An Invitation From the Anemo Archon**
At that same moment—
Several golden talisman-characters drifting through the air suddenly shuddered, as if magnetized.
They slammed themselves into the jade dragon's body, one after another.
The dragon's scales became densely inscribed with the glowing script.
Even the heavens responded.
A pillar of light broke through the false sky and descended along an invisible path straight into Mt. Yougou's depths, bathing the jade dragon in star-colored radiance.
The ley lines, unwilling to be outdone, finally surged up from beneath the式盘.
Faint silver branches of the ley network writhed through the stone, their overwhelming power filling the cavern with luminous particles—every breath tasted of starlight.
The ley lines were the most fundamental source of power in this world;
they carried every moment of Teyvat's history from the beginning of time.
Even a glimpse of such information could reduce an ordinary mind to ash.
Luo Li's expression did not so much as twitch.
He let the leyline force crash into the式盘.
Under his guidance, the disk split the torrent like floodgates opening, redirecting the power into twelve channels.
One flowed directly into the jade dragon.
Immediately, the dragon—swollen by the starlight—began to shrink, collapsing in upon itself until the several-meter-long form condensed into a tiny figurine scarcely an inch tall.
It floated to the northwest position above the式盘.
Luo Li spared it no admiration.
He was already reaching for the second jade block.
He would repeat this process eleven more times—
only then would the Twelve Heavenly Generals be complete.
Inazuma City, Tenshukaku
Within the loftiest seat of authority in the islands, the Almighty Shogun—Raiden Makoto—reviewed memorials at her writing desk.
One hand stroked the dozing pink-white fox in her lap;
the other penned neat corrections and instructions on the documents her retainers delivered.
Her noble, gentle gaze furrowed or softened depending on the issue at hand.
Anything concerning Inazuma's welfare she weighed with utmost care.
Then—
She paused.
Her head lifted, eyes drifting to the sky beyond the thunder-patterned screen.
A beam of invisible light was descending from beyond the stars.
"That direction is… Mt. Yougou?"
Makoto's movement startled the little fox awake.
It blinked, confused, while its mistress stepped to the window and looked toward the distant mountain.
"Is Luo Li up to something again?"
Because she knew he had arrived at the Grand Shrine, she felt no sense of danger.
The anomaly carried no malice—at least none she could detect.
Still, she couldn't simply ignore it.
Only after confirming the cause could she rest easy.
Just as she prepared to summon the Oumi troops by her side—
A paper kite fluttered toward her window.
Sensing who it was from, Makoto extended a hand.
The moment her fingers touched it, the kite dissolved into a glowing slip of paper.
Only two simple lines were written:
[No need to worry about the disturbance at Mt. Yougou.]
[...Luo Li]
"…Honestly. He could at least warn me beforehand instead of making me worry."
Makoto sighed helplessly, though a serene smile curved her lips.
At that moment—
A guard outside the hall called respectfully:
"Your Excellency, a letter for you."
"A letter for me?"
Makoto blinked, puzzled.
Who would dare write directly to the Shogun?
Every document normally passed strict inspection before reaching her hands.
An Oumi soldier entered silently, head bowed, presenting an envelope with both hands before retreating.
The moment Makoto saw the seal—a dandelion crest—she remembered what time of year it was.
"So… it's that time again."
Breaking the wax seal engraved with the Anemo Archon's mark, she unfolded the letter.
Just a glance told her everything.
It was from none other than Barbatos, the Anemo Archon—Wind God of Mondstadt.
And its contents were simple:
an invitation for the Raiden Shogun to gather in Liyue with the other Archons for the periodic Seven Gods Assembly.
Ever since that year Barbatos had visited Liyue with fine wine in hand, a tradition had formed:
every so often, the Seven would meet to discuss the world, admire the seasons, and laugh over ancient memories.
They had gathered many times since.
Makoto had simply been too preoccupied to realize it had come around again.
Storing the letter away, she smiled softly.
"Tell Ei the news—and have her inform Luo Li. I'm sure he'd like to see his old friends again."
Mt. Yougou, beneath the roots
The cavern seethed with leyline power.
Plants native to the dark grotto were tortured mercilessly—
first frozen, then scorched, then shredded by killing intent, and finally bathed in drifting toxins.
"After all this work… it's finally nearly complete."
Luo Li exhaled and stepped back.
The twelve jade blocks were gone.
In their place floated twelve miniature figurines—each carved into a different sacred form—circling the式盘.
"Azure Dragon. White Tiger. Vermilion Bird. Black Tortoise. Heavenly One. Heavenly Sky. Heavenly Empress. Lunar Yin. Grand Minister. Hooked Array. Soaring Serpent. Six Harmonies."
As he recited each name, the corresponding figurine lit up and settled into its position around the formation.
The moment the last one clicked into alignment—
a blinding golden radiance erupted.
Dragon roars, tiger growls, avian cries, and distant voices echoed as the式盘 plunged into the earth.
The twelve figurines dissolved into twelve beams of light, tunneling outward through the mountain and anchoring themselves in twelve cardinal positions across Narukami Island.
The overwhelming pressure lasted barely a heartbeat—
then vanished completely.
The people of Inazuma noticed nothing.
But to anyone with power or perception…
A colossal barrier had enveloped Narukami Island.
Star-guided.
Leyline-rooted.
Invisible threads weaving a protective dome over the land.
And in all of Inazuma, only Luo Li could have created something of this magnitude.
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