Looking at Jiang Yan, who stood before them with a calm face, yet radiating a heart-wrenching sorrow.
Zhongli and the others were unsure how to comfort him.
Gan Yu looked at Jiang Yan with a hint of heartache, whispering:
“Jiang Yan, don’t be like this…”
Unfortunately, Jiang Yan was still lost in his emotional performance.
As a cultivator in the Divine Transformation Realm, his every word and action harmonized with Heaven.
Controlling his emotions was a simple task.
And subsequently influencing the world was a piece of cake, especially in a fragile world like Teyvat, which was already on the brink of collapse.
Zhongli remained silent for a moment, his gaze filled with mixed emotions as he looked at Jiang Yan.
“I’m sorry, I didn’t know about any of this…”
“It’s alright, the matter has been settled. I claim to be the current leader of Mount Shu, simply to prevent this glorious sect from being completely forgotten.”
Jiang Yan sighed and said softly:
“My former master once told me, the death of a life has three stages.”
“The first stage is when the heartbeat ceases, and it is declared dead.”
“The second stage is when the life fades away, bid farewell by friends and family.”
“The third stage is when the last person in the world who remembers this life passes away, and then the life truly vanishes.”
“I believe it’s the same for Mount Shu… as long as I remember Mount Shu and believe in my identity, then Mount Shu has not perished.”
Jiang Yan’s words reverberated through the hearts of Zhongli and the others like a great bell, delivering an unprecedented shock.
“The three stages of death…”
Zhongli raised his teacup, but lowered it before it reached his lips, repeating the action several times.
Zhongli sighed deeply and bowed slightly:
“Enlightened… Your master is indeed a wise person.”
A faint smile suddenly appeared on Jiang Yan’s face, and he nodded slightly.
“Indeed, my master was a wise and virtuous person, achieving the realm of Unity with Dao within three hundred years.”
“He especially enjoyed drinking and having fun in his spare time, often transforming into an ordinary person to experience various aspects of life when drunk.”
“His mental state and potential are unparalleled throughout the ages.”
“Many of the ancestors in the Upper Realm said that my master would be the most likely candidate to reach the peak of Golden Immortal within the next few hundred kalpas.”
“But…”
A deep sorrow flashed in Jiang Yan’s eyes.
“In the turbulent flow of the river of time, my master was accidentally splashed by a drop of water from the river of time while protecting me…”
“No matter how talented and brilliant my master was, he was still only at the peak of Unity with Dao.”
“What could he do against the river of time, which even Golden Immortals need to be careful about?”
“I watched helplessly as my master smiled and waved goodbye to me, and then, the lifespan of a Unity with Dao cultivator, spanning tens of thousands of years, vanished in an instant.”
“He passed away before my eyes, in the blink of an eye, leaving no trace even of his bones.”
Jiang Yan clenched his fist tightly.
He had successfully deceived himself.
Zhongli and the others didn’t know how to comfort Jiang Yan, and Gan Yu reached out to pat his shoulder with a heartbroken expression.
But she couldn’t bring herself to do it.
“You said it yourself.”
Zhongli suddenly spoke.
“The Dao has fifty paths, and Heaven’s will has forty-nine. The one that escapes, that one, is a chance of survival.”
“You survived, which is in a way, a victory against fate for the ancestor of Mount Shu.”
“Therefore, you should carry on the legacy of Mount Shu.”
Jiang Yan was stunned. He hadn’t expected Zhongli to grasp the secrets of cultivation so quickly.
He was already using those words to comfort him.
It seemed like these words had truly earned Zhongli’s trust.
If that’s the case, then he should get to the point.
But before he could speak, Liu Yun interjected:
“So, are you not acknowledging our immortals because of these things? I… I mean, you don’t acknowledge immortals who are born with their powers?”
“Not acknowledging immortals born with innate powers?”
Jiang Yan didn’t expect Liu Yun to be able to smooth things over even with this, so he went with the flow and said softly.
“It’s something like that… I’m sorry. Hearing that your immortals are born with their powers made me think of the Great Daos who were born with their Dao.”
“It was my prejudice.”
Jiang Yan’s eyes shimmered with purple light as he scanned the immortals present, starting with Liu Yun.
Zhongli, Gan Yu, Xiao, Risha…
After a while, he nodded.
“Leaving cultivation aside, your inherent strengths are not weak. Especially Morax, in my view, you are at the top of this world.”
“Even though it was a gift from Heaven, you are not Great Daos, born with Dao without needing to cultivate.”
“You have paid the price of blood and tears for your current strength. My words just now were rash.”
Upon hearing this, Liu Yun felt a little more comfortable.
