The Resistance member who spoke seemed to be a high-ranking officer. However, Jiang Ning nodded thoughtfully, and before Kokomi could finish her scolding, the Resistance member was instantly frozen into an ice sculpture. With a gust of cold wind, the ice shattered into powder.
This eerie scene instantly created a vacuum around the person.
"This… you?!"
Though the Resistance members were furious, they were also chilled to the bone by what had just happened.
"I told you, provoking a deity won't earn you any forgiveness."
Since Jiang Ning had accepted the commission from Yae Miko and Raiden Makoto, he had to deliver on his promise after taking their money.
"Oh, by the way, Miss Kokomi, you've got quite the leadership skills. Before you even spoke, someone else spoke for you. Or was this your intention?"
Jiang Ning asked Kokomi with a smile.
"Lady Kokomi…"
The Resistance members behind her were seething with anger.
Kokomi's delicate frame trembled slightly, but she remained calm as she spoke:
"Everyone, be quiet."
Those three simple words carried hidden fury—not directed at Jiang Ning, but at herself and the Resistance.
The Resistance members behind her fell silent, but their faces were filled with resentment, clearly unwilling to back down.
Kokomi felt utterly exhausted.
Back on Watatsumi Island, when the war started, they had pushed her into leading. And when they achieved some victories, Kokomi remained calm, deliberately avoiding further advances or pursuits.
She was afraid that if the Raiden Shogun intervened, Watatsumi Island would face certain doom.
But these people believed Watatsumi was invincible and that she was being indecisive…
Now, they were all eager to seize power, to the point where she sometimes struggled to command the army.
The concept of military discipline was a joke on Watatsumi Island.
If it weren't for the corruption plaguing the Shogunate's forces, they would have been crushed long ago.
And now, they dared to speak disrespectfully in front of a deity. If she hadn't intervened, what would they have done next?
Did they really think they could take on a god?
For a moment, Kokomi genuinely considered quitting.
Seeing that things had temporarily calmed down, Jiang Ning shifted his gaze to the entrance of Tenshukaku.
Lumine, leaning against the wall, appeared at the door.
Seeing Lumine and Paimon safe and sound, even Kokomi and Gorou couldn't help but smile.
Seeing Jiang Ning, Lumine felt a sense of security.
As Lumine took a step out of Tenshukaku, Jiang Ning's eyes narrowed, golden light gathering in his gaze. He was ready, for behind Lumine, he had already caught sight of the Electro Archon.
Sure enough, the moment Lumine stepped out, a thunderous eye formed behind her, and space itself began to fracture.
A woman who looked almost identical to Raiden Makoto, wielding a naginata, charged straight at Lumine.
"Watch out!"
Keqing and the others were horrified.
Jiang Ning was about to intervene but seemed to sense something and withdrew his divine power.
In the next second, a figure like a maple leaf dashed forward.
The roar of Anemo and Electro elements collided as they intercepted the Raiden Shogun's blade.
"Kazuha?!"
Kokomi and the others were stunned, unable to believe what they had just witnessed. The Raiden Shogun's blade…
Had it really been blocked?!
Kazuha's face was flushed, veins bulging on his forehead.
As if responding to Kazuha's determination, both his own Vision and the one left by his deceased friend shone brightly.
The Raiden Shogun seemed momentarily distracted, and in that split second, Kazuha roared.
He pushed the Raiden Shogun's naginata back.
"Wow."
Jiang Ning whistled, surprised.
Though it was just a casual strike, it still carried a trace of divine power.
It wasn't something an ordinary Vision holder could withstand.
So, Jiang Ning was genuinely surprised that Kazuha had managed to block it.
Kazuha, aware of the vast gap between himself and a deity, quickly tried to pull Lumine back after blocking the strike.
But the Raiden Shogun closed her eyes, and the space around them began to fracture, pulling Lumine into the Plane of Euthymia.
