Chapter 217: How to Obtain a Vision

"You can't use the Geo Archon's Gnosis?"

"Have you tried using Hermanubis's power?"

"At night, Luo De told Nadixa what had happened during the day."

"Upon hearing that."

"Nadixa was somewhat surprised."

"She knew about Luo De previously using the Anemo Archon's Gnosis."

"That time, Luo De himself said there was no hesitation at all—he could use it right away, and incidentally he also took that Vision."

"But when he got to the Geo Archon, he couldn't use it instead?"

"No use, I tried every method, it doesn't work."

"Luo De now also can't figure out what's going on."

"Ask Zhongli."

"He and Venti are equally clueless."

"In Zhongli's words,"

"This Gnosis is not something mortals can use; even if Luo De is an outworlder, theoretically he cannot activate this Gnosis bestowed upon the Seven Archons by heavenly principle."

"To say it's abnormal."

"Luo De previously being able to use the Anemo Archon's Gnosis and the Dendro Archon's Gnosis—that's what would be abnormal."

"Indeed, it wasn't very normal before."

"Not only Zhongli and Venti, Nadixa said the same."

"However, unlike those two,"

"She says Luo De shouldn't be able to use the Gnosis at all, yet in action she is still hard at work trying to figure out where the problem lies."

"Even to help Luo De solve this problem, she dragged the Great Merciful Tree King into the group chat."

"Huh?"

"Can't use Morax's Gnosis?"

"The Great Merciful Tree King, who seemed busy with something, paused a moment, then mused: \"Mm, this is a bit troublesome. \""

"Huh?"

"Luo De keenly noticed that her and Nadixa's attitudes toward this matter were completely different."

"As for the point of difference,"

"that is, the Great Merciful Tree King seems to know a bit more than Nadixa."

"Before Luo De could start asking,"

"The Great Merciful Tree King, not intending to speak in riddles, answered: \"Just count how many Visions you have and how much elemental energy you can use. \""

"Three Visions, four kinds of elemental energy."

"Luo De quickly replied."

"That settles it."

"With so many Visions, in the absence of excessive advancement, what gives that one the right to glance at you?"

"The Great Merciful Tree King said matter-of-factly."

"And that answer,"

"also left Luo De stunned for a moment."

"If his understanding is correct,"

"the Great Merciful Tree King's meaning is that, with his current strength, he fundamentally doesn't deserve to have shackles lowered upon him by Sky Island!?"

"Suddenly,"

"Luo De thought of another blind spot and hurriedly asked again: \"No, that's not right—what does that have to do with my inability to use the Gnosis? \""

"Didn't I say that? You fundamentally can't use the Gnosis."

"Fortunately, the Great Merciful Tree King isn't in front of Luo De right now, otherwise he'd surely see a look of looking at an idiot."

"This also left Luo De feeling confused again."

"According to what those four gods said, he fundamentally can't use the Gnosis; being able to use the Anemo Archon's Gnosis and the Dendro Archon's Gnosis is merely an exception."

"This use of the Dendro Archon's Gnosis can also be explained as Luo De's body originally being a remnant of the Flower God, and he had once been qualified to use the Dendro Archon's Gnosis as the God of Wisdom."

"However, given this situation,"

"He still had to rely on Hermanubis's power, the strength of the Red King's retinue, to successfully mobilize the elemental energy within the Gnosis."

"Taking all this into account,"

"The real unexpected circumstance was actually that time he used the Anemo Archon's Gnosis."

"Combined with what the Great Merciful Tree King just said,"

"Luo De carefully recalled."

"Before using the Anemo Archon's Gnosis, his strength had indeed surged dramatically, becoming extremely formidable."

"He had practically swept through the entirety of Sumeru's Death Zone."

"Later, upon arriving in Mondstadt, he also obtained a strand of Venti's power."

"Although Venti didn't say so, his ears becoming more alert can't be faked."

"But that was only after that."

"Because Sumeru's Death Zone had been cleared, and his energy had been constantly devoted to Apep and Hope City, leaving no time for training, aside from that Wind Elemental Vision, in terms of raw strength he could indeed be described as having made no progress at all."

"So,"

"What I need now is to quickly increase my strength?"

When asking this question, Luo De already had a rough answer in his mind.

The Great Merciful Tree King also affirmed this, and incidentally gave him a method.

"That's right, forcibly activating the Gnosis to rapidly increase strength is one method."

"However,"

"You can also obtain a Vision through a mortal method, letting wishes that can move Sky Island be transmitted upward."

