Traversing the Mountains of Liyue
The towering foothills and stone forests, the vast plains and vibrant riverbanks together formed Liyue's rich topography.
In earlier times, people were troubled by the nearby high mountains. Many unknowns existed then, and the peaks obstructed the path of exploration.
But now, between these high mountains, roads had been built by the older generations. They had even thoughtfully installed signposts. Though the roads were somewhat uneven, they at least prevented people from getting lost.
Of course, the prerequisite was that the person could read. Otherwise, they'd still get lost...
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Near Mt. Tianheng
Before heading to Qingxu Pool, one should properly appreciate the scenery along the way. Having come all the way to another world, it would be too boring to just fight monsters.
Standing on Mt. Tianheng, Bonanus felt the air in this region was incredibly sweet and fresh—far better than the polluted exhaust fumes from cars on the roads in her previous life!
Looking down from Mt. Tianheng, one could see the entirety of Liyue Harbor. The crowds coming and going resembled ants, a rather amusing sight.
The establishment of Liyue Harbor laid the initial foundation for the nation's maritime trade.
As the largest trade port on the continent of Teyvat, its cargo throughput was beyond comparison to ordinary ports.
Every patch of land on this continent had its own story, even the Mt. Tianheng beneath Bonanus's feet.
Mt. Tianheng was the mountain range west of Liyue Harbor, a natural protective barrier against external enemies, having aided the people of Liyue in resisting wars both large and small.
Legend said the earliest mining operations of Liyue's people were conducted near Mt. Tianheng.
According to records, as Liyue's natural fortress, during the Archon War, the older generations built many remnants of city walls, fortresses, and defensive works in this area.
If you looked carefully in the game, you could see those dilapidated ancient structures.
Even now, these ancient ruins held archaeological value, as they contained countless treasures. They were also places frequented by adventurers.
Spreading her arms, feeling the cool wind brush against her face, Bonanus couldn't help but take a deep breath.
In the cities of her previous life, it was rare to personally experience this kind of wind. The wind of another world always gave a wondrous feeling.
From this high mountain, she could see the Jade Chamber floating in the air not far away. At the sight of it, Bonanus couldn't help but feel a pang of regret.
After all, in the not-too-distant future, Lady Ningguang of the Jade Chamber would sink this structure worth millions of Mora into the sea.
The Jade Chamber bore the title "Palace in the Sky." It was the private retreat of Ningguang, the Tianquan of the Liyue Qixing, and a symbol of her financial power.
Whether it was its extremely splendid appearance or the height from which it overlooked Liyue, both proclaimed Ningguang's status within Liyue Harbor's commerce.
The Jade Chamber wasn't a place ordinary people could ascend. Many of Liyue's important figures racked their brains for a chance to step onto the Jade Chamber just once.
Unless invited by Ningguang or having earned her recognition, you could only stand on the ground, gazing up at the colossal structure in the sky.
On the ground not far from the Jade Chamber was the mint for Teyvat's unified currency, "Mora"—the Golden House.
Also known as "Childe" Tartaglia's execution ground.
Its architectural style was modeled after temple prototypes, its golden-yellow decorations displaying immense wealth.
In the middle of the stone staircase before the main gate was a flower-shaped disc. On either side of the disc were crystal-clear lakes, the water's surface dotted with many lotus leaves.
In the center was an incense burner, emitting a soft glow and occasionally wafting a pleasant scent.
The Golden House was surrounded by mountains, with one-third exposed outside and the remaining two-thirds inside the mountain itself. If you entered, you would surely be astounded by the amount of Mora inside.
After all, the wealth within could sustain an ordinary person for tens of thousands of lifetimes—truly a paradise on earth.
Naturally, as one of Liyue's vital arteries, it was heavily guarded. Not only inside the Golden House, but even its periphery had many military tents.
These details were enough to reflect the importance of this region.
Though the armed personnel here were numerous, there were still some reckless "sheesh" Treasure Hoarders who attempted theft.
If successful, it meant limitless wealth and luxury! Unfortunately, these Hoarders overestimated their strength, ending up one by one in prison.
Shaking her head slightly, Bonanus thought to herself:
'Who knows if my status as an Adeptus would allow me to freely enter and exit the Golden House? But it's probably just wishful thinking.'
Even as an Adeptus of Liyue, without special circumstances, one couldn't freely enter the Golden House.
Shaking her head again, she couldn't let herself be shackled by mere wealth. Rex Lapis once said:
"Whether you have money or not doesn't matter. At worst, you can just wash dishes once."
Wearing a smile that said "I've attained enlightenment," Bonanus continued leaping joyfully across the mountaintop, like a large bird.
And so, stopping and starting along the way, Bonanus finally crossed countless mountains and arrived near Qingxu Pool.
If an ordinary person traveled from Liyue Harbor to Qingxu Pool slowly, it would likely take a day and a half; at a moderate pace, a day; if galloping full speed without rest, perhaps half a day.
But the prerequisite was encountering no trouble along the way. The closer one got to Qingxu Pool, the number of Millelith patrols would gradually decrease.
Except for one road not far from Qingxu Pool, as it was the only path leading to the Chasm.
Miners and ore-transporting carts frequently passed through there. As one of Liyue's economic lifelines, the higher-ups deemed it very necessary to ensure its safety.
"This area is indeed as I thought—full of Hilichurls. I can even see those tainted by dark energy..."
Looking at the tall ancient structures surrounded by mountains before her, Bonanus couldn't help but widen her eyes. It was truly spectacular!
She wondered why Liyue had abandoned these ancient ruins. Such a pity, since they were built by the older generations.
Qingxu Pool had now become a Hilichurl camp. Among the ruins of these ancient structures, Bonanus could see Hilichurl constructions.
She could even see Hilichurl defensive works, training ranges, and weapon racks...
The Hilichurls tainted by dark energy and those not tainted maintained a certain distance. They were uniformly isolated within a particular structure.
Bonanus couldn't see inside, but she knew—it was absolutely a treasure trove! A great place to earn karmic debt!
Hilichurls eroded by karmic debt... her actions later would probably help liberate them, right?
Thinking this, Bonanus first stretched her limbs, familiarizing herself slightly with the combat memories in her mind, preparing for the upcoming battle.
After all, she saw among these Hilichurl groups the figure of an Abyss Mage—a troublesome opponent.
[System, are you there?]
[System online. How may I assist the host?]