At the break of dawn, the golden rays of the morning sun spilled evenly over the whole of Liyue Harbor.
After a night of silence, the harbor once again came alive with noise and bustle—but compared to before, today's commotion was far grander.
An endless sea of people crowded before the gates of Liyue Harbor, packed so tightly that they covered every patch of ground in sight. Yet, despite their numbers, no one dared stir up trouble. At most, hushed conversations could be heard.
Some had not slept at all, choosing instead to camp by the gates through the night just to secure a good position.
Now, at the city's entrance stretched a tide of humanity as far as the eye could see.
There were millions gathered here.
And nearly every head was raised, every gaze fixed upon the three figures hovering in the skies above.
Today was Mount Shu's great day. Thus, Ningguang and the others had dressed far more formally than usual.
The night before, Jiang Yan had designed the attire of Mount Shu's seven peaks—one could call them the sect's uniforms.
Ningguang wore a long, plain-white robe, its cloudlike sleeves faintly tinged with color. At her waist hung an ancient bell and a jade pendant. Her long white hair was not tied up, but let down freely, fixed only with a simple white jade hairpin. The hem of her robe was embroidered with a flower no one recognized.
She looked ethereal, as though bathed in immortal radiance.
This was the ceremonial robe of Bamboo Peak.
Beside her, Keqing and Ganyu both wore identical azure-and-white robes, adorned with cloud patterns and bamboo motifs. Their outfits matched Ningguang's in all other respects.
These were the ceremonial robes of Tongtian Peak—the sword cultivators.
Even though the three women wore uniform garb, they did not appear monotonous in the slightest. Each was beautiful in her own unique way.
And once clad in these robes—true magical artifacts refined by Jiang Yan—and standing atop flying swords, with their hems fluttering in the wind, they exuded an unmistakable immortal bearing.
Bathed in sunlight, their robes shimmered faintly, like flawless jade.
"Are these… the immortal cultivators? They look terrifyingly strong…"
Someone muttered under their breath, only for the person beside him to quickly warn:
"Careful! They say immortal cultivators all possess divine sense, able to read the heavens and earth. Every word you say, they can hear it as clear as day."
Startled, the man clamped his mouth shut immediately.
Ningguang swept her gaze over the masses gathered below. After a pause, she gave a small nod.
"Looks like everyone is here."
Keqing gave a small scoff.
"For something as important as Mount Shu's founding, if anyone dares to be late, they don't deserve to take the trials."
Ningguang let out a light laugh and shook her head.
"Enough. Let's begin. The others are waiting for us on Mount Shu."
With that, her expression grew solemn. She cupped her hands together and called out:
"We respectfully invite the Sect Master's sword!"
In the next instant, a ray of green light shot forth from the disciple's token at Ningguang's waist.
It hovered silently in the air before the three of them.
It was Jiang Yan's Primordial Jade Cutter.
Refined again and again, the sword had already neared the level of a true treasure. For this occasion, Jiang Yan had entrusted it to Ningguang, not to wield, but to ferry the masses to Mount Shu.
Otherwise, with just their strength, Ningguang and the others could never hope to transport so many people at once.
The Jade Cutter circled briefly in the air, before releasing an endless emerald glow.
Clouds surged and condensed in the sky, forming into countless misty greatswords. At the sword's command, they descended toward the earth.
For every one of the 1.3 million candidates, a cloud-forged sword appeared.
The cloud-forged blades blotted out the heavens as they descended, striking fear into many hearts.
Even Tartaglia and the others could not help but grow solemn.
These swords could carry people… but they could just as easily slaughter.
So many cloud swords descending together—such power could pierce even the mightiest Archons.
And they had heard Ningguang's words just now.
This was merely the Sect Master's accompanying sword.
A sword that, without even its master's hand guiding it, could display such might.
How strong, then, must the Sect Master himself be?
Still, most people suppressed their fear and forced themselves to remain rooted in place.
After all…
If this thing wanted them dead, they could not hope to escape.
And this was Mount Shu's founding ceremony—why would the sect bother killing them?
Better to stay still, and maybe leave a good impression.
The cloud swords, as though possessing their own will, threaded through the crowd with precision, halting by the side of each candidate who had passed the initial screening.
Furina, staring at the massive sword beside her, couldn't resist reaching out to poke it.
As expected, her hand passed right through—the blade was no more than mist, nothing but cloud.
"All candidates, step onto your swords. They will carry you to Mount Shu."
Ningguang's tone was cold and direct—this was not the main ceremony, after all.
Below, many hesitated, staring at the insubstantial blades.
Her brows creasing, Ningguang declared sternly:
"The Sect Master and the elders are waiting. Delay any longer, and your qualifications will be revoked."
That was enough.
With teeth clenched, one after another leapt onto the cloud swords.
And to their shock, the blades that seemed so insubstantial easily bore their weight, carrying them steadily aloft.
Exclamations of wonder rippled through the crowd.
Ningguang waited only a moment longer before guiding the Jade Cutter forward, toward the domain of Jueyun Karst.
Though Mount Shu could, in truth, be accessed from anywhere in the world after its manifestation, Jiang Yan had rejected this option.
For today's display would already cement Mount Shu as the new heart of Teyvat. Pilgrims would come in endless waves.
Better, then, to establish a singular gateway, one acknowledged by all.
Thus, he chose to set the entrance within Jueyun Karst—already a place of peril.
This way, even reaching Mount Shu's gate would serve as a first trial.
As for those who gambled with their lives, only to die in Jueyun Karst…
Immortal cultivation was dangerous by nature.
Without talent, strength, and luck, there was no path forward.
If fate did not favor them, there was no need to force it.
Following Ningguang's lead, the cloud swords carried everyone swiftly through the skies.
The sensation of flying upon swords was enough to shake even the most stoic.
The world beneath blurred into streaks of flowing light.
For the first time in their lives, they had conquered the heavens.
That alone steeled many hearts—they must enter Mount Shu.
To soar like this, as Ningguang and the others did…
They would not give up the chance.
Those who had failed the initial screening could only watch with bitter envy as the tide of people was carried away upon clouds, vanishing toward the horizon.
Rosalyne stood dazed, staring at the receding figures. After a long silence, she lowered her head with a bitter smile.
"Immortal cultivation… I can only hope you succeed, Tartaglia.
Otherwise… there will be no place left in this new Teyvat for the likes of us."
The grandeur of what she had just witnessed left no room for delusions.
She could no longer deceive herself.
Only regret remained—that she could not walk this path herself.
"…Lady?"
A Fatui agent ventured cautiously.
Rosalyne waved him off without interest, turning back toward the Northland Bank.
Whether or not she could ever cultivate, one thing was certain—she was already falling behind.
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