He changed Tiwat

"Five hundred years ago, a dark cataclysm engulfed the Layered Rock Abyss. The Rock King ordered the Thousand Rock Army to guard the Layered Rock mines. The battle was extremely fierce. Led by a Yaksha, the Thousand Rock Army fought bravely and relentlessly to stop the enemy... Finally, a group of Thousand Rock Army soldiers lured the enemy into the depths of the Layered Rock Abyss, thus ending the chaos."

"An old saying goes that the earth has gods, and the elements have spirits. It is said that the heroic souls of the Thousand Rock Army's martyrs have all turned into elements and merged with our mines. Those who sacrificed themselves for us should also be carrying our thoughts..."

“My ancestors were miners here. Five hundred years ago, a disaster struck, and it was the Thousand Rock Army that came to our rescue. Before I go down into the mine each time, I erect a memorial stone and pay my respects to the heroic souls of the Thousand Rock Army. It is both a prayer for the martyrs to protect us and a tribute to the Layered Rock Abyss.”

"Oh, by the way, the memorial stone I paid homage to was only erected temporarily because of the inconvenience of transportation underground. The real 'memorial stone' is on the mine, erected by the Thousand Rock Army five hundred years ago."

"Although the battle of the Abyss of Layered Rocks has ended, many Thousand Rocks soldiers, along with the nameless Yaksha, remain forever at the bottom of the abyss... Among them was a Thousand Rocks soldier who, while helping miners retreat and fighting the enemy, fell from a great height and injured his back, rendering him unable to move his hands and feet freely. But he was not discouraged by his predicament; instead, he taught himself and eventually became a renowned doctor, continuing to help others in similar predicaments."

"It is said that the memorial stone was erected by him after obtaining the 'Eye of God' to commemorate his deceased friend. He also buried clues to the treasure in that memorial stone, and according to its hints, it is said that one can find the secret treasure left behind by the Thousand Rock Army. If you are interested, I will take you to pay homage to it first thing tomorrow morning."

It's clear that Awang is pleased that someone is interested in the legend of the Thousand Rock Army—after all, his ancestors were miners rescued from disaster by the Thousand Rock Army five hundred years ago, and being able to pass on the story of these heroes must be a comfort to him.

Yan Fei and the others pulled Han Fulai, who was surrounded by the miners, out again for a discussion.

Although the legend is quite ancient, it still possesses a degree of credibility. Furthermore, this legend could explain the whereabouts of the Taiwei Instrument Panel—

The human friend of Minghai Qixia Zhenjun, who was also an ancestor of the Ye family of Yilongbu, must have died in that great battle. But before he died, he entrusted his magical artifact to his colleagues in the Qianyan Army, instructing them to take the artifact out with them.

According to the agreement between the True Lord of the Sea of ​​Qixia and his human friend, "This artifact should return to the mountains, so that we may forever remember our kindred spirit." The area around the Layered Rock Abyss is surrounded by "mountains," so burying the magical artifact here does seem to fit this agreement.

According to legend, the Thousand Rocks soldier was supposed to be paralyzed due to injury, but he not only survived but was also able to heal his injuries, perhaps thanks to the help of a magical artifact.

That person later practiced medicine and helped the needy, which seems to echo what Narumi Shinjun mentioned in his letter: "It is a good thing to be able to do some good for others"...

He left clues on the memorial stone, probably hoping that future generations would remember this story... or perhaps so that if immortals came looking for it in the future, they could find the magic treasure based on the clues left on the stone and return it to its rightful owner.

As for the fact that the main body of this legend changed from Narumi Shinkun's magic weapon to "the treasure of the Thousand Rock Army", it is probably the result of the legend gradually evolving over five hundred years.

In short, it's worth a try.

Chapter Eleven: The Test-Taking Duo

The next morning, after resting and recuperating, the group followed Awang back to the surface of the Layered Rock Abyss, heading towards the Thousand Rock Army Memorial Stone from five hundred years ago.

The memorial stone is located on a high ridge in Tiangong Gorge, south of the mouth of the abyss.

The memorial stone, constructed from local layered rocks, is about three meters high, tapering from top to bottom and resembling a spire. Several rows of inscriptions are carved on the front of the stone, presumably the names of soldiers who died here five hundred years ago. Most of the inscriptions are illegible, with only a few lines of eulogy still legible:

"...At that time, Liyue was right behind them...the soldiers were brave and the warriors were eager to fight, they were ready to die for their country and were not allowed to move an inch."

