He changed Tiwat

Although Marcusius was on the Slope of No Return, he heard Yun Jin's voice.

That's the closing line of "The Kitchen God":

"Though wind and rain may come, we still offer our blessings; mountains and seas rejoice together, for this is the protection of heaven and earth."

"Stars shift and constellations change, the world transforms, but the human world remains the same."

"Fame and fortune are mine; though I live a hundred years, I will never Don't forget to stroll by candlelight at night."

"The events of the past and present are turbulent and dynamic, and a grand vision awaits the rise of new talents."

These words are both a blessing and an expectation. They carry the people of Liyue Harbor's longing for a better life, reaching the heart of the Hearth God across hundreds of miles.

Chapter 340 The Weapon of National Protection [4k]

Although he has regained his consciousness as a demon god, Maxius is still the same "Guoba" he used to be. At least he has no intention of leaving Xiangling or Wanmin Hall, and he doesn't act like a demon god at all.

His attitude towards everyone was the same as before. He would help Xiangling start the fire and play around with Hu Tao. If there was any difference, it might be that he could now be promoted from "helper" to "god of chefs". With his background as the "demon god of stoves", it was more than enough for him to guide Xiangling's cooking skills.

Xiangling has essentially gained a "portable grandpa" out of nowhere. With the guidance of this "culinary master," Xiangling's future achievements in cooking are absolutely limitless. Xingqiu has already started thinking about how to invest in Wanmintang. He has keenly realized that the "Wanmintang system" may become the number one cuisine in Liyue, surpassing "Licai" and "Yuencai".

However, in a few days he would receive a surprising piece of news from Master Mao—in fact, Ningguang had already invested in Wanmintang during its initial stages. Strictly speaking, Wanmintang is now a subsidiary of Ningguang Chamber of Commerce…

After playing with Hu Tao for a while, Guoba ran up to Han Fulai and stretched out his two little arms, probably meaning that he wanted Han Fulai to pick him up.

The opportunity to hug a demon god isn't something everyone gets, and Zhongli certainly doesn't seem like the type to hug and cuddle with just anyone. Besides, Guoba is so cute, so of course Han Fulai wouldn't refuse Guoba's "please hug him."

He hugged Guoba to his chest—just as Xiangling had said, it was warm and soft, especially its raccoon-like fur, which felt wonderful to the touch.

Guoba patted Han Fulai on the shoulder in a consolation gesture, and his voice echoed in Han's mind: "Successor of the Salt God, how can I repay you?"

Even though he is now merely a remnant of a demon god, his words still carry immense weight. They represent the goodwill of a demon god.

If it weren't for Han Fulai's tireless efforts over the past few days in helping Maxius collect his wish power, he would probably have continued in a daze, and might even have lost control.

Marcius also has memories of the time he lived in Liyue Harbor as Guoba. He remembers how Hu Tao teased Xiangling, how Chongyun caused trouble in Wanmin Hall, and of course, what happened in Liyue Harbor. He also knows what Han Fulai did during that time.

In his eyes, Han Fulai was not only a person related to Morax and Heureia, nor just a human who helped him regain his sanity, but also a rising star worthy of his recognition.

Just as the wind god symbolizes "freedom" and the rock god symbolizes "contract," each demon god has its own symbol, which is both their power and the path they have chosen, and the source of their strength.

For Maxius, the "hearth god," his symbol is not only the hearth fire, but also "the people's livelihood."

In a sense, Maxius was actually a "demon of the people's livelihood".

As the saying goes, "Food is the first necessity of the people," and in Liyue, the old saying goes that when someone is poor, they are "so poor that they can't even afford to eat." The fires burning in the kitchens of every household and the aroma of food wafting out actually represent the abundance of food and clothing for the people of Liyue, and are a microcosm of the livelihood of the people of Liyue.

Every morning, vendors set up their stalls and call out their wares, while people go out to buy things, light fires, and cook... This ordinary life, day after day, is the source of the Kitchen God's power.

He is the demon god who is closest to people among all demon gods. All his power comes from the people, and he also gives back everything he has to the people.

Everything he did back then, such as transforming into thousands to help people start fires and cook, teaching people how to cook, and risking his own life to protect people from disasters... was all for the sake of protecting the people of Liyue.

If there is one demon god who upholds the ideal of "serving the people wholeheartedly," it is Maxius, the demon god of the hearth.

Although his power has been reduced to less than one-tenth, and his authority has been transferred to his friend Morax, his essence remains unchanged.

Magnus felt genuine joy as he once again experienced the vibrant atmosphere of Liyue.