It was this space…
Jiang Ning instantly appeared beside Lumine, following her into the realm.
Outside, Yae Miko let out a sigh of relief, silently praying.
Now, it's up to you, little one.
She smiled and walked over to Kazuha, saying:
"Not bad, but don't get too confident. That wasn't the Musou no Hitotachi."
Kazuha gasped for breath, his arms barely able to hold his sword.
"I… know…" he managed to say weakly.
Yae Miko glanced at the expressionless Raiden Shogun and said:
"Well, Shogun, what do you say?"
The Raiden Shogun's cold voice rang out:
"I will await the outcome from within."
"Understood… Until then, don't do anything rash. This deity isn't exactly the most reasonable."
Yae Miko warned the restless Resistance members.
She was a bit annoyed. How had Kazuha managed to block that strike?
She had hoped to use the deity's blade to teach Kokomi's Resistance a lesson.
Now, it seemed to have given them some misplaced confidence?
Did they really think everyone was like Kazuha?
And didn't they see how he was completely drained after blocking that one strike?
People often mistake ignorance for courage.
......
Inside the Plane of Euthymia, Jiang Ning surveyed the surroundings with awe.
Hmm, it's barren, with no decorations—just darkness everywhere.
"Jiang Ning! It's great to have you here."
Paimon was overjoyed.
She flew over to Jiang Ning but then became indignant.
"Let me tell you, that Shogun has no honor. We won the duel against La Signora, and she said she'd let us go. But the moment we stepped out, she tried to cut us down."
Lumine softly corrected, "Actually, it's not like that. The Raiden Shogun meant she would grant us the honor of walking out of Tenshukaku."
"So she cuts us down the moment we step out? How petty."
Paimon complained.
"Are you done talking? Exception to eternity… are you here to oppose me, strange deity?"
A cold voice rang out, and Lumine looked up.
Before them stood the true Raiden Shogun, Raiden Ei, who had secluded herself in the Plane of Euthymia to meditate and stave off erosion.
"What exception to eternity? You stubborn fool, your people in Inazuma are suffering, and you're here spouting nonsense about eternity. Why don't you open your eyes and see how miserable the people are?"
Lumine was visibly angry.
"Nonsense. Inazuma is thriving, and no one is losing anything… Isn't this the perfect realization of my path to eternity? And… are you questioning my eternity?"
Raiden Ei turned her gaze to Lumine, reprimanding her.
"The Kanjou and Tenryou Commissions are deceiving you! Inazuma is in chaos, and the reports from the Yashiro Commission never reach you. You're just lost in your own world!"
"The Vision Hunt Decree and the Sakoku Decree are ruining the nation! You've taken away everyone's dreams!"
Paimon huffed.
"Dreams are incompatible with the pursuit of eternity. The path to dreams only leads to loss. And as for your claim that the two Commissions have betrayed me…"
"Preposterous… I said you are exceptions, and exceptions are the enemies of eternity… So, strange deity, why have you come to Inazuma? Leave now, and I will not hold you accountable."
Raiden Ei didn't believe Lumine at all.
Would you believe someone who, at your first meeting, stormed a execution ground, and at your second meeting, brought a rebel army?
Or would you believe the families that had served you for thousands of years?
Jiang Ning smiled and said, "Don't misunderstand. I don't want to be your enemy, but… I made a promise to protect Lumine."
"In that case… words are pointless. Only battle remains."
Raiden Ei's eyes glowed with the Electro element, and her naginata pointed at Jiang Ning.
Jiang Ning stepped forward, shielding Lumine and Paimon, and grinned as he summoned his weapon of choice.
The Vortex Vanquisher, along with the divine power of the Geo Archon, filled the Plane of Euthymia.
"The Vortex Vanquisher, and this divine power… But you're not Morax. Are you his successor? As one of the Seven, entering another nation without permission—are you breaking the covenant?"
Raiden Ei spoke slowly, each word deliberate.
