It’s unknown how long it took, but even the sun in the Cave Heaven had moved to its zenith.
Only then did the purple qi in the Cave Heaven slowly dissipate, and the Cave Heaven returned to peace.
However, compared to when Jiang Yan first entered, the Cave Heaven was now vastly different.
It wouldn’t be an exaggeration to say it had been transformed entirely.
Jiang Yan sat cross-legged in the Grand Hall of the Sect Leader on the Heavenly Summit, behind him, on the massive hall, there was only a profound and enigmatic Dao character carved.
Jiang Yan's face was slightly pale at this moment, but the continuous influx of spiritual energy into his body allowed him to recover quickly.
From the highest peak, he looked down, his vision encompassing thousands of miles, taking in the scenery of the Cave Heaven.
Even with Jiang Yan's temperament, he couldn't help but smile proudly.
The seven most prominent peaks, the Seven Veins of Mount Shu, were no longer the bare and unsightly sight they once were.
The mountain ranges were majestic and towering, with peaks rising and falling. Besides the highest seven peaks, there were many others that were slightly lower but still breathtakingly beautiful.
Bamboo forests, golden maple trees, snow plums, and many other unique natural landscapes adorned the mountains.
Dense forests, waterfalls, and cliffs dotted the landscape.
Some mountains were covered in snow, while others were vibrant with greenery.
These incredible landscapes clustered together, quite magical, showcasing the inclusiveness and diversity of Mount Shu.
It seemed that it wouldn’t lose face.
The Seven Veins were interconnected, with six veins guarding the Heavenly Summit.
Amongst them, many more miraculous landscapes were brewing within these mountains.
Rainbow bridges connecting the peaks seemed like real bridges that could be walked upon and traversed.
Endless clouds swirled around the mid-mountain slopes, surging with a sense of grandeur.
The lowest, the Jade Screen, was boundless, like a true barrier encircling the Seven Veins.
The bamboo waves flowed like emerald ink, and with the wind, they brushed against each other, creating a hauntingly beautiful sound.
And then there were the platforms that only revealed themselves at night.
And the fleeting rays of light that shone across the sky at certain times.
Added to this were the structures that Jiang Yan had crafted within the Seven Veins.
Flying pavilions with red-painted beams, jade towers and pavilions.
Carved beams and painted eaves, stunningly beautiful.
The cinnamon palaces and orchid halls were free from the gaudiness of the worldly, more like celestial palaces, inspiring awe and admiration in anyone who saw them.
Compared to the current Seven Veins, the place where the immortals gathered in the Firmament Beyond the Clouds was truly rather simple.
Each peak had its unique architectural style.
For example, the Heavenly Summit, represented by the Sect Leader, emphasized formal grandeur, with many palaces surrounding the central Grand Hall of the Sect Leader, arranged symmetrically in a strict and orderly layout.
On the other hand, the Small Bamboo Peak reflected the serene and elegant character of women, with scattered buildings, each a beautiful and ethereal quiet elegance.
However, the Dragon Head Peak, which governs punishment, was one that inspired awe and solemnity at first glance.
The buildings were predominantly tall, emphasizing a sense of oppression.
In general, the unique peaks and landscapes also reflected the unique characteristics of the structures on them.
They were unified in their differences, and independent in their unity.
The Seven Veins of Mount Shu were arguably Jiang Yan's most successful work thus far.
Approximately a hundred kilometers away from the foot of the Seven Veins, there was a secluded peach orchard village.
The houses were primarily wooden, preserving their rustic charm.
This was Jiang Yan’s provision for the mortals who would later reside in the Cave Heaven.
Even cultivators had loved ones, and Mount Shu didn’t cultivate a path of heartless detachment, so it naturally wouldn’t reject the mundane.
However, the Seven Veins were majestic, and even getting up there was a challenge, not to mention for ordinary mortals. Even those with the Eyes of God would find it difficult to ascend.
Between the village and the Seven Veins of Mount Shu was a massive white jade plaza.
At a glance, it could accommodate tens of thousands of people standing together.
This was Jiang Yan’s provision for the future recruitment of disciples and assessment area.
North of the array, beyond the Jade Screen connecting the Seven Veins, below was a terrifying Forest of Swords.
Various kinds of swords, some decayed, some as good as new, were stuck into the earth.
These were some simple swords that Jiang Yan had created in his spare time, perhaps not as good as Zhongli’s artifacts, but many were comparable to the Dragon in the Case.
After all, these were simply made by Jiang Yan casually, he was simply trying to complete the set.
As for the future, he could use better materials and forge some excellent weapons with care, guaranteed to be no weaker than the artifacts of Teyvat.
