Urakusai willingly stepped into the net—especially after Li Mo mentioned all the other youkai had already been tossed inside. It wholeheartedly agreed with his methods.
Not that it had much choice. Refusal would only mean being *forced* to agree, hands and feet bound.
Li Mo's patience had worn thin.
The youkai that had emerged from the Sacred Sakura were numerous—enough to stage a full *Hyakki Yagyo*. Each one required careful examination to ensure the transformation proceeded flawlessly.
Honestly, it was bizarre that these youkai had retained their self-awareness after so many years. The secrets of the Sacred Sakura ran deeper than he'd imagined.
His past "research" on the tree had been more like casual observation. The Sacred Sakura was, after all, Makoto's final gift to Ei. In another world with a different narrative style, he wouldn't have been surprised if Makoto had used the tree to resurrect herself.
But Teyvat wasn't *that* kind of story—no ominous red-haired revivals here.
Clasping his hands behind his back, Li Mo adjusted the scope of his influence.
For the first time, the *Pseudo-Cosmic Foundation of Mysteries* manifested externally—his personal worldview enveloping the Grand Narukami Shrine.
Originally confined to his body, the *Foundation*—rooted in the *Golden Derivation Arts*—now expanded outward, borrowing principles from *Personal Reality* and *Reality Marbles*.
He'd deduced that the Heavenly Principles were dormant—otherwise, he wouldn't have dared this. Projecting his worldview was akin to resisting Teyvat's own laws.
To ordinary people, this resistance went unnoticed. But an Archon? The Heavenly Principles?
He might've ended up like the Traveler's sibling—forced into a confrontation with Celestia.
But speculation was pointless. Li Mo focused on the task at hand.
Within his worldview, he wove threads of vitality into the youkai, ensuring their survival through the *Hyakki Yagyo* and their rebirth as new entities.
Observation was simple—no scalpels or incantations needed. Just *seeing* through the lens of mysticism.
Other *Cosmic Foundations* enhanced combat prowess. His? A glorified research tool.
*Talk about career pivots.*
Shaking off the thought, Li Mo withdrew his worldview. He'd learned enough—now, it was time to refine the ritual.
Soon after, Ei and Yae Miko returned—the latter's unusually composed demeanor suggesting she'd been reprimanded.
*Being a familiar sure has its downsides.*
"How did it go?"
"Ei, were you worried I'd collapse?" Li Mo teased.
Ei blinked, uncomprehending. As an Archon, illness was foreign to her—and her seclusion in the Plane of Euthymia had left her culturally adrift.
"So, you're confident?" Yae Miko cut in, her tone direct.
Their long partnership meant little needed saying. If Li Mo so much as coughed, Miko could guess his next words.
"I won't claim a hundred percent success," Li Mo said evenly. "But failure isn't guaranteed either. We'll know when we try."
"So that's a *yes*? How delightful—more helpers for me to boss around."
Ei missed their subtext but grasped the key point: the youkai *could* be revived.
Her joy was palpable. Though only Urakusai was truly familiar, seeing these faces return to the world was a gift.
With Ei's endorsement, Li Mo's authority was absolute—not that he lacked influence here already.
The examinations concluded swiftly. Infused with sustaining energy, the youkai scattered—though *fleeing* seemed more accurate.
*Probably from me.*
At the Sacred Sakura's base, Li Mo relaxed before the mental marathon ahead.
"Will they return on time?" he asked Miko.
"Dear, why do you think I scheduled the *Hyakki Yagyo* now?"
"Is this a riddle? Do I get a prize for solving it?"
"Oh, a *very* special prize," Miko purred, her smile dripping with mischief.
Li Mo massaged his temples. *Nothing good ever follows that tone.*
But with Ei summoned away by urgent documents, he indulged her.
The puzzle began with *True Tales of the Supernatural*. Miko had only learned of it through him—nearly a month ago.
Since then, she'd rallied authors to craft novels based on Lumine's travels, outselling Urakusai's work.
"You timed this because your light novels outsold *True Tales*, didn't you?"
"*Darling*, you think me so shallow?" Miko feigned hurt, her acting woefully transparent.
"Am I wrong?"
"Of course! Haven't you noticed the moon's changes lately?"
It was daytime—no moon in sight. But Li Mo, having pulled all-nighters recently, recalled its phases.
A crescent thickening into a full disk.
In other worlds, the moon tied closely to youkai. Was that the case here?
Narrowing his eyes, Li Mo asked, "Are you bluffing?"
"*Darling*, would these honest eyes lie?" Miko leaned in, her fox ears and tail now visibly manifesting.
The sight gave Li Mo pause—long enough for Miko to press closer, hands on his shoulders.
"*Darling*, you're not answering~"
"If I said *yes*, what would you do?"
"I'd be *very* cross."
Li Mo raised his hands in surrender. "You'd never lie to me."
*A blatant lie.* But he couldn't be bothered to play along further.
Miko beamed. "As expected of my dear little childhood fiancé."
"???"