Walnut used me to boost her sales performance.

This is clearly just human perception, extremely self-centered and ignorant.

Jiang Bai suddenly realized that Aru had probably died at this festival where he was the main character.

They were killed out of ignorance, and the sacrifice was given to the thunderbird they worshipped.

He said nothing and followed Aru to the front of the perch.

This perch is quite special; although it looks bare and leafless, its trunk has purple thunder patterns.

If purple cherry blossoms grow on it, it might be mistaken for a small cherry blossom tree.

"This is a perch? Why is it all bare?"

"There's something foreign in the perch that needs purification. Find the feather that's been purified by the mist, return it to the perch, and the perch will be able to sprout beautiful leaves!"

Aryu spread her arms wide, using exaggerated gestures to describe how beautiful the leaves were.

"You can feel the feathers just by touching them, right?"

"Uh-huh!"

The three of them placed their hands on it.

The moment Jiang Bai's hand touched the whitish tree trunk, he saw some images again.

He saw a thunderbird, its body enveloped in purple lightning, fluttering down from the sky and landing on a treetop, preening its feathers.

With each flap of his wings, thunder resounded across the sky.

The purple lightning could not be concealed even by the thick fog.

The scene was very brief, and there wasn't much content besides the Thunderbird.

However, Jiang Bai did get a clear look at what the Thunderbird looked like.

It was a very tall bird, its body surrounded by purple lightning. Rather than a bird, it looked more like an elemental life form born from lightning.

"I saw some images, what about you?" Jiang Bai looked at Hu Tao and Yi Dou.

Both of them shook their heads.

Walnut shrugged. "Looks like it's going to be something only you can see again."

"This tree reminds me a bit of the ancient, silvery-white tree in a secret realm."

It is said that the ancient silver tree is connected to the earth's veins and stores all the memories of Teyvat.

Their previous encounter with the snow kingdom through ancient trees in the hidden realm of the snow-capped mountains proved this point.

This perch is somewhat like a weaker version of the silvery-white ancient tree.

It might be a small branch on a silvery-white ancient tree.

The reason why the ptarmigan chooses to perch on this tree is for this very reason.

Not long after the three people touched the tree trunk, three purple halos floated out from the trunk.

Those were three feathers, emitting a faint purple glow.

As soon as the feathers left the perch, they flew off to various places. The three of them split into three groups and soon found the three feathers again.

When the feathers returned to the perch, beautiful, ribbon-like purple leaves sprouted from the tree, and the entire perch seemed to be reborn, radiating brilliant vitality.

"It is indeed quite beautiful, but it is still far inferior to the Thunder Cherry Tree," Ichidou commented.

"Thunder Cherry Tree?" This was the first time Aru had heard of this, and she was very curious.

"Are cherry trees beautiful?"

"Of course! Its canopy is covered in purple cherry blossoms, and it's enormous, with roots that spread throughout Narukami Island. Its fallen petals can even be used to make Sakura Mochi..."

Aryu's eyes gleamed with longing. "I really want to see it..."

"Look." Jiang Bai pulled out a photo.

This photo was taken when he first visited the shrine, and he planned to brag about his experiences to Hu Tao when he returned to Liyue.

He captured many breathtaking and beautiful landscapes along the way.

Aryu was very surprised when she saw the photo.

"Is this a painting? This is the first time I've ever seen a painting like this. Such bright colors, such vibrant hues, it's completely different from what I see here..."

Aryu held the photo carefully, as if it were a precious treasure.

It was a brightness he had never seen before.

You are a vibrant color that would never appear on the island.

"That's one way to understand it."

"Is the outside world really this bright...? Grandpa said it's all dark outside..."

Aryu suddenly became a little down.

I could have endured the darkness if I had never seen the light.

"What did your grandfather say?"

"Grandpa said that as soon as we leave the fog, our souls will be lost and become phantoms wandering in the darkness. It was Lord Thunderbird who created the fog to protect us."

Hu Tao remained silent.

Those who left the fog did not become phantoms wandering in the darkness; rather, the souls within the fog, as he had said, became phantoms, sinking into confusion and darkness.

Without needing any words of comfort from others, Aryu quickly composed herself and overcame her low spirits.

He handed the photo back to Jiang Bai, saying, "Thank you, brother."

Although it's beautiful outside, this is his home, and he needs to complete the ritual.

Kapachiri loves listening to his songs, and he will sing for her at the festival.

Jiang Bai took the photo and looked at Aru, "Don't you want to go out and see the world?"

"I want to! But this festival is very important, I have to make Kapachiri happy!"

"Is Capachelli the Thunderbird you're talking about?"

