Zhongli looked at Ningguang and said, "Tianquan, I am quite satisfied with how the Qixing handled this incident."
"As it turns out, you are an excellent leader. Under your guidance, Liyue may reach a new peak."
"As for the Rite of Parting... let us proceed with it. After this, Rex Lapis Morax shall step down from his divine throne."
"Even though I am not truly dead, from now on, I will not appear before the people again unless Liyue faces a crisis that mortals simply cannot resolve."
"I also ask that the three of you ensure this remains a secret."
"I will appear at the Rite of Parting in person to fulfill my duty and witness the transition."
Zhongli's words set the tone for everything that was to follow.
After that came a grand banquet where host and guests alike enjoyed themselves thoroughly. Once the feast ended, the Liyue Qixing had to face reality.
While there were no casualties this time, the situation facing Liyue was far more complex than before.
The destruction of a third of the docks was a minor issue; the most pressing problem was the sea, which was currently clogged with ice floes and icebergs. Although Su Ming had already withdrawn his power, he was helpless against the freezing effects caused by the aftermath of the battle.
The Millelith had no choice but to head out to sea and begin hacking out a shipping lane as quickly as possible. If they relied purely on the ice to melt on its own, it would take at least a month. A month's worth of losses, even for a place as wealthy as Liyue Harbor, would be a staggering sum.
None of this had anything to do with Su Ming, however. He had no interest in participating in the cleanup efforts or the Rite of Parting.
His identity had been exposed.
Half of Liyue Harbor now knew that he was the great hero who had slain Osial and saved the city. Su Ming quickly found himself burdened by his newfound fame. Everywhere he went, he was surrounded by crowds offering him enthusiastic hospitality.
At first, he had been quite happy about it. After all, who doesn't enjoy being treated like a star? But he soon realized why so many celebrities hated going out in public. Without hesitation, he simply turned around and returned to the quietude of Mt. Aocang.
The long-lost silence of the mountains felt incredibly welcoming. This had been his first home in this world, after all.
He pulled out his Extraordinary Automatic Fishing Rod, meticulously prepared his bait, and prepared to start fishing. Killing Osial had brought him a massive haul of rewards.
[Congratulations to the host for slaying Osial and preventing the fall of the Jade Chamber, resulting in a massive change to the plot. Luck Value increased by 200 points. Acquired one Sublimation Card and one Enhancement Card.]
[Congratulations to the host for forcing Zhongli to reveal his identity as the Geo Archon and causing his faked death plan to fail, resulting in a massive change to the plot. Luck Value increased by 200 points. Acquired one Sublimation Card and one Enhancement Card.]
To be honest, he had planned to wait for the emergency in Liyue Harbor to settle down before heading back to that "treasure spot" where he had enjoyed such a crazy streak of luck last time. Unfortunately, given his current popularity, he wouldn't be able to walk a single step if he showed his face on the streets.
So, he had flown back to Mt. Aocang overnight. At least it was peaceful here.
The only problem was that the fish in this mountain pool were far fewer than those in the ocean.
"The efficiency might be lower, but the system designates this as a special fishing spot. Even if there are fewer fish, it should be about the same," Su Ming muttered.
Sitting on a stone stool on the small island in the center of the lake, he leisurely set up his rod, prepared the area, and began to silently recall his battle with Osial.
Su Ming's talent was actually exceptional. Had he not been limited by his inability to sense elemental power at the start, he might have found a different path through Adeptal Arts and talismans even without a system or a Vision.
The battle with Osial had been a profound learning experience for him. First and foremost, his mastery over energy shaping had reached a new level. Whether it was the application of Mana Burst, the Edge of Taixuan, or the Golden Light Curse, he had gained new insights into all of them after the fight.
For Su Ming, the most practical gain at this stage was Mana Burst. He had already learned how to use magic to manifest clothes. He could wear whatever he wanted. Furthermore, clothing created from magic possessed a certain degree of defensive capability, making it far superior to ordinary garments.
