Leaving the sect's great hall—
The gods inhaled deeply, savoring the rich spiritual energy so dense it was almost mist.
Their eyes narrowed in involuntary pleasure.
This was their first time atop Tongtian Peak.
In fact, it was their first time truly stepping into Mount Shu itself.
Though they all resided in Mount Shu, not every place here could be called Mount Shu.
This—this was the sacred ground.
A gathering place of cultivators.
And from now on, they no longer needed to envy others cultivating while they could only dream of it.
They were now people of Mount Shu.
They too could tread the immortal path.
Just imagining themselves riding flying swords, roaming the vast heavens and earth, made them stir with excitement.
Were it not for the solemn setting of Tongtian Peak, they might already have cried out in elation.
But soon, caution returned. The gods eyed each other warily, vigilance undisguised.
Even those once allied subtly widened the distance, alert to betrayal.
Two cultivation slots per month.
Yes, within a year all of them would enter the path—but who wanted to be a step behind?
Cultivation was a race against time.
Miss a step, lose a lifetime.
Yunhua watched their guarded looks with faint disdain.
Even with the chance to cultivate, she doubted these weaker gods could surpass her.
The matter of the Outer Sect Elders was an opportunity. She had to climb higher, fight her way into the true Inner Sect.
She floated forward and said:
"Everyone, the Sect Master told us—our duty is to manage the Outer Sect disciples."
"From now on, we're in the same boat, working for Mount Shu. Let's cooperate and support each other."
The gods lowered their gazes, saying nothing.
Serve Mount Shu, yes—but help each other?
With only two slots each month, helping her meant losing their own chance.
Yunhua had expected this. She glanced at Yunqing.
He understood instantly.
Both of them were beings from the Quantum Sea, the strongest here, and had already been named Grand Elder and Second Elder.
The first to cultivate had to be them.
They were the only ones who could truly cooperate.
Yunqing smoothly took over:
"I know everyone wants to be first. But remember—our duty is to oversee the Outer Sect."
"It's because the Sect Master entrusted us with this responsibility that we were given this chance at all."
"If we bicker and scheme, it may anger the Sect Master."
"Lose his trust, and the chance we have in hand could vanish forever."
"Surely no one wants to return to the old days?"
His words silenced them.
In their eagerness to be first, they had nearly forgotten—it was Jiang Yan's need for Outer Sect managers that brought them this fortune.
If they ruined that trust, he could easily take it back.
An elder-looking god finally spoke:
"The Grand Elder is right. Whatever competition we have, managing the Outer Sect disciples is our true duty."
"If our infighting leads to neglect, none of us will escape the punishment of the Hall of Discipline ."
At that, the others nodded, a little more at ease.
"What we need now is to finalize how we'll manage the Outer Sect and its details."
"In one month, the Mountain-Opening Ceremony arrives. These questions must be settled in the coming days."
Yunqing set the immediate priority.
Just as the others were about to leave, prepare lodgings, and choose caves to dwell in, two figures appeared in the distance.
One tall, one small.
The gods froze, then hurriedly saluted as they approached.
"Greetings, Elder Alice, and True Disciple Klee."
These were no ordinary figures. Alice was a true Enforcement Elder of Mount Shu, and Klee the Sect Master's only true disciple.
Not to pay respects now would be sheer folly.
Alice blinked, surprised, glancing around.
"This is the great hall, isn't it? I thought I walked to the wrong place. Why are you all here?"
Yunhua was quick to answer:
"The Sect Master summoned us. He has appointed us as Outer Sect Elders, tasked with managing the disciples who will join at the Mountain-Opening Ceremony."
Alice nodded in realization.
"So that's it. I was wondering who'd handle all the new disciples."
"Seems the Sect Master planned this long ago."
Yunqing gave Yunhua a fleeting look, then added:
"Elder Alice, I am Yunqing, Grand Elder of the Outer Sect."
"Yunqing?" Alice scratched her cheek.
"Is that a god's name?"
"It is the name the Sect Master bestowed upon me."
Yunqing lifted his chin proudly. Alice understood.
He continued:
"The Sect Master has decreed that the Outer Sect Elders answer to him and the Hall of Discipline . Elder Alice, you will oversee our assessments."
"We hope for your strict guidance, so we may contribute more to Mount Shu."
Alice stared at him oddly for a while, then asked suddenly:
"You're not a Teyvat god, are you?"
Yunqing hesitated, then nodded.
