Ling Feng released Thoma after pulling him along for some distance, breathing a long sigh of relief.
That was close. Though he didn't know what Yae Miko was up to, it certainly wasn't anything good.
Fortunately, Thoma had arrived in time.
But why did it feel like Yae Miko recognized him?
It must have been an illusion; this was his first time in Inazuma.
"Ling Feng, what did Guuji Yae say to you just now? Why are you so flustered?"
Thoma, having been pulled along by Ling Feng, looked at him with a puzzled expression.
"Nothing much, just that buying popular novels comes with a gift. Look."
Ling Feng showed Thoma the amulet in his hand.
"Oh, I see. I thought you knew Guuji Yae."
"How could I? This is my first time in Inazuma."
"Alright, where to next?"
"Do you have any recommended dishes?"
"Of course, follow me!"
Thoma gave a mysterious smile and led Ling Feng toward the upper district.
"Uyuu's Tea House"
As soon as Ling Feng and Thoma entered, Uyuu's Tea House was buzzing with activity, with many people enjoying their meals.
A woman then approached them, the wife of the owner of Uyuu's Tea House, Sayuri.
"Mr. Thoma, welcome. What would you like to have today?"
"Miss Sayuri, please arrange a private room and bring us a hot pot."
"Certainly, please follow me."
Sayuri smiled faintly and led Ling Feng and Thoma into a private room.
"Mr. Thoma, please wait a moment, your hot pot will be here soon."
"Thank you for your trouble."
Sayuri quickly left the room to notify the chef to prepare the ingredients.
"Ling Feng, have you had hot pot before? This is Uyuu's signature dish!"
"Mhm, I've had a bit in Liyue."
"Once you try Uyuu's, you'll know what delicious is."
After a short wait, the hot pot and ingredients were served, many of which were unique to Inazuma.
"Here, it's my treat. Don't hold back, eat to your heart's content. Order more if you finish."
"Then I won't be polite."
Ling Feng smiled slightly and picked up his chopsticks, starting to add ingredients to the hot pot.
Getting something for free was always the best.
As they ate, the two began to playfully "fight" for food with their chopsticks.
It wasn't that a particular ingredient was gone, but because this was part of the fun of eating hot pot.
"Taste this!"
"No way!"
Clang, clang...
The sound of chopsticks clashing echoed.
Ling Feng suppressed his strength, engaging in a playful struggle with Thoma, snatching from each other.
By the time they finished their meal, it was already two or three in the afternoon.
"Ling Feng, your footwork is quite good."
"You're not bad yourself."
"Hahahaha x2"
As they were both laughing heartily, they suddenly heard the sound of dense footsteps and shouts from the street outside the window.
"The Electro Archon has announced two new decrees!"
"First, the Vision Hunt Decree!"
"From today onward, all citizens' Visions will be confiscated! Regardless of who it is, all Visions will be seized!"
"Those who dare to disobey or resist will have their Visions forcibly confiscated by the Tenryou Commission! We urge everyone to abide by the law!"
"Second, the Sakoku Decree!"
"From today onward, Inazuma will implement a policy of isolation! All entry and exit are strictly forbidden. Any violators discovered will be dealt with according to the law."
"A reminder, the Shogunate has summoned thunderstorms over the waters surrounding Inazuma. Any ships attempting to enter or leave must be prepared to receive the baptism of supreme lightning!"
"Go! Post the announcements of the new decrees throughout Inazuma!"
Ling Feng and Thoma's expressions changed drastically upon hearing this.
"What's going on?"
A storm raged within Ling Feng's heart. Why now? Why not sooner or later?
"Confiscating Visions?! Isolation?! How could the Shogunate issue such decrees?"
Thoma exclaimed in surprise.
Soon after, they heard hurried footsteps from downstairs. It was likely the Shogunate soldiers of the Tenryou Commission beginning their confiscation operation.
Ling Feng and Thoma exchanged glances, then immediately stood up and looked for a place to hide their Visions.
Their eyes finally fell on the ceiling fan. Nodding, Thoma stood still, and Ling Feng stepped on his hands, placing both their Visions on the fan.
Their actions were swift.
Thoma, in particular, even put on some disguise.
When the Tenryou Commission members burst in, the two were calmly eating their hot pot.
"Are you Vision holders? If so, please hand them over willingly, and don't force us to act."
"Of course not. Search us if you don't believe us."
Ling Feng said with a faint smile.
The leading Shogunate soldier signaled to his teammates.
Several of them entered in an orderly fashion. Two searched Ling Feng and Thoma, while the others searched the surroundings.
The result was obvious: nothing was found.
"We apologize for the disturbance."
The leading Shogunate soldier showed a hint of conscience by apologizing.
After they left, the two retrieved their Visions from the fan.
"Ling Feng, let's head to the Komore Teahouse immediately. The Shogunate's two decrees are too strange."
"Mhm."
Ling Feng nodded.
After settling the bill, the two rushed to the Komore Teahouse as quickly as possible.
Seeing the teahouse employee, Sayo, at the entrance, Thoma immediately asked,
"Is Miss Ayaka in the teahouse?"
"Yes."
Upon hearing this, Ling Feng and Thoma immediately entered the Komore Teahouse, looking for Kamijou Ayaka.
