Liyue Harbor.
When the whole of Mount Shu had settled back into its usual rhythm of cultivation, and all the newly recruited inner and outer sect disciples were entering the Sutra Pavilion to choose their techniques…
Those who had been taken away in the morning were now sent back.
More than 1.3 million went in. More than 1.3 million came back.
When all was counted, only a tiny fraction of those who had passed the assessment remained behind.
The brutal elimination rate left everyone shaken.
Most of those sent back stood in a daze, vacant-eyed, as if they had not yet realized they had been eliminated.
Or perhaps, they simply refused to accept it.
Many others collapsed to the ground, wailing bitterly, utterly broken by their failure.
A smaller number wore only a shadowed expression, a trace of disappointment. Yet when they turned their gaze back toward the direction of Jueyun Karst, their eyes still gleamed with unshaken resolve.
If not this year, then next year!
If not next year, then the year after!
As long as faith remained, they would never miss their chance at cultivation.
Having witnessed the might of cultivators—who could possibly utter the word "no"?
Very soon, the news of their return spread across Liyue Harbor.
In an instant, throngs of people surged out, packing the already crowded outskirts to the brim.
Shouts rose and fell endlessly, but the most frantic voices were those waiting anxiously.
"Ah Da! Where's my Ah Da? How did he do?"
"Mother, I'm here! I'm sorry, I…"
"So that means you failed? It's alright. Stay here in Liyue Harbor, train in martial arts for now—there will be another chance!"
"Cui'er, what about the young lady?"
"Madam, Master! Wonderful news! Though the young lady did not pass the examination to become an outer disciple, she was chosen as a menial disciple and has already remained at Mount Shu!"
"Really? Excellent, excellent! A menial disciple is still one of Mount Shu! My daughter will be a cultivator—let's see who dares call her weak now!"
"Cui'er, you've worked hard today. Don't worry, next time we go, you'll be able to accompany the young lady again."
"Yes! Thank you, Madam!"
"Naviq—did Lynes pass?"
"He did. Lucky fellow—failed the exam too, yet was chosen to stay and train in martial arts. Bah, enough about him."
"You'll never believe how glorious Lady Furina was in the assessment!"
"Truly?! I knew it—our Hydro Archon must be the strongest!"
"Of course! Out of over a million people in the Heart-Testing Array, only Lady Furina cleared all nine trials!"
"They say the last to do so was the genius alchemist Baizhu of Mount Shu's Great Bamboo Peak."
"Lady Furina truly is peerless! Fontaine is blessed indeed!"
"Speaking of which, I plan to tally up my wealth and settle here in Liyue Harbor. I'll wait for Mount Shu's gates to open again."
"If I can't cultivate, I'll die with regrets!"
"Agreed—we'll wait together!"
…
The cries and conversations went on endlessly as families and friends searched for their loved ones.
For some, there was joy. For others, sorrow.
But for most, only lingering regret.
In the end, only a small number would ever remain at Mount Shu.
Xingqiu's father stood side by side with Chongyun's father, calmly waiting for their servants' report.
After a while, a servant came running back, drenched in sweat, his face flushed from the crowd—but brimming with joy.
"Master! Wonderful news!"
"The eldest young master and second young master, and Young Master Chongyun—they have all been accepted into Mount Shu!"
At this, the two fathers exchanged a glance and burst out laughing.
"I already guessed as much!"
Chongyun's father stroked his beard, smiling.
"If that boy couldn't make it into Mount Shu, wouldn't it disgrace his aunt?"
"But your two children joined as well, Old Xing. Looks like these old bones of yours will have to manage the Feiyun Commerce Guild again."
Xingqiu's father beamed and waved a hand.
"No matter—that my sons can cultivate is what matters most!"
Then he turned to the servant:
"Do you know the details?"
The servant nodded.
"The eldest young master entered the outer sect, but even there he ranked near the top. The second young master and Young Master Chongyun both entered the inner sect.
"As for which peak—they didn't say. Once the initiation ended, everyone was sent back."
Hearing this, Xingqiu's father froze for a moment, sighing with some regret.
"So, Yun'er didn't enter the inner sect. I suppose I've burdened him these past years, making him manage the Feiyun Guild."
The servant hurried to reassure him.
"Master, no need to think so. They say even menial disciples can rise to the outer sect. Surely outer disciples can also be promoted to the inner sect.
"With the eldest young master's talent, it won't take long before he advances."
Hearing this, Xingqiu's father felt much relieved. With a smile, he tossed the servant a pouch of Mora.
"Well done. You may return."
The servant left happily, clutching his reward.
For the employees of the Feiyun Commerce Guild, this was excellent news—both young masters had joined Mount Shu.
From now on, the guild would have two cultivators as its backing.
"Alright, don't push too hard. Things are already good enough."
Chongyun's father clapped Xingqiu's father on the shoulder with a laugh.
