The massage was over.
So was the enjoyment.
Su Han sat up and rolled his shoulders.
After Hu Tao's massage, his waist no longer ached, his legs did not hurt, and his body had recovered remarkably well.
When he stepped out of the room, hurried footsteps came from outside.
Kujo Sara looked anxious as she said, "My lord... Narukami Island is acting strange. The whole sky is covered in thunder. At first, I thought it was the Shogun cultivating, but then I sensed something terrifyingly sharp, like sword qi. Please go take a look..."
"Hmm? That fast... Looks like her aptitude really is extraordinary."
Su Han muttered to himself.
Then he looked at the tengu general, who was full of worry, and said with a smile, "No need to panic. This is the Raiden Shogun practicing a secret art. Spread the word and let everyone return to normal. There is no need to be afraid of the thunder."
"Yes!"
After getting an answer, Kujo Sara finally let out a breath of relief.
Then Su Han and the others crossed through the mirror and arrived at the Tenshukaku.
The sky over all of Narukami Island had turned into a sea of lightning.
Unlike before, a celestial sword had transformed into a moon and was radiating endless divine light.
Outside that sword, three more flying swords were circling in the sky in a triangular formation, each one exuding a powerful aura.
And the countless bolts of lightning, if examined closely, were not lightning at all. They were strands upon strands of sword qi.
Raiden Ei's cultivation method and combat style had already changed.
Before, she simply controlled thunder and turned it into blades for attack.
But after coming into contact with the Zhuxian Sword Formation, Raiden Ei suddenly thought of something.
What if she turned her own power into sword qi?
Once that thought was put into practice, her essence changed.
The current thunder turning into sword qi was the result of Raiden Ei's transformation.
Countless bolts of lightning were being converted into sword qi, strand by strand.
The thunder that covered Narukami Island was slowly transforming, and at the center of it all was Raiden Ei's natal treasure, the Moonlight Sword.
"My lord... is this really all right? The pressure from the thunder keeps getting stronger..."
"Don't worry, this is normal..."
Turning thunder into sword qi would naturally increase both strength and pressure.
That was a normal phenomenon.
After receiving the news, people still trusted Lord Su Han, but the aura in the sky was far too frightening.
With this kind of power, even a single bolt of lightning could probably wipe everyone out.
Bi Yao, who had been shopping nearby, was so frightened by the thunder in the sky that her face went pale.
She even crouched down in a corner.
Kuki Shinobu, standing nearby, rolled her eyes and said helplessly, "You don't need to be this scared, do you?"
"What do you know? If thunder falls, it'll definitely strike the tallest thing. If we crouch down, we'll definitely be safer!"
"This is the Raiden Shogun's divine authority. We won't be in danger. Besides, this is Inazuma City. Even if something really happens to the Raiden Shogun, Lord Su Han won't just ignore it."
"But what if..."
After Bi Yao said that, another person crouched down too.
Kuki Shinobu even took out a rice ball and started nibbling on it in small bites.
Bi Yao glanced at the sticky rice ball and could not help asking, "Did you not eat?"
"As a ninja, I'm always on missions. You can't eat too much, or it'll make movement inconvenient..."
"Can you give me one too?"
"Here."
"Wow... it's red bean flavor. It's a little cold, but it tastes really good. Did you make this?"
"Mm."
The two of them crouched in a corner.
No one noticed them at all.
The divine light in the sky continued until nine at night.
Only then did all the thunder finally stabilize.
The purple lightning had now all turned into white sword qi.
Raiden Ei stood atop the Tenshukaku.
Her eyes were closed.
Her body hovered in the air.
Countless thoughts were controlling the thunder over Narukami Island.
Suddenly, she opened her eyes, and the thunder radiating divine light stopped crackling one after another.
Waves of sword qi then began gathering toward the Moonlight Sword.
"Zhuxian Sword Formation, withdraw..."
With Raiden Ei's loud shout, all the power in the sky began surging into the four flying swords.
The Moonlight Sword absorbed the most sword qi by far.
It took a full ten minutes.
All the thunder vanished.
The sky was left with only four flying swords shining brightly.
Raiden Ei looked pleased.
Her initial refinement had succeeded.
With a thought, all the flying swords returned to her before her.
"How did the refinement go?"
"Mm, the initial stage was a success. It was much easier than I expected. The only problem was that the conversion took a lot of time. I have to say, even in a world with relatively weak power, there can still be treasures of this level. When I face enemies in the future, once the Zhuxian Sword Diagram is activated, my power will increase greatly. And... I'll also have much more confidence in protecting this nation."
Raiden Ei flicked her finger.
The four flying swords merged into her body and disappeared.
It was not that she did not want to place the flying swords in Narukami Island to suppress it.
