Hold over Myriad of Worlds

-"To start, we have to decide on the agenda for the meeting."

-"From my side, we have to address how to start expanding Hold."- Started Ningguang

-"I have no need other than continued assistance in conquest on my side."

-"In Orario, we need to start building the [Fortress of Hold] on our territory."

-"Mei told me to ask for help resettle some refugees from our world. She said, 'We don't have the capacity to care for all of them.' I'm not aware of details, so I'll leave it to her."

I looked at Mei sitting on the side. When our eyes met, she nodded in acknowledgment.

-"Great, I'll add the exchange of technology to the list. Let's start with Astraea's topic."

-"Yes, I've checked the plot allotted to us from the Guild. It is similar in size to Loki's mansion."

-"Basically, we need [Fortress of Hold] to serve three purposes. To represent us. To facilitate trade and travel. To [Fortress of Hold] our personnel safe."

-"My greatest worry is leakage of technology from inside. We have the innate advantage of fusing technologies and magical techniques from different worlds. Its value is immeasurable and will attract many greedy hands."

-"Indeed, people working inside need to be absolutely loyal."

-"We have to create armed forces to secure our interests."

-"On that subject, Jing Yuan, I have another offer for you."

-"My Loufu haven't even signed our first contract, and yet you want to do another, huh? Please, go on."

-"I want your Loufu."

-"Then you must have some impressive chip to offer even to start such negotiations."- The General's entire demeanor turned sharp. His aura now showed an experienced soldier ready for the next battle.

-"In exchange, I'll solve Mara and eliminate remnants of Abundance from Loufu."

-"Are you even able to do so? Last time, you said that your methods are incomplete."

-"Conventional ones are indeed unable to solve that. I have one drastic way to do so."

-"How certain are you in success?"

-"100% But it'll take some time."

-"How long?"

-"Years."

-"How will you do this?"

-"I'll create a tool to transfer power of Abundance into it and seal it later."

-"Do tools like that exist?"

-"Stellaron."

-"Are you joking?"

-"No. I sealed hundreds of them on the frontier. I won't joke about that. I'm only saying to use them as mediums. You have met Stelle, right? She has been implanted with Stellaron. Thanks to that, she gained the ability to use the power of different Paths."

-"Don't you do the same? Why use Stellaron."

-"I could do that for other Paths, but not for Abundance."

-"I won't ask why's that so. I can't make this decision by myself. I'll return to Loufu and perform a referendum. But before that, I'll need your vow to uphold what we just discussed."

-"Astraea, can you use [Sword of Promise] to bind my vow?"

-"Are you sure?"

-"Yes."

With the rest as witnesses, I made my vow. Jing Yuan then left in hurry, promising to answer in 7 days.

-"Moving on, we wave to consider creating infrastructure here in Hold and building [Fortress of Hold] in Orario, Teyvat, and Nobunaga's Japan."

-"I have already planned where to create [Fortress of Hold]. After ending my campaign in Mino, I plan to make a move on Kyoto. I believe that the old imperial palace will be perfect."

-"Do you plan to become an Emperor?"

-"Nah. I Prefer being on a battlefield. What, are you interested?"

-"Not much. To be honest, if I got a position like that, I'd no longer be able to throw so many tasks onto Ningguang in the name of her field of experience."

-"You..."

-"Pff. That the spirit."

-"Focus, guys."

-"Right. In Orario, we have to start building the [Fortress of Hold]. The same style of building as in Liyue would be great."

-"Hmm, eastern style would stand out nicely. For protection, Yue, as Progress, you should create something."

-"Leave it to me, formation from the mystic side of things, and cameras form technological. I'll make sure Thai place can survive a direct attack from god."

-"In Liyue, I plan to expand Jade Chamber and turn it into [Fortress of Hold]."

-"When I think about it, Hephaestus, do you know some god of architecture?"

-"Some minor ones live in Orario, but I'm not close. I know one, but she didn't descend yet."

-"You are talking about that boob-no-brain Hestia, right? I don't believe she will do anything well! Let's seek a better method."

-"Some kind of enemy?"

-"Yes, my nemesis!"

-"Well, just [Fortress of Hold] her in mind. For now, Hephaestus, can you be in charge of the building in Orario?"

-"I'll get on it."

-"Then, the next step is infrastructure here. We need to build living spaces, workshops, and factories. Basically everything."