"...I will not fail the Emperor's trust or the people's expectations, and I will remember this stone."

"Though the years may pass, only the thousand cliffs remain unmoved."

Looking north from here, one can see the pitch-black mouth of the abyss.

The rocks are silent, only the wind howls fiercely.

Five hundred years ago, the Thousand Rock Army must have seen the monsters and war machines of Kanria pouring out of the mouth of that abyss from here.

This memorial stone, in place of the heroes who built it, has been gazing upon the abyss for five hundred years.

Smoke rises, the landscape stretches northward, dragons rise and horses neigh, swords flash like frost.

The scenes of battle and bloodshed from those years seem to reappear before everyone's eyes.

As a bodyguard, Jiaming had always had the habit of burning incense at every temple he saw, so he always carried agarwood with him for offerings.

Escorting goods always involves danger. Even if it's better to rely on yourself than others, burning incense regularly can bring peace of mind.

Jiaming lit the agarwood and distributed it to everyone.

Most of those present were from Liyue, and it was only right for them to pay their respects to the fallen Thousand Rock warriors. Everyone, including Ying, offered incense to the monument commemorating the heroes of Thousand Rock.

After the worship, Awang led the group around to the back of the memorial stone.

The back of the memorial stone is also engraved with text.

"Flowers for distant views, feathers for soaring high, sundials for the seasons, cups for shared drinks, crowns for protection, and spears for mutual benefit. If these six items are offered before the stone, sincerity can move even metal and stone."

—This is the clue to the "Thousand Rock Army's Secret Treasure".

The experienced adventurer Yingmei had already noticed the traces of elemental force surrounding the memorial stone, which seemed to be arranged in a special order.

Upon hearing Ying say this, Yan Fei immediately activated her elemental vision and indeed discovered a magic circle.

Based on her observation, this should be a magic circle set up by a senior sorcerer. The six items engraved on the memorial stone should be the keys to activate the magic circle.

In other words, the legend of the secret treasure is true, and the treasure is buried under this memorial stone!

Considering that the ancestor of the Ye family was a sorcerer, it is possible that he taught this formation to his colleagues—everything seems to make sense.

Upon discovering this, everyone who came to "hunt for treasure" was greatly encouraged.

The key lies in finding the six "offerings" needed to activate the formation.

As a local child who grew up listening to legends, Ah Wang lived up to expectations and recalled the whereabouts of the six "offerings" from the legends.

"The 'flower of distant views' only accompanies those seemingly crazy and lofty aspirations, which is why it is shunned by ordinary people..."

"The 'Soaring Feather' can only be obtained from eagles soaring atop certain mountains..."

"The 'Spear of Tongze' stands alone on a solitary cliff, waiting only for a worthy hero to arrive before it contentedly merges into the eternal flow of time..."

……

"What is all this... Ying, did you understand?"

Paimon spun around in the air, feeling dizzy and disoriented.

Yingmei looked deep in thought... Although she didn't understand either, her silence made her seem like a master.

Paimon then looked at Jiaming and Wenzai next to Yingmei.

The reactions of one person and one animal were exactly the same—

Jiaming shook his head: "I don't know."

Man-jai also shook his head, meaning something like, "No way, what a joke."

Legends are always vague and ambiguous.

Despite having clues, there wasn't a specific place name or anything that could serve as a marker. Who knew where these "mountain peaks" and "isolated cliffs" were?

—There are actually people who know this.

There was a lawyer who was good at wordplay and Yue Haiting's secretary who was equally good at wordplay present at the scene.

Ordinary people would only be confused by the vague and ambiguous adjectives in these descriptions, but Yan Fei and Han Fulai started discussing them after hearing them.

It's like in an exam hall, before others have even understood the question, Yan Fei and Han Fulai have already picked up their pens and started writing...

"How could the creator of a magic array set up five hundred years ago ensure that the key to activate it could be passed down for hundreds of years or even longer? If it is not stored in a centralized location where the key can be guaranteed not to be lost, then these things should be easy to find."

"The more vague the description, the more it proves that these things do not refer to 'a specific' thing, but are more likely to be 'a category' of things that meet the conditions... just like the broader the legal provisions, the greater the room for interpretation."

"If we need to send someone to search, these so-called 'offerings' should be nearby, within the area of ​​this layered rock abyss..."

"Considering that the clues are engraved on the back of the memorial stone, and that the person who erected the memorial stone was a veteran of the Qianyan Army, it would be more reasonable to regard these 'offerings' as a memorial to the fallen comrades."

