The first meeting of the three women, with Shenhe and Yae Miko clashing, immediately plunged the entire Jade Chamber's ascension ceremony into a strange atmosphere.
Yae Miko: "Oh my, I heard back in Inazuma that the little guy had an astonishingly beautiful girlfriend in Liyue. He even bragged about her to Ei and me. Seeing her today, she truly is extraordinary."
Shenhe: "Thank you for the compliment, Elder Sister. Yuto was well taken care of by you in Inazuma."
Yae Miko: "It was nothing, just letting him experience a lap pillow."
As soon as these words were spoken, the scene instantly froze. Shenhe gave Yuto a death glare, and Yuto felt the surrounding air grow chilling.
Yuto quickly explained, "Shenhe, listen to me. I was unconscious then, and when I woke up…"
Yae Miko, not one to shy away from adding fuel to the fire, said, "Oh my, little guy, why explain so clearly? I am a several-hundred-year-old immortal fox.訂 In my eyes, you are just a little guy who hasn't even fully grown his fur. I don't mind at all if you act a little spoiled on my lap or in my arms.
I imagine Sister Shenhe wouldn't mind either. However, I must remind Sister that the little guy is now the Inazuma Regent, holding a position of great power and influence. There will always be be people who want to climb the ladder, so you must keep a close eye on him every day to prevent him from making mistakes."
Shenhe, inexperienced in worldly affairs, was naturally no match for the cunning fox skilled in strategy. But Shenhe also knew that there would be more than one or two vixen eyeing her man. As long as her position as Matriarch remained unchanged, those vixen were, at best, mere clowns.
Shenhe: "Thank you for the reminder, Elder Sister. Actually, my demands are not high. As long as Yuto can live in harmony with me at home, showing mutual respect and maintaining peace and stability in the inner household, that is enough. As for outside, I do not care, nor do I wish to worry about it."
Hiss!!!
Upon hearing Shenhe's words, Yae Miko couldn't help but feel admiration for this woman. This person… seems quite open-minded. No wonder that little guy, Yuto, even when surrounded by women in Inazuma, still couldn't forget her, who was far away in Liyue. She truly had some tricks up her sleeve.
Yuto quickly stepped forward to smooth things over and change the subject, unable to let them continue talking. Who knew what unfavorable topics they might suddenly bring up about him.
"Ahem… A-He, Yae Miko, the ascension ceremony is about to begin. Let's go say hello to Ningguang. Come on, let's go."
Yuto stroked Shenhe's waist, gently tickling her. Seeing her weakness attacked, Shenhe's face gradually broke into a smile. With that smile, the tense atmosphere in the scene could no longer be maintained.
Shenhe could only glare at Yuto, looking as if to say, "I'll deal with you properly when we get back." Then she followed Yuto's lead.
Yae Miko also slowly followed behind Yuto, but the smile on her lips never faded.
Paimon, looking at the scene that had just been so tense, asked Lumine beside him with some trepidation, "Lumine, what were they doing just now? Why do I feel like something isn't right? Do Yae Miko and Shenhe have a grudge? It shouldn't be."
Lumine just smiled faintly: "You'll understand when Paimon grows up a bit more."
"Hey! I'm not little!"
Ningguang stood for a long time in front of the newly rebuilt Jade Chamber, her gaze fixed firmly on the Guyun Stone Forest.
Yuto, seeing Ningguang's demeanor, felt that Ningguang with the Jade Chamber and Ningguang without the Jade Chamber were like two different people. Was it the confidence that the Jade Chamber, this "nuclear weapon," brought to Ningguang?
Ningguang, seeing that all her invited guests had arrived, slowly walked towards them.
Ningguang: "Traveler, Paimon, Shenhe, long time no see. Yuto, Yae Miko, Kuki Shinobu, thank you for coming as promised.
Hmm… First of all, congratulations to Yuto and Shenhe on their successful union. The Inazuma Regent's wife being a Liyue native will surely be beneficial for future cooperation between the two nations."
Yuto: "Miss Ningguang is too kind. After the Jade Chamber's reconstruction, we are truly honored to be among the first guests to visit. I must say, the Jade Chamber and Miss Ningguang are a perfect match—resplendent, spirited, like a brilliant sun."
Ningguang: "Haha, Mr. Yuto overpraises me. The first time I ascended the Jade Chamber, I stood at the edge of the high platform, looking down at Liyue Harbor from the sky. That's when I thought, one day, I will make the shadow of the Jade Chamber cover The Seven Nations.
To this day, my wish remains unchanged. However, this time, rebuilding the Jade Chamber is not just for myself. I hope that, no matter when, the Jade Chamber can always float above Liyue Harbor, witnessing the prosperity and peace of the human world. I also hope that all of you can witness it with me.
Ascension ceremony, begin!"
With Ningguang's command, the Jade Chamber's control cabin instantly lit up with a glow. The massive mingxia floating stone base was activated in an instant, and a huge upward force slowly lifted the enormous palace. The iron chains used for restraint broke off, unable to bear the strain.
The Jade Chamber slowly ascended into the high sky. Liyue's famous mountains and rivers, and its bustling streets, all came into view. Such a magnificent sight immediately captivated everyone's attention. Even the well-traveled Yae Miko felt the wonder of the Jade Chamber for the first time, and couldn't help but admire Liyue's skilled artisans and Ningguang's taste.
Although Mt. Yougou, where the Grand Narukami Shrine is located, also offers a spectacular view of all the mountains, seeing the same scenery for five hundred years can become tiresome. This movable sky palace made Yae Miko a little itchy. Should she find an opportunity to ask Ei or Yuto to make one for her to try out?
Just as everyone was still immersed in the magnificent scenery, the originally calm Sea of Clouds suddenly became turbulent with wind and rain. Three sea tornadoes shot up from the sea surface to the sky. After the seawater receded, a gigantic three-headed sea serpent appeared on the surface, its massive heads staring intently at the Jade Chamber suspended in the air.
The terrifying display put the few people on the Jade Chamber on high alert. Shenhe immediately looked at Yuto, but found no trace of panic in his eyes. Instead, a slight curve appeared at the corner of his mouth as he watched everything before him with great interest.
Yuto's hand held hers tightly, and the warmth of his palm made Shenhe's initial panic dissipate.
Paimon: "Ah! What is that? Has Osial broken free from his seal again?"
Ningguang: "So it has come? The lingering power of The Vortex Vanquisher—Beisht!"
Paimon: "Who is that?"
Ningguang: "Osial's wife, The Vortex Vanquisher's last follower."
Paimon: "Did Miss Ningguang know about this already?"
Ningguang: "Beidou is very sensitive to changes in the ocean. She warned me a few months ago. Rebuilding the Jade Chamber at that time was also to use her hatred for the Jade Chamber to lure her out of the sea."
Yuto: "So, Miss Ningguang invited us here today not just to celebrate the completion of the Jade Chamber, right?"
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