The news left Kujou Sara completely dumbfounded.
Had reason not told her that the soldier dared not deceive her, she would have cut him down on the spot for spreading such madness.
Spiritual energy revival. The spread of ferocious beasts.
Hundreds of god-tier monsters—descendants of Archons themselves, some even at the peak?
If that tide ever reached Inazuma, it would be nothing less than a national catastrophe.
Her own Shogun was strong, yes. But could even she roam across all Inazuma every day to subdue beasts without end?
And beneath those at the peak of Foundation Establishment, surely thousands more lesser beasts were proliferating.
With Inazuma's current strength, apart from the Shogun herself, all would be annihilated.
"The most pressing matter," the soldier continued, "is that in time, even Essence Refinement–realm beasts may emerge.
The Mount Shu disciple Xiao who appeared today… he stands at the very peak of Essence Refinement."
At that, Raiden Shogun's composure finally wavered.
Her eyes flickered with deep unease.
"Mount Shu… all of this is tied to Mount Shu?"
The soldier nodded.
"It is said that their Sect Master is a cultivator from beyond the heavens, a peak Return-to-Void expert. According to Kaedehara Kazuha—
That man created a world ten times the size of Teyvat itself.
He is an existence who could crush Teyvat in the palm of his hand.
The Geo Archon, the Anemo Archon, and even the old witch Alice of the Hexenzirkel have all joined Mount Shu—two serving as Chief Elders, one as a Grand Elder.
All stand at the late Spirit Transformation realm.
And beyond them… when the Sect Master forged his world, he captured dozens of Archons, including top-tier and even beyond-Archon existences. Today, they serve as Outer Elders.
Every Inner Disciple has reached Essence Refinement; some even stand at its peak.
Outer Disciples range from Foundation Establishment to early Essence Refinement.
As for Kaedehara Kazuha—he is but at the early Essence Refinement stage."
Raiden closed her eyes, weary.
She had thought Xiao's cultivation placed him among Mount Shu's finest.
But in truth… perhaps he would not even rank in the top ten.
And all this was but surface strength. Mount Shu's true foundation lay in its fathomless Sect Master.
"Spiritual energy revival…"
"So that power beyond elemental force and divine authority—that is spiritual energy. No wonder…"
A sigh escaped her lips.
Suppressing her own fear, Kujou Sara pressed on:
"If, as you say, Jueyun Karst now swarms with hundreds of peak Foundation beasts, and uncountable lesser ones… how could Liyue stand against them?"
"That, General, is what I was about to explain," the soldier said with a nod.
"After joining Mount Shu, the Geo Archon received the Sect Master's guidance. He created Martial Dao—a path suited for mortals.
It was passed back to Liyue. Already the entire nation is turning to transcendence.
According to Kaedehara Kazuha, the pinnacle of Martial Dao—the realm of Mortal Immortal Martialist—can suppress even top-tier divine beasts, not weaker than an Archon.
Liyue now fields tens of thousands of Postnatal-stage martial soldiers, thousands of innate martial cultivators, and more than ten grandmasters.
An acquired martial artist is already comparable to a Vision-bearer.
And as the nation with the most cultivators, Liyue's overall might now crowns all of Teyvat.
They are preparing to spread Martial Dao to all citizens."
A nation of universal transcendence…
How strong would such a country be?
For a long moment, both Raiden and Sara sat stunned.
At last, Sara frowned slightly.
"Even so, Liyue's growth cannot possibly keep pace with the spread of beasts and revival of qi.
And other nations suffer as well. Have they not begged Morax and the Sect Master to restrain the revival?"
The soldier gave a bitter laugh and shook his head.
"Impossible, General.
Far from restraining it, they seek to accelerate it."
Sara froze, incredulous.
"Why?!"
"Because the benefits outweigh the harm.
Days ago, Mount Shu opened its gates to all. Except Inazuma, every nation sent disciples— even Natlan has Outer Disciples now.
Through Mount Shu they exchange Martial Dao techniques to empower their nations. Liyue's sudden rise comes largely from the beasts of Jueyun Karst.
Slaying and consuming them hastens cultivation.
Ordinary citizens now hope for more beasts.
To them, beasts are both peril and opportunity. None will abandon such a path.
It is said that all six nations send forces to Jueyun Karst regularly to hunt.
Their cultivators, especially Liyue's, even slay Essence Refinement beasts in Mount Shu's own grounds and bring the spoils back.
Now that Mount Shu has ended its seclusion, their Martial Dao will only soar further."
Sara understood.
