Reading through the description of the new Affection skill, Nolan thought its effects were quite remarkable.
The phrase "additional increase" meant that the skill boosted the final total after all other buffs were calculated.
For example: if he and Ei trained for an hour, they might gain 50,000 EXP in progress. If Nilou danced nearby and activated her Affection skill, that would multiply the progress by 1.5, raising it to about 75,000.
If, at that moment, Nolan was soaking in icy water, Kokomi's Affection Skill wouldn't calculate from the base 50,000—it would calculate from the final 75,000.
Since Kokomi's level was 76, adding his own level brought the total multiplier to 178%.
That meant under both Affection Skills, he and Ei could earn over 130,000 EXP in just one hour of training.
And if he acquired even more cultivation-boosting skills in the future, Kokomi's "extra increase" would always apply after everything else had stacked, multiplying the total further.
The same applied to faster healing or recovery buffs.
What's more, the different water-type buffs could coexist. For example, freshwater had the effect "nourish the body." If heated, it became both warm water and freshwater, giving two buffs simultaneously: "extra recovery speed" and "cell nourishment."
Hot water itself condensed inner energy. Salt water purified corruption. Milk strengthened bones and marrow.
Mix them together? Salted hot milk—bathing in it would grant three buffs at once.
All in all, Nolan was very satisfied with Kokomi's max-level Affection Skill.
"Traveler, you're far too unfair!"
Kokomi, still embarrassed, pinched his shoulder hard and scolded, "Put me down this instant. Give me a wind buff and let me fly myself."
"That's so troublesome. Better if I keep holding you." Nolan ignored her protest and shifted the topic:
"Kokomi, look over there—could that be the Coral Branch?"
He had already extended his spiritual sense across the underground chamber. Aside from the main platform, he'd discovered a tunnel up ahead.
Inside were cell-like rooms, though all the doors were broken. Whatever had once been imprisoned there had long escaped.
And those escapees were obvious—the two Bathysmal Vishaps, level 90 each, currently fighting the Abyss Lector.
Nolan recalled that the Vishaps' evolution into lightning and ice variants had been the result of Byakuyakoku's selective breeding.
In that ancient nation, Vishaps had been beasts of burden, like oxen and horses. But as society advanced, the original species grew less useful. So people bred new Vishaps that wielded Electro and Cryo.
The game's lore had confirmed it: the terrifying strength of the "Bathysmal Vishap Herd" was the result of cultivation and selection by Enkanomiya's inhabitants.
Whether exactly the same here or not, the principle seemed consistent.
But confirming this would require actual historical records. That was a task for scholars, not him.
Passing over the ruined cells, he soon spotted radiant coral glowing at the tunnel's end.
They had to be the Coral Branches used to suppress the Vishaps.
In the game, you earned them by defeating the beasts. But here, they were clearly designed to sustain the seal while still being retrievable by Watatsumi folk.
After all, demanding the slaying of powerful Vishaps each time would be far too dangerous.
Looking closer, he confirmed that the Coral Branches powered the seal but weren't directly bound into the containment array.
So removing one wasn't too difficult.
Knowing that taking all of them might cause the seal to collapse, Nolan carefully used his spiritual power to extract just one.
Even so, the glow of the remaining branches dimmed noticeably.
That meant Enkanomiya's seal had weakened. Whether it could last another few centuries was uncertain.
Clearly, Watatsumi would need to actively explore and secure control over Enkanomiya. Otherwise, the Vishaps would one day break free.
In the original tale, Kokomi had indeed dispatched troops to Enkanomiya—she must have considered this already.
Watching the glowing Coral Branch drift out from the tunnel, Kokomi temporarily forgot her embarrassment and exclaimed, surprised:
"Yes—that's it, the Coral Branch! How did you find it?"
"Spiritual sense." Nolan smiled. Then he added, "Now that we've got it, let's find out why they're fighting."
His gaze shifted back to the Abyss Lector and the two Vishaps still locked in battle.
"What do you intend to do?" Kokomi asked.
"Naturally, defeat them… and then control them."
His strength far surpassed theirs. The simplest way was to knock them out and bind them with Command Spells.
As the Lector and Vishaps hurled elemental attacks at each other, their heads suddenly grew heavy.
A psychic invasion. The crimson Pyro Lector instantly realized what was happening and tried to muster its mental force in resistance.
But it couldn't stop the advancing tide of spiritual power.
Not even enough time to trigger the local teleport network and escape—its last act was an indignant roar in its heart before its consciousness was swallowed by darkness.
The two Bathysmal Vishaps staggered as well before collapsing with heavy thuds.
Suddenly, silence filled the cavern.
Only sparks of Electro still danced on the lake's surface—the remnants of the Vishap's lightning attack causing Electro-Charged reactions in the water.
At this moment, anyone touching the water would be shocked.
With the Abyss Lector and the two Vishaps defeated, Nolan's interface chimed with notifications:
[Defeated 3 Powerful Enemies. Obtained 281,465 Adventure EXP.]
His accumulated Adventure EXP now totaled over 2.57 million:
[Adventure EXP: 2,575,436]
Still far from his next level. Nolan closed the panel and looked at the fallen monsters, smiling.
"Alright—handled neatly. Let's head down."