"Two Sublimation Cards and two Enhancement Cards... It's rare for me to be this wealthy," he thought. "I'll hold off on using them for now. Let's see what grand prize I can pull from the lake today. If I don't get anything useful, I'll just use them to strengthen my foundations. To strike iron, one must be strong themselves."
Su Ming silently circulated the Golden Light Curse and the Heart-Purifying Mantra within his body, beginning his cultivation while he waited.
After an unknown amount of time, his fishing rod twitched. Su Ming lifted the rod with a speed that was actually slightly faster than the automatic sensing device built into the gear.
[Congratulations to the host for triggering a reward.]
[Congratulations to the host for obtaining: Kamar-Taj Secret Art: Portal.]
Rather than the reward itself, Su Ming was more focused on the state he had just entered. His concentration had been absolute, yet he felt no fatigue. It was a state where nothing existed beyond the hearta state where the body moved faster than thought.
Unfortunately, he had only maintained it for a fleeting moment.
"The effect of this Heart-Purifying Mantra... seems much greater than I imagined. I didn't expect a reward that seemed so unremarkable at first to be this powerful."
After his moment of reflection, Su Ming finally looked at his reward.
Well now, it looked like he wouldn't have to waste time traveling anymore. A portaland one produced by Kamar-Taj at that. This thing was incredible. For one, it could be used as a form of space-cutting technique. Secondly, as long as he had a specific image of his destination in his mind, he could truly open a gateway there. This was the ultimate tool for home and travel!
"Tsk, this is great. It'll be so much easier to go wherever I want for fun now," Su Ming grinned.
He was quite interested in the customs and cultures of Teyvat. With this, he never had to worry about the journey. He could play in Inazuma in the morning and be in Fontaine by evening without any issue. He could go wherever he pleased. If he wanted to change the plot, this portal would also play a massive role.
Countless creative uses for the portal immediately began to pop into his mind.
"...My luck is holding up. Today is off to a great start! Let's keep going. I'll continue practicing the Heart-Purifying Mantra as well."
Su Ming cast his line again, chanting the Heart-Purifying Mantra in an attempt to re-enter that special state.
The fishing rod crafted by Cloud Retainer was of a very high standard, and the sensitivity of its internal sensors was remarkable. Usually, when the automatic reel function triggered, Su Ming was always half a step behind in his reaction. But if he entered that special state, he could pull the rod up before the automatic function even kicked in.
Unintentionally, he had discovered a new method of cultivation.
Unfortunately, over the next few casts, Su Ming neither obtained a reward nor managed to enter that special state again. He quickly analyzed the reason.
"My heart is too restless. I'm being too goal-oriented... I need to empty my mind and enter deep meditation."
Su Ming closed his eyes again. Only after a long time did he slowly open them and cast the line into the lake.
One minute, two minutes... there was no reaction. Ten minutes... twenty minutes, still nothing.
Even with his high Luck Value and the bonus of a special fishing spot, along with a "Never Go Home Empty-Handed" buff, the time it took to hook a fish was still a random variable.
At the thirty-minute mark, the rod finally moved.
Creak.
The rod began to bend slightly. The internal talismans were just about to activate when they were suddenly cut off. Su Ming had once again beaten the automatic reel to the punch and lifted the rod.
[Congratulations to the host for triggering a reward.]
[Congratulations to the host for obtaining: Mystic Eyes of Death Perception.]
As the system's mechanical voice rang out, Su Ming withdrew from that special state once more.
"Phew... I still can't maintain it for long, huh?"
He felt it was a pity that he couldn't hold that state for extended periods, but he quickly became excited again. He had hit the jackpot again!
The Mystic Eyes of Death Perception!
This was his first rule-based ability! Death perceptionthe ability to see "death" itself! By severing the "Lines of Death" on a target, one could kill them completely at the level of causality!
It wasn't even limited to living things. Just like Shiki Ryougi from The Garden of Sinners, who was linked to The Root, anything she considered to be "alive"including space and even abstract conceptscould have its Lines of Death severed!
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