-"I was thinking of using a combination of techniques from Liyue and Loufu. Beak apart this land we are on and suspend it in the air with Plaustrite in the same way as Ningguang's Pavilion, using the same construction methods as Loufu to create passages and buildings in between islands."

-"I can imagine it, but are we able to create something so grand?"

-"Yes, the [Vault] slowly is filling up. I can use my [Horn of Plenty] to generate needed materials."

-"I marked some frontier planets on my ship map where we can get raw materials easily."

-"For workers, we can cooperate with Mei. Those refugees can work for us in exchange for a new place to live. What is your opinion on that, Mei?"

-"It is a good idea. Most of them are rather young with families. Right now, because of Honkai beasts, only three metropolises are safe in our world. Overcrowding is reaching staggering levels, and we are on the brink of famine."

-"Then let's do that. I'll get blueprints ready with assistance from Hephaestus."

-"Next internal issue are people."

-"Yes, while we filled important positions, we still need to create an army."

-"I think we start unifying our people."

-"Cloud knights from Xianzhou Alliance and Fire Motare are the strongest warriors, so it's best to use them as a base for the army."

-"I'm already thinking of recruiting some researchers to better the MANTIS project and make it viable to use for average soldiers."

-"Great idea. Mei, can you contact Mobius for us?"

-"No problem."

-"Issue of training and equipment is left."

-"Equipment will be taken care of by Hephastous familia with assistance from Liyue and Vill-V."

-"Training will also be cooperation between Colud knights and Fire Moth."

-"I also believe so."

-"On the subject, I suggest to organize joint training in the near future."

-"Yes, while we are fully using the advantage of knowledge from different worlds, those under us can't do it so easily."

-"For that, I have a plan, but It will take some time."

-"Mind sharing it."

-"I'll turn [Grand Library] into a nexus for our internal network. I and Hephaestus already made a prototype. But to fully complete it, I need some technology from Sumeru."

-"You plan on creating something like their terminals?"

-"No, only internal structures interest me. Gnosis, while not comparable to the power of [Grand Library], is still an object of high origin. Using it as a reference, I can create a network capable of easily connecting many worlds."

-"Your plan is impressive."

-"It indeed can help our work and solve issues of sharing knowledge."

-"What about that prototype?"

-"Here."- I took out both phone and crystal. -"That phone can interact with that crystal across different worlds. For now, that may be not much, but as proof of concept, it's enough."

-"A little underwhelming, but with great potential."

We continued discussing some minor subjects. As we only started laying the foundation, there were not many issues yet. We draw the outlines of what we want to create here in Hold.

-"Do you have something to add, Elysia? You were rather quiet today."

-"Hmm... I have one idea, but for now, I'm focusing on fighting honkai. Because the average strength of honkai monsters has risen, many soldiers are unable to defeat them quickly."

-"I see. Don't worry, it'll be all right."

-"Thank you, Astraea!"

-"Do we have any other issue to talk about?"

-"Not for now."

-"Then it's time to end this meeting."

-"Good. I just started to get hungry. Yue, can you cook something?"

-"Yes, Please!"

-"Good, leave it to me"

I went to the kitchen and made myself busy. Girls sat around the table while Jingliu, who was waiting outside the [Throne Room], came to my side and started helping.

Soon, the meal was ready. We started eating while making merry. Soon rest of the Hold members joined. I returned to make more food, Elysia brought Eden to start singing, and Kequng came with Xinyan to play some music.

The party continued well into the night. Only when Nobunaga had drunk herself into a stupor we decided to call it quits. After helping everybody to their rooms, I went outside the walls to swing my sword. After clearing my head, I started my regime.

-"Jingliu, I know you are here. Come out."- I called out after some time.

-"Master."

-"Tell me, what do you plan to do."

-"Yes?"

-"I want to know what are your plans for the future?"

-"Follow you during your travels."

-"Anything more?"

-"No."

-"Sigh..."

-"Master?"

-"Jingliu, let me be direct. Right now, you are like an entirely different person than before you beat your Mara. What happened? At the end of your rope, you were moving forward, consequence be damned. And yet you stay here like a lost puppy."

-"..."

-"I can understand that you were not planning to survive before, and now you feel lost. But as a master swordswoman, are you not ashamed to behave like that?"

-"Lost..?"

-"Are you not? You hide behind me, not because of fear but your lack of purpose."

-"..."

-"Words were never your strong point, so grab your sword. Let's speak in a way you can understand it fully."

