In the end, regarding the decision that Mountain Shaper should become a heartless alchemy machine, everyone raised both hands in favor—everyone except Mountain Shaper himself.
Majority rules. Mountain Shaper had no power to resist.
Once that "joyful" decision was set, the group had little left to chat about.
Cultivators might have plenty of time, but most of it still had to be spent on training.
And after witnessing Mountain Shaper's miserable fate, Liuyun and the others—who had been taught by Jiang Yan in weapon forging, formations, beast-taming and so on—felt a lingering chill.
They had flipped through their own True Explanations earlier and realized—
It wasn't that their side-arts were inferior to alchemy. Otherwise, they wouldn't all be considered one of Mount Shu's Four Auxiliary Paths.
In the Artifact Refining Formula, there weren't just methods for crafting proper artifacts and spirit tools.
There were also methods to house one's soul within a weapon, granting it consciousness—
Thus ensuring even if the body perished, the soul endured.
One could even forge growth-type treasures perfectly attuned to the wielder.
Or craft storage rings usable even by mortals—turning them into weapons as powerful as a top-tier Archon's armament.
If Ningguang and the others discovered this, Liuyun feared she would end up just like Mountain Shaper, worked to the bone to mass-produce these things for the Millelith.
Off to the side, Moon Carver also felt guilty.
In the Formation Crafting Formula, he had discovered personal formation methods—
Like the Twenty-Four Thunderclap Sword Array.
Even large-scale defensive formations that could shield entire cities, counterattack formations, spirit-gathering arrays…
Trapping arrays, killing arrays…
Formations that allowed armies to unleash power rivaling a top-tier Archon's familiar.
Such things could shift the fate of a nation.
If Ningguang got wind of this, he too might be forced into becoming a tireless formation-machine alongside Mountain Shaper.
Baisheng, meanwhile, quietly crept toward the edge of Tongtian Peak.
Beast-taming was even more suitable for large-scale military use.
And it showed results the fastest, directly boosting national strength.
But luckily, Ningguang and Keqing—having just stepped into cultivation—didn't yet understand the depths of these arts.
Otherwise, even if they fled back to their peaks, those two would surely visit each mountain one by one.
"Ganyu, Shenhe—you still don't have artifacts, right? Since Master said he's placed new treasures in the Sword Forest, shall we go take a look together?"
Watching Keqing depart, Ningguang turned to Ganyu and Shenhe.
Keqing already had her Azure Frost Sword, so she wasn't as enthusiastic about artifacts.
With alchemy stalled for now, she could only return to practice her sword control.
Keqing's talent with the sword was extraordinary. Once she grasped the basics of sword-riding, her progress surged, and she was now closing in on Zhongli's level.
Naturally, she wanted to seize the chance to train diligently.
Ganyu and Shenhe were tempted by Ningguang's suggestion.
They nodded and, with still-clumsy sword-riding, flew down the mountain.
Inside the Sect Hall, Jiang Yan sensed their departing figures with his divine sense and nodded in approval.
Their trip to the Sword Forest should yield great rewards.
Last night, he had forged treasures tailored to their strengths—the highest even reaching the level of top-grade artifacts.
With only a handful of disciples, each a genius, Jiang Yan had the leisure to put in extra care.
The stronger and faster they advanced, the faster Mount Shu grew, and the faster rewards came down.
A virtuous cycle.
Today, after finishing his sermon, Jiang Yan once again prepared for his own cultivation.
Life as a cultivator was monotonous at its core.
All it consisted of was training and finding ways to grow stronger.
But the joy found within cultivation—that was something outsiders could never understand.
Just as he was about to begin his day's training, Jiang Yan lifted his gaze toward the distant entrance of Mount Shu's cave-heaven.
Or more precisely, through it, to the figures standing atop Jueyun Karst.
The corner of his mouth curved upward.
"Seems today, our Celestial Grotto will have a little surprise guest."
With a thought, he sent a voice transmission to Zhongli, who was flying outside searching for powerful foes to spar against.
"Chief Seat Zhongli, there is an old friend of yours at the mountain gate. You may go and receive him."
Zhongli blinked, puzzled.
He had many old friends. Who would appear at this moment in Liyue—without telling him in advance?
Then again, after the thunderous tribulation of the past few days, it was natural some people couldn't sit still.
And then—
A fiery-haired witch's figure flickered through his mind, and his face darkened.
But no—Liyue's leylines were under his authority. Alice could not rampage here unchecked.
If she came, it would only be to bring Klee obediently.
And Mondstadt was still beset by the Dvalin's Crisis. She had only just returned there—surely she wouldn't be here already.
Even if she came, the Millelith spread throughout Liyue would detect her immediately.
Running through countless possibilities, Zhongli still bowed with composure.
"As the Sect Master commands."
At his side, Xiao straightened his expression, bowing to the heavens.
To him, Zhongli was the elder he had sworn to fight for until death, like a father and teacher in one.
And Jiang Yan—the one who had saved him from karmic debt, healed Zhongli's erosion, and bestowed upon them the Dao of cultivation.
In Xiao's eyes, both were to be revered as heaven itself.
So he answered firmly.
