Chapter Summaries

Theresa and her companions played lantern riddles at a Liyue Harbor stall and won several small gifts. After Xianyun startled March 7th by appearing beside her through a collar Theresa had given her, the group headed to the harbor’s edge to release Xiao Lanterns.

• Theresa paid one thousand Mora for five lantern riddles despite March 7th questioning whether the stall was legitimate.
• March 7th solved a riddle about a Lantern Rite food by answering tangyuan and won an Adepti plush doll.
• Stellaron Essence answered the riddle about an animal walking on four legs, two legs, and three legs with “a human.”
• March 7th called a chicken plushie a chicken, and Xianyun appeared beside her using a collar Theresa had given her.
• Himeko suggested releasing Xiao Lanterns, and the group headed to the edge of Liyue Harbor.

During the Lantern Rite, Yoimiya and Old Yang made elaborate custom fireworks from the group’s drawings and photos, while Theresa transformed Ningguang’s Xiao Lanterns into oversized Dr. Ratio heads. The group launched the bizarre fireworks and lanterns over Liyue Harbor, and Zhong Li found the spectacle surprisingly amusing.

• Yoimiya asked the group for firework designs, and the Stellaron Hunters and their companions gave her drawings and photos of themselves.
• When Yoimiya admitted that making all the complicated designs would take too long, Theresa asked Old Yang to help, and he used the Herrscher of Truth’s power to construct the fireworks.
• Keqing, Ganyu, and Qiqi delivered Xiao Lanterns from Ningguang, and Theresa transformed them into oversized Dr. Ratio heads with strange holes.
• Zhong Li warned everyone to aim the fireworks at the sky, and the group launched designs including March 7th and Changye Yue together and Stellaron Essence’s trash-can figure.
• The group released the altered Xiao Lanterns into the sky, and Zhong Li smiled as he watched the Dr. Ratio heads rise over Liyue Harbor.

Theresa turned Keqing and Hu Tao into catgirls, giving them longer lifespans and delighting their friends. Zhong Li then asked Theresa to speak privately about a dear friend, leaving his request unstated.

• Theresa asked Keqing whether she wanted to become a catgirl, and Keqing agreed.
• Theresa transformed Keqing, giving her cat ears, a tail, and heightened hearing and agility.
• Zhong Li asked Theresa to transform Hu Tao, and Hu Tao eagerly accepted.
• Theresa transformed Hu Tao, who celebrated her new cat ears, tail, and improved figure with Xiangling.
• Zhong Li privately approached Theresa about helping a dear friend.

Theresa agreed to revive Zhong Li’s friends, Guizhong and Zibai, in exchange for his company on the journey to the next nation and a performance with the Hydro Dragon Sovereign. After Zhong Li made a contract with her, Theresa opened the River of Time and retrieved Guizhong’s soul and the souls and blood of the four dead Yakshas, leaving Zhong Li stunned.

• Zhong Li asked Theresa to help revive Guizhong and Zibai, and Theresa learned Zibai had been imprisoned on the False Moon after defying the Heavenly Principles.
• Theresa explained that Guizhong had died in the Archon War, driving Morax to unleash his full power against Liyue’s gods.
• Theresa offered to revive Guizhong and Zibai in return for Zhong Li joining her group on their travels and performing with the Hydro Dragon Sovereign.
• Zhong Li accepted Theresa’s terms and made a contract with her, promising one request as long as it did not target the Adepti or Liyue.
• Theresa opened the River of Time and retrieved Guizhong’s soul and a drop, along with the souls and blood of the four dead Yakshas.

Theresa revived Guizhong by bringing her consciousness from the past into a new body, reuniting her with Zhong Li. The group then began searching for the White Horse Adeptus Zibai’s three divided souls, and they found her human soul acting through Lu Xiang Xiang in Liyue Harbor.

• Theresa made a young body from Guizhong’s blood, placed Guizhong’s soul inside it, and brought her back to life.
• Zhong Li waited outside as Theresa reassured him that she could revive Guizhong.
• Guizhong reunited with Zhong Li, who welcomed her back and told her that Ping’er, Xianyun, and the others had missed her.
• Theresa explained that Zibai’s divine soul was split into three, and Zhong Li agreed to search for her earthly soul while the others looked for her human soul.
• Theresa and the group found Lu Xiang Xiang shouting for attention near Wanmin Restaurant, and the diners mocked her as she claimed to be a destined-famous archaeologist.

