"Spiritual energy is an all-purpose force—aside from Immortal Qi itself, it's the highest-grade energy in all worlds."
"It fuels not only cultivators."
"Many strange cultivation paths rely on it as well—your elemental power and divine authority, for instance, come from the faintest, most diluted fragments of spiritual energy."
"In truth, spiritual energy is the foundational stone upon which a world's origins are built."
Jiang Yan paused, then continued:
"Teyvat originally did have spiritual energy—but its density and purity were pitiful. Barely enough to be noticed."
"Later, Mount Shu evolved… and that triggered the spiritual revival."
"Now, that revival has fully blanketed Liyue. It's not as dense as Mount Shu, but still far beyond anything a mortal world should possess."
"Alice, you've run quite a few experiments, haven't you?"
He looked at Alice with a half-amused expression.
Alice froze.
"…Experiments? Which ones?"
"The ones where you took Klee to Mount Shu's borders and detonated an earth-shattering explosion using her artifact, of course."
Alice instantly stiffened, eyes darting away in panic. Before she could explain, Zhongli's gaze sharpened.
"So that explosion was your doing. I searched and found no traces afterward—you must have used Klee's artifact to erase them."
Alice coughed lightly.
"I—I was just curious. Testing things. You know how it is."
Jiang Yan waved a hand.
"No harm done. But you did notice something, didn't you?"
"The difference between Mount Shu's spatial barrier… and Teyvat's."
Alice nodded seriously.
"Indeed. In Mount Shu, even going all-out barely causes any damage."
"Especially atop the Seven Peaks—I can't even leave a ten-thousand-meter sword scar."
"But at the edges of Mount Shu's world, any random swing could shake a thousand li."
"Here in Liyue, one strike tears open space. As for Mondstadt… I didn't dare keep testing."
Jean quietly let out a breath of relief.
She'd been terrified Alice might try a 'small experiment' in Mondstadt too.
Jiang Yan turned to Ningguang.
"Now you understand?"
Ningguang nodded heavily.
"The density and quality of spiritual energy affects the world's toughness."
"Not just space—its entire world-strength."
Jiang Yan's eyes gleamed with approval.
"In the cultivation realms, Void-Merging experts and Spirit-Returning experts are everywhere."
"With so many powerful cultivators clashing daily, those worlds should have collapsed long ago."
"But they stand firm. Why? Because their spiritual energy surpasses anything ordinary."
"That makes their world-rank higher, their spatial walls stronger."
"With a Spirit-Transformation realm in the cultivation world? Barely a ripple."
"Even a peak Void-Merging expert cannot harm its core."
"Spiritual energy is the root of a world's strength."
Everyone was enlightened.
Furina Foster added softly:
"So tribulation… should only take place on Mount Shu. Next best is Liyue. Any other place is impossible."
"Only Mount Shu and Liyue currently have the spiritual density to withstand a cultivator's tribulation."
Jiang Yan nodded.
"Correct. Mount Shu can endure Spirit-Returning tribulation. Liyue can endure Spirit-Transformation tribulation."
"Anywhere else… tribulation means absolute destruction."
"You must never forget—tribulation is annihilation to mortals."
Zhongli glanced meaningfully at Venti and Alice.
"So once you two reach Spirit-Transformation peak, you will stay in Mount Shu. You must not return to Teyvat."
Venti and Alice exchanged helpless looks.
"Grandpa Zhongli, who knows when we'll even reach that level. Relax—we won't come to Liyue when the time comes."
Zhongli eased.
Jiang Yan, of course, needed no concern—
someone of his caliber would sense his tribulation long before it arrived.
Keqing hesitated.
"But if tribulation happens in Liyue… won't it damage Liyue?"
Jiang Yan nodded slightly.
"Damage is inevitable. Tribulation cannot be gentle."
"But tribulation is not merely disaster—
it is also opportunity."
"When someone undergoes tribulation in Liyue, the shock will force the spiritual density to rise faster. Purity too."
"With luck, spiritual herbs and spiritual ores may spontaneously form in the aftermath."
"A calamity hides fortune, and fortune hides calamity."
Ningguang, Keqing, and the others exchanged glances.
Their hearts pounded.
Spiritual herbs.
Spiritual ores.
