Genshin Impact: The Beginning of the Wind

After all, Liyue's situation was much worse than Mondstadt's at the beginning.

However, Wendy wasn't too concerned about this. After all, the Seven Gods had completely different, even opposing, ideologies. Naturally, the Seven Kingdoms, built under their respective ideologies, would behave in completely different ways when faced with different situations.

There's absolutely no comparison between them!

Wendy, who was thinking these words to herself, still didn't dare to say them out loud.

Although Wendy is nominally Su Feng's superior, it is clear that even now he still has no authority whatsoever. On the contrary, the Heavenly Gang and the like are the norm in his eyes.

Oh, no, it would only be considered a rebellion against the Heavenly Gang if Wendy dared to go against Su Feng one day.

After all, Wendy really couldn't be tough when facing Su Feng.

"So, is there something you two have come to Liyue for?"

Fortunately, Wendy wasn't mocked by Su Feng for long, because a familiar voice soon rescued him from the situation.

After sensing Su Feng and Wendy's presence, Zhong Li appeared beside them. However, Zhong Li was carrying a birdcage in his hands, and inside the cage, a thrush with brightly colored feathers and an expensive appearance was frantically flapping its wings. Even its melodious voice revealed a sense of panic.

It seems that Zhongli's actions when he appeared beside them were a little rough, which frightened the little bird.

"Wow! Grandpa, you're living such a good life!"

Unfortunately, the first person to respond to Zhongli was Wendy, who was never very reliable. When he saw Zhongli, his first reaction was never to talk about serious matters, but to stare at the exquisite birdcage in Zhongli's hand and the poor thrush inside and sigh.

Unlike Wendy, who has to busk to get a drink, Zhongli, though he can't even afford a single mora, lives a much more carefree life.

They never stopped indulging in all sorts of luxurious pleasures.

"As I've said before, when I go to the opera, I want to see the most famous actresses; when I walk my bird, I want to buy the most expensive thrushes—that's life, and that's my belief that won't change for the time being."

Zhongli paid little attention to Wendy's sentiments. After reiterating his life motto, he put the impoverished bard out of his mind and turned to Su Feng.

Venti hasn't done much in Liyue except drink and wander around aimlessly, but Su Feng is clearly not that kind of person... at least not yet.

Therefore, Zhongli decisively chose to speak with respectable people.

"I have come to Liyue this time with some questions I would like to ask you."

Su Feng didn't pay much attention to Wendy. He simply stated his purpose. Upon hearing this, Zhong Li's unchanging dark golden pupils flickered slightly, but quickly returned to calm.

"You have done Liyue a great favor, and I will do my utmost to fulfill any request you may have."

Upon hearing this, Zhongli solemnly made his promise.

"But before that, let me arrange a fine banquet to welcome you both."

After saying this, Zhongli slightly opened his arms in an inviting gesture. At this moment, Wendy's eyes lit up. Before Su Feng could even come to his senses, he had already appeared beside Zhongli and, like a sycophant, took the still panicked thrush from Zhongli's hands.

"Since Mr. Zhongli is hosting a banquet, how can we refuse you? Let me hold onto these thrushes for you, you can go ahead and book the banquet!"

Seeing Wendy's attentive manner, both Su Feng and Zhong Li couldn't help but feel helpless. As expected, Wendy is Wendy; he always has a way of making anyone or even a god unsure how to deal with him.

Fortunately, the two people present were both seasoned veterans, so the matter was barely resolved.

......

Although Zhongli said he was preparing a fine banquet to entertain the two of them, Liyue is still in a state of disarray. The previous earthquake and the subsequent monster frenzy that almost swept across the entire Liyue Harbor have practically turned the whole place upside down and started from scratch.

Although the Seven Stars and other major merchants have contributed a large sum of money to rebuild Liyue Harbor, it is clear that some things cannot be solved simply by having money. Even Ningguang has not been able to rebuild her Jade Pavilion.

There's no way around it; both workers and materials are in extremely short supply right now. Even she can't gather enough resources and manpower in a short time. Moreover, compared to the Jade Pavilion floating in the sky, restoring the entire Liyue Harbor in the shortest possible time is the most important thing.

