Although the apocalyptic cataclysm had only just drawn to a close and everyone rightfully deserved immediate rest, the extraordinary bounties unveiled today proved far too exhilarating for the allied nations to simply sleep.
Within the Mondstadt quarters, commanders deliberated over the mechanics of the Genshin Impact module well into the night. Regarding their fallen soldiers, they harbored no anxiety whatsoever.
Since their warriors had laid down their lives defending Liyue's fortress walls, Liyue would naturally assume full responsibility for resurrecting them through the totems.
As for hunting the boss avatars of Barbatos and Dvalin, the knights felt none of the moral torment plaguing Liyue and Inazuma.
Venti had unhesitatingly sold out his own likeness for the promise of a single bottomless wine flask.
Executing Boss Barbatos carried zero psychological burden for his people.
The Mondstadt council debated the optimal drops and strategic relics with roaring laughter and lively toasts, dispersing to their private rooms only when the hour drifted well past midnight.
Across the avenue, however, the Sumeru compound remained brightly illuminated.
Greater Lord Rukkhadevata sat at the head of the long cedar table, her green eyes resting gently upon Alhaitham, Tighnari, and the scholars busily compiling vellum dossiers below.
"How does the catalog proceed?" she asked softly.
Alhaitham looked up from a stack of parchments, his voice calm and even.
"Directives have been distributed. Before noon tomorrow, our baseline inventory of regional flora and material documentation will be finalized."
"We were fortunate that Sage Naphis of the Amurta Darshan happened to be in Liyue; his personal archives regarding native specimens are exhaustive."
"However, comprehensive ledgers regarding foreign ores and esoteric minerals still require supplementary transfers from the main archives of the Akademiya back home."
"Beyond that, numerous materials listed within the module lack any existing historical record. We have never encountered nor even heard of them, which presents a significant analytical barrier."
"Yet from another perspective, it represents a remarkable opportunity. Utilizing the infinite generative properties and effortless extraction mechanics of this universe, we can harvest resources that have never existed under the skies of Teyvat."
"These specimens will replenish the Akademiya's foundational archives and catalyze dozens of entirely new research dissertations."
Rukkhadevata paused in thought, asking in a gentle cadence, "You refer to relics such as Genesis Crystals and Intertwined Fates?"
Beside him, Tighnari nodded with absolute conviction.
"During our time in Liyue, Master repeatedly mentioned to me that Master Albedo's attainments in alchemy and material transmutation far surpass his own."
"Outside of his mandatory research duties, Master has spent most of his days acting as an assistant in Mr. Albedo's laboratory."
"Mr. Albedo's mastery is beyond dispute. As an alchemist of that caliber, his understanding of the fundamental nature of matter across Teyvat runs far deeper than ours."
"Since even he pursues Genesis Crystals and Intertwined Fates with such intense fervor, those items must carry monumental strategic value."
"Although we currently lack knowledge on how they generate or how they operate within the systems of this realm, transporting them back to Teyvat will inevitably unlock miraculous applications. Accelerating the technological evolution of the Akademiya through these materials is entirely viable."
"The Genshin Impact module resonates seamlessly with the native ecology of our homeland. For Sumeru, this is the finest development we could have hoped for."
Rukkhadevata inclined her head slightly, drawing in a slow, deep breath before speaking in a hushed tone.
"Genesis Crystals... I have laid eyes upon one before."
"What?"
Alhaitham and Tighnari froze, staring at their ancient deity in sheer astonishment.
Rukkhadevata looked into the flickering candlelight, her voice taking on a distant, reverent cadence.
"Centuries ago, when the Goddess of Flowers first descended upon the mortal realm, she carried a single Genesis Crystal within her grasp. As to its ultimate mechanism of function, I cannot say with certainty."
"She told me only that this stone possessed the power to preserve the world, and subsequent history unfolded precisely as she foretold."
"The common folk believe I employed my own divine authority to sprout the boundless rainforest and divide the arid sands."
"Yet both of you are well aware that my innate authority governs dreams and consciousness, not the raw vegetative force of the Dendro element."
"The true authority over flourishing flora was held by the Goddess of Flowers."
"Relying upon the resonance between her power and that Genesis Crystal, the ancient rainforest sprang from the earth."
