Chapter 104. The Rite of Descension Begins! The Adeptus Appear!
Mentally exhausted—utterly so. At this moment, Ganyu's heart was weighed down by an unmistakable fatigue, yet she had no choice but to endure it. The reason was simple: her foremost objective was to find Cloud Retainer, yet Cloud Retainer was nowhere to be found.
Ganyu had wanted—no, needed—to locate her before the Rite of Descension and make one thing absolutely clear: under no circumstances was she to mention those childhood stories.
But now, with Cloud Retainer still missing and the Rite of Descension imminent, matters had already slipped beyond her control. Soon, she would inevitably see Cloud Retainer, the assembled Adeptus, and the Archon himself appear together.
And yet, no matter how one looked at it, this brought her no sense of relief.
During the Rite of Descension, she could not simply approach Cloud Retainer and speak privately. Everything would be conducted in full view of all. If someone were to bring up her childhood at that time—even casually—the consequences would be disastrous.
Because of this, Ganyu was truly exhausted now. Not a weariness of the body, but a kind of mental fatigue that ordinary people could scarcely comprehend.
Shenhe, however, was able to understand her to some extent. From Ganyu's anxious insistence on finding her Master, it was not difficult to guess that her worries revolved around that single matter alone.
"Are you inviting us?" Futsu Mitama asked. "Somewhere close to Rex Lapis?"
He sympathized with Ganyu's situation, yet he had not expected that she—Secretary of the Qixing herself—would personally extend the invitation to the Rite of Descension.
That alone was an exceptional honor.
Futsu Mitama had come precisely because he knew that, barring any unforeseen incident, this would be the final Rite of Descension.
The next one, most likely, would be the Rite of Parting presided over by Ningguang.
He hoped Ningguang would be all right when that day came. Witnessing Rex Lapis "fall" from the sky would place immense pressure on anyone—enough to induce outright panic.
But that was a matter for a year later. It had nothing to do with the present.
Right now, Futsu Mitama only wished to properly experience this Rite of Descension. And if Ganyu herself was arranging their attendance, then their seats would undoubtedly be exceptional.
Most likely the very front row—directly facing Morax.
Such a position was beyond precious. At the very least, merchants throughout Liyue would willingly pay hundreds of millions of mora for a seat that close to Rex Lapis. In layman's terms, it meant basking in adeptal aura—receiving the Lord of Geo's blessing, prosperity assured.
No matter how one looked at it, being close to Rex Lapis was a rare fortune.
At the very least, he, Aila, and the others would be able to witness the Rite of Descension up close—hear how Rex Lapis would arrange Liyue's future with his own voice.
And more importantly—this scene did not exist in the game.
That alone filled Futsu Mitama with anticipation.
"Mhm." Ganyu nodded. She looked at him and smiled softly. "Liyue has taken note of everything you've done. The Archon will welcome your presence, and—"
She paused, her gaze briefly shifting to Shenhe and Aila at Futsu Mitama's side.
In truth, even without her involvement, Shenhe and Aila's status as disciples of the Adeptus—combined with Futsu Mitama's identity as a retainer of the Raiden Shogun—was already more than sufficient.
The Qixing would naturally arrange the best seats for them. But beyond that, Futsu Mitama had done far too much for Liyue.
He had united the Adeptus to eliminate the Primo Geovishap. He had destroyed Dottore's slice. Even the collateral destruction of ruins was, in comparison, a trivial matter.
What truly mattered was this: he had resolved two major threats on Liyue's land.
That alone marked him as a friend of Liyue.
And personally speaking—Ganyu had a good impression of him as well. After all, he had brought her sea ganoderma that wouldn't make her gain weight.
"So," Futsu Mitama asked, "should we head to the Rite of Descension now?"
He was a little surprised. Was it starting that early?
From what he remembered, Ningguang usually had people wait for a time, announcing when the auspicious hour arrived before the Rite truly began.
He couldn't help but wonder how Keqing's version of the Rite of Descension would unfold.
"If you'd like to arrive early, that's fine," Ganyu replied patiently. "But personally, I recommend wandering around first."
"During the Rite of Descension, merchants from all nations gather. It's quite lively. Though not as bustling as yesterday, if you observe carefully, you may find…unexpected gains."