If an ordinary person had said these words, Liu Yun wouldn’t have hesitated to slap them and ask who they thought they were.
But not only was Jiang Yan a Divine Transformation Realm cultivator, he had also elevated both Mount Shu and himself to such heights.
Hearing these words from him, Liu Yun was somewhat happy.
However, Zhongli chuckled bitterly and shook his head.
“Top of the world? Maybe not, especially now that I’ve heard about your cultivation path.”
“It’s just Qi Refinement and Divine Transformation. In the peak era of Mount Shu, at my age, I would have been one of the most insignificant disciples as a Qi Refinement and Divine Transformation cultivator.”
Jiang Yan comforted him.
“Don’t belittle yourself like that. As a being of Teyvat, you should use Teyvat’s perspective to judge yourself.”
“Furthermore, it’s simply the world’s limit that has restricted you. If you were in my world, perhaps you might have become an immortal long ago.”
“Your potential, if placed in the peak era of Mount Shu, would have been among the best.”
Hearing these words, Zhongli and the others felt a sense of comfort. Liu Yun initially wanted to ask about Jiang Yan’s potential compared to his own, but after careful consideration, she decided against it.
Jiang Yan’s bone age was only a little over twenty years old, something everyone could see clearly.
At the age of twenty, reaching Divine Transformation Realm. This kind of potential was probably unparalleled in the history of Mount Shu.
Otherwise, why would he be accepted as a disciple by such a talented master? Why would the ancestor of Mount Shu send him away at the last moment?
The seed must be the most talented one.
To be fair, if Liu Yun were to take on a disciple, it would have to be someone with exceptional talent, Shenhe being the proof.
It was best not to bring up such uncomfortable topics.
Everyone didn’t want to talk about this depressing subject.
It wasn’t just about Jiang Yan’s tragic experience, it was really…
Great Dao, Taishang…
Hearing too many stories about beings of these unimaginable levels would only lead to despair about the future.
Thankfully, Zhongli changed the subject.
“So, you traveled through the spacetime turbulence to reach Teyvat.”
Jiang Yan nodded.
“I haven’t fully recovered my strength after passing through the spacetime turbulence. I’m very grateful for the care of Liu Yun, Gan Yu, and Shenhe.”
“Please don’t call me True君.”
Liu Yun quickly interrupted Jiang Yan.
“After hearing what you’ve said, I don’t even want to call myself an immortal. Just call me Liu Yun.”
Jiang Yan didn’t refuse.
Zhongli continued.
“So, what are your plans from now on? If you don’t have a place to stay, feel free to settle in Liyue for a while and then consider your options.”
Zhongli looked at Jiang Yan with anticipation. Even Liu Yun and the others were somewhat excited.
The things Jiang Yan had said couldn’t be verified, and to believe everything would be foolish considering how long they had lived.
But Jiang Yan’s strength was real, something everyone had witnessed with their own eyes.
Unbelievably strong.
And the key was that he could still cultivate and break through, which was absolutely ridiculous.
If Jiang Yan was willing to join Liyue, then Liyue would have found a powerful ally capable of turning the tide of Heaven and Earth.
Once he reached Unity with Dao, he could probably bring Liyue to new heights.
It would be foolish to miss out on this incredible opportunity.
As Zhongli extended an olive branch, Jiang Yan shook his head.
“I’m sorry, I am ultimately a disciple of Mount Shu. Even if Mount Shu is merely in name, I cannot abandon that identity.”
“If even I give up, then Mount Shu truly will perish.”
Zhongli took a sip of tea and didn’t say anything more, but his desire to bring Jiang Yan aboard remained.
However, Gan Yu was a better choice to continue the conversation.
Gan Yu naturally understood Zhongli’s intentions and immediately said:
“We’re not asking you to abandon your identity as a disciple of Mount Shu, Jiang Yan. Even though you are very strong, you are still unfamiliar with the place, and you need someone to look after you.”
“Liyue is the strongest and richest nation in Teyvat. If you are willing to join Liyue, you can still be the leader of Mount Shu.”
“Liyue can provide manpower and resources to help you rebuild Mount Shu.”
Just as Gan Yu was about to continue, Jiang Yan gently raised his hand to stop her.
“I understand your good intentions, but it goes against my beliefs.”
“Furthermore, I have already decided what I want to do next.”
Hearing this, Zhongli and the others were instantly interested.
“What is it?”
Zhongli asked softly.
A bright light flashed in Jiang Yan’s eyes, an unprecedented passion that was clear to everyone.
Jiang Yan clenched his fist tightly.
“As long as I live, Mount Shu will not perish!”
“Its glory may be gone, but I will restore its splendor!”
“I will… reopen the sect and restore the glory of Mount Shu!”