Jueyun Karst, whose in-game prototype was inspired by Zhang Liao, was a place Yuto had never visited in his previous life. Being able to experience a different kind of scenery in the game world was certainly a worthwhile trip.
With three thousand peaks and eight hundred waters, mountains stood like straight trees across the land of Liyue. The magnificent landscape of towering peaks and overlapping ranges left Yuto utterly awestruck the first time he saw Jueyun Karst, even if it was only through a screen.
Yet, when he stood at the foot of Jueyun Karst as a medicine gatherer, even as a ninja, a sense of powerlessness and fear arose within him.
This terrain, this environment, if it could be developed into a scenic area, it would surely make a fortune. It's a pity, though, that the Adepti in Jueyun Karst probably wouldn't agree. If their peaceful cultivation were disturbed, they would definitely not take it lightly.
Qiqi, on the other hand, paid no mind to the steepness and danger of the mountains. He directly targeted a peak and climbed straight up.
Qiqi lived up to his title as a Medicine Gathering Child. Although his climbing performance in the game was not ideal, in reality, he was incredibly agile and skilled, fully utilizing the terrain and gaps between the mountains, steadily ascending step by step.
Seeing this, Yuto was not to be outdone. He gathered Chakra at the soles of his feet, then leaped up, and with a series of agile movements, followed right behind Qiqi. Chakra was simply too overpowered for rock climbing.
While Qiqi was still huffing and puffing, struggling to climb, he suddenly remembered that Yuto was still behind him and that he should take good care of him. However, when he looked down, he saw Yuto standing on the steep cliff in an abnormal posture. Although his body's angle with the cliff exceeded 90 degrees, he wasn't falling. His feet were firmly planted on the cliff, and he was walking step by step along it.
Although Qiqi was slow to react, he was not foolish. Seeing this unique climbing method, his small head was filled with great confusion. His usually calm eyes involuntarily widened a little, but soon, the expression of confusion turned into envy.
If Qiqi knew this climbing method, he would be able to gather even more medicinal herbs, wouldn't he? This was the first thought that popped into Qiqi's head.
After easily picking five Violetgrass, Qiqi and Yuto successfully reached the summit. On top of the mountain, seven Qingxin bloomed.
Looking at these growing Qingxin, Yuto suddenly recalled an unreliable rumor he had heard in his previous life: Legend has it that Ganyu, who is half-human and half-Adepti, became overweight due to his fondness for Qingxin. To help Ganyu lose weight, Lord Rex Lapis used his divine power to change the growing conditions of Qingxin from plains to steep mountain tops. To eat Qingxin, Ganyu had to climb mountain after mountain, which served as a form of weight loss.
Although he knew this rumor was unreliable, it didn't affect Yuto's mood. Thinking of this legend, Yuto's mood brightened considerably, and he involuntarily chuckled, which made Qiqi, who was beside him, very curious. Why was he so happy just from picking a few Qingxin?
After climbing one peak, the rest became easy. Qiqi and Yuto simply leaped from the towering peak, and then, a pair of wings unfolded behind them.
That's right, it was a Wind Glider, the wings invented by the Adventurer Leonard from Mondstadt. Once released, it quickly spread across the continent of Teyvat. Although it could only glide, the feeling of soaring through the sky was addictive.
Qiqi was not an old-fashioned person who couldn't adapt. With the Wind Glider, his efficiency in gathering medicine could increase several times, so of course, he would learn to use it. Besides, the Wind Glider was very easy to use; even a beginner like Yuto mastered it in just an hour.
As long as one possessed the courage to leap from a height, they were not far from learning to use a Wind Glider. Coincidentally, as a ninja, Yuto did not lack courage.
With the help of the Wind Glider, Yuto and Qiqi glided steadily to the side of another peak, successfully gathered a few Violetgrass, and then continued to climb upwards.
Although it sounds easy, there are often various crosswinds between the peaks of Jueyun Karst. These turbulent air currents can make Wind Glider gliding unstable, and improper operation can lead to a fatal fall, causing a tragedy.
Therefore, before each use of the Wind Glider, it is necessary to observe whether there are disruptive winds between the peaks. Even if unavoidable, preparations should be made in advance, which is always better than being caught completely off guard.
Thus, under Qiqi's guidance, Yuto continuously shuttled between the various peaks. In just a short afternoon, the two had already gathered over forty Qingxin and over twenty Violetgrass, nearly half of the required medicinal herbs for the mission. Of course, Yuto also knew that these herbs were not just his, but also a portion of Qiqi's.
At this moment, on a mountain peak, Yuto discovered something new: a Statue of The Seven. The statue depicted Lord Morax, the God of Geo, and it was this landmark that allowed Yuto to pinpoint his current location.
Unknowingly, he had already reached the top of Qingyun Peak. Yuto reached out and touched the Statue of The Seven, then waited quietly... Sure enough, nothing happened. It seemed he wasn't some protagonist and couldn't, like Aether and Lumine, gain Geo element power just by touching the Statue of The Seven. This left Yuto a little disappointed, but he quickly dismissed it.
At this time, Qingyun Peak, illuminated by the evening sunset, displayed a breathtaking natural landscape that left Yuto utterly thrilled. With a bountiful harvest, he had temporarily shed his identity as a medicine gatherer and once again became a tourist, marveling at the magnificent scenery of Qingyun Peak.
Yuto and Qiqi sat near the Statue of The Seven, took out their dry rations, and ate their dinner while admiring the magnificent scenery. Although the dry rations were cold and a bit difficult to swallow, with such a grand view as an accompaniment, Yuto savored even a few steamed buns.
Although Yuto really wanted to secretly use Fire Release to heat the food, on one hand, Qiqi didn't like high temperatures and had no sense of taste, and on the other hand, Yuto didn't want to tell Qiqi his secret of knowing Fire Release yet, fearing he might displease him.
Qiqi didn't seem very interested in Vision wielders of the Pyro element. It wasn't because of the person, but because his zombie body inherently resisted high temperatures. Conversely, Qiqi had a natural fondness for cold things.
As dusk fell, Yuto and Qiqi finished their dinner. After a quick tidy-up, they directly jumped off Qingyun Peak. This time, they didn't fly between other peaks but directly glided to the foot of the mountain, preparing to find a place to set up camp.