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

The changes in Dulin were even more noticeable; the layer of filthy black aura that had been clinging to it was gradually fading away.

The soldiers' gazes were fixed on the two demonic souls.

This guy is more than one level stronger than when we last fought.

The soldier's pupils contracted slightly, but his face remained expressionless.

He shifted his gaze from the demon god's soul and returned it to Xu Chuan.

A flash of lightning streaked across his eyes, but was quickly suppressed.

Damn it, this guy is a complete monster.

"What," Xu Chuan's voice broke the silence, his tone filled with undisguised interest, "do you find it incredible that I did this?"

The stragglers didn't respond.

He pursed his lips, and after a moment's thought, he blurted out a sentence.

What exactly is your purpose?

The moment those words left his mouth, Xu Chuan smiled.

It was a kind of detached composure, like looking down at prey.

An unease rose from the soles of the soldier's feet, climbing up his spine to the back of his head.

He could sense the danger, but he couldn't figure out where it came from.

He racked his brains but couldn't figure it out.

Could it be that capturing oneself is really just... a way to please someone?

The moment this thought crossed his mind, the skirmisher nearly ground his back teeth to powder.

Humiliation, utter humiliation.

"Purpose?"

Xu Chuan scoffed as if he had heard something ridiculous.

"A pathetic puppet who has been defeated by me several times and can't recognize reality. Why don't you guess what about yourself is worth my attention?"

The stragglers fell silent.

It wasn't that he didn't want to refute it, but that he couldn't.

His fists clenched tightly in his sleeves, the knuckles making a slight cracking sound, but his face remained deathly silent.

Xu Chuan took in his reaction and nodded in satisfaction.

It's almost done.

So he toned down his sarcastic tone slightly, as if considerately offering a way out.

Or perhaps it was an elaborately designed lasso.

“That good colleague who abandoned you,” he paused, his tone casual, “is now in Inazuma.”

The stragglers' pupils suddenly contracted.

"Rosalyn!"

He suddenly looked up, a sharp glint in his eyes.

The first crack finally appeared on that perpetually taut face.

But then he realized something, welded the crack back up, and snorted coldly.

"What a ridiculous trick! Trying to use me to plunge the Fools into internal strife?"

His voice was as cold as a knife, "I may not like that guy, but what makes you think that I would do what you want after knowing your purpose?"

"How to do it specifically is up to you."

Xu Chuan spread his hands, shrugged his shoulders slightly, and spoke in a very casual tone.

That nonchalant expression was more lethal than any provocation, like the reaction of a stragglers, the lady's predicament, and whether the Fools were truly in turmoil.

In his eyes, they were nothing more than pastimes to pass the time.

"They're just two defeated opponents."

He pointed a finger at the soldier, "You and her, the fact that you can bring some unexpected surprises to my dull and boring life is already one of the few valuable things you have done in your lives."

"you--!"

The stragglers clenched their fists tightly, their eyes blazing with fury.

His arm trembled slightly, his fingertips dug into his palm, leaving white marks.

Arrogant, extremely arrogant.

The last vestiges of reason were frantically sounding alarms in his mind. It was telling him that this was impotent rage, this was the reaction the other party wanted to see.

The angrier you are, the happier he is.

The more out of control you are, the more smug he becomes.

Be patient; now is not the time to take action.

Once he obtains the Heart of Thor, he will repay all the humiliation and resentment he has suffered, one by one.

“Since you’re so confident,” the soldier practically spat out the words through gritted teeth, “then just wait and see.”

He turned and left, his steps as fast as if he were fleeing the territory of some wild beast.

Looking at that figure, who was trying hard to control himself but still couldn't stop trembling slightly, Xu Chuan finally couldn't hold back anymore.

Laughter rolled out of his throat, echoing in the empty shrine corridors.

"I'm really looking forward to that day. Don't let me down then."

The stragglers quickened their pace.

Only after he had completely disappeared from sight did Yae no Miko speak slowly.

"That's quite surprising." There was an indescribable meaning in her voice. "I never expected that Lord Xu Chuan would have such a wicked sense of humor."

"What, do you think I'm just a block of wood in the eyes of the Divine Child?"

Xu Chuan retorted verbally, but his hands were not idle. With a thought, the two demon god souls transformed into streams of light and entered his body.