Indeed, today might not rival yesterday's festivities in sheer liveliness.
But the merchants present today were all elites—each with their own unique skills and prized goods.
Anyone without confidence would never dare appear before Rex Lapis on such a day. If one were fortunate enough to be singled out by the Archon himself, it would become a living signboard—mora would flow endlessly from then on.
Just like the Shopkeeper's Daughter of Guiyan Assembly, who had willingly sacrificed her own interests just to secure today's exclusive selling rights for the primo geovishap scales from Futsu Mitama.
Ningguang had clearly invested considerable effort into this day.
Even Xiangling hadn't come looking for Futsu Mitama these past few days—obviously preparing for today.
"Then…can we go wander around?" Futsu Mitama asked.
Since he had finally come to a Rite of Descension, he naturally wanted to experience it fully. After all, for this Rite alone, he had indirectly caused the death of a Primo Geovishap, destroyed a slice of Dottore, and even fought Black Aila in the mental realm—an opponent possessing Archon-level power.
The battle was over.
Now was the time to enjoy himself.
"Of course." Ganyu smiled and nodded. She took out a token she had prepared in advance. "This is my token."
"When you're done exploring, you can present this to the Millelith. They'll escort you to your assigned seats in the very front, to await the Rite of Descension."
Futsu Mitama accepted the token, then looked at her. "Then what about you, Miss Ganyu?"
Was she still searching for Cloud Retainer? That seemed unlikely. She hadn't even found Streetward Rambler—meaning the Adeptus had already reached an agreement and were preparing to appear together.
He was curious how many Adeptus would attend this time. According to the lore, there were far more than just a few—many simply lived in seclusion, appeared only in passing… or were already gone.
"As for me," Ganyu replied, her smile tinged with weariness, "there are still matters I must attend to at the Rite of Descension. Most things are handled by Keqing, the Yuheng Star. I'm only responsible for a small portion."
"If you arrive, you'll see me there. I'll entertain you properly then. Well then—I'll be going ahead. I wish you a wonderful day."
With that, Ganyu turned to leave.
Her original task had been to guide them directly to the Rite—but since they chose to explore first, she did not insist. Instead, she entrusted the token to Futsu Mitama, planning to meet them later.
"Oh—Miss Ganyu." Just then, Futsu Mitama took out several fresh sea ganoderma. "You didn't eat much breakfast, did you? Would you like some?"
These had been freshly picked—courtesy of Yae Miko.
Apparently, she was preparing to travel abroad. And after hearing that Futsu Mitama would meet Ganyu again, she had gone out of her way to gather them.
Last time, when Futsu Mitama had asked Yae Miko for help, the fox had insisted he beg first. In the end, it was Sangonomiya Kokomi who had Gorou collect the sea ganoderma instead.
But now…was Yae Miko truly going abroad?
It didn't seem like a joke.
"Eh? There's more?" Ganyu looked surprised. She stared at the clearly fresh sea ganoderma, her nose twitching slightly.
Her gaze softened.
She reached out, accepted them, and smiled. "Thank you. I really didn't eat much this morning."
"There was too much to do—I was overwhelmed. You've helped me greatly."
She took a bite—and a hint of happiness surfaced on her face.
Fresh sea ganoderma tasted wonderful.
And truly hungry and exhausted, Ganyu finished them quickly—devouring all of them in just a few moments.
Shenhe glanced down at the food in her own hands. Suddenly, she felt that perhaps she didn't need to restrict herself so carefully. Senior Sister Ganyu had eaten far more than she ever could.
Kuki Shinobu, watching Ganyu's astonishing eating speed, couldn't help recalling Azhdaha's words.
In a sense…perhaps he had been right. Maybe Ganyu really had been rather plump back then. At the very least, one could tell how fierce her appetite must once have been. Though then again—she was a half-Adeptus beast. Eating quickly was probably normal.
"Big sister is amazing!!!" Klee exclaimed, eyes sparkling. "She ate so much all at once!!!"
Klee herself would need quite some time to chew through food that large. Seeing it finished in mere bites was awe-inspiring.
"S-Sorry," Ganyu said, blushing faintly. "I was just…very hungry."
