"I know, when it comes to privileges, you've always avoided the topic like a plague, unwilling to bring it into the open."
Jiang Yan swept his gaze across the crowd, smiling faintly.
"But that's the attitude of mortals. For us cultivators, it holds no weight."
"I can tell you very clearly—Mount Shu is filled with privileges."
"And not just Mount Shu. The entire cultivation world is riddled with privileges of every kind."
"First Seats Zhongli, Venti, and Elder Alice don't need to do any missions, yet they receive a fixed monthly allotment of contribution points and spirit stones."
"Meanwhile, you must constantly complete missions just to scrape together cultivation resources."
"Isn't that a privilege?"
"Lumine and Paimon don't need to take missions. From the moment they joined, I personally taught them the foundations of immortal arts."
"Spirit stones and magical treasures were handed directly to them."
"Isn't that a privilege?"
"Klee became my personal disciple. From beginning to end, she never completed a single mission."
"Yet she possesses inexhaustible spirit stones and hundreds of treasures. The magic tools you yearn for are mere ornaments on her body."
"Isn't that a privilege?"
Three questions in a row made everyone's expressions turn complicated.
These were things they already knew, but usually chose not to dwell on—because the more they thought about it, the more it stung.
And besides, weren't such matters the very definition of unspoken rules? Never something to speak of openly.
But now, Jiang Yan had ripped off the fig leaf, leaving everyone feeling awkward.
"I was born with an Innate Dao Body."
Jiang Yan's voice carried on, calm and leisurely.
"Those who came to Mount Shu to seek masters alongside me—some left in disgrace, some became outer disciples, some had an inner sect elder as their teacher."
"But I… I was taken in by the Sect Master as his personal successor, the preordained next Sect Master."
"The Seven Elders of Mount Shu, and the 880 generations of Union of Void and Dao experts, all stood guard over me."
"Blessings from the ancestors of the Upper Realm descended one after another."
"From the moment I entered the sect—the Scripture Pavilion, the Hall of Merit, the Sect Treasury, the Pill Pavilion, the Spirit Beast Hall… the entire Mount Shu was opened to me, free to take as I pleased."
"Whatever I desired, the elders would stop at nothing to provide—even Master's own immortal artifact was once refined for my use."
"I was the darling of Mount Shu, openly showered with favoritism."
"Meanwhile, many of my peers perished on the road home, or were devoured by savage beasts."
"Tell me, isn't that a privilege?"
Everyone fell silent, unwilling—or perhaps afraid—to answer Jiang Yan's question.
He shook his head, sighing slightly.
"You don't dare say it, so I'll say it for you. This is privilege. Ubiquitous privilege."
"And in the cultivation world, this is the norm. Everyone must accept it."
"To preach equality in the cultivation world is to court a miserable death."
"Mount Shu has never denied the existence of countless privileged disciples. If you ask me, I'll tell you plainly."
"Mount Shu does not forbid privilege. Mount Shu will even have the Law Enforcement Hall protect privilege."
"First Seats Zhongli and the others have strength, so they enjoy the treatment strength deserves."
"Lumine and Paimon are divine-body prodigies, destined to ascend in the future, so they enjoy the treatment geniuses deserve."
"Klee is my personal disciple, a possessor of a supreme divine body, so she enjoys the treatment a true disciple deserves."
"As for you—you're all top talents as well. That's why you may enter the Scripture Pavilion once a week."
"You may live atop the seven peaks where spiritual energy is most abundant."
"Have you noticed? The contribution points you need to exchange for resources in the Hall of Merit are only one-fifth of what outer disciples pay."
"That, too, is a privilege Mount Shu has never bothered to hide—one openly granted to inner disciples."
At this, everyone looked at Jiang Yan in shock.
Xingqiu nodded and spoke softly:
"The Sect Master speaks true. My brother once told me that for them to exchange for a single spirit stone, it costs five contribution points…"
"But I didn't dare spread it…"
Now, the others truly had no words.
Mount Shu had placed every privilege openly before them.
Even as they enjoyed those privileges, they suddenly felt uneasy about facing the outer disciples.
"Sect Master, aren't such privileges… a little excessive?"
Ningguang bit her lip, looking at Jiang Yan with a complicated expression.
"I want everyone to see clearly—Mount Shu is a sect where privilege runs rampant. And I want everyone to recognize—this world of cultivation is a world saturated with privilege."
Jiang Yan smiled, shaking his head.
"You need not feel ashamed of the privileges you enjoy. You should be proud of them."
"Because of your talent, your strength, your Dao heart—you stand out in Mount Shu. Therefore, you deserve to enjoy these privileges."
"Compared to outer disciples, you should indeed stand above them."
"This is Mount Shu's long-standing principle."
These words, blunt as they were, made everyone feel oddly exhilarated inside.
Jiang Yan paused, then spoke with patience:
"Remember—you've already stepped into cultivation. You're no longer mortals. The rules you follow should be the rules of the cultivation world."
"That timid, roundabout attitude of mortals does not suit cultivators."
"In the cultivation world, there is only one law that has endured countless years."
