Chapter 555

"Headmaster, I recommended Murata Himeko. Her talent is not weak either."

Jiang Yan nodded slightly, divine light bloomed in his eyes, and he looked at Ei and Himeko and the others.

After a while, he nodded with satisfaction.

"Not bad... Ei has a thunder-type Heavenly Spirit Root, and Kamisato Ayaka and the others also meet the talent requirements for inner disciples."

"As for you, Himeko..."

Hearing this, Himeko was suddenly somewhat terrified.

If the qualifications were not good, that would be troublesome.

Fortunately, after Jiang Yan pondered slightly, he nodded.

"Top-grade fire spirit root, not bad either."

"In that case, you all go to the Heart-Questioning Array. After passing the triple heart-questioning, you can be inner disciples."

"As for you, Ei, your strength is not weak..."

Saying this, Jiang Yan pondered slightly and shook his head.

"Forget it, go to the Heart-Questioning Array first."

"Elder Alice, I leave them to you. After passing the Heart-Questioning Array, bring them to the sect main hall."

Alice bowed and left with everyone.

Jiang Yan's gaze focused on Himeko, somewhat deep.

It seems that not only Teyvat produces geniuses, but the Honkai world also has quite a few geniuses.

Since Himeko is a top-grade spirit root, what about Kiana and Durandal?

Perhaps the Honkai world is also a good source of disciples.

Follow-up planning can be done. As for how to go to the Honkai world...

In the middle thousand world of the Tree and Sea, there is nothing Jiang Yan doesn't want to do, and nothing he can't do.

What's more, Jiang Yan will soon break through to Refining Void and Combining Dao.

Thinking of this, even Jiang Yan couldn't help but feel some ups and downs in his heart

That is the Void-Refining and Dao-Integrating stage, second only to Immortals in all the heavens and myriad worlds.

With his emotions stirred, his Qi inevitably became chaotic, and the True Essence that had just been suppressed began to riot once more.

Jiang Yan could not help but cough a few times, his face growing paler.

"Sect Master!"

Ganyu hurriedly supported Jiang Yan, but the latter waved his hand.

"It is nothing. I will be fine after going into seclusion to recover later."

"Compared to the gains from this time, a minor injury is not worth mentioning."

Hearing this, Venti immediately said with a smile:

"Congratulations, Sect Master, on being on the verge of breaking through to the Void-Refining and Dao-Integrating stage."

Jiang Yan also smiled and nodded, saying:

"Indeed. Now, I have clarified how the path of Void-Refining and Dao-Integrating should be walked. As long as I wish, I can undergo the tribulation at any time."

"However, let us stick to the original plan. After the Nine Nether Secret Realm Exploration Assembly concludes, I will head to the Profound Nether World to undergo the tribulation."

The group finally heard some good news and expressed their congratulations one after another.

After accepting their well-wishes, Jiang Yan turned to look at Zhongli and asked with some surprise:

"Head Seat Zhongli, it seems your actions within the Demon-Locking Tower were not very smooth. Why did you nearly damage your foundation?"

Hearing this, Zhongli's expression became somewhat awkward, and he said in a low voice:

"I encountered a demonic cultivator... and was ambushed by him."

Jiang Yan thought for a moment, then raised his hand to cast a strand of True Essence to mend Zhongli's still-unstable injuries.

Feeling the lingering aura of the demonic cultivator's True Essence, Jiang Yan suddenly understood.

"The Blood Ghost Biluotuo."

"That is correct. He did indeed call himself Biluotuo."

A trace of killing intent flashed in Zhongli's eyes, and he said in a deep voice:

"That fellow disguised himself as a Shushan disciple trapped inside and used tricks to deceive me. I thought he was a Shushan disciple who had been left behind by accident."

"Observing that his strength was decent, I intended to bring him out to add to Shushan's combat power, but I did not expect..."

Jiang Yan shook his head and said with some helplessness:

"Speaking of which, that Biluotuo has some history with you..."

