Sumeru.
The Sanctuary of Surasthana.
Nahida's consciousness returned to her body as she slowly opened her eyes.
Her clover-shaped pupils shimmered faintly.
"So this… is also an answer?"
"Liyue's Hagenti, the Dust King Guizhong… the Yaksha Adepti who once protected the land…
Inazuma's first Thunder God, Baal."
"And in Sumeru… the God of Wisdom, the Great Dendro Archon Rhinedottir—Rukkhadevata."
The little girl curled her small hand into a fist before her chest.
She was still young.
She could not give the sages the knowledge they demanded.
As a god, she was still immature.
She could not lead Sumeru.
Therefore—even though the sages of past generations imprisoned her within this Sanctuary for five hundred years—
she had never once uttered a word of resentment.
Even if she was lonely.
Even if she felt wronged.
She bore it all alone.
After all, compared to the perfect brilliance of the Great Dendro Archon…
she, the Little Lucky Clover King, truly had nothing remarkable about her.
Even she herself thought so.
Thus, for five hundred long years, she used her authority to transfer her consciousness into the bodies of animals, wandering the world through them—
constantly enriching her knowledge, constantly learning, constantly advancing—
continuously chasing the footsteps of the Great Dendro Archon.
Awaiting the day she would become mature—
the day she would truly succeed the Great Dendro Archon.
Searching endlessly for a way to save the World Tree.
But at this very moment—
Another path, one far more beautiful, seemed to appear right before her eyes.
Since she herself could not match the Great Dendro Archon—
then why not… simply bring the Great Dendro Archon back?
She admired her predecessor deeply.
If the Great Dendro Archon returned—
she might fail to respond perfectly to her people,
but Rukkhadevata certainly could.
If the Tree King returned, she could learn from her.
And also…
Her thoughts swirled endlessly.
Nahida's pupils tightened slightly as she looked toward the structure that had confined her for more than five centuries.
If she wanted to achieve all this—
the first condition was to leave.
Otherwise, how would she gather what was needed to revive the Great Dendro Archon?
Reviving the Great Dendro Archon.
Saving the World Tree.
These were necessary steps.
"Hoo…"
"Forgive me… but now, I have a reason I must leave."
Her gaze remained calm as she looked at the cage before her.
Nahida had already made her decision.
As the successor of the Great Dendro Archon—
whether it was the authority over the Void System
or everything Rukkhadevata left behind—
she held the highest authority.
Having authority but not using it,
and having no authority at all—
were two completely different matters.
She had authority—she had a lot.
But because the sages demanded it,
she gave everything away without resistance.
The Void Terminals—
the relics of the Great Dendro Archon—
even her Gnosis.
She did not open the cage herself.
But that did not mean she couldn't.
(The reason the original story forced her into that situation was because the Doctor intervened. Say whatever you will about his morals, but his abilities were real.)
I want… to save the Great Dendro Archon.
I want… to save the World Tree.
I must leave.
So… farewell, cage.
Dreams are the dominion of the God of Wisdom.
The God of Wisdom can construct dreams, shift consciousness with ease, and enter the dreams of others effortlessly.
But dreams are not the entirety of her authority.
"In my name, Nahida, the Little Lucky Clover King—
the successor to the Great Dendro Archon—
I declare my authority."
Nahida slowly raised her hand, emerald light blooming in her palm.
"Command: Wisdom Hall—open."
This device created by Rukkhadevata was designed to help the Archon settle her thoughts and enter deep contemplation.
Its name: The Hall of Wisdom.
A divine creation.
Opening it from outside or inside—
that was a distinction only mortals concerned themselves with.
To a god who holds authority—
a creation of wisdom naturally obeys the commands of the God of Wisdom.
She, Nahida—
the Little Lucky Clover King, successor to Rukkhadevata—
naturally possessed the authority to command the Hall of Wisdom.
Click.
A soft sound echoed.
Every lock and seal—whether from outside or inside—
dissolved under the God of Wisdom's authority.
The cage… opened.
Nahida's self-imposed imprisonment had come to an end.
Before, she sought the approval of Sumeru's people.
So she imposed harsh standards upon herself.
To her, this cage was not a cage,
but a classroom where she could calm her heart and study.
But now—
what she desired most was the approval of the Great Dendro Archon.
She wanted to learn from her predecessor.
She needed to welcome her predecessor home.
Thus, she must leave this "classroom".
The classroom of the past naturally became a prison.
And a prison had no reason to exist.
So it opened.
Just like that.
At the moment the cage opened, Nahida simultaneously connected to the Void System—
concealing everything that happened here.
She did not care how the sages and scholars would interpret this matter.
But she could not allow them to obstruct her actions.
After doing all of this—
the floating Nahida slowly descended.
For the first time, she walked with her own body—
her feet touching the ground.
It felt… strange.
But wonderful.
"For now, the Gnosis cannot be retrieved."
"…The resources I can use… I'm not sure if they're enough."
"So poor…"
Nahida counted on her fingers, suddenly realizing she really did seem a bit poor.
The Raiden Shogun had used three complete portions of divine authority, plus an entire crafted puppet body imbued with self-will,
and even the Electro Gnosis—
all to revive the former Archon.
Only with such a price was that miracle achieved.
As for her…
She had none of those things.
No divine authority she could use.
The Gnosis couldn't be touched for now.
The Void System couldn't be sold.
She didn't have a spare divine body to barter with.
Her own divine body was small, soft, weak—
Mr. Taro probably wouldn't even want it.
There was a Dendro dragon deep in the desert…
but she couldn't beat her, nor could she trade with her.
Forbidden Knowledge—
she couldn't and wouldn't touch it…
So.
Aside from a Gnosis she couldn't use yet,
and the Void System she couldn't sell—
She had nothing.
Truly, pathetically poor.
Thinking this, Nahida felt a little wronged.
Most of the heritage the Great Dendro Archon had left her
had been wasted by the sages over the last five hundred years.
Almost all of Sumeru's usable resources were gone.
"Sigh…"
Nahida let out a full-face sigh of disappointment.
"Most of the rainforest can't be touched."
"Looks like I'll have to go search the desert."
"I hope the Scarlet King left behind something I can use as a bargaining chip…"
If she remembered correctly—
The Scarlet King had once built an Eternal Oasis and a Golden Dreamworld.
…Could she use them?
After all, according to the information she'd gathered—
those things were debts owed to Rukkhadevata.
And debts… must be repaid.
Using them to revive the deceased Great Dendro Archon—
that was only right.
Scarlet King, you owe ten lifetimes!
I'm coming to raid your home.
Her resolve firm, Nahida did not hesitate for even a moment—
she immediately set off toward the desert.
(End of Chapter)
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