In Sumeru, pretend to be a scholar

This also proves one thing: the Dharma King did not revoke the angels' authority.

Or rather, he revoked some of the angels' individual authority, namely, their power and wisdom.

However, he did not completely reclaim authority over the entire angelic system.

Therefore, the blessings of angels are still in effect, and even after the angels lose their positions, humanity, who have been given angels, continues to assist the angels in guiding the world.

Perhaps, in the eyes of the Dharma King, although the angels disobeyed Him, their actions of loving others were right, so the problem was with the individuals, not the system.

"If that's the case, then that priest of the goddess of flowers was probably a human who followed her before she fell from her angelic position."

He's a veteran.

Wang Yan pondered, his thoughts returning to himself.

"Then what about my authority? How should it be calculated?"

"It was shared a second time and the user's original permissions were changed?"

"Furthermore, if I want to seize more of the authority left behind by the angelic system, as Ziqiao said, what should I do?"

"Learn from the angels...to guide humanity?"

"Tch, is it too late for me to go to the desert and rebuild a tribe that worships Nabu Marikata?"

Chapter 133 Zibai Returns

"Young man, would you like a lantern?"

As he was walking, Wang Yan suddenly heard an old voice.

Coming to his senses, Wang Yan turned his head and saw an old woman setting up a lantern stall, where many people were already making lanterns.

It was probably because she saw Wang Yan walking alone without a lantern that the old woman asked him.

After thinking for a moment, Wang Yan nodded: "Grandma, how much is one?"

"Hehe, no money needed, no money needed. This old woman is praying for her husband's well-being. Young man, if you want some, just take it."

The old lady pointed to the lanterns that had already been made at the stall, as well as the lantern-making materials next to them.

The meaning is clear: you can either take a ready-made product or make it yourself.

Wang Yan sat down in front of the stall, picked up the bamboo strips, cotton paper and paste, and deftly flipped them with his fingers.

As Erosson's disciple, he definitely has to do it himself, otherwise he'd be ruining the Mysticism School... Hey, I'm a member of the Epistemology School.

While working, Wang Yan struck up a conversation with the old woman: "Is the old man sick?"

"I caught a cold a few days ago, and I'm much better after taking Dr. Baizhu's medicine. But when I was little, I was born in Chenyu Valley. My parents told me from a young age that releasing the flying lanterns allows me to pray to the White Horse Immortal for blessings of health and well-being. So, I've set up a stall here as a way to pray for blessings."

The old lady said with a smile.

Wang Yan nodded slightly, understanding the general idea.

It's similar to giving away free incense at the entrance of a temple; it's about accumulating merit.

As he spoke, Wang Yan finished making a plain white lantern.

He didn't leave in a hurry. Instead, he borrowed a thin brush from the old woman, dipped it in a little of the colored ink on the stall, and asked, "What is your surname, madam? Where do you live?"

The old woman didn't know why Wang Yan asked that, but she still replied, "My surname is Zhang, and I live in Feiyunpo."

Wang Yan nodded slightly, picked up a lantern made by an old woman, and began to carefully sketch it on the cotton paper of the lantern body.

First, write the following talisman neatly on the top of the lamp: 【Imperial Decree - Curing Illness and Prolonging Life】

Next, he slowly drew a talisman on the belly of the lamp, his brushstrokes flowing like dragons and snakes, forming a complex rune containing the wish to "drive away evil and promote righteousness, and bring health and peace."

Then, in the blank space below the lamp body, the talisman's foot was written in neat small regular script:

Validity period: from the beginning of the Sea Lantern Festival in the year of Jia Chen to the end on the same day of the following year.

Scope: The relatives and blood relatives of the person who released the lantern.

Finally, he used finer strokes to complete the rune's body on the inside of the lamp base, briefly explaining the matter: [Ms. Zhang, a resident of Crimson Slope in Liyue Harbor, whose husband has caught a cold, wishes to use the ritual of ascending the lantern to pray to the celestial being Zibai for protection, to dispel the illness, and to stabilize his life.]

After finishing the painting, Wang Yan pasted the lantern on the paper and handed it to the old woman.

“Since you lent me the materials, I will draw one for you. I wish you a speedy recovery. You can release this lantern later; it will be a small token of my appreciation.”

The old woman took the lantern and saw that the writing on it was like dragons and snakes, with a faint light flickering.

Although she didn't understand the mysteries of the runes, seeing this scene, she knew she had encountered someone with real skills, and quickly thanked him, "Oh, this is too much... Thank you, sir, thank you!"

Wang Yan smiled and shook his head: "It's no trouble at all. I wish you and your family good health and a happy Lantern Festival."

After saying this, he stood up, gave a slight bow, picked up the plain white lantern he had just made, and turned to join the festive crowd.

...

Time passed, and night gradually fell.

"The Lantern Festival is about to begin!"

A cheer erupted, and the entire Liyue Harbor was in an uproar.

"Hey, is it really true that the moon will disappear this year?"

"Who cares? Is the lantern ready?"

"Of course, of course, it's been prepared for a long time."

"Hey hey, what do you want to wish for?"

"Of course, I hope the White Horse Immortal will bless me so I can make a lot of money next year!"

"I hope to get into school and not disappoint my parents."

"Join the Thousand Rock Army and defend our homeland!"

"That story, everyone has memorized it, right?"

"Hahaha, this is a wish you made, right? You don't need to tell me!"

"... "

Countless voices mingled as the crowd headed toward the pier, each holding a lantern.

It's unclear who let go first, but countless people followed suit, raising the lanterns and sending the lights soaring upwards.

"When the sun rises, I'll eat the sun; when the moon rises, I'll eat the moon!"