"The previous Head Disciple of Dragon Head Peak, Xuan Xing—your senior brother—was the one who sealed Biluotuo inside the Demon-Locking Tower."

"Biluotuo was originally a rogue demonic cultivator. After killing a Shushan disciple who was out gaining experience, he devoured their life essence and transformed into a Shushan disciple to infiltrate Shushan."

"He used tricks to ambush many Shushan disciples, including the little junior sister of Dragon Head Peak. It was because of this that Xuan Xing captured him and then fell while venturing deep into the Nine Nether Secret Realm."

The killing intent in Zhongli's eyes grew even stronger.

"So that is how it is... It seems this fellow and I truly have a deep connection."

"Since that is the case, it is even more imperative that I seek him out for revenge."

Jiang Yan said with a touch of helplessness:

"You were lucky this time. Otherwise, once he devoured your life essence and carried the aura of a Shushan disciple, he absolutely could have left the Demon-Locking Tower."

"I have said before that there are no innocent people inside the Demon-Locking Tower. Once you enter, you must not trust anyone."

Zhongli felt some regret and nodded:

"This time it was my carelessness; I have lost face for Shushan. Once I finish dealing with the Green Wind Ox, I will definitely return to the Demon-Locking Tower to suppress him."

Jiang Yan nodded slightly and reminded him:

"Having this heart is good, but Biluotuo is not only skilled at bewitching people's hearts, his strength is extremely refined, and his Blood Moon Incarnation technique is a top-tier life-saving ability."

"It is best to be fully prepared before you go."

Zhongli bowed in acknowledgment and said no more.

On his must-kill list, Biluotuo had already taken the first spot.

Jiang Yan then looked at the creature resembling a small toad crawling on Zhongli's shoulder.

Sensing Jiang Yan's gaze, Azhdaha shivered.

Although it was not his first time seeing Jiang Yan, every time, that gaze that seemed to see through everything made him feel somewhat fearful.

This was the legendary Shushan Sect Master; who wouldn't panic when looked at by him, unless they were a Shushan disciple?

"Do you still not intend to let Azhdaha convert to the immortal path?"

Hearing this, Azhdaha immediately looked at Zhongli with full expectation, but the latter shook his head.

"Now is not a good time. The Nine Nether Secret Realm Exploration Assembly is about to be held. If Azhdaha converts now, it will be very dangerous once he enters."

"Furthermore, my Clear Origin Marvelous Law Manifestation Mantra has also reached a critical stage. Once I advance another step, I will introduce him."

Azhdaha immediately looked like a frost-bitten eggplant and turned his head to the side.

That sounded nice, but wasn't the real reason just because he had scolded him with "curse your ancestors" back then?

Azhdaha knew Zhongli's petty nature all too well.

But the problem was...

At that time, he was still suffering from erosion; those words weren't what he wanted to say either!

"Very well, since that is your request..."

Jiang Yan shook his head and did not force the issue.

Azhdaha had good talent and strong power.

After converting, he would at least be at the mid-stage of Qi-Refining and Spirit-Manifesting.

However, Shushan was not lacking in cultivators at the mid-stage of Qi-Refining and Spirit-Manifesting.

If Azhdaha could help Zhongli master the Clear Origin Marvelous Law Manifestation Mantra, that would be more important.

"Has anything happened in Teyvat during this time?"

Jiang Yan asked casually. Venti blinked and said with a grin:

"Sect Master, you would have to ask Elder Alice about that. The spiritual energy recovery was already accelerating, and Elder Alice gave it another push."

"She previously blew up the barrier on the side of the Dark Sea, causing a massive influx of spiritual energy. Inazuma is now surrounded by fierce beasts brought about by the spiritual energy recovery."

Jiang Yan was stunned for a moment. He did a quick calculation, and a moment later, he was left between laughter and tears.

"Elder Alice is really... well, it cannot be considered a bad thing."