Zhongli then turned to him and said softly:
"Xiao, Master says an old friend has come to see me. I must go greet him."
"You needn't follow. Go instead and test yourself against some demon gods or their familiars."
"Master sword-riding and the Cloud-Piercing Overlord Spear as soon as possible. Only then will you be prepared for your own tribulation."
Xiao's face was impassive, but he nodded solemnly.
"As the Chief Seat commands!"
With that, he sped off on his flying sword toward the horizon.
There, he sensed the aura of a slightly weaker demon god.
Though all demon gods were at least equivalent to Refining-Qi-to-Spirit cultivators, Xiao believed himself superior.
For he was a cultivator now, armed with arts they could never match.
Against foes who only wielded elemental power, he had a fighting chance.
But Xiao underestimated them.
These demon gods had battled in the Abyssal Seas for countless years. Weak they might be compared to cultivators, but each had deadly tricks.
And having now encountered rich spiritual qi, they were quick to experiment with absorbing it.
If beasts could grow stronger on it, why not they?
The effect was faint—but change was still change.
These demon gods… were evolving toward something else.
Demonic beasts.
Shaking his head at Xiao's stubbornness, Zhongli thought: this time, the boy will surely take a hard lesson.
Fortunately, Jiang Yan's curse ensured none of the demon gods would dare strike to kill.
So at worst, it would temper Xiao's pride.
With those thoughts, Zhongli transformed into a stream of light and flew toward the mountain gate.
At Jueyun Karst
By coincidence, it was at the site of Liuyun's own dwelling.
Venti descended lightly with Alice and the others.
Looking down, he saw nearly a thousand Millelith garrisoned there.
He scratched his head, puzzled.
This place used to forbid such large gatherings. Otherwise, the adepti would be angered.
Why were there so many now?
But seeing that the soldiers only patrolled below without disturbing the heights, Venti didn't dwell on it.
Perhaps the lightning storms of recent days had left Liyue on edge, forcing an accord with the adepti.
Especially since, according to Alice, there truly were cultivators here in Jueyun Karst.
So Liyue sending men to guard the sanctity of the place made sense.
Glancing around, Venti muttered while scratching his head:
"Eh-heh! Strange…"
"I thought the moment I stepped into Liyue, the old man would sense me and rush to grab me."
"Yet it's been unusually quiet. Could it be… the old man isn't in Liyue anymore?"
Lisa raised a brow, teasing:
"Or perhaps His Excellency the Geo Archon simply doesn't care to fuss?"
"Impossible! Absolutely impossible!"
Venti flatly denied it, eyes serious.
"Lisa, you don't understand his personality. The old man is the very embodiment of pettiness."
"Back in the day, I us— cough, slightly modified his most prized contract."
"He chased me for centuries, insisting I suffer the punishment of stone."
"So you see? All Archons are petty creatures at heart."
Perhaps because Zhongli wasn't present, Venti's tongue was unusually loose.
He strolled about Jueyun Karst without a care.
"Strange, truly strange. Not only is the old man missing, but so are Liuyun and the others. Passing Wangshu Inn earlier, I didn't see Xiao either."
"Where on earth has he taken them? Even cultivating doesn't require hiding this far. Has he abandoned Liyue altogether?"
Meanwhile, little Klee was nestled in Alice's arms, eyes shining as she watched white cranes soar past.
Every so often, she rummaged through her backpack.
It wasn't that she loved cranes—she just loved blowing them up.
"By the way, Alice—you didn't give the old man notice before coming here?"
Venti glanced at her curiously.
She yawned lazily.
"Left too hastily. Besides, I didn't expect Morax to vanish so cleanly without even leaving a word."
"Eh-heh!"
Venti blinked, grinning slyly.
"Why not use your golden-dragon hotline to contact him?"
Alice curled her lip, retorting:
"You're already in danger just standing in Liyue, and you dare call it that nickname? Aren't you afraid he'll hang you up and thrash you?"
"But the old man isn't here! With all this affection for him pent up, what else can I do but vent a little?"
Venti shrugged, coaxing:
"Go on, make the call. I promise I won't laugh— I mean, I promise I won't remember!"
Alice rolled her eyes and pulled out her charming communicator.
"Dragon-shaped Dodoco! So pretty!"
Klee's eyes lit up.
Alice smiled indulgently.
"If little Klee likes it so much, Mommy will make you a dragon-shaped Dodoco later."
Venti chimed in mischievously:
"Right, right! Modeled after a certain golden dragon, eh?"
"Wow! Klee wants one!"
Alice kissed Klee's cheek, then activated the device.
But soon her brow furrowed.
"Not in the same space? How is that possible…? Did Morax leave Teyvat entirely?"
Before anyone could answer, Zhongli's calm voice sounded.
"Not quite. He has not yet departed Teyvat."
"And furthermore…"
"So it is you—Barbatos, who once forged my handwriting to alter my contract."
"My old friend… after so many years, how have you been?"
Venti turned stiffly, meeting Zhongli's impassive gaze.
With a dry laugh, he muttered:
"Eh-heh? Should I say… good, or not so good?"
"It matters not," Zhongli said coolly.
"Whether good or bad, soon enough, it will only become worse."
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