arrow_back 原神 任务 
Chapter I: Act III
A New Star Approaches
The mysterious emissary Ganyu appeared before you at Third-Round Knockout. Claiming to have come at Ningguang's behest, she invited you to the skyfaring palace known as the Jade Chamber. To that end, you and Paimon have come to Mt. Tianheng, from where you can see the Jade Chamber in the distance.
Go to Mt. Tianheng
Paimon:
Look, up there! That's the Jade Chamber.
Paimon:
Hmm... Uhh...
Paimon:
Ah, this is bad... Paimon's supposed to be your guide, but Paimon doesn't know where the way up to the Jade Chamber is...
Paimon:
Ugh...
Paimon:
Well, since we want to go to the Jade Chamber, heading to its location on the map is the sensible thing to do!
Paimon:
Let's look around. There has to be a way up there nearby!
Search for a way up to the Jade Chamber
Paimon:
Hey, look! There's some sort of mechanism thingy!
Paimon:
Since this is the right place, it must have something to do with the Jade Chamber.
Paimon:
Yes, this must be the way!
Try using the mechanism
Paimon:
Huh? It only takes us up to here...
Paimon:
Aw, if that wind current was stronger, we'd be able to reach the top in one go!
Traveler:
Best we go back to Liyue and ask the Millelith...
Paimon:
Huh? Why?
Traveler:
The way up shouldn't be a secret, or...
Paimon:
Or? ...Oh, Paimon gets it! If it was a secret, Ganyu wouldn't have let us try to find it ourselves, right?
Paimon:
Alright, let's follow your plan, then we can...
Paimon:
Oh! Hang on a moment. Look down there!
Paimon:
Looks like we've gotten close to the Guizhong Ballista.
Paimon:
Hmm... Uh... Paimon has a new idea!
Paimon:
Why don't we shoot you up to the Jade Chamber using the Ballista?
Paimon:
Oh... Right. This method does seem a bit unsafe...
Traveler:
Still, I do remember that the Ballista had a scope.
Paimon:
Oh, that's right!
Paimon:
Now that you mention it, we could use the Guizhong Ballista to see if there's another way up nearby!
Head over to the Guizhong Ballista
Huaqing:
Halt!
Huaqing:
Who trespasses on these hallowed grounds?
Paimon:
Exactly. What're you talking about?
Paimon:
We're invited guests! What makes you think you can treat us like this?
Paimon:
No... Wait... Maybe this was Ningguang's plan all along!
Paimon:
She pretended to invite us to the Jade Chamber, but set up a Millelith ambush here to arrest us!
Paimon:
Grr... Now Paimon's mad! ...You! Over there! This is a trick, isn't it? How shameless!
Huaqing:
What? We're just on guard duty. What do you mean, "shameless"?
Yang:
What nonsense! Seize these suspicious intruders at once!
Paimon:
Well, here they come — line 'em up and knock 'em down!
Fight the Millelith
???:
Stop! What's all this about?
Huaqing:
Lady Keqing, these two strange people suddenly appeared. They seem to have designs on the Guizhong Ballista.
Paimon:
Who're you calling "strange"?
Traveler:
We were just looking for the way to the Jade Chamber.
Keqing:
Hmm? You want to go to the Jade Chamber? Who are you?
Paimon:
We're invited guests, here to look for the Liyue Qixing! Who are you?
Keqing:
...
Keqing:
Well, as it happens, I am one of the Liyue Qixing.
Paimon:
???
Keqing:
I'm Keqing, the Yuheng of the Qixing.
Keqing:
I know of you, Traveler. You're Ningguang's guests, yes? Didn't expect to meet you here in the mountains.
Paimon:
Wow... Paimon didn't think we'd meet some super-rich big shot out here in the middle of nowhere, either.
Keqing:
The Guizhong Ballista in Tianheng Pass has long been in disrepair, and yet it was fixed in a single night. I came here to investigate that occurrence.
Keqing:
These Millelith are just here to guard the scene, not to arrest anyone.
Paimon:
So, this was all a misunderstanding? Paimon never would've thought...
Traveler:
Thinking isn't that hard, Paimon.
Keqing:
Anyway, for a mortal to be able to repair an adepti mechanism is quite the mystery, even to the Qixing.
Paimon:
Hehe, that was...
Paimon:
Eh? Oh, right. So, Lady Yuheng, might you have any idea why Lady Tianquan invited us to go to the Jade Chamber?
Keqing:
Just call me Keqing.
Keqing:
I'd say that Ningguang's purpose is to request that the savior of Mondstadt take a more neutral stance... Or at least, to not wholly side with the adepti.
Paimon:
We're not taking sides. We spoke with the adepti. They want to protect Liyue as well...
Keqing:
When you say "protect," you're referring to their sanctimonious arrogance, aren't you?
Paimon:
Huh?
Keqing:
You are mortals, and thus under their protection. There was no way they would have regarded you as someone with the ability to assassinate a god.
Keqing:
Naturally, they would also regard Ningguang's locking down the area, questioning the citizenry, and pursuit of the assassin to be pointless work. Perhaps they even wonder if there might be a cover-up.
Keqing:
I'll say it like it is: they're underestimating us.
Paimon:
Well, you've got a point there...
Paimon:
Still, this is the first time Paimon's seen a person from Liyue who doesn't respect the gods or the adepti.
Keqing:
Hah. Should I respect the shallow sense of time and condescension to mortals that has caused them to delay in moving against us Qixing?
Keqing:
Forget it. I shouldn't speak of them this way. This skepticism is mine alone, and Ningguang does not share it.
Keqing:
Either way, I will admit that the actions of the adepti this time were quite restrained.
Keqing:
Rex Lapis' death is indeed an extraordinary circumstance. But to think that they would call for a council of adepti rather than come down here directly...
Keqing:
How surprisingly civilized of them.
Keqing:
Well, for Ningguang... She would talk anything and everything out if she could. But I doubt we can do that here.
Keqing:
The time of the adepti has long passed. If even the Liyue Qixing don't want to face that truth, then what future is there for Liyue?
Paimon:
Phew... Another super bold statement...
Keqing:
*sigh* I'll stop here. Honestly, I hadn't intended to say so much. But you're a good listener, Traveler.
Keqing:
You should both be off to the Jade Chamber. Don't be late, now. Ningguang's schedule is packed to the gills all the way till next year.
Keqing:
The cream of Liyue's mercantile crop all see "ascending to the Jade Chamber" as the greatest honor. Each brings rich gifts as they visit, all to curry a little favor with Ningguang.
Paimon:
Favor?
Paimon:
But... But!
Paimon:
Wait, that's right! Greeting gifts are a staple of Liyue's culture. We need to get one, not to curry favor or anything — just to... respect Liyue's culture!
Traveler:
Ah, so eager...
Keqing:
Alright, alright. You can decide on your greeting gift yourselves. Let me tell you how to get to the Jade Chamber first.
Keqing:
You didn't actually have to come to Mt. Tianheng. Go back to Liyue Harbor, find a guide at the Yuehai Pavilion, and...
Keqing:
Well then. May we meet again, Traveler.
Paimon:
Well, that Yuheng may not respect the gods, but Paimon thinks she's a pretty cool person.
Paimon:
So... What should we give to Ningguang when we see her?
Traveler:
You really have shifted focus, haven't you, Paimon...
Paimon:
Oh, right! Paimon dreamed of an amazing snack last night — Sugar-Frosted Slime!
Paimon:
Paimon has a feeling that it would be perfect for a super rich person like Ningguang!
Paimon:
Why don't we go with that for a gift?
Paimon:
Nope! But Paimon's sure that we just need to make it with some boom shaka-laka!
Paimon:
Let's go gather ingredients. Time waits for no one, and neither will our riches!
After arriving at the Guizhong Ballista on Mt. Tianheng, you are surprised to meet another member of the Qixing there. Her name is Keqing, and she gives you detailed instructions on how to ascend to the Jade Chamber. Paimon, however, is preoccupied with another detail that Keqing mentioned: the custom of bringing a greeting gift.
Look for the ingredients Paimon needs
Paimon:
Huh? Is it just Paimon, or is there a sweet fragrance in the air...?
Paimon:
Huh... Did you hear that?
Paimon:
It seemed like it came from those ruins over there...
Paimon:
Uh oh, it looks like the Treasure Hoarders have locked someone inside.
Talk to the person in the cage
Meng Dan:
Phew... Thank you for your help, kind travelers. If you hadn't come to my aid, I surely would have rotted in this cell! Those Treasure Hoarders... when their mood was good, they'd rearrange those pots of Sweet Flowers. But when they were in a bad mood, they'd rearrange my face...
Paimon:
Aw, it was nothing. No need to thank us all at once or anything!
Meng Dan:
Haha, I understand. Don't worry, I will compensate you both.
Traveler:
There's really no need.
Meng Dan:
Don't say that! I only escaped this predicament because of you.
Meng Dan:
I'm Meng Dan, a supplier for Mingxing Jewelry in Liyue Harbor. I often walk around these mountains in search of antiques.
