“The jade chime and golden bell I’ve made are ultimately not even a millionth as good as the original.”
“While it's true that in Teyvat, it can be considered unparalleled in defense, even someone like Morax Daoist, with hundreds of people attacking together…”
“They still couldn’t shake the golden bell even a bit.”
“But…the golden bell cannot be used in such a manner.”
Jiang Yan raised his hand and lightly brushed the jade chime and golden bell.
“This is the symbol of Mount Shu. Unless it’s a matter of life and death, it will never be used.”
“Moreover, the current golden bell suppresses many formations within the Mount Shu Cave Heaven, serving as the foundation of its formations.”
“This is made from materials I condensed yesterday while traversing the Quantum Sea, using a world that had already perished.”
“Currently, this is the only golden bell that can suppress the formations.”
Everyone muttered in astonishment.
Jiang Yan’s casual mention of worlds left them somewhat baffled.
Ignoring those details for the time being, Ganyu curiously asked:
“Jiang Yan, is that the only use of the golden bell?”
“Of course not.”
Jiang Yan smiled.
“Every morning and evening, the golden bell rings once each, reminding disciples to seize the opportunities for cultivation during sunrise and sunset.”
“Hmm…You can consider it an alarm clock.”
“…”
Everyone was speechless.
A mid-grade spirit artifact as an alarm clock?
You don’t need it, give it to us!
“Besides that, the golden bell also has implications for some major affairs in Mount Shu. You must remember them.”
Jiang Yan became slightly serious, softly saying:
“The golden bell rings thrice, conveying it to heaven and earth. This signifies the birth of a prodigy within the sect.”
“The golden bell rings six times, purifying the nine realms. This signifies the ascension of a senior within the sect.”
“The golden bell rings nine times, startling gods and Buddhas. At this moment, the sound of the golden bell ascends to the nine heavens and descends to the underworld. It can be heard in any corner of the world.”
“All Mount Shu disciples, regardless of what they are doing or where they are, must return at the fastest speed.”
“The golden bell ringing nine times represents an existential threat to Mount Shu, and the jade chime and golden bell must be deployed.”
“However, you only need to keep these in mind.”
Everyone nodded solemnly, committing these to memory.
Jiang Yan surveyed the crowd, softly saying:
“The sect hall is the most important place in Mount Shu, and only Mount Shu disciples can enter.”
“Although Mount Shu is in a special period right now, some rules must be followed.”
“If you have no intention of joining Mount Shu, stop here.”
“If you wish to travel through the seven peaks of Mount Shu, you can use the Rainbow Bridge to go there. However, do not enter the main hall of the seven peaks.”
“Non-Mount Shu disciples who enter will be attacked by the formation.”
Everyone understood that the tour was over, and it was time to get down to business.
Accordingly, Ningguang turned around and instructed the Liyue Qixing to stay at the peak of Heaven for the time being.
The Liyue Qixing could not join Mount Shu for the time being, and besides, it was uncertain if there were any talented individuals among them.
The Liyue Qixing were not disappointed, nor did they wander around aimlessly.
The peak of Heaven, due to Jiang Yan’s need for cultivation, had the highest concentration of spiritual energy.
Standing here for a while, they felt their physical abilities rapidly increase.
They were hoping to seize this opportunity to breathe in a little more of this energy.
After making the arrangements, Ningguang turned around and smiled at Jiang Yan.
“Can we go inside now, Mr. Jiang Yan?”
Seeing that Zhongli and the others had not wavered, Jiang Yan nodded in relief.
At least it was worth all the effort he had put into explaining.
Mount Shu was ready to open!
“Follow me.”
Jiang Yan turned around and led the way towards the sect hall.
As the last immortal entered, the doors of the sect hall slammed shut.
Without Jiang Yan and Zhongli, the Liyue Qixing heaved a sigh of relief.
They immediately started excitedly exchanging stories, marveling at how amazing this mission had turned out to be.
They had met real cultivators, experienced sword-flying.
They had also seen so many breathtaking sights and become much stronger.
This trip was truly worth it.
If they could join Mount Shu, they could even cultivate.
Thinking about it, the Liyue Qixing became even more excited.
…
Inside the hall.
Only after actually entering the hall could they feel how solemn and imposing it was.
It unconsciously caused them to tread lightly.
But while solemn, it also possessed an ethereal sense of transcendence.