And because she understood, despair bloomed.
Six nations—indeed, all of Teyvat—save Inazuma, now reaped the blessings of spiritual revival.
With universal transcendence alone, they would never give it up.
If Inazuma resisted, the other nations could crush them without Mount Shu lifting a finger.
This was their festival.
Their evolution.
A new era.
Liyue led the way, but others were not far behind.
Only Inazuma lagged hopelessly behind, blind to the path.
When revival reached their shores, Inazuma would be paradise for beasts and a grave for mortals.
And mere martialists were only the stepping stones of this grand age.
What truly secured a nation's future were disciples of Mount Shu.
But Inazuma… had missed its chance.
Sara's heart grew cold.
At this rate, the day revival reached Inazuma would be the day it perished.
The Shogun was strong, but how much land could even she defend?
"General," the soldier added grimly, "the worst is that beasts are immune to most elemental power and divine authority.
Even with great cost, we may not kill a single one.
Only Martial Dao and cultivators deal true damage.
That is why Liyue now reveres Martial Dao above all."
Another crushing truth.
Sara buried her head in her hands, staring at the table in despair.
This was the death sentence of Inazuma.
Raiden drew a long breath, forcing herself calm.
Now she too saw the danger.
Eternity?
Continue on this path, and Inazuma would indeed reach eternity—through death.
Meanwhile, the other nations rose, and Inazuma sank into history.
The great vessel of this new age carried all of Teyvat forward.
Only Inazuma had been left behind, sacrificed.
Could she truly face those who entrusted her with the nation?
Her vision of eternity crumbled.
Now the truth was clear: before one could seek eternity, one had to survive.
The Vision Hunt?
What a farce.
Only Inazuma still obsessed over Visions, while other nations abandoned them for universal transcendence.
Her decree was a joke.
After a long silence, Raiden asked coldly:
"So all of this stems from Mount Shu?"
The soldier nodded.
"Cultivation, Martial Dao, spiritual revival—all flow from Mount Shu.
It is an unstoppable tide.
To Kaedehara Kazuha and his peers, their Sect Master is the will beyond heaven and earth, not to be defied."
He trembled inwardly, fearing the Shogun might rashly march upon Mount Shu.
Even an Inner Disciple had defeated her.
What chance would she have against the Elders? Against the Sect Master?
None at all.
Seeing her expression darken, he hurried to add:
"General, Inazuma is not without hope.
If the problem lies in Mount Shu, then only a cultivator of Mount Shu can resolve it."
"You mean… Kaedehara Kazuha?" Raiden frowned.
The soldier shook his head.
"Kazuha, though Inazuman by birth, was once hunted here. He fled, joined Beidou's Crux Fleet, and through her entered Mount Shu.
For that, he now calls himself of Liyue.
Besides, he himself carries punishment from Mount Shu's Law Enforcement. He cannot act for Inazuma again.
I mean another—our own Inazuman cultivator."
Sara's heart jolted like thunder. She looked up, joy flashing in her eyes.
"You mean… Yae Miko?"
"Guuji Yae?!"
Raiden stared blankly at her, then instinctively reached through the ley-lines to sense Miko.
All she touched was a fragile illusion.
Her face darkened.
That fox… had truly slipped away.
"Forgive me, General," Sara admitted guiltily. "Lady Guuji sought my aid to reach Liyue.
She spoke of cultivation before, but I was too occupied with war to heed her."
Raiden only looked at her calmly, saying nothing.
In a way, Sara's blunder had left Inazuma one lifeline.
"What of her situation now?" Raiden asked softly.
The soldier thought for a moment, then replied:
"According to Kazuha, Lady Guuji did not join at the public ceremony.
She was close to Liyue's secretary Ganyu, who holds special status in Mount Shu. Ganyu brought her directly in.
Now, Lady Guuji is an Inner Disciple of Tongtian Peak, one of the Seven Peaks personally overseen by the Sect Master.
She is close with the Sect Master's personal disciple Klee, Elder Alice, the Traveler and her companions.
Kazuha said: if Inazuma is to overcome its crisis, only Lady Guuji can intervene.
Her relationship with the Sect Master is excellent. For her sake, the Hall of Discipline will often turn a blind eye."
Privately, the soldier suspected more.
From rumors, and Kazuha's vague words, it seemed both Yae Miko and Ganyu shared some… intimacy with Jiang Yan.
But after glimpsing those divine eyes in the heavens earlier, he dared not even whisper such thoughts aloud.
And besides, by now the Shogun and Sara surely understood enough.
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