Meng Dan:
I never expected that those Treasure Hoarders would have their eyes on the same ruins that I had. Before I knew it, they'd caught and imprisoned me.
Meng Dan:
Is there anything that you lack? Antiques, treasure, various knick-knacks, you name it! Well, as long as you want what I have to offer, of course.
Traveler:
Your goodwill is good enough for me.
Paimon:
Wait a moment! Actually, we are looking for something!
Meng Dan:
Oh? And what might that be?
Paimon:
Do you have a box that can store presents? We'd like a pretty one... the kind that you can use to store snacks.
Meng Dan:
Of course we do — how can one sell antiques without gift boxes? At Mingxing Jewelry, we have the best gift-wrapping service in the seven nations.
Meng Dan:
Now, just give me a moment, and I'll let the boss know. You can go see her whenever you require that box.
Paimon:
Great! Paimon's Sugar-Frosted Slime now comes in a beautiful package!
Go to Mingxing Jewelry
Paimon:
Hey there! A guy called Meng Dan told us that we could get a nice and shiny box from your store...
Xingxi:
Uncle Meng already told me about it. Thank you both for saving him.
Xingxi:
Many of the best goods in our store were found by Uncle Meng. If anything were to happen to him, it would be impossible for us to continue doing business.
Xingxi:
Here, this container is itself an antique, with at least 140 years of history. It's already been cleaned... Will it do?
Paimon:
Yup-yup-yup! It's great!
Paimon:
Hang on a moment. Could we borrow one other thing?
Xingxi:
Sure, please help yourselves — as long as it's on our shelves.
Paimon:
旅行者, this clay pot looks really awesome!
Paimon:
If we use an antique as our mixing bowl, we should be able to make a great snack!
Paimon:
It's done! The one and only Sugar-Frosted Slime! Carefully now. Into the box it goes, and dust it over with a bit more powdered sugar...
Xingxi:
Oh yes. You might want to use these two freshly-picked flowers as decorations too.
Paimon:
Woohoo! It looks beautiful!
Traveler:
(I'm still not sold on this gift idea...)
Paimon:
Great! Now that we've put all that we've got into this box, let's go to the Jade Chamber to see Ningguang!
Look for the guide to the Jade Chamber
Paimon:
(According to Keqing, this is what we should say...)
Paimon:
Excuse me, do you sell the moon here?
Bu'yun:
Yes. How many would you like?
Paimon:
It is not convenient to speak of numbers here.
Bu'yun:
Ah, well said. Please, use this to ascend to the Chamber... Ah, yes. Speaking of which — are you two the guests that Lady Ningguang has arranged to meet with today?
Paimon:
Yup!
Bu'yun:
(And yet the code they used was not the one for guests, but for the Yuheng. What's going on here...)
Speak to Ningguang
Ningguang:
I've been waiting for you, returnee from Jueyun Karst.
Paimon:
Ah, it's Ningguang!
Paimon:
Since this is our first meeting, um, we've prepared a gift! Hope you like it?
Ningguang:
Oh, for me? You have my thanks. It seems that I have made things difficult for you, considering that you were supposed to be my guests.
Paimon:
Hehe... Oh no, it's nothing.
Ningguang:
Haha. I'm glad you like it too.
Ningguang:
This palace floats in the skies, higher than the peak of any mountain. From this vantage point, one may survey all of Liyue.
Ningguang:
I have been gathering the funds necessary to build it from the time I began learning the merchant's craft. And since becoming the Tianquan, I have spared no effort in hiring the best craftsmen to constantly extend it...
Ningguang:
At first, it was but the size of one room. Now, it is large enough to blot out the moon in the skies above Liyue.
Ningguang:
One day, I believe it will overshadow all seven nations.
Traveler:
(This Tianquan does not lack for ambition...)
Ningguang:
Not many from outside Liyue earn the right to ascend to the Jade Chamber. But I have been in correspondence with the Acting Grand Master of the Knights of Favonius, who spoke highly of you.
Ningguang:
As such, I have been putting eyes and ears out ever since you reached Liyue...
Paimon:
What!?
Ningguang:
And I finally got wind of your movements when you were on the way to Wangshu Inn.
Paimon:
...Wait. Was Verr Goldet one of your people!?
Ningguang:
Just Verr Goldet? ...No.
Ningguang:
Everyone at Wangshu Inn is one of ours.
Paimon:
#@&%*!
Traveler:
We also ran into the Yuheng not long ago...
Ningguang:
At the Guizhong Ballista, yes?
Paimon:
Uh... you weren't peeking on us from the skies the whole time... were you!?
Ningguang:
Haha... I fear that peeking would have been a little difficult from this altitude.
Ningguang:
Our eyes and ears are more than sufficient. You two are very interesting people, after all. It would be natural to take an interest.
Traveler:
Keqing said that the Qixing would not wish ill on Rex Lapis.
Ningguang:
Well, I wouldn't expect you to trust us, considering that you have had far more interactions with the adepti. The reason I invited you here was to clear up some misunderstandings.
Ningguang:
I believe that you've heard of the Archon War?
Ningguang:
Many gods used to walk this earth, and many long wars were fought between them that did not abate until 2,000 years ago. Much blood was shed, and many lives were lost.
Ningguang:
In the end, only seven victors remained standing in Teyvat. They built cities and nations on the corpses of the vanquished, and thus began the era of The Seven.
Ningguang:
You can see Guyun Stone Forest from here, I trust? It is no natural rock formation — those are giant spears of rock, hurled by Rex Lapis during the war.
Ningguang:
Beneath the spears lie those cast down by Rex Lapis in those days: gods that failed to seize the title of Archon.
Ningguang:
Not only is it true that gods may die, but so too has the membership of the Seven changed over the last two millennia. Rex Lapis' passing is an unimaginable disaster for Liyue, but the order of The Seven will not collapse simply because of that.
Ningguang:
Another Lord of Geo will arise sooner or later, yet how are we to forget Rex Lapis? When that time comes, the relationship between the people of Liyue and the gods and adepti will surely be different from before.
Ningguang:
Even in a new era, the Liyue Qixing remain Rex Lapis' former subjects... Do you really think us capable of having played a part in his demise? Of lacking the foresight to see the certain repercussions?
Traveler:
Why hide the Exuvia, then?
Ningguang:
Heh...
Ningguang:
That day at Yujing Terrace — it was all so very sudden. Even I was caught completely off guard. You were there, you no doubt saw.
Ningguang:
But our enemy has long lain hidden within the harbor. If we do not act against them now, they will surely gain the upper hand.
Ningguang:
Hiding the Exuvia was a necessary maneuver to take the initiative back, to play the spider while our foes scurry about.
Paimon:
Who's this "enemy" you're talking about?
Ningguang:
What do you think, Traveler?
Paimon:
Eh? What are you two talking about?
Ningguang:
Well answered.
Paimon:
...Huh!?
Ningguang:
Hah... The scenery out here is fine indeed, but the wind is a little strong. Our preparations to receive guests within are complete — so please, this way.
Enter the Jade Chamber's premises
Paimon:
Wowee! What a huge hall! Paimon's never seen such a fancy place before...
Speak to Ningguang
Ningguang:
Be at ease, you two. Make yourselves at home if you wish.
Paimon:
Can we really!?
Ningguang:
I have invited you two here as friends. And when friends come over to play, our enjoyment comes first, naturally.
Traveler:
Is that what I think it is...?
Paimon:
Ooh! Isn't this that legendary wall?
Ningguang:
Why, you've kept your ear to the ground, I see.
Paimon:
That's because even the storytellers are talking about it... Everyone's after a piece of paper from that wall. It's super famous!
Ningguang:
That's because that wall records Liyue's secrets. Merchants have always been attracted to secrets.
Ningguang:
But the secrets of the mercantile world are of no interest to you, are they, Traveler? You're rather special, really — and I think you're quite aware of that.
Ningguang:
If possible, I'd like to have your trust.
Ningguang:
But if you were to choose the more trustworthy person between myself and Keqing...
Ningguang:
Haha... You'd pick Keqing? I had a feeling.
Ningguang:
I originally thought her a bit too... hard-headed. With someone of her character on the Qixing, I've had some extra messes to clean up behind the scenes.
Ningguang:
But after she said those words: "The time of the adepti has long passed. If even the Liyue Qixing don't want to face that truth, then what future is there for Liyue..."
Ningguang:
Well, I must say that quite a few of my doubts have been dispelled.
Ningguang:
I won't deny that Rex Lapis' passing seems advantageous to us. But for Liyue's sake, we cannot allow ourselves to be shackled by rumors of our usurpation of power.
Traveler:
I surmise that the Fatui has a hand in these rumors?
Ningguang:
Indeed... It seems that you understood what I meant to say from the very beginning.
Ningguang:
I called for the gag order and for the Exuvia to be hidden to temporarily stabilize the situation, and also to prevent something similar to the incident in Mondstadt.