"Yes! Capachelli is my good friend. It likes to listen to me sing, that's the name I gave it."

Jiang Bai patted his head with pity. This child probably didn't know what he would face at the sacrificial ceremony.

Chapter 553 Let Me Touch My Horns

"Can Napacheli talk?"

Aryu shook her head. "Capachelli can't talk. I'm the one who talks to it."

He can't speak properly...

Jiang Bai was somewhat surprised.

There is no record of demons being unable to speak.

Could it be that this Thunderbird is not a demon god?

Thinking about it, it seems quite reasonable. Thor has always held the power over the element of thunder, and the Thunderbird also controls thunder. If it is also a demon god, then these two powers conflict.

If it's not a demon god, then there are many possibilities.

While asking some unimportant questions, Jiang Bai followed Aru to find a few other perches.

Heguan is large, but relatively speaking, it is not that big.

The perches are located in different parts of the island, and according to the festival's procedures, all the perches need to be offered up and maintained within three days.

The timeframe was relatively tight, and Aryu had not been assigned such a task.

He simply wanted to visit each perch and make some preparations for the festival.

The fog on the island neither lessened nor thickened over time.

The island wasn't just inhabited by Aruru and her people. Jiang Bai also saw some Hilichurls, but these Hilichurls were different from Aruru's people; they hadn't died.

But these Hilichurls are obviously very rigid; they forget what they were doing the previous second in the next.

The Hilichurls, who were about to attack them a moment ago, quickly forgot about it when they approached.

After a short while, they saw that they wanted to launch an attack again, but then they forgot about it again.

Running back and forth like this, my cognition has been affected by the constant cycle of time.

This bizarre scene made Ichidou rub his hands together, getting goosebumps.

Without disturbing the group of Hilichurls, the group left quietly.

Ichidou couldn't help but exclaim, "No wonder the adventurers say this island is eerie; it's just too eerie..."

Along the way, Hu Tao whispered to him about the situation of these people, and he gained a better understanding of the situation here.

Luckily, he didn't come alone, or he would have been scared to death.

He moved closer to the walnut.

He was quite afraid on the island.

Jiang Bai glanced at him. "You're a ghost, and you're afraid of ghosts?"

Yi Dou, with his neck stiffened, shouted, "Can the demon race be the same as ghosts?!"

Ichito's loud voice drew Aru's attention. He put his finger to his chin and tilted his head curiously.

What is the Ghost Clan?

Under the gazes of Hu Tao and Jiang Bai, Yi Dou coughed somewhat awkwardly, "See the horns on my head? I am a demon."

"So that horn actually grew out. I thought it was just decoration." Aryu was curious and wanted to touch it, but she was too embarrassed to say it out loud.

Ichidou understood his thoughts, squatted down, and offered his horn for him to touch.

Aryu gently touched it, her voice filled with surprise, "It's hard! And a little cool, like a stone."

Jiang Bai reached out his hand as well, "I haven't touched it yet, let me touch it too."

The texture is a bit like touching your fingernails, smooth.

He tapped the corner twice with his knuckles. "Speaking of which, do you have any sense of touch or pain in this corner?"

"It has a sense of touch, but not pain. But how long are you going to keep touching it? This is my weapon!"

When you raise your head, you have to use your horns to butt him.

"Hehe, I'll touch it too." Hu Tao rubbed her hands together and came over, joining in the fun as if she were touching some lucky coins.

Ichito straightened up and covered his horn, "You guys went too far, you only agreed to touch it once!"

Walnut wasn't satisfied yet, "So stingy."

Jiang Bai took out a prop horn, pressed it to his forehead, and leaned closer, saying, "Master, let you touch my horn."

"Where did you get this?"

Hu Tao's lips twitched, and she ruffled his hair, turning it into a mess.

"I took it off from the demon mask while visiting the festival."

Aryu watched her older brothers and sisters playing, her eyes crinkling into crescents.

These older brothers and sisters are such good people, and they have a very good relationship.

Capachelli would be happy to see this!

Aryu was extremely familiar with the island, and even the thick fog did not hinder his progress in the slightest.

Perhaps he himself did not realize that he did not need to eat, nor did he feel tired.

Completing the festival seems to have become an obsession for him.

Along the way, they encountered Aru's people one after another. Like Yibu and Limu, they could not sense Jiang Bai and his companions' presence or hear their voices.

As for Aryu, he subconsciously thought it was normal and didn't think there was anything wrong with it.

None of the three, including Jiang Bai, pointed it out. Even Yi Dou, who was known for his eccentricity, didn't discuss this matter with A Liu.

"That perch is over there!" Aru pointed to a large, gnarled tree not far away.