"For example, the so-called 'Flower of the Distant View' isn't described as some crazy wish, but rather as 'lofty' and 'difficult for mortals to obtain,' right? To put it simply, it's a flower that grows on high mountains and is difficult to collect... In Mondstadt, I would guess Cecilia Flower, but in Liyue, it would of course be Pure Heart, right? Pure Heart symbolizes nobility and is also suitable for commemorating martyrs."

"The description of 'Soaring Feathers' doesn't focus on any particular mountain peak, but rather on the type of feathers, namely 'eagle feathers.' There's an old saying in the Thousand Rock Army: 'Eagle feathers for warriors.' Eagle feathers are very hard, matching 'Thousand Rocks' strength.' The bravest soldiers in the army would wear eagle feathers to charge into enemy lines with speed that rivals that of a flying eagle."

"As for the 'Spear of Tongze,' it's quite obvious... This is the Abyss of Layered Rocks, an ancient battlefield from five hundred years ago. I remember Mr. Yun's 'Record of the Rebirth of Cinnabar' tells the story of a Thousand Rocks soldier who lured away the enemy and then jumped off a high cliff... This must be referring to the ruins of an ancient battlefield on a high cliff. And the spear that has survived to this day without decay is probably from the 'Thousand Rocks Series'..."

"As for Qingxin, since Ganyu and Ahe usually... well, anyway, I have one on me... so let's go ask the Qianyan Army brothers guarding the entrance for an eagle feather, and while we're at it, let's also ask about the ancient battlefield ruins nearby?"

Han Fulai summarized the findings.

"...Okay, that's about it. Go find it using this method."

Yanfei took out her notebook and organized all the clues related to the six "offerings" in it. She then wrote them down in a memo and distributed them to Ying and Jiaming.

Everyone else looked at the two test-takers with awe.

The two of them, one after the other, quickly deciphered the obscure descriptions of the legend.

After their analysis, the puzzle seemed surprisingly simple?

Well, anyway, it's not that we're too stupid, it's that those two are too good at solving problems, right? Ying, Paimon, and Jiaming exchanged glances and reached a consensus.

Chapter Twelve: The Secret Lily Garden of the Rock Peak Hero

Once the plan was decided, the six people on site immediately split into two groups.

Yanfei, accompanied by her bodyguard Jiaming and local guide Awang, went to the mining area to search for the "Time Dial," "Drinking Cup," and "Crown of Protection" that might be found there. According to Yanfei's deduction, these items were likely related to the miners who were saved by the Thousand Rock Army years ago.

Han Fulai teams up with Yingmei, an adventurer skilled in mountaineering, and Paimon, a scout who can fly, to search for the "Tongze Spear" on the ancient battlefield.

Although Han Fulai already possessed the "Distant View Flower" and the "Soaring Feather" was easy to obtain, the task of finding the "Tongze Spear" was actually the most difficult. After all, there were many ancient battlefield ruins in the layered rocks, and many of them were located on mountain ridges. Yan Fei, who was not physically strong enough, could not handle climbing up and down these mountains.

After borrowing an eagle feather from Masashi, the squad leader of the Thousand Rock Army guarding the gate, Han Fulai, Ying, and Paimeng went to search various ancient battlefields near Tiangong Gorge.

They were quite lucky. After searching several high ridges, they spotted a desolate mound of earth on a nearby mountain ridge, with a uniquely shaped spear stuck in front of it—the "Thousand Rock Spear" they were looking for. Moreover, the difference in elevation between the two sides was just enough for them to fly across using their Wind Wings.

The three approached and looked up at the solitary spear.

After five hundred years, the tip of this Thousand Rocks Spear has long lost its luster, and the shaft has turned yellowish-brown from the wind and sand, looking rotten and as if it would turn into dust with the slightest touch—but this is just an illusion.

As soon as you get close to it, you can sense the rock elemental power surging within the gun.

The Thousand Rock Spear, crafted from the divine bedrock of Lonely Cloud Pavilion, has remained uncorrupted even after five hundred years. Even now, it continues to tell those who come to pay their respects of five hundred years of loneliness and waiting.

Surely, once it is cleaned and polished again, this Thousand Rocks Spear will be able to shine on the battlefield once more.

Han Fulai and Ying clasped their hands together, offering belated condolences to the nameless martyrs who lay eternally asleep in this desolate tomb, and then prepared to take away the "Tongze Spear".