Ningguang:
With Rex Lapis' death, the Fatui have busied themselves with many clandestine actions beyond their diplomatic remit. As the Tianquan, one responsible for Liyue, I cannot be too concerned with appearances when opposing them.
Ningguang:
Allowing the Rite of Parting to take place was also meant to buy some time for us to take control of Liyue's administration...
Paimon:
Ugh... It's exactly as Zhongli said. The Qixing only provided the venue for the rite so they could use us for their own ends.
Paimon:
Wait, that's right! Speaking of ends... Could Paimon say one other thing?
Ningguang:
Of course.
Paimon:
Paimon's heard that anyone who sends a greeting gift gets a little something in return... So, does that include us?
Traveler:
Seriously, Paimon? Seriously?
Ningguang:
Hmm-hmm, It's alright. I like direct people.
Ningguang:
Well, we have made quite a bit of trouble for you recently. How about this? You can pick any one object here as you please, and you may take it with you.
Paimon:
Yay! Paimon was just waiting for you to say that! Let's see, what should we get...
Paimon:
One of the sheets on that wall!
Traveler:
???
Paimon:
Don't look at Paimon like that! One of these sheets of paper will sell for crazy prices, even if it's only as large as Paimon's fingernail!
Paimon:
Just imagine... how much Mora a whole, untorn sheet would sell for!
Pick a piece of "paper snow"
Paimon:
Huh? Well that was an easy search. The biggest sheet is right up there in the most obvious spot. Let's go with that one!
Paimon:
La la-la la-la... Let's see what's written on it.
Paimon:
Huh? There's a place marked with a circle on here. Ooh, could it be treasure!? Whatever it is, it better make us filthy rich! Let's see what's written over here...
Paimon:
"Sigil..." "of Permission..." Something, something... "Fatui..." "research..." "copy..." Huh?
Paimon:
Aw, that doesn't sound like treasure at all.
Paimon:
This piece of paper shows that a Qixing spy discovered traces of classified Fatui research on the Sigil of Permission.
Paimon:
Oh, Ningguang did say that the Fatui have been up to all kinds of mischief in the shadows of Liyue... Spreading rumors, wanting to get their hands on the archon's body, and what not.
Paimon:
But research on the Sigil of Permission? Paimon wonders what they're up to.
Paimon:
Speaking of which, there's also some connection between you and the Sigil of Permission, 旅行者. Seems there's still more for us to find out.
Paimon:
Oh? You really think so?
Paimon:
Well... should we not go, then?
Traveler:
No, what I mean is...
Paimon:
Oh, so you're saying that it's precisely because we can't completely trust Ningguang that we should confirm the truth of what she says for ourselves.
Paimon:
Hmm... That's way out of Paimon's league, Paimon thinks she's been nothing but good to us!
Paimon:
Anyway, we'll see if you're on to something.
Paimon:
Um, before we look for Zhongli at Dihua Marsh, let's go to the place marked out on these papers and see if the Fatui really are up to no good there.
You finally ascended to the Jade Chamber, where Ningguang was waiting for you. She graciously accepted Paimon's gift, and offered one in return. You spoke at length about many things: deities, archons... and the Fatui...
Investigate the Fatui's research
Paimon:
There are so many talismans here! And some stacks of blank paper, too! Hmm, what are they for?
Paimon:
Paimon's seen this pattern before! But where...
Paimon:
Oh, Paimon knows! It looks just like the Sigil of Permission that Childe gave you.
Paimon:
Hmm, but how did a relic of the adepti end up in the hands of someone like Childe? Suspicious...
Traveler:
It's not just a relic...
Paimon:
Oh, that's right. Cloud Retainer said that when the Lord of Geo created the Sigil of Permission, it wasn't to be used as some ol' relic...
Paimon:
Talismans like that were once used in the Archon War to channel divine powers.
Paimon:
Maybe the Fatui are copying the Sigil of Permission in hopes of achieving a similar effect?
Paimon:
Being able to channel divine power in battle... Whew, that sounds pretty dangerous.
Paimon:
And the plot thickens... We'll need to keep an eye on Childe, that's for sure.
Paimon:
Hmm, alright, that's enough sticking around here. We gotta go meet up with Zhongli soon.
Paimon:
The last stop on our Rite of Parting preparations tour is... Dihua Marsh!
Paimon:
Let's go! Paimon hates being late!
Meet Zhongli at Dihua Marsh
Zhongli:
Right on time. I myself only arrived moments ago.
Zhongli:
Did you enjoy your visit to the Jade Chamber?
Paimon:
It was so biiig, and preetty, and expensive... Paimon's never seen such a fancy-schmancy place before!
Zhongli:
Indeed. It's second to none in all of Liyue.
Zhongli:
Then you met with Ningguang, I trust? What did you talk about with her?
Paimon:
She's super rich and so generous. Paimon thinks she's very friendly!
Traveler:
Business people are always "friendly" when it suits their interests.
Paimon:
Yeah, his take on Ningguang is quite different from Paimon's. He thinks that even the tactless Yuheng is more trustworthy than her.
Zhongli:
Oh, so you also met with Keqing, then? What did she have to say?
Paimon:
She said, "The time of the adepti has long passed. If even the Liyue Qixing don't want to face that truth, then what future is there for Liyue?"
Zhongli:
Haha, no respect for the divine.
Zhongli:
Indeed, contrary to the ever-bold Keqing, Ningguang is more of a businesswoman at heart, though they are both members of the Qixing.
Zhongli:
Although she's friendly, there's no way of clearly discerning her true intentions.
Zhongli:
Yes, she has only relied on herself to rise to her current position. No ordinary person could ever achieve that.
Zhongli:
It's said that she's the one behind the constant expansion of the Jade Chamber. It's the second most important thing to her. Even if she ever gave up the position of Tianquan, she would never give up the Jade Chamber.
Paimon:
The Jade Chamber is only second? What's the most important thing to her then?
Zhongli:
Why, Mora, of course.
Paimon:
All Ningguang talked about was the Fatui this and the Fatui that... She said that after Rex Lapis was murdered, the Fatui have constantly been trying to sink their fingers into Liyue and that they aren't to be trusted.
Zhongli:
That is how the Fatui have always been. It doesn't surprise me in the least.
Traveler:
And now they are trying to reproduce the Sigil of Permission.
Zhongli:
...
Zhongli:
No matter what they may be planning, you must be careful when dealing with the Fatui. Always be on your guard.
Paimon:
So is there anything we need to get for the Rite of Parting in Dihua Marsh?
Zhongli:
Yes, as a matter of fact, there is. Today, we'll be gathering wild Glaze Lilies.
Paimon:
Glaze Lilies? But why did we come all the way out here? Doesn't the garden in Yujing Terrace have some? Even Qingce Village has Glaze Lilies...
Paimon:
Oh right, Paimon remembers that Madame Ping is always tending to flowers. Maybe we could ask her!
Zhongli:
No, those lilies have all been gardened by people. They won't do at all.
Zhongli:
Dihua Marsh used to be full of Glaze Lilies. It is a sort of joyful flower that listens to human song.
Zhongli:
Before the Archon War, Dihua Marsh was all dry land and fertile soil. But the war caused landslides and the land was flooded, turning it into the marsh you see now. Nearly all the Glaze Lilies were wiped out.
Zhongli:
Of course, there are some kinds of flowers that have been preserved and gardened by people in the city. But very few people know that Glaze Lilies may still be found in the wild.
Zhongli:
Wild Glaze Lilies have the strongest fragrance. If we want to follow the true tradition of the Rite of Parting, we must grind up the wild lilies and place the powder in a censer of Everlasting Incense.
Zhongli:
But I'll need your assistance in gathering these flowers.
Zhongli:
No, I need you to sing to them. Singing to the flowers will make them more fragrant.
Paimon:
Uh... so how good is your singing, 旅行者?
Paimon:
Really? Why doesn't Paimon believe you...
Zhongli:
We'll only know once he starts singing.
Search for wild Glaze Lilies with Zhongli
Paimon:
It's time to sing. Whenever you're ready!
Traveler:
*clears throat*...
Traveler:
♪... ♪♪♪♪... ♪♪♪♪... ♪... ♪
Defeat the attacking monsters
Paimon:
Those weren't Glaze Lilies! Glaze Lilies wouldn't hit people!
Traveler:
Those flowers put up quite a fight...
Zhongli:
This little monster is known as a "Whopperflower."
Zhongli:
Hmm... Strange. These petals look interesting.
Zhongli:
The Glaze Lilies used as a disguise were buried with the Whopperflower for too long. The result seems to have surprisingly potent medicinal value. Let's collect what we can of these petals.
Paimon:
Well that's nice and all, but will those petals be useful for the Rite of Parting?
Zhongli:
Unfortunately, no.
Paimon:
Ugh, that's so lame...
Ganyu:
Excuse me...
Ganyu:
Are you searching for Glaze Lilies?
Paimon:
Oh, hey! It's... what's her face... Ah, Paimon can't remember...
