Though the scenery outside Mount Shu could not quite compare to its breathtaking vistas, it was not far behind either.
Along the way, everyone listened as stories of cultivation, little anecdotes of daily life on Mount Shu, were told. Even the most trivial tale—like someone losing control while practicing sword-riding and tumbling down a cliff—was enough to spark lively chatter for a long while.
Perhaps it wasn't the stories themselves that delighted them, but the fact that they were now conversing as cultivators.
Ganyu remained focused on communicating with the Qingluan, guiding it to take everyone on a full circle around Mount Shu. Truth be told, she didn't think there was much to see beyond its borders. Or maybe it was simply because her thoughts were all occupied with one particular person; no matter how grand the scenery, it paled in comparison.
She was just wondering whether she should seek out Jiang Yan that evening when she suddenly sensed someone approaching from behind. With a ripple of true essence, the faint blush on her face vanished, replaced once again with serene composure.
"Senior Sister Ganyu, could we have a word?"
Furina tilted her head, eyes full of anticipation.
Curious, Ganyu nodded.
Furina quickly waved for Clorinde to come closer.
"Hurry, Clorinde, show her the photos!"
With a sigh, Clorinde pulled out a stack of photographs and handed them over. On them were images of Liyue's Millelith soldiers.
"Senior Sister Ganyu, I think Liyue is preparing to implement martial arts across the entire nation," Furina said eagerly. "How exactly does one obtain this martial cultivation?"
Her eyes shone with expectation.
Coming to Mount Shu, Furina had only two goals. The first was to win recognition as a disciple and begin the path of cultivation. The second was to unravel the mysteries of martial arts—and if possible, acquire techniques.
Teyvat's evolution was already unstoppable, history's wheel rolling ever forward. To avoid being crushed beneath it, one had to climb aboard and help steer.
With spiritual energy spreading and beasts growing fiercer, the world was becoming less and less stable.
Cultivation might grant mastery over heaven and earth, but it was never meant for everyone. Mount Shu was but one sect, and it could never accept disciples without limit. Only a minority could walk the immortal path.
But those who could not cultivate—should they simply be abandoned?
Furina didn't believe relying solely on cultivators to protect Fontaine was realistic. The more she learned of cultivation, the less confident she became.
Cultivators measured their lifespans in centuries, even millennia. Their greatest pursuit was longevity and power. A single secluded retreat could last decades.
Now, it might not show, but what about in the future when their progress soared higher?
In the blink of an eye, seas could become mulberry fields. Could cultivators truly shield Fontaine forever? Unlikely.
The only way for all Fontainians to survive this era of upheaval was through a path of transcendence that everyone could walk.
The Vision system? Unreliable. Now that she had stepped onto the cultivation path, Furina no longer even looked twice at such a borrowed power. External strength was still external—once a Vision was lost, its wielder became as good as useless.
But martial arts were different. This was a system, akin to cultivation, where power resided within oneself.
If Fontaineans could walk this road, then even if they couldn't claim absolute security, they would at least keep pace with the times.
Furina could not allow Fontaine to be swept away by the tides of change. The prophecy crisis might have passed, but an even greater opportunity for growth was now at hand—one she had no intention of wasting.
Ganyu wasn't surprised by the photos Furina and Clorinde brought. After all, with so many state figures present among this year's entrants, it was only natural that martial arts would be a concern. Their questions were expected.
She nodded and said,
"You should have already heard in Liyue Harbor. These martial arts techniques were indeed created by Senior Zhongli after becoming a cultivator.
"From the moment Mount Shu was founded, spiritual energy began accumulating. Sooner or later, Teyvat will give rise to countless powerful demons and beasts.
"Relying on cultivators alone is impossible. Thus, after the Sect Master raised the issue, Senior Zhongli devised the martial arts cultivation system.
"When the techniques returned to Liyue, coupled with an earlier trade agreement with Mount Shu, Liyue gained access to large amounts of beast meat.
"That meat nourished their martial artists, accelerating martial cultivation tremendously.
"In seven days, once the Qixing are done acclimating to cultivation, they will return to Liyue Harbor and formally announce the full-scale promotion of martial arts."
Hearing this, Furina and Clorinde exchanged astonished glances.
They had expected Liyue to be prepared, but not this prepared. Nationwide implementation of martial cultivation—that was bold beyond compare. Fontaine could hardly hope to match it.
But sighing over Liyue's audacity wasn't the point right now.
Furina bit her lip and asked hopefully,
"Senior Sister Ganyu, can Fontaine also cultivate martial arts?"
"Of course," Ganyu answered with a smile. "The martial arts techniques created by Senior Zhongli are already available in the Hall of Merits. A thousand contribution points will let you purchase one."
