Hearing Jiang Yan's question, Liu Yun let out a soft chuckle, pointing at herself with a playful glint in her eyes.
“You ask what a Xian is in front of a Xian?”
Jiang Yan remained unfazed, sensing the state of the Thunder Tribulation.
There was still time, enough time.
“In your hearts, what is a Xian?”
Jiang Yan asked again, undeterred.
Liu Yun frowned slightly, a touch of displeasure in her gaze.
She had initially thought it was a joke, but it seemed he was genuinely asking.
If not for the positive impression Jiang Yan had left on her these past few days, she would have unleashed her “super-chatty” True Immortal’s sarcastic skill right now.
“Why ask such a question?”
Liu Yun suppressed the smile in her eyes, calmly looking at Jiang Yan.
“Since the Geo Archon established Liyue, approximately three thousand seven hundred years have passed. In these thousands of years, there have been countless individuals seeking to become Xian.”
“They desire wealth, power, and strength. This is the nature of mortals.”
“But do you know what the Geo Archon and us Xian despise the most?”
Jiang Yan remained unperturbed, his smile as gentle as ever.
“To achieve the Dao and become Xian, to live a lifespan as long as Heaven.”
“Ha! Your arrogance surpasses every other Xian seeker I’ve met in these thousands of years.”
Liu Yun showed her displeasure, and Gan Yu, standing beside her, looked at Jiang Yan with a hint of concern.
From their interactions thus far, they had never sensed a yearning for becoming Xian in Jiang Yan. It was precisely because of this, along with his status as an outsider, that Liu Yun and the others had accepted him readily.
But now, why did Jiang Yan suddenly say this? Could it be because of the purple aura that engulfed the heavens earlier?
Gan Yu watched Liu Yun worriedly, afraid that Jiang Yan might say something else that would provoke her.
She was afraid Liu Yun would simply throw Jiang Yan off the mountain.
“To seek Xian… indeed, I am on the path to becoming Xian.”
But to Gan Yu’s dismay, Jiang Yan said the exact words he shouldn’t have.
Liu Yun’s face instantly contorted with displeasure, even Zhongli, hidden in the shadows observing them, couldn’t help but reveal a trace of disappointment in his golden eyes.
Jiang Yan had arrived one hundred days ago, and he had secretly listened to the Hundred Days of the Yellow Court Scripture. It was truly profound and mysterious. Zhongli, even he, had gained significant insights from it.
Coupled with today’s events, he was curious about Jiang Yan’s true nature and had planned to reveal himself. But now, Jiang Yan’s words left him disappointed.
It seemed…
He was another ordinary mortal among countless others.
But suddenly, Jiang Yan calmly said:
“Liu Yun True Immortal seems to have misunderstood.”
“My path to becoming Xian is different from your path.”
“My Xian can be sought from within, from Heaven, from the Dao, but only…”
“It cannot be sought from the outside.”
Liu Yun’s brows furrowed, she looked at Jiang Yan with a hint of surprise, and Zhongli, hidden in the shadows, also became interested.
Jiang Yan continued:
“The Yellow Court Inner Scenic Jade Scripture, Purple Clarity Chapter, states ‘To accumulate merit and become refined is not natural; it arises from sincerity and focus.’”
“Liu Yun True Immortal, I believe this passage is clear enough.”
“The Yellow Court Jade Scenic Scripture, from the heart, spirit, lungs, liver, gallbladder, spleen, and kidneys, goes through the spiritual platform, the three gates, the middle pool, the hundred valleys, the profound origin, and the yellow court.”
“Finally, it reaches the realm of being and non-being, ascends to the Upper Clarity and becomes Xian.”
“My path, from one hundred days ago until now, has never wavered.”
“Therefore, returning to the original topic…”
“In the eyes of the people of Teyvat, what is a Xian?”
Liu Yun stared intently at Jiang Yan, trying to discern the deeper meaning in his eyes.
But Jiang Yan’s eyes were no longer as clear and transparent as before. A sea of purple mist flowed, obscuring much.
Yet, Liu Yun could sense that Jiang Yan was different from those who sought Xian in the past.
He was…
Was he discussing the Dao?
After a moment of silence, sensing that Gan Yu and Shenhe were also curiously looking over, Liu Yun nodded slightly and said thoughtfully:
“My true form is a Xian Crane. After experiencing the tempering of elemental energy and the wash of time, I officially became a Xian.”
“Then, under the guidance of the Geo Archon, I mastered various Xian techniques.”
“Over a thousand years, talented individuals have emerged in the mortal world, but I’ve never heard of anyone who achieved Xianhood through their own efforts.”
“Therefore, Xian are those who are destined to be Xian.”
Jiang Yan’s gaze was profound, like a deep, bottomless spring.
“First comes destiny, then comes technique, followed by method, but there is no Dao…”
Jiang Yan shook his head, a tinge of regret in his voice.
“This is not the Xian I envision.”
“Oh? Are you denying my Xianhood?”
Liu Yun was a bit annoyed, staring at Jiang Yan quietly.
“I’ve attained my Xian body for nearly three thousand years. You’re barely twenty years old. How can you have such insights into the Dao of Xian?”
Sensing Liu Yun’s displeasure, Jiang Yan apologized with a smile.
“Myriad laws and techniques in the heavens, each has its unique abilities, and their definitions naturally differ.”
“I may not understand your Dao of Xian, but…”
“Liu Yun True Immortal, how do you cultivate your Xianhood?”
Liu Yun snorted.
“I’ve said it! Xian are those who are born as Xian. Even those who attain Xianhood later are destined to become Xian from the moment they are born.”
