"Since we've said this much already."
Jiang Yan suddenly shifted the topic, turning to look at Venti and Alice with a faint smile:
"Both I and First Elder Zhongli will be entering the Demon-Sealing Tower. Zhongli will be out in two or three days at most, but I'm not sure how long I'll need. At the very least, about a week."
"But the Great Nine Nether Secret Realm Expedition is right around the corner—it can't go leaderless. So, First Elder Venti, Elder Alice, I'll leave this matter to the two of you."
From the instant Jiang Yan opened his mouth, Venti and Alice already knew something bad was coming. Sure enough, it turned out to be actual work.
But this was Jiang Yan's request, and besides, as an Elder and a First Elder, it was their duty anyway. They had no real grounds to refuse. They nodded helplessly.
"Yes, Sect Master."
"In addition, the Mission Hall's tasks need to be prepared for release. A month from now, during the Great Nine Nether Secret Realm Expedition, they'll still need to be linked to the Mission Hall's assignments."
Jiang Yan began laying out a string of arrangements.
After the Rite of Descension, he would also have to enter the Demon-Sealing Tower. With his cultivation at this level, once he went into seclusion, no one could predict how long it might last—years, decades, who knew?
For him, the tower posed little danger as long as he stayed below the seventh floor. He planned to use the sixth floor as a place to cultivate in seclusion, then test his techniques against some fiends on the seventh.
It was essentially safe.
The only uncertain factor was time. He might be out in a couple of weeks, or not until the Great Nine Nether Secret Realm Expedition began.
Best to arrange all sect matters in advance.
"The Seven Peaks Martial Tournament should also start being prepared. I hope you'll quickly set a schedule and decide on the rules."
Listening to all these tasks piled on, Alice and Venti felt their heads throb. For a moment, they were tempted to escape into the Demon-Sealing Tower as well.
At that moment, Yae Miko suddenly looked at Jiang Yan with a trace of dissatisfaction.
"So, Sect Master, you really plan on staying in the Demon-Sealing Tower for a long while?"
Jiang Yan didn't deny it. He replied evenly:
"I intend to break through into the realm of Union of Void and Dao. Even with my talent and current progress, it'll take at least a decade, maybe several."
"With Mount Shu developing this rapidly, I can't afford to be away too long. The Demon-Sealing Tower is the best option."
"Don't worry—for you all, it'll feel like I was only gone for a dozen days. I'll be back before the Great Nine Nether Secret Realm Expedition begins."
Everyone knew there was nothing to argue. Unlike them, Jiang Yan was a true professional cultivator. They still had worldly ties that distracted them, but Jiang Yan devoted himself wholly to cultivation.
At present, he was the only one capable of going into seclusion for decades at a time.
"Besides, there's another matter."
Jiang Yan spoke again, drawing everyone's eyes to him.
"Once I return from the Demon-Sealing Tower, I will also be preparing to cross the tribulation and break through."
He glanced at Yae Miko—it was thanks in part to his cultivation with her that his progress had sped up.
Miko of course realized this too, and her pride swelled.
"So Sect Master is preparing to face the Lightning Tribulation of Union of Void and Dao?"
Ningguang asked with curiosity, then quickly smiled.
"Congratulations, Sect Master!"
Everyone else offered genuine smiles as well. Jiang Yan reaching Union of Void and Dao meant Mount Shu would gain an unshakable pillar.
That was the final realm before true Immortality.
As for whether he would succeed in crossing the tribulation—no one doubted it. Jiang Yan was an Innate Dao Body, with techniques at the peak of perfection.
If he couldn't succeed, then who could?
"For now, best not to congratulate me yet."
Jiang Yan raised his hand slightly, cutting off their celebration.
This left Ningguang and the others puzzled, exchanging glances.
"Sect Master, is there some danger?" Ganyu asked worriedly.
Jiang Yan shook his head.
"The Lightning Tribulation of Union of Void and Dao is indeed dangerous, but not to the point that I need to be overly cautious."
"It's just… crossing the tribulation itself poses complications. Teyvat is far too fragile. A single tribulation of this level would shatter it instantly."
In truth, not just Teyvat—even the Imaginary Tree and the Sea of Quanta would suffer if he attempted it there.
A cultivator of Union of Void and Dao was someone capable of severing entire minor worlds. The corresponding tribulation was terrifying beyond measure.
Last time, when he crossed into Return to Void, the system had suppressed the thunder's might as part of his novice protection. Without that, Teyvat would already be gone.
But this time? There would be no such safeguard. He couldn't afford to gamble the lives of Teyvat's beings on a "maybe."
