The two demon gods in Jiang Yan's grasp weren't caught in the Dark Sea.
The strongest there barely reached the late stage of Essence Refinement into Qi.
These two, however, he'd found while wandering the Quantum Sea after leaving Teyvat.
They'd seemed keen on invading Teyvat, yet some strange barrier had blocked them.
So Jiang Yan, ever "helpful," decided to fulfill their wish—personally escorting them to Teyvat.
Of course, not without first engraving the Soul-Locking Curse.
Demon gods at the peak of Essence Refinement into Qi… even Zhongli couldn't contend with such beings.
But for Jiang Yan, they were nothing more than slightly larger ants.
In the world of cultivation, there is no "leaping ranks" in battle.
Even a mid-stage Essence Refinement cultivator utterly suppresses an early-stage one.
Unless the weaker party has some top-tier treasure left behind by a greater master, the best they can do is run.
Fight head-on? Best not.
The engraving of the curse went smoothly. The demon gods tried to resist, but it was laughably futile.
Jiang Yan didn't even feel a hint of strain—
it was as easy as breathing.
Realizing the powerful shackle now embedded in their souls, the two demon gods fell into despair.
Who could have guessed? They'd merely been idly eyeing Teyvat from afar…
only to be plucked away like stray fish.
Well, so be it—if it meant they were to be used for something useful, perhaps serving such a strong being wasn't the worst fate.
But then they heard Jiang Yan's explanation:
"Your strength will do. You'll serve as trial opponents for my disciples."
Trial opponents?!
So what if they were "weak"?
Did weakness mean they had no rights?
Did demon gods have no dignity?!
If not for the Soul-Locking Curse, they might have self-destructed right then—
if only to make a point… and go out in a blaze of glory.
"From now on, stay obediently in the sea," Jiang Yan instructed coolly.
"If anyone comes to challenge you, you are not to take their lives."
If they'd shown real talent, he might have considered giving them guidance and accepting them into Mount Shu.
But unfortunately, they were the type born purely from heaven and earth's excess energy, their power swollen by absorbing vast amounts of imaginary—no, spiritual—energy from the Quantum Sea.
Good constitution, yes, but no cultivation foundation.
This was their ceiling.
Jiang Yan took a crumb of comfort from this: at least Teyvat's demon gods weren't all monstrous prodigies.
Once dismissed, the two demon gods exchanged a long, silent look—
then quietly sank beneath the waves.
Half a bell later, mournful cries rose from the deep.
This "sea" they'd been put in…
was nearly empty of fish.
They'd gone all-out to feast, and cleared it in a day!
What now?
Well—at least demon gods could go years without eating, though the cravings would gnaw at them.
Better to "farm" the fish for a future feast.
So, with grim resignation, they began using divine power to breed the fish population.
They weren't alone—
other captured demon gods soon joined in, turning into a bizarre, cooperative aquaculture crew.
From the main hall of Tongtian Peak, Jiang Yan watched it all and nodded with satisfaction.
"They're adapting quickly. Already learned animal husbandry.
Perhaps in less than a year, this cave-world will be teeming with life."
That afternoon, Jiang Yan had indeed gathered many animals—
but only within limits, so as not to disrupt Teyvat's natural balance.
For a world as large as Teyvat, the current number was a drop in the ocean.
Most of them he'd released into the Seven Peaks of Mount Shu, making that region abundant with wildlife.
There, the dense spiritual energy was already triggering slow evolution.
By the end of the day, the creatures had formed stable food chains.
Outside the Seven Peaks, however…
life was sparse.
No matter—
the industrious demon gods would tend those lands in time.
Looking up, Jiang Yan saw flocks of cranes gliding through the clouds beyond Tongtian Peak.
Yes—this was the look of an immortal's domain.
Given time and spiritual energy, ordinary white cranes might evolve into intelligent, mystical spirit-cranes.
He wondered idly—what would Mountain Shaper and Cloud Retainer think of that?
The mental image of the two adepti soaring through the skies trailed by a whole squadron of cranes…
made him chuckle.
By now, Zhongli's council in Liyue was surely concluded.
One way or another, they would not refuse the path of cultivation.
Which meant… tomorrow, the first disciples of Mount Shu might walk through his gates.
With a faint smile, Jiang Yan murmured:
"Peace in the palace, harmony in all things.
Mount Shu's first batch of disciples will soon arrive."
As his voice faded, he closed his eyes.
True essence flowed; the Huangting Jade View Classic manifested around him in streams of intricate, tangible characters.
Somewhere in the unseen, a near-divine voice chanted the verses.
A few young white cranes, perhaps weary from flight, landed just outside the hall.
Hearing the scripture, their black eyes shone with curiosity.
They crouched down, listening intently.
Spiritual energy began to seep into their bodies—
this time, it did not dissipate.
It spread through them, and part of it stayed.
Without Jiang Yan's knowledge, the first generation of immortal cranes in Mount Shu's cave-world was about to be born.
Meanwhile, the rest of Teyvat was on the verge of panic.
The vast, world-darkening thundercloud over Liyue that morning had rattled every power.
Those with special means had made contact within hours, but as evening came, letters from every nation poured into the Jade Chamber—
Mondstadt's Knights, Sumeru's Akademiya, Fontaine, Snezhnaya…
Even the sealed-off Inazuma, via Yae Miko's secret arts.
It was no overreaction—
that tribulation lightning had seemed capable of ending the world.
Had it not incidentally wounded "Heaven" itself—deepening its slumber—
the Sustainer of Heavenly Principles might already have dispatched envoys.
Now, Ningguang sat staring at the mountain of letters stamped with the crests of nations.
Ordinarily, a merchant caravan from Mondstadt to Liyue took a week.
For these letters to arrive in half a day meant each sender had burned through hidden, costly methods.
Her headache worsened.
Should she reply? And say what?
"No big deal—just a cultivator's tribulation."
Would anyone even believe it?
Besides, such a gift—cultivation—was worth guarding.
Liyue deserved a lead.
Yet ignoring the letters entirely would be rude, especially when allies like Mondstadt openly offered aid against "any threat to Teyvat."
Even burdened with their own dragon crisis, they'd still stand ready.
Their sincerity was plain—
and the Rock King and Anemo Archon had always been close, whatever their current contractual disputes.
This was, after all, a matter that had shaken the entire continent.
The other nations had a right to ask.
Ningguang sighed, her gaze drifting toward the direction of Jueyun Karst.
"The gentleman… you've truly handed us a troublesome gift."
After a moment's thought, she rubbed her temples and said softly:
"Baiwen—reply to them."
"Yes, Lady Ningguang. But… how should I write it?"
"Ignore Snezhnaya—send them something vague.
For the rest, apart from Mondstadt, tell them only that an old demon god's seal had loosened, and the Geo Archon has suppressed it.
To Mondstadt—reassure them it's nothing for them to worry about. Tell them to focus on the dragon crisis.
When things settle, we'll speak in detail."
Baiwen hesitated.
"Wouldn't that be… rather perfunctory?"
Ningguang gave a helpless smile.
"Let them think what they will.
Perfunctory it is. Frankly, I'd welcome someone perfunctorily explaining things to me right now.
If they're not satisfied, they can come and see for themselves."
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