Placing them there and setting up a large sword array would be a decent training ground.
Outside the scope of the Seven Veins, there were various landscapes.
Lakes, rivers, mountains, rainforests, plains, snowfields, all were there.
This Cave Heaven already had a hint of the grandeur of a true small world.
It was well worth all of Jiang Yan's hard work.
Even the tribulation hadn’t exhausted his true essence, but creating this Cave Heaven had completely drained him.
With golden light in his eyes, Jiang Yan surveyed the entire world.
The current Mount Shu Cave Heaven was already complete.
But he wouldn’t say it was perfect.
Everything else could be dealt with, but the lifelessness was truly a headache.
Jiang Yan couldn’t simply create life out of nothing.
That wasn't something someone like him, who wasn’t even an Immortal, could do.
Besides, although it was a stable and secure Cave Heaven, it didn’t mean it didn’t need arrays.
Could a good cultivation sect be without its own arrays?
Not to mention, the assessment plaza would need to have many trial arrays, such as the Heart Refining Array.
The Seven Veins would also need their own arrays.
These were all major projects that couldn’t be completed in a day or two.
After completing the arrays, he could rest for a while.
Mount Shu was newly established, and there wouldn’t be many people for the time being. Things like the Law Enforcement Hall, the Pill Pavilion, etc., could be delayed for now.
But he still had to recruit disciples, so Jiang Yan needed to research the cultivation techniques he’d give to them.
The Five Elements Incantation was indeed suitable for everyone, but it was too common and lacked originality.
Jiang Yan had said that Mount Shu had a rich foundation, how could he be so casual about it?
He needed to create some cultivation techniques from the Jade Scroll of the Yellow Court.
This was relatively easy. After all, the Jade Scroll of the Yellow Court was comprehensive. Even taking out a single section, with minor additions, could become an excellent cultivation technique.
It was simply a matter of time.
After creating the techniques, there were the pills to help disciples cultivate. After the pills, there would need to be artifacts.
Finally, he also had to consider the disciples’ need for trials...
As he thought about it, Jiang Yan’s head began to ache. If the system didn’t help him with these things, and he had to do it all by himself, it would be a huge burden to even create spirit beasts.
After a long silence, Jiang Yan sighed leisurely.
“Nevermind, let’s just start from the beginning, step by step.”
“Once I’ve recovered my true essence, I’ll go around Teyvat. I have to collect more animals. Otherwise, this Cave Heaven will be too lifeless.”
“Especially immortal cranes. As a cultivation sect, how can it be without immortal cranes? There seem to be quite a few in the Firmament Beyond the Clouds.”
“Hopefully, Yun Jin won’t get angry when she sees them.”
After talking to himself, Jiang Yan quietly closed his eyes.
The Jade Scroll of the Yellow Court began to circulate, and the void of the Cave Heaven started to absorb Teyvat's spiritual energy.
Of course, Jiang Yan didn’t directly absorb from Liyue, as it would cause too much commotion.
His chosen destination…
…was the Abyss below and the Sea of Darkness.
These two places were close to the Tree and Sea's true world, and the spiritual energy was abundant. He didn’t have to worry about any commotion.
At this rate, the spiritual energy could fill the entire Cave Heaven in a minute.
As for the Tree and Sea universe’s name for it as Imaginary Number Energy…
It was simply a different way of calling it.
All energy in heaven and earth was simply different manifestations of spiritual energy.
Perhaps the properties of the spiritual energy were different, and for the people of Teyvat, or even the people of the Tree and Sea universe, they could even be fatal.
But it was what it was, Jiang Yan was a cultivator after all!
Cultivators didn’t care what kind of spiritual energy it was!
As long as it was spiritual energy, they could absorb it!
He might just have to spend more time refining it.
As the Cave Heaven was continuously infused with spiritual energy, Jiang Yan's recovery speed also became faster.
He even began to formally cultivate the Jade Scroll of the Yellow Court for the first time after becoming a cultivator.
As for the commotion in the Sea of Darkness and the Abyss, he didn’t care.
Right now, the most important thing was to cultivate. After he finished cultivating, he still had to go out and collect animals.
Jiang Yan’s time was tight, and he had to get everything in order before Zhongli and the others officially returned and decided to join Mount Shu.
As for whether Zhongli and the others would join Mount Shu and become cultivators…
Did he even need to consider that?
No one could resist the temptation of cultivation, not even the native immortals of Teyvat.
While Jiang Yan was immersed in the joy of cultivation, Zhongli and the others had already gathered the Seven Stars and the immortals.
They were ready to hold the long-awaited Liyue Seven Stars General Meeting.