"The Seven Peaks of Mount Shu each have their strengths, and each shoulders one of the sect's most important duties."
"Among them, Great Bamboo Peak is famed for its alchemy. It is the primary source of pills for all disciples of Mount Shu."
"You yourself are skilled in medicine, and you are also well-versed in the herbs of Teyvat. Assigning you to Great Bamboo Peak will not disgrace your talents."
Jiang Yan spoke softly, pulling Baizhu out of his excitement. After a pause, he added:
"Besides, there is something else you must pay attention to."
"Your senior brother, Lishu… though he entered the sect the earliest and is also good with medicinal herbs…"
"As for his alchemy skills…"
Jiang Yan recalled the several furnace explosions of the past few days and couldn't bring himself to say more.
"In short, there are a thousand acres of spirit fields on Great Bamboo Peak. Half of them are dedicated to cultivating Teyvat herbs."
"Ordinary herbs, once planted in spirit fields, will change in nature. You understand herbs better than most, so you must pay close attention to those fields."
"In addition, there is the matter of alchemy. Later, you can go to the Scripture Repository to choose a suitable technique."
"Once you are on the right track, you may begin refining pills—just do not neglect your own cultivation."
Baizhu nodded lightly. "This disciple will remember."
Jiang Yan then turned his gaze toward Changsheng. After thinking a moment, he spoke gently:
"Changsheng, you were once an adeptus of Liyue. Now you can only appear as a white serpent. But in essence, you are no mere spirit beast."
"For now, it would be best for you to reside on Windreturn Peak, where you can keep company with Cloud Retainer and Madame Ping. When you regain your ability to take human form, you can then choose a peak for cultivation."
Changsheng inclined her head. "This disciple will obey the Sect Master's decree."
"As for Qiqi…"
Jiang Yan looked at the little zombie girl and found himself at a loss.
Qiqi was a rare case of having no spiritual roots—perhaps because she was not truly among the living. Yet, the hidden constitution within her eluded even Jiang Yan's eyes. Clearly, she was not simple.
For a while, even he hesitated.
After pondering, Jiang Yan finally said softly:
"For the time being, let Qiqi stay on Tongtian Peak. With Klee there, two children together will at least have common ground."
"That way, Qiqi won't be too lonely."
With that, he transmitted the circulation method of the Great Zhou Heavenly Breathing Technique directly into the minds of Klee and Changsheng.
This way, even if Qiqi's memory faltered, she would not forget the method.
Naturally, Baizhu had no objections to Jiang Yan's arrangements. Still…
"Sect Master," Baizhu said hesitantly, "Qiqi's memory is poor. And she is, after all, a jiangshi. As for cultivating immortality…"
"It matters not," Jiang Yan waved his hand gently.
"There are indeed ghost cultivators and corpse cultivators in the immortal world."
"Many cultivators who suffer accidents still choose to pursue the Ghost Dao after death, or to refine their corpses into paths of cultivation."
"And their achievements are not low."
"Qiqi's memory will improve as she cultivates. Once she reaches the Spirit Transformation stage, she will be no different from ordinary people."
"If her talent proves outstanding, she may even attain the realm of the Undying Bones."
Hearing this, Baizhu let out a long sigh of relief. His journey of a thousand miles to seek immortality had not been in vain.
His illness was cured. He had also gained Changsheng.
Their cursed contract was now resolved, freeing them from their entanglement forever.
He was free.
Qiqi might never truly return to life, but at least she could continue cultivating as a jiangshi—and perhaps one day, regain her memories.
A happy ending, for all.
At that moment, Baizhu was endlessly grateful to Mount Shu, and glad he had seized this chance to cultivate.
From now on, he would pursue the path of a true immortal, no longer shackled by disease, age, or death.
"You have now entered Mount Shu," Jiang Yan concluded. "From here on, you must cultivate diligently. As for matters in Liyue Harbor, with your disciple token, you may freely travel back and forth."
"The rest—after you've adjusted yourselves, go to the Scripture Repository and seek out a suitable cultivation method."
Baizhu bowed. "This disciple takes his leave."
With that, he led Qiqi and Changsheng out of the great hall.
Since none of them had reached the Spirit Transformation stage, there was no need to worry about heavenly tribulations. Jiang Yan did not insist they remain to adjust in the hall.
Once outside, taking advantage of Tongtian Peak's rich spiritual energy, Baizhu found a secluded corner. After settling Qiqi and Changsheng, he immediately sat cross-legged and began cultivating with the Heavenly Breathing Technique.
At once, the lingering weakness he had always carried vanished without a trace. His strength was fully absorbed and circulated within his body.
After a long while, he opened his eyes.
The surge of power and the overflowing vitality within him were undeniable.
Baizhu knew—
From this moment forth, he was no longer the pitiful man tormented by illness, desperate yet unable to grasp longevity.
He had stepped into the early stage of Essence-Refining.
Though only the beginning, the sheer strength left him deeply shaken. If this was merely Essence-Refining… how much greater must Spirit Transformation, or even returning to the Void, be?
His Vision was now dim, its glow gone. Baizhu gave it a glance, then casually stored it away.
A mere external organ for channeling elemental power—how could it compare to true cultivation?
An Archon's Vision? Whoever wants it, let them have it.
From today onward, he was a cultivator.
Even someone as steady as Baizhu couldn't help but feel exhilarated.
