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

Shen He remained silent for a moment.

“Mmm,” she said, “it’s a very special taste.”

It's not just about the taste.

Besides the experience brought by the pleasure of eating, there was also an indescribable feeling, as if something long dormant in her heart had been gently stirred.

She couldn't explain what it was either.

……

Following the southeast direction of Nantianmen, the group passed through Tianqiu Valley and Dunyu Mausoleum.

The stone pillars of Tianqiu Valley cast long shadows in the setting sun, while the ruins of Dunyu Mausoleum lay silent in the twilight.

After walking for most of the day, Tianheng Mountain finally came into view.

Mount Tianheng, with its high elevation, offers a panoramic view of the bustling Liyue Harbor.

As you emerge from the mountains, a sense of worldly clamor washes over you.

However, the scenery of Liyue Harbor is most captivating when it comes to nighttime.

One by one, the lights of countless homes illuminated the darkness, stretching from the foot of the mountain all the way to the sea, layer upon layer, dense and numerous, like stars fallen from the sky to the mortal world.

The lights reflected on the sea, shimmering and making it impossible to distinguish between the lights and the stars.

Of all the people, Xiao felt it most deeply.

He stood on the mountain path of Tianheng Mountain, looking down at the lights.

Burdened by karmic obstacles, he had long been accustomed to a life of seclusion.

Standing here now, he felt somewhat out of place.

"Let's go," Xu Chuan said, walking ahead. "We'll go to the Hall of Rebirth first."

The group descended Mount Tianheng, traversed the streets of Liyue Harbor, and headed towards the Hall of Rebirth.

Several children ran out of the alley, chasing and playing, and nearly bumped into Shen He.

Shen He stepped aside, watching the children's backs with a blank expression.

Before they even reached the Hall of Rebirth, they saw a clever and mischievous girl squatting outside the shrine of the Unpredictable.

She crouched down beside the steps and railing, peeking out every now and then towards the direction of Bubu Lu.

She thought she was well hidden, but the plum blossom pinned to the brim of her hat swayed gently in the wind, giving away her location long ago.

Qiqi was carrying a small medicine basket and was about to go out to collect herbs when she saw the plum blossom swaying back and forth as soon as she stepped out.

She stopped, tilted her head, and stared at the plum blossom for a few seconds.

Then he pulled out his notebook from behind and carefully compared it with the notes.

Knowing that it was a walnut, Qi Qi closed her notebook and dared not step out of Bu Bu Lu.

Xu Chuan felt both helpless and amused upon seeing this scene.

"Master, I'm back."

Hu Tao was startled and stood up abruptly.

Her hat almost fell off, and she hurriedly caught it.

Turning his head and seeing Xu Chuan, his face first lit up with joy, then turned annoyed.

"Oh no, my disguise has been exposed."

You already gave yourself away, didn't you?

Xu Chuan mentally complained and waved towards the direction of Bubulu.

Inside the door, Qiqi peeked out and, seeing that Hu Tao's attention had been diverted, quickly slipped out with her small medicine basket on her back.

Xu Chuan turned around and introduced the people behind him to Hu Tao.

"This is Xiao, a good friend of Mr. Zhongli."

Mentioning Zhongli, Hu Tao couldn't help but glance at Xiao a few more times.

She looked the young immortal up and down, her eyes filled with curiosity.

"It's a pleasure to meet you."

"But this friend looks so young, he doesn't seem to be much older than me."

They just look young; even Xiao is older than Wang Sheng Tang.

Hu Tao was unaware of these things, but she knew that her guest was no ordinary person, and she was also somewhat interested in his friends.

"This is Shen He, Gan Yu's junior sister."

"Hello," Hu Tao greeted Shen He.

"I am the 77th head of the Rebirth Hall. You can call me Walnut."

She paused, her eyes darting around.

"Since you've come all this way, would you like to learn more about the services offered by the Rebirth Hall?"

"We recently launched..."

"Master," Xu Chuan interrupted her.

"what happened?"

"Let's go back and talk about it first."

"Alright." Hu Tao wasn't annoyed. She stopped talking, turned around, and walked ahead with light steps.

On the way back to the Hall of Rebirth.

She walked at the front of the group, turning around every now and then to say a few words, introducing the shops they passed by and which of the time-honored snack shops on the street had the best pastries.

If Xu Chuan hadn't stopped her, she would have started recommending all sorts of services offered by the Rebirth Hall again.

Xiao followed behind the group without saying a word.

His gaze swept across the shops on the street, across the faces of passersby, and across the dense array of lights.

He wasn't used to this kind of liveliness, but now he no longer needed to worry about hurting them.

Shen He walked beside Xu Chuan, his gaze calm and his steps unhurried.

The cacophony of sounds and colors, the constant flow of people, surged past her like a tide.

She felt neither discomfort nor excitement, as if she were merely a passerby in this world.

Ying and Paimon walked at the very back.

"Finally back." Paimon stretched, his little face full of emotion. "It feels like I've been gone for so long."