I pointed my sword at her. Jingliu was stunned and didn't react immediately. To wake her up, I started walking toward her. When she saw me approaching, she quickly manifested her sword and took a stance. 

-"Since when do you wait for your opponent to attack you?"- I asked while shortening the distance between us in an instant and slashing at her.

Swords meet. One by one, we exchange attacks. With each slash, she was pushed back. With every stab, she was becoming more passive. The next moment, the sword flew into the air. Jingliu looked at her empty hand, visibly shaken.

-"See? When you fought Mara, you held your sword even after losing consciousness."- I told her while looking into her red eyes -"Just a few days passed, and you were disarmed in a mere 100 attacks."

She lowered her head, but soon she looked up again. This time, Jingliu attacked first with a newly manifested sword. No longer hesitating, her attacks were swift and ruthless. 

Our fight started intensifying. Clashes became stronger and stronger. Slowly using more powerful sword arts, even terrain started being destroyed. We would send up clouds of dirt into the air only to sweep it away in the next attack.

Jinglu stopped holding back fully, and her signature Crescent Art was shown in full glory. I also mobilized my power and used elements to my advantage.

-"Now, do you feel a difference!?"- I yelled while continuing the fight -"Do you remember what qualities of a swordsman are?"

-"Everything is within. Everything exists. Seek nothing outside of yourself."

-"Good."

The fight was nearing its end. Jingliu soared high above and used her strongest attack. I decided to respond in kind. Five simple swords appeared behind my back. They were manifestations of nature, Fire, Earth, Metal, Water, and Wood. Rising my hand, they flew towards her.

First struck fire, unleashing power only the sun may possess. Earth followed, produced in the heat of fire, its power was greater than a falling comet.

There was no need for a third attack. Earth shattered Jingliu's technique. I dispersed the remaining three swords. She landed, a little out of breath. A short while later, she approached.

-"I'm still so far away."

-"Just difference in experience."

-"Thank you, Master."- She bowed to me. -"Now I know what to do."

-"If so, then leave no regrets."

-"Yes!"- Jingliu stepped forward, raising her head and overlapping our lips.

I went back to [Grand Library] and picked a book from Teyvat about Sumeru. A neighbor to Liyue, land once ruled by Greater Lord Rukkhadevata and King Deshret, having sustained calamity in the past, was just a shadow of its former glory.

Sustained by Akademiya, it became the land of research. Sadly scientists make for poor leaders. Their reborn Archon was apprehended and imprisoned. Great Sage obsessed with godhood, breaking taboos one after another.

I decided to consult Zhongli about my trip. He, not surprisingly, was here reading about the history of some planet. When I told him about my plans, he happily started telling me about the culture of Sumeru.

-"Can you tell me something more about Archon there?"

-"Lesser Lord Kusanali is a new Archon. As such, she doesn't possess much power. While I haven't met her personally, inheriting the title of Buer from her predecessor, her wisdom should be greater than mine."

-"Young god of wisdom, huh... I can't wait to meet her then."

-"When do you plan to depart?"

-"Any time."

-"Then allow me to join you on this trip."

-"You're more than welcome"

-"Do you mind bringing one more person with us?"

-"Of course I won't."

-"Then I'll call my old friend quickly. Let's meet in Liyue in about an hour."

-"Ok. I'll find you by that time."

-"Excuse me then."

Zhongli left for Teyvat. I finished my book, made myself a light meal, and when the time arrived, I went to Liyue. Finding our meeting location, I teleported near.

-"You are here. Allow me to introduce you, this is Venti, the Barbatos."

-"Hello, just consider me a passing bard."

-"And this is Yue, emanator of Finality"

-"It's nice to make your acquaintance."

-"Don't be so stiff like the old man Morax."

-"Heh, you are right. So, time to set off?"

-"Yes. For a long time, I wanted to meet the new Dendro Archon."

-"Then let's get going. If we pass by the Chasm, we can arrive there by nighttime."

We walked out of Liyue Harbor into the mountains outside. We talked about the history of many places that we passed by, and in between, we listened to a few of Venti's songs. 

No road is long with good company. We were deep into the jungles of Sumeru before we even noticed it. Thanks to my perception, we quickly found our way through the dense forest, and our eyes fell on Sumeru City.

After being questioned by a guard about our visit, we were allowed to enter. We decided to go directly to our main destination, the Akademiya.