Genshin impact: immortal cultivation in teyvat

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11. Jiang Yan's Grand Lie—The Great Dispute of Da Luo!

Liyue was home to countless famous mountains and rivers, but the beings present here were anything but ordinary.

Even Shen He and Gan Yu, the youngest among them, were thousands of years old. These immortals had spent countless years rooted in Liyue, knowing every rock and ridge in the land like the back of their hands.

For Zhongli, as the Geo Archon, his understanding of Liyue's mountains, rivers, and landscapes was unparalleled.

So...

"With all due respect, I know of all the mountains in Liyue, yet I have never heard of Shushan. Even among the renowned peaks of Teyvat, there is none by that name."

Zhongli pondered for a moment, then seemed to reach an understanding.

"So, Shushan... is a mountain range from your original world?"

"And as for the title of Headmaster…"

Before he could finish his thought, Zhongli noticed Jiang Yan shaking his head with a faint chuckle, which only deepened his curiosity.

"Is there something wrong?"

Jiang Yan stopped smiling and replied calmly:

"If we must speak technically, Shushan was indeed a mountain range in my homeland long ago. In the eyes of ordinary mortals, it was just another steep, rugged range."

"But the Shushan I speak of is not just a place—it is a sect of immortal cultivators, where many gather in pursuit of immortality and enlightenment."

"It is much like the various martial sects found in Liyue."

Zhongli's eyes flickered with intrigue, and he nodded slightly, deep in thought.

Originally, he had believed Jiang Yan to be the sole immortal cultivator who had arrived in Teyvat. But now, it seemed Jiang Yan had a background—one that could not be ignored.

How strong could a sect of immortal cultivators be if Jiang Yan was merely one among them?

If the others were even remotely as powerful as him, then Teyvat could not afford to underestimate such an organization.

Still, for now, Jiang Yan seemed easy to get along with.

Zhongli found himself deeply interested in Jiang Yan's system of cultivation. If given the opportunity, he wished to discuss these matters further. Perhaps, through such conversations, he could find insight into dealing with erosion.

"You're wondering how many people there are in Shushan, aren't you?"

Jiang Yan suddenly chuckled.

Zhongli did not deny it, remaining silent.

Gan Yu and the others also watched Jiang Yan curiously, eager for an answer.

Jiang Yan's expression turned wistful as he spoke slowly:

"The Shushan Sword Sect was once the greatest sect in a certain world of cultivation."

"Among them, disciples at the level of Qi Refining and Spirit Transformation were considered mere outer disciples. Only those who reached the level of Qi Refining and God Transformation could be called elite inner disciples."

"And as for cultivators like me, who have reached the level of Refining Spirit and Returning to the Void..."

Jiang Yan let out a self-deprecating chuckle and shook his head.

"At best, we could serve as law enforcement elders. True foundational members of the sect were those at the level of Void Refining and Dao Integration."

"The Shushan Sword Sect was not only the greatest sect in the mortal world, but also had many ascended immortals in the celestial realm."

"In the heavens, it was considered the most powerful immortal sect, with figures who were said to have reached the level of Taiyi Golden Immortal."

"An existence second only to the supreme realm of Da Luo across all heavens and worlds."

"Even a Taiyi Golden Immortal could manipulate time with a mere wave of their hand, reversing cause and effect in the blink of an eye."

Jiang Yan was quite impressed with his own storytelling ability.

Of course, everything he had just said was pure fabrication.

The so-called Shushan was merely a name he had given to the sect he intended to establish.

Even if Shushan did exist, the presence of a Taiyi Golden Immortal within it was utterly impossible.

After all, in the grand hierarchy of existence, Da Luo stood supreme. Below them was Taiyi.

Could a Taiyi-level immortal truly come from Shushan? If that were the case, Shushan would have become a divine pillar of all creation, one of the fundamental sources of mythology.

What is Da Luo?

The supreme beings who shaped myths across all worlds.

Nuwa, the goddess who created humanity.

Fuxi, the sovereign who split the heavens with a single strike.

Haotian, the Jade Emperor who rules infinite domains.

The Three Purities of Taoism, governing the laws of existence.

Each one of them held dominion over the beginning, the process, and the end of all things.

They were Da Luo.

And Taiyi?

The candle dragon who opened his eyes to summon day and closed them to bring night.

The five emperors of the cardinal directions—Shaohao, Taihao, and others.

Even the famed Erlang Shen, widely known in folklore, was merely a Golden Immortal.

A Taiyi-level cultivator coming from Shushan?

Ridiculous.

But if Jiang Yan didn't fabricate such a grandiose background, how else could he establish Shushan as a legendary sect? How else could he inspire Zhongli and the others to strive for greater power?

How else could the next chapter of his story unfold?

Though he wasn't particularly fond of such deception, the system demanded that he spread the true path of immortal cultivation.

So he would do it.

Not just to make a name for himself in Teyvat—but to leave his mark across all realms.

Jiang Yan sighed, his emotions more genuine than he had expected.

"The Shushan of old was truly magnificent," he murmured.

"It stood as an unshakable force across both heaven and earth, a sacred land sought after by all cultivators."

"But now…"

Jiang Yan hesitated, his expression darkening.

"But what?"

Liu Yun and the others were completely engrossed, their curiosity piqued to the highest degree.

No matter how powerful one became, curiosity was an inescapable trait of intelligent beings.

Even Zhongli, sipping his tea, looked particularly attentive.

Jiang Yan exhaled softly before continuing.

"But all of it… was destroyed."

A heavy silence fell over the group.

"I was too absorbed in the grandeur of Shushan, under the leadership of Ancestor Taiyi, that I forgot a simple truth—under Da Luo, all are mere ants."

"Approximately three immeasurable kalpas ago, a war erupted across all the heavens and realms, even reaching the Thirty-Third Heaven of the Supreme Immortal Realm."

"A war of the supreme Da Luo."

"No one knows exactly how or why it began, but the surviving records of Shushan say this much—"

"The supreme Haotian Jade Emperor, ruler of countless celestial domains; the great goddess Nuwa, who shaped humanity; the mighty Emperor Fuxi, who split the heavens—"

"The Three Great Gods of Taoism, who govern the essence of existence; the Buddhas of Past, Present, and Future—"

"All of them, every last Da Luo, took part in the war."

"And those who were below Da Luo? The moment they faced the battle's aftermath, whether they were worlds, time itself, or even the cycle of reincarnation…"

"They were all shattered into nothingness."

Jiang Yan's voice grew softer.

"Our ancestor only had time to leave behind a few words… before he exhausted his great power, sending tens of millions of Shushan disciples into different points in time and space."

"Then, he perished."

Jiang Yan exhaled slowly and chuckled bitterly.

"Isn't it laughable?"

"The proud, towering Shushan… reduced to dust in an instant."

"I am the only one left."

"Cultivation? Immortality? What is it worth, in the end?"

Jueyun Karst, Liyue, and perhaps even all of Teyvat seemed to mourn with him.

Even Zhongli, despite his millennia of composure, felt an inexplicable sorrow creep into his heart.