Ganyu:
Hello, traveler. I'm surprised you still remember my name.
Ganyu:
Ah! That reminds me, how was your visit to the Jade Chamber?
Paimon:
Well, it sure would've been better if you'd told us how to get up there!
Ganyu:
Didn't I tell you the way!? Surely I did!
Paimon:
Nope, we found the way on our own!
Ganyu:
Oh, I see.
Ganyu:
(Uh-oh, I guess I really did forget to tell them...)
Paimon:
Huh, something seems a little off about Ganyu...
Paimon:
She's acting different from the first time we met... Where's her serious attitude now?
Ganyu:
Ah, well, I met you at that time as an emissary of the Tianquan. But now, I am simply out on a stroll to see the flowers.
Paimon:
You came all the way out here to see the flowers? Why not just enjoy the gardens of the city?
Ganyu:
...
Ganyu:
Yujing Terrace is where Rex Lapis parted from this world. If I strolled through those lonely gardens now, I wouldn't be able to bear it.
Ganyu:
Whenever my duties take me near Yujing Terrace these days, I draw the windows to block my view of the gardens.
Paimon:
Oh... Sorry, we shouldn't have brought it up.
Ganyu:
No, it's quite alright. I just haven't processed my emotions yet.
Ganyu:
When the Archon War came to its end two thousand years ago, the first iteration of The Seven would gather in Liyue and drink with Rex Lapis. But five of those original seven had already passed before Rex Lapis — it's truly a changing of the guard.
Traveler:
So that means...
Ganyu:
Yes. Now that the spirit of Rex Lapis has returned to the heavens, only Barbatos of Mondstadt remains of the first Seven.
Ganyu:
The other five, including Inazuma's Raiden Shogun, are no longer the same friends from two thousand years ago.
Ganyu:
Of the current Seven Archons, the youngest is Sumeru's God of Dendro. She is merely five hundred years old, whereas Rex Lapis was more than six thousand years old at the time of his passing.
Ganyu:
This means that Liyue had been under Rex Lapis' rule from the moment it was first founded 3,700 years ago. The city has never had to bid farewell to its deity...
Zhongli:
So, what do you think of this "farewell"?
Ganyu:
Huh? This... This is a little sudden, I...
Ganyu:
...
Ganyu:
As a mortal, I've never dared to imagine a Liyue without Rex Lapis.
Ganyu:
But as an adeptus... I think I will eventually come to grips with reality. Since Rex Lapis has passed, the time of Liyue's contract with the gods and adepti has now reached its end.
Paimon:
Huh? Did you just say, "as an adeptus"?
Ganyu:
Yes, I... I am a mix of human and Qilin. Adeptus blood flows through my veins. I fought for Rex Lapis and the city of Liyue during the Archon War.
Ganyu:
After the war ended, I signed a contract with Rex Lapis and took the position as secretary for the Qixing. I've continued those duties to this very day.
Ganyu:
Well... uh, let's save that conversation for another day. You say that you are here looking for Glaze Lilies?
Ganyu:
I also know where wild Glaze Lilies can be found. See, I've just picked one myself. Here, you may have it if you wish.
Zhongli:
We dare not refuse it.
Paimon:
Oh, so did you sing a song before you picked the lily?
Ganyu:
Indeed, I did. I know this tradition well. In fact, I sang a local Liyue ballad to it.
Paimon:
Wow, so you really know your stuff too! Thanks, Ganyu!
Ganyu:
No, it is you who I should be thanking. If not for this chance meeting, I never thought that I would be able to contribute to the upcoming farewell for our ancient lord.
Ganyu:
If you would excuse me, I should return to my work now. Good luck.
Zhongli:
And that just about does it. Our preparations for the Rite of Parting are mostly finished.
Zhongli:
Given the ease of picking Glaze Lilies, I think this was a fitting end to our tasks, in more ways than one.
Traveler:
Zhongli, you seem suited to working in agricultural development.
Paimon:
Yeah, Paimon can already imagine him starting a business in Liyue.
Zhongli:
Hah, I've had enough ventures in my life already.
Zhongli:
Beginning a new undertaking is always difficult at first and requires no small amount of effort. And once business is at full steam, the stress of it all only wears away at you over time.
Zhongli:
So you must be careful to take the time to step back and reexamine yourself. If left unchecked, the wear and tear on your heart may go well past mending.
Paimon:
Wow! See, Zhongli sounds like he's already seen it all!
Paimon:
Alright, I think it's about time we head back to Liyue Harbor now.
Ask around for news
Felix:
Ah, you're the consultant to Wangsheng Funeral Parlor — Mr. Zhongli, I presume?
Felix:
The Millelith are watching our every move now. These are desperate times, we mustn't act rashly.
Zhongli:
Desperate times?
Felix:
The adepti of Jueyun Karst are finally on the move.
Zhongli:
Do they intend to exercise force?
Felix:
Most likely. I've heard that some members of the Qixing have already gone to meet them... Well, I say "meet," but it's more like they're attempting to stall the adepti outside the city.
Felix:
However, both sides were quite obstinate, and hit an impasse.
Zhongli:
...It seems inevitable, given the current situation.
Felix:
The adepti do not acknowledge the Qixing, they only acknowledge the contracts of the Geo Archon. If the two sides come to blows, Liyue Harbor will be in no position to stop them.
Zhongli:
Surely the Liyue Qixing are not the sort to give in so easily?
Felix:
Hmph. Their bone-headedness is known throughout the lands. Yet it's because of that obstinacy that mortals and adepti are now on the verge of conflict.
Zhongli:
And what now? How is it that the Fatui have come under fire?
Felix:
Ugh... that's all Ningguang's doing...
Felix:
She proclaimed that "in these tumultuous times, the Millelith must rein in the actions of the Fatui."
Felix:
Only now do they want to start keeping tabs on us? Huh! That's the Qixing for you!
Felix:
Anyway, Mr. Zhongli, you're one of Childe's close associates. Please understand that your actions will reflect on us. Don't let anyone catch you off-guard.
Paimon:
It looks like things are about to boil over in Liyue Harbor...
Zhongli:
Do you intend to use your neutral identity as an intermediary between both sides? Or, will you use your sword to turn the balance?
Zhongli:
Neither path is an easy one...
Felix:
Oh, by the way, Mr. Zhongli. We've heard that the Wangsheng Funeral Parlor has also been caught up in all this. They're currently squaring off with the authorities at the gates.
Zhongli:
Things are taking a turn for the worse...
Zhongli:
I'm afraid I must leave now to handle things back at Wangsheng Funeral Parlor. I hope that Master Hu has been able to keep things under control for the moment.
Zhongli:
Consider your next course of action carefully, 旅行者. If you're trying to prevent an explosion, it may be wisest to look for the fuse first.
Paimon:
Phew... Having connections with the Fatui seems to be quite the double-edged sword.
Paimon:
So what did Zhongli mean by looking for the "fuse"?
Paimon:
Ooh, Paimon gets it! If there's anyone that wants to see the whole city turned upside down, it's definitely him.
Paimon:
He must be waiting for the moment when no one is watching to do something really bad!
Paimon:
But, where could we find him now?
Paimon:
Where would he go at a time like this?
At Ningguang's advice, you verified the Fatui's schemes regarding the Sigil of Permission before continuing to help Zhongli prepare for the rite. You met Ganyu once again at Dihua Marsh before returning to Liyue Harbor — only to find that things in the city seem to be spiraling out of control.
Go to the Golden House
Paimon:
Wow... This is the Golden House?
Paimon:
It looked impressive enough from the outside... But who would've guessed that it was even fancier on the inside... and so full of Mora!!!
Paimon:
This is where all of Teyvat's Mora is minted, right? In that case, maybe they won't notice if a few Mora go missing...
Paimon:
Ooh, so it's a trap. Tricky, tricky... Good thing Paimon's got you here!
Paimon:
But even if we can't take any, we can still have a closer look, right?
Paimon:
Or better yet, take a nap on top of a mountain of Mora! It's like a dream come true!
Paimon:
Oh, right! Back to business!
Paimon:
It's quiet... Too quiet. Surely someone's gotta be guarding something as important as the Exuvia.
Paimon:
Huh!? 旅行者, look! What happened here?
Paimon:
Uh-oh, Paimon smells trouble!
Paimon:
Quick! We have to go make sure that the Exuvia is alright.
Examine the Exuvia
???:
You've already fulfilled your task as guides, so why do you still linger here? Haven't you already seen enough trouble for today?
Paimon:
Huh? Who's there?
Childe:
If you were Fatui, I imagine that you would be entitled to a generous reward from the Tsaritsa herself.
Childe:
But now, you're nothing but dross — and you're in my way.
Childe:
Hmm, where should I start? Well, I've never been one to beat around the bush, you know. But who could have possibly guessed that the God of Geo would mysteriously perish the very moment I arrived in Liyue, and that the Exuvia would subsequently be hidden away?
Childe:
If it weren't for that lovely little Rite of Parting ceremony you put together, it would have taken me a whole lot longer to get the information I needed.
