"The Jade Chime and Golden Bell I've crafted now is still a mere shadow of the original—barely one ten-thousandth of its former power," Jiang Yan said calmly.
"True, in Teyvat it could still be called peerless in defense. Even if someone like Morax, together with hundreds of others, struck it at once, they could not shake it in the slightest."
"But… the Golden Bell was never meant to be used like that."
He lifted a hand, fingers brushing lightly across the bell's golden surface.
"This is the symbol of Mount Shu. Unless we face life and death, it must never be brought forth.
Right now, it serves another purpose—it anchors the many great formations within the Mount Shu Cave-Heaven. It is the very foundation of those arrays.
Yesterday, I journeyed into the Quantum Sea, found a world already fallen to ruin, and used its essence to forge this bell.
For now, it is the only one capable of sustaining the formation."
The others exchanged glances, quietly marveling.
This casual talk of worlds and their destruction was still something their minds struggled to fully grasp.
Ganyu tilted her head slightly, curiosity in her eyes.
"Is that the bell's only use?"
"Of course not."
Jiang Yan smiled faintly.
"Each morning and evening, it will sound once—reminding disciples to seize the moment of 'purple qi from the east' at dawn, and the peace of sunset at dusk, for cultivation.
You can… think of it as an alarm clock."
"…"
Several of them were left speechless.
A mid-grade spirit artifact—as an alarm clock?
If he wasn't going to use it for anything grand, they thought, he could at least hand it over to them!
"Beyond that," Jiang Yan continued, his tone now more solemn, "the bell marks certain great events of Mount Shu. You must remember them well.
If the bell rings three times, it proclaims to Heaven and Earth that a peerless prodigy has been born within the sect.
If it rings six times, its sound will scour the Nine Nether Hells—signaling that a senior has ascended.
If it rings nine times, the strike shakes gods and Buddhas alike, carrying from the highest heaven to the deepest underworld. No matter where they are, every Shu Mountain disciple will hear it—and must return at once.
Nine tolls mean the sect faces annihilation, and the Jade Chime and Golden Bell will itself be sent forth."
He waved a hand dismissively.
"For now, it is enough that you remember."
They nodded gravely, committing the rules to memory.
Jiang Yan's gaze swept over them once, then he spoke in a quieter voice.
"The Sect Grand Hall is the heart of Mount Shu—none may enter who are not disciples of the sect.
Even in these unusual times, some rules must be observed.
If you do not intend to join, you should stop here.
You may still travel among the Seven Peaks via the Rainbow Bridges, but do not set foot inside the Grand Halls of the peaks' heads.
A formation will attack any outsider who tries."
They understood—this was the end of the sightseeing. The real business was about to begin.
Ningguang quickly turned to order the Millelith guards to remain on Tongtian Peak.
They could not yet be accepted as disciples—and it was uncertain how many among them even had the talent for cultivation.
The soldiers showed no disappointment, and certainly no reckless curiosity.
Tongtian Peak's spiritual energy was, by Jiang Yan's needs, the densest in the entire domain.
Standing here for even a short while made one's body grow stronger at an astonishing pace.
They were determined to breathe deeply and make the most of the opportunity.
When arrangements were complete, Ningguang turned back with a knowing smile.
"May we enter now, The gentleman?"
He glanced over at Zhongli and the others, seeing their steady resolve, and nodded in satisfaction.
All his careful words had not been in vain.
Mount Shu… was about to open its gates.
"Come with me."
He led the way into the Grand Hall.
Once the last immortal had stepped inside, the great doors closed with a resounding boom.
Outside, the Millelith relaxed, exchanging excited whispers.
To think that this mission had led them to meet true cultivators, ride swords through the air, and see such wondrous sights—
and even gain strength merely by standing here.
It had already been worth the journey.
Inside the hall, the sense of solemn grandeur was immediate.
It made them unconsciously lighten their steps.
And yet, along with the weight of majesty, there was a drifting, ethereal quality, as though the air itself carried a hint of sword song.
Looking up, they saw the ceiling inscribed with countless sword formations.
For an instant, it seemed someone was practicing above them, shadows moving through the patterns—
but when they focused, there was nothing there.
They had seen too much wonder today to be startled again.
Zhongli, however, felt a pang of rueful thought.
It was only "ordinary" to them now because they could not understand what they were seeing.
Once they had cultivated enough to read these arrays, then it would truly be ordinary.
Jiang Yan seated himself cross-legged at the center of seven round cushions—clearly the seats of the Seven Peaks' heads.
No one dared take them.
With a flick of his finger, more cushions appeared in neat rows, and the others followed his example, sitting cross-legged.
As they raised their heads, their eyes met the single, plain character "Dao" engraved upon the far wall.
In that instant, a vast, sonorous voice filled their minds:
"Walk without striving; walk in gentleness; walk in yielding, moving only when the time is right.
Walk without a name; walk in clarity and stillness; walk in all that is good.
Walk without desire; walk knowing sufficiency; walk in humility.
First, do not disrespect your teachers.
Second, do not kill without cause.
Third, do not profane Heaven and Earth.
Fourth, do not aid evil.
Fifth, do not tear families apart.
Sixth, do not harm your fellow disciples.
Seventh, do not covet without end.
Eighth, do not be disloyal or unfilial.
Ninth, do not commit lust, evil, or theft.
Tenth, do not hold yourself above all others.
All disciples of Shu Mountain must uphold the Nine Practices and Ten Precepts; thus may the Dao endure eternally.
Break the Ten Precepts, and Heaven's wrath and Earth's curse will destroy your soul."
The weight of that voice crashed into their minds like a great hammer, leaving them dazed.
Faces paled—Ganyu among them.
Jiang Yan's fingers flicked, sending a stream of light into each of their bodies.
Gradually, the pressure eased.
"The gentleman, that was…?" Ganyu asked faintly, careful not to glance again at the Dao character.
"That was the Nine Practices and Ten Precepts of Shu Mountain—the sect rules, binding upon every disciple.
Those who violate the Ten Precepts will be dealt with by the Hall of Discipline.
Every disciple undergoes this once—only once. From now on, when you look upon the Dao character, it will merely calm your heart."
They looked again, and indeed the crushing weight was gone—replaced by a tranquil serenity.
But the rules were already etched into their hearts.
They might not understand them yet, but in time, they would.
Jiang Yan smiled slightly.
"I trust none of you are wicked. The Ten Precepts will scarcely bind you—there's no need for worry.
Under normal circumstances, for disciples of your talent, the bell would toll twice to summon the Seven Peak Heads and elders, and together we would hold the entry ceremony.
You have talents for many paths—the Yin Spirit Body suited to Xiaozhu Peak's Qinghui lineage, the Sword Body fit for Tongtian Peak's Sword Sect.
Normally, not all of you could enter under one peak."
He sighed, a hint of helplessness in his voice.
"But now… Mount Shu has only me—a lone cultivator at the Spirit-Refining and Returning to the Void stage. There is no other choice."
Keqing's eyes lit up.
"So you're going to take us all as your disciples?"
Jiang Yan blinked at her directness, then chuckled and shook his head.
"No. I will not accept you all myself.
Rather, I will judge your aptitudes—
and, in the name of our forebears, accept disciples on behalf of the Seven Peaks of Mount Shu!"
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