What pleased him even more was that the young man before him, who carried the aura of both his old friend Morax and the Salt Demon God, seemed to share the same ideals as him.

Although the Kitchen God has no successor, he truly felt that his will continued in the land of Liyue and that his ideals were still being practiced. How could he not be gratified?

Moreover, this young man is surrounded by a group of equally outstanding young people. In Maxius's eyes, Han Fulai has unknowingly gathered the "future" of Liyue!

Han Fulai smiled and replied to Maxius in his mind: "Lord of the Hearth, you flatter me. I have not done anything that requires your repayment... However, there are some questions I would like to ask you."

This wasn't Han Fu's way of being modest and declining; he genuinely never expected anything in return from the Kitchen God. In fact, the Kitchen God's kindness was already the greatest reward. However, there were some issues he did need to consult with Maxius about, given his current inability to find Zhongli.

Guoba nodded in his arms, "Ask away."

"It concerns your former friend, that demon-slaying sage, Xiao," Han Fulai said. "I want to ask you, is there any way to eradicate the 'karmic obstacles' from him?"

The "karmic burden" on Xiao's body has accumulated for over a thousand years, stemming from the resentment of more than a dozen different demon gods. Its removal is far more difficult than the remnants of the sea god on Shen He's body. While Han Fulai could use the same trick again, asking Gan Yu to help protect his body with "Descent of the Heavenly Flowers" and then connect to the Liyue ley lines for a risky attempt, it would still be extremely risky—and even if successful, he would likely need to recuperate for a long time, just like before.

Zhongli will not perform another "power transfer" for him this time.

And now, precisely at this crucial juncture in the struggle for supreme power in Liyue, his fall at this time would truly be a great loss. Leaving aside his plans to establish the "Liyue Laborers' Association," the transformation of the Biyue River and the governance of Guili Plains are inextricably linked to his own Salt God's power.

He promised the immortals that he would help Xiao remove the remnants of the demon god from his body, which was originally intended to gain the support of the immortals for Liyue's reforms.

If there is anyone besides the Geo Archon who wields immense influence over Liyue, it would undoubtedly be the Liyue Ascetics. These reclusive individuals, though holding a detached and uninvolved in politics, are the elders of Liyue, founding heroes, and integral parts of Liyue's folk religion.

Many of Liyue's long-established clans trace their origins back to the Celestials. For example, the sorcerer family from which Miss Yelan hails has a deep connection with Lord Minghai Qixia. Lord Minghai Qixia was a close friend of Lord Liuyun Jiefeng, and the two often exchanged magical artifacts and collectibles. If Han Fulai could obtain some of Lord Minghai Qixia's artifacts or handwritten notes from Lord Liuyun, he might be able to gain the support of the Yelan family.

Similarly, the True Lords in the "Liyue Academy of Celestial Arts" now have their own influence and legacy in Liyue Harbor. For example, Chongyun and his family regularly enshrine the precious edicts of the various immortals in their homes.

Liyue is currently in a transitional period between divine and human rule, and the political power between humans and immortals is in a delicate balance. The immortals are neither able nor willing to directly participate in the power struggle... However, as long as they express a clear inclination, it will be a great help to Han Fulai, and can influence the attitudes of many families in Liyue Harbor towards Liyue's reforms.

Furthermore, the Asuras possess Liyue's "advanced productive forces." Leaving aside Liyue's military and chemical industries, even just considering civilian technologies, Lord Liuyun's mechanical arts are an irreplaceable treasure of Liyue. Imagine the people of Liyue using mechanically crafted tillage machines in Guili Plains, "Piaojin Mechanisms" for communication, and mechanically crafted looms for weaving… this could be considered an "industrial revolution."

Helping Xiao is helping the Liyue Seraphs and gaining the support of the Senate.

As a result, the support of the immortals came, but he himself fell. Wasn't it all for nothing?

Therefore, Han Fulai wanted to use a more prudent approach to resolve this matter.

Maxiuse, the hearth god, has dealt with many calamities in Liyue's history and is an expert in this area. He is also an old friend of Xiao and would likely be willing to lend a helping hand.

Upon hearing Han Fulai's question, Maxius rested his round chin on his hands, appearing deep in thought, looking quite adorable. However, his tone was serious, befitting his cute appearance: "To be honest, I don't have a good solution either. The 'karmic burden' on Xiao's body has become one with him. To completely eradicate it, one would need supernatural powers like Morax's, willing to sacrifice himself to transfer the 'karmic burden' to himself and seal it away. Or one could use divine power to completely dissipate those remnants on his body..."