Theresa and the others encountered Lu Xiang Xiang, an archaeologist whose body was shared with Zibai’s human soul. After Theresa’s charm turned a restaurant crowd into fanatical Teruriri fans and sparked a bizarre dance-off, she gave Lu Xiang Xiang Before Sun and Moon to read, leaving Zibai terrified and Paimon strangely affected by its contents.

• Theresa recognized Zibai’s soul attached to Lu Xiang Xiang and asked whether she was an archaeologist.
• Theresa’s charm enthralled the diners, and Lu Xiang Xiang challenged Shenhe for calling Theresa a catgirl.
• Theresa proposed a dance-off and sent the Kun Dance into everyone’s minds, causing Lu Xiang Xiang, Shenhe, and the crowd to dance until Theresa ended the charm.
• Theresa offered Lu Xiang Xiang Before Sun and Moon, and Zibai erased Lu Xiang Xiang’s memories after she read about the Primordial One and the Seven Sovereign Dragons.
• Theresa noticed Paimon spacing out over the book, but Paimon claimed she had fallen asleep and hid her reaction from Lumine.

Zhong Li reunited with Zibai’s earth soul and told her that the Descenders might end the Abyssal corruption. As Zibai remembered sacrificing herself to save the people of Langgan, her human soul possessed Gaming while seeking an apprenticeship.

• Zhong Li persuaded Zibai’s earth soul, appearing as a small white horse, to return with him to Liyue Harbor.
• Zhong Li explained that Guizhong had been revived and that the Descenders had promised the Ruler of Death to resolve Abyssal corruption.
• Zibai recalled how she slowed the Skyfrost Nail so the people of Langgan could escape east, then nearly died before Istaroth saved her three souls.
• Zibai’s human soul decided not to confront the group and possessed Lu Xiang Xiang to approach Gaming and ask to become his apprentice.
• The human soul transferred from Lu Xiang Xiang to Gaming, while Lu Xiang Xiang regained control and hurried away from Theresa and the others.

Zhong Li and the Adepti staged a Treasure Hoarder ambush to capture the human soul possessing Gaming. They beat Gaming, leaving him stunned as their intended target.

• Gaming, possessed by Zibai's human soul, fled from Theresa and the others, who split up to pursue him.
• Zhong Li summoned Mountain Shaper and Moon Carver and explained his plan to help revive the White Horse Adeptus.
• Zhong Li, Mountain Shaper, and Moon Carver disguised themselves as Treasure Hoarders and set an ambush for Gaming.
• Gaming charged at the disguised Adepti with flaming fists, but they beat him and left him sitting on the ground in disbelief.
• The two Liyue men fled while Zhong Li and the Adepti focused on the human soul possessing Gaming.

Theresa and the others discovered that the Treasure Hoarder leaders were Zhong Li, Moon Carver, and Mountain Shaper, while Gaming had been possessed by Zibai’s Earth Soul. The Earth Soul refused to leave until Gaming’s wish to take on lion dance disciples was fulfilled, so Theresa proposed that the Adepti do it themselves.

• Paimon, Lumine, Theresa, and the others arrived and saw Gaming defeated by the disguised Treasure Hoarders.
• Theresa recognized Zhong Li, Moon Carver, and Mountain Shaper, who revealed their Adepti forms, and Xianyun suddenly appeared to confront them.
• Theresa asked the Earth Soul possessing Gaming to come out, but it refused to leave until Gaming had disciples and could perform a lion dance.
• Himeko suggested a way to fulfill the wish, and Theresa proposed that Zhong Li and the Adepti act as Gaming’s disciples.
• Mountain Shaper tried to flee, but Xianyun bound him and tied his beak shut after he cursed at her.
• The Human Soul Zibai laughed at the Adepti’s antics while Zhong Li sighed at the spectacle.

Gaming taught the adepti lion dancing while the group prepared to bring the Astral Express and its crew to Liyue for Lantern Rite. Theresa invited Nahida and the Sumeru group aboard, and Prometheus revealed that the Express had located the area most affected by Abyssal corruption.

• Xianyun freed Mountain Shaper, who vowed to get revenge by remodeling her cave abode, while Moon Carver and the other adepti prepared to rehearse with Gaming.
• Himeko recorded Gaming teaching the adepti lion dancing, and the adepti mastered the techniques in an hour.
• Theresa teleported to the Astral Express in Sumeru and proposed bringing Nahida and the others to Lantern Rite in Liyue.
• Theresa, Himeko, and Pam invited the Sumeru group through the group chat, and the Astral Express brought them aboard.
• Prometheus welcomed the Sumeru group and announced that the Express had located the planet's area most severely affected by Abyssal corruption.

