"The primary function of a leyline anchor is to stabilize the leylines. Since they connect to various parts of the world, it's not surprising they can also be used for teleportation."
As expected of the most erudite man in all of Liyue—Zhongli deduced the answer with ease.
"Then… Mr. Zhongli, can you use it to teleport?"
"I cannot." Zhongli slowly shook his head.
Not even gods could use leyline anchors to travel.
Otherwise, back when his friend from distant Mondstadt came to visit for a drink, he wouldn't have had to fly all the way over. He'd have just teleported straight through the anchor.
"So I'm the only one who can use it? But why?" Jiang Bai propped his head on one hand, lost in thought.
Whether it was manipulating elemental energy or sensing leylines—if he didn't already know it was because he was an outsider to this world, he'd genuinely believe he was some kind of Chosen One.
But… why?
Why does someone like him, an outsider to Teyvat, have such privileges on this continent?
"I do not know either." Zhongli shook his head, signaling his own uncertainty.
Jiang Bai didn't expect him to know—after all, Zhongli wasn't an outsider. No matter how vast his knowledge, he couldn't possibly understand things beyond his reach.
Still full of unanswered questions, Jiang Bai ate his lunch without really tasting it. Just as he was about to come up with an excuse to slip away—anything to avoid accompanying Zhongli on more shopping—a woman approached them.
She was graceful and poised, her features refined. Her hair was pinned neatly behind her head, and she wore a dark blue mandarin-collared qipao. Upon seeing Zhongli, she gave a slight bow.
"Good day, Mr. Zhongli."
"And you are…?" Clearly, Zhongli didn't recognize her.
"My name is Huixin. I'm a staff member at Yuelai Pavilion, currently in charge of organizing the Rite of Descension. I heard that you're extremely well-versed in ancient rituals, so I came specifically to seek your guidance."
"Oh? But Yuelai Pavilion should already have the complete records for the Rite of Descension. Why ask me?"
The Rite of Descension was an annual event—an important occasion in Liyue. Every detail was meticulously documented: the types and sizes of incense, the offerings, their quantities...
As long as they followed last year's procedures, there shouldn't be any problems. Why the need to consult him?
"To be honest… this is my first time handling such a major task on my own, and I constantly worry that I haven't done it well enough…" Huixin sighed.
This year's ceremony was under the jurisdiction of Yuheng Xing Keqing—everyone knew she was a workaholic. She either didn't take on a task at all, or she made sure to do it perfectly.
Under her influence, Huixin dared not be careless. She'd pored over countless ancient texts in search of the Lord of Geo's preferences, but the records all contradicted each other. She couldn't tell what was true anymore.
With no other options, and following her father's recommendation, she'd come to seek out the most knowledgeable man in Liyue Harbor—Zhongli—hoping he might offer some guidance.
"The Rite of Descension?" Jiang Bai chimed in, intrigued.
He remembered Hu Tao mentioning it before—just a line or two—something about it being the day the Lord of Geo manifested. She hadn't gone into detail.
So how exactly did the rite work? He was honestly quite curious.
"You're interested?" Zhongli looked over.
Jiang Bai nodded eagerly, almost like he was pecking rice.
Of course he was interested! A god, for crying out loud! He'd never seen one in person!
"Then let's go take a look."
Zhongli rose from his seat. Thinking he was about to pay the bill, Huixin quickly interjected:
"To thank you for your help, I've already paid for the meal."
"Then I'm much obliged." Zhongli accepted the gesture graciously.
"It's no trouble. I'm the one asking for your assistance. It's just a meal—it's the least I can do."
Huixin's manners were impeccable—graceful and proper in every way.
Jiang Bai was starting to regret things.
If he'd known someone else was footing the bill, he would've ordered way more dishes! Even if he couldn't finish them, he could've packed them up for a midnight snack!
But now the meal was over, and regret was pointless…
The Rite of Descension was held at the Yiuyan Hall of Yujing Terrace, so the arrangements were all being prepared there.
Yiuyan Hall was a massive platform, the highest point in all of Liyue Harbor. From here, one could look down and see the entire city below.
It had been built specifically for the Rite of Descension and had a long, storied history.
On ordinary days, it served as a site of prayer. Locals would come here to burn incense and make offerings for good fortune.
But with the ceremony approaching and so many rare and valuable items placed about, Yiuyan Hall was now heavily guarded by Millelith soldiers. Ordinary citizens were not allowed near.
Clusters of rare Glaze Lilies lined the perimeter of the platform. Vivid banners were planted throughout, fluttering in the breeze.
At the center of the hall stood a long row of ceremonial tables. Right in the middle sat a large, three-legged incense burner.
"These Glaze Lilies are blooming nicely," Zhongli remarked, admiring their vibrant blossoms.
Huixin smiled. "I heard the Lord of Geo is fond of them, so I arranged for someone to cultivate them specifically. They're so rare now… only Yujing Terrace still has any."
"Once, Glaze Lilies grew all over Liyue, as commonly as Sweet Flowers. But after the wars, they gradually dwindled and vanished. Now, you won't find a single one growing in the wild…"
Huixin wasn't particularly well-versed in Glaze Lilies, but hearing Zhongli speak with such knowledge left her quietly moved.
"I had no idea… so these prized flowers used to be everywhere…"
"They're really that valuable? Just how valuable?" Jiang Bai asked curiously.
If they were worth a lot, maybe he could try hunting some down and selling them for pocket money.
"One pot like this sells for fifty thousand Mora."
"Fifty thousand?" Jiang Bai nearly choked.
So if he dug up five pots, he'd earn more than a full business commission!
What a gold mine! Truly a gold mine!
As Jiang Bai began plotting his path to riches, the group arrived at the central tables.
Huixin looked down at the various ore samples laid out and rubbed her temples in frustration.
"Some books say the Lord of Geo favors Noctilucous Jade. Others say he prefers Cor Lapis. Some even claim it's Old Stone… there are so many conflicting accounts, it's giving me a headache."
Zhongli's eyes swept across the table. He picked up a piece of Noctilucous Jade.
"If we're talking about favorites, the Lord of Geo's most cherished stone is still Noctilucous Jade. He once said, 'Noctilucous gleams outshine the stars.' But these particular pieces are lacking in quality—you'll need to find better ones."
"Even so, items made from Cor Lapis are also essential for the rite."
The Rite of Descension—put simply—was a ceremony to invite the Geo Archon to descend. Naturally, the offerings had to meet his expectations.
"The Lord of Geo had a particular fondness for wine vessels carved from Cor Lapis…"
Watching Zhongli speak so confidently, Jiang Bai realized just how intimately he seemed to know the Geo Archon. These weren't things ordinary people could possibly be privy to. He even knew what kind of poetry the god used to recite.
Could it be… Zhongli actually knew the Geo Archon? Maybe they had a falling-out and parted ways?
But then again… that didn't really add up either…
Before he realized it, Jiang Bai's thoughts had already begun to drift…
---
...
Huh. You really stuck it out all the way to the end.
Didn't think you had the patience. Guess I was wrong.
WiseTL's the one who actually made all this come together. I'm just here putting a bow on it… or, well, shoving it in a backpack and calling it a day. Same thing.
If you had fun, you know what to do:
👉 [patreon.com/WiseTL]
Heads up—Patreon's 50% off for all tiers during May. So if you were on the fence? Now's the time.
And if you're the social type, there's a Discord too. Pretty decent spot to hang out—no battles required.
👉 [discord.gg/wisetl]
Alright. That's enough standing around. Go on—before you make it weird.
—Leaf