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

Xu Chuan observed very carefully.

Every expression on the deserters' faces, every struggle they made.

This guy doesn't seem to have found any trace of Skvornugg.

That should be right; the skirmishers didn't notice Skvornugg lurking in the core.

Xu Chuan nodded to himself.

If even stragglers can't be fooled, then the Doctor is even less likely to be fooled.

In hindsight, this was the right move.

Half a day later.

The scattered soldiers in the golden light, like insects trapped in amber, had completely given up struggling.

His limbs stopped moving, the lightning stopped flashing, only his eyes remained open, staring fiercely at Xu Chuan.

There was anger, humiliation, and resentment in his eyes, but no fear.

"It seems those two failures didn't teach you a lesson," Xu Chuan said, looking at him.

The stragglers sneered, and after calming down, they quickly realized their predicament.

"You didn't kill me immediately," the skirmisher's voice was hoarse and low.

"Besides being wary of the Fools, it's more likely that... you have something to ask of me."

"Since that's the case, why should I care about your opinion?"

Even though his thoughts were exposed by the other party, Xu Chuan remained calm and composed.

He had long anticipated that the skirmisher would see through this; this guy was never a mindless beast, he only became like a beast when he was angry.

"Well said." Xu Chuan nodded, his tone calm. "I hope you can always maintain this unruly attitude."

The stragglers frowned slightly.

He sensed something was off in Xu Chuan's tone.

"Speak," the skirmisher said in a low voice, "what exactly is your purpose?"

Xu Chuan looked at him and remained silent for a moment.

Instead of answering directly, he threw the question back at him.

"Aren't you very smart?" Xu Chuan's lips curled up slightly. "Then guess what my real purpose is."

Some things can't be said outright.

If the truth were told directly to the soldier, aside from whether he could be convinced to trust him, getting a vengeful guy to cooperate in seizing the mechanical god's body would be a major problem.

If the soldiers' consciousness completely dissipates, relying solely on Skvornugg to manipulate the puppet body to feign compliance with the Doctor would be quite risky.

The Doctor is the second seat of the Fools and one of the most outstanding scholars in Teyvat. He can detect even the slightest flaw.

Now that it has been confirmed that the stragglers' consciousness has not dissipated, his objective has been achieved.

Xu Chuan raised his right hand, and golden light surged from his palm, probing into the soldier's chest cavity.

"You—!" The stragglers' eyes widened.

The golden light pierced through the doll's chest, probing into the core, enveloping it and slowly extracting it.

The stragglers felt as if their bones had been removed, and they collapsed completely in the golden light.

His limbs hung down, his head drooped, and his long hair fell in front of his face, like a puppet with its strings cut.

The eyes were still open, but the pupils were already dilated and out of focus.

As the golden light faded, the puppet's body fell from mid-air and landed on the rocks.

Her skirt was torn in one corner by pebbles, and her long hair was scattered on the scorched mud, making her look particularly disheveled.

Xu Chuan held the core in his palm.

The surface of the core still shimmered with a pale blue light, and faint golden patterns pulsed within, traces left by his blood and the dwelling place of Skvornugg's soul.

His plan has completed its most crucial step.

“The necessary preparations have been completed.” Xu Chuan put the core into his sleeve and looked up at the distant sky. “Now, all we need to do is wait patiently.”

The group rested for several days in a cave on Mount Ozang.

Xiao has recovered most of his health.

His face was no longer pale, and the sorrow between his brows had dissipated, but the pain of his soul being almost shattered still tormented him.

The pain, emanating from the deepest recesses of consciousness, was more unbearable than any physical injury, like someone sawing back and forth in one's mind with a dull knife.

Kexiao doesn't care.

Compared to the inescapable karmic burdens, he would rather die in agony than become a monster that only knows how to kill.

At least for now, he can still control himself.

Xu Chuan has also been busy during this time.

Ever since he witnessed the immortal formation that Liuyun Jiefeng Zhenjun had buried in Aozang Mountain, he had been eager to learn it.

"The fact that the Emperor imparted the alchemy and immortal techniques to you signifies his approval of you."

Liu Yun Jie Feng Zhenjun looked at Xu Chuan and said earnestly, "If you want to learn, I will naturally teach you everything I know."

"Many thanks to the True Lord Liuyun who borrows the wind."

"However, I must make this clear from the start," said True Lord Liuyun Jiefeng, pausing for a moment.

"This immortal formation is derived from two major immortal techniques: talismans and external scenery. If you want to learn it, it will take you three to five years to even get the basics down."

Xu Chuan didn't rush to refute; he listened quietly.

After the explanation from the True Lord Liuyun Jiefeng, he finally gained a rudimentary understanding of the immortal formations.

True immortal formations are centered around talismans, while also incorporating the spatial framework of the external landscape.

