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

Shen He doesn't understand why Paimon likes to eat slime, just as Paimon doesn't understand why she eats flowers and plants on Mount Ozo.

"Slime is delicious. I'll have Xiangling make some for you to try next time."

Along the way, Paimon was like a little bee who had never seen the world before, stopping at every food stall.

Shen He rarely spoke, mostly following Xu Chuan silently.

Xu Chuan thought to herself that this must have been a special instruction given to her by the True Lord Liuyun Jiefeng.

Xu Chuan was also busy every night.

In the courtyard of the Hall of Rebirth, he and Zhongli sat facing each other.

Tea was poured again and again, and the conversation went from talismans to formations, and from formations to the scenery.

Zhongli always managed to offer precise guidance when he was confused.

The answer is usually not given directly, but rather guided to think and look at the problem from a different perspective.

Sometimes, Xu Chuan just finds the answer naturally.

"No, I just can't seem to get the hang of outdoor shooting."

Xu Chuan scratched his head in frustration.

Zhongli had demonstrated and explained it to him many times, but he always fell short at the last step.

This made him wonder if he really didn't have that kind of talent.

Zhongli took a sip of the aloeswood tea and said calmly, "There's no need to belittle yourself. With your talent and comprehension in alchemy and talismans, you will naturally be able to master this external realm technique in the future."

"It is important to remember that if you care too much about something, it will be harder to do it well."

After receiving the agarwood tea brewed by Xiao, Xu Chuan seemed to remember something and couldn't help but smile self-deprecatingly.

Just a few days ago, I advised Hu Tao not to be so stubborn.

Unexpectedly, the boomerang hit me so quickly.

"By the way!" Xu Chuan put down his teacup, "How is Mr. Zhongli's Golden Light Mantra training going?"

When he first taught the Golden Light Mantra to Zhongli, he did so with a "let's give it a try" attitude.

At that time, he was unsure whether Teyvats could cultivate the Golden Light Charm, or whether cultivating a power system outside this world would bring any unexpected dangers.

This is also why Xu Chuan did not teach the Golden Light Spell to Yura after returning to Mondstadt.

He didn't want anything to happen to his beloved girl.

As for why the course was taught to Grandpa Zhongli, it was naturally because they believed he was absolutely capable of handling those risks.

"Your cultivation method could be called a divine technique."

"Do not seek external things, but look inward, with the aim of tempering one's own body and soul..."

Xu Chuan thought to himself, "As expected of the Rock King Emperor, his understanding of the Golden Light Mantra is even deeper than I thought."

This insightful analysis even gave him a new understanding of the Golden Light Mantra.

However, this was not the result he most wanted to know.

"Mr. Zhongli, after practicing this Golden Light Mantra, have you noticed anything unusual?"

Xu Chuan asked the question that had been weighing on his mind.

"This Golden Light Spell is not a Teyvat cultivation method. Will it have any negative effects on the people of Teyvat?"

Zhongli remained silent for a moment, which was uncharacteristic of him.

The moonlight fell on his shoulders, blurring his usually calm and expressionless face.

He gazed into the distance, his eyes seeming to pierce through the courtyard wall and land on a place very, very far away.

"From a purely rational perspective, it has no effect on ordinary people in Teyvat to practice the Golden Light Spell."

Zhongli paused for a moment at this point.

"If we're really talking about the impact, it's the golden light you've cultivated that might have a far-reaching influence."

Xu Chuan was taken aback for a moment, but didn't pay too much attention to it.

He understood Zhongli's meaning. As a visitor from another world, he was one of the variables in the Teyvat world, and his every move would have an impact on this world.

But more than himself, Xu Chuan was concerned about whether his kindness towards those around him might inadvertently bring them disaster.

The conversation between the two lasted for a long time, until the tea on the stone table had gone cold.

The full moon hanging high in the sky is about to set, and dawn will soon break again.

Zhong Li stood up. "That's enough for tonight."

After saying that, he turned and left.

Xiao followed behind him like a silent shadow, disappearing at the end of the corridor.

Xu Chuan sat alone by the stone table, watching the moon, which had already begun to set in the west, until the first ray of sunlight fell on the earth as usual.

Xu Chuan, who had been sitting stiffly by the stone table, finally made a move.

"It will have far-reaching consequences..."

He repeated Zhongli's words in a low voice, then smiled.

Now that he's come this far, he'll naturally continue on.

No matter what happens in Teyvat in the future, Xu Chuan does not want to have any regrets.

Chapter 178 Shen He's Transformation

After picking up the teacup on the table, I found that the tea inside had gone cold.

With a thought, Xu Chuan summoned fire elements from all around him.

Before long, steam rose from the cup of tea again.

Reheating old tea always results in a less desirable flavor compared to freshly brewed tea; it's more bitter and astringent, and the aftertaste is shorter.

