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

"I will do my utmost."

Liu Yun Jie Feng Zhenjun nodded and continued, "At present, only the Emperor can save Xu Chuan. I will take him there immediately..."

"Then let's set off right now!" Ying and Shenhe, one on each side, supported Xu Chuan, eager to return to Liyue Harbor immediately.

"Ahem..." Xu Chuan coughed lightly, his voice tinged with helplessness, "Well, I'm actually really fine."

“But we saw that nasty thing go inside you!” Paimon stamped his feet in frustration.

"Don't worry," Xu Chuan smiled at her, "When have I ever lied to you?"

Paimon opened his mouth.

She wanted to tell him that he had lied to her more than once, but her concern for Xu Chuan overcame her desire to argue and undermine him.

She bit her lip, her eyes red-rimmed, and remained silent.

In contrast, Ying's heart, which had been hanging in suspense, slowly settled down.

She trusted Xu Chuan; he never said anything he wasn't sure of, so perhaps what he said was true.

"The karmic power generated by the remnants of demons is extraordinary."

Lord Liuyun Jiefeng spoke earnestly, "If this is not resolved soon, it will surely cause you immense suffering in the future."

"True Lord Liuyun underestimates me too much."

Xu Chuan put one hand on Shen He's shoulder, a faint fragrance lingering around his nose, and gradually straightened up.

Ying was half a head shorter than him, so he had to bend over when he leaned on her, which was very uncomfortable.

Shen He was a bit taller than Ying, and with his arm around her shoulder, he was finally able to straighten his back.

Xu Chuan smiled calmly, unhurried.

"This karmic obstacle is troublesome. But compared to the two guys inside me, it's not much of a threat."

"You mean Dulin still has Andrius's soul?" Ying blurted out.

"That's right. These are them."

They are nothing more than remnants of the former demon god; no matter how evil and filthy they are, they are no match for the demon dragon, Dulin.

Therefore, Xu Chuan did not panic after the karmic obstacles were not resisted and invaded his body.

He decisively activated the golden light within his body, then commanded Dulin and Andres to surround and annihilate him.

Even a dragon must coil up inside its own body.

To put everyone at ease, Xu Chuan released it after Du Lin cleaned up the mess.

Dark light surged from Xu Chuan's body and condensed into shape within the cave.

Dulin's body rapidly expanded from the size of a fist, transforming into a giant dragon as tall as a person, hovering in mid-air.

That troublesome, pitch-black karmic obstacle was being swallowed whole by Dulin, struggling in its throat to break free of its restraints.

Karmic obstacles rampaged through Dulin's body, but the barrier of the dragon soul was indestructible, locking it in like an impregnable fortress.

"I see." Liu Yun Jie Feng Zhenjun said this, but his gaze fell on Xu Chuan's hand on Shen He's shoulder.

This pose is a bit too intimate.

At this moment, Liu Yun Jie Feng Zhenjun felt the same way as Ying, as if something was amiss.

I can't explain why.

"I'm so glad you're alright." Paimon's emotions changed rapidly. Seeing that the karmic burden had been swallowed by Dulin, his tears hadn't even dried before a happy smile appeared on his face.

Xu Chuan laboriously raised his other hand, and Paimon, seeing this, leaned his little head closer so that Xu Chuan could massage it more easily.

The matter of clearing away karmic obstacles has thus come to an end.

The True Lord of Water Management and Mountain Building, as well as the True Lord of Mountain Shaving and Sun Building, also expended considerable energy.

Before leaving, however, he still used various means to check on Xu Chuan and Xiao's condition, and found that the two were fine.

Only then did they feel relieved and leave, each finding a quiet place to recover their immortal power.

Liu Yun Jie Feng Zhenjun arranged two quiet rooms for the two of them.

Unlike Xiao, who is still asleep, Xu Chuan recovered completely in no time.

His recovery speed even surprised the True Lord Liuyun.

The day before, he was pale and weak, looking like he might collapse at any moment, but soon he was lively and energetic again.

Paimon is always full of energy, while Ying sits quietly beside him chatting.

Shen He has also visited several times.

Every time I come, I stand at the door for a while, then turn around and leave.

Xu Chuan noticed that her gaze was always on him, as if she was trying to figure something out.

On the fourth day, Xiao finally woke up.

He opened his eyes and stared at the stone wall above him for a long time.