The talisman provides the power, and the landscape provides the medium; neither can be dispensed with.

She cited Shen He's "Red Rope Soul Binding Technique," used to suppress his ferocity and murderous nature, as an example.

That is an extended application of talismanic arts. In essence, it is a spatial arrangement of talismanic power, which uses the spatial arrangement of red ropes to continuously act on Shenhe's whole body.

It's not just one red string that's working; it's the entire arrangement of the red strings that's making the difference.

Each red string is a talisman, and together they form a continuously operating array.

This is the prototype of the immortal formation.

As for why he was able to master the alchemy techniques so quickly, Xu Chuan knew the answer.

On the one hand, it benefited from Master Zhongli's mastery of this method, and on the other hand, it was because his own abilities were naturally suited to it.

The knight's inability to die unarmed provides the foundation for "control," projection magic provides the ability to "copy," and the golden light spell provides the container for "carrying."

The three abilities combined are like three keys inserted into the same lock.

But Xu Chuan knew very well that he didn't have the time to stay in Mount Aozang and cultivate diligently.

With the Lantern Festival approaching, there are still matters to attend to in Liyue Harbor.

Liu Yun Jie Feng Zhenjun saw through Xu Chuan's dilemma.

"With your talent for alchemy, if you really want to learn..." she softened her tone, "you can start by learning talismans."

Xu Chuan raised his head.

"Shen He's skill in talismans is more than enough to teach you," said True Monarch Liuyun Jiefeng after a pause.

"With the Lantern Festival approaching, I hope she can visit Liyue Harbor."

She looked at Xu Chuan with a look of entrustment in her eyes.

"I hope you can take good care of her."

"I will take good care of her," Xu Chuan said very seriously.

……

Starting from Mount Aozang, the group passed through the junction of Mount Qingyunding and Mount Hulao and arrived at Nantianmen.

The mountain road was rugged and shrouded in mist. Ancient trees along the way blocked out the sun, and their branches were covered with moss.

The stone steps underfoot were wet and slippery, covered with a thin layer of moss, making them a bit slippery to walk on.

"elf!"

Xu Chuan walked at the front of the group with steady steps. "The ancient rock dragon lizard you mentioned, is it around Nantianmen?"

"That's right, do you mean to..."

Chapter 174 Ancient Rock Dragon Lizard

"It's on my way."

Xu Chuan smiled and said, "Taking this guy in will be a blessing for the region."

Previously, the thirty-six Rock Dragon Lizard souls that he and Xiao had collected were completely consumed during the experiment in Dragon Ridge Snow Mountain.

Both Dulin and Andrius are still around, but they are our trump cards and cannot be used casually.

The soul of this ancient rock dragon lizard can be used to replenish what is lost.

With Xiao leading the way, the group quickly found the nest of the Ancient Rock Dragon Lizard.

The entrance to the cave was hidden by vines and weeds; if Xiao hadn't pointed it out, it would have been impossible to tell from the outside that there was an entrance.

Parting the vines reveals a downward-extending passage; the further you go in, the wider the space becomes.

Soon, a huge underground cavity appeared before everyone.

A colossal beast, far larger than an ordinary rock dragon lizard, has fallen into a deep slumber.

Its body was larger than any rock dragon I had ever seen before, and it was curled up there like a small gray-brown hill.

Its back was covered with thick rock armor, each piece of which was a foot thick and had a dark yellow sheen.

His breathing was slow and heavy, each exhale creating a gust of wind in the cave.

The elemental forces around the Ancient Rock Dragon Lizard were visibly more active than in other areas.

Rock elements condense into tiny crystals in the air, floating in the light like dust.

“Not bad.” Xu Chuan stood at the edge of the cave, looking down at the sleeping giant beast. “This guy is perfect as experimental material.”

With that, he leaped into the hole below.

Golden light spread out beneath our feet, covering the entire bottom of the cave.

Roar--!

Sensing the presence of an intruder, the ancient rock dragon lizard instantly regained consciousness.

Those vertical pupils opened from the darkness, and Xu Chuan's figure was reflected in the dark yellow pupils.

As the undisputed king among rock dragons, its eyes revealed a human-like disdain upon seeing the intruders.

The insignificant invader is not worthy of its elemental power.

The ancient rock dragon lizard stood up from the ground.

The cave trembled as soon as I stood up. Gravel fell from the cave walls, and dust rose in the air.

Its massive, mountain-like body could easily crush most demons.

The next moment, its tail swept across, whistling through the air, and slammed heavily into Xu Chuan.

Xu Chuan not only did not retreat, but was full of fighting spirit.

The spirit of Dulin possessed him; black lines spread from his neck to his cheeks, and dark red flames burned deep within his eyes.

He clenched his fist and met the ancient rock dragon's tail.

boom--!

The fists collided, creating a shockwave that sent shards flying and scattered stones everywhere.