On the way back to the Sect Hall, Jiang Yan's mind still lingered on the Divine Fox.
Although he wasn't overly attached to such matters, the Divine Fox's devastating allure…
As long as he didn't cultivate the path of emotionlessness, he could never truly ignore it.
With a coquettish little fox waiting in his cave mansion, Jiang Yan—rarely—felt a tinge of urgency.
His figure flickered, and he appeared directly on the Sect Master's seat inside the grand hall.
Zhongli was already there, waiting for some time.
Seeing Jiang Yan arrive, he cupped his hands and bowed:
"Greetings, Sect Master."
"First Seat Zhongli, no need for formalities. What brings you here?"
Upon hearing this, Zhongli immediately said:
"I just came back from a meeting in Liyue. It has been decided—I will officially announce my abdication during the Rite of Descension, three days hence."
"After that, I will devote myself solely to cultivation, fulfilling my duty as First Seat of Dragonhead Peak."
Hearing this, Jiang Yan felt gratified and nodded slightly:
"In that case, First Seat Zhongli, you have indeed sacrificed much."
"This is only right."
Zhongli didn't dwell on the matter, continuing:
"I would also like to invite Sect Master to attend the Rite of Descension. Since your arrival, you've remained either in Jueyun Karst or Mount Shu. Surely, it is time to venture out a bit?"
Jiang Yan considered briefly, then nodded:
"What you say is true. Very well, in three days, I will go and observe the ceremony."
"Many thanks, Sect Master. Liyue will make all necessary arrangements."
Zhongli felt a flicker of joy, then added:
"Additionally, during the Rite, I intend to have Snezhnaya's Fatui Harbingers—Rosalyne and Arlecchino—assist me in unsealing Osial and Beisht."
"I must inform Sect Master in advance, lest you casually deal with them on the spot."
Jiang Yan realized and said lightly:
"So First Seat Zhongli wishes to use these two demon gods as a test for Liyue's governance?"
"Largely so."
Zhongli nodded.
"It is also a way of showing strength. And with Sect Master present, all cultivators of Liyue will surely gather."
"By then, Sect Master may also observe how Mount Shu's disciples in Liyue have progressed."
At this, Jiang Yan chuckled.
"Two weakened demon gods, with power diminished after centuries of sealing… Not just you, even Xiao and Ganyu could dispatch them with ease. Cloud Retainer and the others would find them trivial."
"They hardly serve as a real test."
Zhongli wasn't surprised and admitted:
"I had expected as much. But I will place a restriction—Cloud Retainer and all cultivators above the latter stages of Refining Essence into Qi are forbidden to act."
"This battle will fall to Liyue's martial forces, outer sect disciples, and inner sect cultivators like Ningguang—but only those below the latter Refining Essence stage."
"In this way, the trial may yield meaningful results."
Jiang Yan thought for a moment, then nodded:
"That will do. Before the Great Nine Nether Secret Realm Expedition, it is fitting to measure the outer sect disciples' progress. That way, we can better form teams when the time comes. You've been thoughtful, Zhongli."
Zhongli smiled, shaking his head.
"As acting First Seat of Dragonhead Peak, I must naturally consider the sect."
Jiang Yan's gaze swept over Zhongli's cultivation, and he smiled faintly:
"Soon, you will no longer be 'acting.' You're about to break through to the peak of Spirit Transformation."
"If you chance upon an opportunity in the Nine Nether Secret Realm and cultivate for a time afterward, you'll likely reach Return to Void. Then you'll be the true First Seat of Dragonhead Peak."
Hearing this, Zhongli couldn't help but feel pleased, nodding.
"Before entering the Nine Nether Secret Realm, however, I must visit the Demon-Sealing Tower. Within a month, I will break through to the peak of Spirit Transformation. This time, I must avenge Senior Brother Xuanxing."
Jiang Yan regarded him with some sentiment.
"If Junior Brother Xuanxing knew how devoted you are, surely his spirit in heaven would be comforted."
He paused, then added:
"The Demon-Sealing Tower is perilous—life and death turn on a breath. Wait until after the Rite of Descension and your abdication before going. As it happens, I intend to visit the tower as well."
Zhongli blinked in surprise, staring at him.
"Sect Master also intends to break through to Union of Void and Dao?"
Jiang Yan gave a slight nod.
"Something like that. I will at least attempt it. More importantly, I must harvest demon beasts there to reforge some of my treasures."
"With Samadhi True Fire and rare materials, the Tricolored Exquisite Pagoda can reach the level of a top-grade treasure."
"Many demon beasts within are also crucial alchemical ingredients."
"Now that our disciples are advancing rapidly, accumulating more contribution points, I must refine higher-grade pills for the Contribution Hall."
"Otherwise, their cultivation will be delayed."
He sighed helplessly.
"In the end, Great Bamboo Peak's pill refinement still lags behind. Though Baizhu and Lisa are now skilled alchemists, their pills remain low-tier. With so many disciples rushing toward the late Refining Essence stage and even Spirit Transformation… it's time for the Contribution Hall to offer advanced pills."
"But Baizhu is only mid Refining Essence, Lisa just barely stepped into late Refining Essence. They cannot refine high-grade pills. For now, I must do it myself."
He could only hope that when Mount Shu's prosperity value rose again, the system rewards would open the sect's pill treasury. That would spare him the labor of pill forging, while also supplying medicines useful even to him.
