Landing with the group on the white jade plaza of Tongtian Peak, Jiang Yan instinctively circulated the Huangting Jade View Classic.
Instantly, he felt his true essence flowing faster, and his cultivation speed noticeably increasing.
Inwardly, he marveled — as expected of a spiritual vein.
Seeing the others looking a little puzzled, Jiang Yan explained:
"Don't overthink it. This is a gift from our ancestors. Without it, I alone could never have rebuilt Mount Shu."
Zhongli and the rest suddenly understood.
"The disciple initiation ceremony is over. It's time to pass on the methods of immortal cultivation.
Disciples, follow me into the sect's main hall."
Jiang Yan led the way back toward the sect hall.
Ningguang gave one last instruction to the Millelith soldiers — telling them not to wander around — before following Jiang Yan with the others.
The Millelith gazed after them enviously, somehow feeling that from this day forth, there would be a true gulf — the gulf between mortals and immortals.
And in truth, their thoughts were not wrong.
Many years later, when Mount Shu's name shook the heavens, and Ningguang transformed Liyue Harbor into the Immortal Nation of Liyue…
By then, Ningguang had already become the Jade Immortal famed across the worlds.
But that was all in the far future.
As of now, Ningguang had not even set foot upon the path of cultivation.
Even with the Jade Chamber's blessings, her strength was only at the early stage of Essence Refinement into Qi.
Back inside the sect hall, the attitude they'd brought when they first came as guests was gone — replaced with the feeling of returning home.
The atmosphere was less formal, a bit more casual.
Jiang Yan didn't mind in the least — in fact, he was quite pleased.
Cultivation, after all, was meant to follow one's heart.
Otherwise, what kind of "Dao" was it?
Once they'd all taken their seats again, Jiang Yan smiled:
"Although we still lack things like pill refining and artifact forging, we now have the Scripture Pavilion.
This means you can officially set foot on the path of cultivation."
Zhongli thought for a moment, then asked softly:
"The Scripture Pavilion… would that be the building that just appeared on Tongtian Peak?"
Jiang Yan nodded.
"The Scripture Pavilion is Mount Shu's single most important core building — bar none.
It contains an immeasurable wealth of cultivation knowledge. While it may not hold every secret art under the heavens, the number is beyond counting.
"It has five floors in total.
For now, the ancestors' gift has only opened the first two.
The first floor holds Essence Refinement into Qi techniques.
The second holds Essence Refinement into Qi techniques.
Above that are Spirit-Refining and Returning to the Void and Merging with the Dao — but these remain locked.
Even if they were open, you wouldn't yet be able to practice them, so there's no need to think about it."
Keqing's eyes lit up with curiosity.
"Then… what's on the very top floor?"
"The very top?"
Jiang Yan smiled mysteriously, shaking his head.
"That's for immortals only — the scriptures of the Immortal Realm."
Everyone silently clicked their tongues in awe, but wisely refrained from indulging in empty fantasies.
"The Scripture Pavilion holds all kinds of arts.
You can go in and see for yourself what you wish to cultivate.
But remember — you may only enter the Pavilion once per week, and each time you may only bring out a single manual.
Don't waste the opportunity — choose the one most suited to you."
Ningguang calculated in her mind, then couldn't help but sigh:
"Master… once per week, and only one manual… isn't that a bit…"
"A bit few?"
Jiang Yan chuckled.
"It's already generous.
In the old days, Mount Shu only allowed disciples in once per year, unless they made great contributions or exchanged contribution points for entry.
Even elders weren't exempt.
"Every cultivation manual is an unparalleled treasure.
They can't be mastered in a short time.
Taking too many at once only leads to shallow skill.
Mount Shu has always guarded against disciples seeking quantity over quality — hence the limits."
Ningguang conceded the point.
Greed rarely led to mastery — a principle she understood well.
Still… it was a little frustrating.
"Ningguang, are you perhaps thinking of the martial arts practiced by mortals?"
Jiang Yan suddenly asked.
Ningguang wasn't surprised he saw through her and nodded.
"If so, you can consult with Seat Holder Morax."
Zhongli blinked, surprised.
"Me? But my martial path isn't something mortals can cultivate — at minimum it requires elemental power."
"No," Jiang Yan shook his head.
"I mean, once you've embarked on the path of cultivation, your realm will make it easy to create martial arts manuals yourself.
Spend a secluded retreat to devise a few, and they'll be more than enough for all of Liyue to use."
Ningguang and Keqing's eyes lit up in delight, turning expectantly toward Zhongli.
He gave a wry smile.
"Since the Master places such hopes upon me, I shall take on the task.
A stronger Liyue is my dream as well."
"Besides the Scripture Pavilion, there's also the spirit fields on Great Bamboo Peak.
Mountain Shaper, make sure you remember this."
Spirit fields?
Another unfamiliar term.
"What exactly are spirit fields?" Mountain Shaper asked curiously.
Jiang Yan smiled:
"In the cultivation world, many spiritual herbs have extremely demanding growth conditions.
The most important factor is spirit fields.
"They can speed the growth of spirit herbs, and even enhance their medicinal potency.
Most of the spiritual grasses needed for pills — from Blood凝丹 that mends flesh and bone to Spirit Gathering Pills that boost a cultivator's true essence — must be grown in spirit fields.