If Ningguang's Jade Pavilion is in such a state, then the various taverns and restaurants that were once scattered throughout Liyue are naturally not much better. Moreover, with the entire Liyue Harbor in such a bleak state, how many people would be willing to eat those fancy but impractical things?

So in the end, Zhongli could only take Wendy and Su Feng to eat at a restaurant near Huyan. Fortunately, as someone who knows how to enjoy life, he decisively went to Wanmintang and booked a private room.

Yes, this is the best option Liyue Harbor can offer right now.

★ The Rainforest Lost Its Wisdom and Glory ★

Chapter One: Listening to Master Zhong Tell Stories of the Past

Although Wanmintang is not like those high-end hotels that ordinary people can't even look at, its taste is actually not much worse than those places.

The only difference between Wanmintang and those high-end restaurants is that the ingredients they use are not so unattainable.

Although Zhongli is a street urchin who always wants the best of everything, that doesn't mean he can't eat these seemingly ordinary dishes.

Moreover, the dishes at Wanmintang are by no means bad, and in Zhongli's opinion, they are also among the best.

Of course, the most important thing today is not the meal, so Zhongli spoke up soon after they sat down.

"Is there anything I can help you with?"

At this moment, Zhongli simply ignored Wendy, who was looking excited beside him—he never thought that Wendy could do anything worthwhile in normal times.

He even thought that Su Feng brought Wendy along this time simply because he needed to use Wendy to make a name for himself.

Although Su Feng helped Li Yue a lot last time, he didn't stay in Li Yue for long. Bringing along someone familiar would reduce a lot of trouble.

Now that they've met, Wendy is no longer of any use.

"For some reason, I'm now quite curious about the Heart of God and Sumeru, so I'd like to know if you can tell me any information you can?"

Without hesitation, Su Feng directly asked what he wanted to know.

"The Heart of God and Mount Sumeru?"

After hearing Su Feng's question, Zhong Li pondered for a moment.

"There are indeed many things involved. There are some secrets I cannot reveal due to the contract, but I will tell you the rest in due course."

Zhongli did not hide his situation. As one of the oldest existing demon gods, the mysterious Zhongli is known as the God of Contracts, but in reality, he is the one most severely bound by the contract.

"That's only right. After all, I'm just curious. If it's really inconvenient, you can give me a clue and I can find it myself."

Su Feng didn't take Zhong Li's warning to heart, or rather, he had already prepared for it.

Just as he said, it was nothing more than curiosity and preparation, nothing urgent or important.

Su Feng felt that his journey to Xumi was unlikely to be smooth sailing—the previous three countries had already set a precedent, and there would certainly be some trouble in Xumi as well.

Moreover, this time the scattered soldiers have already given a direct preview, starting with 'ascension to godhood' as an appetizer. What will happen next is anyone's guess!

Of course, the fact that the main battlefield of the great catastrophe five hundred years ago exists in the Sumeru Desert is also a reason.

After hearing Zhen mention this before, he subconsciously felt that if he got there, he would probably have to help take the blame again.

Fortunately, he's getting used to it soon, and he can get what he wants in the process anyway.

Sometimes Su Feng even thought that these disasters that broke out at just the right time were a kind of training for him—which was not impossible, after all, these disasters were things that the mortal world could not handle, and now they were being used as training for Su Feng, while also dealing with one possible explosion point after another in Teyvat.

Kill two birds with one stone!

However, Su Feng quickly reined in his desire to spread his ideas.

"The Heart of God is actually a management machine, a certificate and authorization, and in the end, it is also a recycling and backup."

After much deliberation, Zhongli slowly uttered what he felt was the only part that could be said.

"So complicated?"

Su Feng frowned upon hearing just the first sentence, while Zhong Li nodded in agreement.

"It's that complicated. You should know about the existence of the Celestials, right? In fact, the Celestials were once one of the messengers from Sky Island who enlightened the mortal world. However, in that great catastrophe that overturned the heavens and earth, the Celestial race committed a great sin. Under the punishment of the heavens, the Celestials, as angels, gradually lost everything. Now, all that remains are those tiny shells."

