What did Dihua Marsh look like a thousand years ago?
The residents of Liyue Harbor could perhaps only catch a glimpse or two from the books in their collections, but Xiao had personally witnessed the prosperity of this place a thousand years ago.
At that time, countless Glaze Lilies bloomed in the waters of Dihua Marsh.
The fields of Guili Plains were like a sea of ice-blue flowers.
Until…
the war.
His old friend passed away.
He and the other Yakshas sealed away their old friend’s divine remains.
The Glaze Lilies gradually disappeared.
Now, all that remained in this place were the memories of the past.
And the god remains.
After the demon god died, its resentment did not dissipate and still lingered upon this land.
By the Lord’s order, he had been guarding this place for a thousand years, resisting the invasion of monsters against Liyue.
Xiao lowered his eyes, gazing at a certain spot in Dihua Marsh.
He furrowed his brows.
According to reason, recently it was the time of the Rite of Descension.
The god remains shouldn’t have shown any unusual activity.
But why today did it seem to have been stimulated by something and suddenly become restless?
Cyan adeptal energy surged.
The adepti spear appeared in his hand.
His figure vanished.
…
Boom!
The adepti spear tore through the sky and pierced through the monster that had been eroded by the god remains.
Velina only felt a wave of violent energy sweeping towards her.
She couldn’t resist it at all.
“Velina, are you okay?”
Hu Tao rushed forward and stood in front of Velina.
“Don’t worry, I’m fine.”
Velina was pulled up by Hu Tao and slightly furrowed her brows.
She only felt a slight soreness at her ankle.
She had probably twisted it accidentally just now.
Velina didn’t pay it much mind.
All her attention was on that suddenly appearing figure.
The other party wore a ferocious ghost mask.
Mysterious dark cyan patterns were engraved on his skin.
When the mask dissipated, it revealed a delicate, youthful face.
He looked taciturn.
His figure was also that of a youth.
Velina carefully compared and found that he was actually a little shorter than herself.
Truly worthy of being a three-chi-five-cun adeptus.
“Thank you, Upper Immortal.” Velina said.
The game and reality were ultimately different.
This was the legendary Yaksha, but he didn’t seem much different from a human.
“Thank you, Lord Xiao, for lending a hand.
It was truly timely.” Hu Tao also cupped her fists in thanks at this moment and giggled.
As the Director of Wangsheng Funeral Parlor, she naturally had dealings with adepti.
Of course she recognized this young adeptus who guarded Dihua Marsh.
“So you are the legendary Upper Immortal Xiao?” Xiangling looked somewhat excited.
“Just as formidable as in the legends!”
His gaze fell upon the white-haired girl, and he felt a long-lost sense of familiarity.
His expression became slightly dazed for a moment.
“So that’s how it is.”
Xiao murmured in a low voice.
No wonder the god remains suddenly became restless.
It was as if the resentment had found a target for revenge.
But that was all there was to it.
“It’s no trouble.
This is simply my duty.
Recently, there may be evil spirits appearing in Dihua Marsh.
It would be best if you all do not linger here at night.”
Xiao put away his adepti spear and advised the three.
“Hehe, Lord Xiao, don’t worry.
Actually, even if you hadn’t stepped in, I could have handled it.” Hu Tao weighed her Staff of Homa.
She had sensed Velina was in danger just now and had made a move at the first moment.
Unfortunately, she was just a tiny bit too slow.
“Old man”…
Xiao felt somewhat helpless about Hu Tao’s way of addressing him, but he didn’t want to argue about it.
He thought for a moment, then took out a green turquoise and handed it to Velina.
Huh?
Velina was a bit puzzled, but she still subconsciously accepted it.
“Keep this turquoise close to your body.
I have sealed a portion of my adeptal energy within it.
It can protect you well.”
Xiao explained.
On his usually taciturn face was the same calmness as always.
“For me?
This…
Thank you, Upper Immortal.”
Velina didn’t refuse, but her heart grew even more puzzled.
Was Xiao this easy to talk to?
Although the game did portray him as cold-faced but warm-hearted, he wasn’t this enthusiastic, right?
Something just didn’t feel quite right.
When Velina saw Xiao nod and prepare to leave, her heart suddenly stirred.
“Please wait a moment.”
“Is there something else?” Xiao asked.
Velina took out a copy of Hotarubi no Mori e from her backpack and handed it over with both hands.
“Upper Immortal Xiao, this is the book I wrote.
I’m giving it to you.”
Xiao accepted it and nodded.
Actually, he really wanted to say that there was no need to be so respectful towards him.
But after thinking about it, he still kept those words in his heart.
“I will read it carefully.”
As Xiao’s voice fell, his figure had already dispersed like a light breeze.
“As expected of the legendary Conqueror of Demons.
He really comes and goes without a trace.”
After Xiangling came to the spot where Xiao disappeared and carefully observed for a while, she couldn’t help but sigh in admiration.
“I’m actually quite curious.
Hu Tao reached out and felt Velina’s small backpack behind her.
Hmm, she actually pulled out two more from inside!
She had complained about being tired who knows how many times along the way, yet she was still carrying these things in her bag.
Truly worthy of you, Velina.
“As a novelist, isn’t it reasonable to carry a few copies of your own novels with you?” Velina said righteously.
This was an adeptus.
Maybe she could even use this to advertise.
She had already thought of the advertising slogan.
[The novel loved by the Conqueror of Demons — you absolutely cannot miss it]
Velina actually wanted to use Zhongli’s identity as the Geo Archon even more.
Unfortunately, the Geo Archon had now “ascended.”
However, the name “Zhongli” was also quite famous in Liyue Harbor.
Maybe she could use it.
“Is it really reasonable?”
Xiangling didn’t understand.
“Very reasonable.” Velina nodded.
As expected, people who write novels are a bit strange in certain aspects.
Xingqiu really didn’t lie to me.
Thinking this, Xiangling put away her weapon.
“But it’s also thanks to Upper Immortal Xiao.
If it was just us, handling it absolutely wouldn’t have been this easy.”
Monsters infected by god remains would have their combat power increase geometrically.
Xiangling didn’t think she could one-shot the Slime like Xiao did.
With her, it would take at least fifty moves!
“Just right.
These ingredients can’t be wasted.” Xiangling had already taken out various cooking utensils.
“Teacher Xiangling, may I ask if Slimes affected by god remains are still edible?” Velina raised her hand.
“Of course not!”
Xiangling earnestly warned her.
“Although I haven’t tried it, that thing doesn’t look like it can be categorized as an ingredient no matter how you look at it, right?”
“Then what are we going to eat?” Velina asked.
“Of course it’s those small Slimes that weren’t affected.
Let me see…
Hmm, they were all knocked unconscious by the residual waves of adeptal energy just now.
They’re perfect as ingredients.”
Xiangling picked up a Slime and nodded in satisfaction.
Then her hand rose and the knife fell.
Before Velina could even see clearly, that poor Slime had turned into pieces of jelly-like substance.
“Wow, what fast knife work!”
Hu Tao watched with shining eyes, full of amazement.
Xiangling swung her cleaver.
“Hmph hmph, this is an essential skill for making the ultimate cuisine.
Back when I was training my knife skills, in the shallow waters of Guyun Stone Forest, holding two cleavers in my hands, I chopped from the north beach all the way to the south beach, back and forth for three days and three nights without blinking even once…”
“After not blinking for such a long time, wouldn’t your eyes get dry?” Velina raised her hand again to ask.
“Yeah, yeah.
Xiangling, don’t your eyes get dry?” Hu Tao joined in the fun.
Xiangling: “I was talking about knife work.
You two are asking if my eyes get dry…”