---
9. I Teach in Xia Shu Mountain, A Monk Who Refines the Gods and Returns to the Void
Zhongli and the others were familiar with spells, and the immortals of Teyvat also knew many mystical arts.
However, most of their spells seemed to involve elemental power.
In real combat, though, spells were rarely used—elemental combat skills took precedence.
But were those truly spells?
Regardless, spells like Jiang Yan's—ones purely designed for combat—were practically unheard of.
No… Perhaps they didn't exist in Teyvat at all.
Seeing their expressions, Jiang Yan explained in a calm voice:
"As I mentioned before, cultivators pursue both immortality and power.
But the way we cultivate power is highly structured.
For example, what I just demonstrated was only a basic spell. Beyond that, there are divine abilities, which are far more advanced."
To illustrate, Jiang Yan activated a Five Elements spell, summoning elemental energy just as he had done earlier.
As everyone watched closely, he gently extended his hand.
Golden light transformed into dewdrops.
The dewdrops condensed into lush vegetation.
The vegetation ignited into flames.
The flames crumbled into soil.
Finally, the soil radiated golden light once more.
Zhongli stared in astonishment.
"This is..."
"The Five Elements exist in a cycle of creation and destruction—one of the fundamental laws of the world.
This is the Five Elements Mantra, a technique all cultivators must master."
The flames in Jiang Yan's hand flickered as he casually flicked his fingers.
Like a playful spirit, the fire snaked through the air and landed on a large tree nearby.
Everyone tensed, expecting it to catch fire—but the tree remained untouched, still as green and full of life as before.
Jiang Yan chuckled.
"The Five Elements Mantra does not draw upon elemental power. The forces it creates are not the same as the ones you wield."
"One thought gives birth, another extinguishes."
As he spoke, the flames grew fiercer, fully engulfing the tree.
Yet, rather than being consumed, the tree flourished, growing even more vibrantly under the raging fire.
If Zhongli had not confirmed that it was just an ordinary tree, he would have thought it was an Exploding Flame Tree relocated here.
"The flames you see are not elemental. They are formed from my true energy, the spiritual force of heaven and earth."
"True energy has infinite uses, such as..."
Before he could finish, the tree, which had seemed so full of life just moments ago, instantly turned to ash.
The flames dissipated, transforming into a gentle green glow—new vegetation sprouted where the ashes fell.
Zhongli's gaze sharpened as he contemplated the deeper meaning of what he had just witnessed.
"This is the Five Elements Mantra. By understanding the cycle of generation and destruction, one can achieve effects beyond imagination.
For cultivators, this is merely a foundational technique."
Cloud Retainer pressed her lips together, her emotions complicated.
"So… this wouldn't count as controlling multiple elemental powers, would it?"
Jiang Yan smirked and casually formed another seal.
A flame appeared in one hand, while a stream of water formed in the other.
When the two clashed, Teyvat's unique elemental reaction system activated immediately.
Cloud Retainer's confusion deepened.
Jiang Yan smiled.
"Even though my power comes from true energy, I can still trigger elemental reactions if I wish."
"In other words..."
Zhongli's expression grew contemplative.
"You retain the useful aspects while discarding the limitations."
Jiang Yan simply smiled.
"Tsk, what an overbearing system."
Even Zhongli couldn't help but sigh in admiration.
Immortal cultivators—if one were to describe them bluntly—were adventurers who embraced an all-encompassing, domineering path to power.
Shen He, who had remained silent until now, suddenly spoke.
"The Divine Sword and Thunder Control Technique you used during the tribulation..."
She gazed at Jiang Yan intently, her eyes unreadable.
"That technique… it seems close to a divine ability."
Since Shen He rarely asked questions, Jiang Yan didn't mind elaborating.
"It appears to manipulate and summon lightning, but in truth, it forces the heavens to act on my behalf."
"In a certain world, this technique is revered as one of the most powerful arts, a secret known only to the highest masters."
Shen He seemed to process this but remained silent once more.
Jiang Yan glanced at the time. He had already explained plenty about immortal cultivation to Zhongli and the others.
There was no need to continue.
After all, he had no intention of leaving Liyue anytime soon, and the system's tasks still pressed upon him.
The more time they spent together, the more opportunities they would have to understand the mysteries of cultivation.
"Immortal cultivators possess countless abilities.
I can't explain everything in one sitting.
But to put it simply—there is almost nothing a cultivator cannot achieve.
If something seems impossible, it only means the cultivator is not yet strong enough."
Jiang Yan's words were bold, yet he spoke them with absolute certainty.
Zhongli raised an eyebrow, intrigued.
He had already witnessed Jiang Yan's tribulation and the sheer absurdity of his abilities.
But to hear him claim that cultivators had no limits…
That was something worth considering.
"Can you truly do anything?" Zhongli asked softly, lifting his teacup with practiced calm.
"Including… resurrection?"
Liu Yun and the others immediately perked up.
Had anyone else asked such a thing, they might have scoffed.
But Zhongli?
If he was asking, it meant he had a reason.
Everyone turned their attention to Jiang Yan.
He took a sip of tea, unhurried.
Then, after a deliberate pause, he finally answered:
"Among the Thirty-Six Divine Techniques of Tiangang, there is a technique called 'Resurrection from the Dead'…"
"This is the simplest method.
Would you like to hear about the others?"
Jiang Yan wasn't boasting.
Even if the ones Zhongli wished to resurrect were immortals or demon gods, they were, at best, beings who had not yet fully ascended.
Even the most powerful among them had only reached the stage of refining energy and becoming divine.
But the Thirty-Six Divine Techniques of Tiangang?
They were techniques meant for those who had already ascended to immortality.
From that perspective, bringing back a few people from the dead was not difficult at all.
Even if they had been gone for ages, Jiang Yan had numerous ways to restore them.
For cultivators, physical death was not a true end.
A body could be reforged.
True death only came when the spirit was completely annihilated.
Considering the chaotic battles of the Demon God War, no matter how fierce the fighting had been, it was unlikely that their true spirits had been completely erased.
And Jiang Yan seriously doubted that any of Teyvat's demon gods possessed such destructive power.
For Zhongli, strength and longevity held little appeal.
But resurrection… and Liyue…
Those were things he could not ignore.
And Jiang Yan could offer both.
It seemed the first elder of the sect was about to appear.
Zhongli remained outwardly composed, his face hidden beneath his hood.
But beneath that calm exterior, Jiang Yan could sense the turmoil in his thoughts.
After a long silence, Zhongli finally picked up his teacup again.
But his movements were uncharacteristically slow.
So slow that, for the first time, he spilled the tea.
"What are your plans now that you've overcome the tribulation?"
A poor attempt at changing the subject.
Jiang Yan chuckled inwardly but chose not to expose him.
Finally, they had arrived at the real conversation.
"Well then," Jiang Yan said, setting down his cup.
"Allow me to reintroduce myself.
I am Jiang Yan, an immortal cultivator at the stage of refining gods and returning to the void.
And I am the master of Shu Mountain."