Furina wasn't even sure what else Jiang Yan had said afterward—she only remembered that the light radiating from him seemed to grow brighter and brighter.
By the end, even her own heart felt completely filled with that light.
She stumbled out of the sect's grand hall in a daze. Standing atop the peak, a cold wind swept past, making her shiver and snap back to awareness.
The wind here was piercingly cold, and no living thing dared fly across this peak—for this was the Sect Master's domain.
Without permission, not even a bird, not even a speck of dust, could intrude.
And yet, on this quiet, chilly mountain peak, Furina felt warm.
Warm above her head, warm in her chest.
She turned back, gazing at the tightly shut doors of the grand hall. Yet those doors seemed unable to block her sight.
Through them, she could clearly see Jiang Yan, seated cross-legged upon his meditation cushion, eyes closed in cultivation.
A flicker of envy stirred in her heart—envy for Klee.
As a direct disciple, Klee could remain by Jiang Yan's side every day.
Furina suddenly felt her own heartbeat, faster than usual, her cheeks burning hotter.
"Am I… sick?"
She instinctively brushed aside the obvious answer.
With a bitter smile, she turned and began descending the mountain.
"Yes… I must be sick, right?"
In five hundred years of life, she hadn't only "not eaten pork," but had seen more than enough pigs running.
She was human—she knew exactly what this feeling was.
Falling in love.
If it were with someone else, Furina felt it would be a blessing.
Or rather—if Jiang Yan weren't the Sect Master of Mount Shu, it would surely be a blessing.
Cultivation days would never feel dull again. She could follow behind him every day, calling "Senior Brother, Senior Brother."
Wasn't that exactly the kind of romance between a prodigy senior brother and a clingy junior sister so often told in cultivation tales?
But sadly…
Jiang Yan was the exalted Sect Master of Mount Shu, the unrivaled peak-stage Spirit Transformation cultivator.
He was on the verge of merging with the Dao itself, set to ascend as an immortal faster than any genius in countless ages.
She could allow her eyes to hold only Jiang Yan, but his eyes had to hold the entirety of Mount Shu's disciples.
Love between a disciple of Tongtian Peak and the Sect Master of Mount Shu would surely break sect taboos.
Furina tried her best not to think about it, but such matters were not so easily forgotten just by wishing.
She walked on, heavy-hearted, until at last she reached the Sutra Pavilion, where Clorinde and the others were waiting for her at the gate.
Furina quickly tucked away her emotions, reverting to her usual breezy demeanor.
Clorinde studied her carefully. Seeing her mood seemed good enough, she relaxed, though curiosity remained.
"Lady Furina, why did the Sect Master ask you to stay behind?"
The others looked over, equally curious.
Furina huffed proudly.
"Isn't it normal? I'm a heavenly spiritual root talent, and a prodigy who passed Heart-Testing Array! Of course the Sect Master would give me special instructions!"
Since she looked so matter-of-fact about it, no one pressed further.
"Oh right—the Sect Master also said this."
She clapped her hands as Jiang Yan's instructions resurfaced in her mind.
"New disciples of Mount Shu must not leave the sect for one week. You must devote yourselves entirely to cultivation, familiarizing yourselves with the immortal path.
After that week, with your disciple tokens in hand, you may leave or stay as you wish—just report it to the Hall of Discipline.
But the Sect Master also warned: Teyvat is lacking in spiritual energy. If you return there to cultivate, it will inevitably slow your progress.
The choice, in the end, is ours."
Everyone nodded.
Beidou said heartily:
"After all that trouble getting in here, of course I won't leave right away. I'll cultivate properly first. Anyway, the Alcor has no missions right now."
Baiwen hesitated.
"But… what if something happens in our nations during that week? How will we handle it? We need some way to send word back."
Furina waved her hand.
"That's easy. The Sect Master gave me a spell for Senior Sister Ningguang—a talisman art called Tongyou.
Draw it properly, and you don't need those Ten-Thousand-Li Divine Travel Talisman. Just speak your message, focus on the person you want it to reach, then burn the talisman paper. The message will be delivered."
At this, Ningguang's eyes lit up. She took the talisman paper and studied it closely.
Its inscription was no more difficult than the Ten-Thousand-Mile Talismans. She could master it today.
But its effectiveness… far exceeded them.
She was truly astonished.
She nodded to Furina.
"Thank the Sect Master—and thank you, Junior Sister Furina.
The Tongyou Talisman… Tongyou…"
Alice, meanwhile, was muttering to herself. After a while, she clapped her hands.
"No wonder it sounded so familiar! This is one of the Seventy-Two Arts of Earthly Fiends!"
"The Seventy-Two Arts of Earthly Fiends?"
Everyone turned to her, and she looked with envy at the talisman in Ningguang's hand.
"Remember I told you about Sun Wukong, that mighty Golden Immortal?
He was famous for three great abilities. First, the Art of Vast Heaven-Form, with which he fought Erlang to a standstill.
Second, the Art of Infinite Adaptation—his golden staff, stretching to pierce the heavens, said to have even shaken Heaven's Southern Gate.
And third—the Seventy-Two Arts of Earthly Fiends."
The moment she invoked Sun Wukong's name, the value of the Seventy-Two Arts rose immeasurably.
