Chapter 141. Raiden Ei's Seclusion
About half an hour later, Maha Rukkhadevata and Nahida still hadn't emerged from the depths of the Irminsul. No one knew what they were discussing.
However, Futsu Mitama and the others weren't concerned with their matters. His current focus was entirely on the Chat Group.
He was waiting to see if Zhongli, Raiden Ei, or Albedo would be the first to announce good news.
Albedo frowned slightly, his expression subtle, as if he wanted to speak but hesitated.
"What's wrong?" Futsu Mitama saw Albedo's slight frown and asked. "Isn't the Irminsul the main material for the special husk doll?"
Aila and Black Aila also looked at Albedo. Because if the Irminsul wasn't the main material for the special husk doll, then things would likely become troublesome.
"Wait a moment. I want to see what Zhongli and Raiden Ei have to say."
Albedo wanted to be cryptic. He seemed to have discovered something but didn't intend to say it.
"Why don't you tell us first?"
Futsu Mitama, however, wanted to know in advance. He didn't want to experience a rollercoaster of emotions.
If the Irminsul wasn't the main material for the special husk doll, then they would probably have to leave Teyvat and prepare to go to other worlds.
After all, resurrecting Raiden Makoto was the top priority. It was for this premise that Futsu Mitama had somewhat reluctantly come to Sumeru and resolved a great many issues.
"Alright."
Seeing Futsu Mitama's eagerness, Albedo stopped being cryptic. He looked at the Irminsul branch in his hand and slowly said,
"It is the main material for the special husk doll, but not entirely."
"?" X3
With three puzzled faces, Futsu Mitama, Aila, and Black Aila all looked at Albedo strangely.
They truly didn't understand why he would say that. What did it mean, "it is, but not entirely"?
"Simply put, its similarity to the main material for the special husk doll is over 96%, but 4% of it doesn't match."
Albedo saw the three bewildered faces and naturally explained.
"So, theoretically speaking, it is the main material for the special husk doll. Or rather, it's the most suitable main material we've found for the special husk doll, but whether it can actually serve as a vessel for Archon resurrection once it's made is another matter."
This was also why Albedo had frowned earlier.
Good news: the special husk doll seemed feasible.
Bad news: this special husk doll might not be able to serve as an Archon vessel.
This was what he had discovered, so Albedo didn't plan to reveal it immediately. He felt that while he had some accomplishments in alchemy, that didn't mean he could fully grasp everything related to puppets.
Each has his specialty. He could create fake purified water and Fake Condensed Resin entirely because those two things primarily involved alchemy.
But the special husk doll was not Albedo's forte. So next, they had to see what Zhongli and Raiden Ei would say.
If both of them shared his view, then things would likely become quite troublesome.
A true special husk doll could resurrect an Archon and had the effect of nourishing the soul.
As Albedo envisioned, the special husk doll made from the Irminsul would probably only have a resurrection effect, without the soul-nourishing effect.
However, the Chat Group came with an invisible buff, which was the soul-nourishing effect. The recovery speed would at most be a bit slower than Guizhong's.
So, this wasn't a very big problem. The biggest problem was whether such a special husk doll could resurrect Raiden Makoto.
"Is that so?"
Futsu Mitama couldn't help but frown upon hearing this. The problem was indeed quite significant.
There were three waiting for resurrection in the Chat Group: Bosacius, Raiden Makoto, and Maha Rukkhadevata.
The former was basically confirmed to be savable, but the latter two were both Archons!
"Is there no other way?" Aila looked at Albedo and asked. "Can we improve the quality of the Irminsul and see if that can reach 100% similarity?"
Albedo slowly shook his head, making a helpless expression.
"Currently, I don't have a testing ground to use, so I can't do anything, and... I don't know how much Irminsul material we can obtain. The cost of trial and error is too high to risk, just like with the Power of Time. Perhaps in the end, we can only make a high-fidelity replica, like with the Fake Condensed Resin."
Irminsul material was not some common vegetable. Its preciousness even surpassed the Power of Time.
Taking the Power of Time would at most lead to being targeted by the 'Time Shades,' who was unspoken of in the group.
The situation with the Irminsul was different.
Although Maha Rukkhadevata could provide Irminsul material, no matter what, this thing was the lifeblood of Teyvat.
Maha Rukkhadevata had said in the Chat Group that when the Heavenly Principles summoned the Seven Archons to Khaenri'ah, she alone remained to guard the Irminsul, preventing it from being corrupted by forbidden knowledge.
