"Really?" Nahida found it hard to believe.
For a long-lived Archon like the Geo Archon, one's power would typically diminish over time, worn down by age and overuse until it spiraled into uncontrollable depletion. Zhongli himself had said his prime was during the Archon War.
In short, there was no such thing as growing stronger with age—especially now that Zhongli had stepped down from his divine role and had spent years in peaceful retirement, neglecting training altogether...
"It's true." Lu Chen nodded firmly.
A Zhongli who spent his days sipping tea and strolling about had somehow regained peak strength—and was even growing stronger. It was ridiculous!
Lu Chen, whose own power remained sealed, could only watch in envy.
"Then there's only one explanation..." Nahida murmured thoughtfully.
"The power of faith," Lu Chen answered.
"Exactly!"
Their hushed exchange left Kenshin and the others standing awkwardly nearby, completely in the dark.
Nahida offered them a small, apologetic smile before tugging Lu Chen toward another bookshelf.
"Let's talk over here!"
"Hey—you're heavy!"
"I can walk, you know..." Lu Chen chuckled as the petite Nahida pulled him along by the sleeve. He couldn't help but feel like a little white-haired pet was dragging him around.
Once out of earshot, Nahida said, "So you think so too—it has to be the power of faith! If the elemental energy here isn't abnormal, that's the only explanation!"
Lu Chen nodded, and Nahida continued.
"Gods draw strength from the faith of mortals. The more devout and widespread the belief, the stronger the god becomes. Something must have happened to Mr. Zhongli after arriving here."
Lu Chen looked at her. "You might not believe this, but his power spike happened after Liyue's Floating World Amid a Thousand Rocks blew up. During a trip, I casually asked him for tips on manipulating Geo—and that's when we both realized something was different."
"So the conclusion is simple!" Nahida looked at him, eyes wide. "It's your novel! Liyue's Floating World Amid a Thousand Rocks allowed Zhongli to gain faith from this world, and that's where his power came from!"
As unbelievable as it sounded, the evidence was undeniable.
Lu Chen nodded. "Never thought followers of Zhongli would appear in a world completely unrelated to Teyvat."
"It's all thanks to your writing!" Nahida's face flushed with excitement. "You let people from another world feel the Geo Archon's charisma—even turn into believers! It's incredible! You're basically a god yourself!"
Her words warmed Lu Chen far more than the praise from the trio earlier. A small smile crept onto his face.
"This is what I wanted you to see—my trump card strong enough to defy the Heavenly Principles: faith from another world."
"Just imagine!" Lu Chen's tone grew animated. "The faith here is endless! And we don't need temples, cathedrals, or thousand-handed statues. We just need books—or any medium that spreads Teyvat's culture. As long as we build those characters, the faith will keep flowing. And when that happens—"
Lu Chen would have an overpowered Archon team at his side. Even he himself would benefit.
After all, the main character of his next book, Inazuma: A Hundred Dreams in a Moment, was him.
"I want a cameo in your new book! I want to get stronger too!" Nahida said, hands on her hips.
"Well... depends on the plot," Lu Chen said helplessly. Dropping a tiny Dendro Archon into an Inazuma storyline might be a bit odd...
"No!" Nahida puffed her cheeks and clung to Lu Chen's arm, pleading.
This was a chance to grow stronger—how could she let it slip? She pulled out every cute trick in the book.
"Alright, alright—stop that already!" Lu Chen looked down at her, wrapped tightly around his leg, and sighed as he glanced around.
"We're in public! Can't this wait until we're home?"
"No way!" Nahida refused flatly. "What if you go back and don't agree?"
So she clung tighter, afraid he'd run off.
"Fine, I promise!" Lu Chen relented.
"Really!?"
"Of course." Lu Chen gave her an exasperated look. "Relax—I've already got a plan. Now that we understand how the power of faith works, it's time to go big!"
"How big?" Nahida asked, eyes shining.
Lu Chen answered confidently, "Big enough to build a Teyvat Universe—one that spans every medium imaginable. That big enough for you?"
...
After saying goodbye to Zen and the others, Lu Chen and Nahida left the bookstore.
Night had fallen. The vibrant city faded behind them as they walked toward the pier.
The sound of waves grew louder, and the gentle melody of music drifted from the Dawn Bar.
They arrived just in time for the evening show. As they pushed open the door, a wave of warm, festive energy washed over them—the place was nearly full.
The bartender bustled about, serving customers. Diluc sat in a shadowed corner, sneaking a break while watching the performance. When he saw them enter, he gave a small wave.
He had already saved the best seats for them. Lu Chen nodded with a smile and led Nahida through the crowd.
Across from the fireplace stood a semicircular stage, surrounded by guests both seated and standing.
Lu Chen looked ahead. It was really just a slightly elevated platform over the wooden floor—simple, even rustic, but it exuded a charming, vintage theatrical vibe.
Venti sat casually on a chair, cradling a guitar, while Barbara stood beside her, gently holding a mic. The two performed together in close quarters with the audience.
Unlike their usual collaborations, tonight's piece was lighthearted and upbeat. Venti's fingers danced across the strings while Barbara sang sweetly and playfully. The harmony between them was flawless. The crowd was entranced.
"It sounds so beautiful!" Nahida whispered.
"I'm glad you like it." Lu Chen, utterly exhausted from the day, felt his fatigue melt away the moment the music reached him. His body instinctively relaxed.
"I really loved today... I don't want it to end."
Something shimmered in Nahida's eyes—bright and emotional. Lu Chen worried she might burst into tears at any moment.
So he joked, "Don't you guys have an Akasha system? Just record this dream, loop it every day, and this day will never end."
Nahida giggled. "As if! Besides, a dream is still just a dream. It can never replace the real thing!"
Lu Chen glanced toward the stage, where Venti caught his gaze and gave a cheeky wink.
"Yeah." He lifted his glass in salute to the night's performers.
In the cozy tavern, the flickering firelight danced across the singers and their instruments. Patrons clapped between songs, their joy carrying deep into the night. Every moment etched itself into Lu Chen's memory.
Without realizing it, a system notification appeared.
[Achievement 10: A Beautiful New World]
[Through your journey, Nahida experienced the wonders of the outside world and now looks to the future with hope!]
[Challenge Quest: You have to see it with your own eyes to feel the beauty of the world.]
[Quest Complete. Rewards: 8,000 Primogems, 8 million yuan in real-world currency.]
[Challenge Quest: Mondstadt Winery is Irresistible!]
[Help Diluc expand his business and boost sales of Dawn Craft Brews by over 20 times.]
[Quest Complete. Rewards: 4,800 Primogems, 4.8 million yuan in real-world currency, and a Special Skill.]