“Like Gan Yu, her bloodline is destined to become Xian, while Shenhe, though I raised her along with Gan Yu, she is not a Xian after all.”
As expected, Liu Yun’s super-chatty ability activated.
Other people might feel sad, but Shenhe…
She was getting colder and more indifferent. Perhaps she didn’t care.
Or perhaps she did, but didn’t want to show it.
“To be a Xian because of one’s bloodline, that is not a Xian.”
Jiang Yan shook his head, still holding his opinion. Seeing that Liu Yun was about to say something, Jiang Yan suddenly asked:
“I heard that the Geo Archon, Morax, is the ancestor of all Xian. What makes him different from you?”
Though Jiang Yan was looking directly at Liu Yun, Zhongli felt a bit uneasy. He felt like Jiang Yan was actually looking at him.
But when it came to Zhongli, Liu Yun became proud.
She lifted her long neck and snorted.
“The Geo Archon is naturally the ancestor of all Xian. Even if we are not Xian, the Geo Archon is undoubtedly a Xian!”
“The Geo Archon is born with knowledge. If us Xian need to cultivate elemental energy and accumulate Xian power to be considered Xian…”
“Then the Geo Archon, from the moment of his birth, can be considered a Xian, and he has progressed rapidly as he has mastered the powers of rock, gold, jade, and contracts.”
Jiang Yan did not contradict Liu Yun’s words, he said softly:
“Then… can the Geo Archon’s Xianhood be cultivated?”
“This…”
Liu Yun was taken aback, she said unhappily:
“Such audacity! The Geo Archon is a born Archon, the strongest ruler in the world, known as the War God!”
“The Geo Archon’s abilities are naturally something only he can control! You keep asking if Xian can be cultivated. You’re stuck in the mundane!”
“I thought you wanted to discuss the Dao with me. But you’re still so obsessed!”
Jiang Yan did not react to Liu Yun’s accusations.
He looked up at the sky, where the thunderclouds were already gathering densely. It seemed like Liu Yun’s anger was causing the storm.
Perhaps because of this, Liu Yun and the others didn’t notice the strange celestial phenomena.
“Time is almost up.”
Jiang Yan murmured softly, then looked down at the group before him.
“If Xian are born from Heaven and Earth, then I’m sorry, but I don’t acknowledge that as Xian.”
“To be destined to become Xian, to be a child of Heaven, to be born divine and nurtured by Heaven and Earth, these are not Xian.”
“Cultivating techniques, methods, and lifespan, but not cultivating the Dao… Such Xian are far from my imagination.”
“You say that the way of Xian in Teyvat has thousands of techniques and myriad methods. I ask you only one thing, can it achieve eternal life?”
“Can it achieve eternity?”
“Can it achieve immortality?”
Jiang Yan’s series of questions further angered Liu Yun. Gan Yu quickly gestured to Jiang Yan, urging him to stop.
She was genuinely afraid that Liu Yun would throw Jiang Yan down the mountain.
“You’ve said so much! You just want to become Xian, don’t you? Ridiculous! It doesn’t matter how Xian are in your original world. In Teyvat, Xian are this way.”
“It has always been this way, and it will always be this way.”
Liu Yun snorted and set down her teacup.
“Gan Yu, Shenhe, show the guest out!”
“Liu Yun True Immortal, Jiang Yan…”
Gan Yu was eager to smooth things over.
But Jiang Yan shook his head, calmly standing up. His dark robe billowed in the wind, mysterious and profound.
“Liu Yun True Immortal, my words today were indeed reckless, but… this is my path, it cannot be deceived, it cannot be changed.”
“Humph! Then go pursue your dream of becoming Xian! Maybe you’ll dream of becoming Xian tonight, which would fulfill your wish. Farewell!”
Looking at Liu Yun’s cold words, Jiang Yan smiled peacefully.
“Thank you for your blessing, Liu Yun True Immortal, but you’re wrong. Xian is not something you dream of, nor is it something you are born as.”
“Xian is something you cultivate!”
“To defy Heaven and struggle against fate, to replace Heaven’s heart with my heart, even when Heaven perishes, I shall not perish, even when Heaven decays, I shall not decay.”
“To transcend the three realms and not be bound by the five elements.”
“This is my Dao of Xian, the Dao of the Yellow Court.”
“To not fight or compete, to follow the way of Heaven, will never result in becoming a true Xian.”
Jiang Yan slowly raised his hands, a swirling purple mist gathered at his feet. His long black hair flowed in the wind, appearing free and unconstrained, as if he was about to soar away at any moment.
Upon seeing this, Liu Yun’s pupils constricted, she looked at Jiang Yan incredulously, chewing on his words.
She frowned and said:
“Heretical, blasphemous!”
“Is that so? Then I’m reassured.”
The smile on Jiang Yan’s face gradually turned audacious. He tilted his head and gazed up at the sky, where thunder and lightning flashed.
“If I were to be as docile as a house pet and follow the will of Heaven, then I would never become Xian. Everything about me must fight against Heaven.”
“To go against the current, that is my destiny.”
Jiang Yan slowly ascended, saying softly:
“Morax, if you are interested, then observe alongside Liu Yun and the others.”
“Watch me… as I struggle against fate!”
Flowers bloomed in the void, sword light flared beneath his feet, and Jiang Yan pierced through the space, reaching the endless high heavens. The dark clouds that seemed to be crushing Teyvat were almost oppressive, but Jiang Yan, with his purple aura, looked incredibly small. He appeared to be fighting against the entire world alone.
But at this moment, he exuded an aura of excitement. This emotion blended harmoniously with the world. Even the Jade Chamber was celebrating for him.