Later, she sacrificed herself and borrowed the dreams of the people of Sumeru, which almost completely expelled the forbidden knowledge within the Irminsul.
Maha Rukkhadevata even joked that if the Chat Group hadn't been able to suppress and eliminate the effects of forbidden knowledge, she would have probably had her successor completely eliminate her.
Allowing the world to completely forget her, thereby fulfilling her duty to protect the Irminsul.
This also showed Maha Rukkhadevata's emphasis on the Irminsul, and the Irminsul's importance to Teyvat.
If they repeatedly took from the Irminsul, would it lead to disaster or the Heavenly Principles personally intervening?
In any case, either possibility made the rational Albedo realize that this thing could not be subjected to continuous trial and error. So, if nothing unexpected happened, the final product would be like the Fake Condensed Resin and fake purified water.
"No worries."
At this moment, a clear voice sounded.
Maha Rukkhadevata and Nahida returned hand in hand.
Maha Rukkhadevata looked at Albedo with a gentle expression and said,
"I will find a way to get Irminsul material. You can boldly proceed with your trials."
"Regarding Baal's and my resurrection, I naturally cannot make things too difficult for you all, and if I don't provide enough materials, Beelzebub might really come barging in with a sword."
Speaking of this, Maha Rukkhadevata chuckled, as if she had already seen the future.
Nahida, however, didn't smile. Because she felt this was an inevitable outcome. She had already seen it in the Chat Group.
Although Raiden Ei was very obedient to Raiden Makoto, in such a major matter of resurrection, even Raiden Makoto's opposition would be useless.
Raiden Ei would act unilaterally, and if others tried to stop her!
Then it would inevitably come down to a life-or-death struggle.
This was no joke. Raiden Ei could have endured Raiden Makoto's passing, but the special husk doll had given her hope of resurrection.
If at this moment, she was told again that the special husk doll made with the Irminsul as its main material could not fully resurrect Raiden Makoto, then she would absolutely not accept it!
Nahida could understand this. Because she also couldn't accept it. Inazuma couldn't be without Raiden Makoto, just as Sumeru couldn't be without Maha Rukkhadevata.
"Is it okay?"
Futsu Mitama looked at Maha Rukkhadevata with some worry.
This matter could be big or small.
The big reason was that an anomaly in the Irminsul could very likely be discovered by beings above the Seven Archons, leading to intervention and a series of events.
The small reason was that Maha Rukkhadevata herself was an incarnation of the Irminsul. What was wrong with her taking a bit of her own tissue?
"No problem."
Maha Rukkhadevata affirmed again. She looked at Futsu Mitama and slowly said,
"Even if there's a problem, you, I, and Nahida can work together to make things fine."
"After all, the three of us share the same inheritance. A large amount of life energy can quickly restore the Irminsul. It's just that you and Nahida need to quickly master the inheritance I've given you. That way, perhaps your consciousness can link with the Irminsul in the future, which might bring you immense benefits."
Maha Rukkhadevata looked at Futsu Mitama and smiled very gently.
But Futsu Mitama's expression suddenly became somewhat speechless. Because Maha Rukkhadevata's words made him connect some dots.
No wonder Maha Rukkhadevata had given him her inheritance. It turned out she had planned everything from the beginning.
Previously, Futsu Mitama had been curious why Maha Rukkhadevata would say that if Nahida truly couldn't assume the position of Dendro Archon, he would have to act as the Acting Dendro Archon to temporarily manage Sumeru.
How was he supposed to be the Acting Dendro Archon? Just relying on the Dendro Archon's Inheritance? One must know that the Dendro Archon not only had to manage Sumeru.
The Dendro Archon's greatest responsibility was to manage the Irminsul, and it was precisely because of this point that the Akademiya's God Creation Project was, from the start, going against the entire continent of Teyvat.
Even if Kunikuzushi's power reached the peak of an Archon, without the ability to manage the Irminsul, he would definitely be dealt with by the Heavenly Principles or the 'Four Shades' above the Seven Archons.
It wasn't a matter of stance or strength, but whether he had the capability to take on this task.
Now the truth was revealed: if Futsu Mitama thoroughly mastered the Dendro Archon's Inheritance, he could indeed manage the Irminsul in the future.
This Maha Rukkhadevata looked so gentle, but in reality, her heart was quite dark. She had calculated Futsu Mitama without him even realizing it.
What was even more terrifying was that her initial demeanor gave the impression that she highly valued her successor and would never consider Futsu Mitama.
Now, when there was no need to hide anything, Maha Rukkhadevata revealed everything.
