Hearing Baiwen's words, Tighnari froze mid-motion, his hand hovering in the air. He looked at Baiwen with some confusion.
"What's wrong? Are these jade talismans untouchable?"
Baiwen shook his head.
"It's not that they can't be moved—but these talismans have rules to them."
"Before we entered the Sutra Pavilion, Senior Sister Ningguang specifically warned me not to casually choose a technique that merely looks powerful."
"In here, every technique has its own destined affinity with a person."
"Only by following that affinity can one find the technique most suited for themselves."
"Just like Senior Sister Ganyu's Great Sun Archery, Senior Sister Ningguang's Celestial Script, Senior Sister Shenhe's Seven Slaughters of Gods and Ghosts…"
"Even Senior Sister Lisa's Soul Burning Hellfire Art."
"These all came from personal affinity. That's why they're the most suitable for them to cultivate."
"So, when it comes to choosing a technique, one must be cautious."
"Though inner disciples are allowed to pick one technique each week, choosing wrong wastes not only time—it may also set you down the wrong path, steering you away from what truly fits you."
At that, Furina suddenly clapped her hands like she had awakened from a dream.
"I remember now! Before we came in, Senior Sister Ganyu said it over and over—when choosing a technique, we must pursue our destined affinity."
"Don't fear wasting time. Even if it takes a long while, you must choose the technique most suited for yourself."
The group was struck with realization.
Xingqiu sighed in admiration:
"As expected of cultivation—it's mysterious beyond measure. Even choosing a technique is filled with such profound reasoning."
"But… how do we know our affinity?"
Chongyun nodded in agreement.
"Exactly. Affinity is so vague—what does it even feel like? None of us know."
Tartaglia rubbed his chin thoughtfully. A moment later, he chuckled and clapped his hands.
"I get it. Sounds profound, but really—it's just one thing."
"Follow your instincts."
The group blinked, then realization dawned again.
"So it's just intuition? Hah! My instincts are top-notch. Honestly, they made it sound so complicated, but in the end, isn't it just luck?"
Hu Tao pouted, then shut her eyes and casually picked a direction, strolling off with her hands clasped behind her back.
"Since it's that simple, this Hall Master will go first! Soon enough, I'll find a technique even better than Qiqi's Soul-Shifting Shadow Step!"
"When that happens, just watch—I'll have Qiqi personally bringing clients to the Funeral Parlor for me!"
With that thought, her pace quickened.
Seeing the first one set off, the rest couldn't sit still any longer. They each greeted one another, then dispersed, following where their intuition led.
Furina glanced at Clorinde and said softly:
"You don't need to stick with me. Mount Shu is safe inside—go quickly, find your own technique!"
But Clorinde shook her head firmly.
"My intuition tells me… that following you, Miss Furina, is the way to find the technique most suited for me."
"Eh? You mean… your affinity is me?"
Furina blinked in confusion. Clorinde hesitantly nodded.
"Anyway, that's what my intuition says. So, Miss Furina—please lead the way."
Furina shook her head, but didn't press further.
Having Clorinde follow wasn't bad. Some of these talismans flew so fast she couldn't catch them—Clorinde could lend a hand if a promising one slipped away.
With that in mind, Furina picked a direction, leading Clorinde along.
Along the way, they saw plenty of outer disciples—and even servant disciples—who found their techniques, then eagerly teleported out, impatient to begin cultivating.
Most, however, still wandered the first floor with furrowed brows, searching for the right one.
When they saw Furina and Clorinde, they politely greeted them as "Senior Sister."
Furina responded with a graceful smile and nod, though inside she was secretly delighted—wishing they'd call her Senior Sister Furina a few more times.
She had barely spent a day cultivating, and already she loved the title "Senior Sister."
She fantasized about all of Fontaine's citizens addressing her as Senior Sister one day—it would feel incredible.
Especially Neuvillette…
That stiff-faced, overly serious man who was really just a teary dragon who shed little pearls at the drop of a hat.
To make him call her "Senior Sister Furina"—
Furina could hardly imagine how satisfying that would be.
And if she cultivated faster, perhaps becoming a First Seat or even an Elder…
Then even Focalors, when she came, would have to address her as First Seat Furina or Elder Furina.
Wasn't that title far more prestigious than "Hydro Archon"?
The Hydro Archon may rule one nation of Teyvat, but Mount Shu's First Seat or Elders—
Those were towering figures of a transcendent sect spanning countless worlds, names revered across the heavens.
Thinking of this, Furina suddenly burst into silly laughter.
Clorinde gave her a puzzled glance, unsure why she was acting so oddly.
