For a brief moment, the entire room fell silent. But once everyone processed what they'd just heard, they collectively sucked in a sharp breath.
"A… a late-stage Spirit Transformation great fiend?"
"The Golden Roc? You mean the same one that nearly wiped us out in the Nine Nether Secret Realm last time?"
"This… this is way too precious, right? Is this really okay?"
"Wait, meat from a beast of that level—can we even eat it?"
The crowd began chattering all at once, their eyes burning hotly as they stared at the three small, exquisite dishes placed before them.
Especially the Cryo Archon and her companions.
A late-stage Spirit Transformation fiend.
A being so strong it could crush even Zhongli in a one-on-one battle.
They'd all heard how terrifying that Golden Roc had been. One Golden Roc, one Crimson Python—had it not been for constant scheming, trickery, and desperate teamwork, those two would have slaughtered their entire group.
And now… they were about to eat meat from such a creature?
The Cryo Archon could hardly even imagine it.
That Golden Roc could have crushed a thousand of her like insects—yet here she was, about to put its flesh into her mouth.
The gap was almost absurd.
Even Paimon, who'd been nonchalant just a moment ago, had all traces of composure vanish. She gulped audibly, eyes sparkling.
"See! Paimon knew Sister Ningguang would never try to fob us off with simple dishes!"
"It's all Aether's fault!"
"Eh?!" Aether blinked, dumbfounded, only to puff up angrily and pinch Paimon's cheeks.
"Wait a moment."
Lisa's voice suddenly cut in, her expression thoughtful.
"If I'm remembering correctly… both the Golden Roc and the Crimson Python had already taken on human form, hadn't they?"
The hands that had been reaching for chopsticks froze mid-air.
Eating savage beast meat carried no guilt—after all, those creatures had no sentience.
But demon beasts…
Especially great fiends that had successfully taken human form, beings with full intelligence…
Eating them felt… wrong.
But before anyone could voice their misgivings, a flash of green light streaked across the table. Everyone turned their heads—only to see Qīngluán happily devouring her portion of meat.
"Qīngluán…" Ganyu sighed helplessly, just about to speak when Jiang Yan raised a hand and smiled.
"It's fine. Let her eat. This is natural instinct for spirit beasts and demon beasts alike—even many savage beasts share the same nature."
"In the cultivation world, such things aren't considered taboo. To my knowledge, many demonic cultivators won't hesitate to devour other human cultivators if it means gaining strength."
"As for the more barbaric demon tribes—it's commonplace. Had you not intervened, the Golden Roc and Crimson Python would eventually have eaten one another anyway."
"You all simply haven't adjusted your mindsets yet. Even if a demon beast has intelligence and a human form, at its core, it still isn't human."
"And so, naturally, it's still part of a cultivator's menu."
"Just look at Qīngluán."
As he spoke, Jiang Yan gently ruffled the little spirit beast's hair. She had just swallowed the last bite of meat, gave a satisfied hiccup, and now leaned affectionately into his hand as he circulated true essence through her body, helping her digest and absorb the fiend's flesh more quickly.
Even a single morsel from a late-stage Spirit Transformation fiend was enough to harden her physique further.
Jiang Yan's voice carried a faint sigh.
"Even though Qīngluán has taken on human form, her essence remains that of the spirit beast Qīngluán."
"You must come to see clearly: demon beasts and humans are not the same race. No matter how similar they may appear after transformation, they remain fundamentally different."
He pointed toward Zhongli's plate.
"More importantly… if you keep hesitating, I don't think Senior Disciple Zhongli will hold back much longer."
Indeed, Zhongli was already calmly placing his fourth or fifth slice into his bowl.
That settled it.
The rest immediately threw caution aside and reached out like lightning, sweeping the three dishes clean in moments.
Jiang Yan couldn't help but chuckle. He himself wasn't much interested in food—his greatest craving was always the pursuit of greater strength. The joy of cultivation, of breaking through bottlenecks, was far more satisfying than any delicacy—or even the pleasures of the flesh with Ganyu or the Divine Priestess.
That was the mindset of a true cultivator.
But just because he didn't care, didn't mean the others felt the same.
When the food rush began, Ganyu and the Divine Priestess had been quick enough to secure plenty for Jiang Yan as well. He only smiled faintly and set it aside, quietly watching the lively scene as everyone focused wholeheartedly on consuming the precious meat and cycling their cultivation methods.
It was almost amusing—so different from the serene austerity of Mount Shu. Perhaps… some of the sect's rigid rules and Enforcement Hall restrictions really didn't need to be so suffocating.
Even Venti's occasional antics weren't so intolerable, when seen this way.