Seven or eight large sea ganoderma, gone in under a minute—by any measure, that was a little frightening. But she had skipped both dinner and breakfast, searching all night after meeting Futsu Mitama yesterday.
After bidding farewell once more, Ganyu hurried away.
"Well then," Futsu Mitama said, turning to the others, "let's go take a look around."
Everyone nodded. Klee was already hopping excitedly. Festive crowds held no resistance for children.
If only Klee could keep better track of her bombs.
Sure enough, amid the bustle of the Rite of Descension, a thief made the grave mistake of reaching into her backpack. A powerful Jumpy Dumpty was seized almost instantly—courtesy of Shenhe and Aila working in tandem—and the culprit was handed over to the Millelith on the spot.
If not, the thief would likely have been severely injured, and Klee might have suffered yet another trauma.
And so, the group set off toward the Rite of Descension grounds.
Futsu Mitama also activated the group livestream, allowing Raiden Makoto, Azhdaha, Guizhong, and others to witness Liyue's present prosperity.
Their lineup was—extravagant.
Futsu Mitama, Aila, Kuki Shinobu, Shenhe, Albedo, Klee.
Not a single one among them was ordinary. Even the smallest—Klee—possessed power enough to level mountains.
And yet, here they were, simply enjoying the festival.
As Ganyu had said, though less lively than yesterday, today's merchants were far more refined.
Rare treasures abounded.
Elemental weapons. Antique resales. Questionable "antiques." Specialties from every nation.
Snezhnaya's fire-water. Sumeru's patented knowledge. Mondstadt's dandelion wine. Inazuma-forged weapons.
Everyone had brought out their finest goods.
"Hm?"
Albedo paused when he saw the dandelion wine. Mondstadt's famous brew, sold here?
Then again… its reputation was widespread. But beside the wine stall—
Wanmin Restaurant?
A bear-like creature stood there, breathing fire…as if it had eaten chili peppers. But what kind of chili could make a bear breathe fire—
Wait. This wasn't an ordinary bear. This was—
The God of the Hearth.
Marchosias.
Albedo recognized him instantly—the very Archon Azhdaha had mentioned. Frailty aside, fire-breathing aside—
He was a Demon God.
"Lulu~!"
Guoba suddenly scurried over, waving toward the Memory of Dust.
"Oh dear—Guoba! Keep the fire steady!"
A familiar voice rang out. Xiangling emerged, holding what looked like a sausage. Her eyes lit up when she saw them.
"Hi! Futsu Mitama! Aila! Kuki Shinobu! And…hello everyone!"
She clasped her hands apologetically. "I wanted to research a Primo Geovishap dish right away, but it just wouldn't work. Please give me a little more time."
"The ingredients won't spoil! According to the master chef, the meat has been frozen with ice. If it isn't actively thawed—this piece of Primo Geovishap meat could probably be passed down for three generations."
She smiled sheepishly. "Though—I don't even have descendants yet. But I'll work hard!!!"
Whether that meant perfecting the dish—or having descendants—no one was quite sure.
Futsu Mitama waved his hand dismissively, indicating that the matter of the Primo Geovishap meat was of little concern. He looked at Xiangling with mild curiosity and asked, "Then why did Wanmin Restaurant open a stall here? During the Rite of Descension, isn't your restaurant usually even busier? Are you not doing business there today?"
Along the way, Futsu Mitama had already noticed that Liuli Pavilion and Xinyue Kiosk—two pillars of Liyue's culinary world—were both open as usual. Logically speaking, Wanmin Restaurant, whose reputation was no less prominent, should also be bustling with activity.
"Oh~ that side doesn't really matter."
Xiangling shook her head and smiled as she explained, "For Wanmin Restaurant, the Rite of Descension is a perfect opportunity to introduce Liyue's cuisine to visitors from other nations."
"Many people come today specifically to taste good food. As long as they eat well and leave satisfied, that's already enough for our master chefs."
As she spoke, Xiangling placed her hands on her hips, her expression filled with pride.
"Luluulu~!"
Perhaps affected by her enthusiasm, Guoba waddled over and tried to mimic her posture, though his round body made the gesture somewhat clumsy.
"Alright, then we won't disturb you." Futsu Mitama smiled faintly. "We're just browsing for now. We'll come back when we get hungry."
