Hearing Jiang Yan's explanation, Zhongli finally managed to accept it—at least on the surface.
But deep down, he still felt uneasy.
This was the position of a Peak Master of the Seven Peaks!
He hadn't even begun cultivating yet, and he knew next to nothing about the intricacies of immortal cultivation.
The only thing he could rely on was that, in this batch of new recruits, he happened to be the strongest—at least for now.
But strength was relative.
The pride of a God of War, the responsibility of a Geo Archon—these were not so easily set aside.
By sheer combat ability alone, the two sea-dwelling demon gods he had seen earlier could easily outmatch him.
So why had Jiang Yan chosen him?
Talent?
Others had talent too—Keqing's Sword Body, Shenhe's Innate Yin Body.
Neither should be inferior to a Heaven-grade spiritual root.
And what worried Zhongli most—what weighed on him more than anything—was the inborn sense of responsibility that came with being the Geo Archon.
In truth, Mount Shu's ideals aligned perfectly with his own.
If it were just a matter of becoming an ordinary disciple, he would gladly accept.
Teaching the world, slaying demons, upholding justice—these were things he valued.
But becoming acting Peak Master of Longshou Peak?
That, he truly did not feel worthy of.
Mount Shu would one day reopen its gates and recruit more disciples.
And then what?
As acting Peak Master of Longshou Peak, would he have to take in students of his own?
But what would he teach them?
Even his own cultivation would have to rely on Jiang Yan's guidance.
What would he do—sit together with his disciples and jointly figure out how to cultivate?
Just as he was preparing to refuse again, Jiang Yan's voice cut into his thoughts.
"Are you worried," Jiang Yan asked mildly, "that because you aren't yet versed in cultivation, you won't be able to teach the disciples of Longshou Peak?"
Zhongli gave a rueful smile and nodded.
"Indeed. My sense of duty will not allow me to mislead others' students. If it were only to serve as an ordinary disciple, I would have no objection."
Jiang Yan chuckled.
"You're overthinking this. Making you acting Peak Master isn't about having you personally instruct the disciples."
He straightened slightly, his expression turning solemn.
"In Mount Shu, most who enter the gates do not become the disciple of a single master. They are simply disciples of the sect, managed collectively by Mount Shu."
"Only those few whom an elder personally favors—true prodigies—become direct disciples, the ones we carefully cultivate."
"Right now, there are no elders. I have no plans to take personal disciples either."
"So when most people join, they are simply disciples of Mount Shu, not of any one person. Understand?"
"And if you wish to take disciples of your own in the future, you must at least reach the Nascent Soul Realm and become an elder of Mount Shu before you qualify."
At this, Zhongli and the others understood.
In other words—most disciples were simply members of the sect, not tied to any one master.
It was like a great trading guild: there might be many workers, but only a handful would be trained as heirs to leadership.
Those heirs—the "direct disciples"—were the ones personally groomed.
"I'm naming you acting Peak Master of Longshou Peak because that peak oversees the sect's laws and punishments. It needs someone with sufficient strength to manage the disciples."
"Your power meets the standard. When you reach the Nascent Soul Realm, you can officially assume the position."
"You won't have to teach or recruit disciples for now—you will simply hold the authority of the Hall of Discipline and Longshou Peak, managing sect justice."
"As for this so-called 'taking you as a disciple in Elder Mo Yixi's stead,' it's just a matter of keeping the Longshou Peak lineage intact."
"If, later, you gain deeper understanding of cultivation and see a promising seedling, and you've advanced far enough, you may take disciples then."
"The same goes for all of you here—you are joining Mount Shu, but you are not taking me as your personal master. Given your talents, I can vouch for you in place of the absent elders, but I myself only cultivate the Sect Master's Art—something no ordinary peak can pass on."
"So for now, you enter under my authority only as part of the Seven Peaks' intake."
Jiang Yan's words eased the group's minds.
Zhongli, in particular, no longer resisted the idea of being acting Peak Master.
Without the burden of personally instructing disciples, the role became far more acceptable.
Still…
"If we don't formally take a master," Ningguang finally voiced the question everyone had been thinking, "then who will guide us in our cultivation?"
Jiang Yan gave a small sigh.
"In Mount Shu, a master leads the disciple to the door; cultivation is up to the individual. Once the sect's methods are passed down, disciples may choose techniques from the Scripture Pavilion according to their contribution points."
"Ordinarily, the Transmission Hall elders would also hold classes every half-month. But right now, the Contribution Hall is closed, the Transmission Hall is not yet built—so for now, I'll be your instructor."
"Don't worry about techniques. While I can't yet access each peak's core arts and the Scripture Pavilion isn't open, I still have Mount Shu's sect-wide methods—high-grade techniques more than sufficient for you to ascend to immortality."
That reassured them.
Though the sect's revival depended entirely on Jiang Yan at present, he was the Sect Master's true successor, a late-stage Nascent Soul cultivator well-versed in numerous auxiliary arts.
He could more than handle their instruction.
Besides, not having to call him "Master" made things less awkward.
"So… we won't be calling you 'Master' then?"
Ganyu's train of thought had clearly gone a bit off-track, and she even looked slightly disappointed.
Jiang Yan smiled.
"I have no plans to take disciples yet. And honestly, taking you as apprentices would feel a little strange—I'm not that much older than you.
But by sect rules, within Mount Shu, disciples should address me as 'Sect Master.'"
The group nodded in understanding.
It was, after all, no different from calling Zhongli "Rex Lapis" or referring to the adepti as "True Lords"—a title of office.
"Then, Morax—do you now agree to join Mount Shu, take the post of acting Peak Master of Longshou Peak, and oversee the Hall of Discipline?"
With everything explained, Zhongli had no reason to refuse.
"I am willing," he said firmly.
The moment he spoke, the long-silent system stirred back to life.
At Jiang Yan's mental command, a translucent screen appeared before him, visible only to his eyes.
"At the very peak, a step forward."
"The cultivation sect you have founded—Mount Shu—has now established its foundation, brimming with new vitality."
"Issuing rewards according to sect development focus…"
– Sect-wide Technique:Zhou Tian Circulation Method
– Sect Building: Scripture Pavilion (Contains techniques below Nascent Soul Realm)
– One Spiritual Vein, 1,000 mu of Spiritual Farmland
– Nine Nether Secret Realm (Open to those below Spirit Transformation Realm)
– Personal Reward:Eight Great Divine Mantras, General Outline of the Mount Shu Sword Canon
As Jiang Yan took in the rewards, a light brighter than ever before shone in his eyes.
From this moment on—Mount Shu's voyage truly began.
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