Hanxue's son stared blankly at the heavy wooden door that had just slammed shut in his face. His mouth hung slightly open. One moment he was deep in sleep, the next he was jolted awake by a sharp slap, subjected to a barrage of incomprehensible scolding, and then... told he would be kicked out of the house next month?
He rubbed his stinging cheek, his shoulders sagging as he stared at the wood grain, entirely at a loss for where he could possibly go.
Passing the Millelith recruitment exam to stay at home was nothing but a pipe dream. The selection rate was one in ten thousand. Every month, over ten thousand candidates sat for the written exam alone, yet the recruitment quota was capped at a few dozen. The competitors were Liyue's absolute elite. Top-ranked adventurers, heirs of martial arts lineages... every single one possessed terrifying strength. He looked down at his own thin, unmuscled arms. Competing against them for those pathetic few spots? He might as well just go back to bed.
The impending eviction made his stomach tie itself into knots. But first things first.
"I need to find Second Brother next door. He's always spoiled me. He'll definitely let me ride his dragon!"
He scrambled to throw on his outer robes and sprinted out of the courtyard.
Standing in the shadows nearby, Hanxue watched the boy sprint away. A faint, approving smile touched the corners of his mouth. At the very least, the boy knew to seek guidance from an experienced Dragon Rider. Of course, if Hanxue knew his son was only rushing out to beg for a joyride, he would likely be clutching his chest and bemoaning his family's misfortune all over again.
Liyue Harbor was already saturated with the vibrant energy of the Lantern Rite. The return of the Millelith soldiers on leave elevated the fervor to a fever pitch. Gongs and drums echoed through every alleyway, celebrating the glorious return of their sons and daughters.
Currently, even the standard Millelith infantry exams were brutally difficult. The Dragon Riders were on another level entirely. Naturally, these returning riders became the center of the harbor's intense scrutiny.
How many Dragon Riders were there? What were the recruitment standards? Even the Ministry of Civil Affairs was desperate for answers. The riders only existed as names in their ledgers; the actual exams and operational duties were strictly classified. The Ministry clerks seized the opportunity to pry. However, the answers they received caused jaws to drop across the harbor.
Raw personal combat strength was no longer the primary criterion for the Dragon Riders. Regardless of personal skill, mounting a dragon instantly elevated the rider to a level surpassing Vision bearers. The true combat power of the cavalry had always been the dragons themselves. Even the weakest dragon possessed the might of an Adeptus. In other words, successful induction into the Dragon Riders guaranteed Adeptus-level combat capability.
Rather than individual martial prowess, the selection process heavily weighed the bond between rider and dragon, along with absolute loyalty and contribution to the nation. This made the exam exponentially harder than standard military tests. Standing out among countless powerful Millelith soldiers required qualities far beyond mere talent.
As the Millelith stationed in the Minecraft world returned, Liyue's citizens could no longer suppress their burning questions. Milk that cured all ailments, potent alchemical potions, enchanted weaponry, inexhaustible resources. And the sudden, inexplicable empowerment of entire Millelith battalions to Vision-bearer levels. Even the most seasoned adventurers who had traversed all of Teyvat knew such miracles did not exist on this continent.
With the gag order lifted, the Millelith spoke freely about everything save for the absolute core secrets. The details of their otherworldly conquest quickly flooded the streets.
The people of Liyue, and soon the spies of other nations, finally understood the foundation of the Five-Nation Alliance's blood pact. They understood why the five nations had experienced such explosive, unnatural growth. There was an uncharted, mysterious alien world. These unfathomable resources were the spoils of that realm.
As the day progressed, more legends of the Minecraft world saturated Liyue Harbor. A boundless, infinite land containing pocket dimensions within itself. Bizarre physical laws and endless resources. Resurrected Adepti and fallen gods. The gathering of five Archons. Six months of development there equated to millennia of progress in Liyue.
Furthermore, Liyue had built cities and fortresses, expanding its territory into a primary continent no smaller than Teyvat itself. Liyue already controlled half of it.
The citizens finally realized that their long-missing soldiers had been carving out a new empire. They realized that even if Teyvat were to shatter tomorrow, Liyue had already secured a safe haven. A place where they could continue to thrive.
A heavy, profound silence fell over Liyue Harbor.
Ryen's name echoed in the minds of everyone who listened to the soldiers' tales. The citizens had previously harbored quiet doubts about why this rarely seen outlander traveler was romantically involved with Ningguang, Hu Tao, and Ganyu simultaneously. Now, the picture was crystal clear.
He was no traveler. He was the Lord of a World.
The silence shattered, replaced by an absolute uproar. Ordinary citizens scrambled, grabbing any guard they could find to ask about the next recruitment exam's dates and quotas. The regular Millelith soldiers cornered the Dragon Riders, demanding to know how they could deploy to the other world. To the people of Liyue, nothing was more intoxicating than contributing to the nation's thousand-year expansion.
Unfortunately, such matters were beyond the soldiers' jurisdiction. Even the Dragon Riders could not sway Ningguang's grand strategic directives.