"At its absolute foundation lay that singular crystal."
"The deeper truths behind it are things I cannot disclose in full detail. You need only know that the Goddess of Flowers was tied to the First Throne of the Heavens, an envoy cast down from the celestial heights into the mortal dust."
"In other words, she carried direct ties to the origin of the Heavenly Principles."
With the sharp intellects commanded by Alhaitham and Tighnari, the underlying cosmic connections and the terrifying weight of the crystal crystallized in their minds within a single heartbeat.
"The celestial heights... the First Throne... Genesis Crystals?!"
Alhaitham pressed two fingers against his brow, letting out a wry, breathless chuckle.
"If the reality aligns with my deductions, assessing the practical value of such relics becomes almost impossible."
"There is no need to overburden your thoughts," Rukkhadevata replied, shaking her head gently.
She had deliberately avoided excessive detail precisely because she knew how easily brilliant minds could wander into dangerous intellectual labyrinths.
"The fate of the Goddess of Flowers, the nature of the celestial throne, and the ancient struggles of the First Throne are not burdens you must bear."
"My purpose in sharing this is simply to impress upon you that Genesis Crystals likely represent sacred artifacts capable of rewriting the foundational laws of Teyvat from their very roots."
"We must secure them at all costs!"
"As for Intertwined Fates and Acquaint Fates, they appear to be crystalline manifestations woven from the converging trajectories of destiny itself."
"The archives of the Akademiya possess zero records regarding such concepts."
"If our expeditions can harvest these materials, countless dead ends across our research faculties could witness breathtaking breakthroughs, and the collective knowledge of our nation will expand exponentially."
"The developmental feedback the Genshin Impact module offers to our homeland far exceeds that of any other mod, making it more vital to Sumeru than anything else we have touched."
"You must treat this with absolute, unyielding priority."
"A nation of wisdom achieves true civilizational ascension only as its reservoir of knowledge deepens."
"These are truths that exist entirely outside the memories recorded within Irminsul. Even I do not understand them, and my own curiosity burns as brightly as yours. In this endeavor, I cannot act as your all-knowing guide; I require the intellect of my people to unravel these mysteries alongside me."
"The Genshin Impact module bridges the wisdom of mortals and gods. For our homeland, there is no greater blessing."
The scholars nodded in deep, solemn agreement.
While their hunger for knowledge had been stripped of the madness that once plagued the previous regime, the flame of academic inquiry had never dimmed.
The new module laid bare the hidden, cosmic underpinnings of Teyvat before their eyes; what news could possibly bring greater joy to scholars of the Akademiya?
Alhaitham dipped his quill, marking Genesis Crystals and Fates with heavy, emphatic strokes on the ledger. After a brief hesitation, he raised another delicate inquiry.
"Lord Rukkhadevata, regarding the designated world boss bearing the title of Greater Lord Rukkhadevata..."
Noticing the subtle awkwardness in his tone, Rukkhadevata smiled with warm, easy grace.
"You need not feel constrained. As researchers, your minds should remain anchored in pure logic."
"That entity is merely an avatar generated by system algorithms, not my living person. There is no reason to hesitate."
"Furthermore, I am no longer the reigning Archon of Sumeru, so you need not harbor unnecessary political anxieties."
The scholars paused, suddenly remembering that Sumeru's official sovereign seat was currently held by Lesser Lord Kusanali.
Alhaitham and Tighnari exchanged brief, complicated glances.
In truth, ever since Rukkhadevata had returned to the living world, Nahida had spent very little time managing state affairs.
She spent virtually every day by Ryen's side, cherished and doted upon like his beloved little daughter.
The actual daily administration of Sumeru remained firmly in Rukkhadevata's experienced hands.
Nahida checked in on national policies only on rare occasions.
Yet neither Alhaitham nor the sages viewed Nahida's detachment as negligence.
Rukkhadevata possessed centuries of peerless statecraft, whereas Nahida had lived for barely five hundred years, spending the vast majority of that time sealed away within the Sanctuary of Surasthana. What administrative experience could she possibly have cultivated?
Nahida required time to mature and grow at her own pace.
