Not only Keqing, but Hoshimi Miyabi, Tsukishiro Yanagi, and the others were even more astonished by this Ethereal.

After years of dealing with Hollows, they had never seen one like this.

For a moment, silence fell.

Then Hoshimi Miyabi spoke firmly:

"Don't kill it yet. Bring it back. Maybe we can learn something from it..."

Of course, when she said "bring it back," she didn't mean to New Eridu itself.

She meant the research institute at the Hollow's edge, built by the New Eridu authorities. That institute had long been one of the city's most important centers for Ethereal research, and many of the known conclusions about Ethereals had come from there.

Without needing her reminder, Keqing and the Adepti had no intention of killing it now.

It was only a small Ethereal. Keeping it alive for the moment wouldn't cause any problems.

Still, to prevent it from going berserk and attacking someone, Hoshimi Miyabi turned to Cloud Retainer.

"Lady Adeptus, do you have any mechanisms for restraining an Ethereal?"

Cloud Retainer replied slowly,

"I do... though using them on such a minor creature feels wasteful. Still, I made quite a few recently. Using a few doesn't matter."

With a wave of her sleeve, she sent out a white feather, no bigger than a palm.

The moment it landed on the Ethereal, the feather suddenly expanded, growing larger and larger until it completely wrapped the creature within its snowy plumage.

At the sight, Hoshimi Miyabi and Tsukishiro Yanagi's eyes lit up.

A marvelous tool.

With something like this, capturing Ethereals alive and bringing them back would be far easier.

But what they didn't realize was that Cloud Retainer's "Crane Feather" mechanism wasn't limited to ordinary Ethereal—even notorious, high-level ones could be bound by it.

Still, as they looked at the creature sealed within the feather, Hoshimi Miyabi and Tsukishiro Yanagi exchanged glances.

The Ethereal was restrained, yes, but someone still had to carry it. They couldn't very well ask the Adepti to do such manual labor.

Keqing was too high-ranking, and Yae Miko was clearly no ordinary mortal... Hoshimi Miyabi slowly sheathed her demonic blade, deciding she would handle it herself.

But Tsukishiro Yanagi stepped forward first.

"Section Chief, leave it to me."

However, before either of them could act, Cloud Retainer lightly grasped the feather.

In an instant, the bound Ethereal vanished.

Hoshimi Miyabi froze. "????"

Tsukishiro Yanagi stared blankly. "????"

Soukaku gaped in wonder.

"Gone? What an amazing magic trick! Master Cloud Retainer, you're so skilled—could you conjure a bowl of ramen for me too?"

It had disappeared just like that.

Hoshimi Miyabi and Tsukishiro Yanagi had never seen such a technique. This was no stage trick—it was the art of an Adeptus.

Seeing their puzzled looks, Mountain Shaper chuckled.

"There's no need to be surprised. It's merely the Serenitea Pot."

Soukaku blinked at him.

"What's a Serenitea Pot?"

Mountain Shaper explained,

"It is an Adepti artifact. Adepti use the Serenitea Pot as a vessel to create a world within. It can serve as an adepti's dwelling, or as a storeroom for keeping various things..."

At this, Hoshimi Miyabi and Tsukishiro Yanagi were stunned.

What kind of miraculous Liyue technology was this?

A tiny vessel that could open into an independent space—one that could house people, or store objects. If such knowledge spread, it would shake New Eridu's entire scientific community.

Unlike their shock, Soukaku didn't care for the implications. She paced excitedly, her face full of anticipation as she turned to Cloud Retainer.

"Can I go inside and take a look? I promise I won't search for hidden snacks!"

Cloud Retainer sighed.

"I told you, there are no snacks..."

But when she saw Soukaku's eager expression, her heart softened.

To her, the little one was nothing more than a hungry child. She couldn't bear to see her starving.

So, Cloud Retainer stretched out her hand.

"Here. Take this. It will fill your belly."

A faint green light flickered in her palm, a soft breeze stirring the air.

Everyone looked closer.

Nestled in her hand was a tiny pill.

At the sight, Soukaku's face went pale. She quickly hid behind Tsukishiro Yanagi.

"I don't want medicine! I'm not sick... it'll be so bitter..."

Tsukishiro Yanagi, knowing the Adepti meant no harm, asked in confusion,

"Lady Cloud Retainer, what do you mean?"

Cloud Retainer's tone carried a trace of displeasure.

"I offer you an immortal pill out of goodwill, and you mistake it for bitter medicine..."

Mountain Shaper smiled and explained,

"Little one, take it. This is a pill refined by Cloud Retainer herself. Just one will keep you full for three days and nights."

Such pills existed because Adepti often went into seclusion for cultivation—sometimes for months, sometimes for years. Naturally, they could not cook daily, so they prepared these in advance for such occasions.

Now, they proved useful.

After hearing the explanation, Hoshimi Miyabi and Tsukishiro Yanagi were stunned all over again.

Such a tiny pill could keep someone from feeling hungry for three whole days and nights?

Truly the work of immortals.

Tsukishiro Yanagi slowly accepted the pill and held it up to Soukaku's lips.

"Come now, open wide."

Soukaku hesitated, then asked nervously,

"It really won't be bitter?"

Tsukishiro Yanagi smiled.

"An immortal's pill? Of course it won't be bitter."

She placed it in Soukaku's mouth.

Soukaku swallowed at once, then opened her mouth wide again.

"I want another—"

Mountain Shaper shook his head.

"No. If mortals take too many, their stomachs will swell painfully."

Soukaku puffed up proudly.

"I can handle it. I want more—"

But before she could finish, a loud burp escaped her lips. She blinked in surprise, realizing she already felt full.

Seeing this, Hoshimi Miyabi and Tsukishiro Yanagi both breathed a sigh of relief.

At the same time, they couldn't help but marvel at the Adepti's power.

To create such high-quality rations—no, such immortal pills.

If they could be mass-produced, the Defense Army's commanders would surely beg Cloud Retainer to teach them.

Soukaku burped again, then beamed.

"So full! It's been so long since I've eaten this much!"

...

After the brief interlude, Tsukishiro Yanagi turned to Su Li and Keqing, speaking earnestly.

"We should keep moving."

Keqing agreed at once.

But Sam Li shook his head.

"With your constitutions, you cannot withstand the etheric corrosion and pressure ahead. Let the Adepti escort you back."