[Sky City – The Banquet Deck]
"Truly a work of art," Zhongli commented, sipping his tea while observing the floating palace. "And this array... it holds a touch of immortal craftsmanship. Your trip to the Sky Trace world was fruitful."
Su Han sat beside him. "Does it help you?"
Zhongli shook his head. "For me? Negligible. My erosion is not something simple spiritual energy can fix. But for the others... it is a paradise."
Nearby, Xiao and Bosacius were meditating. The Yakshas' karmic debt seemed lighter here, suppressed by the pure atmosphere. Upon seeing Zhongli, they bowed deeply, addressing him only as "Mr. Zhongli" to keep his cover.
Kazuha, Itto, and Diluc claimed the "Men's Dorm" wing of the expanded palace. Even Chongyun and Xingqiu had arrived, invited as guests.
"Wow!" Paimon floated around, sniffing the air. "It smells so good here! Like... expensive perfume, but tastier!"
"That's Lingqi (Spiritual Energy)," Lumine laughed. "It's good for you."
"Hey! Flying Lavender Melon!" Itto shouted. "You're here too?"
"Hmph! Bull-Herder!" Paimon crossed her arms. "You abandoned Shinobu to come eat free food, didn't you?"
"I—I did not! I came for intel!" Itto stammered, losing the argument instantly.
Suddenly, a green breeze swept across the deck.
"Ehe! I knew you wouldn't forget your favorite bard!"
Venti landed lightly, holding a bottle of Dandelion Wine. He looked around, eyes sparkling. "Ah... this air. It's been centuries since I tasted energy this pure."
"You finally showed up," Su Han grinned. "I fixed your dragon, so you owe me."
"I know, I know," Venti waved his hand. "Here. A gift."
He tossed a massive rock at Su Han.
Su Han caught it. It was heavy.
"What is this?"
"Raw Sunset Floating Stone," Venti said casually. "I found it during the Archon War. I thought about building a floating castle, but... eh, too much work. It's been sitting in my inventory for 2,000 years. You can have it."
Su Han stared at the stone. It was ten times larger than the core Cloud Retainer had used for the original Jade Chamber.
"Cloud Retainer! Madame Ping!" Su Han shouted. "Get over here! We're expanding the city!"
The two Adepti rushed over. When they saw the stone, their jaws dropped.
"By the Archons..." Cloud Retainer adjusted her glasses. "With this, we can expand the surface area by tenfold!"
They immediately dragged the stone away to begin construction.
[The Feast]
While the Adepti worked, Xiangling brought out the food.
"Dragon Meat Soup! Shrimp Soldier Tempura! Crab General Stir-fry! Come and eat!"
The aroma was overpowering. The meat from the Sky Trace monsters was rich in spiritual energy. One bite was equivalent to a day of meditation.
"Delicious," Zhongli nodded approvingly. "Xiangling, you have outdone yourself."
"Lulu~"
A small, bear-like creature waddled out from the kitchen, munching on a spicy shrimp. Guoba.
When he saw Zhongli, Guoba paused. His eyes, usually vacant, sparked with a moment of clarity. He waved happily.
"Lulu!"
Zhongli smiled warmly. "Hello, old friend."
The Adepti watched in shock.
"Is he... recovering?" Cloud Retainer whispered.
"Slowly," Su Han confirmed. "The Xuanyuan Sword's presence, combined with this Spirit Array, is healing his intelligence. He might not return to his full power as Marchosius, but he will regain his mind."
Raiden Ei watched the interaction closely. Her eyes shifted—the puppet retreating, the true consciousness stepping forward.
"If a god who sacrificed his power can return..." Ei whispered to Su Han. "Then... my sister?"
Su Han squeezed her hand under the table. "I promised you, didn't I? When the time is right, Makoto will return. Trust me."
Ei let out a breath she'd been holding for 500 years. "I trust you."
Then, her eyes shifted back. The Shogun returned.
"Hmph. You're always making promises. Now feed me that shrimp."
Su Han laughed. "Yes, yes, Your Excellency."
[Three Hours Later]
With the new Floating Stone integrated, the Sky City expanded massively.
It now boasted a full-sized training arena, sprawling gardens, and multiple residential wings.
Su Han planted the Moonlight Maple Seeds (from the shop) in the garden.
Fed by the insane density of the Spirit Array, the seeds sprouted instantly. Within an hour, they were 30-meter tall trees with glowing silver leaves, creating a permanent zone of Yin-energy for soul cultivation.
"Alright, everyone!" Su Han clapped his hands. "Eat up, then get to training. The next mission is in four days!"
The strongest warriors of Teyvat, fueled by dragon meat and immortal energy, began their cultivation.
Meanwhile, Itto was stuffing a bag with leftovers.
"Hey, Xiangling... can I take this for the boys?"
"Sure, Itto!"
Itto grinned. Heh. The gang is gonna love this.
Peace reigned in the Sky City. But in the shadows of the multiverse, new threats were always brewing.
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