The weariness and pain from being tormented by karma for so long in his golden pupils finally disappeared.

Her complexion returned to normal, and the lingering gloom between her brows completely dissipated.

Xu Chuan sat on a chair by his bed, holding an apple in his hand and peeling it.

The peel hangs down in concentric circles, without breaking.

"Awake?" Xu Chuan asked without looking up.

"……Um."

"how do you feel?"

Xiao remained silent for a moment.

He raised his hand and looked at his palm.

"Very good." Xiao's voice was soft, yet it contained a sense of ease he had never felt before.

Xu Chuan handed over the peeled apple.

"Have an apple."

Xiao took the apple and looked at the fruit that had been peeled clean.

"Thank you."

"You're welcome."

Xu Chuan stood up, patted the corner of his clothes, and said, "Now that you're awake, I should go and deal with the cannon matter."

"cannon?"

"One of my dolls."

Xu Chuan walked to the door, then turned around and said, "The puppet that Lord Liu Yun borrowed from me in Liyue Harbor."

Xiao nodded without asking any further questions.

Shen He was standing in the corridor outside the quiet room.

She was carrying a tray with a bowl of herbal medicine on it.

When she saw Xu Chuan come out, her gaze lingered on her for a moment.

"My master asked me to deliver this."

Xu Chuan took the bowl of medicine and drank it all in one gulp.

"Please thank the True Lord for me."

"Ah."

Shen He took the empty bowl, turned and left.

Inside the cave, Xu Chuan stood in front of the puppet.

The doll has delicate features, wears a light blue dress, and her originally short hair has grown to waist length.

Also, the curve of his chest clearly showed some undulation.

Xu Chuan took a deep breath and then slowly exhaled.

The turquoise core floated in the palm of his right hand.

Skvornugg's soul emanated a fluctuation from its core.

“My lord,” Skvornugg’s voice carried a suppressed complexity, “this is what you call… the chance to ascend to godhood?”

Xu Chuan did not answer immediately.

He held the core, letting it float in front of the doll's chest, directly opposite the empty chest cavity.

Skvornugg has become completely integrated with the core, so he can naturally sense the connection between the core and the puppet in front of him.

Skvornugg remained silent.

He sensed that as long as he entered this puppet, he would gain a physical body and the ability to move.

This is the first step on the path to "God".

But...this doll...it...

"What?" Xu Chuan asked, "Are you backing out?"

"No." Skvornugg's voice carried a hint of despair.

"Having experienced that kind of pain, how could I back down? I... I just find it a little hard to accept..."

Xu Chuan's expression was quite interesting when he saw Skvornugg's tone.

He was already shocked when Liu Yun Jie Feng Zhenjun placed the puppet in front of him.

But looking at the cannon in front of him, which she had painstakingly modified, he still found it hard to hold back.

He had imagined how the True Lord of Cloud Retention and Wind Borrowing would modify it.

But I never thought of this one.

They turned short hair into long hair, dressed the dolls in pretty little dresses, and even padded up the flat "airport".

What the hell is this?!

Xu Chuan forced his lips down to suppress the urge to laugh, and comforted Skvornugg, "Dolls don't have genders, so... it's not bad as it is now."

Skvornugg's soul fluctuations subsided for a moment: "My lord."

"Ok?"

Are you laughing?

"No."

"You must be smiling."

"No." Xu Chuan's expression returned to seriousness, but the twitching at the corner of his mouth betrayed him.

Skvornugg was silent for a moment, then he resigned himself to his fate.

Xu Chuan's smile faded, and he said seriously, "You don't need to be so resistant. Do you remember what I told you before?"

Skvornugg's soul fluctuations quieted down, becoming focused.

"The core you inhabit is originally part of the puppet."

Xu Chuan's voice echoed in the cave, "If the core enters the puppet's body and its original 'self' disappears, that would naturally be the best for you."

"But what if he hadn't disappeared?"

"Then you will need to remain dormant until the day you receive my command, at which point you will seize control of the puppet's body."

“At that time,” Xu Chuan’s voice was soft, but every word was heavy, “that will be the time for you to ascend to godhood.”

Skvornugg's soul fluctuations suddenly became intense.

It was a burning passion that had been suppressed for too long, finally seeing hope.

“Skovnu obeys.” His voice regained its composure. “I will not disappoint my lord.”