Liyue was boiling over, but the frenzy did not reach Ryen and the others at Mt. Tianheng. Though the Millelith were on leave, this territory remained strictly off-limits. Everyone now understood exactly what resided at Mt. Tianheng. Disregarding Ryen, the area housed five Archons, the high command of five nations, and an assembly of Adepti and gods. Even if the Heavenly Principles descended, she would have to pause and calculate her entry.
Moreover, the returning soldiers had heavily emphasized the countless lethal traps fortifying the mountain. Trespassing meant certain death. Despite their fervor, the citizens maintained their reason. Even with the world's secrets laid bare, the perimeter of Mt. Tianheng remained undisturbed. At most, a few citizens stood at the distant outer boundaries, offering reverent glances toward the peaks.
The tremors of Liyue's upheaval naturally reached the courtyard. The group, however, paid it little mind. This progression was entirely anticipated. At most, they teased Ryen, joking that he would be mobbed by worshippers the moment he stepped outside.
Ryen simply chuckled, waving off the comments. He spent the vast majority of his time in the Minecraft world, or lounging around Mt. Tianheng entertaining Klee or relaxing with Yae Miko and the others. He rarely ventured out. Even when he did, his destination was usually Ningguang's Jade Chamber. Whether the people of Liyue recognized his face or not was irrelevant to him. Their fanaticism would not alter his daily routine.
"At this point, nearly every citizen in Liyue knows the secret of the world," Ningguang stated softly, her fingers interlaced as she sat at the courtyard table. "As time passes, the other seven nations will learn of it as well. The Five-Nation Alliance is secure. The only variable requiring attention is Snezhnaya. Once The Jester and The Doctor catch wind of this, they will inevitably make a move. Her Excellency, the Tsaritsa, might find herself dealing with some friction."
The Tsaritsa dipped her chin slightly, a faint, resigned sigh escaping her lips. "It is only a matter of time. However, there is no need to brace for impact. Ultimately, our true enemy remains the Heavenly Principles."
Makoto nodded, a gentle smile gracing her features. "Exactly. Setting aside the fact that the power you now wield, Barnabas, is more than sufficient to suppress them entirely... if they prove bothersome, we can simply intervene. No matter their strength, they cannot possibly withstand a combined assault from five nations."
The Tsaritsa's lips curved upward. "That was my exact thought. Our Snezhnayan Dragon Riders may be few in number, but they are fully mature combatants. Rosalyne, Scaramouche, and Tartaglia have all been enhanced by their staves; in a direct confrontation, they are not inferior to The Jester's faction. Furthermore, The Jester's group is currently bogged down by the Abyss Order. Add in Arlecchino's imminent arrival with her three thousand troops, and Snezhnaya's localized strength will skyrocket. When that happens, The Jester and The Doctor will be nothing more than insignificant rodents. We can crush them at our leisure. Their only real advantage is their ability to hide."
The group nodded in agreement. The Jester's full capabilities were unknown, but The Doctor... that man had too many segments. Even the Tsaritsa was unsure of their exact number and locations. Eradicating The Doctor meant destroying every single segment simultaneously.
Yet, the Tsaritsa was not particularly stressed by this logistical nightmare. The Doctor had cultivated far too many enemies. The entirety of Mondstadt considered him a mortal foe. Truthfully, if the Tsaritsa executed him herself, Diluc and the Knights would likely take offense.
The Tsaritsa shifted her gaze to Jean and the Mondstadt delegation. Ever since learning of Arlecchino's incoming reinforcements, the lingering frustration of being short-staffed had vanished. Her mind was entirely occupied with grand blueprints for infrastructure and development. With nearly five thousand Snezhnayans stationed in the new world, the possibilities were endless. Rather than wasting time plotting against The Doctor and The Jester, she preferred to focus on expansion. Offering their heads as a favor to her allies was a far better use of them.
"Snezhnaya's development is imminent," the Tsaritsa stated smoothly. "We must catch up on the progress we lack. We cannot spare the manpower to hunt down The Doctor and his associates. If you have no objections, I will leave their extermination to you. Once you formulate a strike plan, come to Snezhnaya. I will instruct The Rooster to coordinate with you. However, exercise caution. I do not know the full depths of The Jester's foundation. As for The Doctor... there are too many segments. You must pinpoint every single location before launching your assault."
Diluc's posture instantly straightened. His eyes flared with a predatory intensity as he gave a sharp, definitive nod. "It's a deal. The Doctor's life belongs to Mondstadt."
Ningguang raised a brow, a chillingly pleasant smile forming on her lips. "In that case, Liyue will claim the life of The Regrator."
"The Jester is mine." Scaramouche's voice was a low growl, his pupils narrowing as pure, undisguised murderous intent radiated from him. The memories of being manipulated and played like a fool by The Doctor and The Jester burned like acid in his mind.
Standing off to the side, Aether pressed his lips together, silently exhaling a breath he didn't know he was holding. The Jester, The Doctor, The Regrator... those three had managed to unite a terrifying coalition against them. He mentally counted his blessings that the Abyss Order's past collaborations with that Fatui faction had remained shallow. Otherwise, the crossfire would undoubtedly scorch his forces.
Still feeling a prickle of unease, Aether shot a covert, sharp glance at Enjou. The unspoken order was clear: return immediately and burn every single record of their prior dealings with The Jester's faction.