Looking up, they saw countless sword formations etched on the ceiling of the sect hall.
In a daze, it was as if someone was practicing swordsmanship up above.
But upon closer inspection, they seemed empty.
They had seen too many wonders, so they didn’t find it extraordinary.
It was simply commonplace.
Thinking this, Zhongli felt somewhat helpless.
Currently, they had simply seen too much, so they found it commonplace.
If they could understand all this by themselves after cultivating in the future, that would truly be commonplace.
Jiang Yan sat cross-legged in the center of the seven cushions.
Everyone understood that those seven cushions must be for the seven peak masters.
Naturally, they did not dare to sit down recklessly.
Jiang Yan pointed with his finger, and a bunch of cushions appeared in the hall.
Everyone sat down cross-legged, imitating Jiang Yan.
As they looked up, their eyes met the Dao character.
In an instant, a magnificent Dao sound entered the ears of everyone present.
“Act without doing, act with weakness, act with feminine passivity, do not move first.”
“Act without name, act with tranquility, act with all good.”
“Act without desire, act with knowing contentment, act with yielding.”
“First precept, disrespecting elders. Second precept, killing without cause. Third precept, profaning heaven and earth. Fourth precept, aiding tyrants and oppressors. Fifth precept, separating from kin.”
“Sixth precept, killing fellow disciples. Seventh precept, insatiable greed. Eighth precept, disloyalty and unfiliality. Ninth precept, lust, deceit, and theft. Tenth precept, arrogance.”
“All Mount Shu disciples must uphold the Nine Actions and Ten Precepts, and only then can they attain eternal Dao.”
“If you violate the Ten Precepts, you will be punished by heaven and earth, your soul will perish, and your Dao will be extinguished.”
The serious Dao sound hammered heavily into everyone’s minds like a huge mallet.
Momentarily exposed to such stern Dao sound transmission, everyone was momentarily taken aback.
They felt their minds slightly dazed.
Ganyu and the others’ faces turned pale.
Jiang Yan flicked his finger, sending several streams of light into everyone’s bodies.
That helped a little.
“Jiang Yan, what is this…?”
Ganyu looked at Jiang Yan in a daze, but she didn’t dare look at the Dao character again.
“This is the Nine Actions and Ten Precepts of Mount Shu. It is the Mount Shu sect rules, the rules that all Mount Shu disciples must follow.”
“If you violate the Ten Precepts, the Mount Shu Law Enforcement Hall will naturally suppress you.”
“This is something every Mount Shu disciple must experience once, but only once.”
“If you look at the Dao character again, you’ll only feel peace of mind.”
Hearing this, everyone slowly raised their heads and looked at the Dao character again.
As expected, that feeling was gone. In its place was a sense of inner peace.
But those rules were already etched into their hearts.
They didn’t understand it now, but maybe they would in the future.
Jiang Yan smiled, softly saying:
“I believe you are all good people, and the Mount Shu Ten Precepts won’t constrain you. Don’t worry.”
“Normally, for your talent, you should have had the golden bell ring twice to summon the seven peak masters and all the elders.”
“To hold a grand apprenticeship ceremony together.”
“Each of you possesses extraordinary talent, and there are even those suitable for the Pure Yin Body of Qinghui lineage on the Small Bamboo Peak and the Sword Body of the Sword Sect on the Peak of Heaven.”
“Normally, you would not be able to all choose to join a single peak.”
“But now…”
Jiang Yan sighed helplessly.
“The entire Mount Shu, from top to bottom, has only a mere returning to the divine realm cultivator like myself. There’s really no other way.”
“Therefore…”
Before he could finish, Keqing excitedly exclaimed:
“Therefore you are going to take all of us as your disciples?”
Hearing this, Ganyu felt somewhat melancholy. She wondered if Mount Shu prohibited teacher-student romance. Otherwise…
But thinking about the Ten Precepts just now, it didn’t seem to explicitly prohibit it?
Liking your master…
Is that disrespecting elders?
It’s at most considered rebelling against your master, and it wouldn’t lead to death, right?
Jiang Yan was interrupted by Keqing’s bluntness. After a moment of stunned silence, he shook his head with a smile.
“No, I am not going to take all of you in at once.”
“It’s just that, I will, according to your respective suitability…”
“Report to our ancestors, accept disciples on behalf of the seven peaks of Mount Shu!”