As night fell, everyone came to the Serenitea Pot to rest for the night, planning to continue their journey tomorrow.
Inside the villa, Lumine had just finished setting out dinner when she saw Shenhe and Durandal together, attempting to multitask by performing different actions with a puppet.
"Although it's still a bit awkward, compared to Paimon, it's already much more normal."
According to Durandal, the simplest way to multitask is to write, much like writing different words with each hand while maintaining coherent sentences.
Paimon also tried to write two different sentences, but she found that no matter how hard she tried, no matter how she tried to make herself write two different sentences, they would always either repeat or become the same.
"So, Shenhe being able to do this much is already very impressive. If Shenhe truly masters this, she will become the most terrifying opponent during battles in the future."
Shenhe's strength is already formidable, and now she would have an additional partner to coordinate with. This would not be a simple one-plus-one-equals-two offensive.
"However, this conclusion isn't valid, is it? After all, Shenhe needs to be in contact with Durandal to link her consciousness to the puppet. But if they're holding hands, how can Shenhe fight freely? Even if she's holding Durandal, it wouldn't be possible, right?"
Don't assume that a 'maiden-in-arms' attack is easy. Shenhe's calamity's bane isn't a weapon that can easily destroy everything. Besides, that 'King' didn't even continue that tradition in the end.
"Regarding this, I'm already thinking of a solution. The next battle will resolve this drawback."
As long as this drawback is dealt with, Shenhe can personally join the battlefield, but the prerequisite remains unchanged: she must be able to skillfully multitask.
"Durandal's support is truly powerful. Even the weakest person can become very strong with Durandal's assistance."
Even those without combat ability can be endowed with great power by Durandal, but then it wouldn't be the person fighting, but Durandal controlling the person's body to fight.
"Hey, Durandal. Can you let me experience what it feels like to be strengthened too?"
"Are you sure you want to try now? We're about to eat, and what moves do you even have that can be strengthened?"
"Many, many. My Starfell Sword, and my Anemo skills, these are all moves that can be strengthened. Anyway, this is inside the Serenitea Pot, so even if we cause some commotion here, it won't have any effect, right?"
The adeptus in the pot told them that as long as they didn't instantly generate power beyond what the Serenitea Pot could withstand, then no matter what they did, the Serenitea Pot could restore itself.
This is an adeptus's abode; an adeptus's treasure is not as simple as imagined... Of course, if the power is too great, that's another matter entirely.
"Eating can wait a bit. Can you let me try first, please? Otherwise, I'll be itching to try it and won't be able to eat in peace."
"...Alright."
Since she wanted to try, then she would let her, to see what level her abilities could reach after being strengthened.
Lumine excitedly led Durandal to the seaside area of the Serenitea Pot. This open space was the best testing ground; no matter how big the commotion, it wouldn't affect the living area.
Lumine held Durandal's hand, and after successfully linking to Durandal's inner power, she clearly felt her control over elements reach an unprecedented height.
She merely pulled on the Anemo element slightly, and a small tornado formed before her. If she normally had such ability, she could gather monsters to fight.
"How... how amazing! Just like this, it can reach such a level?"
"Don't get too excited. Even if you can gain power from me to strengthen yourself, this strengthening has its limits. If you exceed the limit, you won't be able to control the power."
"Don't worry. I don't plan on destroying the Serenitea Pot; we'll still need it for future travels."
Lumine gestured for Durandal not to worry and began to gather more wind, forming a massive tornado on the beach.
The power of this tornado was immense, comparable to a disaster-level event outside, but Durandal continuously controlled the storm's coverage, preventing it from affecting the villa area.
"Normally, forming a single tornado takes a considerable amount of time. Now, such a massive tornado can be formed in such a short time. If it were Starfell Sword, could it become something like Zhongli's Planet Befall?"
No sooner said than done, Lumine began to mobilize the Geo Element within her. Through Durandal's enhancement, the originally single tall Starfell Sword became incredibly massive, and like Zhongli's ultimate move, it appeared from the sky and slammed down onto the beach in front of them.
"At this moment, I should say that line."
"Heaven, Earth, and All Creation!"
An enhanced version of Starfell Sword heavily landed on the beach, and the massive impact startled the adeptus dozing off in the villa area awake.
Having no time to wonder why there was an earthquake inside the Serenitea Pot, she quickly checked the condition of the Serenitea Pot and breathed a sigh of relief when she found that the impact was still within the Serenitea Pot's tolerance.
"I didn't think they would cause DMG that the Serenitea Pot couldn't withstand. Now it seems I underestimated them. No, this Serenitea Pot is their possession. Why would they launch an attack that could destroy the Serenitea Pot?"
