Genshin Impact: Awakening in the Darkness

Xuan Yue and the others left the market and flew away from the crowds towards Jueyun.

"You've arrived rather late, so you'll have to drink three cups of wine as a penalty," Yi Xiao said first.

"Hey, this looks familiar. Could he be an old friend of the Emperor?" Xiaoyue asked, looking at Xuanyue, who had changed form.

"Xiaoyue, you don't recognize me just because I've grown a few centimeters taller? That's really disheartening," Xuanyue teased with a smile.

"It's Joavis! Come on, come on, try my newest dish." Marcos gestured for Xuan Yue to sit next to him, placing a piece of crystal pastry in his bowl.

"My old friend's culinary skills have improved again." The Emperor sat on the other side of Xuan Yue, savoring the Xuan Yue steamed egg custard.

"This glass pastry is smooth and tender, sweet but not cloying, and the method is quite simple. It can truly be considered a top-grade delicacy," Xuan Yue commented.

"Oh, it seems Jojavis also has a unique perspective on cuisine. Morax, you've met your match," Marcos joked.

"It would be more accurate to say that you've met a kindred spirit with similar interests," Morax added with a laugh.

"Alright, alright, everyone come and see my treasure today! I've been searching for this for a long time!" With a wave of his hand, the sailor revealed a collection of precious glass, amber, and gemstones behind him.

"Don't underestimate these amber gems. They can grow amber! Just plant them in the ground, and if someone steps on them, they'll burst out of the soil and trap them. How about that?" Li Shui couldn't hide the smug look on her face.

"Not so great, let's see what I have!" Narumi retorted defiantly. He stood up, walked to the other side of the open space, and with a wave of his hand, a huge rock appeared before the immortals.

"This is the floating stone I found, and it's a complete Bright Cloud Floating Stone!" Narumi said smugly, looking at Risui's frozen smile.

"Floating Stones, I recall there are three kinds: blue Mist Stones, red Glow Stones, and Bright Glow Floating Stones. Among them, Bright Glow Floating Stones are the rarest and most precious. It's quite an honor to see such a large piece today," Xuan Yue said, unfolding her fan and gently shaking the handle.

“My old friend is right. While Lansheng Stone can levitate, it can't bear much weight. Xiasheng Stone contains immense energy, while Mingxia Fusheng Stone is a combination of both. Therefore, finding this treasure in Narumi was a stroke of luck. As for the amber from Risui, it's a rare, renewable amber with plant-like regenerative abilities. Although not as valuable as Narumi's Fusheng Stone, it's still a rare treasure,” Zhongli commented from the side.

"I admit defeat this time, but next time, Narumi, I'm sure I'll find an even better treasure," Risui said.

"Alright, alright, instead of looking at your crappy gadgets, why not take a look at my latest invention? Gui Zhong, do you dare to compare it with mine again?" Liu Yun challenged Gui Zhong.

"What's there to be afraid of? Bring it on!" Gui Zhong was also full of fighting spirit.

Instantly, the two women produced a blueprint, which unfurled in the air, revealing the actual object depicted within.

Liu Yun's item is a flat, wide cylindrical magic weapon, blue in color, with very delicate patterns on it.

"This is the Taiwei Instrument Plate. When infused with immortal power, it can suppress demons. Its main purpose is sealing. It is divided into three layers: the lower layer can store the remnants of demon gods, the middle layer is mainly used to seal large demons, and the upper layer can carry people to fly..." Liu Yun introduced while observing the expressions of the immortals.

Upon closer inspection, her eyes gleamed with golden light. With a wave of her hand, a similar celestial mechanism appeared—a large, crossbow-shaped device that materialized behind her.

"This is the Returning to the End Machine. After I infuse it with immortal or elemental power, it can fire a crossbow to attack demon gods. While it may not be able to completely kill a mid-level demon god, it's more than enough to deal with ordinary demon gods," the Returning to the End explained.

"Your Majesty, what do you say?" Xiaoyue turned to Morax and asked.

"Hmm, both are quite good. Liuyun's is for sealing, but if the demon god notices it, it could be counterproductive. Guizhongji's is more suitable for the current battle, so Guizhongji is still the better choice," Morax said.

"We lost again..." Liu Yun sighed.

"Old friend, what are your thoughts?" Morax asked Xuan Yue beside him.

"You're right, but this Taiwei Plate could be slightly modified for use in later battles, such as when humans and immortals combine their powers..."

"How can mortals comprehend immortal power?" Liu Yun said disdainfully.

“A few days before I came here, I went to an interesting place, the Ancient Hua Sect.” Xuan Yue paused, took a sip of tea on the table, and then spoke again: “That sect is known for its fierce swordsmanship, and many of its members have made great achievements on the battlefield. I believe Your Majesty is aware of this.”

Morax nodded slightly upon hearing this: "The sect was indeed founded by a group of chivalrous people, and it is now at its peak."

"Although this sect consists of mortals, the spells and martial arts they learn are created by themselves. So many people gathered together can actually fight on equal terms with ordinary demon gods. Isn't this something we should think about?" Xuan Yue looked at the immortals and finally said, "I suggest that Liu Yun forge the Taiwei Instrument Plate into a magic weapon that combines the power of humans and immortals, and give it to those mortals who know spells, so that they can keep it safe. What do you think?"