"I've watched Yun'er grow up. His combat talent may not match Xingqiu's, but his wit and composure outshine his peers.
"With his gifts, he'll reach the inner sect soon enough.
"And then, Old Xing—your family will boast not one but two inner sect disciples. That's true fortune."
At this, Xingqiu's father rolled his eyes.
"No need for such talk. No matter what, how could we compare to your family?
"Chongyun joined the inner sect, and I hear Shenhe is being trained by the sect master himself as the next head of Bamboo Peak.
"Your family is the one blessed with true fortune!"
Chongyun's father burst into laughter, throwing an arm around Xingqiu's father.
"Come now, don't be so formal. Shall we drink? Go find Master Mao?"
"Of course! I'll bleed you dry. Now that your son's in Mount Shu, there's no need to guard that beast meat so tightly, eh? Why not bring some out for a taste?"
"A taste? That makes it sound cheap! I'll take out a whole beast—we'll host a feast tonight for both families!"
"Done! Agreed!"
Grinning ear to ear, the two led their servants back into Liyue Harbor.
Meanwhile, the General Affairs Bureau was feeling overwhelmed.
The moment the returnees arrived, its officers came to check.
And what did they find…?
Before, only Ningguang, Keqing, and Ganyu were missing.
Now it was worse.
Ningguang's three secretaries were gone.
The remaining five Liyue Qixing hadn't returned either.
Beidou and Yelan were missing as well.
Even the top instructors of the Millelith had all vanished.
Strictly speaking, the Bureau knew the truth: they had all entered Mount Shu, bound by its rules, unable to leave for now.
Which was, indeed, a good thing.
Especially upon hearing that this year, more from Liyue had entered Mount Shu than anywhere else.
Among the inner sect disciples were the three from the Hundred Sages Pavilion, the five Qixing, Beidou, Yelan, Hu Tao…
All of them Liyue natives.
Liyue's cultivation strength had skyrocketed.
A blessing beyond measure.
But…
With this wave, all of Liyue's top military and political leaders had gone into Mount Shu. Who was left to govern?
The General Affairs Bureau staff looked at each other, heads aching.
The tasks of the Qixing were all sensitive and difficult.
Now, with them gone, not only was there no one to replace them—no one even had the capability to shoulder the burden.
To put it bluntly, the entire Bureau could not match Ningguang alone.
The whole Yuehai Pavilion could not equal Ganyu alone.
It was headache enough when just Ningguang and Ganyu left temporarily. Now all the Qixing were gone.
What would become of Liyue?
Thankfully, Ningguang's Ten-Thousand-Li Divine Travel Talisman brought news.
For critical matters, they were to use it to contact her. She and Keqing could return at any time.
For routine tasks, they should deliberate and decide themselves.
This eased the Bureau somewhat.
But then came the next problem.
What counted as "not critical"?
How were they to judge?
If they reported too freely, they'd waste the talisman—and likely get scolded by Ningguang.
For now, leaderless, they could only grit their teeth, keep order, and disperse the failed examinees.
Fortunately, with the name of Mount Shu as backing—and everyone knowing how close Liyue and the sect were—
With the Geo Archon himself as First Seat, and the Qixing and adepti in the inner sect…
The bond could not be closer.
With such reassurance, the failed examinees soon adjusted and headed back into Liyue Harbor.
On the road, some began lively discussions again—
Of the wonders of Mount Shu, the unmatched might of cultivators.
Especially the brief glimpse of the Sect Master.
Even a single meeting left an indelible mark.
That sense of heaven and earth bowing with every gesture stirred envy in those who had not participated.
More than once, they sighed deeply, wishing they could have seen it themselves.
With the return of these people, the fervor for cultivation boiled over.
In an instant, it swept through Liyue Harbor—and, with terrifying speed, spread across all of Teyvat.
Even Inazuma, closed-off as it was, would not escape the wave of cultivation fever.
Before today, each nation's trend had been different.
But from this day forward, all Teyvat would share a single legend.
Cultivation!
And this legend was no mere tale, but truth itself.
Most of the failed examinees settled back in Liyue Harbor, hoping to make homes there.
After all, it was steeped in the aura of cultivation, close to Mount Shu. When the gates opened again, they would be first to arrive.
But with so many wanting to stay, the city's capacity would soon be exceeded—expansion was inevitable.
Others dispersed in every direction, spreading the news across Teyvat.
Among them, however, were certain unusual figures.
Once far enough away, their forms flickered into towering Abyss Lectors, who casually opened portals and vanished.
With cultivation so widely spread—and Lumine inside—how could Aether not prepare?
Yet though his agents hid well, the Xuanyuan Mirror saw all clearly.
It was only that these Abyss dwellers had never committed heinous acts. Otherwise, they would never have been allowed through Mount Shu's gates.
Just as Jiang Yan had said:
When Mount Shu opens its doors, whether human, demon, or spirit—so long as they are not steeped in evil—they may take the test.
Even the Abyss folk are no exception.
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