Saying so, he descended with Kokomi to the platform below, gazing at the once-fearsome beasts now lying unconscious at their feet.
Kokomi wasn't particularly surprised—after all, Nolan was someone who could even fight Raiden Shogun.
"So, what do you plan to do next?" she asked curiously.
"In the future, you'll surely need to explore Enkanomiya yourself. These two Bathysmal Vishaps should be among the strongest of their kind.
"I'll bind them and hand them over to you. Through them, you might indirectly influence the other Vishaps. That would greatly reduce the dangers of Enkanomiya."
Nolan thought for a moment, then added with a grin:
"As for the Abyss Lector—heh—I plan to plant him in the Abyss Order as a spy. That way, whatever that monstrous organization does, we'll know immediately!"
Kokomi gave a slight nod. Controlling the Vishaps would indeed ease the crisis of dealing with Enkanomiya.
And using an Abyss Lector as an undercover agent would give them far more insight into the Abyss Order's movements.
After all, the Order was a massive threat to all of Teyvat. Gaining intelligence through one of their own would only be to their advantage.
Before long, Nolan inscribed his Command Spells onto the Abyss Lector and the two Vishaps.
Five or six minutes later, the crimson Pyro Lector was the first to wake. Spotting Nolan, it recoiled in shock, quickly pulling back as fear flickered in its eyes.
"Y-you… why are you here?!"
Their Prince had explicitly warned them: if you encounter Nolan, retreat immediately.
Especially after learning of his exploits across several nations, the Lector knew full well this was someone it could not provoke.
With the Abyss Order's reputation in Teyvat, they would likely be struck down on sight.
So the Prince's command to flee at once was wise. Right now, the Lector wanted nothing more than to activate the teleport network and escape.
But its body no longer obeyed—it couldn't even muster the energy to open a gate.
"Oh? You know me?" Nolan asked in surprise. He was fairly certain he'd never dealt with this Abyss Lector before, yet its words implied recognition.
After all, Abyss Lectors all looked nearly identical. Unless you were of their kind, telling them apart by appearance was impossible.
The Pyro Lector didn't want to answer—but its mouth moved on its own:
"I am Enjou. Our Prince ordered us not to fight you."
It briefly explained the situation.
So it was Enjou. Of course—no other Lector would bother sneaking into Enkanomiya.
And to hear that even Aether had instructed his underlings to retreat at the sight of him… well, it seemed he at least had some self-awareness.
Nolan pressed further, asking Enjou's purpose in Enkanomiya.
As expected, it was searching for Before Sun and Moon. Beyond that, Nolan extracted some information on the Abyss Order's latest plans, then ordered him to return and serve as a spy.
Naturally, Enjou wanted to refuse. But under the Command Spell's binding, he had no choice but to obey.
Once the Lector left, the two Vishaps stirred, shaking their heads groggily before slowly waking.
They saw Nolan and Kokomi and instinctively tried to attack—but their bodies wouldn't respond.
He ordered them to obey both himself and Kokomi, then left them there for now. They could be summoned for aid later.
With the Lector and Vishaps gone, the platform fell into silence.
"Since we've secured the Coral Branch, let's return. I'll arrange people to explore Enkanomiya later," Kokomi said, accepting the branch from his hand.
"Mm." Nolan had little interest in lingering—his goal was complete, and Kokomi's Affection had even reached maximum. He was more than satisfied.
Holding her close, he invoked the power of the Unobservable Barrier, and in an instant they phased back to the surface above Sangonomiya.
The sun still hung high, though its light had softened and tilted westward. Dusk was near.
"Since there's still time, let's also complete the Watatsumi Sacred Rite. It won't take too long," Kokomi suggested.
The so-called "Hallowed Soil" had long been told in legend as the loss of spiritual veins underground.
The truth, however, was simpler: Sangonomiya sat by the sea, and over time, saltwater eroded the land, raising salinity.
Nutrients were forced out of the soil and carried away into Enkanomiya, leaving behind barren, salt-ridden land—a white desert.
The Coral Branches replenished those missing nutrients and curbed salt corrosion, stabilizing the land for centuries at a time.
Truly a precious treasure.
"Very well. I'll help too," Nolan offered readily.
His eagerness won Kokomi's approval, and she let go of her irritation over his earlier stolen kiss.
In practice, helping meant doing grunt work—carrying heavy items and running errands. But his efficiency saved the shrine maidens hours of labor.
Otherwise, preparations would have dragged on until nightfall.
Kokomi acted as the overseer, directing the maidens in arranging the rite.
The rituals were too intricate for Nolan to assist directly, unless Kokomi personally instructed him step by step—which was unnecessary.
As the sun dipped lower, preparations were finally completed. The maidens stepped back to watch.
Kokomi walked to the center of the ritual site, where a unique array had been drawn. Around it lay various materials to activate the Coral Branch.
At its center rested the branch itself.
Nolan watched as Kokomi summoned her Hydro power in careful rhythm, activating each material on the array.
They flared with energy, channeling their power into the Coral Branch.
Brilliant light radiated outward. The branch floated upward on its own, then transformed into a sphere of radiance that sank into the earth beneath Watatsumi.
The ritual was complete.
That glowing orb would remain underground, continuously restoring the "spirit" that the island had lost.
(End of Chapter)
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