"Oh, right."

"Don't ask me about the conditions for obtaining a Vision~~"

"Because I don't know either."

Regarding the way to obtain a Vision.

This has long been a matter studied for ages on the Teyvat continent, yet its pattern remains unknown.

Because it's simply too random.

Some spend their whole lives striving for a Vision, yet never obtain the legendary 'god's gaze'.

Some do nothing, merely have a thought stir, and a Vision appears on its own, not even knowing how they obtained it.

This pattern is unclear not only to mortals, but even to the gods.

All they know is

That is the principle of the Vision: it requires people to convey their desires to the heavens, where the Seven then bestow a gift, allocating fragments of their elemental power authority to the mortal whose wish reaches the sky.

However, in this process,

The gods do not know which mortal made that wish, nor what wish exactly moved the heavens.

A simpler explanation.

That is, although the ability to use a Vision to manipulate elemental energy comes from the gods, the true authority to grant Visions lies with the Sky Island floating high in the heavens.

The Great Merciful Tree King's meaning.

That is, let Luo De, just as when he first obtained that Pyro Vision, send his wish to the heavens to attract Sky Island's attention, and through this most legitimate and proper means in Teyvat obtain another Vision.

"Electro, Geo, Hydro"

Luo De rubbed his temples in a headache.

The Great Merciful Tree King's method is indeed the safest and most reasonable.

But the problem is.

How would he know what wish could satisfy these three elements!!!

Looking at it this way.

If he now wants to quickly obtain a Vision, it is to swiftly increase his strength, then try using the Gnosis to see if he can attract Sky Island's attention.

Luo De ended the call with Nadixa and the Great Merciful Tree King, crossing his arms as he pondered.

Zhongli's Gnosis is right in his hand.

Just like Wendy.

He also still does not intend to reclaim this Gnosis.

As for the trouble the Lady might bring,

Zhongli's original words were: "This Gnosis is the final contract I set before stepping down; even the Cryo Archon will not deliberately break the contract I established."

Wendy's meaning is even simpler.

Compared to Luo De and Zhongli, the Lady who comes bearing the Cryo Archon's orders obviously needs this Gnosis more.

Then Luo De, holding the Gnosis, can take the opportunity to demand some benefits.

"As the saying goes."

"\"Not profiting would be a waste, you agree, right~~\""

Wendy's words still lingered in Luo De's ears.

After returning from Zhongli's, this guy actually ran to find Hu Tao, and together they went to study the matter of the resident singer at Wangsheng Funeral Parlor.

Zhongli just smiled and let them goof around.

He himself then went back to continue handling unfinished affairs.

Regarding stepping down,

Zhongli showed neither warmth nor coldness, yet his actions were unusually swift, steadily arranging the return of authority to mortals in an orderly manner.

The focus returns to Luo De.

Muttering to himself, "Where can I quickly increase my strength?" after a moment, he quickly thought of a place.

Layered Rock Abyss, underground mining area!

This mining area was closed due to an accident.

As for the cause.

Or it is the ever‑unsettled Abyssal power wreaking havoc.

"The Sumeru scholar team should be arriving soon, right?"

"Wait."

"Would Nadixa have offered this condition only because she had already thought of this?"

After thinking, Luo De frowned again and said, "No, she probably doesn't know I can't use the Geo Archon's Gnosis—just a coincidence?"

If it's not a coincidence.

"Great Merciful Tree King."

Luo De muttered a sentence.

This god, revived from a state of conscious remnants, knows many things and is also a deity more fitting as the God of Wisdom.

Forget it, I don't care.

Since there's a way, let's go check out the Stratified Rock Abyss.

Having decided, Luo De stopped overthinking, put away the Gnosis, lay down on the bed, and fell asleep.

Early the next morning.

This time Luo De didn't wait for Venti to wake him up, nor did he go look for Venti; after contacting Zhongli, he went alone to Tiger-eating Rock.

Luo De had been to Tiger-eating Rock once before and was quite familiar with it.

He also went to have tea once at the three-bowl-not-passing-harbor that Zhongli mentioned, and the rice balls there with no taste are still fresh in his memory.

There is a distance from Scarlet Cloud Slope to Tiger-eating Rock.

When Luo De arrived, Zhongli had already prepared the breakfast, but hadn't touched it, apparently waiting for Luo De to show up.

"Mr. Zhongli."

"Sorry, I'm late."

Luo De apologized while sitting down beside Zhongli.

"No problem."

"I just arrived too."

