"Did she grow up eating miracle fertilizer?" Reisen Riou muttered, stunned as Reisen Anko's life level jumped to LV58 just from registering at the Grand Narukami Shrine.
His own progress crawled. Still waiting for Cor Lapis, he lagged while Anko, in her rapid growth phase, neared the next life tier.
Reisen Riou resolved to keep a low profile.
Anko's return wasn't without perks. With two Ley Line youkai, Ritou Shrine snagged more funding, grants, and policy favors from the Grand Narukami Shrine.
Workload dropped too. The monthly island-wide scan? Now every two months, split between them.
The most tedious task halved.
Other duties, like preaching to believers, barely changed. Anko's unique status even drew Shogunate soldiers to Ritou for training.
Three months flew by.
Reisen Riou eyed the shrine's torii gate eagerly.
From the Ley Lines, he sensed pure Geo elemental power approaching—likely the Cor Lapis he'd commissioned Bona to buy from Liyue Harbor.
Sure enough, a foot soldier-dressed Samebito, a low-rank samurai courier, entered the shrine. These errand-runners for bigwigs also escorted valuable goods.
Delivering to Reisen Riou fit their scope.
He signed the documents and cargo slip, and the samurai left, grumbling about avoiding miko-heavy places.
In Inazuma, mikos and samurai had a subtle rivalry. Mikos siphoned some samurai privileges. Low-rank mikos had modest status, just above commoners, unless they were elite or wielded special spells.
High-rank mikos, though, matched mid-tier samurai, some rivaling bannermen or O-kuni elites. A few even equaled Shogunate generals.
Most short-lived humans didn't grasp Yae Miko's terrifying power at the Grand Narukami Shrine, nor its annual evil purges, nor the decennial Sacred Sakura Cleansing.
They saw samurai bleeding yearly at Kujou Encampment while "that woman" (Yae Miko) lounged, enjoying offerings. Her potent spells, often used for pranks, seemed frivolous.
Mikos aiding youkai battles on Mount Yougou or providing spell support at Kujou Encampment were overlooked or invisible to most.
So, low-rank samurai didn't vibe with shrines.
…
Cor Lapis, a prized Geo-rich gem, came in grades—Fragments, Chunks, Blocks, Gems—based on elemental quantity and quality.
Reisen Riou's purchase, costing three years' salary plus gray income, was Gem-grade, needed to transform his Geo elemental power.
His Electro power, honed by long exposure to Raiden Ei, a top-tier demon god, had already transformed. Per her, his Electro quality matched Shogunate Archon-tier generals, though slower and lesser in quantity.
To him, Electro was bottleneck-free until LV70, when he'd hit Great Youkai status.
After the courier left, he rushed to the forging courtyard, rich with Geo-infused ores. Breaking through here would boost his Geo transformation.
He'd shut down his ever-burning forge three days prior, using Elemental Sight to clear residual Fire and other elements.
Taking a deep breath, he opened the box holding the Cor Lapis Gem, symbol of the Geo Archon's power.
Pressing his hand to its surface, he felt his Geo power morph—fast.
In a daze, he lifted his hand. The gem gleamed, undimmed despite triggering his transformation.
Clenching his left hand, a White Iron Ore appeared.
Weighing it, he confirmed its permanence and quality. "No more scrounging for low-grade ores," he mused.
"Break through," he urged, feeling fully primed.
No blinding pillars, no stormy theatrics—just a faint shattering sound.
Nerves grew, gaps filled (defense up), existing ones strengthened (attack up). His body visibly toughened (health up), and he sensed greater elemental control (energy recharge up).
Internal changes followed: his five Artifacts began evolving, blue light spreading (2-star to 3-star).
System: Reisen Riou
Life Level: LV50 (Limit Broken, Can Ascend)
Race: Humanoid Elemental Being / Inazuma Youkai (Tsukumogami)
Rank: High Elemental Leader (Can Command Lesser Elementals)
Health: 12,500 + 3,420 / 12,500 + 3,420 (+Artifacts)
Stamina: 247 / 260 (1 point = 1 minute full sprint)
Status: Brimming with Divine Energy
Theoretical Knowledge:
Teyvat Common Knowledge LV6
Inazuma Common Knowledge LV8
Otherworld Knowledge LV4
Otherworld Sciences LV5 (Math, Physics, Chemistry, etc.)
Teyvat Sciences LV5 (Elemental Theory, Alchemy, etc.)
Melee Weapon Theory LV5 (Spear, Sword, etc.)
Ranged Weapon Theory LV7 (Bow, Javelin, Crossbow, etc.)
Inazuma Spell Theory LV6 (Youkai Arts, Miko Arts, Curses, etc.)
Biology Theory LV5 (Health, Anatomy, etc.)
Ley Line Theory LV5 (Teyvat Ley Line Studies)
Revival Theory LV3 (Revival Knowledge)
Practical Skills:
Glimmer Archery LV8 (Blends Ritou Archery, Glimmer Technique, etc.)
Shrine Swordsmanship LV3 (Grand Narukami Shrine Style)
Naginata Arts LV3 (Theory Master, No Practical Skill)
Cooking LV5 (Ate and Cooked All of Ritou's Edibles)
Forging LV5 (Can Forge 3-star Weapons)
Active Abilities:
Record LV5 (Perfect Memory, Memory Palace, Search Engine)
Transmit LV3 (Teach by Example, Empathic Resonance)
Erase LV2 (Selective Forgetting)
Passive Abilities:
Firewall LV6 (Resist Intrusion, Ward Evil)
Elemental Control LV5 (Electro, Geo Manipulation)
Elemental Resistance LV4 (All Resistances 5%, Electro/Geo 75%)
Special Ability:
Revival LV3 (Can Revive Self and Others)
Artifacts:
Erosion Flower (Flower of Life)
Thirsting Feather (Plume of Death)
Gazing Emblem (Sands of Eon)
Pondering Goblet (Goblet of Eonothem)
Wisdom Ring (Circlet of Logos)
--------------------
Want to read ahead? Early chapters on: patreon.com/ShadowKage