Zhongli also knew of Great Bamboo Peak's shortcomings, and simply said:
"Then I will urge Lishui to accelerate its development."
"No need to rush. Pill refinement is no overnight art."
Jiang Yan shook his head, not dwelling on the topic.
"Anything else?"
Zhongli hesitated. He had intended to mention that the Cryo Archon might send Tartaglia to apprentice under Mount Shu. But seeing Jiang Yan's gaze drift toward his cave mansion, he knew the Sect Master had personal matters at hand.
So Zhongli cupped his hands:
"No further business. Then, Sect Master, I will take my leave."
Jiang Yan gave a slight nod, watching Zhongli depart. His figure flickered, reappearing in the cave mansion.
With a gesture, he reinforced the barrier, sealing the dwelling completely apart from the Mount Shu World.
Only then did he turn to the place where the Divine Fox had been.
Her dao robe still lay on the floor, but the woman herself was nowhere in sight.
Just as he was about to investigate, a familiar warmth pressed against his back.
"Sect Master… now, can we finally play properly?"
Jiang Yan's lips curved faintly. He turned, lifted the Divine Fox into his arms, and walked inside.
"Wait… the first time… I want to leave a special memory."
The Divine Fox slipped down, returning to where her dao robe lay.
She opened her arms, a smile like a wife welcoming her husband home:
"Now it's fine… Sect Master, let me be your Su Daji."
"…Very well."
This time, after a bout of tender intimacy, their shadows finally merged as one.
No interruptions came.
The Divine Fox, who had never belonged to any man in all these years, now gave herself wholly—to the only man in her life.
With the Heavenly Enchantress Physique in play, her fleeting pain vanished in an instant, and their souls intertwined.
The union of spirit and body caused her cultivation to surge skyward.
But she cared nothing for that now.
She only wanted to give Jiang Yan the utmost joy—and claim from him the happiness of a lifetime.
Moves that Ganyu would never dare practice, the Divine Fox embraced and perfected with devotion.
Her everything, laid utterly bare—only for him.
…
Elsewhere, Zhongli, having departed, still puzzled over who could be in the Sect Master's cave mansion.
That place had always been off-limits, even to First Seats. With the Enlightenment Tea Tree and Bodhi of Inquiry now planted there, it was Mount Shu's foremost forbidden ground.
But soon, he decided not to dwell on it.
Most likely, it was Klee—or Ganyu.
Of course, private gossip about the Sect Master was improper. Yet… a little curiosity was only natural.
Once, Zhongli might have dismissed it. But now… the erosion of time no longer weighed him down. His heart felt younger.
And besides, with his lifespan already stretching for tens of thousands of years, by that reckoning, he was still a young man.
What young man wasn't curious?
He was about to head back to Dragonhead Peak to check on Xiao, who was preparing for his tribulation. As First Seat, Zhongli felt responsible to support him.
But before he could summon his flying sword, he saw Alice skipping back with Klee.
Both mother and daughter bounced along merrily.
With Klee at her side, Alice looked less like her mother and more like her slightly older sister.
"Good afternoon, First Seat Zhongli. Finished with your meeting?"
Alice waved cheerfully. Zhongli glanced at Klee, nodded politely.
"You've just returned?"
"Yes! I took Klee to the Boundary today—let my little treasure see where her mom used to work."
She pinched Klee's cheeks with a grin.
"The Boundary is peaceful, nothing to worry about. Klee had a great time. She's about to stabilize her mid Refining Essence stage cultivation. Likely the Sect Master will soon have her in seclusion again, so I'm savoring every moment with her."
"Anyway, I'll take her back now."
With that, Alice turned to leave. Zhongli's heart jolted.
So… the one in the Sect Master's cave mansion was Ganyu?
If so, then Jiang Yan was… occupied with serious matters.
They couldn't allow Klee to barge in—what a disaster that would be!
Zhongli quickly stretched out a hand to stop Alice.
"Wait a moment. The Sect Master is in seclusion—I just came from the Sect Hall. You should take Klee to play a while longer."
"Really?"
Alice scratched her cheek, unconcerned. Any extra time with Klee was a blessing.
"In that case, I'll take her to catch a few demon beasts."
She skipped off with Klee. Zhongli quietly sighed in relief.
But just then, an icy-blue figure approached, holding the hand of a delicate little girl.
It was Ganyu—leading Qingluan.
Coming closer, she nodded politely.
"First Seat Zhongli, Elder Alice, little Klee."
Alice bent down to pinch Qingluan's rosy cheeks.
"Little Qingluan, you've grown again. So cute! Want to come with big sis to catch demon beasts?"
"Really?!"
Qingluan's eyes sparkled, turning to Ganyu expectantly.
With a helpless smile, Ganyu nodded.
"If you want to go, then go. But don't stay out too late—you still need to cultivate tonight."
"Got it, Sister Ganyu!"
Ganyu straightened and suddenly noticed Zhongli staring at her blankly. Curious, she asked:
"First Seat Zhongli? Is there something on my face?"
Her words snapped him back. Zhongli stared at Ganyu in disbelief, then turned stiffly toward the Sect Hall—toward the cave mansion's direction.
"This… Ganyu, you're out here? Then who's in the Sect Master's cave mansion?"
"Eh?!"
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