Childe:
Stopping the Mora mints, hiding away the Exuvia... Hahaha, the Qixing are really pulling out all the stops this time...
Paimon:
So you've been planning to take the Gnosis from inside the Exuvia all along!?
Childe:
As one of the Eleven Fatui Harbingers, it's my duty to see the will of the Tsaritsa fulfilled.
Childe:
She will get that which she desires.
Childe:
Hah! I'm not asking for your blessing, and there's nothing you can do to stop me anyway.
Childe:
The time for discussion and diplomacy has already passed. I mean, if it were up to me, I would have skipped that stage to begin with... but I'm willing to do as the Tsaritsa deems fit.
Childe:
Either way — we now come to my favorite part. A simple pleasure, and one that I am oh-so-delighted to be sharing with you...
Childe:
The battle.
Paimon:
Battle? So you're the type that goes looking for trouble, huh?
Childe:
Haha, you could say that.
Childe:
When Signora offended the deities outside the Cathedral in Mondstadt, she swiftly left the scene once her mission was accomplished.
Childe:
Instead of confronting you directly, she chose to rely on the snow and ice to make her escape. She wouldn't want the Knights to come running towards the sound of battle, now, would she?
Childe:
When she faces a worthy opponent, she will prioritize her mission, weigh the outcomes, and consider the consequences of her actions...
Childe:
But as for me, the greatest pleasure of being a Harbinger lies in crossing blades with strong opponents.
Paimon:
We won't let what happened in Mondstadt ever happen again!
Childe:
Oh? So you intend to fight me? Good. I won't kill you, Traveler. I'll just play along — to feel the thrill of battle!
Childe:
Besides, you could never defeat me. Not even in your wildest dreams. But hey, try to relish the fight anyway. Because if you ask me... without that, what else is there?
Traveler:
I could never defeat you!? You're completely delusional.
Childe:
Ahahahaha!
Childe:
Fighting talk, I love it! Now, let's see you live up to it.
Duel Childe
The showdown with Childe begins. After an intense battle, he turns a moment of weakness into a chance to get next to the Exuvia. To his surprise, he finds that the carefully hidden-away Exuvia does not, in fact, contain Morax's Gnosis. Presuming that you beat him to the Gnosis, Childe becomes enraged, activates his Foul Legacy Transformation, and continues to do battle with you...
Childe:
*panting*
Paimon:
Look! Childe's back to normal again.
Childe:
Ugh, well then... time to cool off.
Childe:
It seems the burden of the Foul Legacy Transformation was too great for my body. I lacked the opportunity to think this through...
Childe:
And now that I consider the matter more carefully, you never had any chance of beating me to the Gnosis.
Childe:
You had no connection to the Gnosis, no matter where it had been taken.
Paimon:
That's what we've been trying to tell you! We didn't take it!
Childe:
Your show of ability today far surpasses that of Signora's initial assessment of you in Mondstadt. Tell me, how could that be?
Childe:
You already know the answer, don't you? I can see it in your eyes.
Childe:
But if that is a secret you wish to keep, I guess I'll just have to curb my curiosity.
Childe:
This battle has already left me satisfied.
Childe:
Anyone who strives as I do to grow stronger shall be called a friend, even if our friendship can only be shown in battle against one another.
Paimon:
Pretty sure that's not the normal way to make friends.
Childe:
Unfortunately, I must bring this amiable conversation to an end. My quest still beckons.
Childe:
Given that the Gnosis wasn't taken by anyone, then we must look once again to the beginning. Perhaps it was never in the Exuvia to begin with.
Childe:
In fact, it might be that the Exuvia was just a diversion of sorts.
Paimon:
What? So you mean that...
Childe:
Yes, it appears so. Interesting to say the least...
Childe:
It seems that the guardian deity of the capital of commerce is also well-versed in little maneuvers beyond the boundaries of contracts.
Childe:
As such, we must now look to our backup plan.
Paimon:
Backup plan?
Childe:
I had hoped it would never come to this, for the weak will be swept away in the process.
Childe:
The truth is, the world belongs to those who pursue strength. I seldom willingly involve myself with the weak.
Childe:
Unfortunately, we cannot be picky about our methods as Fatui Harbingers. Children must all learn to eat their vegetables sometime.
Paimon:
So, what are you planning to do?
Childe:
I will awaken the god that lies dormant beneath Guyun Stone Forest.
Paimon:
A god!?
Childe:
Osial, Overlord of the Vortex, who was defeated by Morax the Geo Archon in the Archon War, and who has remained pinned beneath the waves by the Geo Archon's stone spears ever since.
Childe:
If such an ancient god were to be unleashed upon Liyue Harbor, defenseless without the protection of its deity...
Childe:
Do you think the cunning Rex Lapis would just stand aloof and watch the ensuing destruction?
Paimon:
But... the Archon War ended two thousand years ago! How could an ancient god appear in a world now overseen by The Seven?
Childe:
Simple! I've already prepared the means to awaken it.
Paimon:
Hey! Those are Sigils of Permission!
Paimon:
Oh, Paimon remembers now! The Fatui have been researching them...
Childe:
Indeed. The one that was given to you was just a by-product of our research.
Childe:
With the power of so many Sigils of Permission concentrated in one place, along with that which was bestowed upon me as a Harbinger by our Tsaritsa... Breaking the subduing might of the Geo Archon's spears for a time should be no obstacle.
Childe:
Using the powers of ancient gods in such a situation fails to interest me and is largely against my principles.
Childe:
But knowing that such an action will not only force the Geo Archon to show its hand, but you as well... That makes matters a little more intriguing.
movie
Although you do everything in your power to defeat the Fatui Harbinger known as Childe, with an ample supply of Sigils of Permission at his disposal he manages nevertheless to awaken Osial, the Overlord of the Vortex long ago sealed beneath the sea by Morax. A colossal whirlpool appears at sea, and disaster is fast approaching Liyue Harbor...
The adepti faced off against the Qixing outside the city. Just as things were coming to a head, you went to the Golden House to intercept Childe as he attempted to seize the Gnosis, only to find yet another twist: The Gnosis was never at the Golden House to begin with. Childe swiftly switched to his backup plan, attempting to force the Geo Archon to make an appearance by summoning an ancient god with Fatui-forged Sigils of Permission...
Repel the ancient god together
Paimon:
*panting* Paimon's exhausted...
Paimon:
If we hadn't happened to see the Jade Chamber flying over just as we came out of the Golden House, we really wouldn't have known which way to go...
Paimon:
Whew, did we make it in time? Is the Overlord of the Vortex still in the sea? It hasn't destroyed Liyue yet, has it?
Xiao:
What... are you doing here?
Paimon:
Huh... Hold on! It's the adepti! What are you doing on the Jade Chamber? Paimon thought you were arguing with the Qixing... Is the fighting over?
Ningguang:
Faced with a calamity of such magnitude, we have agreed to put our differences aside for now and unite against this common enemy.
Moon Carver:
Hmph!
Paimon:
Oh, Paimon gets it... So, how do you plan to defend Liyue?
Paimon:
Uhh... just seeing this Overlord of the Vortex guy puts a pit in Paimon's tummy, even from all the way out here.
Keqing:
It's not just you. We've got new Millelith recruits who can't even stand at attention without shaking. The force of an ancient god's presence seems to be too much for ordinary people to handle.
Keqing:
...Which is why we must stop that monster before it gets any closer to Liyue Harbor!
Paimon:
So the Archon War was fought two thousand years ago against enemies like that thing? Now that's scary...
Xiao:
...
Paimon:
So will the power of the Qixing, Millelith, and Adepti gathered here be enough to stop that god?
Ningguang:
We've already discussed this together, and our conclusion is... not necessarily.
Paimon:
What!? But all of you are supposed to be the guardians of Liyue. Can't you think of something?
Cloud Retainer:
One certainly could.
Paimon:
Eh?
Cloud Retainer:
The Qixing did once research the matter of the Guizhong Ballista when it piqued their fancy.
Cloud Retainer:
And as fate would have it, one, who did craft the Guizhong Ballista with one's own hands, is here...
Cloud Retainer:
For what could you mortals ever learn of adepti mechanisms? Yet it would take one but a little tinkering to turn this ballista into an engine of war beyond your wildest thoughts.
Ningguang:
Heh, I suppose this is one blessing from the adepti that we should be thankful for.
Ningguang:
So be it. We shall use the upgraded Guizhong Ballista to fight off that god. All the adepti here can lend their strength to man it.
Ningguang:
We haven't a moment to spare. Our battle begins now!
movie
Under the watchful eye of Ningguang, the Tianquan, the arcane formation inside the Jade Chamber quickly unfolds. The Adepti, meanwhile, make their way to the Guizhong Ballistae to channel their Adeptal energy into them. Just as everyone is preparing to fight Osial, the Overlord of the Vortex, a swarm of Fatui soldiers suddenly appears...
movie
Faced with the terrifying might of the Overlord of the Vortex, you fight bitterly but are ultimately unable to protect the Guizhong Ballistas. The Overlord of the Vortex, however, is also badly wounded. To protect Liyue, Ningguang sacrifices the Jade Chamber, plunging it into the ocean and successfully suppressing the evil god.
