Chapter 327: A Forced Immortal Fate
The existence of this invisible "restriction" on cultivation had only been discovered by pure accident. Some time ago, Zhongli had attempted to pass down these exact cultivation methods to Xianyun, Madam Ping, and a few other adepti.
At the time, Xianyun had genuinely believed the retired Geo Archon was pulling a prank on her. The proud adeptus had nearly stormed off in a huff. In the end, Zhongli had to dig into his inventory and offer her a few unused, highly advanced mechanical constructs he had obtained from the Chat Group as "compensation." Only then was her ruffled temper barely smoothed over.
Following that minor fiasco, Zhongli and Xiao had spent countless hours researching and experimenting. Eventually, they cracked the code and devised a highly flexible workaround.
The method required an already initiated cultivator, someone with masterful control over their internal energy. This expert had to expend a significant amount of effort to condense a Spirit Qi Seed—a tiny core containing a trace of true Dao charm and pure, unadulterated energy. This seed would then be transferred directly into the body of an uninitiated person.
Acting as a master key and a catalyst, the seed would guide the beginner, helping their meridians forcefully bypass Teyvat's invisible restriction so they could finally start refining ambient environmental energy into their own spirit qi.
The Traveler briefly explained the mechanics of these two items to Xilonen. She placed special emphasis on the unmatched path represented by the [Basic Qi Refining Essentials]—a path that defied the natural laws of Teyvat, capable of drastically prolonging a mortal's lifespan and granting them devastating abilities.
However, the moment Xilonen grasped just how precious and absurdly powerful this cultivation method truly was, her reaction was instantaneous. Without a single second of hesitation, she shook her head so hard her leopard ears flattened against her hair. She waved her hands frantically, backing away as if the book were ablaze.
"No! Absolutely not! This is way too valuable!" Xilonen stammered, her usual laid-back demeanor completely shattering. "This... this is an immeasurable treasure! How could I possibly accept something of this magnitude? I only did what any Natlanian—what any friend—would do!"
She took another step back, her golden eyes wide. "It's nowhere near enough to warrant exchanging for a treasure that defies the heavens! You two, take it back right now!"
Her attitude was absolutely unyielding. There was even a distinct hint of panic swirling in her gaze, treating the miraculous opportunity not as a blessing, but as a scalding hot potato she wanted no part of.
The Traveler and Paimon exchanged a knowing glance. They had long anticipated exactly this kind of stubborn reaction.
Trying to reason with a friend who preferred to silently bleed for others rather than accept a rightful reward was an exercise in futility. Sometimes, diplomacy just didn't cut it.
"Paimon!" the Traveler called out softly, a mischievous glint in her golden eyes.
"Understood!" Paimon chirped. A smug, villainous little smirk spread across the floating fairy's face, signaling that their backup plan was officially a go.
The very next instant, before Xilonen could even twitch a muscle in retreat, a blinding glint flashed in Paimon's eyes. The tiny companion struck a dramatic pose and screamed at the top of her lungs, "Paimon's Star — Za Warudo!"
An invisible, heavy shockwave of temporal distortion erupted outward, using Paimon as its absolute epicenter. The very fabric of reality shuddered. The air, the ambient light, the floating motes of dust in the stone chamber—everything snapped into absolute, frozen stillness.
Xilonen remained entirely locked in her defensive posture, her hands raised in mid-wave to refuse the gift. Her expression was perfectly preserved in a mask of stubborn determination and mild panic, transforming the agile leopard warrior into an exquisite, unmoving statue.
Only Paimon remained unaffected by the temporal lock. Humming a cheerful little tune, she swiftly floated right up to the time-stopped Xilonen. Extending one tiny finger, she gently tapped the Spirit Qi Seed, which hovered in the air wrapped in a brilliant white halo. With utmost care, Paimon pushed the glowing orb directly toward the center of Xilonen's glabella.
The millisecond the orb of concentrated light made contact with Xilonen's skin, it melted into her smoothly. It was like a single droplet of pure water dissolving into a dry sponge. A soft, fleeting imprint of light flared on her forehead for a fraction of a second before vanishing entirely beneath her skin.
"Time resumes."
The oppressive temporal lock shattered. The colors of the world bled back into motion.
Xilonen blinked hard, a wave of sudden dizziness washing over her. Her vision blurred for a split second. It felt as though the universe had skipped a beat—as if something monumental had just occurred, yet absolutely nothing around her had physically changed.
Then, it hit her. A gentle, incredibly peculiar current of warmth bloomed from the center of her forehead. It didn't burn; rather, it flowed with a soothing, liquid grace, rapidly cascading down her spine and spreading throughout her limbs and bones. It brought an unmatched, intoxicating sense of comfort, making every single cell in her body feel as though it were singing in jubilation.
Before she could process the euphoric sensation, a heavy, thread-bound ancient manual was shoved unceremoniously into her arms by Paimon.
"Eh? Wait! Just now... what did you two just do?" Xilonen stammered, her voice laced with a mixture of shock and deep suspicion. She subconsciously raised a hand to rub her forehead, but her fingers met only smooth skin. There was no mark, no wound. Yet, that strange, thrumming warm current continued to circulate relentlessly through her meridians.