"The law of the jungle. The strong reign supreme."
"I am stronger than you—so I may slaughter your family, and no one will dare punish me."
"I am stronger than you—so before me, you must lower your head."
"This is the absolute law of cultivation—even the righteous path must obey it."
"In the cultivation world, strength is greater than Heaven."
"And in cultivation sects, geniuses should stand lofty above all."
"If you feel unwilling toward this reality, there is only one road to take."
"Keep growing stronger—strong enough not only to enjoy privileges, but to create privileges."
"My Mount Shu disciples must never reject privilege. When you see privilege, you should strive harder—so that you may enjoy privilege yourselves."
"The cultivation world is an utterly cruel jungle, governed by the law of the strong devouring the weak."
"Weakness itself is the original sin!"
"That is the second lesson I am teaching you today."
Everyone was silent. Their minds reeled, as though all their past values had been shattered.
Benevolence, righteousness, morality…
In the face of absolute power, who dared utter a word against it?
The cultivation world was never a place of lofty virtue.
It was a world governed solely by the law of the jungle.
The strong are right. The weak deserve their fate.
Cruel as it was, this was the true face of cultivation.
"So, Furina—do you understand now?"
Jiang Yan's gaze fell upon the still-dazed Furina.
She blinked back to awareness, then nodded firmly.
"Disciple understands, Sect Master. I will recommend Focalors and Neuvillette to join Mount Shu!"
Jiang Yan inclined his head, smiling lightly.
"Accept your privileges. Use your privileges to further your cultivation. Mount Shu, too, follows the law of the jungle."
"Remember—any cultivation sect that wishes to grow stronger must uphold the principle of strength above all."
Furina straightened, pride in her posture.
"Sect Master, I dare guarantee—Focalors and Neuvillette's talents are worthy of my recommendation!"
Beside her, Tartaglia nodded heavily.
"Sect Master, I say the same! Her Majesty and the other two are unquestionably geniuses!"
Jiang Yan smiled faintly, a trace of relief in his heart.
He didn't know how much of today's words had sunk in, but at the very least, a seed had been planted.
He saw nothing wrong with letting the law of the jungle reign within Mount Shu.
Cultivation was unlike any other path—one misstep meant annihilation.
To speak of benevolence and righteousness?
Then forget about ever achieving anything.
For cultivators, the most important word of all was strive.
Yet in striving, one must also have boundaries.
Mount Shu's precepts were the chains placed upon its disciples—ensuring that while they fought and struggled, they would not fall into the demonic path.
Thoughts flashing through his mind, Jiang Yan beckoned with his hand.
"Come forward, all of you."
At once, Focalors and the others hurried to his side.
Ayaka and the rest felt the urge as well, but glancing at the Guuji, they held themselves back.
For now, resolving Inazuma's turmoil came before joining Mount Shu.
Without solving that, what use was becoming disciples?
Everything would have to wait until after speaking with the Guuji.
Jiang Yan paid them no mind. His gaze remained on the five before him, as he tapped lightly on the armrest.
An intangible will enveloped the five, probing into their innate gifts.
This will was vast yet gentle—unlike the oppressive will he'd used earlier to silence them.
Immersed within it, they felt as though they had returned to the warmest place in their lives.
Unconsciously, they began to cherish the feeling.
But Jiang Yan did not take long. He opened his eyes, his expression thoughtful.
He had to admit—this group truly came to Mount Shu bearing surprises.
Simply put, not a single one among them was anything less than a genius.
Most importantly, Neuvillette, Focalors, and the Cryo Archon already possessed considerable strength.
After retraining, they might not reach the level of Zhongli and the others
As his eyes opened, Jiang Yan immediately noticed Furina and the others' hopeful gazes.
He gave her a reassuring nod before turning to the five.
"Not bad."
Just two words, but they steadied their hearts instantly.
"Arlecchino—supreme-grade Fire Spiritual Root."
Gasps erupted at once, everyone's eyes snapping toward Arlecchino.
To start off with a supreme-grade fire root… this batch of recruits really were destined to be top-class geniuses.
Arlecchino herself understood well enough what a supreme root meant—after all, Tartaglia had talked her ear off about it.
Still, knowing it and having it were two different things. When the truth sank in, joy welled up uncontrollably.
Forcing herself to calm down, she drew a deep breath and bowed.
"Many thanks, Sect Master."
Jiang Yan's gaze then settled firmly on Rosalyne.
At once, her heart grew restless.
Was her talent lacking? Or had she done something to displease him?
Anxious thoughts swirled—until Jiang Yan spoke slowly:
"Rosalyne—Blazing Vein."
Blazing Vein?
Everyone froze. Rosalyne herself looked bewildered.
The term was entirely unfamiliar.
"Sect Master, is this Blazing Vein some sort of special constitution?"
The Guuji asked curiously. At that, Rosalyne perked up with excitement.
She didn't know what grade her root might be, but if it was a special constitution, then her talent would surely be extraordinary.
But the next moment, Jiang Yan shook his head.
"No. Blazing Vein is not a special constitution."
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