No one in the room had expected that Zhongli's "solution" would simply be… to call someone over.
And not just anyone — but someone who might be anywhere in the world.
This was the sort of thing ordinary Liyue citizens did:
When trouble came, shout an adeptus' name at the top of your lungs.
None of them had imagined they'd see Zhongli himself doing exactly that one day.
The Jade Chamber fell into a moment of awkward silence before Zhongli sighed, helpless.
"It seems the gentleman doesn't keep an eye on us at all times. If that's the case, then tomorrow, when I visit him, I'll ask—"
Before he could finish, a vast and overwhelming will descended upon the Jade Chamber.
It was as if the sky itself had dropped down to press upon them — yet rather than oppressive, it felt almost like a spring breeze.
"Daoist Morax," a warm, jade-like voice rang out, "what business do you have with me?"
Ningguang and the others instinctively held their breath.
Never had they thought that simply mentioning his name could be heard across such a great distance.
The weight of that vast presence made them all the more cautious — even the boldest among them found it hard to muster any thought of resistance.
"The Xuanyuan Mirror has grown dim and unresponsive," Zhongli said evenly. "We do not know why."
A pause, then Jiang Yan's voice, faintly amused:
"You were just using the mirror to survey Teyvat, weren't you?"
Before Zhongli could speak, Ningguang answered without hesitation:
"It was my insistence. This matter has nothing to do with the Lord of Geo."
"Heh… no need to be defensive. I'm not scolding you."
Jiang Yan's voice held a trace of laughter. "The mirror is fine — it's simply exhausted its spiritual energy. At Teyvat's current spiritual density, it will recover in about a day.
"However, I advise you not to continuously observe lands beyond Liyue. It drains the mirror far too quickly. Still… very well, I'll help you this once."
With that, a strand of violet qi materialized from nothing and flowed into the mirror.
At once, the Xuanyuan Mirror blazed to life again, brighter even than before.
It was the first time the Liyue group had witnessed Jiang Yan's abilities directly, and they couldn't help but be impressed.
"Truly remarkable," Ningguang murmured.
"A mere trick. If you reach my level of cultivation, you could do the same."
He was about to take his leave when his voice suddenly paused.
Then, another strand of violet qi formed — this one flowing into Keqing.
She reflexively moved to resist, but Ningguang caught her arm.
The violet qi coursed through Keqing's meridians once, then dissipated without harm.
"Incredible…" Jiang Yan's tone carried a rare note of wonder.
"Teyvat truly is a land of prodigies. Who would have thought a single Liyue could yield two unique constitutions?
"By the grace of my Mount Shu forebears… it seems our sect is destined for a second age of glory!"
"Unique constitution?" Keqing's heart skipped a beat. She remembered what Cloud Retainer had said about Shenhe's special body.
"My apologies, Miss Keqing. Upon sensing your special constitution, I became overexcited and examined you without asking."
"No offense taken," Keqing replied with genuine interest. "Could you tell me about it?"
"Of course. Yours is the Sword Body — born for the sword, to live and die with the sword.
It is the most perfectly attuned to Mount Shu's Sword Sect. Our sect is famed for the sword, and above all for the Ten Thousand Swords Art — peerless beneath the heavens.
"If you were to cultivate this art, you might one day become a Sword Immortal — the most destructive of all immortal lineages.
All offense, no defense — unrivaled under the sky.
"In the past, many of my fellow disciples with the Sword Body were taken as personal pupils by the elders, shining brilliantly in the Seven Peaks Tournament.
"So, Miss Keqing… would you be willing to enter Mount Shu and devote yourself to the Way of the Sword?"
Beside her, Cloud Retainer grew visibly more sulky.
Keqing was tempted — very tempted — but she didn't answer right away.
"Allow me to consider it first, Master Jiang."
"Of course. I spoke out of turn. Take your time. But your Sword Body… it was truly born for our sect's path."
Jiang Yan's voice softened with nostalgia.
"Perhaps it is Liyue's nurturing spirit — to have birthed so many with such extraordinary gifts. My forebears would be overjoyed to see it."
No one replied. Jiang Yan mused to himself a moment longer, then said,
"If there's nothing else, I'll take my leave. I have some matters to handle."
Faintly, the group could hear the sound of ocean waves… and explosions.
Ningguang frowned slightly.
"Master Jiang… are you in the middle of a battle? Is there a threat to Liyue? Do you require our aid?"
"No need. I'm not in Liyue right now."
That revelation startled everyone.
He had left Liyue?
Had their delay in accepting his offer to cultivate offended him?
Ningguang's tone became urgent:
"Was Liyue's hospitality lacking?"
Jiang Yan chuckled soundlessly.
"You overthink. I recently created Mount Shu's Blessed Realm, but it still feels lifeless. So I've gone out to gather some living creatures to fill it.
"On one hand, to make it livelier. On the other, to find beings with decent strength to serve as trial beasts for my disciples."
That eased their worry. Ningguang even smiled.
"If you need trial beasts, you needn't trouble yourself. A single word, and Liyue's armies can capture them for you."
"That won't be necessary. These beasts may be trivial to me, but to you… they would be more than a little dangerous."
In the distance, Jiang Yan extended a hand into the sea — and pulled up a massive, thrashing creature, slipping it into his sleeve.
"In Lord Morax's words, I believe this place is called the 'Dark Sea'? Plenty of beasts here. Should be enough for my needs.
"Curious, though… why do your Teyvat beasts always give themselves such strange names? Still — intelligent beasts are far better than mindless ones. They'll make fine opponents for my disciples."
The Jade Chamber fell utterly silent.
Everyone had the same thought:
…Are you sure those are just 'beasts'? They look a lot like Demon Gods to us.
And you want to use them… as sparring partners for students?
But knowing the gulf in their perceptions, they wisely kept quiet.
"If you truly wish to send me a gift, don't bother with treasures — send me animals.
My Blessed Realm is vast, and it will take quite a few to fill it."
Granny Ping — setting aside the part about him roaming the Dark Sea catching Demon Gods — smiled.
"I, too, am skilled in the arts of the Blessed Realm. I could help populate it. How large is your domain, so I know how many creatures to prepare?"
A pause. Jiang Yan's voice came softly:
"I'll need a great many. The size of my realm is… roughly that of all Teyvat."
"…Is that acceptable?"
Granny Ping went completely still, silent as stone.
Sensing he might be asking too much, Jiang Yan laughed lightly.
"If it's too much trouble, don't worry. I've already gathered some creatures. With a bit of breeding, it should suffice."
Gathered some? Ningguang suddenly pictured Teyvat's food chain in ruins.
A realm the size of all Teyvat… wouldn't it take all the animals in Teyvat to fill it?
No one dared speak further of sending him "gifts."
His scale of thinking was so different that any well-meant offering might be taken as an insult.
"In that case, I'll be on my way. I still need to catch a dozen more beasts to barely fill the realm.
This Dark Sea doesn't have many left — I may have to take a trip to the Quantum Sea.
"Lord Morax, if you come tomorrow, meet me at Cloud Retainer's abode. I'll be doing my morning cultivation there.
If you wish, I can take you to tour Mount Shu's Blessed Realm.
"Oh — and as for the Xuanyuan Mirror, it would be best not to probe Teyvat's firmament.
You're not ready to deal with what's on Celestia."
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