The ancient god was subdued once again following a fierce battle and much sacrifice. The dust settles, and your journey in Liyue is reaching its conclusion with the Rite of Parting. But before that, there are still some mysteries regarding the Geo Archon that need unraveling.
Look for Zhongli
Having experienced this great change, humans and adepti alike cannot help but lament their loss. But Zhongli, who helped to organize the Rite of Parting with you, is nowhere to be seen...
Paimon:
Is it... finally over?
Moon Carver:
The ominous aura of that monster has indeed begun to fade.
Moon Carver:
The effects of the Sigil of Permission last but a short time.
Moon Carver:
It will be some time before the Overlord of the Vortex can make any waves again.
Ningguang:
We are indebted to you for your assistance. If the adepti hadn't happened to be here, the future of Liyue Harbor would surely have been in great jeopardy...
Cloud Retainer:
Hmph, save your flattery. We didn't just "happen" to be here... Surely you won't pretend to have forgotten the reason for which we came?
Madame Ping:
Come now, there's no need for such harsh words, Cloud Retainer.
Madame Ping:
I've heard that when Ningguang began learning to do business, she had already started setting aside part of her then-limited income in preparation for building the Jade Chamber.
Madame Ping:
At first, it was only the size of a small room. But with continued expansion, it has become the palace that lies before you now.
Madame Ping:
It is a testament to Ningguang's entire life, both as a businesswoman and as the backbone of the Liyue Qixing.
Madame Ping:
Seeing the Jade Chamber destroyed in the defense of Liyue means much to her. To me, such cooperation and sacrifice deserves at least some recognition, don't you agree?
Ningguang:
Well, I was really hoping you would say that such sacrifice could at least be used as some leverage in our negotiations.
Madame Ping:
...Heh.
Ningguang:
Thank you all for hearing me out. We know very well why the adepti came here today... But please forgive us, we cannot yield to your wishes.
Moon Carver:
Oh?
Ningguang:
3,700 years... According to our records, the adepti signed a contract with Rex Lapis to protect Liyue 3,700 years ago.
Ningguang:
Even to this very day, Liyue and its lands have stood the test of time, immovable as stone, just as it was thousands of years before. This is truly no small feat.
Ningguang:
But that does not mean that the Liyue of today is the same city as it was all those years ago.
Ningguang:
Do not merely cast your protective gaze upon the land. Instead, focus your sights on our city and each of the citizens that dwell within it.
Moon Carver:
Are you questioning our means of protecting Liyue?
Mountain Shaper:
Hmm...
Ningguang:
I mean no offense. I simply hope that our adepti forebearers would see Liyue in a new light.
Cloud Retainer:
Hah, "forebearers" you say. One doubts you would be fit to be part of such a lineage...
Ningguang:
This morning, Rex Lapis appeared to me in a dream.
Cloud Retainer:
What?
Ningguang:
In the dream, I yearned to tell him that we Qixing, though mortal, are equally bound to the contract. Each passing generation of the Qixing leaves many things of value to be inherited by the next generation.
Ningguang:
I also thought to tell him how the past generations of Qixing had strove under his rule to survive in our mortal world, establishing a network of contracts which has since come to be known as "trade."
Ningguang:
But I dared not speak. I could only gaze at him in silence until the moment I awoke.
Paimon:
Aw, Ningguang...
Traveler:
We're all on the same side here...
Cloud Retainer:
Yet another perspective... What are you trying to say, Outlander?
Traveler:
When there is discord between the guardians and those they were meant to defend...
Traveler:
Harmony becomes very difficult to restore.
Paimon:
Right, that's something that happened in Mondstadt — it's a story about the Four Winds and the people of the Anemo Archon.
Paimon:
The Anemo Archon sought to quell the strife between the two sides, because he believed that such conflict would only scar the hearts of both and that nothing good would come of it...
Traveler:
This is what we learned in the City of Freedom.
Keqing:
Each of the Seven Nations has its own scars from the past.
Mountain Shaper:
Though your point is the very height of simplicity...
Mountain Shaper:
As adepti, we've become a laughingstock, to be chastised thus by an outlander who has lent us such succor.
Madame Ping:
Alright, alright. Didn't Ningguang suggest that we should focus on the city and each of its citizens? I know I already have, so why not see for yourselves?
Fengyan:
I apologize for appearing in full armor. I'm afraid I cannot show the proper courtesies.
Moon Carver:
And who are you?
Fengyan:
I am Fengyan, a sergeant of the Millelith. I have come to extend my thanks to the adepti.
Fengyan:
I thought this battle would perhaps be my last. But thanks to the aid of the adepti, our forces were not as badly battered as I feared we might be.
Fengyan:
Although I am a mere mortal soldier, I promise to hold the line and never betray the grace given to us by the illuminated adepti this day.
Moon Carver:
...
Xiao:
...
Changchang:
Huh? Why does everyone look so down? Didn't we just beat that big monster?
Madame Ping:
Hahaha! Weren't you frightened, dear? It was quite the predicament...
Changchang:
I wasn't afraid. All the strong Millelith guards were there, and those powerful heroes with their Visions were there... Everyone was there!
Changchang:
When danger is near, everyone always protects me. And the rest of the time, they make fun toys, and tasty snacks, and... and loads of things that make the harbor so pretty!
Changchang:
Thanks for protecting Liyue Harbor! Please come visit us for the next Lantern Rite!
Xiao:
Unfortunately, we wouldn't be able to participate.
Changchang:
Huh?
Xiao:
Because we are adepti.
Changchang:
Oh, okay... It must be hard being an adeptus.
Paimon:
Aww...
Madame Ping:
You see, this is what Liyue is like today.
Madame Ping:
The country of contracts is grateful to the adepti for their protection. But it is no longer necessary for the city to rely on the adepti's power to solve every little niggling matter.
Madame Ping:
Although their blood is weak, there is still strength to be found in those we call mortals...
Madame Ping:
The time of contracts between gods and Liyue has long since passed. Now is the time of contracts between Liyue and its people.
Mountain Shaper:
Hmm, seeing the port around us now, it is hard not to feel a bit out of place... wouldn't you say so, Cloud Retainer?
Cloud Retainer:
Your line of inquiry is askew. One did not spearhead this expedition to Liyue Harbor...
Paimon:
Hmm... seems like the adepti have had a change of heart.
Xiao:
Let us return now.
Moon Carver:
...Eager to leave, Conqueror of Demons?
Madame Ping:
Hehehe...
Mountain Shaper:
Yes, one understands what the Conqueror of Demons means. The city of Liyue has changed much after our long separation.
Mountain Shaper:
One fears that by the time one finally grasps the new contracts of Liyue, you humans would have once again changed the place beyond recognition.
Mountain Shaper:
Fair enough. Away we shall, and return whence we came...
Moon Carver:
Hmph...
Moon Carver:
Since we adepti have consensus, then one shall persist no further.
Moon Carver:
But how will we ensure that the Liyue Qixing will not simply exploit their power once we depart? In my view, that is still a thing to be guarded against...
Ningguang:
*chuckles*
Madame Ping:
Alright, Moon Carver. You needn't worry. It seems to me that this right of supervision is best left to the people of Liyue.
Paimon:
Whew... Looks like the conflict between humans and adepti was avoided. All's well that ends well, huh?
Paimon:
Oh, right! It's nice that we've got peace and all, but we're forgetting one thing!
Paimon:
Childe wanted to unleash the god so he could lure Rex Lapis out!
Paimon:
But we were able to handle the Overlord of the Vortex on our own... So Rex Lapis never showed up!
Paimon:
Oh, and speaking of that — don't we still need to get to the bottom of that archon's "death," too?
Paimon:
Paimon doesn't get it... But, isn't the strongest lead we have the adepti-less Rite of Parting that we're organizing?
Paimon:
No idea where Zhongli's gone. Let's ask for him at Wangsheng Funeral Parlor.
Ferrylady:
Is there anything I can do for you two? I'm afraid that Wangsheng Funeral Parlor isn't in the best state to receive guests.
Paimon:
We've come to see Zhongli. Could you please tell him we're here?
Ferrylady:
Unfortunately, Zhongli isn't here at the moment. It seems he went to Northland Bank.
Paimon:
Doesn't the Northland Bank belong to the Fatui?
Paimon:
Last time we saw Zhongli was before we went to the Golden House...
Paimon:
Do you think he doesn't know about the attack on Liyue? Visiting the Fatui at a time like this could only mean more trouble!
Paimon:
We had better go and make sure that everything is okay.
Look for Zhongli at Northland Bank
Childe:
You call this "cooperation between Harbingers"? Cooperation involves communication, you know...