Chapter 176 Changes in Liyue Harbor, Seeking Instructions on Immortal Techniques

"Is it just my imagination?"

Paimon noticed that there seemed to be more pedestrians on the street than usual.

She flew in mid-air, her little head turning back and forth.

Looking around at the various stalls on the street, from one stall to another, a hint of doubt appeared in his eyes.

"I feel like Liyue Harbor is much more lively than before."

"Because the Lantern Festival is just around the corner."

Hu Tao stopped and bought some Liyue snacks from a street vendor, then shared them with everyone.

Each person received a serving of candied hawthorn, osmanthus cake, and sesame candy.

She took a bite of the candied hawthorn, chewed for a while, and then continued, "Now that the Emperor has passed away and the Vortex Demon God has attacked Liyue Harbor, after so many calamities, the people need a grand festival to get out of the shadows."

"Furthermore, I've also heard that the original plans for this year's Lantern Festival were overturned by someone, and even the guest elder was dragged by the Liyue Seven Stars to work as a laborer."

Xu Chuan couldn't help but laugh out loud.

"Isn't it something you'd like to see Mr. Zhongli busy?"

After all, when Grandpa Zhong has free time to drink tea and watch plays, who knows how many bills he might put under the name of the Rebirth Hall.

However, upon returning to Liyue Harbor, he had many questions about cultivating Liyue Immortal Arts that he wanted to ask Zhongli for answers.

As the progenitor of all the Liyue Immortals, no one understands Immortal magic better than him.

Looking at Xu Chuan's smiling face, Hu Tao pursed her lips.

"If it's just about helping, then of course I'd agree."

"But Ningguang is really going too far. She has tried to poach members from the Hall of Rebirth several times, which makes me very unhappy."

"Given Mr. Zhongli's talent and learning, this is perfectly normal."

Having an elder in the family is like having a treasure, let alone a living fossil like Grandpa Zhongli.

Xu Chuan finally understood why Hu Tao was so unhappy when she brought this up.

It's upsetting to have a trusted retainer you've nurtured for so long snatched away by someone else.

However, he clearly forgot one thing: he left himself out.

While Ningguang was recuperating at Bubu Lodge, she tried to win him over in front of Hu Tao.

He knew Grandpa Zhong well; even if Ningguang gave away Qunyu Pavilion, the old man would not waver in his determination to "retire and enjoy his old age."

Xu Chuan gazed at the Jade Pavilion high above Liyue Harbor.

As Liyue transitions from a divinely ruled kingdom to one ruled by men, even the Geo Archon himself probably can't say for sure what the future holds.

"Xiao, the mask they're selling on the street looks just like the one you're wearing."

Paimon held up a candied hawthorn and pointed his little finger at the street vendors.

The shelves were filled with all kinds of Nuo masks, with green faces and fangs, colorful and glistening in the setting sun.

Xu Chuan followed the gaze and, after a closer look, said, "It's not just similar, it's practically identical."

“They really do look alike.” Xiao’s gaze swept over the masks on the shelf, a hint of nostalgia appearing in his eyes.

Floating house, boundless anger, attacking difficulties, responding to.

The images of his former companions resurfaced in his mind. Not just his own Nuo mask, but theirs too…

Hu Tao explained to the group that the immortal commemorated at this year's Lantern Festival had been changed from the True Lord of Yixiao Daotian to the Immortal Yaksha.

Xu Chuan wondered if it was because he had rescued Fu She from the Abyss of Layered Rocks.

It seems that the changes in this year's Lantern Festival are probably inseparable from Mr. Zhongli.

Seeing that everyone was interested, Hu Tao waved his hand and said, "It's the boss's treat, everyone can choose one!"

Since the boss was treating, Xu Chuan wasn't going to stand on ceremony and casually grabbed a mask similar to the one Xiao wore.

With its blue face, fangs, and ferocious features, it held up its head to its face and gestured, truly possessing some of the imposing aura of the Great Sage Who Subdued Demons.

Paimon picked out a Fushe Nuo mask, with four arms and glaring eyes, looking imposing. Holding up the mask, he said in a deep voice that he hoped Inazuma's journey would go smoothly.

Ying took the mask of Mi Nu, its features gentle and its lines smooth. Shen He took the mask of Fa Nan, its surface engraved with fine patterns, and a flame-like mark on its forehead.

Hu Tao chose Yingda's mask, which was small and exquisite, with a slight upturn at the corners of her mouth.

As for Xiao, he has the real deal.

At this point, they had collected the Nuo masks of the five great celestial yakshas.

Five masks were lined up together: blue, red, purple, white, and black.

It perfectly corresponds to those faces that have long since vanished with the passage of time.

As night fell, a silver moon gradually rose from the horizon.

The group returned to the Hall of Rebirth.

In the courtyard, several people sat around a table, eating hot pot with the meat of the ancient rock dragon lizard.

The copper pot bubbled and steamed on the stove, the red oil bubbling and the white soup boiling.