Three days later, Morax personally arrived in Liyue.
He selected a suitable open area within the city and, using Geo power, erected a stone building the color of Mora right on the spot.
Above the main entrance were carved three large characters:
Liyu Bank.
Aether's evaluation?
Ugly.
Utterly devoid of artistic sense.
Morax was nothing but a walking pile of rocks—what did he know about aesthetics?
Naturally, such a grand display from the Geo God sparked heated discussion among the citizens of Liyue. Everyone speculated about what the Liyu Bank was actually for.
Not until the following day, when the Liyu Bank officially opened its doors, did the truth become clear.
The citizens flooded inside, eager to see what this mysterious institution was.
Under the staff's explanations, they gradually understood.
It turned out that the great Geo God and Feather God had noticed how cumbersome barter trade was among the people.
Thus, they had established the Liyu Bank to issue a currency called Mora, replacing barter entirely.
To obtain Mora, one could exchange grain at the bank.
The grain deposited could also be withdrawn at any time.
Since this was the benevolent intention of the gods, how could the people not support it?
Households immediately began to act.
They calculated how much grain their families would need for the year, then brought all surplus grain to the Liyu Bank, exchanging it for Mora.
In a single afternoon, an endless stream of people moved in and out of the bank.
Over one million Mora entered circulation just like that.
Meanwhile, the bank's warehouse quickly filled with grain exchanged by the citizens.
At first, people were still somewhat unaccustomed to this new trading method. After all, they had always relied on barter.
Switching to Mora naturally felt unfamiliar.
But unfamiliar as it was, trading with Mora was simply far more convenient.
Far more convenient than barter.
This was the honest consensus of the people of Liyue.
Previously, if A wanted something from B, they might need to go through several layers of exchanges before finally obtaining something B actually wanted.
With Mora, that entire process disappeared.
Naturally, efficiency skyrocketed.
As time passed, Mora would steadily embed itself into everyday life—
Becoming an indispensable necessity for the people.
Notably, after Mora had circulated for a while, small vendor stalls began appearing along several of Liyue's busiest streets.
It seemed some had already realized they could earn Mora by setting up stalls.
A new way of making a living had emerged.
Once currency exists, commerce naturally follows.
Although current commercial activity remained primitive, it laid an extremely solid foundation for Liyue to one day become the most prosperous commercial hub in all of Teyvat.
With the popularization of Mora complete, Aether once again returned to his full-time slacking lifestyle.
For some reason—perhaps his brain had been marinated in pig fat—he even found himself faintly anticipating the start of the Demon God War.
Cough! Absolutely not.
Everyone knew the Demon God War would be unimaginably brutal. Countless gods and mortals would perish.
Had his life grown too comfortable because he lived in peace, became friends with Morax, and no longer felt pressure?
Sigh.
But the Demon God War was unavoidable.
He couldn't influence the will of the Heavenly Principles.
Aether sat casually in the pavilion, gazing out over Liyue's scenery and letting out a soft sigh.
He admitted that before transmigrating, he had indeed been a homebody.
But that was because Earth had the internet.
Here?
He had already exhausted nearly every board and card game he could think of—tormenting Morax in the process.
Looking out over Liyue, a new idea suddenly emerged.
The world was vast.
Why not go traveling?
He had heard that northeast of Liyue lay a vast plain covered almost entirely in blooming Glaze Lilies, forming a magnificent sea of flowers.
That was the territory of the Dust God, Guizhong.
Why not go take a look?
After all, they would eventually form an alliance anyway.
Aether didn't know exactly when the Demon God War would begin.
If he kept staying in Liyue with Morax, how would he ever encounter Havria—Guizhong?
And if he didn't meet her, how could she ever present an alliance token to that stubborn rock?
Surely Guizhong wouldn't personally come knocking on their door, right?
…Actually, thinking about it, she probably would.
According to vague historical records of Liyue, when Guizhong first sought alliance with Morax, he initially found it abrupt and declined.
But Guizhong continued showing goodwill, and although Morax never formally acknowledged the alliance, his actions gradually fulfilled it nonetheless.
Their contract quietly took shape without anyone noticing.
In the end, Guizhong had practically courted Morax herself.
Seriously—was that rock really that charming?
Still, Guizhong's judgment had been impeccable. The one she chose eventually ascended to the divine throne of Liyue.
It was only a pity that Guizhong herself fell before reaching that future.
A regret, indeed.
Now that Aether had arrived before the Demon God War, could he perhaps become a variable in that era?
If he changed fate, he would surely attract attention.
How would the Heavenly Principles view him then?
Sigh.
If he did nothing, what meaning did his arrival even have?
Step by step, then. There were still thousands of years before the war concluded.
Compared to his old human lifespan of mere decades, this was already a luxury beyond measure.
Aether lazily stood up from the pavilion and went to find Morax.
"Morax—"
"Stop. If you're here to cheat at chess again, don't even start," Morax said firmly.
He had already witnessed dozens of occasions where Aether shamelessly bent the rules when he was about to lose.
Every time, it was some ridiculous yet somehow half-plausible trick.
Aether scratched his head awkwardly.
It seemed he had conditioned Morax into a reflex response.
"Cough. I'm not here to play chess today."
"Good. Then please sit, Aether," Morax replied instantly, his tone softening.
Advance Chapters available on Patreon
patreon.com/MythArcStudio