They had only just eaten, and hunger was still far off.
"Okay~! If you get hungry, make sure you come back for food!" Xiangling and Guoba waved energetically.
With the Rite of Descension underway, Xiangling clearly had no time to chat at length. Today, she intended to fully display her culinary skills—Nine-Turned Intestine in particular. For this, she had even arranged for someone to hunt wild boars in Dragonspine, ensuring the freshest ingredients.
Besides that, there was also her Spicy Slime dish. Guoba had already taste-tested it, and the intense heat nearly set the stall ablaze—proof enough of its potency.
"Alright, alright."
Futsu Mitama nodded in agreement. After rubbing Guoba's head, he led the group away once more.
The Rite of Descension had also become a marketplace of rare treasures. Albedo soon discovered several obscure alchemical materials unavailable in Mondstadt and paid generously without hesitation.
Klee, meanwhile, spotted materials suitable for bomb-making. With great seriousness, she produced her mora and offered it to the stall owner. The shopkeeper, amused by her earnest expression, accepted only a token amount and handed over the valuable materials with a laugh.
Those able to set up stalls during the Rite of Descension were never short of wealth. Favor often mattered more than profit.
Kuki Shinobu selected several high-quality materials for talisman crafting.
Shenhe, on the other hand, purchased vegetarian food that supposedly would not lead to weight gain—an interest she had inexplicably developed of late.
Aila bought nothing. She merely followed behind Futsu Mitama, her gaze lingering on the surroundings with faint complexity. After her encounter with Black Aila, fragments of familiarity had surfaced. She had once lived here—of that much, she was certain.
As for Futsu Mitama himself, he found little he truly needed. The ores he wanted were already being prepared by the Shopkeeper's Daughter of Guiyan Assembly, while the bloodjade branch was being handled by Ningguang.
Just as he was considering seeking Ningguang out, his gaze landed on a small stall bearing the name Guiyan Assembly.
The Shopkeeper's Daughter, dressed in a maid's outfit, stood chatting cheerfully with Ningguang, who wore her usual elegant qipao.
"…?"
Futsu Mitama was momentarily puzzled and led the others over.
"Oh?" Ningguang noticed them immediately and smiled. "Didn't you go to wait near the Rite of Descension site? I even asked Ganyu to guide you this morning."
"Thank you for the arrangement." Futsu Mitama inclined his head politely. "We wanted to experience the atmosphere a bit more. It's my first time truly attending the Rite of Descension—it feels rather novel."
Ningguang smiled gently. "As long as you're satisfied, that's good. I was planning to look for you anyway. Meeting here is also a form of fate."
She gestured lightly toward the nearby area. "My merchant guild's stall is close by. I came to chat when I saw Guiyan Assembly here. This young lady may even receive personal commendation from Rex Lapis this year."
At those words, the Shopkeeper's Daughter could not help but smile. Her actions had indeed been bold—the selling rights to Primo Geovishap Scales, obtained through Futsu Mitama, had nearly emptied her stock.
Today's display was likely the last batch. What remained was all that remained.
To prevent trouble, Millelith soldiers had been stationed nearby. Ningguang's presence alone was enough to deter ill intent.
"I'm truly sorry about what happened last night." Ningguang turned to Futsu Mitama, her expression apologetic. "This should have been handled by us, but we were short-handed. I never expected Rex Lapis himself to intervene."
Futsu Mitama shook his head lightly. "No one expected it."
Their conversation brushed past names that carried enormous weight—Dottore, the Fatui, and Rex Lapis himself.
"Your topic…"
The Shopkeeper's Daughter stiffened slightly, clearly realizing she was overhearing matters beyond her station.
"It was only something that happened last night," Ningguang said calmly, ending the topic.
She then looked back at Futsu Mitama. "After the Rite of Descension, if you're free, the matter you asked about has been completed."
"That fast?"
Surprise flashed through Futsu Mitama's eyes.
"Yes." Ningguang nodded, equally astonished. "Even I didn't expect it to succeed."
Before she could say more, three secretaries approached, clearly bearing urgent news.
After a brief exchange, Ningguang returned with an apologetic smile. "Something has come up at the guild. I must excuse myself. If you need a place to rest later, you're welcome to visit. There will be tea and pastries."
