"Impressive..."
"This makes me want to see the movie even more..."
"As expected of Big Brother Su Han—pulling a classic script out of thin air! Just hearing the premise makes my blood boil."
Facing the admiration of the group, Su Han smiled. "Then it's settled. I'll draft the script tomorrow. Actually, I'll just have Baiven take dictation today."
"Understood! We can't wait!"
The appearance of Immortal Trace Mountain had only been teased by a single photograph and a short promotional clip until now. The footage, filmed by Li Yingqi and Lian Xing, showed them soaring near Dragonspine before passing over the misty, sword-strewn peak.
That evening, a single term exploded in popularity across Teyvat: "Cultivation."
Previously, people believed Adepti and Immortals were born, not made. But after seeing the footage of humans wielding the Heavenly Hit and Thunder-Flame swords, the populace realized that mortality was not an absolute boundary.
The clip aired during the 6:00 PM golden hour. In Wanmin Restaurant, the epic BGM filled the air as the two sword-masters danced through the sky. Subtitles appeared on the screen:
"Can a human become an Immortal?"
Scene shift: The collision of the twin swords. A display of power that leveled clouds.
"Yes. Breakthrough the limits of a hundred-year lifespan..."
"Soar upon the wind, untethered by the earth..."
The screen froze on the Immortal Trace Mountain.
[Immortal Trace Mountain: Those recognized by the blades shall earn their place in the Immortal Abode.]
"Is... is this for real?"
"Flying swords! Cultivation!"
"I'm going to Sal Terrae right now!" diners shouted, abandoning their meals.
Chef Mao looked at them like they were idiots. "Use your brains. The program said it's not open to the public yet. My daughter said it'll be a few days before the trials begin. You go now, what are you gonna do? Beg for food?"
The patrons slumped back into their seats, dejected. But the fire had been lit.
[The Knave's Observation]
In a private booth at Wanmin Restaurant, a woman with short black hair and refined, aristocratic clothing watched the screen with narrowed eyes. It was Arlecchino.
"Liyue is moving faster than I anticipated," she murmured.
If those sword-wielders were real, Liyue's military strength was about to eclipse the other six nations combined. She had expected gathering intelligence to be a grueling task, but Su Han was broadcasting his triumphs to the world.
"Immortal Trace Mountain? Perhaps even I should see if a blade will answer me," she mused. As a Fatui Harbinger, a boost in strength through a "Flying Sword" was an opportunity she couldn't ignore.
[The Expanding Jade Chamber]
Back at the Jade Chamber, Su Han began unloading the rest of Zhongli's "scavenged" loot from the Serenitea Pot.
Zhongli hadn't just taken books; he had literally uprooted the Kunlun Mountain ruins. When Su Han released the thousand-meter-wide peak near the Jade Chamber, the Adepti were nearly blown back by the sudden surge of spiritual energy.
"Mr. Zhongli really didn't leave a single stone unturned, did he?" Beidou laughed.
Su Han used the Gravity Fruit to lock the new floating islands into place, flanking the Jade Chamber. "This was the site of the Kunlun Sect. The spiritual energy here is far denser than the surrounding air."
Ganyu nodded, feeling the refreshing aura. "It's like a natural cultivation sanctum."
Su Han didn't stop there. He rearranged the formations on the Jade Chamber, placing the Kunlun ruins and the remains of the Emei peak into a Yin-Yang Grand Array. The result was immediate—the elemental density tripled, and the resident Adepti immediately moved their meditation mats to the new peaks.
[The Spoils of War]
By 8:00 PM, Su Han sat alone to inspect three specific treasures Zhongli had brought back:
Nanming Primordial FireShattered Haotian MirrorShattered Blood Lotus
The Haotian Mirror, once purified and repaired, could become a top-tier tracking and defensive tool. But it was the Blood Lotus and the Nanming Fire that caught his eye. Both possessed immense life-signatures.
"These feel... extraordinary," a voice spoke behind him.
It was the Raiden Shogun. Ei was resting; the puppet was currently in control. She looked at the pulsing light of the Nanming Fire with curiosity.
"This is the Nanming Primordial Fire," Su Han explained. "It carries a spark of creation. Along with the Blood Lotus, these could serve as catalysts to stabilize your sister Makoto's resurrection."
"Truly?" The Shogun's eyes widened. She didn't offer words of gratitude—instead, she stepped forward and pulled Su Han into a sudden, deep kiss.
In the distance, Mona—who was holding Klee—immediately covered the child's eyes.
"Why are you covering my eyes, Sister Mona?"
"Don't look, Klee! You'll get sties!" Mona stammered. The Electro Archon was certainly aggressive when she wanted to be.
[Reforging the Fang]
After a moment, the Shogun stepped back. "I am not good at sentimental words. Consider that my thanks."
"That was plenty," Su Han grinned.
He spent the rest of the night diving into Grandmaster Longbrow's archives. He focused on the Spirit-Sword Kinesis and the Divine Smithing Arts. While the Shu world relied heavily on external artifacts, their methods of sealing the "Essence of Heaven and Earth" into weapons were unparalleled.
Su Han looked at his Tessaiga. The blade was heavily fractured from the battle with the Dragon King's seal. It was time for an upgrade.
"Divine Smithing: Activate."
Golden flames erupted in Su Han's palms. He suspended the broken Tessaiga in the air, feeding it the materials Zhongli had brought back. Then, he took out the Dragon Scale and Essence Blood gifted to him by Ruo-Ruo.
"You're fixing your weapon?" A small figure appeared beside him. It was Ruo-Ruo.
"I am."
"Let me help. My scales are stubborn; your fire isn't hot enough to melt them quickly."
Ruo-Ruo opened her mouth and exhaled a stream of primordial dragon fire. With her assistance, the scale dissolved into a shimmering metallic liquid, merging with the starlit steel of the Tessaiga.
The blade drank the dragon's blood and the starlight essence greedily. Finally, a pillar of four-colored light shot into the sky.
The Tessaiga had been reborn—stronger, sharper, and carrying the indomitable weight of the Dragon King.