"As for the final stage, I don't have any good ideas either. It's just that if there were a device to store fairy power or elemental power, it could help us hold out until we get back when we're too busy fighting to pay attention to Liyue. Ideally, it could store divine power to increase our attack power and kill a few demon gods."

Xuan Yue himself was unaware that his words not only earned him a position in the hearts of immortals that was almost equal to that of the Emperor, but also laid the foundation for the future.

"Well, it's up to the Heavenly Emperor to decide," Liu Yun and Gui Zhong said respectfully.

"The Heavenly Lord shall decide," the other immortals said respectfully.

"!" Xuan Yue was stunned: (What's going on?! I was just making a suggestion, don't do this so suddenly, I'm not used to it!)

Xuan Yue appeared calm on the surface, but inside she was somewhat panicked. She could only imitate Xuan Qing and calmly drink tea to cover up her inner emotions.

“My old friend is quite right, that’s exactly right.” Morax elegantly raised the teacup in front of him and presented it to Xuan Yue. Xuan Yue understood and raised his cup in return.

"That's ridiculous."

"Boom boom boom!" Thunderous sounds echoed throughout Liyue, and bursts of fireworks shot into the sky, attracting Xuan Yue's attention: (I really hope Xuan Qing can see this.)

(I am here.) Xuan Qing's voice echoed in Xuan Yue's mind.

(You're awake!) Xuan Yue was startled.

(I only heard your sigh and was temporarily awakened. I'm still a bit tired...) Xuan Qing's voice did sound a little weak.

(Xuanqing, Liyue is doing well. Let's stay here, this is fine.) Xuanyue looked at the fireworks in the sky and felt an extraordinary sense of beauty.

(...Okay.) Xuan Qing was silent for a moment before giving an affirmative answer.

(Hey, right! That guy Morax asked us what our prototype was, it was a dragon, right?) Xuan Yue said immediately before Xuan Qing fell asleep.

(…You…you really weren’t listening at all back then…) Xuan Qing’s tone was full of helplessness: (Yes and no, I’m going to continue resting. Besides, the scene is indeed very beautiful.) After saying that, Xuan Qing’s voice fell silent.

"Right... I think so too..." Xuan Yue murmured, seemingly talking to herself.

"Xuan Yue, it's time to release the sea lanterns now. Do you want to go with your sister?" Ping'er jumped out at this moment.

“Sure, include me. I’m quite curious too. The finishing touch to the festival created by the Rock King…” Xuan Yue glanced at Morax with a hint of disdain, but the latter simply smiled lightly, closing his eyes and sipping his tea…

……

Xuan Yue was taken by Ping'er to a high ground where many people had already gathered, but it was not yet densely populated.

"It seems we've arrived at just the right time. Here, this is your lamp." Ping'er produced a lamp shaped like a blooming lotus flower from thin air, containing paper and pen.

"Write your wishes or blessings on it, then light a lamp and put it in the river. Remember, don't be careless, or it won't work!" Ping'er instructed.

“Okay, okay,” Xuan Yue replied. He picked up paper and pen, wrote down his wish without much thought, lit a lantern, and released it into the river, watching it slowly drift away with the current…

"By the way, Sister Ping'er, don't you have Xuanqing's lamp?" Xuan Yue asked, not wanting to be bothered.

"Oh, I brought a lot. Are you going to write it for him? It won't work if it's not written by him!" Ping'er asked, puzzled, but still took out a lotus lantern.

"This..." Xuan Yue was about to explain, but the next second everything went black and she lost control of her body.

"Give it to me." A cold voice rang out. Before Ping'er could react, Xuan Qing immediately took the lamp, wrote it down in a few seconds, then lit the lamp and used teleportation to appear next to Xuan Yue's lamp, even using silk threads to tie them together.

After doing all this, a rare smile appeared on Xuan Qing's perpetually icy face. He then returned to Ping'er's side. Everything happened in the blink of an eye, and no one noticed anything amiss.

"Thank you." After saying that, Xuanqing handed control back to Xuanyue.

"..." When the vision cleared again, they saw Ping'er still standing there.

"Um, Sister Ping'er, are you... alright?"

"Um, oh, I'm fine, I just... I didn't quite realize what was happening. Is Xuanqing awake?" Ping'er was brought back to her senses by Xuan Yue's call.

“He was only temporarily awake, probably because it was night. He had mentioned before that he was still a bit tired.”

"You two have such a good relationship. Although Xuanqing is always cold, he seems to care about you a lot." Ping'er chuckled.

"That guy's just stubborn." Xuan Yue smiled helplessly.

Then, turning to look at the river, lit up by firelight and carrying everyone's hopes and blessings, my heart began to calm down.

"May those whose souls have returned find their way back to their homeland, to their birthplace." A fragment of memory suddenly flashed through Xuan Yue's mind.

“Returning home, Morax felt the same way…” Xuan Yue watched as the two seemingly inconspicuous lanterns among the many lotus lanterns gradually disappeared from sight and were no longer visible…