"A clever housewife cannot cook without rice. Without Mora, the progress of the plans can only be delayed, or even halted."
Shiki sighed helplessly. Inazuma's monthly finances were currently in the red, and Seirai Island had just begun construction, not to mention the repair work for Tatarasuna and Tsurumi.
"So, you've come to borrow Mora?" Morax asked subconsciously.
He didn't know if it was because he was used to spending Childe's Mora or if he always forgot his wallet, but as soon as he heard of a lack of Mora, his first thought was to have someone else pay.
"...No." Shiki said, looking at Morax strangely. Why would he think of borrowing Mora?
"I'm here to learn business knowledge from Tianquan Ningguang. I only know a little about it, and trying to improve Inazuma's income with just these rudimentary skills is clearly unrealistic."
"Ningguang, huh? She's a good choice, but she's not so easy to meet. You'll have to work hard."
Morax said without changing his expression. You probably don't know how thick a face seven thousand years of practice can forge.
You should know that he could calmly say, "Indeed," when Paimon teased him about not having Mora.
"I will."
"Hmm, that's very good." Morax nodded gently: "If you want to visit Liyue's famous scenic spots and historical sites, I do know some good places."
"And I'll be responsible for the expenses during that time?"
"By universal rationality, indeed. How about it? Want to sign a contract?"
"Maybe next time. I do have a transaction I'd like to discuss with Mr. Zhongli." Shiki said, condensing a drop of golden adeptal power at her fingertip.
"I hope to systematically learn adeptal arts."
"Adeptal arts?" Morax put down his teacup upon hearing this: "Can you tell me why you want to learn adeptal arts?"
"You inherited divine power from Baal; adeptal arts would only be icing on the cake for you."
"If you want to become stronger, instead of learning adeptal arts, it would be better to properly develop your Archon's clearance."
Shiki was silent for a while upon hearing this. Morax watched the girl's eyes for a long time before she slowly said:
"I have fallen in love with a human."
"A mortal's lifespan is but a hundred years. Although I have only recently become a Archon, this is an undeniable fact."
"I need adeptal arts to extend her lifespan so that she can always stay by my side."
The girl's eyes were very firm. Over seven thousand years, Morax had seen too many similar expressions; he understood the girl's determination.
Moreover, being able to cultivate adeptal power herself already proved her talent. If she wanted to learn, then let her learn.
"Go to Yujing Terrace. There's an old lady named Granny Ping there. She can teach you what you want to learn."
"...Thank you."
Although not directly introduced, Shiki felt this was good enough.
Granny Ping was one of the first adepti during Liyue's founding, with the adeptal name Streetward Rambler, and one of the few adepti living in Liyue Harbor.
As for the others... Naturally, it was Morax, the ancestor of all adepti, and the Liyue Seven Stars' secret art master from Yuehai Pavilion, Miss Ganyu.
"No need to thank me. I only gave her a heads-up. How much you truly learn will still depend on yourself."
Morax chuckled softly. He would use adeptal dream-sending to inform Granny Ping of the girl's existence.
The adepti were never stingy with their adeptal arts. As long as you wanted to learn, they could teach anything, provided your talent was sufficient.
Why did so many people seeking adepti in Liyue return empty-handed in the end? Was it not because their talent was insufficient?
Their bodies couldn't even withstand slightly more active elemental power, let alone control them and cultivate adeptal power.
Therefore, the most basic requirement for learning adeptal arts was to possess the means to adapt to and control elemental power.
A Vision is one of them, and the others are innate factors.
Such as Archons and adepti beasts.
In other words, as long as the girl's talent is intelligent enough, there's no problem for him to take all of Liyue's adeptal arts with him.
'It seems my old friends are in for a surprise. To cultivate adeptal energy without any guidance—would such talent be lacking?'
Morax, at least, didn't think it would be lacking; such talent is rare in the world.
"This is enough. If Mr. Zhongli needs any help in the future, just let me know."
"If needed, I will."
Listening to the girl's words, Morax just nodded. He didn't think the girl could help him with anything.
Seeing this, Shiki said nothing more, only letting his pupils slowly take on a rainbow-blue intertwined color.
The moment the Mystic Eyes of Death Perception appeared, Morax frowned deeply. How many years had it been? This sense of threat emanating from death.
"Your eyes… Mystic Eyes of Death Perception?"
"...You know?" Shiki was slightly surprised. He shouldn't have told the other party, right?
"Hundreds of years ago, a girl came to Liyue. He designed a uniquely shaped weapon called the Crescent Pike."
"Its original purpose was to pierce the gaps between armor, but that girl could see the gaps of death where life was destined to end."
"The gaps of death were like magic, drawing the spear tip, which was as fine as a needle, from his hand."
"However, he eventually died by his own spear. The witch who could directly perceive the death of all things thus met his demise."
"I've seen his eyes; they are very similar to yours, but his had blue on the inside and rainbow colors wrapped around the outside."
Morax's memory was excellent; even now, he remembered the girl's heroic posture as he wielded the spear, yet tragically, due to love, he ultimately died by his own spear.
"Moreover, your specifications should be higher than his. At the very least, I didn't feel any threat of death from him."
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