"Such a cultivation method… truly formidable. In the end, it can even evolve into a top-grade Earth-tier art."
Zhongli glanced at Ningguang with a hint of emotion in his voice.
"I fear that within the entire first floor of the Scripture Pavilion, it would rank among the very best."
At these words, Ningguang swept her gaze over the endless array of techniques in the distance. After a moment's silence, she shook her head helplessly.
"With so many arts here, it may not be the absolute best… but it is, without question, the one most suited to me."
Zhongli did not argue, but Cloud Retainer and the others at the side grew anxious.
Seeing that Keqing and Ningguang had already obtained techniques that perfectly matched them, while they themselves had yet to receive even a single jade slip that stirred their hearts, their patience began to fray.
Cloud Retainer couldn't help but grumble:
"This so-called fate is far too elusive."
"Elusive?"
Zhongli's lips twitched, and he turned his gaze toward Ganyu.
"It seems… this so-called fate is nothing but luck."
The moment everyone looked over, they nearly cracked.
Around Ganyu floated no fewer than a hundred jade slips, each happily circling her. Whenever she reached out to take one, another would elbow its way in, pushing the first aside—each vying for her to choose it.
The sight stabbed at Cloud Retainer's heart.
Looking at Ganyu's scene—like the heavens themselves favored her—then back at herself, where the occasional jade slip would deliberately swerve away to avoid her, Cloud Retainer stood in silence for a moment. Then she yanked Mountain Shaper by the arm.
"Come, Madame Ping! Ganyu has already claimed this spot. Let's go find our fated arts elsewhere!"
The other adepti understood at once. One after another, they excused themselves to Zhongli and hurried away.
Whether Ganyu's overwhelming luck was hindering their own fate, they didn't know.
But one thing was certain—it was crushing their morale.
In the blink of an eye, the place felt empty.
Zhongli glanced at Xiao.
"You should go search for your own art as well. No need to follow me—I'm heading to the second floor to seek a Essence Refinement into Qi method."
Xiao pressed his lips together, but knowing he couldn't continue tagging along, he simply nodded and left.
Zhongli watched the others go, then followed the pull of some unseen instinct, lifting his head toward the sky.
Mysteriously, a beam of white light appeared out of nowhere, enveloped him, and in the next instant, he was gone from the first floor.
Ningguang, Keqing, and Shenhe—whom Cloud Retainer had left behind—turned their attention back to Ganyu, still surrounded by a hundred jade slips.
The two didn't feel much envy. After all, the arts they had obtained were already powerful and had strong potential for growth.
Only Shenhe remained expressionless, casually surveying the surrounding jade slips without bothering to pick any up. Yet the glimmer in her eyes betrayed that her emotions had warmed somewhat since beginning cultivation.
Still, Ganyu's situation was the real spectacle.
Jade slips circled her like stars, making her eyes spin with indecision.
After who knew how long, Ganyu began to feel irritated.
So many slips hovered nearby, and she trusted the gentleman's words—if fate was real, then she might as well close her eyes, follow her heart, and grab one at random.
The moment her hand closed on an unassuming jade slip, the rest scattered instantly, resuming their aimless flight across the skies.
Ganyu stared blankly at the slip in her palm. Then, a stream of information flooded into her mind:
"Yellow-tier, lower-grade Archery Art: Great Sun Archery."
"In ages past, ten suns blazed in the sky, and all beings suffered in agony. Later, the Human Ancestor Hou Yi drew his bow—nurtured for a thousand years—and loosed nine arrows across the heavens, saving all beings from the flames."
"Later generations imitated Hou Yi's archery to create the Great Sun Archery."
"The divine bow has a spirit; may it guard the eight directions. Draw the string to shoot the sun; feathered shafts reap the soul."
"This is a forbidden art. As the cultivator deepens their comprehension, it will evolve and ascend in rank."
"Records state the highest known evolution reached the mid-grade Heaven-tier."
Ganyu's mind went numb.
Hou Yi shooting the suns? What realm of cultivator could that have been?
And though the Great Sun Archery was but a reproduction by later generations, it could evolve—up to a mid-grade Heaven-tier technique?
She couldn't even fathom what a Heaven-tier art was like. Could it really shoot through all of Teyvat with a single arrow? That was the upper limit of her imagination.
"Ganyu, what is it?"
Keqing asked softly, seeing her expression.
"Yellow-tier, lower-grade… Great Sun Archery."
"Yellow-tier, lower-grade?"
Ningguang frowned slightly.
"Perhaps you should switch. You haven't left the Scripture Pavilion yet—you can still exchange it freely."
"No!"
Ganyu clutched the slip to her chest, her voice firm, her excitement barely contained.
"This art… was modeled after the Human Ancestor Hou Yi's nine arrows that shot down the suns."
"Shot down the suns?"
Ningguang was stunned.
"So the cultivation world once had nine suns?"
"Ten. But that Human Ancestor shot down nine."
Ganyu clenched her little fists.
"By rights, this shouldn't be ranked as a Yellow-tier, lower-grade art at all."
Keqing scratched her cheek in puzzlement, then suddenly blinked.
