Explaining to them that having more spirit roots was not necessarily a good thing would be far too complicated—chances were, they wouldn't understand anyway.
But telling them, "Greed makes for poor digestion"?
That they understood instantly.
Cloud Retainer's expression lit with sudden realization, and she asked no further questions on the matter.
That spared Jiang Yan some effort.
Almost at once, though, Jiang Yan noticed that Zhongli and the others seemed… hesitant, as though holding something back.
He could easily guess what they were thinking.
Nothing more than wanting to know whether they themselves had spirit roots, and if so, what kind of talent they possessed.
As it happened, Jiang Yan had already intended to let them test themselves.
He gave a mild smile and gestured toward the mirror of condensed true essence resting on the stone table.
"If you're curious about your aptitudes, you can use this mirror to test them. It's a simple spell, meant specifically for assessing disciples' talents."
At that, Zhongli's composure sharpened.
Following Jiang Yan's instructions, he set his hand on the mirror.
Before all eyes, the mirror gave a low hum and began to tremble.
A moment later, a steady ochre light burst from its surface, forming into a beam that climbed steadily above Zhongli's head.
Zhongli frowned slightly, about to ask something—when he noticed the look on Jiang Yan's face.
It was… complicated.
And somewhere in his eyes, there was a glimmer of disbelief.
Zhongli's heart settled a little, but he still asked,
"So… what is my cultivation talent?"
Jiang Yan withdrew his gaze and let out a wistful sigh.
"Heaven-grade Earth Spirit Root…"
"So… that is good?" Zhongli asked curiously.
Jiang Yan shook his head slightly.
"You underestimate yourself. A heaven-grade earth root—also called a Heaven Spirit Root—marks a top-tier genius who, so long as they do not perish prematurely, will inevitably ascend to immortality.
"Even in Mount Shu's golden age, elders would fight to take such a one as their personal heir."
At this, Xiao and the others offered their heartfelt congratulations.
As for Zhongli—though he was steady by nature, to say that such news stirred no emotion at all? That would be a lie.
Pleased, he stepped aside.
Jiang Yan, too, became more alert.
He had never imagined Zhongli's talent would be this exceptional.
He'd merely guessed Zhongli would have some aptitude—enough that, even if it was a mediocre three-spirit-root constitution, he could still use the pretext of Mount Shu's rebuilding to bring Zhongli in as…
A workhorse—no!
A pillar of support.
Who could have foreseen this?
Zhongli, hailing from Teyvat—a minor world on the imaginary branch of the World Tree—actually possessed a Heaven Spirit Root that was rare even in the cultivation realm itself.
How was that reasonable?
If Zhongli truly embarked on the path of cultivation, Jiang Yan had little doubt he could survive tribulation and become immortal.
Eager now, Jiang Yan turned to the others.
One Heaven Spirit Root was already a great windfall—but he'd never been one to mind earning a bit more.
"Ganyu, your turn."
Cloud Retainer patted the half-qilin girl beside her.
Ganyu blinked, about to demur—
But Jiang Yan reached out and took her hand.
"Hold your breath, still your mind, let the mirror's true essence flow freely—don't resist."
Whatever he said, Ganyu barely heard it.
All she knew was that Jiang Yan had taken her hand.
A flush bloomed from her neck to her cheeks; her eyes went faintly unfocused.
Then, a sudden surge of biting cold welled up from within her, snapping her back to herself.
The mirror before her flared with an icy-blue radiance—
Though its column of light was slightly weaker than Zhongli's had been.
The others didn't know what that meant, so all eyes turned to Jiang Yan.
They found him studying the mirror with a look of near existential doubt, as though suspecting a malfunction.
After a long moment, he recalled—it was his own true essence forming the mirror. It could not be faulty.
Finally, he spoke, joy tinged with regret:
"Supreme-grade Ice-attribute Variant Root… Not as great as Zhongli's Heaven Spirit Root, but still a top-tier genius."
Hearing this, Ganyu smiled with quiet satisfaction.