With that, she departed.
Futsu Mitama then exchanged a few words with the Shopkeeper's Daughter regarding materials and sales.
"Two hundred million mora," she said, raising two fingers. "Not including Lady Ningguang's purchase."
"Three hundred million in total."
The figure left Futsu Mitama momentarily dazed. So this was the weight of Ningguang's influence.
After bidding farewell, the group moved on, leaving behind a stall surrounded by eager bidders—each vying for the final remnants of the Primo Geovishap's scales.
Perhaps he had intended to snatch the few intact Geovishap ng scales from Futsu Mitama.
However, that would hardly be easy.
Futsu Mitama himself was no weakling. Moreover, at his side were Kuki Shinobu, Aila, Shenhe, Albedo, Klee, and the others. Should they join forces, even the "Il Dottore" who had been cleanly sliced apart the night before would likely meet a miserable end against such a lineup.
After a brief stroll, noon soon arrived. At this time, the majority of people began moving toward the Rite of Descension ceremony grounds.
Sensing that the appointed hour was drawing near, Futsu Mitama promptly sought out the Millelith and presented the token Ganyu had given him.
Upon recognizing Ganyu's insignia, the Millelith immediately cleared a path, personally escorting Futsu Mitama and his companions toward the foremost and most favorable viewing area atop Yujing Terrace.
The weather was exceptionally fine. Brilliant sunlight bathed the land, casting a warm glow over all of Liyue Harbor.
Keqing, the Yuheng Star—and the central figure of today's proceedings—sat with her eyes closed in quiet meditation. She had no attention to spare for anyone at the moment; the events about to unfold were of paramount importance, both to her and to Liyue itself.
She needed to be in flawless condition to preside over the Rite of Descension.
Nearby, Futsu Mitama noticed Ganyu seated quietly on a chair. At the very front were several empty seats, one of which was already occupied by an elderly man. Catching Futsu Mitama's gaze, the man offered a warm smile, gave a slight nod, and then returned his attention to the center of the ceremony grounds.
This was Uncle Tian, the Tianshu Star. His presence alone made it clear—these seats were reserved for the Liyue Qixing.
Aside from Keqing and Uncle Tian, however, the other members of the Qixing were absent. At the very least, Ningguang was clearly occupied with affairs of her chamber of commerce and had yet to arrive.
"You're finally here." Ganyu spoke softly upon seeing Futsu Mitama and his group. "If you had been any later, you would have missed the auspicious moment. I was just about to send someone to look for you."
"Sorry, sorry—for making you worry."
Futsu Mitama smiled apologetically. "The Rite of Descension is simply too lively. There were so many things we'd never seen before."
Ganyu shook her head gently, a faint smile on her lips. "It's alright. The time is nearly upon us. We only need to wait quietly now for Rex Lapis and the Adeptus to descend."
With that, she fell silent.
Futsu Mitama and the others turned their attention forward, anticipation clear in their eyes.
Klee, in particular, sat perfectly still in her chair, blinking eagerly as she waited for Rex Lapis to appear.
Before long, Keqing slowly opened her eyes. She rose, turned toward the sea of people, and spoke in a solemn, steady voice:
"The auspicious time has arrived. I hereby invite Rex Lapis and all the Adeptus to descend."
As her words fell, she raised her hand. The Electro Vision at her side flared brilliantly, radiating dazzling light. Pure Electro energy surged forth, pouring into the ceremonial censer at the center—an ancient device crafted specifically to summon Rex Lapis.
Shua—!
A beam of violet light shot straight into the heavens.
The Rite of Descension had officially begun.
The sky above Liyue Harbor churned violently. Moments later, a massive vortex slowly took shape amidst the clouds.
All eyes turned skyward.
From within the rolling clouds, a colossal golden dragon emerged, gazing down upon the people of Liyue Harbor.
Trailing behind him, Cloud Retainer, Mountain Shaper, and Moon Carver appeared together, descending from the darkened sky.
"Cloud Retainer…"
Ganyu murmured her name upon seeing her appear—her tone complex, tinged with emotions difficult to conceal, and perhaps just a hint of helpless exasperation.
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