"Back then, Morax taught you the adeptal arts—but he never explained what adepti truly are. That is why, after all these years, you've begun to doubt yourselves."
At those words, Madame Ping nodded repeatedly.
They were called adepti, yet they did not truly understand what an adeptus was.
They lacked a fundamental understanding of the source of adeptal power itself.
They had once asked the Geo Archon this very question.
Morax's answer had been vague and cryptic:
"Adepti represent another possibility for this world."
For hundreds of years, they had pondered that sentence—
and never truly grasped its meaning.
"The adepti of Liyue, much like Inazuma's youkai and yokai, were not human in origin," Severin continued calmly.
"You could not obtain Visions, yet over long ages you awakened intelligence, desiring strength equal to that of humanity."
"Morax heard your wishes. He then devised a special method—one that allowed you to wield the elements without relying on a Vision."
Morax had never told them the truth outright.
Perhaps he had wanted the adepti of Liyue to arrive at the answer on their own.
Now that doubt had begun to fester within them, Severin's explanation came at precisely the right moment.
"The essence of adeptal power is elemental manipulation."
"And therefore, the essence of adepti is elemental energy."
"What Liyue calls adeptal arts is, in truth, a cultivation system—
a path that uses elemental power without a Vision."
"This," Severin said evenly,
"is the other possibility of Teyvat."
Madame Ping felt as though she'd been struck by enlightenment.
Countless confusions that had plagued her for centuries unraveled in an instant.
Long-lived beings like themselves were different from humans.
They possessed longevity—but the world was fair.
Longevity came at a cost.
For a long time, no matter how strong their wishes, long-lived races could never obtain Visions.
Only after the Seven came to rule Teyvat did special cultivation methods spread—
methods that allowed the adepti to use elemental power without divine approval.
In truth, the adepti had already broken an iron rule—
Who said elemental power required a Vision?
The answer had been there all along.
They had simply never articulated it.
"Thank you for guiding me out of confusion, Your Highness," Madame Ping said with deep emotion.
"This question bound my heart for centuries. Only today has my mind finally found clarity."
For hundreds of years, her cultivation had stagnated—
all because she could not comprehend the nature of adepti.
Only now did she understand:
Long-lived beings represented another path for this world.
This was exactly what the Snezhnayan Prince had meant—
that whether in peace or war, their existence held special meaning.
"Your Highness," she said solemnly, rising to her feet,
"allow this old woman to toast you."
"Streetward Rambler," Severin replied calmly.
"Morax is over six thousand years old, yet he's never acted his age."
"You're a long-lived being yourself—why insist on wearing the face of old age?"
The words were spoken casually.
But Madame Ping heard far more than was said.
With a soft sigh, she replied,
"Long ago… I was once lively and fond of crowds—just like Yanfei, Yaoyao, and Xiangling."
Yanfei blinked in surprise.
Yaoyao and Xiangling stared wide-eyed at each other.
Their strict, elderly mentor—once lively?
It was hard to believe.
After the initial shock, the three quietly listened as Madame Ping spoke of the past—
a past she rarely shared.
Most of the time, they only saw her sitting alone, sighing at the world.
"My close friend Guizhong perished in battle," Madame Ping said softly.
"With my soulmate gone, and so many comrades falling one after another, my state of mind changed completely."
"Grief beyond grief… is separation in life."
"Hair black at dawn, white by dusk."
"From that day on, I followed time and nature's laws. I no longer tried to maintain a youthful appearance—and thus became what you see today."
She had chosen to age.
To appear as an old woman.
"Your body is not old—only your heart is," Severin said calmly.
"That is what you truly mean, isn't it?"
Madame Ping nodded.
"Exactly. And I believe only by submitting to nature and the laws of heaven can one push adeptal cultivation to higher realms."
"That is the path an adeptus should walk."
She had her reasons.
Most adepti lived secluded in the mountains, isolated from the mortal world.
They retained beastly forms, passively following natural law.
Only she chose to live among humans—
in mortal form, within dust and bustle.
She allowed time to carve its marks upon her body, actively embracing decay.
She lived as humans did—
aging, weakening, and facing death.
And precisely because of this—
Among the Three Illuminated Adepti,
she was the strongest.
"A group of false immortals."
Severin's words fell lightly.
Madame Ping's hand trembled.
Liquor spilled from her cup.
Never—
never had anyone dared call them false immortals.
"We are acknowledged as adepti," she said slowly.
"Then let me tell you," Severin replied, his voice suddenly heavy,
"what a true immortal is."
"They are warriors who refuse to submit to fate."
"They do not passively obey natural law."
"They push past their limits, endure endless trials, survive countless calamities—
and only then attain the supreme Dao."
"To defy heaven."
"To wrest destiny from its grasp."
"That—
is a true immortal."
Within Luofu Grotto,
wind fell silent.
Birdsong vanished.
Insects ceased their cries.
Elemental creatures hidden in the foliage quietly gathered around Severin, pondering his words.
Suddenly, the forest parted.
A strange being—wearing a straw hat, seated upon a lotus platform—floated toward the banquet.
"Your Highness," Yanfei hurriedly explained,
"this is Tubby—also known as Cloud Retainer's Vessel Spirit, titled Clear Sky Rain-Shielding Adeptus. She is the resident spirit of Luofu Grotto."
"The reason she's called a vessel spirit is because this place… is actually the inner space of a Serenitea Pot—"
"A-Yuan pays her respects to the Prince."
The rotund spirit bowed deeply, wobbling like a roly-poly doll.
"Please, sit," Severin replied.
"From afar, I heard Your Highness explain the meaning of true immortality," A-Yuan said earnestly.
"It nearly overturned the entire adeptal cultivation system."
"If one wishes to become a true immortal… what should we do?"
A-Yuan and Madame Ping both waited, breath held.
"Four words," Severin said calmly.
"Struggle against Heaven."
The two shuddered.
Five hundred years ago, they had taken part in the destruction of Khaenri'ah.
They knew what Heaven truly meant.
They understood instantly.
The Snezhnayan Prince—
was telling them to defy Celestia.
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