"Only a thousand?" Clorinde blinked in surprise. She had seen martial artists in action—their innate strength rivaled even ordinary Vision holders. And there were still three realms beyond the innate stage.
Techniques of that caliber costing a mere four digits? Unthinkable.
Keqing, who happened to overhear, chuckled softly and explained:
"It's only martial arts. Why be so concerned? We are cultivators, after all. Mortal arts mean little to us.
"Martial arts were something Senior Zhongli created almost offhand. For cultivators, they're of little use, hence the low price.
"But for you, who just entered the sect, it won't be so easy. A thousand contribution points means a thousand lower-grade spirit stones—enough for a solid stretch of cultivation.
"If you're not in a hurry, I wouldn't recommend spending your points on martial arts just yet."
She pointed toward the mid-slopes of Bamboo Peak, where a cluster of somewhat desolate-looking buildings stood.
By now, the Qingluan had already circled Mount Shu and was carrying them back.
"That," Keqing explained, "is the disciple marketplace, where members of Mount Shu barter and exchange.
"There, you can trade spirit stones or other resources.
"My advice is this: while you're still familiarizing yourselves with cultivation, don't waste your spirit stones or contribution points unnecessarily."
Furina and Clorinde exchanged helpless glances.
"But with our strength, creating new techniques suited for Fontaineans is impossible," Furina admitted, spreading her hands to show her meager Refining Essence, Transforming Qi cultivation.
For a god, such weak strength was enough to raise eyebrows. Yet Keqing and Ganyu remained impassive—they had already learned plenty about Furina through the Heart-Testing Array.
Everyone tacitly agreed to ignore it. As Zhongli and the others had said, once one stepped into Mount Shu, past identities no longer mattered.
"In that case," Keqing suggested, "you could post a request at the Hall of Merits. If Senior Zhongli sees it, he might well create a martial art tailored for Fontainians."
Furina fell silent. Keqing realized they hadn't yet figured out how to earn contribution points, scratching her cheek awkwardly. After a moment, her eyes lit up.
"Ah! That's right, the Hall of Merits still has tasks available. The rewards aren't large, but every bit adds up.
"Mining spirit ore would be dangerous for you—most ores are highly aggressive, and without training you'd be at risk.
"But there are also tasks for collecting beast materials.
"Just recently, Junior Brother Baizhu posted one: he's offering five hundred contribution points for venom from a Refining Essence early-stage beast called the Heavenly Sound Toad.
"No one's taken it yet—we're all too busy, and Baizhu himself is focused on alchemy. He doesn't want to leave Mount Shu.
"If you're short on points, then once you've studied in the Sutra Pavilion, you can try your hand at a task like this. You'll gather what you need in no time."
Furina and Clorinde's eyes lit up. Compared to inventing techniques or bartering with nothing in hand, this at least seemed feasible.
Creating their own techniques? Ridiculous at their level.
Bartering? They had nothing to offer.
But completing tasks—though dangerous—felt practical and achievable.
Thinking it over, Furina asked curiously,
"Senior Sister Keqing, this Heavenly Sound Toad…"
Before she could finish, Keqing—ever impatient—launched into explanation:
"The Heavenly Sound Toad lives in the marshes at Mount Shu's far east. Its venom is more dangerous than its strength.
"Even those in mid-stage Refining Essence who get poisoned may be paralyzed for a time.
"But its venom is highly medicinal. Junior Brother Baizhu wants it to attempt refining a second-grade pill.
"So, the task is quite worthwhile. If you succeed, he'll not only pay you five hundred contribution points—he might even reward you with one of those pills.
"A second-grade healing pill is quite a treasure at this stage."
She didn't oversell it. After all, she wasn't Klee—who popped third-grade pills like candy.
Sure, medicine always came with some toxicity, and too many pills could cause pill poison. But with Jiang Yan cleansing Klee's marrow daily, those worries simply vanished.
Still, Klee was Klee.
As of now, no one but Jiang Yan had successfully refined a second-grade pill. Baizhu merely wanted to try.
Furina and Clorinde thought for a moment, then nodded. This was indeed the best option available—they would take the task later.
Just then, the Qingluan let out a high, ringing cry, shaking the clouds around them. Everyone paused their conversations and looked down.
Below stood a grand, towering pavilion, resplendent in gold. Before it, a vast crowd of neatly dressed Mount Shu outer disciples waited expectantly.
It seemed they were here for them.
Ganyu patted the Qingluan's head, then turned to the group.
"Everyone, prepare yourselves—it's time to enter the Sutra Pavilion and make your selections."
On Tongtian Peak, Jiang Yan, resting with eyes closed, extended his divine sense.
A thousand disciples entering the Sutra Pavilion at once—that was quite the spectacle.
The only question was…
Would any emerge like Lisa and the others—absurdly choosing demonic or beast cultivation?
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