In Jueyun Karst, the afternoon was drawing near.
Qiu Nian walked leisurely along a small path through a bamboo forest.
Just then, a cute little girl came walking toward him.
She carried a basket on her back filled with medicinal herbs unique to Jueyun Karst.
"Big brother, we meet again!"
The little girl waved politely when she saw him.
"Looks like you had another great harvest."
Qiu Nian said with a gentle smile.
The girl grinned proudly, then skipped happily down the path and disappeared into the distance.
"Ran into that little herb gatherer again."
Qiu Nian turned and looked at the girl's cheerful back, chuckling softly.
Although there were a few monsters in Jueyun Karst, the little girl carried a Pyro Vision, so there was little danger for her.
This was already the third time he had run into her on this path.
Jueyun Karst was the domain of the adepti—ordinary people couldn't easily enter.
However, certain herb gatherers made their living collecting rare herbs here.
Just like that little girl.
Qiu Nian eventually arrived at his usual spot beside a pond.
He sat on a rock, holding a fishing rod that seemed to appear from nowhere, and began fishing.
Yes.
This was his daily routine now.
Enjoying beautiful scenery while fishing.
Was there anything more relaxing than that?
Before he knew it, he had already caught more than a dozen fish.
The sun slowly sank toward the horizon.
Looking at the dozen fish in the wooden bucket, Qiu Nian poured them all back into the pond.
Then he scattered a small bag of bait into the water.
"I'll come back in a couple of days."
Qiu Nian said with a faint smile as he watched the fish scramble for the food.
After that, he set down the fishing rod and began walking up the mountain.
In the dream-message that Morax had sent through adeptal arts, the Qixing had not been informed about Qiu Nian's identity as an outer god.
They had only been subtly told that Morax was still alive.
The adepti, however, had been told the entire story.
Naturally, they knew that their old friend from thousands of years ago had returned.
Still, Qiu Nian wasn't in a hurry to visit those old friends.
He planned to do that later.
When he reached the mountain peak, Qiu Nian quietly admired the sunset over Jueyun Karst.
A few minutes later—
"Qiu Nian? Why are you here?"
"I remember seeing you at Guili Plains yesterday. How did you end up here today?"
Paimon's puzzled voice came from behind him.
Qiu Nian turned around and saw Lumine and Paimon walking toward him.
"Haha…"
"What a coincidence to meet again so soon."
"The sunset in Jueyun Karst is a rare and beautiful sight."
"Once I finish watching the sunset here, I'll head back."
Qiu Nian said with a light laugh.
"You really do love wandering around…"
"You've strolled all the way from Guili Plains to Jueyun Karst."
Paimon said with a teasing look.
Over the past ten days—
They had first encountered Qiu Nian outside Liyue Harbor.
Then in Qingce Village, Dihua Marsh, Yaoguang Shoal, Qingxu Pool, and several other places.
Every time, Qiu Nian had simply been out for a stroll.
"So beautiful…"
Lumine looked toward the sunset and couldn't help smiling.
The glow of the setting sun dyed the clouds of Jueyun Karst orange.
Towering peaks stood among the mist, forming a breathtaking landscape.
"By the way, what brings you two to Jueyun Karst?"
Qiu Nian asked curiously.
"The usual."
"Exploring, doing commissions, catching crystalflies, opening treasure chests."
"And searching for Geoculi."
Lumine explained.
"Geoculi…"
"You mean those objects formed from dense elemental energy scattered across Liyue?"
Qiu Nian asked thoughtfully.
"Yes, those."
"When I offer them to the Statues of The Seven, my Geo elemental power becomes stronger."
Lumine nodded.
"There seems to be one over there."
Qiu Nian looked up.
High above them—more than ten meters in the air—a Geoculus floated.
"T-That's way too high!"
"There's no way we can reach that."
Paimon shook her head.
Qiu Nian smiled.
He raised his hand lightly toward the floating Geoculus.
Then he lowered his hand and flicked his wrist.
The Geoculus drifted down and floated into his palm.
"Offering this to a statue increases elemental power."
"In this world, someone capable of using such power…"
"May very well be only you."
Qiu Nian said while looking at Lumine, who was clearly surprised.
After all, objects like Geoculi, which contained concentrated elemental energy, were typically studied only by alchemists or scholars from Sumeru.
"Is this what gods are like?"
"Just a wave of the hand and the Geoculus comes down."
Paimon said in awe.
Qiu Nian extended his hand and passed the Geoculus to Lumine.
She accepted it and nodded with a smile.
By then, the sun had fully set.
"This must be the twelfth time we've run into Qiu Nian in the open world."
Xuehua said while looking at the screen.
[Eleven times, not twelve]
[He really loves strolling around, hahaha]
[You think he'll bless the next banner too?]
[Probably not]
[A miracle like that only happens once]
[Did you guys pull Zhongli? His voice line sounds like "reject sick son-in-law"]
[That pun with Guixu sounding like "precious son-in-law" makes it even funnier]
[Don't get sick, Qiu Nian!]
[You guys are ridiculous hahaha]
[He even helps collect Geoculi for us—so wholesome]
"By the way, Lumine."
"I've noticed you always use the Dull Blade."
"Why not ask a blacksmith in Liyue to forge a better sword?"
Qiu Nian asked after glancing at the now-set sun.
"Well…"
"Because…"
"I can't bear to."
Lumine scratched her head with a sheepish smile.
She actually had the blueprint and had even forged a Prototype Rancour.
But she was worried about damaging it.
Besides, the monsters she usually fought didn't require such a weapon.
So with the mindset of saving resources—
She continued using the Dull Blade most of the time.
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