At Ganyu's curious question, Jiang Yan smiled.
"Speaking of the Rainbow Bridge," he said, "one can't help but mention the Seven Wonders of Mount Shu."
The moment he said it, everyone's interest was piqued.
"What are the Seven Wonders of Mount Shu?" Zhongli asked softly.
Jiang Yan replied, "They are what cultivators consider the seven most breathtaking sights of Mount Shu."
At that, the group fell silent—until Ningguang, ever the voice of reason, remarked,
"To be fair, every view on Mount Shu is spectacular. Why limit it to seven?"
"The Seven Wonders," Jiang Yan explained with a small smile, "are the seven most exquisite sights—those that, once glimpsed, are forever seared into memory."
He began to list them: "The Rainbow Bridge, the Sea of Clouds, the Emerald Screen, the Bamboo Waves, the Moon Terrace, and the Soaring Rosy Clouds."
Ganyu counted on her fingers, then tilted her head. "That's only six."
Jiang Yan looked up at the towering pillars of heaven that surrounded them. "The seventh is the Seven Peaks themselves."
"There's a saying that the Seven Peaks of Mount Shu hold up the sky like the mythic Buzhou Mountain. As high as the heavens are, so high rise the Seven Peaks. Now, of course, they reach only a little over ten thousand meters—far less than in the old days."
Only ten thousand meters…
The group exchanged incredulous looks.
Teyvat's tallest peaks barely reached several thousand meters. Was ten thousand meters even survivable?
Then again…
This was a land of cultivators. Without cultivation, one could hardly survive here at all.
Seeing their thoughtful expressions, Jiang Yan did not elaborate further. Instead, he drew out a bronze token.
Before their eyes, a seven-colored Rainbow Bridge arched down from the distant sky to land before them.
He beckoned for them to follow. Though surprised, they trusted him implicitly—none feared he would lead them into danger.
Still, the first step onto the bridge made their hearts tighten. The surface was soft and springy, like stepping onto cotton, with no sense of solid ground.
It was strange… but delightful.
A breeze suddenly brushed their cheeks. Looking up, they realized the Rainbow Bridge itself was carrying them swiftly skyward.
Below, the vast sword forest dwindled.
Jiang Yan turned and called out, "Look—another Wonder of Mount Shu: the Emerald Screen and the Bamboo Waves."
They followed his pointing finger.
Even after all they had seen that day, the sight below left them speechless. Dense mountain forests stretched in an unbroken line, forming a natural wall of green that held back the boundless frost beyond.
Within that barrier spread endless bamboo groves, so vast they formed a living sea. The wind set them swaying in great rippling waves, whispering in a sound like rushing surf.
It was mesmerizing.
Too soon, the Rainbow Bridge carried them past the Sea of Clouds, and the sight was gone—leaving them wistful. But it also stirred their determination.
If they cultivated well and mastered sword flight, such beauty would be theirs to see anytime they wished.
Under Jiang Yan's guidance, they glimpsed still more wonders before learning the truth of the Rainbow Bridge—it linked the Seven Peaks, serving as the main route for disciples who had yet to learn sword flight.
In other words, a flying elevator.
It required spiritual energy to operate, but in a land where aura was as plentiful as air—and could even be drawn from the inexhaustible Quantum Sea—this was no obstacle.
Time was short, so they missed the Moon Terrace and the Soaring Rosy Clouds, but Jiang Yan assured them there would be other chances.
He also recounted the stories of the Seven Peaks: Tongtian Peak of the Sect Master, Longshou Peak of the Executioners, the all-female Xiaozhu Peak… and the grand tournaments of ages past, when prodigies from every peak vied for glory and renown.
His words painted such vivid images that the others felt as if they had truly been there. Even Jiang Yan was faintly unsettled—he had spoken without thought, as if recalling memories he shouldn't have.
Before long, the Rainbow Bridge brought them to the central Tongtian Peak. The journey had taken only four or five minutes.
To their surprise, the summit was not a cramped pinnacle but a vast, flat platform—as were all Seven Peaks.
Below, each peak had scattered dwellings, from simple stone huts to modest wooden houses, each suited to its terrain. The seasonal changes of the Seven Peaks could all be found here, though the homes themselves were plain—just as cultivators preferred.
For the immortals, this was paradise: secluded, safe, and breathtakingly beautiful.
Yet Jiang Yan noted one thing lacking—none of the core structures of a cultivation sect were here: no Scripture Pavilion, no Pill Hall, no Forging Hall, no Transmission Hall.
He could build the shells, but without the techniques, elixirs, and treasures to fill them, they would be empty husks. He could only hope the system would supply what was needed—or he would have to painstakingly extract techniques from the Huangting Yujing Classic.
Finally, they reached the very top, where a single grand and solemn palace stood: the Sect Hall. Inside, the rear wall bore a single, simple character—道, Dao.
Only seven meditation cushions lay in the center. On one side stretched a thick bamboo grove; on the other, a neat peach orchard.
In front of the hall stood a great golden bell carved with intricate patterns that drew the eye and the mind alike.
"This," Jiang Yan said, "is one of Mount Shu's sect-protecting treasures—the Jade Chime and Golden Bell. Not the original, but a mid-grade spiritual artifact I forged last night."
The others were startled. Even Zhongli's Vortex Vanquisher was only a low-grade artifact, and Keqing's mid-grade weapon was already terrifying in power.
A mid-grade spiritual artifact? That was no small matter.
Jiang Yan shook his head at their unspoken thoughts.
"The Jade Chime and Golden Bell has little offensive power—none at all in this version. But in the old days, it was a top-tier immortal artifact, said to shake the heavens with a single toll, before which even immortals, gods, Buddhas, and ghosts would bow. It defended and attacked alike, and only the combined strength of the Sect Master and the elders could wield it. Thanks to it, Mount Shu survived countless calamities."
"In later years, when Mount Shu flourished and no one dared provoke it, the bell was rarely used. Many disciples lived and died without ever hearing it sound, and it became more a symbol than a weapon."
A flicker of puzzlement crossed Jiang Yan's eyes—once again, the words had slipped out without conscious thought.
Ningguang said, "Even so, a mid-grade spiritual artifact shouldn't be weak, should it?"
Jiang Yan drew his mind back from its stray thoughts and shook his head…
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