Had she known Furina's thoughts, she'd probably scoff—
If it was truly like what they saw in the first Trial of the Heart, with Neuvillette's strength…
Furina would be the one calling him First Seat or Elder, not the other way around.
For now, there was no way she could catch up to Neuvillette and Focalors.
Still—she had talent, and determination!
But watching Furina dawdle about as if window-shopping, not picking anything for nearly half an hour, Clorinde finally couldn't hold back.
She stepped forward and urged in a low voice:
"Miss Furina, have you not felt your intuition's call yet?"
"Don't worry, soon, soon."
Furina waved her hand with a cheeky grin, then put on a solemn air.
"Clorinde, you must trust my instincts."
"I am, after all, a Celestial Root with peerless talent, who passed all Nine Trials of the Heart. Even the Sect Master specially praised me and kept me back."
"Someone like me is destined for greatness—pah, I mean, destined for the most extraordinary technique!"
"This wait is merely the buildup—for the perfect technique to appear."
"When I find it, beside my unprecedented and unmatched technique, there will surely be one powerful enough for you as well."
"After all, where geniuses gather, more geniuses appear!"
"Of course, compared to me, you might be a little weaker—but don't worry, I'll look after you in the future!"
Furina even tiptoed to pat Clorinde's shoulder.
Clorinde's lips twitched, but she forced herself to accept the nonsense.
As they turned a corner past a row of shelves, they suddenly spotted Yelan, searching alone.
Furina's eyes lit up—she was about to call out when Yelan leapt up with lightning speed, snatching a talisman spinning overhead.
A dazzling golden radiance erupted, its surging power making Furina's face stiffen.
It was clear… the technique Yelan had obtained was no ordinary one.
"Miss Furina…" Clorinde muttered helplessly.
Furina's cheeks flushed, but she forced a straight face.
"See? We're going the right way! Yelan just found a powerful technique here! That means ours must be nearby too. Enough talk, Clorinde—let's go check what Yelan found!"
With that, she strode ahead eagerly.
Clorinde sighed at her back. Furina's clumsy words all but screamed guilty conscience.
Still, the Sutra Pavilion had countless techniques. There was no need to worry that Yelan's gain meant there'd be nothing left for them.
In truth, there were more techniques here than wild grass in Teyvat.
And precisely because of that, finding the right one was as hard as climbing to heaven.
For outer disciples or servant disciples, picking any decent art might suffice.
But for them—Mount Shu's inner disciples, the sect's true foundation—any casual choice would be unworthy.
Clorinde steadied her heart, resisting the urge to snatch any passing talisman.
Furina's words weren't entirely wrong.
If Yelan had just drawn such a powerful technique from this direction, then surely theirs wasn't far either.
Quickening her pace, she caught up. Soon, the two of them stood at Yelan's side.
By now, Yelan was enveloped by a cold, sinister aura, as if plunged into darkness.
The swirling vortex of qi drove all other talismans away.
Watching up close, Furina couldn't help but sigh.
"At the very least, that's on par with Keqing's Heaven-Splitting Sword of the Stars."
Clorinde agreed.
From earlier conversations, they'd already heard of the techniques other inner disciples cultivated.
Leaving aside Klee's arts that could reach the level of divine powers—
There was the Seven Slaughters of Gods and Ghosts, Yin-Yang Five Thunders, Alchemical Core Scripture, Soul Burning Hellfire Art, Celestial Script, Wuhou Mystical Gates…
Every single one was monstrously strong, with endless potential for growth.
Those were their goals.
No one knew how long had passed before Yelan finally exhaled, opening her eyes.
A sharp gleam flashed in her gaze. For one so usually inscrutable, the hint of joy on her face spoke volumes.
"Yelan! Yelan! Well? Tell us! What amazing technique did you get?"
Just from the way she clutched it tightly, Furina knew it was something good.
Her eyes shone with eager anticipation.
Yelan glanced at Furina and Clorinde. Instead of answering, she asked curiously:
"What about you two? Why are you here—didn't you find your own techniques yet?"
"We were on the way when we ran into you! We just wanted to ask what it feels like when you find your destined technique—so we'll know what to compare with when our turn comes."
Furina explained casually, then pressed on, full of excitement:
"So? What kind of technique did you get?"
But this simple question seemed hard for Yelan to answer. She stayed silent, hesitant.
Furina's heart sank with a bad premonition.
"Don't tell me… it's another demonic art?"
Yelan shook her head.
"No. Not a demonic art."
"Then what's there to hesitate for? We're fellow disciples! I won't use it against you."
Furina looked at her, frustrated. Yelan pursed her lips, then spoke softly:
"It's… a technique centered on assassination."
"Assassination?"
Furina froze, then blurted in disbelief:
"You're learning assassination techniques in Mount Shu?!"
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