Zhongli casually took a sip of tea, then reached out and said: "I just ordered randomly; I don't know if it suits your taste, little friend."

"It's fine."

"I'm not picky about food."

Luo De chuckled, lifted his bowl, and took a sip of the chaos soup.

Eight steamed buns, four tea eggs, two bowls of wontons, and two servings of Liyue-style Mora meat.

Zhongli seemed to know Luo De's appetite well, ordering portions much larger than an ordinary person's.

Moreover, the temperature was just right—not hot, not cold—perfect for eating.

During breakfast, the two didn't talk about anything serious; they just ate.

After this breakfast finished.

Zhongli rinsed his mouth with tea, then said: "I've already passed along your matter, little friend; once the scholars from Sumeru arrive, the Liyue the Liyue the Liyue Qixing will open the door for you."

"Thank you, Mr. Zhongli."

Luo De gave his thanks.

"It's just a small matter."

Zhongli waved his hand.

He had no intention of leaving, and instead continued chatting with Luo De like casual conversation, bringing up the matter of Guili Plain.

"Little friend, what you said yesterday I have fully passed on to the Jade Balance Star; she is very interested and may come soon to discuss the specifics with you."

The Jade Balance Star, Keqing, oversees land management in Liyue.

Finding her is no problem.

Luo De nodded: "Hmm, good."

After saying that.

Zhongli then dropped another bombshell: "The envoy from Snezhnaya will arrive soon; little friend, you need to be careful."

"That fast?"

Luo De frowned slightly.

When he left, the Great Merciful Tree King clearly said that the lady could stay at least five more days.

How come I've only been in Liyue for two days and she's already caught up?

Zhongli explained his doubt: "Their ships are faster, much faster than Mondstadt's ships."

"The ships are faster?"

Snezhnaya's ships mostly use mechanical construction and special energy; aside from Fontaine's warships, no ship is faster than theirs.

"Ironclad ships!?"

Luo De's eyelid twitched.

Mechanical construction, using special energy.

Compared to Mondstadt and Liyue here, which still use wooden boats and semi-manual standards, they are indeed stronger by more than a notch.

"In this regard, Snezhnaya is indeed far ahead."

Zhongli could only shake his head and sigh about this.

Snezhnaya and Fontaine.

This is the strongest technology tree in Teyvat.

Currently, Liyue's highest level of technology still mainly relies on puppet techniques and alchemy.

In terms of alchemy.

Liyue is inferior to Sumeru and Mondstadt, making it a middling average level.

In terms of puppet techniques, Liyue is much stronger than other nations.

Although there are reasons why other nations don't use puppet techniques, the machinery Liyue builds through puppet techniques is actually not inferior to that of Snezhnaya and Fontaine, these two technologically advanced nations.

Especially, mechanical constructs combined with immortal wondrous techniques have miraculous effects that are hard to comprehend.

Among them, the representative figure is Cloud Retainer.

The puppet techniques she passed down are now the foundation of Liyue's technology tree.

However, puppet techniques also have their own drawbacks.

That is the cost and craftsmanship.

Liyue's mechanic technique is indeed marvelous and endlessly variable, yet in terms of complexity it is in no way inferior to the Academy's most bewildering rune mechanic studies.

Moreover, the wondrously endless components of mechanic technique basically rely on immortal power; correspondingly, among mortals only method master families that have inherited immortal arts can produce mechanisms of extremely high quality.

This shortcoming severely hinders the spread and mass production of mechanic technique.

"Master Zhongli, we can exchange scholars."

Luo De saw Zhongli's worry, smiled, and made a suggestion.

"Oh?"

"Exchange scholars?"

Zhongli let out a soft sound of surprise, then the corner of his mouth twitched into a barely perceptible smile: "That's actually a good idea."

"Hmm."

Luo De then said: "Over in Sumeru, especially the newly built Academy branch in the desert, they have dissected many mechanic techniques from the Red King God Temple, gaining many new technologies. If Liyue is willing to send people to study, I can take charge of this; correspondingly, Liyue's mechanic technique must also be opened to Sumeru scholars for study."

Regarding this condition.

Zhongli did not hesitate much.

He also did not question Luo De's statement that "he can take charge".

As soon as Luo De finished speaking, he nodded and said: "An excellent cooperation plan; I will arrange it."

"Hehe, you have another contract now."

After reaching the talent exchange agreement, Luo De raised his tea cup in a toast to Zhongli, and by the way made a bold joke.

Zhongli returned the toast with a cup, smiling: "Such contracts, the more the better."

(End of chapter)