"An Supreme Earth Spiritual Root… it certainly sounds impressive," Ningguang said with a pleased smile.
But Cloud Retainer, watching her reaction, couldn't help feeling a twinge of sourness. She gave a cold little snort.
"Hmph. Ultimate earth spirit root, so what? The Emperor himself bears the legendary Heavenly Spirit Root. Ganyu possesses the Supreme Ice Spiritual Root, and the Conqueror of Demons has the Supreme Ice Spiritual Root.
"As for my disciple Shenhe, while she only has a mid-grade ice root, she was born with an exceedingly rare cultivation constitution — the Innate Frost Soul. Even the gentleman could hardly wait to accept her as a disciple.
"So tell me, what's there to be smug about over a mere 'ultimate' root?"
At those words, the little spark of pride in Ningguang's heart was snuffed out entirely.
Judging by Cloud Retainer's tone, "ultimate" didn't actually sound all that rare… it was just a fancy name, nothing more.
But Keqing, hearing the elder's constant barbs, was growing impatient. Her brows knit, and she spoke with a hint of irritation:
"If ultimate roots are so common, then surely Cloud Retainer must have one as well? Wind? Water?"
Cloud Retainer's expression froze. She gave another sharp hmph and turned her head away.
Zhongli shook his head, helpless.
"No need to sulk, Cloud Retainer. Your aptitude is quite good — an upper-grade wind root, which, according to the gentleman, is still an exceptional talent."
Cloud Retainer instantly deflated, shooting Zhongli a resentful glare.
Must the Emperor always reveal people's shortcomings in public?
In front of all these people, to point out that her cultivation talent was actually worse than Ningguang's — a mere mortal?
So the truth was… this immortal was worse at cultivation than Ningguang? Outrageous.
Her whole demeanor radiated grievance as she sat to the side, cheeks puffed like a stormcloud.
Moon Carver could only sigh and shake his head. If Cloud Retainer hadn't stepped up to posture, she wouldn't have ended up embarrassing herself. They could only be thankful that Zhongli hadn't exposed their talents as well — the "true" Liyue immortals would be even more humiliated to learn they were all beneath the Heavenly Balance Star.
Even Keqing felt awkward now; she hadn't meant to cut so deep. Not wanting Cloud Retainer to brood, she quickly changed the subject:
"So then, Ningguang's aptitude really is one in a million?"
Zhongli nodded slightly, the corners of his mouth lifting — clearly pleased that Liyue had produced so many gifted individuals.
"Indeed. According to the gentleman, even during Mount Shu's golden age, ultimate roots were rare and would be fiercely contested by the elders as precious seedlings."
Keqing arched a brow, smiling faintly at Ningguang.
"Looks like you have the qualifications to ascend after all."
Ningguang felt her heart surge with joy, but with Cloud Retainer still nursing her wounds, she didn't dare show it. One must preserve an immortal's dignity, after all.
Besides, from the guilty looks on Moon Carver and Mountain Shaper's faces, she guessed their aptitudes weren't quite as good as hers. Pressing the matter would be… unseemly.
"Leaving roots aside for now — I had been about to test the mirror's ability to survey the world. Why did it…"
Before she could finish, the mirror's surface rippled, clouds of mist blooming like ink in water.
"So you just have to speak and it obeys? What a marvelous artifact," Ningguang murmured in realization.
The others perked up with interest, and Keqing urged her on:
"Come on, Ningguang, show us. I can't see from here."
Ningguang nodded, though with some regret.
"A pity it's so small…"
The instant the thought left her lips, the Xuanyuan Mirror floated into the air, expanding into a massive screen of light.
Gasps filled the chamber.
"Incredible — to bend to the wielder's will like this… this is truly the work of an immortal!"
Keqing, overcome with excitement, blurted something slightly tactless, making Mountain Shaper and the others wince. But in their hearts, they agreed — this was utterly absurd.
Ningguang pressed her palm to the mirror's intangible surface, and the scene pulled in, zooming toward Liyue Harbor from a god's-eye view — including the very Jade Chamber they stood in.
Keqing's gaze sharpened. She strode to the door, glanced upward, waved her hand, then returned to the meeting chamber.
"Just now, did you—"
"We saw it!" Ningguang said with delight, pointing at the mirror. "When you waved outside, we saw everything as clear as day!"