"Could it be… like Ningguang's art?"
Ganyu nodded, then shook her head.
"According to the description, it can be refined and strengthened along with the cultivator's growth. The highest… someone once reached mid-grade Heaven-tier."
Heaven-tier!
Ningguang suddenly found her treasured Tongtian Scroll far less appealing.
Heaven-tier techniques were the realm of Nascent Soul merging with the Dao. And Ganyu now held the seed of one?
Sure enough—in the cultivation world, luck was everything.
"I'm not sure how to evolve it, though."
Ganyu sighed with mock regret, though her heart was brimming with joy.
Not knowing meant she had the perfect excuse to go ask Jiang Yan. A chance for some time alone was now secured.
"Congratulations, Ganyu. Such a precious art—on the first floor, this might truly be the greatest treasure."
Ningguang's blessing was sincere. No matter what, Ganyu's growth was good for Liyue.
With the three of them now having their arts, Ningguang was about to urge Shenhe to seek hers—when Shenhe suddenly reached out and caught a jade slip.
"Yellow-tier, top-grade: Divine Ghost Seven-Slaying Order."
"A great forbidden art, sealed by the heavens for revealing fate's secrets."
"When the Divine Ghost Seven-Slaying Order is issued, gods and spirits alike tremble."
"When all seven orders are mastered and united as one, it equals a top-grade Earth-tier killing art."
"Beware: the cultivator must possess a benevolent heart. One of ill nature will become a calamity to the cultivation world."
Shenhe's lips curved faintly. She ignored the last warning, her eyes fixed on the description.
Seven orders combined into one, rivaling a top-grade Earth-tier killing art—her fortune was good indeed.
Looking up to see the others staring curiously, Shenhe—now far less cold than before—spoke plainly:
"Divine Ghost Seven-Slaying Order. Yellow-tier, top-grade. Seven united as one, equals a top-grade Earth-tier killing art."
Keqing suddenly felt her Heaven's Gang Sword Artlose its shine.
Ningguang's art could combine into an Earth-tier technique. Shenhe's could become an Earth-tier top-grade killing art. And Ganyu's could grow into mid-grade Heaven-tier—possibly beyond.
And hers…
Still, Keqing didn't discard the Heaven's Gang Sword.
In cultivation, fate was set from the start.
If the Heaven's Gang Sword Arthad chosen her, then she would choose it in return.
Even if not, she still had the rankless Mount Shu Sword-Manipulation Art—a true immortal art. With her sword physique, she could surely walk far down that path.
Though the four had their arts, they did not immediately leave.
A visit to the Scripture Pavilion was rare—they might as well browse, broaden their horizons, and see more techniques.
They quickly learned that their own arts were rare exceptions. Most were Yellow-tier, lower or mid-grade—names like Mystic Nether Palm, Heaven-Opening Seal, Extinction Finger—grand names, but nowhere near their level.
Ningguang abandoned the thought of finding all Eight Wondrous Arts.
Still, the harvest was rich.
Aside from offensive arts, they saw many wondrous spells—curses, escape techniques, transformation arts…
It was a true eye-opener.
Meanwhile, Cloud Retainer and the others had also found suitable techniques. She and Mountain Shaper each acquired Yin-Yang Five Thunders—Yin Lightning for Cloud Retainer, Yang Lightning for Mountain Shaper. Alone, they were Yellow-tier top-grade; combined, they equaled a low-grade Profound-tier art. They were satisfied.
Mountain Shaper obtained the Yellow-tier top-grade Pill Cauldron Formula—not much for offense, but perfectly matched to his natural wood attribute and ideal for alchemy.
Moon Carver found the Yellow-tier top-grade Heavenly Star Art, wielding a formation disk to call down starlight upon foes—perfect for his craft.
Other adepti had decent gains, though none could match Ganyu's group.
As for Xiao—perhaps fate favored him—he discovered the Yellow-tier top-grade Flying Cloud Tyrant Spear, a battle-nurturing art whose power grew with his fighting spirit, at its peak reaching Profound-tier top-grade. The joy on his face said it all.
Even after obtaining their arts, none left the Scripture Pavilion.
Instead, they wandered and studied—once-a-week access was not to be wasted.
Meanwhile, Zhongli had already reached the second floor.
He had guessed it would be smaller than the first, and he was partly right.
It was smaller—but only by the size of Mondstadt.
Everywhere he looked, jade slips filled the air.
Without relying on fate, finding one art here could take an eternity.
The second floor felt empty, save for the fluttering slips—lonely, even.
But Zhongli paid it no mind, strolling at leisure.
Slip after slip brushed past him, yet none called to him.
What he sought was an attack art pushed to the absolute extreme.
Once, he had not cared—his own immortal arts were already many. But after facing the Lightning Tribulation, he understood that cultivation methods differed from his original techniques.
Fixated on finding the ultimate killing art, he wandered who knows how long before his instincts flared.
Abruptly, he turned, eyes locking onto a single jade slip perched at the very top of a bookshelf.
"This is the one!"
Feeling the pounding in his heart, Zhongli's face broke into a rare smile.
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