Yazadaha Pool.
Coming out of the deep woods of Avidya Forest and seeing this clear pool water gave one a feeling of spiritual cleansing.
Arriving here meant that Sumeru City was not far away.
Looking at the increasingly approaching Sumeru City, Keqing worried that she might not see Collei again after entering the city, so she couldn't help but ask the other question weighing on her heart.
"Collei, just now Miss Arya said that you are Mr. Ye Xi's... concubine?"
"That's right."
Collei nodded, feeling a bit shy when recalling Arya's words just now.
"But, Collei, you are so outstanding, and you possess such amazing healing arts. Why would you be willing to be a concubine?"
This was what Keqing could not understand the most.
Setting aside everything else, just looking at Collei's conditions: she looked like a delicate beauty from a humble family, a girl as beautiful as an elf. Placed in Liyue, she would absolutely be a great beauty, with a line of suitors stretching far and wide.
Moreover, Collei wore a Dendro Eye of God; she was a chosen one, one in ten thousand. On top of that, she possessed such powerful healing arts.
With these conditions, if she went to Liyue, her status would absolutely be extraordinary!
Yet Collei was just an ordinary Forest Ranger in Avidya Forest, and was willing to marry someone as a concubine.
One had to know that the status of a concubine was very low. In Liyue, if someone became a concubine, it was either because their family conditions were very poor, or their own conditions were very poor. After all, being a concubine meant enduring discriminatory gazes from those around you.
She believed it was the same in Sumeru.
"Keqing! That's... not polite."
Ganyu, standing to the side, had eyes full of apology.
Keqing reacted and hurriedly apologized, "I'm sorry, I didn't mean to belittle you, Collei!"
Collei smiled and shook her head. "I don't mind. You don't know Master Ye Xi, so you would think it's not worth it for me to be a concubine."
"But, Master is very gentle and treats me especially, especially well."
"He cured my Eleazar and gave me the courage to live on."
"Even if Master hadn't fallen for me back then, I wouldn't have been able to leave him."
"Even my healing arts were given to me by Master."
"Being with Master, I am very happy!"
Hearing Collei's words, Ganyu and Keqing's faces were filled with disbelief.
Curing Eleazar!
The ability to teach others healing arts!
How was this possible?!
Ganyu knew about Eleazar; this illness was terminal and absolutely impossible to cure. She simply couldn't believe that this healthy little girl before her eyes had actually suffered from Eleazar in the past!
And such a rare ability as healing arts was actually obtained from Ye Xi. This was even more inconceivable!
With this, they wanted to see exactly what kind of divine figure Ye Xi was even more!
Collei's words also put an end to Keqing's thought of recruiting Collei. After all, with a life-saving grace involved, it was impossible to recruit Collei to Liyue.
As they were speaking, they had already arrived at Sumeru City.
The city was exceptionally lively today. Tens of thousands of Sumeru people were gathered in the city, and one could even see quite a few desert people. It could be described as a sea of people, with empty alleys elsewhere.
"Sumeru City is so lively! It's even livelier than Liyue Harbor!"
Keqing looked around and couldn't help but exclaim.
Collei explained, "Actually, it's not like this every day. Today is the first 'Declaration Day' after Sumeru's reformation."
"Declaration Day? Reformation?"
Because Liyue and Sumeru hadn't had much interaction for a hundred years, they were quite behind in terms of intelligence and news. Currently, Liyue's intelligence organizations were completely unaware of the changes in Sumeru.
Collei gave a simple explanation.
"Declaration Day is when notifications regarding changes in Sumeru's various strata are issued to the public."
"For example, the list of members of the Akademiya's review board, and the appointment of the Grand Sage."
"Then, Lesser Lord Kusanali will appear to discuss the future direction of development and the preparations the subjects should make."
Hearing this explanation, Keqing nodded. "It's somewhat similar to our Rite of Descension."
In the previous Rites of Descension, Rex Lapis would appear and tell everyone the direction of their efforts for the coming year.
"Then, where do we go to see Ye Xi?"
"Master will also be on stage to speak today, so we need to wait a while."
Collei looked around. "I don't know how far along the declaration content is. After everything is over, I'll take you to meet Master."
"Okay."
Hearing this, Keqing and Ganyu became even more curious in their hearts. Exactly what kind of status did one need to speak on the same stage as a god on such a significant day?
Just as they were thinking this, the sound of discussions drifted over from all around.
"It seems the Akademiya's Grand Sage has already been announced. It appears Scribe Alhaitham is temporarily serving as the Grand Sage."
"Scribe Alhaitham? It's him?!"
"I hope the new Grand Sage can guide the Akademiya!"
"Don't worry, with the Dendro Archon here, there won't be any problems!"