More crucially, having Nahida remain attached to Ryen held vastly greater strategic significance for Sumeru than having her sit behind an office desk.
Sumeru required the deepest, most unbreakable bond with the master of this universe.
At present, only Nahida could forge that connection.
So long as Nahida remained Ryen's treasured little girl, Sumeru's backing stood as immovable as a mountain.
While scholars traditionally frowned upon relying on personal relationships for political leverage, the reality depended heavily on whom one was aligning with.
With Nahida curled up in Ryen's lap, Sumeru would never be left out of any grand blessing that descended upon the realm.
He would always shower extra affection upon the homeland protected by his sweet girl.
Seeing that the scholars had found their peace, Rukkhadevata clapped her hands together crisply, bringing the meeting to a decisive close.
"The launch of the Genshin Impact module represents the supreme turning point for our nation."
"During the earlier expansion phases, Sumeru failed to claim an early share of the harvest, leaving our overall development trailing significantly behind the other courts."
"With this module, however, every nation starts from the exact same line, and we hold distinct structural advantages."
"While the Akademiya's encyclopedias regarding Teyvat's ecology must be shared across the alliance, our soldiers were raised beneath the scholarly atmosphere of our homeland."
"In terms of material recognition and botanical literacy, their baseline knowledge surpasses the rank and file of other nations."
"Whatever resources we extract can be integrated into domestic production back in Teyvat with unmatched speed."
"We must seize this edge with both hands."
"This is our golden opportunity to close the gap and catch up to our peers."
"Though we stand as loyal allies marching toward a shared horizon, healthy internal competition remains essential."
"Dedicate your full focus to this campaign, and assemble the most exhaustive research dossiers possible."
"Starting tomorrow, I shall temporarily reactivate the Akasha Terminal network within our settlement to allow all personnel instantaneous access to technical data."
"Our operational objective is to match Inazuma's development pace in this world within three months."
Rukkhadevata refrained from mentioning Mondstadt or Liyue.
Chasing them at this stage was unrealistic.
Liyue had arrived first, already commanding full server privileges, tens of thousands of veteran troops, and vast automated infrastructure that ensured their expansion would only accelerate exponentially.
Catching Mondstadt was theoretically possible, but entirely out of reach within the calendar year.
The Knights of Favonius had already completed their primary municipal hub, waiting only to install redstone technology and clear their municipal trials to unlock administrative authority. Furthermore, Mondstadt had two secondary cities under construction, with one practically finished and the other a third of the way through its foundations.
Sumeru, by contrast, had yet to finish a single city, and their Dragon Knight wing numbered barely a hundred riders.
At best, they currently edged out Khaenri'ah.
Yet Khaenri'ah was consumed entirely with national restoration, showing little interest in commercial material harvesting.
When all was tallied, Sumeru occupied the bottom tier of allied development.
The Genshin Impact module was their prime ladder to ascend, and Rukkhadevata had zero intention of letting it slip through her fingers.
"Alhaitham, coordinate with the domestic administration in Sumeru over the coming days to requisition a cadre of elite researchers from all Six Darshans," she instructed.
Alhaitham nodded smoothly. "Understood. The Akademiya has stabilized completely, and drafting a cohort of senior scholars will not disrupt daily governance. I shall contact the faculties tomorrow morning."
Rukkhadevata smiled with radiant satisfaction.
"That concludes our agenda for tonight. Tomorrow morning, we shall review the overarching directives issued by Ryen."
"Execute your duties with precision, and let us master this module at maximum speed."
"I carry a distinct premonition that the grand turning point for Sumeru's golden age has arrived."
The scholars rose, offering respectful bows before stepping out into the quiet night.
Their Archon's assessment was entirely accurate.
The deep academic reserves of the Akademiya were an insurmountable natural advantage, and even if shared across the pact, their troops possessed far greater practical literacy than common foreign levies.
If they executed their research effectively, Sumeru would establish a foundation that transcended the mortal limits of Teyvat.
The Genshin Impact module mirrored the very soul of their native world.
For the scholars who had dedicated their lives to deciphering Teyvat, having the Akademiya serve as their strategic command hub was an incomparable gift.
It was their supreme advantage, and the ultimate weapon to claim their place among the stars.