Just as he was savoring the old tea, he inadvertently caught a glimpse of a familiar figure.

The morning light spilled in from the end of the corridor, falling on her and turning her white dress into a warm, pale gold.

Shen He walked out from the depths of the corridor, his steps light and steady, as if he were walking on water.

A morning breeze swept through the courtyard, ruffling her hair and the hem of her clothes, her white braids swaying gently behind her.

That cool and refined face appeared exceptionally soft in the morning light, and the aloofness between her brows and eyes had faded somewhat compared to when we first met, like the edge of ice slowly melting in the spring.

Xu Chuan paused for a moment, his hand holding the teacup still.

"Miss Shen He, you're up very early." He greeted her with a smile.

I thought Shen He would respond as usual and then go to his morning practice.

Unexpectedly, this usually aloof girl walked over, contrary to her usual behavior.

She stopped in front of him and suddenly spoke.

"Aren't you tired from not taking a break all the time?"

There was a hint of concern in those beautiful eyes.

"Thank you for your concern." Xu Chuan put down his teacup. "I'm fine."

The bitterness fades, leaving a slightly sweet aftertaste.

Xu Chuan looked at Shen He standing in front of him with some surprise.

Without realizing it, she had indeed changed a bit.

Compared to when we first met, those beautiful eyes had gained a bit more vitality, and the coldness and aloofness had quietly faded away.

This change made Xu Chuan take a few more glances.

Seeing Xu Chuan in a daze, Shen He leaned down with some confusion and affectionately placed the back of his hand on Xu Chuan's forehead.

Her fingers were slightly cool as she touched his skin, testing his temperature without the slightest hesitation or awkwardness.

This action instantly brought Xu Chuan back to his senses.

The two looked into each other's eyes, their reflections mirroring each other's faces.

As the morning breeze passed between the two, it stirred her hair and also quietly stirred Xu Chuan's heart.

Shen He was raised by immortals from a young age and rarely interacted with others, so he was extremely lacking in common sense about the human world.

In matters of love between men and women, it was a complete blank.

Therefore, she had no distracting thoughts when she did this; she was simply checking on Xu Chuan's condition.

However, Xu Chuan, who had become enamored with Yura, was not like that.

Those inappropriate thoughts sprouted from his mind like weeds.

As a result, Xu Chuan was quickly defeated, utterly and decisively defeated by the distracting thoughts in his mind.

However, Xu Chuan did not panic because of this.

He pulled the girl's hand away and made her sit on the stone bench next to him, and began his rhythm.

"I just remembered that True Lord Liuyun Jiefeng specifically instructed me to take good care of you."

After calming himself down, Xu Chuan poured himself and Shen He each a cup of tea.

"Thinking about it carefully, I really haven't been paying much attention to your life lately."

Shen He held his teacup, remained silent for a moment, and then said softly, "I am doing very well at the Rebirth Hall. Ying and Paimeng often introduce me to new and interesting things, which I have never experienced when I was cultivating on the mountain."

"They've been busy with other things lately, so I can't help them much."

"As for my senior sister, she's just like you; she always seems to have endless things to do..."

She seemed to have opened a floodgate, pouring out all the misunderstandings and confusions that had been hidden in her heart.

Those words were fragmented and disjointed.

It's like a stream that just flowed down from the mountain, flowing in different directions and unable to converge into a river.

Xu Chuan listened patiently, without the slightest impatience.

These misunderstandings and confusions hidden in Shen He's heart are the inevitable path she must take to integrate into the world.

In fact, Xiao isn't much better.

The karmic obstacles on that guy have been cleared, but his habit of living in seclusion is not something that can be changed overnight.

Fortunately, with Grandpa Zhongli teaching him step by step, perhaps he will be able to change in the near future.

“So,” Xu Chuan put down his teacup, looking into her eyes, “when everyone around you has their own goals, you feel lost, unable to find your own…”

"Ah."

Shen He's beautiful eyes brightened slightly as she looked at him expectantly.

Those eyes were filled with anticipation.

It's like suddenly seeing a glimmer of light in the darkness, and you can't help but want to grab it.

In Xu Chuan's view, this gaze was indeed somewhat heavy.

It carries just as much weight as when Hu Tao said she would "be a guest of the Hall of Rebirth for the rest of her life."

One's pursuits and self-realization cannot be entrusted to others.

He knew this well, which is why he couldn't give Shen He a definite answer.

Perhaps it was because Lord Liuyun Jiefeng knew these things that he sent Shenhe to Liyue Harbor.

It's unrealistic to expect someone who lacks basic common sense to talk about ideals and pursuits.

Instead of telling her "what you should do," it's better to take her to experience and feel things, and ultimately let her discover them for herself.

With this thought in mind, Xu Chuan already had a general direction in mind.

"Speaking of which, I happen to have some free time today." He stood up. "Why don't you come for a walk with me?"

"Okay." Shen He nodded.