The Journey to Cultivation - Genshin Au (Mainly Cynonari in the beginning.)

The Battle against Liyue.

Manic laughter.

Burning flames that rose higher and higher.

And a scent of demonic qi.

A figure stood in the middle of the chaos, laughing and engulfing themselves in the flames.

~~

Tighnari awoke, only to be met with a sharp pain in his back.

"Ow-!" He hissed, only then remembering the night before. His face turned completely red, and instinctively pushed Cyno off his bed.

A blast of dendro energy sent Cyno crashing into the wall, but was unable to do much damage.

"Ow..." Cyno whined, finally waking up.

"Huh?" He asked aloud. Tighnari was sitting in the bed, covered only by the hazy layer of white that were his own inner robes. Cyno too only had his inner robes on, as he finally recalled what had happened. His first reaction was to turn a bright shade of scarlet, before finally realizing.

"Tighnari."

"What?" Tighnari shot back, clearly still embarrassed.

"You- your spiritual energy is back?" Cyno asked, while observing the flow of qi inside him.

"Seems so. And your spiritual energy has doubled."

"Ah... sorry about that." Cyno hastily apologized, smiling sheepishly.

Tighnari sighed.

"Whatever. There's no use thinking back about it now, what's done is done. After all, we don't have the capabilities to turn back time."

Cyno's eyes widened as he thought.

"Wait... Tighnari, did you see who poisoned you?"

Tighnari tried recalling the poisoner's face, only to have a sharp sensation of pain to hit him.

"Ouch-!"

He sighed, and shook his head.

"The poison seemed to have also literally gotten to our heads."

"Well, that's strange. I can remember a fleeting picture of their face-," Cyno paused, before abruptly standing up.

"Tighnari." He said, his voice shaking slightly. "I smell blood."

Without warning, he grabbed Tighnari (despite his protests) and leapt out the window to see an entire city engulfed in flames.

Liyue had attacked.

At least, if not Liyue, who else would have this strength?

"Look for two cultivators with light colored hair." He told Tighnari, before setting him down.

Tighnari nearly collapsed, his legs giving out the moment he touched the ground. Glaring at Cyno, he painstakingly stood up again and enforced his body with Qi, stabilizing it.

"I know what to do. I've fought one of them before- the one who was in the earlier stages of Reunion. But-" His already pale face turned paper white. "If you see the half adeptus, run."

Cyno sighed, wondering why his Sect was pulled into the war.

"Although barely half as powerful as their Vice Leader, she still tore one of our main buildings to shreds."

"Alright."

Cyno leapt over the sea of flames, searching for the root of the chaos.

A black figure stood in the center, smiling. They looked up, and Cyno was shocked by the murderous glint in their eyes.

A flash of pyro energy.

It was almost a piece of cake for Cyno to counter.

Electricity flashed around him, as he countered the blow sent from the figure's spear, causing an explosion.

It seemed that was what the figure wanted.

Unable to see, Cyno frantically looked around.

The flash of red energy gave it away.

Barely able to dodge, Cyno sensed an unfamiliar presence of demonic qi.

"So you're a rat from the Abyss."

He growled, summoning his own spear. Spiritual energy had been imbued inside his spear, and it flashed a bright purple.

"Hehe~ So you finally play!"

Huh? Cyno thought. That's the same voice as... the girl from yesterday!

She ripped off her cloak, and sent hundreds of pyro spears in his direction.

Cyno countered each one, deflecting the blow. However, when the fire and electricity met, it caused yet another explosion.

Although this girl couldn't have been more than just a Void level, Cyno sensed the abnormal amount of demonic qi flowing through her body most likely gave her an upgrade.

A slash came out of nowhere, which Cyno was able to block.

An explosion of Electricity.

Because of her speed, he was unable to counterattack. Plus, he was still getting used to the new amount of spiritual energy flowing through his body. Overexert, and he might get a Qi Deviation.

Then hundreds more slashes came out of nowhere.

Something a Void level cultivator shouldn't have been able to achieve.

I'm doomed...! Cyno thought, holding up his spear and deflecting as many as he could. Using his electricity could put him at a disadvantage again. His eyes glowed purple, when he finally released his stored up spiritual energy. The electricity overwhelmed the fire, pushing the girl back.

He put his life on this gamble. Although he restricted his vision due to the immense amount of flames from the explosion he caused, he was able to finally counter attack.

Do not overexert.

However, before he could even make his next move, a flash of fire and a slash of her blade rendered him useless before he could even attack.

"Hehe... I move better in the flames, you know!" She laughed, peering down at Cyno, whose injuries were burning.

Shit.

"Now, goodbye~!" She smiled, waving at him.

She raised her spear, preparing to send him off, until a clang of another blade blocked her own spear.

"Watch your back." The newcomer warned her, reaching towards his sword hilt.

Huh? Cyno thought incredulously. He blocked the attack without even using his sword?

What was more, was that Cyno could sense two forms of spiritual energy in this man's body.

He could be none other than the fabled swordsman, Kaedehara Kazuha, the most popular cultivator in the cultivation world. Having mastered the arts of defense and close combat, the two forms of spiritual energy in his body helped maintain his undefeated winning streak. His speed was unmatched, and anyone who dared to compete with him would have to face a serious loss. 

"Hmph." The girl pouted. "This is no fun! I just needed more business for my Wangsheng Funeral Parlor! Say, if you let me take him, I'll give you a lifetime coupon for your next visit! Even... a funeral for your dead friend?"

Kazuha stiffened. His red eyes glowed dangerously in the light of the flames that rose around him. He raised the sword to point in her direction, his long hair billowing in the wind filled with flames.

"You are nothing but a pitiful spirit affected by demonic corruption. But I will give you the honor of having your last battle with me." He started, glaring at the girl. "I, Kaedehara Kazuha, request a duel with Sect Leader Morax's niece, Hu Tao."

...