Carefully, he hung the disciple token at his waist, admiring it with satisfaction.
At last, he was a true disciple of Mount Shu, a genuine immortal cultivator.
From now on, when he goes abroad, he must carry himself with greater care. Never could he shame Mount Shu.
Having tasted the might of cultivation firsthand, Baizhu had already embraced Mount Shu as his lifelong faith.
Yet, when he turned to look at Qiqi and Changsheng, his feelings grew complicated.
Qiqi—already mid Essence-Refining.
Changsheng—late Essence-Refining.
So among the two humans and one snake who had entered Mount Shu together… he, who seemed the most normal, was actually the weakest?
He gave a bitter smile. But he had prepared himself for this.
Changsheng had once been an adeptus. Even if half her boasts were false, she had been an extraordinary immortal in her day. Losing the ability to wield power did not mean she had lost it all.
And Qiqi… she had lived thousands of years. Pulled from the battlefield long ago, kept alive by Morax and the other adepti pouring endless immortal force into her body.
That she had such strength was only natural—if anything, Baizhu thought it a little low.
"Baizhu, did you notice? Our contract…"
Changsheng looked at him in disbelief.
He replied calmly: "What's so surprising? We have embarked upon the Immortal Dao. By the path the Sect Master has given us, such problems are no longer problems."
"From now on, we need not be bound by fate. We can simply cultivate in peace."
Changsheng stared blankly. After countless years of bondage, to have it end just like this—it felt almost unreal.
"Yes… it's over. Truly, all thanks to the Sect Master…"
At the mention of Jiang Yan, Baizhu's eyes gleamed with yearning and fervor.
To bestow the Immortal Dao, to grant him his dream—no, to have already realized it for him—Jiang Yan had become Baizhu's new object of reverence.
He was now Mount Shu's second most zealous "Jiang-fan." The first place still belonged to Ganyu.
"The Sect Master is immeasurable, merciful, and kind. To meet him, to join Mount Shu—this is my fortune across three lifetimes."
"Therefore, I must cultivate well, to live up to his trust, and never bring shame upon Mount Shu."
With that, he glanced enviously at Changsheng and Qiqi.
Their starting point was higher, but Baizhu was not disheartened.
Before cultivation, he had always worked harder than anyone. Now, with immortality before him, how could he slacken?
"Mr. Bai… Changsheng…"
Qiqi tilted her head.
"Are we going to the Scripture Repository?"
"Of course," Baizhu answered instinctively. But then he froze, eyes lighting up with joy.
"Qiqi, you—!"
The little zombie girl raised her hand, flexing her fingers. No longer stiff. She even bent her waist with ease.
In her muddled mind, memories had begun to fall into order.
At the very least, she could now remember people's names.
"Qiqi… feels warmer."
She smiled faintly at Baizhu.
Changsheng instantly coiled up onto Qiqi's shoulders. "It's true! You're much warmer now—not cold like before!"
Baizhu turned his head toward the great hall.
After a long moment, he sighed. "The Immortal Dao truly is wondrous…"
With that, he bowed deeply in the direction of the hall, then turned and headed down the mountain.
"Come. We must go to the Scripture Repository and find techniques suited for us."
Qiqi looked back, her once-vacant eyes now carrying a flicker of spirit. After a pause, she and Changsheng followed Baizhu.
Inside the sect hall, Jiang Yan watched the two humans and one serpent hurrying toward the Scripture Repository. A smile of relief touched his lips.
Qiqi's condition had improved greatly. That little one could finally begin to taste real life.
Though Baizhu's group joined later than Ningguang's and their talent seemed inferior, Jiang Yan believed they would soon see the fastest breakthroughs.
Changsheng still had her old strength. Qiqi carried untapped power, waiting to be released.
And Baizhu…
His heart for the Dao was so unyielding it made even Jiang Yan marvel. The one who had passed through all nine trials of the Heart-Testing Array—among all disciples of Mount Shu, only Qiqi and Klee might achieve the same.
Not even Zhongli could.
He had lived too long, carried too many thoughts. Longevity made the heart trial the hardest to pass.
Qiqi and Klee, with their childlike innocence, could breeze through. But for Baizhu to endure it all, despite a lifetime of hardship—that was his true ability.
One whose Dao-heart is firm will never walk a poor path in cultivation.
And what Jiang Yan looked forward to most: Baizhu's mastery of medicine and herbs.
Placing him in alchemy was the perfect arrangement. His efficiency would likely surpass Lishu and Lisa combined.
At last, the sect's supply of pills might have found its answer.
As Jiang Yan watched the three enter the Scripture Repository to choose their arts, he finally withdrew his gaze and returned his will to the Nine Nether Secret Realm .
Earlier, Zhongli and the others had been gravely wounded, but with Qingluan there, Jiang Yan was unconcerned.
A spirit beast who had survived two centuries in the monster-ridden Nine Nether Secret Realm —Qingluan knew the Myriad Demon Mountains inside and out.
With her leading, Zhongli and the others would not stumble into peril.
Her instincts for avoiding danger had been honed to perfection over two hundred years.
Thus, Jiang Yan was at ease pulling back his attention.
Yet when he looked again—what he saw startled him.
Staring for a long moment, Jiang Yan's voice trembled in disbelief:
"A corpse of a Mount Shu disciple?!"
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