"It's nothing!" Paimon giggled, doing a quick backflip in the air as she retreated to the Traveler's side. "We just paid your 'tuition' in advance! Xilonen, you'd better study hard!"
The Traveler looked at the bewildered leopard warrior, flashing a bright, utterly unapologetic smile that left absolutely no room for refusal. "We have already planted the seed inside you, Xilonen. And just so you know, its active time is strictly limited."
She crossed her arms, feigning a stern tone. "If you don't want to completely waste our good intentions and let the seed we painstakingly condensed wither away into nothing, then you need to start right this second. Sit down, follow the method in that book, and start guiding the power that just entered your body."
"Otherwise," the Traveler added, leaning in slightly, "once the time limit passes and the seed becomes ineffective, it will truly be a complete and utter waste of a priceless treasure."
Having delivered their ultimatum, the duo didn't stick around to give Xilonen a chance to argue. The Traveler and Paimon spun on their heels and bolted. Moving as fast as a howling gale, they dashed across the room and yanked the heavy stone door open.
"We're going to go tell Mavuika about this situation first! Hurry up and cultivate, Xilonen!" Paimon shouted over her shoulder.
The heavy stone door slammed shut, echoing loudly in the enclosed space.
Inside the quiet stone chamber, Xilonen stood completely frozen. She clutched the ancient book against her chest, feeling the rhythmic, pulsing warmth of the foreign energy circulating through her veins. Her face was a complicated canvas of utter bewilderment, frustration, and deep helplessness.
She stared at the tightly sealed door for a long moment, then slowly lowered her gaze to the [Basic Qi Refining Essentials] resting in her arms. The thin paper manual suddenly felt as heavy as a mountain. Finally, her shoulders slumped, and she let out a long, deeply resigned sigh.
What else could she possibly do? Could she really just stand here and let this so-called seed wither away in vain? Could she really trample on the firm, overbearing, yet undeniably caring intentions of her friends?
Xilonen sighed once more. Shaking her head in defeat, she walked over to the cleared space in the center of the stone chamber and slowly sat down cross-legged on the cold floor.
She placed the ancient manual gently on her lap. Flipping open the cover, she studied the basic illustrations and the dense textual descriptions written on the flyleaf. Taking a deep breath, she closed her eyes, attempting to adjust her breathing rhythm, clear her chaotic thoughts, and focus her entire attention on the warm current slowly flowing within her body.
For the very first time in her life, the Natlanian warrior began to actively guide this unfamiliar, mystical energy known as spirit qi, allowing it to slowly circulate through her body along a deep and mysterious trajectory...
Leaving the stone chamber behind, the Traveler and Paimon made their way through the bustling streets of Natlan, eventually arriving at the Stadium of the Sacred Flame. There, they found Mavuika standing near the central arena, deeply engrossed in a discussion regarding the city's reconstruction efforts with several tribal chiefs.
Seeing the Traveler and Paimon approaching, Mavuika looked slightly surprised. She quickly wrapped up her conversation, dismissing the chiefs with a respectful nod, and strode over to greet her friends.
"Traveler, Paimon. Is there something else you need?" Mavuika asked, her voice steady and commanding, yet carrying an obvious undercurrent of genuine concern.
The Traveler did not bother beating around the bush. She reached into her inventory and withdrew another prepared copy of the [Basic Qi Refining Essentials], along with a freshly condensed Spirit Qi Seed, holding them out solemnly toward the Pyro Archon.
"Mavuika, this is a token of our regard," the Traveler explained, her tone entirely serious. "Consider it our way of helping Natlan prepare for its future battles against the Abyss."
She gestured to the items. "This represents an entirely new cultivation system known as Immortal Cultivation. It has the potential to significantly enhance an individual's base strength, drastically prolong their lifespan, and even allow them to master various deep divine abilities."
Paimon nodded vigorously, a rare look of absolute gravity settling over her small face. "But you have to listen to us! This thing is a massive double-edged sword! Mavuika, you must be incredibly cautious with it. You have to choose the absolute right person before gifting them a Spirit Qi Seed and helping them begin this path."
The little fairy crossed her arms. "You must only choose people with an ironclad will and noble character! If you pick the wrong person and accidentally cultivate a great demon... well, even though we could easily squash them with our current strength, it would still be a massive headache. It's best to avoid that kind of trouble altogether!"
Mavuika looked down at the seemingly ordinary ancient manual and the glowing orb of pure, concentrated energy resting in the Traveler's outstretched hands. Her fiery brows furrowed slightly, and her expression immediately shifted into one of clear refusal.
As the Pyro Archon who governed all of Natlan, she understood the heavy burden of leadership better than anyone. She knew the absolute equivalence between power and responsibility, and she strictly adhered to the principle of never accepting unearned rewards.
This gift was simply too valuable. The sheer scale of the possibilities it represented was too immense for her to casually accept on a whim.
"Traveler, Paimon... I deeply appreciate your intentions," Mavuika said, slowly shaking her head, her tone resolute and firm.
"But this gift is far too precious. It concerns the very foundation of a nation's strength. Natlan has already overcome a great calamity entirely thanks to your help. We simply cannot accept such a heavy, world-altering gift from you again."
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