"Hey! I'm asking you something! Quick, tell me—any objections to my arrangement?"
When neither Focalors nor Neuvillette responded for a long time, Furina snapped impatiently.
The two finally came to themselves and shook their heads in unison.
"We'll go with your plan. You've already arranged everything thoroughly."
"You handle matters inside Mount Shu, we'll handle what's outside."
"Our goal is the same—raise Fontaine's destiny as quickly as possible."
Neuvillette said softly. Furina waved her hand cheerfully.
"No need to make it complicated. All the Liyue representatives are in Mount Shu anyway—they're my senior brothers and sisters, and I get along well with them. Once it's decided to cooperate with Liyue, I just need to mention it casually, and you two can come negotiate afterward."
Neuvillette and Focalors exchanged a glance, both a little helpless.
Furina had taken over everything.
Martial arts exchanges, martial arts reform, planning the martial path blueprint, gathering beasts, negotiating with Liyue…
And later—solving the prophecy crisis…
In the end, all that was left for them was to lie flat and act as manual laborers according to Furina's plan?
Lying flat was comfortable, sure—but…
They couldn't help but feel guilty.
Especially Focalors.
She had already saddled Furina with the burden of a five-hundred-year lie. And now, Furina was the one single-handedly solving every problem, while she—the Hydro Archon—was doing nothing at all.
Wasn't this dereliction of duty?
Still… seeing how well Furina got along in Mount Shu proved just how extraordinary her talent was.
Otherwise, the disciples of Mount Shu wouldn't bother befriending her.
With her thoughts wandering, Focalors finally sighed and spoke softly:
"So you've arranged all this. Even the most basic contact with Liyue—you've already taken care of. What's left for us?"
"You two… lie flat, of course!"
Furina spread her hands.
"Didn't I already say? This time, I'm taking you both to the top! Just obey your sovereign's orders."
"…"
Neuvillette and Focalors looked at each other again, feeling as if they had been turned into glorified mindless errand workers.
"Just kidding!"
Furina suddenly changed her tone, laughing with hands on her hips.
"You two are so easy to fool."
Clorinde coughed lightly, her expression stern.
"Lady Furina, a true sovereign does not joke about such things."
"Hah?"
Furina shot her a sideways glance.
"What kind of boring sovereign would I be if I couldn't crack a joke?"
Seeing Clorinde about to launch into a long lecture again, Furina quickly pointed at Neuvillette and Focalors:
"These trivial matters should be left to subordinates. You two—one Hydro Dragon King, one Hydro Archon—are Fontaine's top assets. Naturally, you should shoulder important tasks."
"Contribute real strength to your sovereign's Fontaine!"
Neuvillette's eyes flickered, but he soon relaxed.
So Furina knew he was the Hydro Dragon King. Not surprising—cultivators of Mount Shu were bound to be more insightful than others.
"And what do you want us to do?"
Focalors asked softly.
"Obviously…"
Furina paused dramatically, then declared decisively:
"You two are coming with me—to cultivate immortality!"
Focalors and Neuvillette froze.
Cultivation?
Did they even need Furina to force that on them?
After seeing Furina and Clorinde gain such overwhelming power from it, they had already been longing for cultivation.
It was only because the Initiation Ceremony was over that they hadn't said anything.
For them, waiting for the next ceremony wasn't a problem.
A Hydro Dragon King and a Hydro Archon had lifespans long enough to outlast countless mortals.
But now that Furina herself had brought it up, they couldn't help but get excited.
Cultivating sooner meant becoming stronger sooner.
Maybe then, Furina wouldn't have to shoulder Fontaine's crisis alone—they could finally help her bear the weight.
And yet Furina was framing this as if it were an order?
If she simply shouted that she was taking disciples to cultivate, the entire population of Fontaine would rush to sign up within a day.
Focalors smiled in amusement.
"Even without you saying it, we wanted to cultivate. That's hardly a task. Or is this how you plan to get back at me?"
The prophecy crisis had found a better resolution. She didn't have to die. She could cultivate instead.
Naturally, Focalors was in a very good mood—and even cracked a joke.
But that only made Furina blush with embarrassment.
She glared fiercely at Focalors, voice sharp and haughty:
"A sovereign's will is not for you to meddle in! Otherwise, I'll punish you for overstepping!"
The smile froze on Focalors' face.
She—Furina?
Punish her, Focalors, for overstepping?!
Utterly absurd!
"Ahem!"
Furina coughed, regaining composure.
"Anyway, just be ready to come with me to cultivate. The rest, leave to me."
Neuvillette nodded, then asked with some doubt:
"But the Initiation Ceremony is already over. How could we still enter Mount Shu?"
"Ha! That's where you two are behind on your information."
Furina grinned smugly, lowering her voice in mock secrecy.
