It was clear that Kamisato Ayato was exhausted after several days at sea. His vessels showed signs of minor damage, though fortunately, his crew and passengers were unharmed. Navigating the open ocean was rarely a smooth endeavor, and it seemed they had encountered no small number of sea beasts along the way.
"It's only been about half a year, yet Liyue Harbor looks so spectacular now..."
The pretty girl standing beside Ayato looked around at the brand-new Liyue Harbor with wide-eyed surprise. They had moored at the original port: the one that had been dismantled by the citizens during the battle for Liyue. It had since been completely rebuilt into a vast, open plaza.
The harbor was constructed from sturdy cobblestone, surrounded by various buildings crafted from the wooden planks characteristic of the MC World. A cursory glance suggested this newly expanded district could easily house tens of thousands of people. Ningguang and the others had indeed opened the area for residency; these aesthetically pleasing houses had been sold to Liyue citizens at relatively low prices, causing the city's population density to surge once more.
Ayato stole a glance at the girl beside him and spoke softly. "Miss Yoimiya, would you like to speak with the Yuheng first regarding the fireworks, or will you accompany us to the foot of Mt. Tianheng?"
When Ayato planned this trip, he recalled Makoto's earlier remark that Inazuma lacked both development soldiers and top-tier combat power. After some consideration, he had invited Yoimiya and Kaedehara Kazuha to join them.
Yoimiya was here to negotiate the details of the fireworks display. Keqing had commissioned her to organize the grandest fireworks show possible for the night of the Lantern Rite. As for Kazuha: he had remained in Inazuma for a time after the country was stabilized to sort out his family affairs and assist with the transition. Now that things were settled, he was eager to return to Beidou. He had decided to remain a simple sailor; where the wind blew, he would follow. Furthermore, Beidou had written to him, mentioning that there was much to be done here and asking for his assistance.
It was perhaps because the three of them were traveling together that their three-day voyage had been plagued by sea beasts, stretching the trip to five days. On second thought, it made sense: as Liyue Harbor's influence expanded further out to sea, the living space for sea beasts was being compressed. Unable to provoke Liyue itself, the creatures were forced to flee outward, crossing paths with travelers.
Yoimiya thought it over and replied: "Based on what you said, Miss Keqing should be at Mt. Tianheng right now. It's on the way, so I'll walk with you."
Ayato nodded and turned to Kazuha.
"Big Sister Beidou has been staying with Mister Ryen. I can just head straight there; it's the same path."
Ayato said nothing more. A squad sent by the Ministry of Civil Affairs was already waiting nearby. He signaled for his men to disembark. Walking quickly to the Millelith soldiers, he said: "I have brought three thousand new Inazuma troops for stationing. I believe Mister Ryen has already made the arrangements?"
The Millelith soldier smiled and nodded. "Please follow me. Lady Makoto has left instructions: now that you've arrived, we are to head straight for Mt. Tianheng."
"Thank you for the hard work," Ayato replied. He looked back to see that the new army had finished disembarking and had formed up in neat ranks. With a wave of his hand, he followed the Millelith guide.
Truthfully, this was the first time many of them had seen Liyue since its massive transformation. Even Kazuha hadn't been back in months. The changes within those few months exceeded everyone's expectations: everything along the road felt unfamiliar and filled with mystery.
For the new Inazuma soldiers, the sight was almost unbelievable. As they walked, they saw small stalls selling alchemical elixirs. Occasionally, they passed blacksmith workshops handling orders for enchanted weapons. These were the very life-saving items they had dreamed of while fighting monsters back home.
Although Inazuma had made significant progress since joining, boasting its own Dragon Riders and firearm units, those elite forces were almost exclusively stationed within the MC World. Not a single Dragon Rider had returned to Inazuma, and even when firearms were sent back, they were kept under strict guard. Among the regular Inazuma army, alchemical elixirs and enchanted weapons were still the height of luxury. Yet here in Liyue, these items had already been integrated into civilian life.
Ayato noticed the Millelith soldiers nearby. They carried weapons he had never seen before: blades that emitted faint auras of blazing heat or biting frost. He couldn't help but sigh internally. Liyue, being closest to the source, truly enjoyed the greatest advantages. Even if the Abyss Order migrated entirely in the future, they might never catch up to Liyue's pace of development. Ryen seemed to have a natural affinity for this nation.
Noticing Ayato's gaze, the Millelith soldier smiled and handed him the longsword from his waist.
"This is the new weaponry for the Millelith Light Infantry. We switched to these recently. The old enchanted weapons have mostly been retired."
Ayato spoke softly: "Thank you... This sword, it has a cryo attribute?"
The Millelith soldier nodded. "This is one of the most widely used weapons among our light infantry now. It is standard-issue gear for us. It's called a Frost Sword. In addition to these, we have Flame Swords, Frost Bows, Homing Bows, and so on."
"Currently, within Liyue's legions, the Dragon Riders and firearm units remain in a league of their own. However, our light infantry and heavy cavalry have seen their ranks and gear standardized."