After all, they were the immortal arts of a Golden Immortal who rampaged across the world.
Alice, warmed up, began describing with flourish:
"The Seventy-Two Arts are wondrous beyond compare.
With them, one may climb the clouds or shrink the earth; split mountains with a finger, stir stones and sand with a breath.
Change form and face, confound others before their very eyes.
Summon ghosts and spirits, command the void at will; conjure men from beans, horses from grass, summoning endless might upon the battlefield.
Paper tigers, serpent charms, strange spirits in times of peril.
Wind, cloud, thunder, and rain obey at a thought; neither water, fire, nor blade dare harm."
The others grew somewhat dazed from her torrent of words. Venti scratched his cheek, leaning closer curiously.
"So… you read that in another novel?"
"It's a classic! A classic, you oaf! Say that again and I'll have Klee smash you with the Linglong Pagoda!"
Alice glared at him, cheeks puffed. She'd finally had a chance to flaunt her learning, and here he was undermining her.
What was wrong with liking novels back then?
Hadn't the novels all turned out real anyway?
That proved she wasn't lazy—she was studious!
At the threat of Alice siccing Klee on him, Venti immediately shrank back.
He didn't much fear Alice herself, even if her Unity Divine Light was tricky—his God of Wine techniques weren't weak.
Besides, sect rules forbade fighting among disciples.
But Klee…
She was the Sect Master's personal disciple, practically the next Sect Master herself, with privileges none could match.
And that Linglong Pagoda—crafted by Jiang Yan with heaven's essence and earth's fires—was both a prison and a weapon, as well as one of the finest defensive treasures.
A top-tier spiritual artifact, nearly approaching a true dao-treasure.
It was Jiang Yan's greatest gift to Klee.
Even as a late-stage Spirit Transformation cultivator, Venti knew one strike from it would be more than he could endure.
At the thought, he grew quietly envious of Klee once more.
Seeing him back down, Alice tilted her chin proudly, not at all ashamed that as a mother she had to invoke her daughter's name to intimidate others…
And she continued:
"One of the Seventy-Two Arts is this Tongyou.
Its meaning, as I know it, is to commune with spirits, to peer deep into mystery—able to see the Netherworld, to pierce through illusion.
In other words, a marvelous art of profound insight.
But judging from the talisman's effect, I must admit my understanding of the Seventy-Two Arts is too shallow.
This Tongyou Talisman may hold other powers as well. If it can truly perceive the Netherworld…"
Her words trailed off, and Hu Tao's eyes widened in shock as she stared at the talisman.
"Could it… even allow contact with the dead, sending messages to the departed?"
Alice was silent for a while, then nodded slightly.
"Considering the profundity of the Seventy-Two Arts… it should be possible."
Everyone's eyes glittered, gazes fixed on the talisman, not sure what to think.
But Ganyu scratched her cheek softly.
"So… isn't the real point that the Sect Master has mastered the Seventy-Two Arts?"
"Does that matter?"
Ningguang shook her head, tucking the talisman away.
"The Sect Master is supremely gifted, bearing the full hopes of Mount Shu's ancestors. That he could master the Seventy-Two Arts should surprise no one."
As for where the Seventy-Two Arts came from… no one cared.
After all, the Demon-Sealing Tower, the Tea of Enlightenment, and the Bodhi of Inquiry had already appeared. The Seventy-Two Arts hardly seemed shocking in comparison.
The ancestors' gifts were never just for Mount Shu's benefit.
Those who had cultivated longer, like Ningguang, knew the truth of the cultivation world: only strength mattered.
As the strongest and most talented in Mount Shu today, how could the ancestors not lay greater hopes upon Jiang Yan?
He was the one they looked to—one destined to reach the Great Luo and bring Mount Shu into glory across the heavens.
"The Sect Master's affairs aren't ours to dwell on," Ningguang said softly.
"I'll study this Tongyou Talisman right away. Once I can draw it, I'll inform you all.
Then, you can contact those back in Teyvat."
With a nod and a wave, she mounted her sword and flew off.
Her graceful ease left Childe and the others a touch envious.
Though they too were now cultivators, her years of experience gave her a lead.
Being able to soar as she did… would still take time.
But at least, they had taken the first step.
As Ningguang hurried away, Zhongli and the others went to manage sect affairs—after all, a thousand new disciples had joined today.
They still had to tally everything and report to Jiang Yan.
Fortunately, Ganyu and others stayed behind to play guides.
They led everyone to the Hall of Merit, where they received their Mount Shu Seven Peaks robes.
These robes, though not true artifacts, were still magical treasures.
Dust could not stain them, heat and cold could not penetrate, and they even carried a measure of defense.
The moment they appeared, Ningguang and the others fell in love with them.
"The Sect Master doesn't restrict our attire," Ganyu explained patiently.
"You may transform the robes into whatever style you like.
But for grand events—such as the Opening Ceremony or secret realm explorations—you must return them to their standard form. That's how disciples of each peak are distinguished.
Also, while not a full artifact, these robes are tougher than most blades.
Only Teyvat's divine weapons might scratch them.
So I recommend you wear them often when you go out."
To read 220+ future chapters, head over to Patreon:
patreon.com/WhiteDevil7554