"I asked Senior Sister Ganyu. Aside from the Initiation Ceremony, there's another way to join Mount Shu."
"Though exalted, Mount Shu still treasures cultivation geniuses. Every inner disciple has one chance to recommend someone. But the candidate must be truly gifted—not weaker than the recommender."
"Also, they must at least have passed the Heart-Testing Array."
"For example, Senior Sister Lisa once recommended Senior Sister Jean and her group. They were all geniuses and passed the trial."
"Later, Senior Sister Ganyu recommended Senior Sister Yae Miko. She's said to possess the legendary Heavenly Enchantress Physique, a top-tier genius. After she passed the Heart Trial, she too joined Mount Shu."
"You two—a Hydro Dragon King and a Hydro Archon—even if not as gifted as your sovereign, your talent shouldn't be too bad. You should meet the conditions."
At this, both were overjoyed.
So there was another way into Mount Shu. It made sense—though aloof, the sect would never reject true prodigies. Just as nations always favored the strong.
Still, looking at Furina's smug expression, Neuvillette couldn't help but ask, somewhat helplessly:
"So Lady Furina, your talent must be exceptional then?"
"Hah? Exceptional?"
Furina slammed the table, eyes shining with seriousness.
"Do you even know the value of passing Heart-Testing Array? Do you understand what it means to have Heavenly Spiritual Roots?"
"The sect master himself said—if I cultivate steadily, I'm guaranteed to reach the Union of Void and Dao Realm!"
Clorinde nodded in affirmation.
"In Mount Shu, aside from the three divine physiques, Lady Furina's talent is indeed the highest."
"While First Seat Zhongli, First Seat Venti, and Elder Alice are all Heavenly Spiritual Root cultivators…"
"Only Lady Furina combines Heavenly Spiritual Roots and the Ninefold Heart Trial."
"Her talent is unquestionable."
This praise made Furina's imaginary tail wag all the way to the sky.
Focalors chuckled.
"Then congratulations, Furina. When the time comes, we'll be relying on you to recommend us."
"Hmph! That's easy! Just listen to your sovereign when the time comes."
Furina waved happily, but Clorinde finally spoke up, voice low:
"Lady Furina, I must interject. With Lady Focalors and Lord Neuvillette's strength… once they join Mount Shu and switch to the immortal path, they would at the very least become Elders—possibly even Acting First Seats."
"Your status as sovereign would not hold sway there…"
Furina's smile stiffened.
But Focalors and Neuvillette's faces broke into faint smiles, glancing at Furina with amusement.
She pursed her lips, looking aggrieved.
"…I don't feel like sending you two into Mount Shu anymore…"
"Lady Furina, please place the greater good first."
Clorinde coughed lightly.
"With their strength, once they switch to the immortal path, they'll begin at mid-stage Spirit Transformation. Once they master immortal techniques, altering physiques aside, suppressing the Primordial Sea would be effortless—buying you precious time."
At that, Focalors and Neuvillette's eyes lit up.
Suppressing the Primordial Sea at Spirit Transformation stage…
That was incredible.
More importantly, it meant Furina wouldn't have to bear everything alone.
They could hold down the crisis while she cultivated steadily, and when she finally performed the Investiture to alter Fontaine's people—everything would be resolved once and for all.
Focalors even regretted not leaving earlier to seek Mount Shu herself.
But now wasn't too late.
Furina, though sulky, wasn't the type to let childish pride override necessity.
Sure enough, she pouted at them, looking pitiful.
"So… if I send you two into Mount Shu, will you still acknowledge me as sovereign?"
Focalors smiled gently.
"In my heart, you're already Fontaine's sovereign. From now on, Fontaine has only you."
Neuvillette nodded in agreement, adding:
"But within Mount Shu, we'll have to follow their rules. And whether we become Elders or Acting First Seats will be up to the sect master, not us."
"…Fine."
Furina muttered, lips pursed.
Focalors and Neuvillette shared a glance of joy.
If they took up cultivation, Fontaine's crisis could be postponed indefinitely.
The crushing weight on Furina's shoulders—they could help bear it.
After all, what kind of sovereign shoulders everything alone?
Some burdens must be shared.
Besides… leaving aside Furina's load, cultivation itself promised far more than titles like Hydro Dragon King or Hydro Archon.
Once they became immortals, who would care about such things?
Neuvillette decided—even if once a dragon king, in the future, he'd just be a humble cultivator.
"When do you plan to take us to Mount Shu?"
Focalors asked calmly.
Furina thought for a moment, then clapped her hands.
"After I return. Since I'm finally out, I'll stay in Fontaine for a while before heading back to cultivate."
"Oh right! One more thing—"
Her eyes lit up as she looked at them, before turning bashful.
"So… if you two really do become Elders or First Seats…"
"Would you… maybe share some of your… monthly spirit stone allotment with me?"
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