The Human‑Path sacred weapon, the Xuanyuan Sword, did more than steady the flow of fortune.
In its wielder's hand, it also allowed the owner to glimpse the situation in distant corners of the land.
Of course, the more incense and faith it received, the stronger the power it could exert.
"It can see all of Liyue?" Ningguang could not quite hide her surprise. "This weapon is that incredible…"
She had originally assumed the Xuanyuan Sword was simply a holy blade, something made to cut down calamities. She had not expected such a particular ability.
Hu Tao circled the golden weapon with an eager look. "Then with the Xuanyuan Sword, looking for something—or someone—will be easy, right?
"If you hold it every day, you'd know everything that happens in Liyue at a glance."
It was not far off from something Su Han had once mentioned in passing: an artificial "satellite" that could watch the world from above.
Keqing shook her head. "It can't be that simple. There must be limits."
Everyone turned to Su Han.
He nodded. "Keqing is right. Watching all of Liyue consumes willpower. Just from that short look, a lot of stored wish‑power was burned away.
"In any case, now that we have the sacred weapon, it should be anchored over the Chasm to suppress the veins. I'll be back soon."
"Wait, Su Han," Ganyu called.
He paused and looked over, puzzled. "What is it?"
Her gaze dropped to the sword in his hand. "Since the sacred weapon can stabilize the fortune of all the lands, it should still function even if it isn't physically placed over the Chasm, right?
"If we kept it in Liyue Harbor instead, where it could receive incense from the people, wouldn't the wish‑power build up faster?"
Su Han thought about it seriously.
She wasn't wrong. If the Xuanyuan Sword could bear down on the fortune of nine provinces, then a single region like Liyue would hardly strain it.
And if war ever broke out, not having to travel to the depths of the Chasm just to draw the sword would be no small advantage.
"You have a point," he said at last. "We'll place it in the shrine of the Adepti. Right at the Geo Lord's side."
Liyue already had such a temple.
Inside were the names of all those who had once shed blood for the land: the five great Yakshas, Guizhong, and many others who had long since passed, all receiving incense day after day.
For the moment, the most popular by far was still Makosha, the Stove God. The last time he had acted openly, he had earned a great deal of goodwill. A god that loved his people was easy to adore.
Half an hour later, Su Han stood amidst the clouds with the Xuanyuan Sword in hand.
"Go," he said softly. "Receive the people's offerings. And press down the earth‑veins as well."
The sword hummed in response.
Then it turned into a streak of golden lightning and shot downward toward the temple.
A thunderous boom echoed through the mountain.
In the shrine, beside the statue of the Geo Lord, a golden longsword carved with sun, moon, and mountains appeared out of thin air. It floated upright, shedding a gentle light.
The worshippers kneeling below jumped at the sound.
Then a voice rang out in the hall.
"This is the sacred weapon that protects Liyue. It has taken form in answer to your faith. From now on, offer your incense and prayers well."
Looking up at the golden sword, a thought rose unbidden in the hearts of the crowd.
This blade could only be the sacred companion of the Geo Lord.
One after another, they straightened and bowed again, incense held high.
At his side, Shenhe watched the scene and then glanced at Su Han. "Aren't you afraid someone will try to steal it?"
So many people came to the temple each day. If some thief with wild thoughts slipped in, it would be trouble.
Su Han smiled. "There's nothing to worry about. The Xuanyuan Sword in the shrine is only a projection.
"The real sword is buried deep underground."
Only the weapon's master could truly sense it. To anyone else—even immortals—the image in the hall would be indistinguishable from the real thing.
"I see. Then I was overthinking it," Shenhe said quietly.
While they were still speaking, an elderly figure flew in from the direction of Yujing Terrace.
"Granny Ping, what brings you here?" Shenhe stepped forward at once.
The old woman studied the Xuanyuan Sword for a while, eyes full of quiet interest. "I was watering flowers," she said with a smile, "and suddenly felt a sacred power wash through the earth. I thought I'd come see.
"As I suspected, another surprise from you lot."
Her wrinkled hand rested lightly on her cane.
"At this rate, I won't have to worry much longer. This old set of bones might yet get a proper retirement," she added jokingly.
"If it weren't for the space artifacts you gave us, we wouldn't have managed half of this," Su Han replied.
Granny Ping waved a hand. "They're just little trinkets. Back then there were plenty of folk with that craft.
"Compared to what lies below, my things hardly count.
"The very earth is being bathed in this light. If we'd had something like it back then, Makosha would never have needed to sacrifice himself.
"In the future, if you need anything, tell me openly. We're all family here. Don't hold back.
"If I wait until I can no longer walk, I won't be able to help even if I want to."
"Then we'll trouble you again," Su Han said with a small bow.
The three of them talked for a while longer before Su Han excused himself and took Shenhe back toward the Jade Chamber. There was still much to do; he could not linger in the temple for long.