After a while, they found Kamijou Ayaka, who looked anxious.
Upon seeing them, Kamijou Ayaka immediately stood up and asked,
"Ling Feng, Thoma, are you two alright? Were your Visions not confiscated?"
Thoma shook his head.
"No, Miss Ayaka. How about you?"
Kamijou Ayaka took out her Vision and shook her head.
"The Shogunate did not confiscate my Vision. It's likely they are only confiscating Visions from ordinary citizens."
"Why did the Shogunate suddenly issue these two decrees?"
Thoma rubbed his forehead, utterly perplexed.
"I'm not sure. Let's go back immediately and ask my brother what's happening."
"Yes."
"Ling Feng, you come with us too. For the time being, you can stay at our place and avoid trouble."
"Alright."
Ling Feng did not refuse.
The three quickly returned to the Kamisato Estate via a Waypoint.
They soon found Kamisato Ayato in the main hall.
Kamisato Ayato's answer was simple: he was still investigating. Those closest to the Shogunate were the members of the Tenryou Commission.
As for the scope of confiscation, it was currently limited to ordinary citizens.
Of course, this was only for now, and he was unsure of future developments.
In any case, he strongly opposed these two decrees.
Furthermore, based on the intelligence he had gathered, almost all Vision holders were resisting this decree.
Many people did not accept or recognize the Vision Hunt Decree and the Sakoku Decree.
That night, Ling Feng lay in bed, storing the Pyro Vision in his spatial inventory.
"The Sakoku Decree and the Vision Hunt Decree of Inazuma have begun. This means the main storyline will soon commence."
Ling Feng mused to himself, his concern directed towards Beidou and the others.
They had agreed to meet at the docks within a week, but now that seemed impossible.
The docks were now the most dangerous place.
He wasn't worried about himself. If he wanted to leave Inazuma, no one could stop him unless the Electro Archon herself appeared.
As for the thunderstorms over the sea, he had a sixty to seventy percent chance of breaking through.
If he couldn't break through, he would cultivate and accelerate his progress.
Once he reached the Golden Core stage, he wouldn't even bother with the Electro Archon's thunderstorms.
Moreover, if he couldn't do it once, he'd try twice, then thrice. Don't forget, he still had the Body Tempering Art of Thunder!
However, he currently intended to stay in Inazuma for a while to observe.
He also planned to cultivate the Body Tempering Art of Thunder over the sea to see if he could manifest the Thunder Body.
"Tonight, I'll first break through to the peak of the Golden Core stage and successfully cultivate the first layer of the Nine Heavens Dragon Roar, 'Dragon Soul'."
Saying this, Ling Feng sat cross-legged on the bed, absorbing the spiritual energy of heaven and earth, and began his breakthrough.
On the summit of Mount Yougou, at the Grand Narukami Shrine.
Yae Miko stood beneath the Sacred Sakura, her gaze fixed in the direction of the Tenshukaku, her brow furrowed.
"Ei, what's wrong?"
After hearing about the Vision Hunt Decree and the Sakoku Decree today, she had immediately gone to the Tenshukaku.
However, she had seen the Electro Archon, not Ei.
Since that incident five hundred years ago, Ei had shut herself away in the Plane of Euthymia, and she hadn't seen Ei since.
She couldn't enter the Plane of Euthymia either.
Suddenly, three figures appeared behind Yae Miko.
"Miko, how is the situation?"
Yae Miko shook her head.
"All methods have been tried, but I cannot see Ei."
The Plane of Euthymia was created by Ei, and unless she allowed others to enter, it was difficult for outsiders to force their way in.
One of the figures behind Yae Miko spoke.
"Why not, let's go find him. After all, he is..."
Another person among the other two interrupted him.
"No, have you forgotten what he said?"
"But... this situation..."
The last person also spoke.
"He once said that things would develop as they should, and that we need not worry; we only needed to wait."
That person reluctantly nodded.
"Alright."
Yae Miko took out a folding fan that shimmered with flowing light and looked at the Sacred Sakura.
The figures behind her said nothing more.
...
The next morning, Ling Feng slowly opened his eyes.
After a night of cultivation, he had finally cultivated the first layer of the Nine Heavens Dragon Roar.
Although it was only the introductory stage, it would suffice for a while.
'Dragon Soul': Upon activation, all attributes are doubled for three minutes, and it can exert dragon's might pressure on enemies.
His cultivation had also reached the peak of the Golden Core stage, and reaching the complete Golden Core stage would take some time.
"Today, should I go to the Tenshukaku to take a look? Or go to the outer sea?"
Ling Feng pondered for a moment, then finally decided to go to the outer sea first.
Without further ado, Ling Feng informed Kamisato Ayaka and the others, then after putting some distance between himself and the Kamisato Estate, he cast an invisibility talisman and sped towards the waters outside Inazuma on his sword.
"Outer Waters of Inazuma"
Ling Feng felt the raging Electro energy in this space. He looked around and found that there were quite a few wooden planks floating on the sea surface.
It was highly likely that these planks were the remains of ships destroyed by the Electro Archon's lightning.
"Let me see how strong your lightning is."
He had come to test the power of the thunderstorm, and without a word, he charged his sword into the sea shrouded by dense, dark clouds.