Marcius didn't finish his sentence, but Han Fulai understood what he meant. Medically speaking, Xiao's current condition was "terminally ill." Either a deity like Zhongli would take on Xiao's "karmic burdens," but that would be a case of "sacrificing the general to save the chariot," or... those demonic remnants would be scattered, along with Xiao.

“However…” Maxius changed the subject, “Xiao’s problem mainly lies in the erosion of his spirit by ‘karma.’ Although ‘karma’ itself is difficult to deal with, its erosion of the spirit can be suppressed.”

Upon hearing that there was a chance, Han Fulai hurriedly consulted Maxius. After thinking for a moment, Maxius said, "Morax used to take the precious stones from Liyue and made five 'Guardian Artifacts,' all of which are named after jade."

"These five divine artifacts are: 'Green Rock', a jade longsword; 'Fish of Calamity', a two-handed greatsword; 'Kite of Harmony', a spear; 'Thousand-Pound Suspended Dawn', a hard bow; and 'Azure Sky', a jade tablet. With these five 'national guardian artifacts' gathered together and activated by Morax's immortal power, they should have the effect of suppressing evil thoughts."

Han Fulai's eyes lit up immediately upon hearing Maxius's words.

The weapons on the continent of Teyvat are mainly divided into five types: one-handed swords, two-handed swords, bows and arrows, spears, and magical artifacts. Zhongli created these five types of weapons based on this.

He was very familiar with the spear "He Pu Yuan" and the longsword "Pan Yan Jie Lv," having seen them in the game, and in reality, Xiao also wielded the same He Pu Yuan. Hearing Maxius mention the names of the other three "Guardian Weapons" today, Han Fulai knew Maxius was telling the truth; these five divine artifacts combined should indeed have a special effect in suppressing evil spirits.

The names of these "national defense instruments" are taken from ancient Chinese historical texts.

—From the "Strategies of the Warring States: Qin Strategies".

The source is the story of Fan Ju, a famous prime minister of the Qin state.

When Fan Sui entered Qin and recommended himself to the King of Qin, he said:

"A mediocre ruler rewards those he loves and punishes those he hates; a wise ruler does not, but rewards those who have rendered meritorious service and punishments those who have committed crimes." I have heard that the Zhou dynasty had the Di'e (砥厄), the Song dynasty had the Jielu (结绿), the Liang dynasty had the Xuanli (悬黎), and the Chu dynasty had the Hepu (和璞). These four treasures were made by craftsmen who made mistakes, yet they became renowned artifacts throughout the world.

This means that ordinary rulers reward merit based on personal likes and dislikes. Wise rulers, however, do not do this; they always reward the meritorious and punish the guilty. The Zhou dynasty's whetstone, the Song dynasty's jadeite, the Wei dynasty's jadeite, and the Chu dynasty's unpolished jade were all overlooked gems, initially unrecognizable even to jade craftsmen, but through many trials and tribulations, they eventually became renowned artifacts.

Fan Ju's words implied that he was a talented individual overlooked by King Zhaoxiang of Qin, while Zhongli's naming of these jades had two meanings. First, it referred to King Zhaoxiang's discerning judgment, his infallibility, and his inability to overlook those with exceptional talent; second, it suggested that these treasures possessed the power to ward off evil and bring good fortune.

For example, He Pu is the famous He Shi Bi, and almost every Chinese person knows the story of He Shi Bi. Zhang Heng of the Han Dynasty said in "Western Capital Rhapsody" that "jadeite and fire-colored jade are strung together with beautiful jade. The luminous light of the hanging pearl is used as a candle." This should refer to two kinds of jade: "Jie Lü" and "Xuan Li". Jie Lü may be a type of jadeite, while Xuan Li is something similar to a luminous pearl.

The "Di'e" was a national treasure of the Zhou Dynasty. Legend has it that it was encountered by King Wen of Zhou, Ji Chang, at Mount Qi.

At that time, King Zhou of Shang was tyrannical and, believing the slander of Daji, imprisoned Ji Chang in Chaoge. His eldest son, Boyi Kao, to save his father, presented King Zhou with countless treasures, including the beautiful jade Di'e. Daji was captivated by the jade, and seeing her pleased, King Zhou finally ordered Ji Chang's release.

After King Wu of Zhou, Ji Fa, destroyed the Shang dynasty, the precious jade returned to the Zhou court. King Wu believed that the jade had rendered great service to the Zhou and could ward off evil spirits, so he ordered skilled craftsmen to carve the jade into a seal, inscribed with "The Seal of the Son of Heaven, matching virtue."