The adeptus couldn't understand. The Serenitea Pot was a very important treasure; even a fool wouldn't destroy it. What was wrong with Lumine and the others?
"When they come back, I'll remind them. The task Madame Ping gave me cannot fail like this. Besides, this is one of the few places This Immortal can be lazy."
Compared to her original location, the Serenitea Pot required far less management, giving her more time to hide inside the pot and sleep.
This good place cannot be destroyed by others like this.
On the other side, the Starfell Sword version of "Heaven, Earth, and All Creation!" successfully stirred up a large amount of dust. Under the expulsion of the Anemo element, this dust was quickly cleared away.
Although covered in dust from this move, Lumine was very happy. She excitedly raised her hands and shouted,
"With this power, I will be the Geo Archon of Liyue from now on!"
"If you want to stay in Liyue Harbor and work overtime like the Seven Stars of Liyue, you can try to stay here and take over the position of Geo Archon."
Durandal's emotionless voice came, "At that time, the Yuheng Star could more conveniently order you to do things. After all, you are the Geo Archon; for the future of Liyue Harbor, you cannot rest."
Lumine imagined that scene: she would finally finish a batch of work, and before she could even rest, Keqing would cheerfully bring her more work, smiling as she said to her:
"You cannot rest yet, Lumine. Until these tasks are completed, it's not time for you to rest."
Recalling the potential overtime hell, Lumine quickly dismissed the idea. Her current life was good; she didn't want to be a laborer.
"It's just a joke. I still have many things I want to resolve, so how could I go back to being one of the Seven Archons? Besides, I'm not from this world, so there's no place for me to meddle in that position."
"There's indeed no position among the Seven Archons, but you can find a position outside of the Seven Archons. Don't forget your physique; you are capable of simultaneously containing the power of multiple Adepti, and also multiple elements of different attributes. With such a constitution, if you are willing, becoming an existence above the Seven Archons is not impossible."
Durandal patted Lumine's shoulder, elaborating on her extraordinary nature and her potential.
Although it was still unclear to what extent Lumine could achieve, if her physique was truly that special, then it wasn't impossible for her to become an existence above the Seven Archons in the future.
"An existence… above the Seven Archons?"
Lumine looked at her hands. She had never considered such a thing. Her goal had always been to witness the scenery of different nations with Durandal and Shenhe, and to obtain the answers she desired from the mouths of the Seven Archons.
And, while she was at it, to severely teach her detestable brother a lesson, making him understand that bullying his younger sister comes with a price.
"Let's just forget about it. Not only do I not know if I can become such a powerful person, but even if I had the chance, I wouldn't want to think about it that much."
"Oh? Why? Becoming the strongest existence above the Seven Archons is something many people Yearn for. Why don't you want to reach such a height?"
"Because I don't want to, it's that simple. Honestly, if those people want to be that, let them be. What does it have to do with me? I don't think there's anything wrong with my current life; isn't it great like this?"
Paimon nodded in agreement: "Exactly, exactly. Look at the two we just met; they both chose to put down their identities and integrate into human life. Don't say we envy the lives of the Seven Archons; maybe we are the ones envied by the Seven Archons."
They were the ones being envied… well, maybe it was true. Such a life, though boisterous, was… unexpectedly good.
Recalling her past life, although she was called an Apostle and was at the pinnacle of existence, was that life happy?
If she could, she wouldn't want to possess such power, hoping to live a simple, ordinary life like a common person.
"Perhaps you are right, Lumine. However, before that… shouldn't you let go of my hand?"
Durandal gestured to the hand Lumine was still holding. The experience segment was over; wasn't it time to eat?
"Hehe~ We just came out not long ago, let me try a bit more. There are still many abilities I haven't used yet."
Lumine rolled her eyes, noticed Paimon flying nearby, grabbed him, and placed him in front of Durandal.
"You try Paimon, see if you can enhance any of his abilities."
Paimon: "Eh?"
What did this have to do with him? He was just watching. How did he suddenly get dragged into this?
"Does… does he have anything special about him?"
Durandal carefully observed Paimon, this usual mascot who only cheered from the sidelines during battles and never offered any substantial help.
"Does he… have any abilities that can be enhanced?"
---------------------------------
If you'd like to read the next 40 chapters in advance, you can support me on Patreon.
I regularly post chapter previews there, so you'll always be up-to-date and won't have to wait too long.
patreon.com/SolyuraMT
And if you enjoy the story, don't forget to give me a Power Stone. Your support really motivates me to continue translating!