With a slightly complicated look in his eyes, Zhongli spoke of the past. The past of the immortal spirits was not exactly taboo, but in reality, not many people knew about it. However, what Zhongli was about to say was clearly not such common secret.

"Have you ever thought about how Sky Island, which once governed and even educated the angels, will continue to rule the entire Teyvat after it was abandoned and suffered great calamity?"

Zhongli, using the fairy spirit to introduce the topic he wanted to discuss, posed this question, but he didn't wait for Su Feng, who was deep in thought, to answer before giving a specific answer.

"The choice made by Sky Island is the Demon God and the Seven Rulers of the Mortal World, which were born from the combination of the Demon God and the former Seven Dragon Kings."

"This is Skye Island's last choice, and in fact, its only choice."

When Zhongli said this, there seemed to be a hint of mockery on his lips. Wendy was still engrossed in the delicious food and didn't say a word. Su Feng was even more puzzled after noticing the behavior of the two of them.

"So this isn't a good choice? As the rulers of the mortal realm, you seem to...disapprove of this option?"

Su Feng did not hide his curiosity; he was puzzled as to why the two gods of wind and rock were behaving this way.

"Of course. No matter how it is changed, compared to the Sky Isle that used to use many angels to inform the entire Teyvat, the so-called Seven Rulers of the Earth is essentially a compromise that the Sky Isle could no longer control the rules of the entire Teyvat and had to make."

"Even many demon gods are like this—you should know that the essence of demon gods is the product of the integration of authority and elemental power. It can be said without hesitation that demon gods themselves are part of the world."

"Under what circumstances do you think Sky Island, which once completely controlled the entire world, would allow the power it once held to be scattered and to develop its own consciousness?"

"This is not a good thing for Skye Island."

Wendy, who had suddenly looked up at some point, added a few words to Zhongli's statement. After saying these words, he lowered his head again, as if he hadn't been the one speaking at all.

Su Feng, who finally understood what Zhong Li meant earlier, showed a surprised expression.

"In other words... the Demon God War is actually more like Sky Island trying to reclaim the power it once held... so the Heart of God is reclaiming the power of those demon gods who died in battle!"

"No wonder...no wonder the 'Demon God War' broke out on 'Lover's' Sky Island!"

At this moment, Su Feng understood many things.

Chapter Two: The War Between Demon Gods

The appearance of the Demon God was unavoidable for Sky Island—after the cataclysmic disaster that overturned heaven and earth, the entire Sky Island was almost wrecked, and the original Primordial and the Four Shadows were either dead or crippled.

In this situation, the authority that had once been unified was scattered throughout Teyvat due to war and casualties.

This is definitely not a good thing for Sky Island – because there are quite a few scattered powers, and if Sky Island's enemies seize this opportunity to take advantage of it, it will inevitably shake the very existence of Teyvat.

In such a critical situation, Sky Isles had no choice but to allow these powers to combine with the elemental forces of the mortal world.

And so, all sorts of demons were born at that moment.

Demons who possess self-awareness would undoubtedly be unwilling to be controlled by others, and many powerful demons were indeed a tremendous fighting force in an era when Sky Island was on the verge of collapse.

After all, the demons who were born because of Sky Island and whose bodies were made of elemental power that had been modified by the primordial forces would never surrender to the enemies of Sky Island—if the demons, whose very existence was power, were to have their own power corrupted, it would be no different from death.

This can be seen from the fact that those demons who left Teyvat were simply demoted to evil gods. Moreover, when the demons were born, Sky Island took the opportunity to inscribe the instinct of 'love' into the power of many demons, which made it even more impossible for the demons to side with the enemies of Sky Island.

However, the existence of the demons was not Sky Island's original intention. When Sky Island, which was on the verge of collapse, finally managed to struggle back from the brink of destruction, it faced a huge problem - the demons had taken away far too much power. At that time, Sky Island was almost a huge empty shell. Naturally, Sky Island was even more helpless when facing threats from outside the world.

Sky Island had no choice but to find a way to reclaim the scattered authority, and this process naturally became... the Demon God War!