It was just that the refinement had only just begun, and she had not yet reached the point where the flying swords and her own body were fully united.
Once the refinement was completely finished in the future, she would be able to arrange the flying swords within Narukami Island.
Then, even if Raiden Ei was not there to guard it, the sword formation would still protect the island.
Su Han smiled and said, "Then congratulations."
"There is still one more thing I need to tell you."
"Mm? Go ahead."
"This sword formation is not something just anyone can control. Although, in theory, four flying swords can also be used to activate it, that would not capture its true essence. Even someone with strength like Xiao probably would not be able to wield this diagram. Unless his strength rises a bit more..."
Raiden Ei had just finished refining it, so she naturally understood how terrifying the diagram was.
But at the same time, even though the formation was powerful, it was not something everyone could use.
Without enough strength, it would be better to simply fight with one's own power.
"And there's also a problem with the weapon itself. Without a formation eye, it is only an empty shell. It only has the appearance, nothing more..."
Su Han nodded.
"I understand. Still, I'm afraid Venti and Zhongli won't use this formation either."
"They each have their own way of fighting. It does not really suit us. Besides, tomorrow's special offer will refresh. We can look forward to that instead."
"True..."
The two of them returned to the Tenshukaku.
Inside, they had a simple meal together.
At the same time, on the other side, under Tighnari's guidance, Ningguang and the others crossed the barrier of the Chasm and headed toward Sumeru.
In truth, there was another route.
But this path was the shortest way to Gandharva Ville.
Under the night sky, everyone sat on the Chensha Cliff.
Tighnari pointed at the rainforest in the distance and said, "That way is Gandharva Ville. Lady Ningguang, is building a railway really possible?"
Sumeru was different from the other nations.
It had many rainforests and deep valleys.
A place like Gandharva Ville was a small settlement at the foot of the mountains.
If they were going to build a railway there, they would have to cross mountains and valleys.
The difficulty was unquestionably enormous.
Keqing glanced at the map Tighnari had provided.
"Indeed... Gandharva Ville, Vimara Village, all of them would need a railway. On the other hand, Port Ormos would not. But if a sea railway could be opened, trade between the two sides would increase significantly."
"Actually, there is no need for that. We don't need to climb mountains to lay the railway..."
"What do you mean?"
Tighnari looked puzzled.
If the railway did not go over the mountains, how was it supposed to be built?
Ningguang smiled.
"We can just carve straight through the mountain body. Since the two nations are opening trade, then start from the Chensha Cliff beneath our feet. That way, the railway can go directly to Gandharva Ville and enter Sumeru. If we go from anywhere else, it will not only waste time, but also waste materials. We value the fastest arrival. What is a mountain peak worth?"
Everyone was stunned by Ningguang's boldness.
If they were really going to carve through the mountain like that, the Mora required would be an astronomical amount.
"Don't worry about the Mora. Things that can be solved with money are minor matters. What matters is that after we arrive at Gandharva Ville tomorrow, I hope we do not run into another ambush."
Actually, Ningguang's group had reached the Chasm earlier that morning.
But when they were preparing to land, they were attacked by strangers.
Those people fought ruthlessly, and whenever someone was isolated, they would choose to blow themselves up.
The magical items they used were like Pyro explosions.
If the soldiers from the Chasm had not rushed over, those people would have continued their attack.
Tighnari said with a serious expression, "Please rest assured. I have already informed the elders of Gandharva Ville. For the rest of this journey, we will absolutely guarantee your safety. This is our resolve."
"Mm. Then rest for tonight. We'll continue tomorrow. Also, inspect the nearby terrain while you're at it. Negotiations will go faster if the materials are prepared in advance."
"Understood."
Everyone rested there for the night.
The next morning, Keqing brought news.
Sumeru's envoys had arrived, and along with them were more than a thousand ranger patrol members.
"Welcome, Lady Ningguang. We're truly sorry about yesterday... We originally wanted to come over, but we were also attacked and suffered heavy losses..."
The old man was probably around seventy years old, yet he bowed to Ningguang in apology.
That attitude was truly beyond reproach.
"There is no need for you to mind it, sir. This was not your fault. Since everyone is here, let's go. The soldiers from the Chasm can accompany us too."
"Mm..."
From the edge of Chensha Cliff, they slowly descended the mountain.
Below was Sangonomiya Pass.
If they went straight from here and crossed a great gorge, they would reach Sumeru City.
If they went in the other direction, they would reach Gandharva Ville.
It was a small place hidden at the foot of the mountain.
Keqing looked at the dense forest and said with emotion, "I haven't been to this area in two years... The scenery is still the same. It hasn't changed at all..."
"Yes, because the rainy season here is very long. The trees grow well. It is all thanks to the grace of Lord Lesser Lord Kusanali..."
The old man said with a smile.
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