Alice's move completely caught Venti and Lisa off guard.
She made a gesture, while they were left awkward and speechless.
Fortunately, Alice seemed to notice their discomfort and simply said with a smile:
"Let's just treat this as the apprenticeship gift from me, Lisa, and Klee!"
"???"
Lisa finally breathed a sigh of relief, glancing gratefully at Alice. Venti, on the other hand, was dumbfounded.
He stared at Alice in disbelief, as if asking—What about all those years of friendship?!
Alice pouted and teased:
"You bring your own gift! You've wandered across Teyvat for so many years—don't tell me you don't have good stuff?"
Venti rolled his eyes.
"All my things are Teyvat-made trinkets. I doubt Sect Master Jiang would fancy them. And besides—don't you know who I am?"
"I've already traded away plenty of them just for wine!"
As the two bantered, Jiang Yan chuckled and waved his hand.
"It doesn't matter. Mount Shu does not place importance on apprenticeship gifts. What matters is sincerity."
"Besides, from my perspective, each of you is exceptionally talented. Mount Shu will never turn away such prodigies."
"As for these gifts…"
Alice giggled.
"No worries. They're apprenticeship gifts, Sect Master Jiang. Don't refuse them. Since Mount Shu has just been founded, some things from outside Teyvat should come in handy, right?"
Jiang Yan thought for a moment, then nodded slightly.
"Very well. Indeed, many of these are rare and valuable. I'll put them into Mount Shu's sect treasury."
"Quite a few are potent medicinal herbs, while others are minerals suitable for refining magical artifacts and spirit tools."
"Once Liuyun forges a pill furnace and Mountain Shaper cultivates spiritual herbs, these materials can serve as the foundation for alchemy."
"However, the quantity is too vast. Gathering them must not have been easy for you. So, part of them will be converted into contribution points, for you to exchange for sect resources later."
Hearing this, Alice's eyes lit up. Naturally, she didn't refuse.
She had read countless cultivation novels and understood just how crucial resources were in the cultivation world—spirit stones, elixirs, treasures…
And in a sect, all of these were tied to contribution points.
For Klee's future, Alice had to gather as many contribution points and resources as possible.
Meanwhile, Venti racked his brain over what he could possibly offer.
No matter how he thought, he doubted Jiang Yan would value anything he had.
Until suddenly, inspiration struck. He casually drew out a sliver of flowing wind and said:
"Sect Master Jiang, I don't have much to offer. But this is a strand of my essence—stained with a trace of the power of time."
"You might find it interesting."
Hearing this, Jiang Yan's eyes instantly lit up.
He had originally planned to wait until Venti formally joined before bringing up this subject.
But since Venti himself offered it now—so much the better.
The power of time, even from a small world, was exceedingly rare.
With the Huangting Yujing Sutra as a foundation, what if he could glean insights into a higher realm of power?
This was of immense value to him.
Without pretense, Jiang Yan extended his hand, and the wisp of flowing wind landed in his palm.
The faint current of time streamed between his fingers. Jiang Yan nodded slightly.
"This, indeed, interests me. In that case, I shall accept it without hesitation."
Venti shrugged.
"As long as Sect Master Jiang finds it useful."
After this Mount Shu experience, Venti had seen enough.
With an immortal cultivation system present, the so-called "fated cycle of reincarnation" was nothing but a joke.
All of Teyvat combined couldn't compare to Jiang Yan alone. In that case—what was there to hesitate over?
Cling to this thigh! Forget reincarnation nonsense.
Just cultivate!
Whatever storms may come to Teyvat, Jiang Yan loomed above them all.
As long as Mount Shu stood, Teyvat would never fall into chaos.
Venti could then leisurely cultivate—and slack off in peace. What a deal!
Don't be fooled by his carefree smile—he couldn't have survived this long without being shrewd.
"Since everyone has decided to join Mount Shu, there's no need for me to say more. Zhongli, go ahead and explain the sect's rules to our new disciples."
"After that, we'll test their spiritual roots and induct them formally."
Zhongli nodded.
"Yes, Sect Master."
He then began explaining Mount Shu's traditions just as he had before.
Jiang Yan, however, no longer paid attention.
The sliver of essence infused with time was not something he could unravel quickly.
It would require deep analysis and refinement.
The power of time demanded the utmost caution.
He put it away for now and turned his attention to the vast trove Alice had contributed.
Truly worthy of her decades of collection.
Even her equipment alone was extraordinary—none inferior to magic artifacts.
There was even a bracelet on par with a low-grade spiritual tool, only lacking spiritual refinement.
Such treasures could be stored in the sect's treasury, ready for disciples to exchange with contribution points later.
As for the herbs—many were remarkably potent. He had no idea where Alice found them.
Planted in spiritual fields, they would surely yield astonishing harvests.
He set them aside for Mountain Shaper to cultivate later.
The minerals, though different from those of the cultivation world, had similar properties.
Spatial gear, defensive tools—plenty could be forged from these.
