinary disciples will struggle to climb them…"
And with that thought, he raised his hand once more.
To read 30+ future chapters, head over to Patreon:
patreon.com/WhiteDevil7554