He changed Tiwat

According to the "Dharma of Giving to Hungry Ghosts in the Void", he used this "dust-cleansing bell" to play music for the demon, which is called "giving of wonderful sound".

Listening to music to relieve tension is a common method, and in medicine, music is also used in conjunction with treatments for conditions such as depression and high blood pressure.

However, for Xiao, this is not such a simple matter.

Music capable of soothing immortals and yakshas must be of high quality. At least, neither Yun Jin's opera nor Xin Yan's rock music could achieve such an effect.

Han Fulai knew that Xiao had once been on the verge of losing control, and the person who comforted Xiao with the flute at that time was Wendy, the bard of Mondstadt.

While Han Fulai certainly didn't have the connections to go to Mondstadt to ask the Anemo Archon to play music for Xiao, the "Dust-Cleansing Bell," crafted by the god of dust, Gui Zhong, produced music that could be considered divine music. Throughout history, this "Dust-Cleansing Bell" had been presented to numerous immortals in "Farewell Ceremony," and it was even used at the "funeral" of the Rock King. In terms of prestige, it was definitely worthy of the occasion.

Xiao's expression gradually relaxed, and he closed his eyes, seemingly immersed in the music. His transparent soul slowly began to glow with a bluish light.

From a distance, Xiao's soul looks like a transparent glass statue, pure and flawless.

Within that faint light, wisps of dark energy mingled with the azure glow, overflowing from Xiao's soul.

—This is the "dust-cleansing" effect of the "dust-cleansing bell".

The demonic remnants that had eroded Xiao's soul were deeply rooted within him, intertwined with his spirit. Now, Xiao's spirit has been "baptized" by the "Dust-Cleansing Bell," and those impurities that should not have belonged to his soul have been "washed away."

Strands of "karmic obstacles" escaped from the demon's body, intertwining and tangling together, gradually taking shape.

Han Fulai gripped the "Suspended Li Qianjun" card tightly in his hand.

Next comes the most crucial and dangerous part of the entire ceremony.

Xiao heard someone calling his name.

It wasn't "Xiao," nor "The Great Sage Who Subdues Demons," nor "The Golden-Winged Roc King"... It was the name he had buried in his heart for over two thousand years, a name known only to the Emperor and the Yaksha clan members who had already died.

A name is just a label—that's what most mortals think.

You can call him "Immortal Xiao", "Dharma Protector Yaksha", "Golden Roc General"... it doesn't matter what you call him, as long as it clearly refers to that person.

Among ordinary people, there are many who share the same name. You can be called Zhang San, and so can he. If it's hard to distinguish them, you can simply add some qualifiers. For example, the one captured by Yan Fei and sent to the General Affairs Department is called "Zhang San, the Outlaw Madman," while the fishermen of Yaoguang Beach can be called "Zhang San, the Fast Net Hunter." In the end, a name is just a convenient code for addressing someone.

But that's only because mortals lack the power to see the real world.

On the continent of Teyvat, language, poetry, and writing all possess power, collectively known as "the power of words."

For example, Wendy's flute music, Gui Zhong's bell, and even Grandma Ping's zither music... the power contained in them is also "the power of words".

The fourth of the "Six Sins of the Root" promulgated by the Sumeru Order is titled "Investigating the Origin of Language," which refers to "the power of words."

The power that the founders of the ancient kingdom of Kanria obtained from the World Tree was also "Word Power".

The talismans used by immortals and the incantations they recite are also forms of "spiritual power."

Inazuma's Onmyoji uses "Onmyoji Techniques" to control "Shikigami" and also uses "Word Spirits".

The essence of this was subtly revealed in the book "The War of Hamwaran" written by the Sumeru scholar Pursina.

[A contract is formed through the true name. Using the true name to command—the essence of mysticism worldwide is similar, perhaps reflecting one of humanity's most fundamental fears—the fear of being controlled.]

In Sumeru, there is a magical creature called "Zhenling". To control them, one must obtain their "true name".

The Yaksha tribe was once enslaved and turned into "hungry ghosts" because the demon god had learned their true names.

After the Rock King liberated the Yaksha tribe, he gave them new code names and hid their real names to prevent them from falling into the control of others again in the future—"Xiao" was such a code name.

More than two thousand years later, Xiao heard his real name again.

Xiao suddenly opened his eyes and stared intently at the figure that appeared before him.

