"Technically, Watatsumi's issue is solvable, right?" Raiden Ei said, appearing silently behind Reisen Riou.
"Of course. Two solutions: soilless cultivation or surface soil stabilization," he replied. "The former needs advanced alchemy, while the latter's simpler, but why share it with Watatsumi? Many there worship Orobashi, not the Raiden Shogun."
Ei nodded, understanding. Orobashi's invasion had cost Inazuma dearly—lingering Bone Wraiths and the loss of Sasayuri, a formidable, long-lived Tengu Great Youkai and clan leader. Yet Makoto's response was perplexing: after Ei slew Orobashi, Makoto merely established the Sangonomiya Shrine and left Watatsumi alone, baffling Inazuma's elite and Watatsumi's people, who misinterpreted it as weakness. This fueled their persistent piracy. Still, the Sangonomiya shrine maidens remained loyal, offering yearly tributes to Narukami.
"As long as Orobashi's faith persists, Watatsumi and Inazuma are foes. No need to coddle enemies," Reisen Riou said.
"Won't the scholars solve it?" Ei asked, rarely probing his mind lately.
Reisen Riou chuckled. "If Banna, the Vitalist Grand Sage, went, I'd worry—his expertise is real, despite his age. But these scholars? Akademiya-trained, decent but rigid. They'll produce steady results, not breakthroughs. Top minds with sage potential are hidden by their factions. Banna himself was weaker than these scholars initially but soared after enlightenment, earning Lesser Lord Kusanali's favor and extra blessings, boosting his life force to LV20—standard for Grand Sages."
…
After work, Reisen Riou received good news: his Sub-Dawnlight Floating Stone arrived. Eager to start, he invited Ei—not just for their rare alone time but because sinking a cave heaven into deep ley lines risked attracting unknown entities. Teyvat's deep ley lines held all its secrets.
In a massive basement at his Ritou estate, Reisen Riou built a stone chamber for rare materials, placing an adeptal talisman from True Lord Inventive inside to seal the cave heaven's gate, barring outsiders. He could craft a youkai talisman, but it'd be less effective and wasteful. Revealing his true form—taller, more imposing—his Thunderous Yougou Divine Machine 2.2 and Ritou's One System, Ten Thousand Minds supercharged his calculations.
Materials fused, birthing a small but sturdy cave heaven, ten acres wide, rivaling Teyvat's spatial stability (pre-beast tide, when the eggshell barrier held strong). Exchanging nods with Ei, Reisen Riou delicately maneuvered the cave heaven to the boundary of Narukami Island's shallow and deep ley lines. His ley line research shone—not a Narukami native, his youkai affinity and Geo Vision let him navigate ley lines like a fish in water. Inhaling deeply, he affixed the talisman and sank into the earth, guiding the cave heaven into the ley lines' depths.
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