Signora:
Hehe, don't take it to heart, Childe. Besides, aren't you happy that you got to skip the formalities and bring chaos to the land? I'm sure you must've enjoyed that...
Signora:
...Oh, it seems that some of your friends have arrived.
Paimon:
Hey, it's Zhongli and Childe! And... you! You're also one of the Harbingers...
Traveler:
Signora!
Signora:
Haha, it's you two. I believe we've met once before... In the City of Bards, was it? I'm glad you still remember my name.
Signora:
Ah, right. I imagine that it must have been rather hard to forget watching helplessly as something precious was snatched away from your friend.
Childe:
Well, if it isn't 旅行者. This is our first time seeing each other since Liyue was nearly wiped off the map. This is certainly a bit... awkward, wouldn't you say?
Paimon:
Hmph, Paimon knew that we should never have trusted a Fatui Harbinger!
Childe:
Aw, now don't say that. Sure, I may have misled you, but I never had anything against you personally...
Childe:
Besides, I thought we were getting along quite well together, didn't you? Except for that little tussle we had at the end... Haha.
Childe:
Nothing personal, we just have... different views, that's all. Of course, you may very well hold this against me, but that's up to you...
Childe:
The real deceivers here are Signora and Zhongli... curse them for leading me on.
Childe:
So actually, I think—
Signora:
Stop wasting time, Childe. There'll be plenty of time to chat once I'm through here.
Signora:
You remember the agreement, Morax. Now, if you would be so kind... The Gnosis, please.
Paimon:
What in the world are you talking about!?
Zhongli:
...
Zhongli:
The contract is fulfilled. That which thou seeketh is now bestowed unto thee, for my promise is solid as stone.
Signora:
Hmph, how sanctimonious...
Paimon:
What! So you're the Lord of Geo!?
Paimon:
No, wait! That's an exciting twist and all — but why give the Gnosis to the Fatui!?
Zhongli:
I do not give it for free. I give it as agreed upon in the contract... for it is a matter solely between the Tsaritsa and I.
Paimon:
Yeah, you don't think you went a little bit too far with that whole fake death thing!? Everyone was preparing the ceremony for you when splat, this big dragon falls out of the sky and all of Liyue goes into an uproar. Talk about a disaster!
Signora:
Hehe... Gathering all the forces that had been bubbling behind the scenes, and then stirring them together in a pot that was bound to boil over... That's what he wanted to see, am I right?
Paimon:
Wait... what?
Zhongli:
Perhaps it's best that I explain.
Zhongli:
As you know, I've dwelt upon this world for more than six thousand years. It is now 3,700 years ago that I founded Liyue together with the adepti.
Zhongli:
Even boulders that can withstand whirlpools will erode with the passing of time. I kept convincing myself that cracks had not begun to form and that the end of my time had not yet come.
Zhongli:
Until one drizzly day, as I was strolling along the harbor, I heard a merchant tell one of his workers, "You've finished your duties, go ahead and call it a day."
Zhongli:
I stood motionless among the crowds, asking myself, "Have I already finished my duties?"
Paimon:
Oh, Zhongli...
Zhongli:
But as I began to consider relinquishing my divine role, I soon discovered that many reasons still remained to not hastily depart.
Zhongli:
Was Liyue, the city I had dwelt in for so long, already prepared to enter its next age? I decided that a test was needed in order to reveal the answer.
Zhongli:
So I feigned my own death, and gathered the cast of Childe, the adepti, and the Liyue Qixing to play their roles together on the stage that was Liyue.
Zhongli:
Indeed, I was. The Gnosis which I had kept for so many years suddenly seemed to have lost its meaning.
Paimon:
So you mean that if the chaos ever reached the point of no return, you would simply appear and use your divine powers to bring Liyue back under control?
Signora:
Of course. And it would have been all too easy for him, too.
Signora:
Just as a child quickly matures after losing their parents, so has Liyue matured when faced with the death of its deity...
Zhongli:
In the end, the resolution to all that has transpired was even more satisfactory than I could have hoped for.
Zhongli:
Take the adepti, for instance. Owing to their years of seclusion, they were the least informed. Yet, when faced with a crisis, they, commendably, showed the greatest amount of restraint possible. Not only did they manage to co-operate with the Qixing, but in the end, they even made efforts to understand the hearts of the people.
Zhongli:
Credit is also due to Signora, the emissary dispatched by the Cryo Archon to fulfill our contract. At my request, she kept everything she knew in strict confidence — this despite the eavesdropping ears of her colleague, Childe.
Zhongli:
This meant I could remain as Zhongli, even having the chance to fulfill the age-old traditions of Liyue in this mortal form. Thank you for joining me on this journey, Traveler.
Zhongli:
All of these things turned out as I had planned. There is only one thing that I had not anticipated... and that was the conduct of the Liyue Qixing.
Zhongli:
I had expected them to do no more than the adepti... To come to the defense of Liyue. But when all was said and done...
Zhongli:
They seized the opportunity to supplant Liyue's divine protectors, and used the subsequent power vacuum left by my death to quickly gain complete control of Liyue.
Paimon:
Huh? That doesn't sound good at all!
Zhongli:
Hah... On the contrary, I think it is excellent. I had always feared that it was too soon for them to take over from me, and it was also that which I longed for the most. As such, this is the best parting gift anyone could have given this god of old.
Childe:
Hey, what about me? Doesn't anyone feel the least bit of remorse for deceiving me? You've practically kept me in the dark!
Signora:
Heh, I think that thanks would be more appropriate. You certainly played no small part in all of this... Wreaking havoc and turning the city upside down. The Lord of Geo ought to thank you for your performance, if anything.
Signora:
If you hadn't created the pressure of a battle between mortals, adepti and a god, the lump of coal resting in the hands of the Geo Archon — Liyue — would never have been able to become a dazzling diamond of a city.
Childe:
Huh? Just whose side are you on, mocking me like that? Are you itching for a fight?
Childe:
Be that as it may, you've come out of this as the hero of Liyue. I, on the other hand, will be forever proscribed as a disturber of the peace, no?
Signora:
Heh... Well then, with the Gnosis in my possession, I have no use for such idle chatter. We should return to Zapolyarny Palace and seek an audience with Her Majesty, the Tsaritsa. Come, Childe.
Childe:
Ugh, fine... I'll meet you there later. I'm not sharing a boat with the likes of you.
Signora:
Hmph, do as you wish.
Zhongli:
Now then, is there anything else you wish to ask me?
Paimon:
Right! As Zhongli always told us, "a good trade is a fair trade." Paimon has no idea what could be a good trade for a Gnosis.
Zhongli:
Realistically speaking, there is no such thing.
Paimon:
Huh???
Zhongli:
However, I am the God of Contracts. For thousands of years, I have made countless contracts. If the deal was of no benefit, then I certainly would not be inclined to agree to it.
Zhongli:
My agreement with the Cryo Archon will be the last of my contracts as the Geo Archon — my "contract to end all contracts."
Zhongli:
As for the bargaining chip that the Tsaritsa used to balance the scales...
Zhongli:
Uncover that answer for yourself in your future journeys.
Follow the road up to Yujing Terrace
Big-Footed Dajiao:
...Well, since we're going through with this Rite of Parting... I guess it means that those rumors hit the nail on the head.
Wrench Wang:
So Rex Lapis is really... But they didn't catch the culprit, did they?
Big-Footed Dajiao:
Ah, come on, do you think that the assassin could have been a normal person? You know what I think? I don't think any of the gossip on the streets you hear from those shady types is worth anything.
Big-Footed Dajiao:
There's only one real possibility in my mind. I've heard that the assassin was that Fatui fellow. Youngish, pretty high in rank — I think they called him Childe.
Wrench Wang:
The Fatui? They certainly are very suspicious. Who knows what those greedy, crooked folks...
Big-Footed Dajiao:
Shh! Lower your voice! If the Fatui catch you in their sights, Rex Lapis won't be around to protect you this time!
Follow the road up to Yujing Terrace
Uncle Gao:
You know that god from the ocean couldn't have just shown up out of nowhere. I mean, it's been two thousand years since Rex Lapis subdued it.
Uncle Sun:
Yes, and to think that this happened right on the heels of the incident with Rex Lapis, too...
Uncle Gao:
Say, do you think the person who assassinated our Lord and released that evil god might have been one and the same?
Uncle Sun:
Now that you mention it, that's very possible. Yes... it's very possible indeed.
Uncle Sun:
I mean, it all fits together! That person must have colluded with the evil god to harm Rex Lapis. Ugh, that wicked, black-hearted scoundrel...
Uncle Sun:
Still, what sort of supernatural prowess must this person possess to be able to do such things? I have never heard of such a person in all my years.
Uncle Gao:
Ah, forget it. Guessing's no use to us. Look, the Millelith over there looks like he's about to make an announcement. Let's hear what the Ministry of Civil Affairs has to say first.
Listen to the Millelith announcement
Fengyan:
Hear ye all the Qixing's words:
Fengyan:
Though a dragon soars ageless as the mountains, it too must return to dust. This is common knowledge.