Back in the floating palace, he took out the voice‑bug and contacted Dainsleif.
"How are things on your end?"
"Reporting, my lord," came the answer. "The dragon‑vein is very stable. But… for some reason, the leylines have started to ripple strangely. The Abyssal taint is being purified faster than before."
"And you?" Su Han asked. "Any change in your body?"
"I feel… improved," Dain said after a pause. "The state of my flesh is better than before."
"It really does radiate across the land," Su Han murmured. "All right. Bring the dragon‑vein to Liyue Harbor. Meet me at the Jade Chamber."
"Yes, my lord."
After hanging up, Su Han looked out over the city.
"I wonder if the Xuanyuan Sword's power is touching other places as well," he said to himself.
If even the distant Chasm was feeling its influence, then somewhere else in Liyue there might already be signs.
…
Near Qingce Village, in the waters of Bishui Plain, the Oceanid who slumbered there stirred.
Lothuriel felt a subtle pulse running through the water, a strange new clarity in the current.
"Hm? What's this?" she muttered. "Why does the water feel even purer than before… This feels so comfortable. Makes me want to drift and sleep in it forever."
She had once been a pure‑water spirit of Fontaine, driven here by misfortune. Later she had signed a contract with the Geo Lord and become the guardian of Qingce's waters, purifying the streams and rivers in his stead.
Today, the water itself seemed to be doing the work without her.
The mysterious energy in the depths was faint. To Lothuriel, though, it stood out sharply.
…
Deep underground, the imprisoned Azhdaha also stirred.
The dragon, whose whole being had been twisted and weighed down by resentment, found a sliver of clarity return.
In his golden eyes, confusion flickered.
"So… I've lost control again?" His voice was a low rumble in the dark. "How shameful.
"I swore to guard Liyue, yet the erosion forced him to seal me here with his own hand."
He let out a long breath.
"But even a brief moment of clear thought… is something.
"At least there is no need to keep hating, is there?"
"Morax," he whispered, "I want nothing more than to stand beside you on the surface again, to fight at your side. But this body can't move at all…"
In the darkness, there was only the sound of his sigh. The stone pillars that pinned him served not only to bind him, but to shield Morax as well.
He knew all too well how the great beasts under other gods had ended. Compared to them, this prison was mercy.
…
Half an hour later, Dainsleif entered the city with the dragon‑vein.
The instant he passed through the main gate, his body seemed to grow heavy, as if a thousand catties had fallen on his shoulders.
A terrifying sword intent surged up from the heart of the city.
He looked around in alarm.
No one else reacted. People walked past calmly, chatting, carrying baskets and goods. No one appeared to see the blade of will he felt hanging overhead.
Was Su Han trying to silence him? the thought flashed across his mind, unbidden.
A heartbeat later, a translucent blade of energy appeared above his head.
In that moment, he genuinely felt the brush of death.
The contract resting against his chest flared with golden light, pulsing as if in protest.
Something strange happened.
As the sword‑qi touched the contract's glow, it melted away like snow in warm water.
Dain gulped in a breath. "What… was that just now?"
Sweat ran down his temples.
He looked around again.
Life in the harbor went on as usual.
His fear of Su Han climbed to a new height.
He did not understand exactly what that attack had been, but one thing was clear: it had not been aimed specifically at him.
It was aimed at all that did not belong here.
At any "outsider" power—Abyss included.
Only because he had signed the master‑servant contract with Su Han did the sword consider him one of Liyue's own.
He wiped his forehead, adjusted his hold on the dragon‑vein, and made his way up to the Jade Chamber.
After hearing what had happened, Su Han chuckled. "That's Liyue's sacred weapon. The human‑path artifact.
"It exists to protect Liyue and mankind.
"Your power is still Abyssal in nature. Of course the Xuanyuan Sword would be hostile to you.
"All right, leave the dragon‑vein here and return to your cultivation. With the sacred weapon in place, the Chasm will also be under its light.
"You don't need to worry about Halfdan and the others reverting."
"Yes, my lord."
Still shaken, Dain took his leave.
On the way back, he could not help feeling a deep, quiet relief that he had chosen to serve Su Han. If he had come to Liyue as an outsider spy, the moment he crossed the gate, that single stroke would likely have cut him down.
From that brief glimpse alone, he was certain: even an adeptus‑level being would struggle to survive a direct blow from that sword.
Shenhe's gaze fell on the dragon‑vein now floating over the table. "You're going to Inazuma next?"
"In a few days," Su Han nodded. "I promised Yae Miko I'd cleanse Narukami of its filth.
"The dragon‑vein doesn't do much for us anymore, so I'll send it to her. That way she doesn't have to come bother me every day."
No sooner had he finished speaking than the voice‑bug chimed again.
This time, the news on the other end was far less calm.
"The Fatui have joined hands with Inazuman forces… and seized the mines on the offshore islands of Guyun."