By late September, the lush greenery of Ling Shan Bay had started to shift into shades of yellow and red.
A chill in the air signaled the arrival of autumn. Lu Chen pulled up his collar as he gazed toward the front gate.
The few Glaze Lilies Zhongli had painstakingly cultivated had all withered overnight.
Dressed in a season-appropriate autumn outfit, Zhongli was crouched at the gate with Xiao, discussing whether they should transplant the remaining Liyue flora into pots to protect them from the sudden drop in temperature.
"Wild Glaze Lilies are ridiculously hard to raise," Lu Chen muttered with a yawn as he greeted Zhongli.
"Perhaps we can ask Nahida for help with cultivation," Zhongli mused.
"We survived The Withering, only to be undone by the cold..." Xiao, now acting as the assistant gardener, sighed in resignation.
Lu Chen looked at the two already busy so early in the morning and casually remarked, "Why not just plant some potatoes? They're cold-resistant, easy to grow... and edible."
"Potatoes?"
Zhongli and Xiao exchanged a glance. Zhongli looked contemplative.
Lu Chen shifted his gaze to the other side of the garden.
Qiqi was up early, doing gentle stretching exercises as she faced the sun.
"Morning, Qiqi."
"Good morning..." Qiqi's little face glowed with energy.
This season clearly suited her. Lu Chen figured she'd be even happier once winter arrived.
After briefly greeting everyone in the garden, Lu Chen turned back to the system interface hovering in front of him.
[Skill Pool Updated — Please choose from the following skills:]
[1. Time Authority: Slow Flow]
[2. Space Authority: Ley Line Anchor]
[3. Life Authority: Near-Death Revival]
[4. Theoretical Knowledge: Fundamentals of Primordial Energy Conversion]
Lu Chen raised an eyebrow in surprise. With this refresh, the four authorities—life, death, time, and space—were all present.
There was even theoretical knowledge from Celestia. It was as if the system had anticipated his current goals—this lineup was unusually considerate.
[Ley Line Anchor: By tracing specific ley patterns, one can discover ancient teleportation devices at ley line junctions. Use them to travel long distances. (Usable by up to five individuals)]
Since Lu Chen was preparing for a return to Teyvat, this ability would be very practical. He wasn't in the mood to control Anemo all the way from Liyue back to Inazuma.
[Fundamentals of Primordial Energy Conversion] was more complex. Acquiring it would grant a comprehensive set of foundational theories. In short, Lu Chen would be able to manipulate "Primordial Energy" extracted from Skyfrost Nails however he liked—whether for forging weapons, creating light and heat, or even boiling water, it would all become ridiculously easy.
This excited him—after all, it was Celestia-level tech. Mastering it could unlock tremendous potential.
The remaining two options? [Slow Flow] was an old favorite that he didn't urgently need, while [Near-Death Revival] sounded useful—clearly a lifesaving skill for critical moments.
However, he only had two skill exchange tokens: one from his last draw and one earned from the [Mondstadt Winery is Irresistible!] task.
After some thought, Lu Chen reluctantly set aside [Near-Death Revival]. The skill pool wouldn't refresh for a while, but he still had the [Yae Publishing House] mission on the table—plenty of chances ahead.
"That settles it..." he muttered as he made his selections.
[Acquired: Spatial Authority – Ley Line Anchor]
[Acquired: Theoretical Knowledge – Fundamentals of Primordial Energy Conversion]
As soon as he confirmed, Lu Chen felt his consciousness blur—countless new bits of knowledge surged into his mind.
Being higher-tier information, it was hard for him to absorb it all at once. He closed his eyes and let the process unfold.
He had no idea how long he stayed like that. When he finally opened his eyes, a pair of clear, violet ones stared back at him, full of concern.
"Ugh..."
"Ei... My head hurts..." Lu Chen groaned, rubbing his temple. It felt like he'd been hit with a hammer. "How long was I sitting here like this?"
"Three hours. You didn't move the whole time—I was getting worried."
Ei gently pressed a warm palm to his forehead. Lu Chen shook his head. "I'm fine. I was just... studying."
As he rubbed his eyes, he realized everyone had gathered around. Miko stood nearby with her arms crossed, chuckling as she saw him come to.
"Told you. He's always bouncing around—no way he'd botch meditation."
"Meditation?" Lu Chen laughed and shook his head, then explained what the [Fundamentals of Primordial Energy Conversion] skill actually was.
He turned to Ei.
"Ei, how's that weapon project I asked about?"
"I finished it," she replied without hesitation. "All thirty of the Traveler's Handy Swords you gave me have been infused with Primordial Energy."
"Thank you," Lu Chen said sincerely. Forging that many weapons in just a few days was no small feat.
"What do you need so many for?" Miko asked, clearly puzzled.
"It's for an upcoming battle," Lu Chen said. "These weapons will be put to use very soon."
"The Withering?" Miko guessed.
That would make sense, considering only The Withering required Primordial Energy for purification lately.
"No, not here," Lu Chen said, glancing at everyone. "This time we're heading back to Teyvat. Who wants to come with us?"
Since it involved Inazuma, Ei was a definite pick, and Miko could tag along too. That left one more spot...
Everyone looked at one another, but no one spoke up.
"Uh..." Venti scratched his head. "Honestly, this sounds like fun, and I'd love to come... but this is an Inazuma issue. It wouldn't be right for me to get too involved, so... next time, okay? You've got to bring me next time!"
Lu Chen nodded. "Anyone else?"
The rest felt the same. They didn't want to interfere in personal or national affairs—especially after all the work Lu Chen had done just to gather enough Primogems to return.
He sighed. "It'd be nice to have one more. Every bit helps..."
That's when Nahida, who had been quiet the whole time, raised her little hand.
"Um..."
"Could you take me along?" she asked timidly.
Lu Chen looked at her. Nahida smiled awkwardly.
"I may not be strong, but I'm smart and well-behaved! I might actually be helpful!"
Lu Chen chuckled. "Sure, but I'm curious—why do you want to come?"
"To learn," she replied earnestly.
"Got it..." He thought for a moment, then agreed.
"Alright. The three of us will go back together!"
...
After confirming the team, Lu Chen handed over household matters to Old Master Zhongli.
Miko stuffed her finished manuscripts into Hu Tao's hands and said with a smile, "Yae Publishing House is in your hands!"
"Don't worry!" Hu Tao grinned. "By the time you're back, everything will be done!"
"Come back soon..." Qiqi waved her tiny hand, her face full of reluctance.
One by one, everyone waved goodbye, making Lu Chen feel a bit awkward. It was just a few days—they were acting like he'd never return.
He glanced at his inventory.
[Primogems: 32,250]
More than enough.
Lu Chen didn't hesitate—he triggered the time exchange function.
[Temporarily opening the Gate of Teyvat. Number of accompanying individuals: three. Duration: 6 days.]
[Transferring to the continent of Teyvat...]
In the next second, Lu Chen and his group of four vanished from the seaside villa.
...