While Jun Bai was perfecting the character skill design and basic information, the system finally finished browsing the background story provided by Jun Bai and then reminded him:
[If you want to adopt this background story, then you still need to complete the background completion task.]
"Explain."
[Background Completion Task: Send the host back to a past time node. The host must modify history according to the task objectives, changing the historical background to match the background set by the host.]
"Now?"
[No. After the host's popularity value reaches a certain level, the host can selectively start the background completion task.]
A line of text appeared on the system screen.
[Background Completion · One: Popularity value required to activate: 20,000]
Regarding popularity value, after binding the system, Jun Bai had also gained some understanding. To put it simply, the popularity that his character gained in the parallel world would be converted by the system into popularity value.
The simplest use of popularity value was to modify the plot.
According to the system, for minor and harmless plot changes, Jun Bai could modify them through his own participation. But when it involved important plot nodes, modifying them would require the use of popularity value.
For example, if Jun Bai wanted to appear together with Zhongli at the dinner party in the main storyline, he could just go find Zhongli directly.
But if he wanted to eliminate the Balladeer in Inazuma's main storyline, that belonged to rewriting an important plot node. So if Jun Bai wanted to eliminate the Balladeer in a reasonable way without interference from the trajectory of fate, he would need to use popularity value.
Of course, Jun Bai could also choose not to use popularity value to modify important plot nodes. But in that case, the trajectory of fate would bring down various force majeure events to stop Jun Bai.
In human terms, the plot correction force would make Jun Bai's actions fail.
"Twenty thousand popularity points, and that's only the first part of the background completion. It seems that if I want to completely finish the background, I will need to use quite a lot of popularity value."
[Otherwise what did you expect? There are quite a few conflicts between your background and the main storyline background. If you don't want to use popularity value on this, I can modify your background and remove those conflicting parts.]
[However, I assume you won't accept this suggestion.]
"Of course not. It wasn't easy to get a chance for my ideas to come true. I won't give up just because of this small matter," Jun Bai said with a smile.
As he spoke, his appearance began to change.
After confirming that Jun Bai did not intend to modify the setting, the system began to transform him into the Jun Bai from the background story according to the illustration and background he had designed.
White hair and red pupils, his proper facial features gradually became refined.
At the same time, a segment of memory appeared in Jun Bai's mind.
The memory was very long, spanning a full 3000 years. But this memory was very blurry, or rather, empty. Like duckweed without roots, it had no support and could dissipate at any moment.
Jun Bai recalled this memory, but found that he could only watch the actions of the "himself" in the memories from the perspective of a bystander, like a passerby.
"Is it because the background has not been completed yet?" Jun Bai thought.
Right now, he was like a fictional person who, with the help of the system, possessed a physical body. At the same time, the system had embedded his fictional story into the original history.
But what was fake was ultimately fake. The forcibly embedded history would gradually collapse over time. That was why completion was needed to make the fake history truly exist.
"Moreover, the power is also very different from what was set in the background," Jun Bai clenched his fist, feeling the power within his body and thinking to himself.
The identity Jun Bai had designed for himself was that of a God.
In Teyvat, Gods represented the pinnacle of combat power. Below the thrones, only the Seven Archons and the Seven Sovereigns could stand above Gods.
Even for a weak God like the Salt God Havria, the power that erupted at the moment of her death was still able to salinize all living beings around her.
The power of a God could be seen from this.
In the background Jun Bai had given himself, he was a top-tier God who had formed a contract with Morax during the Archon War and fought together across all of Liyue.
The one who wielded the authority of Nirvana and manipulated the blazing flames that could burn the heavens, the Nirvana God, Phemix.
Mortal name in the mortal world: Jun Bai.
However, at this moment, although Jun Bai felt that he could fight ten of his previous selves, he definitely did not possess the top-tier God combat power described in the background.
"Even the completion of [Power] requires popularity value?"
Jun Bai easily analyzed the reason.
He instantly felt that his system was quite weak…
[You designed the background yourself. It has nothing to do with me.]
The system calmly shifted the blame, then opened another screen. [I just put your illustration on the parallel world side. The response was good, so you now have some popularity value.]
[Popularity Value: 1001, 1002, 1003...]
It increased by a little every two or three seconds. Jun Bai did not know the exact calculation method of popularity value anyway. The final right of interpretation belonged to the system.
However, a single illustration had provided a thousand popularity points in such a short time. It seemed that popularity value was easier to obtain than Jun Bai had imagined.
Then, Jun Bai tried to take out the signature weapon [Phoenix Perches on Demon Subjugation] that he had personally designed and that was personally forged by himself in the background, but in the end he could only take out a white-tasseled spear.
"Where is my signature weapon?"
[Wait until you complete the background.]
"Fine." Jun Bai put away the white-tasseled spear and then asked, "There are still two days until the official launch of Genshin Impact in the parallel world. Then how long until the Traveler begins their journey?"
[One day.]
"They really aren't leaving me any time at all…"
Jun Bai's primary task right now was to find a way to obtain popularity value. In the launch phase, the fastest way to gain popularity was to participate in the main storyline.
"System, open navigation. Destination: Mondstadt City."
The system opened the map and showed Jun Bai the route.
"Then let's not delay. Depart." Jun Bai snapped his fingers and used the ability he had set for himself.
Crimson wings unfolded, carrying the newly born God into the high sky. Jun Bai found the right direction and drew a crimson trail across the sky.
The crimson trail extended from Liyue toward Mondstadt, with Pyro elements scattering along the roads below.
Even in broad daylight, the scattered sparks of fire were exceptionally eye-catching. The moment the sparks fell, a magnificent scenery was presented before the eyes of the people of Liyue.
A palm wearing a black glove reached out on its own to grasp the falling spark.
"A long-awaited warmth… Welcome back, Phemix."
The handsome and elegant man gazed at the crimson trail in the sky, the corners of his mouth slightly raised. A rare trace of emotion appeared in his amber-gold eyes.
After experiencing the wear of time, there were not many things that could make Him react.
And the reunion of old friends happened to be one of them.