Of course, the flesh of a late-stage Spirit Transformation fiend wasn't something one could digest quickly. But with how rare such resources were—worth twenty or thirty thousand contribution points in the Hall of Merit alone—whatever wasn't immediately absorbed would be carefully sealed away for later use.
This wasn't just food—it was a treasure akin to a pill, capable of directly boosting one's cultivation.
Jiang Yan swept his gaze around the room. Everyone had managed to eat at least some, and were now running their techniques to refine it. Everyone, that is, except Neuvillette, Focalors, Ayaka, Kokomi, and the Cryo Archon.
They hesitated a moment too long.
After all, unlike the Mount Shu disciples, the thought of eating a fiend that had once worn a human face had left them unsettled. By the time they overcame that mental block, only ordinary savage beast meat remained. Precious in its own right—yes, at the early Spirit Transformation stage—but nothing compared to the Golden Roc.
They were still feeling regretful when several small slices floated lightly into their bowls.
They looked up in surprise—only to see Jiang Yan smiling gently, nodding toward them.
"Go on, try it. Meat from a late-stage Spirit Transformation fiend is rare even within Mount Shu. Miss it now, and you may regret it forever."
"But remember—you aren't cultivators. Compared to this beast's original strength, you're far too weak."
"My disciples can refine the energy into true essence. You cannot. Too much, and it could kill you."
The Cryo Archon and the others bowed their heads gratefully.
"Thank you, Sect Master."
Jiang Yan only waved a hand, expression untroubled.
Still, his warning had sunk deep.
They weren't cultivators. They weren't strong.
In this world, even a bite of food could threaten their lives.
With complicated expressions, they carefully bit into the morsels.
The instant the flesh touched their tongues, it dissolved into a fragrant liquid that surged into their bodies—before erupting into an overwhelming torrent of power.
It rampaged like a war chariot barreling through narrow country paths, shredding their meridians as it went.
Even Neuvillette, Focalors, and the Cryo Archon—divine beings by Teyvat's standards—felt their bodies on the verge of rupture. That pure, refined energy scoffed at their elemental and divine powers, devouring them on contact.
Rosalyne and the others groaned aloud, fists clenched tight against the table as their exposed skin flushed crimson, as though blood might burst through their pores at any moment.
It wasn't long before even Neuvillette and the Cryo Archon were the same.
One bite—and they truly understood what Jiang Yan had meant.
For mortals without cultivation, even eating what cultivators ate could lead to instant death.
The Cryo Archon felt herself teetering on the very brink of death.
"So this… is the power of a late-stage Spirit Transformation fiend…"
Neuvillette's jaw was clenched, veins bulging across his body.
"Compared to this… I… am nothing but an insect…"
Furina looked anxiously toward Jiang Yan.
"Sect Master…"
"Don't worry." Jiang Yan's tone was calm, his wave of the hand utterly casual.
"I portioned it according to their strength and essence. It's the exact limit of what they can withstand."
"Once their qi stabilizes, they'll be fine."
"In fact, it'll do them good—their strength will rise."
At his reassurance, the others exhaled in relief, watching with curiosity as Focalors and the others continued struggling.
Through them, everyone realized more clearly than ever just how important it was to possess a proper cultivation method.
At last, what had felt like centuries of agony began to subside.
The pain vanished. In its place remained a faint but immensely potent energy coiled within their dantians. Even at rest, it subtly strengthened their physiques.
Kokomi clenched her fist. The surging force within her and the resonating elemental energy told her plainly: she could now defeat three of her former self with ease.
This wasn't just "a slight boost."
It was a qualitative leap.
If she could only mobilize the energy within her dantian, her power would soar to rival even the Fatui Harbingers.
"So this is what it means to be a cultivator…"
Rosalyne gazed at her now-empty bowl in a daze.
"Not exactly." Jiang Yan chuckled.
"You've only temporarily stored that spiritual energy in your bodies. You can't use it."
"With your elemental methods, you'll never be able to command even a trace of it."
"That power can only be refined into true essence once you step onto the path of cultivation."
"But even dormant in your dantian, it will extend your lifespans and continually temper your bodies. Your meridians have been broadened, your flesh infused with qi. You'll be strengthened passively, whether you realize it or not."
At those words, the group finally realized just how great a fortune they had stumbled into.
They turned toward Jiang Yan, voices solemn.
"Thank you, Sect Master!"
"Don't thank me." Jiang Yan's lips curved in amusement.
"Thank Senior Disciple Zhongli. It was his Golden Roc meat you just ate."
His eyes twinkled.
"It's clear he's in a good mood today. Even Senior Sister Ningguang and Elder Alice barely got a share—but here he is, bleeding himself dry for you all."
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