Jiang Yan's divine sense roamed the pile, marking each valuable item.
Thanks to Alice, Mount Shu's resource vault had swelled considerably.
Only after finishing the inventory did Jiang Yan send them into the sect treasury.
By then, Zhongli had finished explaining the rules.
Jiang Yan turned his gaze back to the newcomers.
He could see their shock.
Even Alice, who had read countless cultivation novels, felt real cultivation far surpassed her imagination.
"It seems you've gained some understanding of cultivation. In that case, let us not waste time."
"Test your spiritual roots—and step into the world of cultivation."
With a wave of his hand, a mysterious array appeared.
It was Jiang Yan's own creation, meant for large-scale recruitment in the future.
But it would do just fine now.
"Please, step inside."
The group exchanged glances and entered.
Immediately, beams of dazzling light shot up above Venti and Alice.
Jiang Yan wasn't surprised. Turning to Zhongli, he quipped:
"I told you—Teyvat is full of prodigies. Another two heaven-grade spiritual roots."
Zhongli chuckled softly. Such results hardly surprised him.
One was the spirit of a thousand winds, the other a mysterious elf.
Heaven-grade roots suited them perfectly.
"Venti—Wind-type Heaven Spiritual Root."
"Alice—Fire-type Heaven Spiritual Root."
"Congratulations to you both."
Delighted, Venti and Alice exchanged smiles.
They had just learned from Zhongli how precious spiritual roots were.
Heaven roots—truly peerless talent.
Cultivation with such gifts meant progress would soar.
Just look at Zhongli—barely begun, yet already mastering sword flight and sacred spells.
"Lisa—Top-grade Lightning Spiritual Root."
Jiang Yan glanced at her. She looked a little disappointed.
She hadn't expected to compare with the others, but still…
Yet even a top-grade root was considered a genius's gift. She was satisfied.
Seeing her faint disappointment, Jiang Yan reassured her:
"Lisa, do not be disheartened. In the cultivation world, a top-grade single root is extremely rare."
"Most inner disciples of Mount Shu do not have such talent."
"Moreover, if I'm not mistaken—you possess an unawakened special physique."
"I cannot yet tell what it is, but any special physique marks you as a prodigy."
"In time, you may awaken it through fortune and opportunity."
Lisa immediately brightened, bowing with a smile.
"Thank you, Sect Master, for your kind words."
Jiang Yan's gaze then fell on Klee, holding Alice's hand and staring curiously.
This one—was the real surprise.
"Klee… Fire Spirit Physique."
"Congratulations, Alice. Klee's talent is the strongest of all Mount Shu disciples."
Zhongli's eyes flickered with curiosity.
"The Fire Spirit Physique—how does it compare to the Sword Body and Lunar Yin Physique?"
Alice looked on anxiously. This concerned Klee's future.
But Jiang Yan's first words left her a little crestfallen.
"The Fire Spirit Physique is a fundamental fire-type constitution."
Alice stroked Klee's hair and forced a smile.
"A basic physique, huh? That's fine. As long as Klee has talent. Even if she didn't, I'd still love her. I'll always protect her."
What mother wouldn't wish for her child to be extraordinary?
But she would never burden Klee with that pressure.
Even if she had no physique, Alice would still see her daughter as wonderful.
And the Fire Spirit Physique—even "basic"—was leagues beyond ordinary folk.
Her precious daughter was still a genius!
She kissed Klee happily.
But Jiang Yan shook his head gently.
"I said Klee's talent is the finest among all Mount Shu disciples—and that was no empty comfort."
"Yes, compared to the Sword Body or Lunar Yin Physique, her current constitution is weaker. But the Fire Spirit Physique is only a foundation."
"In the cultivation world, whenever one appears, sects fight fiercely over them. Once grown, they are hailed as peerless prodigies."
"They rank at the very top of the Heaven's Chosen list—monsters unseen in ten thousand years."
"Every word I say is true."
He wasn't exaggerating.
He had glimpsed in the jade slip records—a Fire Spirit Physique genius had once ranked top ten on the Heaven's Chosen list.
Top ten, across the vast cultivation world!
Even Mount Shu had once produced such a prodigy…
"Sect Master, are you just teasing us?"
Alice gave him a reproachful look. Jiang Yan only chuckled and glanced at Zhongli.
"Zhongli, you've been on Longshou Peak for two days. You must have seen the records about Patriarch Xuanxi."
Zhongli nodded gravely.
"Patriarch Xuanxi was my master's grandmaster, once head of the Hall of Discipline."
"She was called the number one female cultivator of all ages—ascending within a thousand years, even attaining Celestial Immortality."
Jiang Yan smiled knowingly.
"And do you recall her constitution?"
Zhongli replied without hesitation.
"Patriarch Xuanxi possessed the rare Crimson Emperor's Heaven-Burning Body."
The words fell—and Zhongli turned toward Klee in disbelief.
"The Fire Spirit Physique… can evolve into the Crimson Emperor's Heaven-Burning Body?!"
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