As for the jade tablet called "Azure Dragon," it was a ritual object in the Zhou Dynasty. The phrase "the jade tablet, even in darkness its radiance" refers to the jade tablet.

If we're talking about suppressing evil spirits, these few items, which can be considered national treasures, are absolutely perfect.

It's likely that Zhongli gave the "Hepu Kite" to Xiao to help suppress the "karmic obstacles" within Xiao's body.

"Then, Lord Kitchen God, do you know the whereabouts of these 'national protective artifacts'?" Han Fulai hurriedly asked.

Chapter 341 Long Time No See [4k]

Of these five "national protection artifacts," only the "Hepu Kite" is clearly in Xiao's possession; the whereabouts of the other four are unknown.

Logically, asking Zhongli, the forger, would be the most convenient way to ask, but unfortunately Han Fulai can't find Zhongli now and can only pin his hopes on Maxius.

Marcius thought for a moment and replied, "I remember he bestowed the jade spear called 'Hepu Kite' upon Xiao. He should have also given the other four to the other Yaksha generals. Go find Fushe and Fanan; they should be willing to help..."

Han Fulai smiled bitterly upon hearing this.

The pairing of a "national treasure" with a "guardian yaksha" is indeed a gift of a precious sword to a hero. Those weapons are meant to suppress evil spirits, and yakshas are most susceptible to such influences, thus requiring such a powerful artifact. Zhongli's gifting of the weapons to the yakshas likely also served to protect his subordinates.

However, Maxius was a demon god who had been asleep for over a thousand years and did not know that the Yaksha generals he mentioned had passed away one after another after he fell asleep. So where could Han Fulai find those four Yaksha generals and those four "national protection weapons"?

Han Fulai then recounted these events to Maxius.

After listening, Maxius fell silent. More than a thousand years had passed, and Liyue had undergone tremendous changes. Many of his old friends were no longer with him.

However, as a demon god, he had long been accustomed to parting in the demon god war. Although he was heartbroken by the departure of his old friend, he quickly rallied his spirits.

After all, saving living friends is more important than mourning those who have passed away.

“If we can’t gather the five ‘Guardian Artifacts,’ the suppression ritual will be difficult to carry out… However, there is another method that can achieve a similar effect, but it may involve some risks—it requires the use of ‘Soul-Seizing Technique,’” Maxius said.

"'Soul-capturing technique'..." Han Fulai frowned. The name sounded like an evil spell used by villains.

Marcius, however, did not find anything wrong with the name of the method.

He continued, "This method was originally a secret technique of a certain demon god. Xiao has the body of an immortal, so ordinary human methods are useless to him, but this method is just right. I remember that Morax used this method to save the Yaksha tribe back then."

Immortals are advanced life forms whose bodies and spirits have been tempered, and they are not far from being demon gods. Naturally, only power of the same level can affect them.

Since it was used by Zhongli, its effectiveness should be guaranteed... Han Fulai waited for Maxius's next words.

“I also have some understanding of Xiao’s current situation. It seems that his spirit has been corrupted by evil spirits within him, and his personality has also been tainted by violent thoughts, much like what we call ‘wear and tear.’ To put it another way, Xiao’s body is like an iron pot, his spirit is like the poultry meat inside the pot, and the evil spirits are like the raging fire at the bottom of the pot. After being roasted for a thousand years, the evil spirits have blackened the iron pot, and the corruption of Xiao’s spirit by the evil spirits is like the charred parts of the poultry meat stuck to the pot…”

"...What a vivid metaphor! It makes the ape sound delicious," Han Fulai thought to himself.

"So you're saying that you need to use 'soul-capturing magic,' which means separating the spirit of the demon from its body first and removing the 'burnt' parts?" Han Fulai asked.

“Yes, yes, that’s it.” Maxius was very satisfied with Han Fulai’s understanding. “After clearing the evil spirits from his mind, we need to add another layer of protection to help him resist the invasion of evil thoughts in the future… To prevent food from sticking to the pan, you have to 'smooth' the pan with oil beforehand to form an oil film.”

Thank you, Kitchen God, for such a useful kitchen tip. But next time, could we please not use stir-frying as an analogy? If I weren't still holding the rice crust, Han Fulai would have covered his face in embarrassment.

He quickly changed the subject: "Uh, let's talk about how to do this 'soul-capturing spell'?"

Marcius touched his chin again with his small, round hand.