World-level resources.
Even if tribulation devastated a region—
They could rebuild.
Resources, however, might never appear again in a thousand years.
Lisa spoke next, thoughtful:
"Liyue's spiritual revival strengthened its world-wall. Other than enduring tribulation, does this provide any additional benefit?"
"Benefits?"
Jiang Yan chuckled.
"For one, the Heavenly Principles no longer control Liyue."
"This land is now a true 'masterless world.'"
"If the Heavenly Principles dropped another Nail of Cold Sky today, at most it would destroy a bit of Guyun Stone Forest."
"More importantly—world-will has no mind. It seeks only evolution."
"Liyue's revival showed Teyvat's world-will a glimpse of evolution."
"So now it is deliberately blocking the Heavenly Principles from acting here."
"It will pour its strength into accelerating Liyue's spiritual growth… and into spreading that revival across the world."
"And afterward, it will reward Liyue."
"Denser spiritual energy.
More herbs and ores.
More prodigies."
"And if nothing unexpected happens—
Teyvat's first spirit vein will almost certainly appear in Liyue."
"Specifically… among the mountains of Jueyun."
"World-will's most rational choice."
Everyone froze—
Then exploded with joy.
Accidentally… unintentionally…
Liyue had become the future core of all Teyvat.
A cultivation holy land.
A divine blessing falling from the heavens.
Heavenly Principles? Who cared.
If she dared come, Zhongli would make her swallow a spear whole—
and if she refused, he'd release the celestial hounds on her.
But spiritual herbs, ores, and the first spirit vein—
That was irresistible wealth.
Even if the pie was poisoned, Ningguang would still eat it.
Immediately, she clasped her hands together and turned to Ganyu, Xiao, and Miko.
"Ganyu. Senior Xiao. Junior Sister Miko."
"Please—undergo your tribulations here in Liyue."
"We'll choose the perfect sites. We'll prepare everything."
"You only need to transcend safely."
She shot a hopeful look toward Furina Foster and the others.
Jiang Yan coughed lightly, stopping her.
"Three is enough. If all six tribulations strike Liyue… even Liyue would have nothing left to look at."
Ningguang clicked her tongue but relented.
"Then we'll rely on the three of you."
The three exchanged glances—no objections.
Tribulation was tribulation; the location didn't matter to them.
Miko then frowned.
"But that leaves Inazuma…"
She looked apologetically toward Ayaka and Sara.
Jiang Yan tapped his fingers, then glanced at the bored-looking Lumine.
Lumine froze.
"…Me?"
Jiang Yan smiled.
"You are mid-stage Spirit-Refining now. With my top-grade artifact, Primordial Jade Cutter, no one in Inazuma can truly threaten you."
"With a suitable opponent, you may even reach late-stage Spirit-Refining."
"Raiden Shogun excels in swordsmanship—she's the perfect combat mirror for comprehending Divine Sword: Thunder-Calling."
"And you won't risk tribulation either."
"And you are a traveler—helping nations is practically your official occupation."
The group lit up.
Even mid-stage Refiner Lumine was far beyond mortal scale—
and she carried Jiang Yan's divine weapon.
Her actual combat strength was on par with Ei herself.
Ayaka's eyes glimmered with relief.
"Miss Lumine… please help Inazuma. We will support you in every way. Even if we cannot help much, we can at least provide Inazuma's finest cuisine."
"To make your journey worthy of memory."
Lumine placed fists on hips proudly.
"Then find some chefs for me! I want Inazuma specialties—cooked with beast meat."
"With me around, any Shogun can be handled easily!"
The phrasing was questionable, but no one cared.
Saving Ei was the priority.
They hurried to discuss details with Lumine, though the plan wouldn't begin immediately—Liyue still had its affairs to finish, and Ei could hold on for a little longer.
Miko watched Lumine for a moment, then turned back to Jiang Yan.
Her expression softened, full of gratitude.
"…Thank you, Sect Master."
He hated meddling in mortal affairs.
The fact that he sent Lumine—
she understood why.
Jiang Yan met her gaze and smiled quietly.
"There is no need for thanks between us."
Miko blinked—then smiled, blooming like fireworks in the night.
"In that case… I'll repay you in person."
"Come find me tonight."
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