If the Tree-and-Sea world were a great world, it could bear it. Unfortunately, it was only a middling world, incapable of even birthing immortals.
His words left everyone silent.
Indeed—for Jiang Yan, the tribulation was almost guaranteed success. But for Teyvat… it was an apocalypse.
After a long pause, Ganyu spoke softly:
"Sect Master, then what about in the Mount Shu World?"
"That won't do either."
Jiang Yan shook his head.
"The Mount Shu World may be larger than Teyvat, but it is still a small world. Its walls could never withstand the tribulation of Union of Void and Dao. The moment the barrier collapsed, the world would crumble."
Miko hesitated.
"Then… does Sect Master intend to cross within the Demon-Sealing Tower?"
"That's even less possible."
Jiang Yan gave her an amused glance.
"The tower houses Union of Void and Dao fiend emperors already—it's perilous enough as it is. If I attempted to cross there, I'd almost certainly be ambushed. Not to mention, the tribulation could trigger unpredictable reactions within the tower."
This left everyone numb. This place wouldn't do, that place wouldn't do—and yet Jiang Yan had no choice but to ascend.
The significance of him reaching Union of Void and Dao for Mount Shu was immense.
Alice blinked, then asked uncertainly:
"Then… the Sea of Quanta?"
Jiang Yan finally revealed his plan, speaking slowly:
"My chosen site is the Xuanyin Minor World."
"The Xuanyin Minor World?"
The crowd was momentarily stunned, then Hu Tao's eyes lit with recollection.
"You mean the auxiliary world you mentioned before, the one that appeared ages ago?"
"But isn't that just another minor world?"
Jiang Yan smiled and explained:
"Though it's called a 'minor world,' the Xuanyin Minor World is actually a peak-level middle world—and a cultivation world at that. Its walls can endure a tribulation of Union of Void and Dao. It's quite suitable."
Hearing this, everyone's doubts cleared, and they shared his joy.
At last, Jiang Yan was preparing to break through. Mount Shu would gain another Union of Void and Dao cultivator.
"Once I return from the Demon-Sealing Tower, and after the Great Nine Nether Secret Realm Expedition concludes, Zhongli, Venti, Alice—you three will accompany me to the Xuanyin Minor World."
The three exchanged puzzled looks but still nodded.
Jiang Yan continued:
"Prepare well beforehand. If nothing unexpected happens, I'll need the three of you to protect me during the tribulation."
"Protect… during a tribulation?"
The moment they heard this, everyone tensed. For Jiang Yan to need protection at such a time meant the world itself carried great dangers.
"Sect Master, then why not let us come as well?" Xiao asked immediately, his fighting spirit burning.
But Jiang Yan only shook his head.
"No. For now, there's no need to stir up the Xuanyin Minor World too much. And besides, if the three of them can't manage, you wouldn't be able to help either."
The logic was undeniable. Many felt helpless at their own lack of strength.
"Sect Master."
Zhongli frowned slightly.
"If I recall correctly, during tribulations, very few dare to interfere, yes? The lightning strikes indiscriminately—if anyone intrudes, they too will be targeted."
Jiang Yan nodded with a wry smile.
"True enough. But nothing in the world is absolute. Don't forget what kind of place I said the Xuanyin Minor World is."
"A cultivation middle world?" Hu Tao scratched her cheek.
Ningguang shook her head firmly.
"No—it's a den of demonic cultivators!"
Her words jolted the group's memory. Yes—that was how Jiang Yan had once described it.
Jiang Yan gave Ningguang an approving look.
"Correct. The Xuanyin Minor World follows the path of cultivation, but not in the usual way of righteous versus demonic. It is an extreme demonic-cultivation world, teeming with evil cultivators and endless monsters. Slaughter is its main theme.
"For such cultivators, no rule of the immortal path is sacrosanct. There was once a case where a tribulation was interrupted by a demonic cultivator unleashing hordes of fiends into the lightning. The immortal-to-be was disrupted and perished."
"I'm not overly afraid, but one must guard against the worst. I never expect demonic cultivators to respect any moral bottom line."
At this, Lisa and a few others looked awkward. Strictly speaking, they too were practitioners of demonic arts.
Jiang Yan chuckled softly at her.
"I'm not speaking of you. Though you cultivate demonic techniques, Lisa, you uphold your bottom line. As a disciple of Mount Shu, you're no demonic cultivator."
Lisa exhaled in relief and said gently:
"Thank you, Sect Master."
"So, Sect Master, during your tribulation you want us to stop any demonic cultivators who may interfere?" Venti asked, unusually serious this time.
After all, this was Jiang Yan's tribulation—it couldn't be taken lightly.
But Jiang Yan only smiled.
"Yes… and no."
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