She had no wish to outshine Zhongli—everyone in Teyvat knew what he was.
To be second only to him was already a blessing.
At the very least… Jiang Yan had called her a genius.
Two tests, and already they had a Heaven Spirit Root and a supreme-grade variant root.
Jiang Yan's worldview was beginning to wobble.
He eyed the remaining immortals, all wearing looks of eager anticipation, and felt an odd defiance rise in him.
Yes, finding a clutch of geniuses was good for Mount Shu's future—
But still… it felt unreal.
So he sped up the testing.
And found himself feeling even more like he was dreaming.
Cloud Retainer: upper-grade Wind Root.
Moon Carver: upper-grade Fire Root.
Mountain Shaper: upper-grade Water Root.
Xiao: supreme-grade Wind Root.
Not one of the four fell below upper-grade—and all were single roots.
Was Teyvat's specialty actually cultivation prodigies?
If a major sect from the cultivation world found this place and met Zhongli's group, they'd probably go mad with joy.
Zhongli himself had felt rather pleased with his Heaven Spirit Root—
Until he heard the results for the others, and began to think… maybe it wasn't so rare after all.
"Incredible…"
Jiang Yan looked at them with open admiration.
"I thought, Morax, that you alone were exceptional—that in itself was rare enough.
"But I never imagined Cloud Retainer and the rest would be equally outstanding… Teyvat truly is a marvel.
"A minor world attached to a Middle Thousand World, yet so rich in talent.
"If the patriarchs of old were still alive, they'd probably be overjoyed to bring Teyvat under Mount Shu's domain.
"You would all, at the very least, be elite inner disciples."
Zhongli paused.
So… their talents weren't common at all—in fact, they were excellent.
"Then… our cultivation talent is strong?" Cloud Retainer asked, puzzled.
In her mind, Zhongli's Heaven Root and Ganyu's supreme variant were great, but their own upper-grade roots? Surely not so remarkable in vast Mount Shu.
Yet from Jiang Yan's tone, it seemed otherwise.
"Of course it's strong—you mustn't belittle yourselves.
"Upper-grade roots appear only once in hundreds of millions of people.
"Ordinarily, that's enough for an elder to take you as a disciple.
"Supreme-grade roots are cultivated as core disciples.
"As for Heaven Spirit Roots…"
Jiang Yan shook his head softly.
"They are trained as the sect master's true heirs. To my knowledge, in all of Mount Shu, there are only three—my three senior brothers and sisters.
"Each of them reached the Spirit-Returning stage at a young age, and our master has said they will transcend within a thousand years."
At this, Zhongli felt quietly gratified.
It seemed his gift was among the best, even in the wider world.
Ganyu blinked and asked curiously,
"What about you, Jiang Yan?"
"Me?" He smiled faintly.
"I was my master's final disciple. After taking me in, he accepted no others, devoting himself entirely to preparing for ascension."
"No, I mean… your spirit root—"
But catching the depth in his smile, she let the question drop.
A master's final disciple, with such a lineage… his talent could only be equal to or greater than a Heaven Root.
At the very least, it had to be that much—
Else why would the sect's patriarch have sent him away when disaster struck, as part of Mount Shu's last spark of hope?
Jiang Yan himself had never cared to measure it.
But by his own reasoning… there was no need.
Strictly speaking, after having his body reforged by the Huang ting Jade View Classic, he should now possess an innate Dao Body.
Then Cloud Retainer noticed Shenhe, who had been silent all this time.
"Jiang Yan, Shenhe hasn't tested her talent yet."
He blinked, then said apologetically,
"My oversight."
He slid the mirror toward her.
Shenhe calmly placed her hand upon it.
An icy-blue glow—slightly weaker than Cloud Retainer's—flared into being.
Cloud Retainer felt a twinge of regret; from the brightness alone, she guessed Shenhe's talent was less than her own.
But Jiang Yan's expression changed at once—utter disbelief flashing in his eyes.
"Innate Yin Body?!"
"…What?"