The "karmic obstacles" that were "washed away" from his soul formed a human shape.

That's a woman.

A seductive woman.

Her eyebrows resembled willow leaves in early spring, often carrying the sorrow of rain and clouds; her face was like peach blossoms in March, secretly harboring romantic feelings. Her slender waist swayed gracefully, like a languid swallow or a languid oriole; her delicate lips were so alluring that they stirred bees and butterflies into a frenzy.

The woman stroked Xiao's cheek with her hand and murmured his name in a voice only he could hear, her hoarse voice seemingly filled with boundless tenderness.

Xiao's expression instantly turned to one of utter agony, and he murmured the name of the woman before him—

“Malphas…”

"Dream Demon God", Mafas.

The demon god who was shot and killed by the Rock King Emperor with "Hanging Li Thousand Jun".

She is the nightmare that Xiao has been unable to escape for two thousand years.

A death raven perches on her shoulder, and these retinues, flying in flocks, can stir up a dark cloud in the sky.

Her voice was as hoarse as her family's, yet it possessed a captivating charm.

She possesses clear eyes and a sharp mind, adept at discerning people's weaknesses, and even more skilled at manipulating and possessing the hearts of her subjects.

The "God of Contracts" rescued the Yaksha she had enslaved from her grasp and destroyed her physical body.

But the demon god is immortal.

Even the "God of Contracts" cannot change a contract signed with a soul.

Even after the death of the "Dream Demon God," the contract continued to affect the Yaksha people, inevitably plunging them into an abyss of madness.

She still lives on in people's hearts, becoming an invisible chain that penetrates deep into the soul.

Xiao seemed to hear the demon whispering in his ear.

She said, “Look, my child. See how fearless heroes are gnawed by terror, and how selfless kings bow down.”

She said, “Look, my child. Look at how lovers who made vows of eternal love are tormented by betrayal and lies.”

She would grant eternal dreams to both her subjects and enemies without discrimination, and then enjoy their ugliness.

Amidst the entanglement of resentment, the demon, reclining on his throne, savored the fruits of pleasure, sap overflowing from between his fingers.

Beneath her throne lay twelve grotesque demons.

She said, "Eat, my child."

The invisible chains within his soul clanged, and amidst the excruciating pain and ecstasy that pierced his flesh, the loyal hound swallowed his "dream."

"Then, tell me..." The demon's gaze swept towards the yaksha.

The indomitable bone marrow endured and resisted every puncture and whipping, and the throbbing of the blood brought excruciating pain every moment.

"Tell me quickly, my child. What does the 'dream' you swallowed taste like?"

The delicious taste of a blood-soaked dream is wonderful yet fleeting, stirring up pure hatred, which is the ecstasy of the demon god...

“Child, do you know that ‘love’ is nothing but a fleeting cloud, while ‘power’ is the raw material of ‘dreams’? Pain and cruelty are merely ripples of tyranny, while shattered ‘dreams’ are the true nourishment of joy.”

The demon raised her arms, and the yakshas scattered and flew away, searching for new "dreams" and new "food" for her and for themselves.

"Keep eating, child, child with a heart of glass. I want to see your shattered 'beautiful dream,' and then, how delicious will your heart be?"

With a "whoosh".

An arrow formed from light energy pierced through the humanoid black "karma".

Xiao immediately awoke from the illusion.

Before him lay not the "Dream Demon God," nor any alluring woman, nor the twelve Yaksha generals; but only the dark remnants of a demon god.

If we were to give it a name, it should be called "Inner Demon".

Han Fulai had just released his hand from the bowstring.

He had never practiced archery. If asked to draw a bow and nock an arrow based on his own skill, he might be able to hit the target at a distance of about ten paces with ordinary bows and arrows, given his current physical condition. But to truly wield this incredibly strong bow, he was indeed lacking the strength.

That arrow was shot by "Xuanli Qianjun" on its own.

This is the divine power inherent in this "weapon of national protection." As a divine artifact crafted by the emperor himself, it naturally possesses special characteristics—within a range of a hundred paces, the arrows it fires can automatically seek out and annihilate all evil.

Simply put, it comes with a "hitting the bullseye" effect, and it's the kind that tracks targets automatically—Zhongli has already solved the "missing arrows" problem that Genshin Impact players complain about all the time.

But the arrow failed to eliminate that "inner demon".