Just as everyone was discussing heatedly, shouting suddenly came from the distance.
"Master Ye Xi is going to speak! Come quickly!"
As soon as these words came out, people on the entire street began to move.
"It's Master Ye Xi! He definitely has something to say!"
"Quick, go listen! Maybe there's a big announcement!"
"Wait for me!"
Seeing the restlessness around them, Keqing's interest was also piqued. Sumeru's recent changes were important intelligence for the Liyue Qixing. Since she was here, she might as well learn more.
"Collei, can you take us along? I want to hear the content of the speech."
"Sure, it's just in the plaza ahead. I'll take you there."
Collei brought Keqing and Ganyu to the plaza.
They saw a high platform in the distance, and Ye Xi was currently standing atop it.
"...Therefore, the people of the desert should also receive fair treatment!"
"Canceling the various restrictions on desert people in Sumeru is reasonable."
Before Ye Xi's words even landed, the sound of cheering erupted across the entire plaza.
Especially the desert people; they all raised their arms and shouted, some even tearing up. For a hundred years, the status of desert people could be said to have plummeted, receiving increasing ostracism. Especially under the orders of the previous Grand Sage Azar, who had rejected 99% of desert people.
Now that their status was restored, they were moved into a mess of emotions.
The villagers of Aaru Village were jubilant, repeatedly praising Ye Xi's wisdom.
Candace, as the guardian of Aaru Village, also looked at Ye Xi on the stage, deep in thought.
Last time she came to Sumeru, she helped Ye Xi complete the plan to intercept the Grand Sage. After the plan was completed, Ye Xi had told her that he would improve the disparity in treatment between the rainforest and the desert.
At the time, she just took it as polite talk. She hadn't expected it to actually be realized.
This made her heart incredibly joyful! Moreover, seeing Dehya so happy, she also felt happy and envious.
On the stage.
Ye Xi made a gesture for quiet and continued speaking: "The children of the desert should also receive an education."
"To this end, I will use my personal ability to build schools in the city, allowing children from both the rainforest and the desert to attend school and obtain wisdom!"
As soon as this news was released, it immediately attracted quite a bit of discussion.
"For children in the desert to come to the rainforest... it's so far away, it must be very difficult!"
"Yeah, if a sandstorm appears on the way, it would be very dangerous."
"Regardless, at least the children can go to school and survive in the city in the future."
"But if this goes on, there will be fewer and fewer people in the desert."
"Don't say that! This is all Master Ye Xi's good intentions!"
"..."
The things people were worried about were all within Ye Xi's expectations.
He wasn't surprised, but instead spoke again: "I understand everyone's concerns."
"Therefore, I have a proposal!"
"I want to improve the transportation between the rainforest and the desert, using a 'Train' transport method to continuously ferry the people of the rainforest and the desert."
"With Aaru Village as the desert starting station, and Sumeru City as the terminal station!"
"By then, it will only take everyone one hour to get from Aaru Village to Sumeru City!"
As soon as these words came out, the entire plaza instantly went into an uproar.
Everyone was stunned!
"One hour?! How is that possible!"
"My god! From Aaru Village to Sumeru City, walking takes a whole day!"
"Even Sumpter Beasts need half a day! This 'Train' is that much faster than a Sumpter Beast?!"
"If it really only takes one hour to come over, then the children can totally use this tool to come to Sumeru City every day!"
"Not just the children, even trade will become thousands upon thousands of times more convenient!"
"What on earth is a 'Train'?"
"....."
There was a clamor below.
Even the scholars of the Akademiya were discussing it one after another. Especially the scholars of Spantamad, those who researched mechanisms and architecture; they all had professional knowledge.
Hearing 'one hour from the desert to Sumeru', they all felt it was inconceivable.
"Teacher, is this possible?"
"Could it be through a flying device?"
"No, Master Ye Xi said it's a vehicle. But carriages pulled by Sumpter Beasts are already fast. What pulls this 'Train'?"
Standing to the side was the new Sage of Spantamad, Darman. That's right, he was Ayexia's mentor, a Herbad with very senior qualifications and advanced age, highly respected in the Akademiya.
Actually, Darman didn't believe in this kind of thing either, but yesterday Ayexia had mentioned the train to him. The most critical point was that she explained this was Ye Xi's work!
Today, he had come to witness a miracle!
He had spent his life researching Khaenri'ah technology. If it was designed by Ye Xi, then perhaps it was a technological creation of Khaenri'ah. If it was Khaenri'ah technology, then this kind of thing was possible.
Among the crowd, Keqing and Ganyu were also very curious about what the so-called "Train" actually was.
If the speed was very fast, then it must be some kind of machine.