Fengyan:
Gods and adepti live glorious lives, but both light and shadow have their season. So, too, must they face divinely-appointed trials.
Fengyan:
Rumors and hearsay abound on the streets that Rex Lapis was murdered. Now, let the truth be revealed.
Fengyan:
Having been thwarted in his trial, Rex Lapis' soul has recouped the celestial heights. He beseeches the people of Liyue to grieve not, and to let not their hearts be saddened.
Fengyan:
Nor are they to believe street-borne rumors or indulge in baseless speculation.
Paimon:
Ah... Um, Paimon needs a translation on what the Qixing's announcement said, 旅行者.
Paimon:
...So that's how they're spinning it...
Paimon:
Something feels off. Why would they suddenly give up looking for the murderer? Not to mention how this excuse sounds like something they just made up on the spot.
Paimon:
Could the Qixing already have known that Rex Lapis wasn't dead? But Zhongli said that neither they nor the adepti knew anything...
Paimon:
Hmm... Did Zhongli tell them in secret after his Gnosis changed hands?
Paimon:
Exactly, right? Ooh, seems like the Rite of Parting has been going on for a while now. Let's go have a look.
Go to the site of the Rite of Parting
Paimon:
Look, it's Ningguang and Keqing. Are they saying something? Are their speeches over?
Ningguang:
...As said previously, Rex Lapis' soul returning to the heavens is the end of the contract, and it is also the end of an era.
Shitou:
3,700 years of contracts, burnt and reduced to ash...
Ningguang:
We, the people of Liyue were indeed prosperous. But blinded by our prosperity, we forgot that time can be pitiless.
Ying'er:
The long, unending dream of our archon walking among us...
Madame Ping:
Mm...
Ningguang:
Now that we have awoken from our dream, we must learn to say farewell.
Ningguang:
Will you stand with us as we reestablish our contracts — as we build a new age of prosperity?
Ganyu:
So concludes the words of her Eminence, the Tianquan.
Ganyu:
Does Her Eminence the Yuheng have anything to add?
Paimon:
Eh? Is she looking this way?
Keqing:
Traveler.
Paimon:
Yikes! She really is looking our way!
Crowd:
Is that the traveler who they say defeated the ancient god?
Crowd:
So young...
Keqing:
The Liyue Qixing always repay their debts. And as you have heard, our eyes see far and our reach is long.
Keqing:
Name your price. You deserve that much.
Paimon:
Whoa...
Traveler:
...
Traveler:
Well... could you help me put up some missing person posters...?
Talk to the people taking part in the rite
Madame Ping:
As for the mortals and adepti of Liyue... what shape shall our relationship take from now on?
Ying'er:
Ha, and to think I'd put my best perfume on before coming here, thinking you'd like it...
Ying'er:
But it seems as if those perfumes really were meant to be offered to Rex Lapis.
Ying'er:
Well, that's fine. Suffer no rivals in love, they say, and that's three gone in one stroke. *chuckles*
Shitou:
Ah, Rex Lapis... Rex Lapis...
Shitou:
Hmm. Now that I think about it, if everyone's of the same mind as me...
Shitou:
Perhaps mementos for Rex Lapis might be the best short-term business opportunity...
Ningguang:
Roping you in was possibly the most masterful move we could have made. I believe that future generations will say so too, when our deeds come up for their review.
Keqing:
Heh. Why, you... Were you just trying to look cool earlier, or are you really that selfless?
Keqing:
If you were looking for someone, you could have just told me that in private...
Ganyu:
The clean-up of the premises, managing the crowds as they exit, making an account of the Rite... There's much that remains to be done. I didn't miss anything, did I?
Zhongli:
Oh? Why are you hanging back here? Don't you want to get closer to the action?
Zhongli:
You went through a lot to organize this rite, and this is a rare opportunity to see your journey bear fruit with your own eyes. You should make the most of it.
Look for Zhongli at the scene
Paimon:
Hey, Zhongli!
Paimon:
Look at this. Everyone in Liyue's caught up in their emotions, thinking that they'll never see Rex Lapis again...
Paimon:
...And here you are, looking all relaxed!
Zhongli:
Hahaha. Why would I not feel more at ease after laying down the burden I have borne for 3,700 years?
Zhongli:
Right, if the two of you can spare the time, I should treat you to a meal at the Xinyue Kiosk.
Paimon:
Hah! That sounds like big talk, Zhongli. Paimon might have believed you if you were treating us to some Third-Round Knockout, but you'd have to pay out your nose just to stand inside Xinyue Kiosk. Are you sure you can afford it?
Zhongli:
Hmm...
Zhongli:
You're right, I do lack the Mora.
Paimon:
But why would Morax lack Mora?
Zhongli:
As the Rex Lapis Morax, I can easily create Mora. But since I have chosen to walk this earth as the mortal Zhongli, I should abide by the same rules that mortals do.
Zhongli:
When I was journeying with you, though I still had the Gnosis in hand, I knew that I must soon retire from my role as an archon. So I had to... rehearse a little, for my new life.
Paimon:
Oh, no wonder! Paimon gets it now. You didn't look at the price tags when we were spending because you've never had to.
Paimon:
But since you weren't used to not being able to just make more Mora as and when you wanted to, you had to try becoming a parasite to society who lives off of other peoples' credit...
Zhongli:
Well, we were only spending Fatui money. You don't have to say it like that...
Zhongli:
In the city of commerce, we do not merely exchange money or goods. We also exchange knowledge, memories, and foresight, as well as positions, roles, and lives.
Zhongli:
The archon Morax could never experience life as the true mortal Zhongli could, no matter how many times he descended to be with his people.
Zhongli:
Haha, I must thank you for that, 旅行者.
Zhongli:
I will treasure the memories that I made as Zhongli, traveling the streets of Liyue with you.
Traveler:
It was a fine journey.
Zhongli:
That is true, but there is no journey that does not end. No meetings without partings.
Paimon:
Mm... Paimon thinks that we should make a move and continue our search for The Seven.
Zhongli:
I fear that continuing your journey may be difficult. The nation that neighbors Liyue by sea, Inazuma, is presently closed.
Zhongli:
Yes. The nation has been closed by order of its deity.
Zhongli:
The Electro Archon, Baal — and just as the people of Liyue preferred to call me Rex Lapis, she too goes by another name among locals in Inazuma.
Paimon:
Um, Paimon thinks we've heard that one before. Uh.. Rai... Raiden?
Zhongli:
That is the case. And since Raiden is also the Shogun of Inazuma, people call her the Raiden Shogun.
Paimon:
That said, though people at the wharf were saying that the situation in Inazuma is very tense, Paimon doesn't remember that always being the case. It wasn't that bad last year...
Paimon:
Zhongli, since you're Rex Lapis, shouldn't you know something about what's happening there? Just how did Inazuma become a closed nation?
Zhongli:
It's because of Visions.
Paimon:
Visions?
Zhongli:
When faced with circumstances beyond their control, humans often bemoan their lack of power.
Zhongli:
But if a person shows true strength of will at a desperate and fateful moment in their life, the gods will look upon them with favor.
Zhongli:
This is what Visions are. Magical foci bestowed upon those who have been acknowledged by the gods.
Paimon:
Uh-huh. That's how people in Teyvat see it.
Zhongli:
But starting from last year, the Raiden Shogun began promulgating the "Vision Hunt Decree."
Paimon:
...Vision Hunt Decree?
Zhongli:
Yes. It was an order to seize all Visions within Inazuma's borders, and to inlay them upon the hands of the Statue of the Omnipresent God.
Paimon:
They want to seize Visions? But why? Aren't Visions blessings from the gods?
Zhongli:
I should think that in the Raiden Shogun's eyes, it is precisely because they are divine blessings, that they should be under the sole dominion of divinity.
Paimon:
Whoa... That's harsh.
Zhongli:
The Anemo Archon is the God of Freedom, and the Geo Archon is the God of Contracts. For her part, the Raiden Shogun is the God of Eternity. It seems as though she has finally decided to eliminate any unstable elements that could pose a threat to her eternal realm.
Zhongli:
The fact that even I, the oldest of The Seven, have now "passed away" will only strengthen her resolve to pursue eternity.
Zhongli:
Knowing her, she must have again quoted that adage she is most fond of when proclaiming that decree to her people:
Zhongli:
"Seven ideals for seven gods, and of these, Eternity is nearest unto the Heavenly Principles."
Traveler:
Heavenly Principles...
Zhongli:
Alright, then. Was there anything else you wished to know?
Zhongli:
Haha... Ah, that was a good one. Failing a divine trial? How they came up with that excuse, I will never know.
Zhongli:
That said, the reason why the Qixing were so eager to resolve the incident and stop pursuing the culprit was indeed because they received news in secret that Rex Lapis was not dead.
Zhongli:
I hinted as much to the adepti as well.
Zhongli:
How did I accomplish that, you ask? Hmm... Have you ever heard of this particularly convenient adepti art known as "gifting dreams and visions"?