Jiang Chen pondered how to eliminate Dottore as the trio arrived at The Chasm.
Gazing toward Sumeru in the distance, he snapped out of his thoughts and declared:
"You two head to the Akademiya."
"I'll go resurrect the Greater Lord Rukkhadevata."
He swiftly laid out the plan.
Zhongli and Venti nodded—but then Zhongli suddenly remembered something.
"Do you know how to reach Irminsul?"
...
Jiang Chen froze.
How to get there?
Damn, he didn't.
This oversight stunned him.
"I suggest finding a catalyst tied to Rukkhadevata instead."
"Just summon her directly."
Jiang Chen's eyes lit up.
Understood!
Key point detected:
Catalyst = Rukkhadevata → Nahida.
Use Nahida as the catalyst to summon Rukkhadevata.
Perfect!
"Right, got it."
"Then let's move."
With that, Zhongli glanced at Venti, and in a flash of light, donned his Archon attire—hood raised, exuding divine authority.
Venti followed suit, slipping into his godly form.
The two then streaked toward the Akademiya.
Meanwhile, Jiang Chen located a Dendro Archon statue—time to claim his reward.
Arriving at the statue where Lumine had obtained her Dendro powers, he placed his hand on it.
'Data loading...'
'Starting panel...'
'Spiritual Foundation Acquired: Hassan-i Sabbah.'
'Beginning fusion.'
The moment this template appeared, Jiang Chen blinked in surprise.
Instantly, assassination techniques (not the rampaging kind) flooded his mind.
Additionally, he gained:
Presence Concealment: A
Battle Continuation: EX
Evening Bell: EX
Noble Phantasm: Zabaniya (Delusional Illusion)
Protection of Faith: A+++
Border of the Realm: A
As the template fused, all his previous abilities were boosted to EX rank.
Magic Resistance, Independent Action—everything maxed.
His power had peaked.
"Call me the King of Heroic Spirits!"
With these abilities combined, Jiang Chen could now roam Teyvat unchallenged.
Future templates would offer minimal stat gains—what mattered now were functional Noble Phantasms!
This was bliss.
Most importantly, he now had the means to eliminate Dottore.
Surely the Doctor had a clone in Sumeru, right?
The thought made Jiang Chen itch for action.
But after brief consideration, he decided:
First, resurrect Rukkhadevata.
Dottore would show himself eventually.
With that, Jiang Chen activated Presence Concealment and vanished.
At the Akademiya, the sages sensed two overwhelming auras approaching.
The Grand Sage's face paled.
Archons from other nations?!
Outside, crowds gaped at the sky, where two divine figures hovered.
Mondstadt and Liyue expatriates cheered in recognition.
"Lord Morax!!"
"Lord Barbatos!!"
"Why is the Anemo Archon in Sumeru?!"
The scene stunned everyone.
Two foreign gods descending upon Sumeru—what was happening?
"Grand Sages of the Akademiya, step forth!"
Zhongli's voice boomed with divine authority, deeper and more imposing than usual.
Soon, the sages emerged, and Zhongli enveloped them in a barrier, sealing away all sound.
Inside, a "friendly discussion" ensued—though outsiders heard nothing.
Meanwhile, news of the Archons' arrival spread like wildfire via Akasha Terminals.
Nahida, sensing the disturbance, prepared to intervene—until a cloaked figure materialized in the Sanctuary of Surasthana.
Startled, she stared at the intruder.
"Who... are you?"
Jiang Chen ignored her, instead drawing a magic circle beneath her prison.
"Stay quiet."
"Just watch."
Nahida opened her mouth but hesitated, too intrigued by the unfamiliar ritual.
What was this?
How did it function?
By the time Jiang Chen activated the circle, Nahida realized too late—she was the catalyst.
Her confinement dissolved, and an invisible force restrained her.
"This—?!"
She gasped, realizing—she'd been used as a sacrificial offering?!
Across Sumeru, the forest itself stirred to life.
Trees glowed with radiant light, and citizens stumbled outside in awe.
"Why are the trees shining?"
"It feels... warm."
Even the bedridden found their ailments fading.
Those with Eleazar watched in shock as their scales vanished.
Collei, rushing toward the Akademiya, halted mid-step, unwrapping her bandages.
"Eleazar... is disappearing?"
She couldn't believe it.
What miracle was this?
Withering Zones also dissolved, though few noticed amid the greater spectacle.
The Akademiya's sages, trapped in Zhongli's barrier, gaped at the phenomenon before turning accusing stares at the Archons.
What had they done?!