"That's right. Yunhua and I were brought from the Quantum Sea by the Sect Master."
"No wonder…" Alice muttered.
Such polished official-sounding words hardly resembled the bluntness of Teyvat's gods.
She waved them off:
"Understood. I need to take Klee to train. Later, come to the Hall of Discipline and find me and Zhongli."
"We'll discuss your duties and plans then."
Yunqing quickly stepped aside.
"Of course, we won't trouble you further."
As Alice disappeared into the great hall, many gods quietly exhaled in relief.
Back in the Outer Sea, Alice had tormented them terribly.
To them, she had been a living nightmare.
And now she was not only an Inner Sect Elder, but their direct superior.
It seemed the nightmare would continue.
…
Days slipped by.
Only twenty days remained until the Mountain-Opening Ceremony.
Strangely, instead of waning, the crowd of applicants only grew.
Mondstadt and Sumeru especially swelled the ranks.
Already, more than 200,000 had passed preliminary screening—and the number still rose daily.
By the time of the ceremony, the Liyue Qixing estimated, the total might reach seven or eight hundred thousand.
An unprecedented spectacle.
Zhongli himself had addressed the public:
The Rite of Descension could be held anytime.
But Mount Shu's opening might not come again for ages.
All else was secondary.
And so, Liyue bustled more than ever.
The influx of candidates boosted tourism and commerce threefold.
The General Affairs Bureau collected so much tax revenue their hands cramped—this year would be a fat one indeed.
And even those rejected by Mount Shu would likely settle in Liyue, the nation most closely tied to the sect.
All of them were screened, upright individuals. Every nation would welcome such people.
As Uncle Tian realized:
"When one rises, even the dogs and chickens ascend."
Liyue had only to sip Mount Shu's leftovers to soar.
And when countless Liyue citizens became disciples? Their nation's strength would be unimaginable.
Already, of 200,000 who passed, 130,000 were Liyue natives.
If they couldn't make something of that, they might as well quit.
Population flooded in, yet disturbances dwindled.
Why?
First, because no one dared risk their shot at Mount Shu. Even the Fatui were ordered by Childe to go out daily and do good deeds, just to clear his way into the sect.
Second, because the Millelith, trained in martial arts, were terrifying. Even an Archon's servant would be crushed instantly.
Thus, Liyue enjoyed rare harmony.
Still, the General Affairs Bureau predicted the true flood would come in the final five days, once news spread and stragglers arrived.
From Mondstadt, Jean had sent word—the main host was marching, about eighty thousand strong.
Inazuma remained silent, its borders locked. The Raiden Shogun's obsession with eternity would never tolerate such upheaval.
Sumeru sent no official delegation. Only scattered adventurers and mercenaries, mostly from the Gilded Brigade.
But Yelan reported that famous names like Tighnari and Dehya were among them.
Fontaine, though far, would surely send someone—Clorinde had already carried the news back.
As for Natlan, war kept them too busy.
And Snezhnaya… rumors said the Tsaritsa was secretly selecting upright candidates, though distance might hinder them.
For now, only Childe and a few Fatui had passed.
Liyue stood as the storm's eye, and the tempest only grew.
Yet Mount Shu itself remained untouched.
Jean's group, though later to join, had studied diligently. Their zeal was unmatched, their days filled with training and fighting monsters.
Lumine and Paimon advanced the fastest.
Paimon had reached late Foundation Establishment, nearly catching Barbara.
Lumine was about to break into mid-stage Refining Essence into Qi.
Their divine bodies drew envy.
Others made small breakthroughs too. Only Ningguang and Keqing had already entered mid-stage Refining Essence into Qi, now consolidating their strength.
Lisa, poised at the threshold of late-stage, had secluded herself.
Mount Shu enjoyed rare peace.
Even the gods-turned-Outer-Elders embraced the cultivation atmosphere, growing stronger just by breathing in spiritual qi.
Jiang Yan lived most comfortably of all.
If not dual cultivating with Ganyu, he was teaching Klee, Qiqi, or Lumine. The rest of his time he spent training or lecturing.
His peak Return-to-Void power was fully stabilized.
The Hall of Merit had resumed operations, with countless treasures available for exchange.
At this moment, Ningguang was studying a mid-grade artifact Cloud Retainer had crafted under Alice's guidance.
"What's this called?" Ningguang asked curiously.
Before Cloud Retainer could answer, Alice declared confidently:
"'I Call Your Name, Do You Dare Answer? Jar!'"
"???"
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