High up on the platform, Ye Xi had already heard the questions from below.
He walked to the front of the stage and raised his hand.
[Abyss Core]
With a thought, a gigantic black cube instantly appeared behind him.
As the shape of the cube changed, it released an incomparably massive power.
For a moment, everyone on the field felt a pressure from that power. This kind of power made one's soul tremble.
Ordinary people broke out in cold sweats, while those possessing an Eye of God felt an intense sense of crisis.
"Such powerful oppression!"
Keqing suddenly felt incredibly small, like an ant beneath Ye Xi's feet.
"Ganyu, this power... why do I feel it is even more terrifying than the pressure the Lord of Geo brings me!"
Ganyu, by her side, was also filled with horror in her heart at this moment.
She knew that Keqing's feeling was not wrong, because the aura Ye Xi exuded had already reached the same level as a god!
Even she, an illuminated beast, felt herself shivering!
This power had absolutely reached the level of a god!
Just as everyone was terrified, a black light shot straight toward the ground.
The crowd was so frightened they hurriedly retreated, clearing out an open space.
In this open space, a phantom image suddenly appeared out of thin air.
Slowly, the outline was gradually sketched out.
Next, an inconceivable scene occurred.
That phantom image became increasingly solid, and various strange patterns appeared on its surface. Finally, it actually became solid matter!
A mechanical locomotive appeared in everyone's line of sight.
The entirety of the locomotive looked as if it were made of steel, and a gigantic [Energy Core] was inlaid at the top.
This ability to conjure a gigantic machine out of thin air directly made the tens of thousands of people in the venue hold their breath.
The scholars of the Akademiya even began to question their reality.
"Th-This... how is this possible!"
"Did he turn air into solidly existing matter?!"
"How on earth did he do it! What ability is this! It doesn't look like Elemental Power!"
"It's absolutely not Elemental Power! Elemental Power can create Geo constructs, Cryo constructs, but it absolutely cannot create steel constructs! Even if it could create them, it couldn't possibly be a large-scale machine possessing various functions!"
"This doesn't fit logic! What is the constituent material of this machine? How could it appear out of thin air?!"
"Mentor, I suddenly feel... is the knowledge we learned wrong from the very root!"
"There is simply no principle that can explain this!"
"...."
As the saying goes, laymen watch the excitement, while experts watch the method. The more professional the scholar, the more they felt that all the learning they had acquired was being overturned.
Most of the populace just felt incredibly surprised; other than that, there was nothing else.
But in the crowd, Ganyu and Keqing, who saw this scene, were frozen in place.
"Ganyu, a-are you sure this Mr. Ye Xi is a disciple of the Adepti?"
"How do I feel that he is even more formidable than the Adepti!"
Keqing's eyes were full of shock.
When Ningguang found her, she had discussed this matter with her in detail! As long as Ye Xi could produce the "Supreme Cuisine Machine", it would be considered meeting the standard!
As a result, Ye Xi had now directly created an incomprehensible transportation vehicle right on the spot!
And it was created out of thin air!
It made people completely unable to understand what had happened!
In front of this ability, what did the Supreme Cuisine Machine count for!
However, Ganyu suddenly came to a realization at this moment.
She suddenly understood why the Lord of Geo valued Ye Xi so much.
Because creation out of thin air was an [Authority] belonging to the gods!
Rex Lapis could condense stone spears and meteors. Besides that, the Lord of Geo once pulled up a giant mountain to create a giant kite! That kite bird was formed from jade and rock; as soon as it took shape, it flew away from the earth, soaring up into the nine heavens.
Whether it was the Lord of Geo creating the kite bird, or Ye Xi instantly creating this giant machine, they had the same wonder.
The reason for inviting Ye Xi to Liyue was likely the hope that this new god could protect Liyue Harbor in the capacity of a human!
"Ganyu?"
"Eh?!"
Hearing Keqing's pressing question by her ear, Ganyu hemmed and hawed, "It might be... Cloud Retainer is rather competitive..."
"She deliberately said Ye Xi was her disciple, right..."
She could only smooth things over like this!
'I'm sorry, Cloud Retainer!'
Previously, neither she nor Cloud Retainer had expected that Ye Xi would possess the power of a god!
Keqing nodded thoughtfully upon hearing this.
She had met Cloud Retainer. That woman was proud and arrogant. If she saw Ye Xi's terrifying talent, perhaps due to face, she would say something about him being a disciple.
In short, she understood one thing in her heart!
If Ye Xi were invited to Liyue Harbor, then Liyue would definitely experience rapid development!
"Ganyu! We must invite Mr. Ye Xi to Liyue Harbor!"
"As long as he agrees, I'll do anything!!"
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