Jiang Ning replied, "Not at all. My master is still the Geo Archon. I'm just his successor, not one of the Seven. Your covenant doesn't apply to me…"
"And even if I did enter, what can you do about it? I've always wanted to test the Raiden Shogun's Musou no Hitotachi. Care to show me?"
Raiden Ei didn't respond. Instead, she swung her blade, and a surge of Electro energy rushed toward Jiang Ning.
Jiang Ning raised his hand, and a Geo shield blocked the attack. He then turned to Lumine and Paimon:
"Step back."
With that, he charged forward, eager to test his spear and swordsmanship.
The clash of blades created a deafening roar, and elemental energy filled the air.
Even though they were far from the center of the battle, Lumine and Paimon could feel the sharpness and power of the weapons colliding.
Lumine felt a pang of frustration. She was still so far from the power of these deities.
If only she still had her former strength…
As she thought this, Jiang Ning retreated, gasping for breath but with an excited smile on his face.
"Jiang Ning, are you okay?"
Lumine asked, concerned.
Jiang Ning shook his head. "I'm fine… I just realized how much room for improvement I have in my combat skills."
No wonder the old man had said that the Raiden Shogun's martial prowess was unmatched. Even without using her divine authority, her skill with the blade surpassed even his master's.
But… battles between deities weren't just about skill.
Jiang Ning decided to unleash his divine authority.
"Jiang Ning, wait, there's no need to continue."
Raiden Makoto's voice urgently echoed in Jiang Ning's ear, followed by more words.
She had to intervene. Jiang Ning wielded the authority of the Anemo Archon, the authority of souls, the Geo Archon, the Salt Archon, and even her own authority.
If he went all out, Raiden Ei might not die, but she would certainly be injured.
As her sister, no matter how foolish Raiden Ei's actions were, Makoto still cared for her.
Jiang Ning silently replied:
"Are you sure nothing will happen? Just so you know, if I get hurt, I can still escape. But when I return, I'll bring my elders and level Inazuma."
"Don't worry, nothing will happen…" Raiden Makoto assured him. "Besides, you're my benefactor. I won't let you get hurt."
"Good…" Jiang Ning looked up at Raiden Ei. "Fighting back and forth is too time-consuming. Let's settle this with one move. Show me your strongest strike."
Raiden Ei's expression remained calm. "As you wish…"
She floated into the air, tilting her head back and closing her eyes. The Electro energy around her grew more violent, and the Plane of Euthymia was filled with thunder and lightning, as if the end of the world had come.
Then, from Raiden Ei's chest, a single-handed sword emerged, wrapped in thunder and destruction, exuding an aura of annihilation.
"Wow… this isn't the Musou no Hitotachi. This is the 'Milk-Scented Blade'…"
Jiang Ning was inwardly shocked.
[Host, host, I want to learn this.]
"Get a physical body first… Never mind, I need to focus."
Jiang Ning silently reinforced his shield. Though Raiden Makoto had assured him, he wasn't about to gamble with his life.
"Now… perish with eternity!"
Raiden Ei's blade fully unsheathed, slashing toward Jiang Ning.
In an instant, space seemed to freeze, and cracks appeared in the Plane of Euthymia.
The thunder carried the concept of eternity, along with the Electro Archon's divine power, capable of splitting mountains and seas, annihilating all enemies.
Jiang Ning thought to himself that only a fully-powered "Planet Befall" could block this.
But his shield should at least prevent serious injury.
Hopefully.
As the blade approached, Jiang Ning spread his arms, as if embracing the strike.
Raiden Ei frowned. What was he doing? Giving up?
"Jiang Ning! Dodge!"
Lumine was terrified. What was Jiang Ning thinking?!
Amidst everyone's mixed reactions, the thunder engulfed Jiang Ning.
----
You can join my P@treon to read 30+ chapters early and support me and my work.
P@treon.com/rivyura