From the moment Xiao entered the illusion to the moment he shot an arrow and shattered it, only a few seconds passed, but it felt like an eternity to Xiao, long enough for him to relive his past madness and despair.

Arrows formed from light energy have no physical form, just as "inner demons" have no physical form.

The hole in the heart of the "inner demon," pierced by the arrow, has begun to heal.

That alone is not enough to get rid of it.

The "inner demon" arises from the "karmic obstacles" within Xiao's body, and they are two sides of the same coin. To completely eliminate its erosion, it is necessary to eradicate the remnants of the demonic god within him. This is, of course, something Han Fulai cannot do now, at least not with this "Dream Wandering Through Realms Technique."

However, Han Fulai never thought he could get rid of this "inner demon".

—Because the one who tied the knot must untie it.

Just like the inner demon array he encountered in the cave of the Naruto Sea Qixia True Lord, Xiao himself had to break the inner demon. People have to rely on themselves to overcome themselves.

He was just an "assistant".

Han Fulai stepped forward and solemnly handed the "Suspended Li Qianjun" document to Xiao.

He only said one sentence: "I don't know what sins you carried in the past, but the Xiao I know now is the guardian Yaksha of Liyue, the protector of the people of Liyue, and a hero I respect."

Xiao now understands what he should do.

He grasped the giant bow left behind by the Floating Yaksha, feeling the familiar aura emanating from it.

“…Your Majesty…Fushe…” Xiao’s fingers caressed the bow arm.

He placed the bow on the ground.

The bow is too long, far exceeding Xiao's height and arm length. Even if Xiao were physically present, he wouldn't be able to draw the bow.

But now there are two people.

Han Fulai gripped the bow with both hands, activating the power of the salt god's remnants within him. The light energy within "Suspended Li Qianjun" was awakened by his power, and the emerald green bow shimmered with light, like lightning piercing the night sky, awe-inspiring and unapproachable.

At the same time, Xiao gripped the bowstring with both hands, and his soul also changed.

On his face appeared that blue Nuo mask.

The blue Nuo mask is ferocious and terrifying, with eyes like copper bells, fangs showing in its mouth, horns on its head, and a huge "wise eye" standing upright in the middle of its forehead. Its eyebrows are decorated with flames, giving it an imposing and intimidating aura that commands respect from all directions.

Some people fear this face, some people loathe this face, but some people would say—

"Ha, this mask is really imposing; it makes you feel safe just looking at it."

Han Fulai turned to look at Xiao with a smile on his face.

Xiao recalled the words the Emperor had spoken to him when he bestowed this blue Nuo mask upon him:

"Becoming a guardian deity of Liyue may lead you to be consumed by endless battles and fall into utter confusion... But I believe that you will eventually meet someone who understands all your sacrifices and is willing to light your way in the darkness."

Beneath the blue Nuo mask, Xiao also revealed a smile.

He drew back the longbow with both hands.

The bow is drawn to its fullest extent, and the arrow flies like a shooting star.

The demon god, skilled at piercing the weaknesses of others, never expected that her heart would also be struck by a jade arrow.

At the moment the divine body collapsed, countless fragments of illusion scattered and vanished into nothingness.

Chasing after the demon who controlled people's hearts, she headed towards self-destruction, and the mighty bow heralded her retribution.

Such an end was a justifiable evil consequence; tyrannical pleasure should inevitably meet a cruel conclusion.

When all was calm again, and the night was no longer filled with lamentations and weeping, the powerful bow of blood was carefully sealed away.

It patiently awaits the birth of the next tyrant, whose heart will be pierced by the emerald light that the night cannot conceal.

Chapter 350 The Pact of Jiheng, the Pattern of Fang Sheng [4k5]

Within the "Amber Prison" formed by celestial power, the "inner demons" formed by the black "karmic obstacles" vanished without a trace.

A thousand years ago, it was the Rock King Emperor who wielded the "Suspended Might" to shoot down that demon god. A thousand years later, it was Xiao himself who drew the "Suspended Might" and shot down the demon in his heart.

Xiao's soul regained its pure and flawless appearance.

But the matter is not over yet; there is still one step left, the final step.

They have only cleared the evil spirit from Xiao's mind, but the demonic remnants on Xiao's body have not been removed, and he will continue to come into contact with and fight those "karmic obstacles" in the future.

If everything continues as before, after some time, Xiao's soul will be corrupted again.

Han Fulai had one more thing to do.