The evening breeze drifted softly through Mondstadt.
As usual, Su Xuan was seated at one of the open-air tables outside The Good Hunter.
If Mondstadt had one blessing unchanged by wind or war, it was the comfort of its breeze.
On the table before him sat a strange cup — shaped almost like a ceremonial trophy, marked with ancient, unfamiliar runes.
Inside, a deep crimson liquid shimmered like living blood.
This was the reward Su Xuan had just drawn.
[Imperial Relic: Demon Manifestation · Essence of the Fallen God]
Forged from the blood of a super-dangerous lifeform rumored to dwell in the deepest reaches of the Far North.
Drinking it grants the user the ability to freely control ice.
The effect scales with the user's compatibility and understanding.
Capacity: Infinite.
After reading the description, Su Xuan glanced at the other new ability granted:
[Mahāpātma]
Temporal Frost Seal — freezes all things within range in an instant.
Not by encasing them in ice — but by halting time itself, locking bodies, motion, and perception at the exact moment of activation.
Only the caster remains able to move.
In simpler terms:
Not freezing the body —
but freezing the world.
Mahāpātma already provided Su Xuan a level of frost authority far beyond what the Essence alone would offer.
Drinking further would not improve him — the Essence clearly wasn't meant for him.
It was meant for others.
"…Tch. The system really is considerate," Su Xuan murmured, swirling the blood-red liquid. "So it does give benefits to diary holders."
A matchmaker system, then?
Well — it made sense.
Everyone who held a copy of the diary would ultimately belong to him.
Offering the occasional 'blessing' made the process smoother.
And unlike Celestia's rejected powers —
this relic's strength had no risk of rejection, corruption, or collapse.
It granted pure, controllable power.
With that thought, Su Xuan took a photo and uploaded it into the diary.
[Image Uploaded: Demon Manifestation · Essence of the Fallen God]
I picked up an interesting little thing after leaving the hotel.
Drinking this blood grants control over ice — different from a Vision.
A Vision is an external organ.
Remove it, and you lose your ability.
That's why many people in Inazuma collapsed when their Visions were confiscated.
But this — once consumed — becomes your power.
It grows as you grow.
It evolves as you understand it.
For example — here is one of the techniques I've developed:
Mahāpātma — The Frozen Hell of Stillness.
No visible frost.
No buildup.
No reaction time.
Just — stillness.
Unless one's resistance to frost reaches an absurd level, there is no escape.
Across Teyvat, every girl reading the diary froze.
A frost ability that required no chant, no buildup, no counterplay…
This wasn't "Ice."
This was absolution.
Those with Cryo Visions were the most stunned — Cryo was familiar to them, yet this was unlike any Cryo ability Teyvat recognized.
But what made hearts race was this:
This power was not exclusive to Su Xuan.
Anyone who drank the Essence —
could eventually reach the same height.
It was not borrowed power.
It was innate.
And then—
[Also — the Essence does not conflict with a Vision.]
Just like how Fatui Harbingers wield both Visions and Delusions.
Any Vision holder can drink it to gain a second elemental attribute.
Lisa nearly dropped her teacup.
Eula's heart skipped.
Jean's breath tightened.
And far away, jostling in a moving carriage—
Rosalyne nearly snapped the railing.
She had LEFT Mondstadt.
He had waited until then.
"…You did that intentionally, didn't you…" she muttered, eye twitching.
If he had shown her the Essence before she departed?
She would have run back on the spot.
And she knew it.
Her jaw tightened — then she laughed low, voice like a burning ember.
"Fine… you win this round."
"But next time?"
Her eyes narrowed with dangerous anticipation.
"Next time I see you, Su Xuan, I'll make sure you're the one begging for mercy."
Then she paused.
"…Maybe I should contact Arlecchino first."
A beat.
"And have her help me drain him dry."
Back in Mondstadt…
Su Xuan had just risen from his seat when Lisa appeared, waving with her lazy-smiling fox-eyes.
"Found you~"
"You're awfully early," Su Xuan said.
Lisa stretched, voice sweet as honey:
"Jean has been waiting at the hotel entrance all morning, but she was too shy to approach you directly."
"So—she sent me to fetch you."
"Oh?" Su Xuan raised a brow. "That eager?"
Lisa leaned in close — a soft laugh:
"She hasn't slept properly since you last …helped her relax.
Tension builds up, you know~ Someone needs to massage her again."
Su Xuan gave her a look.
Lisa smirked.
"Anyway, I'm taking you to the workshop. And before you ask — yes, Jean and Eula are already there."
"Perfect," Su Xuan replied. "I have a few things for you. The Essence is just one. I also brought alchemical theory, mechanical studies from Dragonspine, Durin's purified heart, and the structural analysis of the Skyfrost Nail."
Lisa stopped walking.
Completely.
"…You're incredible," she whispered.
Her mind reeled — Skyfrost Nail theory alone could rewrite the history of alchemy.
Su Xuan chuckled. "Don't overthink it. Knowledge doesn't equal replication. You won't be building a divine punishment pillar anytime soon."
Lisa exhaled — then suddenly stepped closer and looped her arm through his —
Pressing his arm firmly into her chest.
Her voice lowered, teasing and velvet:
"Oh, I don't need to be the best alchemist in Teyvat."
"I just need you."
"Come~ Before drinkable treasures—"
She leaned in to his ear.
"—I want to taste something a little more… exclusive."
Su Xuan: "?"
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