Hanachirusato and Yae Miko exchanged a knowing look. They both understood that this wasn't just a simple graft of the Sacred Sakura; Raiden Makoto herself had effectively relocated her essence to the Fountainhead Palace.
The arrival of the Palace brought immediate, tangible benefits. Its spirit springs, now purified and brimming with concentrated elemental energy, were a farmer's dream. According to Sucrose's initial research, high-tier crops like Blood Bodhi, Dragon-Blood Fruit, Spirit Grains, and even the Moonlight Maples would see their growth cycles slashed significantly if irrigated with these waters.
Kujou Sara looked at the crystal-clear springs and sighed in admiration. "No wonder the Divine Dragon occupied this place. This mysterious water is easily the most precious treasure here."
"A substance that can nourish a five-star demon is no ordinary spring," Hanachirusato added, cupping the water in her hands with a smile. "Such a paradise is now ours to command."
Acting Grand Master Jean chimed in with a strategic proposal. "Beyond irrigation, we could treat this spirit water as a high-value reward for those who perform great service to our nations. It would drastically accelerate the cultivation of our elite warriors."
"The springs are self-sustaining," Su Han noted. "While not infinite, they produce enough for every soldier to have a daily ration. We'll proceed with that plan." To further bolster the Palace's vitality, Su Han decided to bury the Spirit Stones Beidou had won in the Spiral Tower deep within the mountain's foundations.
The Fate of the Dragon's Corpse
The conversation then shifted to the remains of the Divine Dragon. Though its life had been plagued by corruption, the flesh of a five-star plant-based demon was remarkably pure once the soul had departed.
"We can't exactly eat it," Beidou remarked, looking at the colossal wooden frame. "What's the plan for the body?"
"It's a plant demon," Hanachirusato explained. "Its greatest trait is its ability to return energy to the earth. Instead of turning it into pills or weapons—which would be a waste of its massive volume—we should bury it."
Ningguang caught on immediately. "You want to use it as a massive fertilizer for a barren region?"
"Exactly," Hanachirusato confirmed. "An entity of this level can alter the environment of an entire province. Think of how Orobashi's remains affected Yashiori, but without the lingering malice. If we bury the dragon's body in a desolate area, that land will become fertile and rich with life."
Despite being from Inazuma, Hanachirusato pointed toward the Temple of a Thousand Winds and Starsnatch Cliff in Mondstadt.
"I've studied the maps. This area is close to the coast and Mondstadt City, yet it has remained largely underdeveloped and rugged. If we level the terrain and bury the dragon's remains there, we can turn it into a massive agricultural base for Spirit Grains and medicinal herbs."
Lisa nodded enthusiastically. "From a tactical standpoint, it's perfect. It's easy to defend, close to the Knights' headquarters, and shielded by both Falcon Coast and the city. It's a brilliant move for the alliance."
It was decided: four-fifths of the dragon's body would be interred in Mondstadt's eastern hills, while the remaining fifth would be split between research and restoring the storm-blasted environment of Seirai Island.
The Sovereign's Reward: The Wood Essence Core
As evening fell, Klee tugged on Xiangling's sleeve, begging for grilled fish. The group set up a banquet on the vermilion bridges, but Su Han stepped away to the summit of the Palace to claim his rewards from the mission group.
[Ding! Member Venti completed a Five-Star Mission. Reward for Group Leader: 260,000 Points.]
[Ding! Group Leader Reward: Ten-Thousand-Year Wood Essence Heart-Core.]
Su Han froze as he read the description.
[Description]: A supreme treasure from the Eastern Lands. The Divine Dragon was originally a guardian sent to protect this core, but it stole the treasure and fled to Ashina. Because the core was so powerful, the wounded dragon never dared to fully refine it, fearing the Eastern masters would track the energy signature.
[Effect]: Grants peerless vitality. If refined into the body, the user can regenerate from total physical destruction. If placed in the earth, it radiates life energy in a 1,000-kilometer radius, drastically accelerating plant growth without side effects.
"A thousand-kilometer radius?" Su Han whispered, pulling up a map. If he placed this at Guyun Stone Forest, the "radiation" of life energy would cover the borders of Liyue, Mondstadt, and Inazuma simultaneously. It was a masterpiece of a treasure.
He decided to hold off on placing it until tomorrow. The banquet was calling.
Returning to the deck, Beidou handed him a skewer of grilled fish. "Taste this. By the way, did you get something good from the reward?"
"A Wood Essence Core," Su Han shared.
The group laughed as they heard the dragon's backstory. "So the dragon was just a common thief?" Yae Miko chuckled. "It sat on a treasure for centuries and was too afraid to use it. Talk about irony."
"It makes sense why the Mortal Blade couldn't truly kill it," Ningguang mused. "The dragon's natural vitality was being propped up by the core, even if it wasn't refined."
As they ate under the glowing Sacred Sakura of the Fountainhead Palace, Su Han looked at the happy faces of his companions. Their world was growing stronger with every mission, and the pieces of the puzzle were finally falling into place. Ashina's tragedy had become Teyvat's triumph.
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