Below Mt. Tianheng.
Inside Ryen's small courtyard.
Everyone had regrouped here once more.
"For the next week or so, if you get bored, you can go take a look around the Twilight Forest," Ryen said casually.
"When the soldiers push through to the deeper areas, just bring that Slash Blade back with you."
Fushe nodded steadily.
"I understand."
"Ryen, are we going for a whole week?"
Ganyu tugged lightly at his sleeve, curiosity in her eyes.
Ryen chuckled.
"Stay a little longer. If you get bored, you can always come back first."
"Nahida has only just returned, she should be given time to properly familiarize herself with Sumeru."
"There's still plenty of unfinished work over there, and the alliance agreements need to be signed as well."
"Consider it a one-week trip."
Feeling Ryen's meticulous care, Nahida hugged him tightly, a look of happiness on her face.
Unfortunately, Ryen still treated her like a well-behaved daughter, gently patting her head affectionately.
This time, however, Nahida didn't get upset like before.
Once she returned and finished handling Sumeru's affairs, she would have no lingering worries, and could show a more mature side of herself.
By then…
She refused to believe Ryen would still see her as just a child!
If Ganyu and Guizhong could do it, so could she!
Even though she was younger than Ganyu and Guizhong, she was still older than Hu Tao, Ningguang, and Lisa combined!
If they can, so can I!
Nahida was already mentally preparing for battle.
"Slash Blades really are more suitable as individual combat weapons for soldiers,"
Zhongli remarked calmly.
"They grow continuously, accompany soldiers through battle, and evolve into ever-stronger weapons."
"They achieve each other, accompany each other, almost like two parts of one whole."
"Once the soldiers become fully accustomed to them, such weapons will truly unleash humanity's potential."
"A Slash Blade corps should soon become a force capable of standing shoulder to shoulder with the Dragon Knight Legion."
"The hope of resisting Heavenly Principles grows stronger by the day."
Everyone exchanged knowing smiles.
Now, when facing Heavenly Principles, they no longer felt that crushing urgency.
If anything, Zhongli and Ei seemed a little eager.
They wanted to see for themselves,
Whether wielding master-tier staves and top-tier Slash Blades would make them stronger…
Or whether Heavenly Principles would still prevail.
"So you're still setting your sights on Heavenly Principles?"
Ryen teased.
"I thought that under the influence of my grand plan, you'd all start looking further, toward the stars and the sea."
"How about it… want to borrow the Sword of Universal Dominion?"
Zhongli shook his head helplessly.
"Forget it. A divine blade devours its wielder. I don't yet possess the strength to control the Sword of Universal Dominion."
"I'd likely fail to harm Heavenly Principles and instead be slain by the sword itself."
Earlier, Ryen had taken the Sword of Universal Dominion to the Dark Sea's dedicated hunting grounds.
He hadn't even used much strength, just drew the blade and casually swung it a few times.
Space itself shattered.
Venti even swore on his connection with Istaroth that a single swing had erased the surrounding laws of time.
The Sword of Universal Dominion was a blade capable of killing laws, and worlds.
Everyone had tacitly agreed that even if the Sword's mod were fully unlocked in the future…
They would all pretend it didn't exist.
Aside from Ryen, no one dared to use it.
"Did you tell them about the Annihilation Cube?"
Zhongli asked again, concern evident in his voice.
"The dangers of the Twilight Forest don't only come from monsters and barriers. Those strange constructs are extremely dangerous as well."
"If the Annihilation Cube is accidentally triggered, a thousand people could be wiped out instantly."
Ryen waved it off.
"No need to worry. The Annihilation Cube is near the Final Castle, it's noted in the guide."
"Once they reach the Final Castle, no one is allowed to explore on their own. They must return and report first, then we'll send people to monitor it."
"Dashi and the others know the rules. They won't act rashly."
Hearing this, everyone nodded in agreement.
Keqing said with some satisfaction,
"Indeed. Dashi isn't someone with strong personal initiative, nor is he good at planning."
"But his greatest strength is that once we assign a task, he carries it out to the letter, no more, no less."
"For world development, someone like that is an ideal commander."
"With him and Fengyan managing the Millelith, things are much easier."
Ryen added,
"Oh right, Ningguang already told them that after this thousand-man exploration, they can become reserve members of the Thousand-Mage Corps."
"You can discuss the specifics yourselves. I think giving them some incentive is a good thing."
"A mage legion would be a foundational force powerful enough to directly threaten Heavenly Principles."
"Once we deal with the miscellaneous matters, we'll need to accelerate the development of the Witchery mod."
Glancing at the sky, Ryen said softly,
"That should be about it. Pack up and get ready to depart."
"Fushe, we'll be counting on you to watch the house."
Someone had to stay behind this time.
Fushe had only just been revived and was still unfamiliar with the changes of the world.
To say nothing else, when he died, Nahida hadn't even been born yet, or had only just been born and hadn't arrived in Sumeru.
The world had changed too much.
Leaving him here served two purposes: guarding the home in case something happened in the Minecraft world, and letting him gradually familiarize himself with what had happened in Liyue over the years.
Besides, Menogias was with him, and other adepti were around as well.
Just as everyone was about to head out to ride the dragons, Scaramouche suddenly spoke up:
"Mr. Ryen… may I go to the Twilight Forest as well?"
Ryen froze, then looked him over carefully.
Scaramouche clearly couldn't go to Sumeru this time.
After all, he had caused trouble there, even if nothing really came of it.
Letting him stay behind to guard the place posed no concern.
With the adepti watching him, Scaramouche would think twice before doing anything, unless he wanted to relive the torment of Lich Barrier.
Besides, judging by how Makoto had been guiding him these past few days, Scaramouche had more or less been… reformed into a decent kid.
After some thought, Ryen suddenly realized:
"You want to go to the Twilight Forest to look for a staff, don't you?"
Scaramouche didn't answer immediately.
He simply looked at Ryen quietly.
After a moment, he spoke earnestly:
"I don't fully understand the Twilight Forest, but I will follow the main force and won't cause trouble."
"I can sign a contract with the Geo Archon."
"Even if I obtain a staff, I can wait for you all to return before distribution."
"All I ask is for one advanced-tier staff."
His words were sincere, almost painfully humble.
He might as well have said outright that he was willing to work for free, just for a staff.
For a moment, Ryen genuinely couldn't think of a reason to refuse.
After all…
Scaramouche was undeniably strong.