"I will work hard."
Nahida stated that she would quickly master Maha Rukkhadevata's inheritance.
Because they were so similar, Nahida's speed in learning the inheritance was remarkably fast.
"I will also work hard."
What else could Futsu Mitama say at this point? He could only express that he would also work hard.
Regarding Raiden Makoto's resurrection, he had to work hard whether he wanted to or not. Perhaps Raiden Ei would even urge him to stop learning other things and focus solely on the Dendro Archon's Inheritance.
"Mhm~"
Maha Rukkhadevata smiled gently.
—
On the other side, Zhongli and Raiden Ei in the Chat Group also said almost the same thing as Albedo.
Zhongli's tone was calm, clearly without much worry. After all, Liyue only had one Bosacius needing resurrection.
Even if a "husk doll" was created, it would be enough for Liyue.
Raiden Ei was different.
She stated that she would enter seclusion in the Plane of Euthymia to focus on researching the special husk doll.
Therefore, a large amount of Irminsul material was needed.
Raiden Ei also stated that she would remember this favor, and if Sumeru ever faced difficulties in the future, Inazuma would unconditionally intervene three times!
This statement carried immense weight. Inazuma intervening three times was not Raiden Ei intervening three times.
This was the collective power of Inazuma intervening three times to repay this favor, which showed just how precious the Irminsul material was.
This was like Venti risking taking the authority of the 'Time Shades.'
No matter how much he jumped around in the group, Zhongli, Raiden Makoto, Raiden Ei, Maha Rukkhadevata, Azhdaha, Guizhong, and others would not say anything to him. This was his deserved treatment.
As long as he didn't cross anyone's bottom line, he wouldn't get a beating.
However, Venti's personality was precisely to constantly test the boundaries of getting beaten, which was quite exasperating.
Maha Rukkhadevata also smiled and said that Inazuma didn't need to intervene three times. Friendly relations between the two nations would suffice.
Whether they intervened or not, it wasn't important. If Futsu Mitama could stay in Sumeru long-term, then everything would be fine.
To this, Raiden Ei said nothing, directly ceasing to discuss.
In her mind, Futsu Mitama staying in Sumeru long-term was far more serious than Inazuma unconditionally intervening three times.
The latter, even with unconditional intervention, still had room for choice.
The former, in all likelihood, would be gone for good.
Don't ask how Raiden Ei knew. She was well aware of Futsu Mitama's inherent value. Every Archon coveted him.
Even if the Heavenly Principles were to awaken in the future, Raiden Ei remained skeptical whether she would intervene.
But before that! Raiden Ei was like a little girl guarding her dessert, unwilling for other beings to harm Futsu Mitama. He was hers!!!
After a brief exchange, Maha Rukkhadevata and Nahida jointly took many Irminsul materials from the Irminsul, giving a portion directly to Albedo.
The rest was given to Zhongli and Raiden Ei via group red packets for them to conduct trials.
—
Inazuma, Inazuma City, inside Tenshukaku.
Raiden Ei looked at the Irminsul material in her hand and fell into a brief contemplation.
"Not attending the trial the day after tomorrow?"
Yae Miko walked in from outside. She looked at the serious-faced Raiden Ei and said,
"I thought you would personally witness this trial."
The trial concerning Kunikuzushi was to take place the day after tomorrow. As the current Raiden Shogun, and given Kunikuzushi's sensitive identity, Yae Miko had thought she would personally attend this trial.
She hadn't expected that at this time, she would choose to go into seclusion, and even call her to Tenshukaku.
Clearly, this seclusion would last for quite some time. If nothing unexpected happened, there would be no special circumstances during this period.
Raiden Ei probably wouldn't even check the group. This stubborn person, even though Mr. Zhongli and that annoying Albedo were in the group, and both of them had remarkable accomplishments, did she really need to push herself so hard?
"The Shogun will go to witness the trial,"
Raiden Ei said casually. Then she looked at Yae Miko seriously and said,
"Miko, I don't know how long this seclusion will last."
"If anything unexpected happens in Inazuma, your first priority is to find Futsu Mitama and Makoto and let them resolve it. As for the Shogun, if an insurmountable enemy appears, then come find her."
As soon as she finished speaking, Raiden Ei closed her eyes and directly entered the Plane of Euthymia, beginning her own seclusion.
This made Yae Miko shake her head helplessly, not knowing what to say, but... this was better than her previous hundreds of years of seclusion without a word.
At least this time she explained some things to her, instead of just leaving a Shogun and letting her guess on her own.
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