As Master Hu recited his doggerel, a dark shadow gradually expanded in the high sky, as if it were about to swallow the moon.

"Wow, the lunar eclipse is really happening."

"Everyone, quickly recite the poem and make a wish!"

The crowd cheered, and countless people clasped their hands together in front of their chests, chanting the [Langfeng·Zibai] in a gesture of reverence.

The elderly woman, praying for her husband, also walked shakily to the pier and slowly released the lantern that Wang Yan had given her.

The old woman lowered her eyelids, clasped her hands together, and with the most devout and reverent voice began to recite that ancient and beautiful couplet:

"The moon rises eternally, and there dwells a beautiful woman, Ju, here I am, adorned with kudzu leaves, so pleasing to the eye..."

At first, there were scattered sounds, like streams just beginning to flow; then, more and more people joined in, and the sounds converged into a river, and then transformed into a surging ocean.

Men and women, young and old, merchants and artisans, soldiers of the Thousand Rocks Army, general affairs staff...

Whether they were native Liyue residents or travelers from afar, everyone was immersed in this shared ceremony.

"The moon rises like a rainbow, a beautiful woman appears, here I wear hemp and flax, and fine linen..."

Their voices were not entirely uniform; some were old and slow, some were clear and youthful, some were steady and powerful, and some had accents from other places. But these thousands of voices intertwined to form a magnificent harmony that shook the soul.

"The moon rises amidst frost, a maiden appears, I am here, weary and frail, it is fitting to consult the oracle..."

The voices grew louder and louder, and more and more unified.

"With plows and hoes, they till the land, fertilizing the fields, harvesting all the grains, truly bringing life to the land..."

"These millet and beans, their seedlings are lush and green; these sorghum and rice, their fruits are tender and ripe..."

When the last two lines were recited in unison by millions, the sound and the power of their vows reached their peak, soaring into the sky:

"Take the real wine and offer it as a feast, and show it to the king in exchange for all the gifts.

That sage is so ethereal, how does he appear so high above the heavens? That sage is so bright, how does he appear so pure and noble?

I wish to fly, hoping for good fortune.

The collective wish of countless people became the strongest and purest collective desire, like an invisible giant wave that completely shook the laws of reality.

The three streams of light represent the three separate souls of Zibai—Taiguang, Shuangling, and Youjing—who, guided by the will of the people and illuminated by the fire of the celestial lamp, finally broke through the shackles of a thousand years, ended their scattered state, and came together.

High in the sky, amidst the moon's shadow.

Countless golden specks of wishful light and three streams of soul light converged, collided, and merged at the center of the moon the instant it was completely covered by shadow!

In the radiance, a hazy female figure gradually became clearer. She was dressed in a robe woven from moonlight and adorned with a golden crescent crown. Her face was innocent yet compassionate.

Zibai, you're back.

Inside Liyue Harbor.

When the moon once again radiated its unprecedented splendor, and when the sacred image of the white-horse hermit vaguely came into view, all the Liyue people who had finished reciting the mantra were first silent, and then burst into thunderous cheers and tears of joy.

"It's bright again! The moon is bright again!"

"Look! That's... the White Horse Immortal! He really has appeared!"

Happy Lantern Festival! May the White Horse Immortal bless you!

Amid cheers, more lanterns were eagerly released, illuminating the night sky as if it were daytime, and the entire Liyue Harbor was immersed in boundless joy and peace.

The old woman who had released the talisman lamp given to her by Wang Yan gazed at the exceptionally bright moon, clasped her hands together, and murmured, "Thank you, immortal... the old man will surely get better..."

Unbeknownst to her, the lantern carrying celestial talismans and special prayers was a particularly bright ray of light among countless streams of light, contributing an indispensable force to Zibai's return.

Whether it was the immortals protecting mortals, or mortals calling back the immortals, no one can say for sure.

Meanwhile, in a corner of Liyue Harbor, Wang Yan released the lantern he was holding.

"May the gods bless all readers with three gold medals in ten consecutive draws, may their entries be accurate, may they be promoted and become wealthy, may they have happiness and fulfillment, and may their families be harmonious..."

"May you also bless me so that I can find a way to strengthen the angels' blessings."

Chapter 134 "The Azure Mystery Riding the Sun Canopy Technique"

The day after the Lantern Festival.

Wang Yan was already packing his things, preparing to return to Sumeru.

This trip to Liyue was incredibly rewarding.

Not only did she figure out what the angelic blessing on her body was all about, but she also received guidance from Zhongli and, for the first time since transmigrating, mastered a power that could be considered respectable.

Just then, the "Seventy-Two Cyclone Beams" on his wrist vibrated slightly, as if sensing Wang Yan's inner thoughts.

"What? You also want to go back and see your mentor?"

"Haha, let me tell you, your mentor will be shocked when he sees you."

Just thinking about the inappropriate expression her cute female mentor might have upon seeing "Seventy-Two Xuanming" made Wang Yan want to immediately return to Xumi.

The "Seventy-Two Celestial Beams" are still vibrating.

"Huh? What's wrong? Are you broken?" Wang Yan asked, puzzled.

Just then, there was a knock on the door: "Guest, is this a convenient time?"

"Uh... what is it?" Wang Yan replied.

"Two guests have come downstairs. They say they are your friends and are here to see you," the waiter outside the door said.

Strangely enough, after the guy finished speaking, the "Seventy-Two Cyclones" stopped vibrating.

So, this guy was just alerting me that someone was approaching?

“Okay, I’m coming right now.” Wang Yan replied, then stretched out his hand. The “Seventy-Two Cyclone Brightness” scattered into small squares, flew to his wrist, and transformed into a wrist guard.

"Alright, I'll go and serve you then." The waiter replied and left.