The Rooster's speech wasn't fiery, but even so, the simple, steady explanation was enough to make the remaining Harbingers' blood burn.
Now that the Tsaritsa herself had spoken—
when the debt to the past was cleared,
they might one day enter Shushan.
And compared to the dazzling path of immortal cultivation…
this world, its politics, its schemes—
all of it suddenly felt utterly meaningless.
The Regrator took a deep breath.
"Immortality… ascension…"
"In comparison, what is a mere Visions system worth?"
"I've heard Childe's lifespan is already over a thousand years, enough to suppress high-tier archons."
"With power like that, what is Mora to me?
I will handle the Bank.
We'll compensate all those harmed by the… former three traitors."
The Rooster nodded.
"Remember, Pantalone—despite Her Majesty now being an inner elder of Shushan… Zhongli is the First Seat of Shushan."
"You know exactly what must be done."
Pantalone kept a calm face.
"I understand. I will apologize to Liyue—properly, personally—and to the Geo Archon. Whatever compensation is required, I will pay."
He had attempted to destabilize Mora itself—
but it hadn't succeeded.
At worst, he'd accept a punishment from Morax.
The Rooster turned next to the Captain.
"Her Majesty commands you to select fifty thousand soldiers immediately.
Form Snezhnaya's first Martial Army."
"In four or five days, cultivation manuals for martial training will arrive."
"Rosalyne will personally deliver beast meat for tempering body and blood."
"You will train them to attain combat ability as quickly as possible."
"In three months, Teyvat's world will fully awaken.
Beasts will appear everywhere.
We must be prepared."
"Once you train enough Masters, take them—along with elite fighters—to Liyue.
Negotiate with the General Affairs Bureau, and join their martial brigades in exploring the Jueyun Karst forbidden zone."
"Focus on gathering spiritual herbs and rare materials."
"As for the rest of you—if you wish to learn martial arts, you may."
The Captain nodded heavily.
He had seen with his own eyes—via the recordings the Tsaritsa brought back—how Childe, Ningguang, and the others faced Osial.
Cultivation and martial power were no jokes.
Which was why the Fatui's internal purge had met no resistance.
The Rooster then looked toward the Maiden and the Marionette.
"You two will prepare yourselves.
In one month, you will go to Liyue.
Her Majesty will personally introduce you to the Shushan Sect Master."
"If your talent suffices—and you pass the trials—you will become cultivators."
The Maiden smiled her gentle, innocent smile…
her eyes still empty of all emotion.
The Marionette, however, nodded with visible excitement.
"I understand."
The Rooster placed down the talisman and swept his gaze across them all.
"All of you know what deeds we have been part of."
"Her Majesty's meaning is clear—Arlecchino, Rosalyne, and Childe cannot cultivate in peace while the three scapegoats live."
"The Sect Master was willing to overlook their past,
but he did so for them, not for us."
"So our only perfect solution…
is three corpses."
"Dead men don't talk.
They will be our offering—
the proof of our devotion to righteous cultivation."
"You all understand what to do."
A flash of killing intent passed through the Captain's eyes.
"The dead… cannot hinder our future."
Pantalone clasped his hands with a smile.
"I'll gather intel.
With how many atrocities those three committed,
their deaths will be righteous."
The Rooster nodded.
"Good.
Begin immediately."
Across Teyvat
All of Teyvat trembled with fear after the near-destruction caused by the Sect Master's anger.
Panic spread like wildfire.
But that had nothing to do with Jiang Yan.
A cultivator's emotions could shake mountains and oceans.
This was something the weak needed to learn to accept.
Right now, Jiang Yan was still on the Jade Chamber, celebrating Ganyu's ascension to Divine Transformation.
Ningguang casually explained the earlier apocalyptic spectacle as "the Sect Master undergoing a breakthrough."
Whether the people believed it—
was not her concern.
The world will had already withdrawn.
And the spiritual power released from Ganyu's tribulation was a miracle beyond value.
What remained were follow-up matters:
the sudden appearance of early-stage Refined Essence beasts in Jueyun Karst,
and the fact that spiritual revival had already spread across all of Liyue.
The Rooster's report had been correct—
the next months would be turbulent.
In Ningguang's eyes, however, this was ultimately a good thing.
Only Jueyun Karst could currently produce Refined Essence beasts.
Elsewhere, the beasts would reach only mid-Foundation level—
well within the capability of martial brigades.
Which meant—
More beast resources.
More evolving herbs.
More cultivation materials.
Liyue could now plant and harvest spirit herbs across its lands.
Only truly rare materials would still require venturing into the Karst.
But the greatest benefit was something else entirely:
Liyue's next generation would be born stronger.
Spiritual revival would uplift the physique of all Liyue's people.
Future children would have higher talent—
some even born with unique abilities.
Children were the future—
and Liyue's future was rising like the dawn.
As for helping restrain the beasts,
Jean and the others volunteered,
and Ganyu even suggested using her new authority as the world's co-ruler
to herd the beasts into isolated zones.
Ningguang refused.
Warriors needed adversity.
For Liyue, strength built through hardship was not optional—
it was survival.
But she gladly accepted support from Mondstadt and other allied nations.
Mutual aid was no longer competition—
they were all disciples or affiliates of Shushan.
And cooperation meant shared growth.
Still, Ningguang and the others would not be handling diplomacy.
They were cultivators now, and time was short.
The Nine Nether Secret Realm Expedition was soon to begin.
Everyone poured their remaining days into tightening their control over techniques.
After celebrating Ganyu's success,
the next morning, Jiang Yan finally ended his brief mortal-world vacation and returned to Shushan.
No matter how beautiful Liyue was—
Shushan felt like home.
And for the first time since arriving in this world,
he had truly stepped beyond the borders of Jueyun Karst.
But cultivation awaited.
And his next step was not relaxation—
but seclusion.
The Demon-Sealing Tower.
His preparations for the Divine Union Realm breakthrough would begin there.
He wasn't sure how long enlightenment would take.
Perhaps a single day.
Perhaps not until the Nine Nether expedition.
Still…
something in his intuition whispered that this time,
he would succeed.
Jiang Yan rang the jade-chime bell.
Moments later, Zhongli arrived via the rainbow bridge, expression solemn yet hopeful.
"Master."
Zhongli bowed, eyes filled with anticipation.
His long-awaited journey to the Demon-Sealing Tower was about to begin.
Jiang Yan nodded lightly and motioned for him to sit.
Minutes passed.
One by one, all Shushan peak masters, elders, inner disciples, and outer-sect officers arrived.
When all were gathered—
Jiang Yan finally opened his eyes.
To read 220+ future chapters, head over to Patreon:
patreon.com/WhiteDevil7554