The Avidya Rainforest.
The Sumeru Akademiya, founded by the Greater Lord Rukkhadevata, had also received a message from the nation of Liyue:
The Grand Secretary of Liyue, head of the Qixing—
the Wood-Spirit Adeptus,
would arrive at Port Ormos to pay Sumeru a formal visit.
Since diplomatic relations between Sumeru and Liyue had only recently been established, the Greater Lord Rukkhadevata took the matter very seriously.
She immediately instructed the Grand Sage to lead members of the Akademiya's diplomatic division to Port Ormos to welcome the envoy.
Sumeru had changed drastically over the past three hundred years.
The golden age under the rule of the Three Divine Kings was long gone.
The death of the Goddess of Flowers drove the Scarlet King mad.
He touched upon Forbidden Knowledge, and was ultimately consumed by it.
The once-great Golden Realm collapsed overnight.
After inheriting the position of Dendro Archon,
the Greater Lord Rukkhadevata devoted herself to erasing the consequences left behind by Forbidden Knowledge.
As for the Goddess of Flowers' death, Jiang Yan had never learned of it—too many gods perished during the Archon War. Even when he sensed a god's demise, he rarely bothered to investigate.
But the Scarlet King's death—
Jiang Yan understood clearly.
The instant Forbidden Knowledge appeared, a faint thrill of danger shivered through Jiang Yan's heart.
When he entered his Binary Star State and rushed over,
the Golden Realm had already fallen.
That was the first time Jiang Yan had come into contact with…
Forbidden Knowledge.
How to put it?
It was some kind of special energy.
Jiang Yan knew this because within that pitch-black, indefinable substance, he could see arrows—
the directional vectors only he could manipulate.
His vector manipulation worked only on forms of energy.
Thus, he concluded Forbidden Knowledge was indeed a peculiar form of energy.
Working together, Jiang Yan and the Greater Lord Rukkhadevata erased its presence—
this was one reason why Sumeru could establish diplomatic ties with Liyue as quickly as Mondstadt had.
…
Port Ormos.
"What a nation of overwhelming martial strength…"
The First Grand Sage couldn't help but sigh as he gazed upon the colossal warship slowly approaching the docks.
"You are the Grand Sage of the Akademiya?"
Standing at the bow, Jiang Yan called out to the man before him.
Not because Jiang Yan recognized him, but because the only one qualified to greet Liyue's Grand Secretary—aside from the Archon herself—would be a Grand Sage whose position mirrored his own.
"Greetings, esteemed Tianquan of Liyue. I am the Grand Sage of the Akademiya."
The Grand Sage cupped his hands politely.
As the leader of the Nation of Wisdom, he naturally had studied Liyue's customs carefully.
This Grand Sage was nothing like the "unfortunate" one of Nahida's era.
Whether in tone, etiquette, or demeanor,
he gave Jiang Yan an extremely pleasant impression.
"I've heard of your virtuous name even in Liyue," Jiang Yan said with a smile as he leapt from the ship and saluted in return. "Meeting you today proves the rumors true."
"Haha, you flatter me, Lord Tianquan. When it comes to governing a nation, I still have much to learn from you."
Two of the highest-ranking officials beneath the Seven Archons,
both waving their fox tails, politely praising one another.
After exchanging courtesies, the Grand Sage led Jiang Yan and his entourage to Sumeru City.
Meanwhile, the Liyue Navy remained at Port Ormos to rest.
Jiang Yan assigned them another task—
they would later return to Liyue Harbor to deliver the flying vessels he had drawn, along with special products he had brought back from Inazuma, for Guizhong and the others to process.
Even while traveling the Seven Nations, he could not delay matters concerning the Liyue Air Corps.
Upon entering Sumeru City, Jiang Yan naturally met the busy Greater Lord Rukkhadevata.
The Scarlet King's death had left the desert region rulerless.
As the Dendro Archon, that desert now fell under her authority.
Managing the affairs of the desert's original inhabitants,
as well as the trade between rainforest and desert peoples—
all of this left Rukkhadevata working endlessly.
Even sending the Grand Sage to receive Jiang Yan had been something she did only by gritting her teeth.
After all, the Grand Sage shared the burden of national governance.
Pulling him away meant that all the remaining pressure fell upon her alone.
"You're here."
Rukkhadevata smiled when she saw Jiang Yan.
They had first met during the Battle of Chenyu Vale.
Later, they had collaborated to cleanse the Forbidden Knowledge left behind by the Scarlet King.
Thus, Jiang Yan and Rukkhadevata were already fairly close—friends, even.
"Mm. Still troubled by the mess the Scarlet King left behind?"
Jiang Yan walked up beside her.
After bringing him here, the Grand Sage departed immediately to handle the pile of state affairs awaiting him.
"So troublesome… Aḥemar was far too impulsive."
Even now, the mention of the Scarlet King made Rukkhadevata visibly irritated.
"Hey—it'll get sorted out eventually," Jiang Yan said casually. "It's not like you're running out of time."
He found a seat opposite her.
"So," Rukkhadevata asked, rolling her eyes at his carefree attitude,
"You've come as Liyue's representative. What exactly are you planning?"
"And don't tell me you came only to visit me."
"Heh, why not? We're friends, aren't we?"
Jiang Yan grinned, refusing to reveal his intentions so quickly.
"As a friend, visiting you is perfectly normal."
His arm rested lazily on the table as he spoke.
"I don't believe you."
Rukkhadevata's lips curled slightly—but only for a moment before she suppressed the expression.
"Well? Are you going to say it? If not, I'll send you to discuss matters with the Grand Sage."
"Wait wait wait!"
Jiang Yan immediately panicked.
Talk with that old fox of a Grand Sage?
He wanted no part of that.
The Grand Sage was far too sharp to fool.
"Ahem… I do have business this time."
Jiang Yan met her gaze.
"I want Mora to circulate within Sumeru—
and become your primary currency."
Rukkhadevata narrowed her eyes.
Then she chuckled softly.
"Such grand ambitions you have, Tianquan of Liyue."
As the God of Wisdom, she instantly understood what he was truly aiming for.
"Ambitions? Not at all. I'm just a humble Tianquan—how could I possibly harbor wicked designs?"
Jiang Yan smiled innocently, his expression pure and harmless…
even as her form of address for him had sharply changed.
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