"Well, the 'Soul-Capturing Technique' requires four ritual props. The first is a 'copper censer with incense,' the incense of which must be specially made from the 'Soul-Inducing Incense' of Qiaoying Manor; the second is a 'Seven-Star Lamp,' seven oil lamps arranged in the shape of the Big Dipper to form a magic array; the third is an 'extremely cold object,' used to help the caster calm their mind and clear their mind of distractions; the fourth is a 'bow and arrow,' preferably... the 'Suspended Thousand-Jin Bow,' which is used as a signal to release the arrow, and the soul is summoned after the arrow is fired."

The more Han Fulai listened, the more he felt that he seemed to remember this "soul-capturing technique". When he heard that a bow and arrow were needed, he finally remembered - wasn't this the plot he had seen in the Xiao Legend quest in the game before?

"...This is the 'Dream Travel Technique'!" Han Fu said, revealing the name.

Xiao was also proficient in this immortal technique, but according to the information Han Fulai learned from the plot, it was a method of cultivating by having the soul leave the body during sleep; at least, Xiao used this method to temper his spirit. He remembered that in the plot, Xiao used this "Dream Travel Through Realms" technique to bring in the soul of a swindler who was pretending to be an immortal for interrogation.

Of course, depending on how it's used, this immortal technique... can also be used to kill.

“Oh… so this is the name now…?” Maxius murmured to himself. “Calling it ‘sleepwalking’ is also accurate; this method seems to be able to deliver messages to people in their dreams…”

"Moreover, given the powers of that 'Dream Demon God,' calling it 'Dream Wandering Through the Realms' is indeed quite apt... Back then, the 'Dream Demon God' used this method to control the souls of his Yakshas, ​​and even attempted to control Morax's soul. Hey, that stubborn fellow, his willpower is harder than stone."

"The Dream Demon God"... Han Fulai instantly thought of Xiao's past. As a transmigrator, he knew about Maxius's past and, of course, some of Xiao's backstory. However, the game's background didn't mention the "Dream Demon God" much, and he wasn't familiar with this demon god who had once controlled Xiao and other celestial beings and yakshas. But judging from the information Maxius revealed, this was clearly a very dangerous demon god.

So it seems that the Yaksha tribe members, such as Xiao, use the "Dream Travel Technique" because they have a connection with the "Dream Demon God".

Marcus said that Zhongli had used this method to save the Yaksha people, which must mean that he defeated the "Dream Demon God".

And he just mentioned that this technique requires a bow called "Suspended Thousand-Jun," could it be because...?

"Did the Emperor use that bow to kill the 'Dream Demon God'?" Han Fulai asked.

“Exactly,” Maxius replied. “That Morax is no pushover… The ‘Dream Demon’ fought Morax, only to be met with the same attack, and was even shattered by ‘Suspended Might’, resulting in his death and the dissipation of his soul. This bow is most suitable for dealing with evil spirits.”

This… why does the art style feel so strange? Listening to Maxius's description, Han Fulai couldn't help but imagine Zhongli wearing a purple-gold octagonal robe, wielding a magical longbow, and battling someone. To be honest, this look actually suits Zhongli quite well.

Ancient Chinese mythology contains many similar tales of "dream travel to various realms," such as the famous novel *Investiture of the Gods*, which features the Taoist Lu Ya using a "Seven Arrows with Nailheads" to kill the enemy Zhao Gongming. This "Seven Arrows with Nailheads" involved writing the enemy's name on a straw effigy, then casting a spell to extract the enemy's soul from their body, before shooting arrows at the straw effigy to kill them…

Wait a minute, there are just too many strange things about Zhongli!

If some aspects of Chinese culture can be explained by the fact that Zhongli and Gu Hua, that time traveler, had a relationship, how do you explain the Qimen Dunjia, talismans, and other immortal techniques that resemble Taoist arts? These are completely different systems from the Teyvat continent, which uses elemental power.

I don't think I've heard of any other demon gods in the game having any "cultivation" practices.

The fact that the Liyue Asmodians all call themselves "True Lords" has a very Taoist feel to it.

Could it be that Zhongli is also from China, and perhaps even a cultivator...?

Could it be that on this continent of Teyvat, "the laws of nature came first, then the heavens, and Zhongli was even before the laws of nature"?

Han Fulai felt a buzzing in his head, as if he understood something, yet he was even more confused.

Marcius then added, “This ‘soul-capturing technique’ has several risks. First, if the soul is separated from the body for too long, it will dissipate. Second, if it damages Xiao’s soul, there will be no cure. Therefore, we must precisely remove the evil spirits that are corrupting his mind without harming his soul, and we must act quickly, without delay. To do this, you need to borrow a treasure from A-Ping…”