Just as Ying's fingers were about to touch the spear, a person suddenly emerged from the other end of the cliff and shouted, "Hey, where did this flower thief come from! Stop right now!"

All three were startled and looked in the direction of the sound.

The man was large and stout, with a round, chubby face and a pair of small, bright eyes that shone with a sharp, piercing gaze. He was dressed in a short, tattered tunic, not unlike a beggar, but he had a jade pendant on his left waist and a sword on his right, creating a rather eclectic look that made it difficult to determine his occupation from his appearance alone.

Of course, what's even more puzzling is the phrase "flower thief"...

If you really have to say what they picked... well, they picked spears, what does that have to do with flowers?

Seeing that the man was up to no good, Ying immediately drew her sword and prepared for battle.

Seeing that a conflict was about to erupt, Han Fulai quickly stepped forward to block Yingmei, clasped his hands in a fist and bowed, saying, "Brother, you must have misunderstood something. We are here to pay our respects to the fallen soldiers of Qianyan, and we have no ill intentions..."

Liyue is a vast and resource-rich land, home to many extraordinary individuals. In addition, it is an ancient battlefield in the Rocky Abyss, so ordinary people would never come here.

In addition, this person was dressed strangely and spoke strangely. Perhaps, like Brother Jiang Xue the fisherman, he was also some kind of hidden master... Han Fulai felt it was best to avoid trouble.

But despite his polite treatment, the other party seemed unwilling to accept it.

The fat man, with his nostrils flared, took a deep breath, then snorted twice, "Hmph, ha—" and proclaimed loudly, "Mountains rise a hundred feet high, and stars can be plucked with a wave of the hand! This is the very place where I, the great hero of the Rock Peak, Tang Wuchou, cultivate! If you petty scoundrels covet the Glazed Immortal Plant in my cave, you'd better give up your thoughts now, otherwise, the sword in my hand knows no mercy."

"The Great Hero Tang Wuchou of the Rock Peak..." After listening to the hero's opening remarks, Han Fulai carefully recalled the game plot he knew and the information he had learned after transmigrating.

Well... no matter what he thinks, if he hasn't heard of it, he hasn't heard of it.

Ying looked around at the so-called "treasure trove". Well, let alone "treasure trove", there wasn't even a cave. It was just an open cliff. In the past, when she traveled and camped in the wild, she would at least find a place to shelter from the wind and rain. How could anyone live in a place like this?

Paimon was very interested in the "Glassy Immortal Plant" that Tang Wuchou had mentioned, so she flew around the desolate tomb and finally found the so-called "Glassy Immortal Plant"—"Ah, there really is a flower!"

On the back of that desolate tomb, several pure white flowers were growing.

Paimon now understood what Tang Wuchou meant by shouting "flower thief" earlier.

"Could it be... that you planted these flowers?"

The fat man proudly raised his chin: "That's right, these Glazed Immortal Plants were discovered by my discerning eye, and I've been carefully nurturing them since three days ago!"

Paimon facepalmed: "So you didn't plant them after all!"

Tang Wuchou coughed twice: "Although I didn't plant them, they now belong to me. I even secretly vowed to cultivate these flowers carefully and create a magnificent glass lily garden here."

Paimon tilted his head: "Huh, 'The Glass Lily Garden'...relies on these flowers? But..."

"Hmph, can't you see how precious these glass lilies are?" Tang Wuchou interrupted Paimon with utter contempt. "It seems you're nothing more than a person who judges by appearances."

Paimon stomped his foot in anger: "Hey, you said you wanted to plant glass lilies, but these flowers are clearly purifying flowers!"

Indeed, those pure white flowers growing on the back of the desolate tombs are the very flowers that prefer to grow on the peaks of high cliffs.

The "Flower of Distant View" and the "Spear of Tongze" stand side by side in front of the Tomb of the Unknown Martyrs, which is indeed a fitting pair.

Han Fulai and Ying also noticed this, and they were both staring at this inexplicable Rock Peak Hero, wanting to see how he would explain himself.

The Rock Peak Hero, who aspired to build a lily garden, seemed to have been severely impacted by Paimon's words, and actually staggered back a few steps, looking as if he had been forced back by Paimon's internal force...

You're saying...this is...purifying the mind?

Paimon turned to Ying and Han Fulai with a pleading look. The two understood, and Han Fulai took out the rations that Liuyun Sect had designated for him: "Brother Tang, please take a look, this is Qingxin."