The corridor suddenly darkened, the wind and snow and the flames vanished at the same time, leaving only the branches and leaves of the divine cherry blossoms swaying gently in the night wind.

His hand, which was wrapped around Yae no Miko's waist, remained firmly in place.

When dealing with this pink fox, being overly polite is the biggest taboo.

If you soften your stance, she'll take advantage of you and climb all the way to the top. Only by being more assertive than her can you make her drop that confident facade.

Yae no Miko looked down at the hand, then looked up at Xu Chuan's face.

She felt a sense of powerlessness from all sides, a feeling she hadn't experienced in a long time.

In terms of strength, this guy just easily subdued the scattered soldiers right in front of her, and also showed off the power of two demon god souls.

In terms of shamelessness, this person takes advantage of others with complete confidence and doesn't feel embarrassed at all.

Fortunately, he can at least communicate normally.

Otherwise, she'd really have a terrible headache tonight.

"Whether he is made of wood or not, you have already proven it with your actions."

She sighed softly, deciding not to dwell on the topic any longer. "I have entrusted the Heart of Thor to you. Now, let's talk about the promise you mentioned."

Whether it was because he knew that resistance was futile, or because of the faint, familiar aura emanating from him, Yae no Shinji did not feel much resistance.

She even slightly adjusted her posture, finding a comfortable angle, and leaned halfway against Xu Chuan.

The ambiguous posture concealed the core of the negotiation.

The two exchanged words back and forth, but there was not a trace of intimacy between them.

"The Divine Child is truly in a hurry."

Xu Chuan freed one hand and took out the Heart of Thor.

The purple chess piece lay quietly in his palm, its surface flowing with extremely refined lightning, and one could faintly sense the immense power contained within it.

That power was enough to change the fate of a nation, yet at this moment it was being casually played with and turned over in his fingertips, like a worthless toy.

The knight does not die unarmed; activate.

A force instantly enveloped his entire body, and the power of Thor's Heart was forcefully taken over.

Purple arcs of electricity danced at his fingertips, appearing incredibly docile and natural.

He could sense the dormant power within it.

Yae no Miko's gaze fell on his fingertips.

The Heart of Thor was more active in his hands than it had been in hers.

The intricate arcs of electricity seemed to come alive, flowing in rhythm with the movement of his fingers.

She has had the Heart of Thor for quite some time, but she has never been able to harness its full power.

The chess piece in her hand was more like an inanimate object.

But in his hands, it shines with a different kind of brilliance.

A hint of surprise flashed across her eyes, which quickly turned into deeper confirmation.

It seems that this deal was the right one.

"I need your help to change a guy's mind."

Yae no Miko withdrew her gaze, her tone becoming somewhat ethereal, as if she were lost in some distant memory, "She's someone who tends to overthink things, and for some reason, she's hiding in a place where no one can find her."

Xu Chuan's lips twitched slightly.

Get stuck on trivial matters and hide away.

No one else can find it.

That's quite a euphemistic way of putting it.

If someone else were to hear this, they would probably think it's just about finding someone; how difficult could it be?

But he knew who Yae no Miko was referring to.

General Thunder and Lightning.

No, to be precise, it's that ridiculous movie that secluded itself in a pure land of its own.

Yae no Miko seemed oblivious to his subtle change in expression, or perhaps she noticed but didn't care.

She continued speaking, her tone unusually tinged with genuine emotion.

"I struggled for a long time but still couldn't find a way to change her."

"So I searched and searched, and tried countless methods, but I still couldn't save her."

Her voice grew softer and softer, as if she were talking to herself.

"So, you've found a solution now," Xu Chuan continued, following her lead.

"Yes, I spent countless hours and energy, and finally found a way."

Yae no Miko raised her head, her eyes brimming with anticipation, her beautiful face appearing pitiful in the moonlight.

"But I'm missing an opportunity, and now it seems you might be able to help me."

Her voice was as soft as honey, and her eyes, with their gentle glances, were enough to make most men in the world willingly fall into the trap she had set.

Xu Chuan is not like most men.

He released his arms from her waist, stood up, and showed no lingering attachment or hesitation.

His fingertips slid down the fabric at her waist without even pausing.

Chapter 189 Ayaka Kamisato's Request (Bonus Chapter 4)

Yae no Miko was stunned.