While I was in Mondstadt, I never imagined becoming a god.

In the other person's eyes burned a fire that had never been extinguished in five hundred years.

Chapter 144 A Grand Gift Prepared for the Doctor

Since the fall of Kanria, Skvornug has suffered endless torment.

His rationality gradually wore away under the erosion of time, and he lived like a walking corpse, day after day, year after year.

He had also hoped that his fate would be like that of Surtroch.

But the reality is cruel.

He still couldn't escape the golden threads of fate.

The string around his neck kept him alive, suffocated him, and made him watch helplessly as his sanity slowly crumbled, yet he could do nothing about it.

Sometimes, Skvornugg would regret it.

I regret not accepting my friend's help.

If I accept it, will I no longer have to bear the torment of these five hundred years alone?

If I had accepted it, would I no longer be in this situation, unable to even die?

Now he understands.

My perseverance paid off.

In Xu Chuan, Skvornugg saw an opportunity to change his fate.

At this moment, he had never felt so refreshed.

Seeing Skvornugg's fighting spirit ignite, Xu Chuan nodded to himself.

A resilient soul is essential to implementing that plan.

Five hundred years of torment hadn't broken him, so he could surely swallow the pain to come.

I am aware of your determination.

Xu Chuan stood with his hands behind his back, his gaze fixed on Skvornugg's face.

"I hope you can emerge from your cocoon and be reborn, just as I have hoped."

"Yes, my lord."

Skvornugg's eyes were as firm as iron.

There was no doubt about Xu Chuan's words.

Xu Chuan raised his right hand.

With his palm open, a core emerged from the void, emitting a faint light.

That's the core of the cannon.

It was indeed somewhat small compared to the core of the first tiller.

The core of the tiller was about the same size as Xu Chuan's body, and its surface was covered with complex patterns, emitting a dim light.

The cannon's core, only the size of a fist, lay quietly in Xu Chuan's palm, like a sleeping heart.

In Xu Chuan's view, it surpasses the core of the tiller in both the power it contains and its rarity.

It is the most premium resource in Teyvat.

However, compared to the gains I will reap in the future, it's not something I can't bear to part with.

At this very moment, the Sumeru Church is colluding with the Doctor in an attempt to artificially create a mechanical god.

If you follow the original storyline, you will save Nasita and defeat the scattered soldiers who ascended to godhood.

To thwart the doctor's plan would certainly be a good thing.

But that mechanical god's body that fell from its throne was really a waste.

Therefore, such an idea came to Xu Chuan's mind.

He wants to be the oriole that catches the cicada after the mantis has stalked it.

They stole the life's work of the great sage Hazard and the doctor.

"This core will be where you reside from now on."

Xu Chuan lifted the light blue core, which floated in mid-air and slowly rotated. "It is also the key to whether you can become a god."

"From this day forward, you shall not be separated from it for a single moment except by my orders."

The words fell.

Xu Chuan then activated the knights' ability to survive unarmed combat and to summon spirits and generals.

Two golden rays of light surged out from Xu Chuan's body at the same time, one enveloping the core and the other binding Skvornugg's soul.

The golden light, as delicate as silk threads and as continuous as flowing water, completely enveloped the core and soul.

Everything about the soul and core was under Xu Chuan's control.

Skvornugg shuddered.

In an instant, he lost control of his own soul.

Skvornugg stared at Xu Chuan.

At that moment, he suddenly felt that Xu Chuan was so high above him, untouchable.

Just like that abyss that sowed the curse of immortality in Kanria.

But unlike the others, that figure brought a curse.

But the person in front of me brings hope.

"So many years of suffering have not defeated you."

Xu Chuan looked at him, his voice not loud, but every word clearly entered the depths of his consciousness.

I believe you can pull through.

The golden light suddenly tightened.

Skovnug's soul was forcibly pushed towards that core by Xu Chuan, and the two made contact.

Beneath the pure white branches, the translucent light blue kernel emitted a faint glow.

The moment Skvornugg's soul touched it, the light intensified, like a star being ignited.

Then, the heart-shaped core moved.

The rhythm was slow yet powerful, beating gently like a real heart.

With each pulse, a pale blue halo spreads from the core surface, resisting the fusion of souls.

"what--!"

Skvornug let out a painful roar.

That was an uncontrollable scream bursting forth from the depths of the soul.

The feeling of being torn apart far surpasses physical pain, sweeping over you like a tidal wave from the deepest part of your consciousness.

Skvornugg's soul was being torn apart piece by piece, and then gradually merged into the core.

Facing all of this, Xu Chuan remained expressionless.

Even with screams echoing in his ears, he steadily held the core, his hands moving without pausing for a moment.

Golden light surged from his palm, transforming into strands of golden threads that pierced into Skvornugg's soul.

In this simplest and most direct way, the soul and the core are stitched together.

Fortunately, he was cursed with immortality and had a strong enough will, otherwise he would have died a quick and easy death long ago.

Sometimes death is not scary.

This is especially true for someone like Skvornugg, who is cursed with immortality.

But only by holding onto hope for life can one seize that last remaining opportunity.

Skvornugg endured this soul-deep pain, constantly teetering on the brink of collapse.

At that moment, a thought involuntarily popped into his mind.

Could it be that Xu Chuan got the inspiration from seeing himself sewing the flesh and blood of the Star-Devouring Whale into his heart?

But his current situation left him no room for further thought.

"Hang in there."

Xu Chuan's voice was calm and unhurried, "If even you give up, there's nothing I can do to help you."

"I...I...can hold on!"

Skvornugg's voice was intermittent, like smoke scattered by the wind.

Every word trembled, every word seemed to be squeezed out from between his teeth.

But beneath that trembling and pain, there was something even stronger: a reckless madness.

But this is not irrational madness.

On the contrary, Skvornugg is now acting like a desperate, madman.

He endured five hundred years of suffering.

He will never fall at this moment.

Xu Chuan's hands moved even faster.

Golden threads weave swiftly, stitching the soul into the core.

Every wisp of soul found its place in the core, and every node was reinforced by golden light.

Skvornugg's screams gradually subsided.

His soul was forcibly twisted by external forces, and in the process of merging with the core, it was gradually reshaped.

After an unknown amount of time, only that ball of golden light continued to burn, contracting and expanding repeatedly.

Skvornugg's screams completely ceased.

The golden light slowly receded, revealing the full form of the core.

On the light blue core, there are now some golden marks.

Those marks weren't etched on; they grew out from within.

Those were the traces of Skvornugg's soul and core merging.

It's not a complete fusion, but rather a forced fit together.

It will take time to refine and integrate the two completely.

"call……"

Xu Chuan let out a long breath, withdrew the golden light, and held the core in his palm.

"The plan is half successful."

He examined the core in front of him.

On the light blue core, the golden mark flickers, like a breath in slumber.

Complete integration is still some way off, but the most difficult step has been taken.

Xu Chuan gripped the core tightly, "Once we take the first step, the rest will be easy."

He closed his eyes, his consciousness sinking into the depths of his core.

Skvornugg's soul floated in that pale blue light.

He remained conscious, and his will and determination sustained him through it all.

Skvornugg is more determined than ever before.

"Lord."

Skvornugg's voice came from deep within the core, tinged with weariness, "I made it through."