As he spoke, the soldier's voice carried a note of pride. Even though they couldn't compare to the Dragon Riders, the light infantry had received significant enhancements. They could finally hold their heads high again.
"Ice and Fire..." Ayato mused. "So the light infantry's primary focus is now on elemental reactions? I haven't heard of these weapons before."
The Millelith soldier took his weapon back and explained patiently: "These were only rolled out about half a month ago. Liyue was the pilot region. In time, these weapons will likely be sent to Inazuma as well. Your light infantry will probably undergo a similar reform."
Ayato hadn't heard Makoto mention this yet. It was likely still a work in progress. Regardless, this reform would certainly cause Inazuma's strength to soar once more.
While he pondered this, the large group finally reached the foot of Mt. Tianheng. Compared to the bustling Liyue Harbor, this area was much quieter, but not for lack of people. There were still over ten thousand Millelith stationed here. However, due to military discipline, they couldn't be as rowdy as the common citizens.
The moment they stepped onto Mt. Tianheng, a dense aura of slaughter washed over them. Unlike Liyue Harbor, every step here felt as though they were walking through thick mud. Ayato and the others were fine, but the new Inazuma soldiers felt their hearts racing. They prided themselves on having fought many monsters and possessed an aura far beyond ordinary Vision holders, but here, any random Millelith soldier passing by felt like someone who could take on four or five of them single-handedly.
Exquisite equipment, refined auras, steady footsteps... everywhere they looked, they saw veterans of a hundred battles. This army was far more elite than any force from the era of the Archon War.
At the foot of Mt. Tianheng, it wasn't just light infantry. Heavy cavalry and firearm units were everywhere, and occasionally, a dragon would soar overhead.
"Is this the headquarters of Liyue's army? Truly awe-inspiring..." Kazuha murmured. A single squad of soldiers by the road could give him a sense of danger, let alone the Dragon Riders passing overhead who made him feel a life-or-death crisis with their mere presence. Liyue's strength truly exceeded his imagination.
"Originally, Liyue's army didn't have a fixed headquarters. We had to guard various regions and rotate positions frequently," the Millelith guide explained. "But now, there aren't many monsters left within Liyue's borders. Even if they appear, a single squad on rotation can suppress a tide of over a hundred beasts. Therefore, we've all been recalled here for training and stationing. Gradually, this became the Millelith headquarters."
"Even though there are fewer monsters, our strength hasn't decreased; in fact, it has grown." The soldier stood on his tiptoes and pointed toward the north, indicating the faint silhouette of the Jueyun Karst mountain range.
"Over there is the Trial Land commissioned by Lady Ningguang. It's filled with countless powerful monsters: much stronger than common Hilichurls or Slimes. They are ferocious and cold-blooded. Every Millelith squad must go to the Trial Land to fight once a week to maintain their combat effectiveness."
"To even become a Millelith, one must go to the Trial Land and slay ten monsters to pass the initial assessment. Of course, basic gear is provided. Once you pass, you either join the light infantry or the heavy cavalry. Thus, every Millelith you see now is an elite."
"Those who aren't hardworking enough are easily kicked out. There are too many people in Liyue who want to join the army now, so everyone works incredibly hard."
The Millelith soldier was more than happy to tell them about the current state of Liyue's military. An army that stood at the top of Teyvat was a point of immense pride for every citizen and the ultimate badge of honor for the soldiers themselves. In modern Liyue, joining the army was no simple task.
After passing theoretical exams and ideological vetting by the Ministry, recruits were sent here for combat training. After a period, they were sent into live combat. Only after surviving that could they become a Millelith. Even then, there was a one-month probationary period. During that month, every recruit had to personally slay one hundred different monsters and participate in a team kill of one thousand monsters. Only after that could they become an official Millelith.
This process was known to all Liyue citizens and was considered as difficult as climbing to the heavens. Yet, every month when five hundred new recruits were called for, thousands still fought for those slots. In the minds of current Liyue people, successfully joining the army was the highest honor for one's ancestors. Every Millelith was a powerhouse who surpassed ordinary humans and could suppress Vision holders in single combat.
And Liyue currently possessed over twenty thousand such soldiers. Thinking of it this way, it was no wonder Liyue now held the power to suppress all of Teyvat single-handedly. Over twenty thousand such soldiers could sweep across the continent without difficulty.
As another dragon streaked across the sky, Kazuha's eyes filled with a strange light. He asked with a hint of longing: "The Dragon Riders... do they undergo the same assessment?"
Hearing this, the Millelith guide gave a bitter smile and shook his head.
"How could that be possible? The Dragon Riders are the strongest legion in all of Liyue's military hierarchy. Every mature Dragon Rider, in coordination with their dragon, possesses the strength of an Adeptus. How could their assessment be so simple?"
"Furthermore, the Dragon Riders do not take orders from anyone except the Lord of Geo, Lady Ningguang, and Mister Ryen. They are the supreme existence within the Millelith, the legion that every soldier dreams of joining."