"And not only spirit herbs — ordinary plants can be transformed there.
In the old days, a Mount Shu senior planted an ordinary ginseng root in a spirit field.
In less than a month, it became a Blood Ginseng — the main ingredient for Five-Element Qi Transformation Powder.
"Mountain Shaper, since you love plants, you can experiment with many herbs from Teyvat there.
If you find valuable results, pill refinement will be much easier in the future.
"The spirit fields cover a thousand mu.
Guard them well — don't let them be trampled.
When herbs mature, their fragrance can attract demon beasts.
That's not an issue now, but later, you'll have to watch for theft."
Hearing the fields' effects, Mountain Shaper was overjoyed.
He had always loved planting cor lapis and tending flowers — now, with spirit fields… his potential was far greater!
He immediately vowed:
"Rest assured, Master — this disciple will guard the spirit fields well, cultivate them fully, and research spirit herbs!"
Ningguang thought for a moment:
"Since they can enhance ordinary herbs, perhaps Liyue Harbor could collect and send some here?"
Jiang Yan nodded slightly.
"Handle it as you see fit."
Then he turned to Zhongli.
"Next is the secret realm of Longshou Peak."
Zhongli instantly grew alert — that dangerous-looking thing on his peak still concerned him.
"It's not a dangerous place. On the contrary, it's a treasure ground for Mount Shu disciples to train.
"The secret realm is filled with natural treasures, spirit beasts, and magical artifacts.
Entering it offers both experience and the chance to bring back treasures.
If the item benefits the sect, you'll be rewarded with contribution points."
Jiang Yan's eyes glimmered as he glanced at the system's introduction of the Nine Nether Secret Realm.
"The one on Longshou Peak is the Nine Nether Secret Realm — formed when Senior Uncle Wine Sword Immortal suppressed a small demon world.
Inside are many demon and spirit beasts, as well as rare herbs.
With luck, you might even find a spirit artifact.
It's worth exploring."
Xiao's eyes brightened — he was eager to go.
Since his karmic debt had been cleared, his battle spirit seemed stronger than ever — fitting for a warlike yaksha.
"But, a word of caution."
Jiang Yan's tone turned serious:
"This is a secret realm below the Returning to the Void stage — meaning there are great demons that can threaten cultivators at the peak of Essence Refinement into Qi.
"When you enter, the power left by Mount Shu's elders will grant you one protective ward — it will nullify a single fatal blow, then transport you to the entrance.
At that point, you must withdraw immediately.
"If you die again inside… it will be for real.
"The strongest beings there are several peak Essence Refinement into Qi great demons.
You've just begun cultivating, without proper attack arts or artifacts — I don't recommend going now.
Even Zhongli would be felled within a few moves.
"Remember — better safe than sorry.
The Nine Nether Secret Realm can only be entered once a week.
What you bring out is up to your own fortune.
But above all — be careful!"
Everyone nodded thoughtfully.
Zhongli, however, was tempted to take a look — danger or not, as the peak's seat holder, he felt a duty to inspect it.
And if he was careful, perhaps he wouldn't even encounter the truly dangerous ones.
Without trying, how could he hope to find the best treasures?
"Lastly, about the jade seal I placed before — that is Mount Shu's spiritual vein, albeit a small one."
Jiang Yan paused before continuing:
"Spiritual veins determine Mount Shu's prosperity, and also affect your cultivation.
Pay close attention to this."
Everyone immediately focused.
"In the cultivation world, the common currency isn't gold or jade — cultivators have no use for such mundane things.
The true currency is spirit stones."
Spirit stones?
Everyone committed the term to memory.
"Spirit stones are both a cultivator's wealth and an essential resource for cultivation.
They are born within spiritual veins — so whether a sect has spiritual veins is the key to its survival.
"Whether you can defend your veins — and how many you possess — determines a sect's strength.
The discovery of a new vein inevitably leads to bloody slaughter.
"As they say in the cultivation world:
'A spiritual vein belongs to the virtuous.'
But in truth, 'the virtuous' are simply the victors dressing up their slaughter with fine words.
"Spiritual veins naturally generate spiritual energy, making the surrounding aura richer.
More importantly, they produce spirit stones."
Zhongli's brows furrowed, a trace of melancholy in his voice:
"So… even the lofty cultivators of the immortal path would kill for wealth?"
"Of course.
You may find it hard to grasp now, but once you understand the importance of spirit stones, you'll see why."
Jiang Yan smiled faintly:
"Spirit stones are treasures of endless utility.
Absorbing their energy accelerates cultivation — that alone is enough reason to fight over them.
"Their spiritual energy is mild and stable, making them perfect as the foundation of formations — a formation powered by spirit stones is far stronger.
"They can be used to forge artifacts, enhancing their spirituality.
For example, Keqing's Azure Frost Sword — if forged with spirit stones, it could easily become a top-grade magic weapon.
"Even after the energy is drained, the empty husk remains valuable as a refining material.
"Many sect warships are powered by spirit stones.
In Mount Shu's past, our warship's 'Aurora Cannon' consumed over a thousand supreme-grade spirit stones with each shot — but a single blast could erase a small world.
Even cultivators at the Returning to the Void stage had to be wary.
"Now… do you understand the importance of spirit stones?"
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