The Founding Festival ended.
But its effects remained.
Travelers who had visited Liyue returned home carrying stories.
Within months, new caravans appeared at the gates.
Some wanted to trade.
Some wanted to study at the academy.
Some simply wanted to see the legendary city for themselves.
Noel stood on the city wall one morning and watched a long caravan approach.
Aran joined him.
“Another one.”
Noel nodded.
“We’re becoming popular.”
Aran laughed.
“That’s one way to put it.”
A Larger Problem
The population had passed three thousand.
Liyue’s original walls were becoming crowded.
Noel looked at the city map.
“We need another expansion.”
Aran pointed toward the eastern district.
“That area is almost completely occupied.”
“The northern side?”
“Too close to the rocky hills.”
“The west?”
“Isobu’s lake.”
Noel paused.
“…Right.”
They both looked toward the enormous lake.
Isobu was floating peacefully in it.
Then he opened one eye.
Don’t even think about shrinking my lake.
Noel laughed.
“I wasn’t going to.”
Good.
Noel looked back at the map.
“We’ll build outward.”
The Great Road
Noel decided that Liyue needed something more important than another wall.
It needed a proper transportation network.
So he announced the construction of the Great Desert Road.
The road would connect Liyue to every allied settlement.
Stone markers would be placed along the route.
Water stations would be built every few kilometers.
Emergency shelters would be established.
And travelers could use the road safely.
The academy’s geography students immediately volunteered to help map it.
Noel smiled.
“This is exactly why I built that school.”
Aran’s Expedition
Aran was placed in charge of the eastern route.
He took several Geo Vision bearers with him.
Their job was to carve a road through the rocky terrain.
The work was difficult.
One afternoon, a group of workers stopped.
“There’s a massive cliff ahead.”
Aran looked at it.
“How long would it take to go around?”
“Three days.”
Aran looked at his Geo Vision.
“Then we go through.”
He placed his hand against the ground.
Golden energy spread through the rock.
RUMBLE!
A tunnel slowly formed through the cliff.
The workers stared.
“That’s going to save us days.”
Aran smiled.
“That’s what the Vision is for.”
The Academy’s First Observatory
Meanwhile, the academy had another project.
An observatory.
Noel climbed the unfinished tower one evening.
Lina was there, now several years older.
She was examining the night sky.
“You’re still studying the stars?”
Lina smiled.
“Every night.”
“What have you discovered?”
She pointed upward.
“The movement of certain stars repeats.”
Noel nodded.
“Good observation.”
“But I think there’s something else.”
“What?”
“I think the stars can help us navigate.”
Noel smiled.
“Then prove it.”
Lina grinned.
“I will.”
The system appeared.
[Astronomical research initiated.]
[Knowledge development increased.]
Noel looked at the stars.
The future was changing.
Slowly.
One discovery at a time.
The Second Geo Vision
That night, something unexpected happened.
A young woman named Mira stood before the golden statue.
She had been working as a builder for years.
Her dream was simple:
She wanted to build bridges connecting every settlement under Liyue’s protection.
She placed her hand against the statue.
Nothing happened.
She lowered her head.
Then—
GLOW.
The statue illuminated the entire plaza.
A golden crystal appeared.
It descended into her hands.
A Geo Vision.
The crowd gasped.
Noel watched from a distance.
The system appeared.
[Geo Vision granted.]
[Reason: Exceptional ambition and dedication.]
Mira stared at the Vision.
Her eyes filled with tears.
“I’ll build those bridges.”
Noel smiled.
“Then get started.”
The Meaning of a Vision
Later that evening, Noel stood beside Mira.
She looked at the Geo Vision.
“Why me?”
Noel answered:
“Because you had something you wanted to accomplish.”
“Not exactly.”
He pointed toward the city.
“A Vision doesn’t tell you what your dream should be.”
“It gives you another tool to pursue it.”
Mira nodded.
“I understand.”
Noel smiled.
“Good.”
He looked toward the golden statue.
The people of Liyue were slowly developing their own dreams.
Some wanted to farm.
Some wanted to build.
Some wanted to study.
Some wanted to explore.
Some wanted to protect others.
And occasionally…
The statue answered.
The Tailed Beasts
That night, Noel felt the familiar connection.
Shukaku.
“Kurama.”
Gyūki spoke.
Your nation is becoming enormous.
Noel smiled.
“Three thousand people.”
Son Gokū laughed.
Only three thousand?
Noel frowned.
“That’s a lot!”
Matatabi chuckled.
For humans, perhaps.
Isobu joined the conversation.
They’re building roads now.
Noel smiled.
“Yes.”
Kurama was quiet.
Then he asked:
How long do you intend to keep doing this?
Noel looked over Liyue.
The city lights.
The academy.
The fields.
The lake.
The roads stretching toward distant settlements.
He smiled.
“Until there’s nothing left to build.”
Kurama laughed softly.
Then you’ll never finish.
Noel looked toward the horizon.
“Maybe.”
He smiled.
“But that’s okay.”
The Great Desert Road had begun.
The academy was producing scholars.
New Geo Vision bearers were appearing.
Liyue’s territory was expanding.
And its people were beginning to see Noel not merely as their founder…
but as the divine guardian of their civilization.
The title Geo Archon was no longer just a rumor.
It was becoming part of Liyue’s identity.
But Noel still had another problem.
The other Tailed Beasts were becoming increasingly curious about his nation.
And one of them had finally decided:
It was time to visit Liyue.
To be continued…