Sumeru City was already silent in the dead of night, with most of its citizens deep in slumber.
At this moment, on the top floor of the House of Daena in the Akademiya, a group of people led by Grand Sage Azar gathered, staring intently at the central hub of the Akasha Terminal before them, their eyes filled with madness.
Azar stood with his hands behind his back, calmly waiting, then asked Setaria, who was beside him, "How many people in Sumeru City are still awake?"
Setaria glanced at the control panel in her hand and replied, "Reporting to Grand Sage, less than 5%."
Azar pursed his lips and said, "These night owls are really delaying things. We can't wait for them. Send subconscious commands to their Akasha Terminal to sleep."
Setaria: "Yes!"
As she quickly operated the control panel in her hand, the night owls still awake in the city were suddenly overwhelmed by a powerful drowsiness, instantly collapsing to the ground and falling into a deep sleep.
After just five minutes, Setaria reported to Azar: "Reporting to Grand Sage, 100% of Sumeru City's citizens are now in a state of sleep."
Azar added, "Including the Inazuma Delegation?"
Setaria nodded: "Yes, all members of the Inazuma Delegation's Akasha Terminals show a connected status, including the Inazuma Regent."
A smile finally appeared on Azar's face. He turned around to face all participants in the God Creation Project, spread his arms, and said hysterically, "Good! Since that's the case, our project can now enter its most crucial second step.
Ensure all connections, construct the highest stability architecture, and export power from the main body!"
Everyone: "Yes!"
As Azar's plan officially began, all Akasha Terminals in Sumeru City emitted a piercing 'beep' sound. However, the citizens of Sumeru were already in a state of deep sleep, their consciousness no longer within their physical bodies, so they couldn't hear this jarring noise.
Just then, the scholar responsible for monitoring and harvesting dreams suddenly detected an extremely abnormal energy increase, far greater than the dreams of ordinary people.
This anomaly immediately drew the attention of the Akademiya members.
Azar quickly walked over and asked, "What's going on? Why has the dream energy output suddenly increased so much?"
The scholar studying dreams, encountering this situation for the first time, speculated, "Reporting to Grand Sage, dream manifestation reflects a person's mental energy. In other words, the stronger a person's mental energy, the greater the dream energy harvested by Akasha.
This situation, I estimate, is due to a highly mentally powerful individual in Sumeru City also being included. The energy Akasha harvests from him alone is enough to equal tens of thousands of ordinary people."
Upon hearing this, Azar also fell into thought: "One person equals tens of thousands? Someone with such powerful mental energy actually appeared in Sumeru? Will this have any negative impact on the plan?"
The scholar hesitated before answering, "It shouldn't. However, individuals with strong mental energy also adapt faster to illusions. Perhaps he can quickly realize he's in someone else's dream and break free.
But his dream energy is merely an unexpected bonus for us. If this person stays in our dream for one day, it's enough to equal the total energy of tens of thousands of people for a day. We'll exploit it for as many days as we can; for us, it's a sure win."
Azar felt relieved upon hearing this. Perhaps the appearance of this person could accelerate the efficiency of energy extraction. For the common people of Sumeru, experiencing fewer cycles of the Sabzeruz Festival would also be a good thing.
Azar nodded and said, "If that's the case, then continue monitoring. However, who could such a powerful person be?"
Khajeh, who was nearby, speculated, "Could it be the Inazuma Regent? I heard about his achievements in Liyue and Mondstadt before. At first, I thought those reporters from The Steambird were exaggerating, but if it really is him, then the situation might be serious."
Azar pondered for a moment and shook his head: "I admit that the Inazuma Regent has some strength, but the strength of mental energy and the strength of physical power are not the same thing.
Our Greater Lord Rukkhadevata is the best example. Compared to other Archons, Greater Lord Rukkhadevata might not be the most powerful god, but among the Seven Archons, only she can connect to Irminsul and obtain supreme, omniscient, and omnipotent wisdom and clearance. This is the strength of mental power.
Even as strong as Lord Morax, the Geo Archon of Liyue, or Akasha Pulses of the Sumeru Desert, their strength is only reflected in power, not in mind."
Khajeh nodded thoughtfully, finding it very reasonable. Looking at the powerful beings in Teyvat, those with strong physical strength often lack strong mental power; those with strong mental power often lack strong physical strength. It's like a complementary relationship.
How could there be an existence with both strong physical strength and strong mental power? That would be too overpowered, wouldn't it?
Meanwhile, Miyashiro, at the Inazuma Delegation's residence, felt a very clear sensation of his consciousness being pulled when the Akasha Terminal emitted that piercing 'beep—' sound, making him instinctively want to resist.
But he held back in time, allowing his consciousness to be guided by Akasha to a mysterious space.
After a short while, he suddenly opened his eyes, got up, and checked his condition. Looking at the familiar room and the familiar scenery outside the window, even though everything felt normal, Miyashiro already had a strong sense of déjà vu.
Sure enough, he was now caught in the cycle of the Sabzeruz Festival.
As expected of Greater Lord Rukkhadevata's legacy, the Akasha computing power connected to Irminsul was astonishing, capable of immersing him in such a realistic world.
To be able to trap all the residents of a large Sumeru City in this dream cycle simultaneously, just this point alone gave Miyashiro a sense of being in a censored version of the Infinite Tsukuyomi.
Even with the blessing of his Eternal Mangekyou Sharingan, Miyashiro could not achieve such a large-scale realistic illusion. The demands on the caster were simply too high.
However, this was perfect. The more realistic the illusion, the more it would help him control the balance between the three energies of Sage Art.
The Akademiya wanted to exploit his mental energy, and Miyashiro, in turn, wanted to exploit Akasha's computing power. Everyone would take what they needed, relying on their own abilities, to see who would be the final winner!
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