Keqing grew solemn.
"Then it's true… with this, we can monitor every corner of Liyue without leaving this room."
Ningguang did not reply. She simply touched the screen again, her movements growing more fluid. The view tightened on the harbor streets, where a small, dazed figure wandered before the Ministry of Civil Affairs.
Qiqi.
It seemed she had once again forgotten what she was doing.
From the shadows, Hu Tao appeared, grinning mischievously and producing a large burlap sack from nowhere.
"Dust to dust, earth to earth… This time, you can rest in peace, Qiqi!"
In a flash, she pounced.
Qiqi snapped to awareness and bolted.
"Don't run, it'll be quick! You'll be free soon!"
"Hot… annoying person… Dr. Baizhu, help Qiqi!"
The chase devolved into chaos, sending chickens and dogs scattering along the street.
Zhongli coughed lightly, looking somewhat embarrassed.
"Send someone to assist Qiqi."
Ningguang sighed and dispatched Baiwen to inform Baizhu. Before long, the mirror showed Baizhu arriving just in time to rescue Qiqi, while Hu Tao pulled a face and vanished in a swirl of golden plum blossoms.
Only then did Ningguang dismiss the image.
"It truly is peerless. With this mirror, Liyue will have no more secrets from us."
Keqing clenched a fist, energized.
But Ningguang only furrowed her brow and shifted the view once more — this time into the depths of the sea.
In the cold abyss, towering stone pillars rose, ringed with intricate sigils of immortal power — a seal.
"That's… Osial's seal!" Xiao exclaimed.
"To see even into the deep sea… so the gentleman's words were no boast."
Ningguang pushed the mirror further, past the barrier, and the enormous, coiled form of the Vortex God appeared — eyes closed, as if in slumber.
"It can even pierce immortal seals!" Zhongli's eyes widened. Joy and concern warred within him — joy that he could perhaps check on Azhdaha's condition, concern that the damage to the seal might be noticed, spoiling the little drama he had planned.
Thankfully, Ningguang did not linger. Even if Osial seemed unaware, why tempt fate?
Raising her head, she spoke gravely:
"The test is conclusive — the Xuanyuan Mirror truly surveys the heavens above and the seas below, even through the Emperor's own seals. Its value is beyond reckoning. With this artifact, we can respond swiftly to any event in Liyue."
Keqing's eyes lit with a bold thought.
"Could we… observe the gentleman himself?"
The whole room turned to look at her strangely.
Use something he made to spy on him? Was she mad?
Keqing realized her blunder and gave an awkward laugh.
"I just mean… if he says it can see all of Teyvat…"
Ningguang's eyes gleamed, and she quickly set the mirror in motion. The scene shifted from Liyue to a vast plaza dominated by the Anemo Archon's statue, under a grey sky — clearly not Liyue.
"Mondstadt's plaza," Ningguang breathed, delighted.
"Keep going!" Keqing urged.
Ningguang obliged.
Sumeru's Akademiya… Fontaine's court… the grand square of Snezhnaya's palace… even Inazuma's Tenshukaku, where the Raiden Shogun sat in silent majesty — all passed across the screen, none the wiser.
By the end, even the most confident immortal present could not imagine Zhongli defeating the gentleman.
They learned another rule as well: the mirror would not respond to direct prying into a person's private life, but when used to survey environments or situations, it was flawless — even gods felt no gaze upon them.
This was no mere "priceless treasure." It was terrifying.
Just as Ningguang pondered this, the mirror dimmed, shrinking back to its palm-sized form and dropping onto the table.
Alarmed, she snatched it up, but no matter what she did, it remained inert.
"Emperor! Why?"
She was almost panicked — such an artifact could allow Liyue to see all, giving them an unshakable advantage in war or politics.
If it was broken… she might actually collapse.
Zhongli, equally troubled, considered a long moment before shaking his head.
"I don't know. the gentleman never said."
"What should we do, then?" Keqing was equally anxious. "This must not be lost! Whether as a weapon or as an eye over the land, it is a treasure of Liyue."
Zhongli sighed.
"At present, there is only one course."
All eyes turned to him in expectation.
Slowly, he spoke.
"the gentleman… are you there? Could you respond?"
"???"
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