The Sumeru group boarded the Astral Express for Liyue and met its crew before visiting the Party Car. There, Cyno discovered that the bartender Shut Up shared his love of corny jokes.

• Cyno admired the Astral Express's cozy observation car, and Nahida asked whether everyone had packed for Liyue.
• Himeko and Pom-Pom welcomed the Sumeru group and gave them the train's etiquette handbook.
• Theresa nearly smothered Pom-Pom while cuddling him, and Cyno made a pun that amused Nahida and Buer.
• Theresa invited the group to the Party Car and told Cyno about the bartender Shut Up, while Alhaitham teased Kaveh about being messy.
• Shut Up introduced himself with a corny joke, and Cyno traded a pun with him before Shut Up began mixing Cyno a special drink.

Theresa invited the Astral Express crew to join Liyue's Lantern Rite, and the train arrived at a hillside outside Liyue Harbor. She gave Prometheus a Soul Steel body and blessed Pam so he could leave the train safely, leaving them ready to join the festivities.

• Cyno and Shut Up traded dad jokes with the others until Himeko told everyone to settle down.
• Theresa invited Himeko and the passengers to Liyue's Lantern Rite, and Himeko said they should first make sure Pam could safely leave the train.
• The Astral Express arrived near Liyue Harbor, and Collei, Alhaitham, and Tighnari admired the festival from the hillside.
• Theresa offered Prometheus a prepared Soul Steel body, and Prometheus transferred its consciousness into it.
• Theresa blessed Pam with Order so he could leave the train without suffering a backlash.

Theresa used the authorities of Order and the Honkai Will to let Conductor Pom-Pom leave the Astral Express and experience the world outside. The group headed for Liyue Harbor, where Keqing met them and explained that Liyue was accustomed to doing without terminals.

• Theresa transformed Conductor Pom-Pom into Pam Xian and helped him step off the Astral Express, where he joyfully felt grass and a breeze for the first time.
• Pam thanked Theresa and embraced her, while the others celebrated his newfound freedom to Trailblaze with them.
• Theresa stored away the Astral Express, astonishing Nahida and the Sumeru group, and promised Teyvat could use the technology after the Abyss threat was eliminated.
• At the bridge to Liyue Harbor, the Millelith stopped the group and went to seek Keqing's instructions.
• Theresa explained the uses of her terminal, and Keqing arrived and said Liyue had grown accustomed to operating without one.

Theresa’s group entered Liyue Harbor and joined the crowd for a festival performance. After Yun Jin sang Divine Damsel of Devastation, Gaming and the adepti performed a lion dance, leaving Zibai interested in exploring Chenyu Vale.

• Keqing welcomed Theresa and her companions into Liyue Harbor, then went to report their arrival to Ningguang and the other Qixing.
• Theresa’s group met Phainon, Stellaron Essence, Welt, and the others near the harbor stage and admired the Xiao Lanterns.
• Yun Jin performed Divine Damsel of Devastation while the adepti and festival guests watched.
• Gaming led the Weishui Lion Dance Troupe, with Mountain Shaper and Moon Carver operating the lion costume and Zhong Li playing the erhu.
• Theresa told Nahida and the others about Chenyu Vale’s stories of a deity of land and grain, prompting Zibai to consider exploring the area.

At the Lantern Rite performance, Zibai took the stage after Gaming, Lishan, and Moon Carver finished their lion dance, but froze when she could not think of an act. Guizhong and Ping'er joined her, and the three began a musical performance that left the crowd delighted.

• Gaming, Lishan, and Moon Carver performed a lion dance, revealing festive couplets and drawing cheers from the crowd.
• Zibai transformed into a white horse phantom and leaped onto the stage, exciting the owner of the White Horse Inn and surprising the audience.
• Zibai became unsure what to perform, so Guizhong and Ping'er flew onstage to help her.
• Guizhong proposed a dance, Ping'er’s guzheng accompaniment, and Zibai’s jade flute; she hummed the melody of A Thousand Miles Invite the Moon for Zibai to learn.
• Zibai played the flute, Ping'er accompanied her on the guzheng, and Guizhong danced as Zhong Li watched contentedly.

Theresa entertained the crowd with a bizarrely altered song, then used Zibai’s memories to reveal her history as the Langgan Kingdom’s God of the Land and Grain. The projection showed the moon shattering and a Skyfrost Nail threatening Zibai’s people, as she resolved to save them.

• Guizhong, Ping'er, and Zibai performed “A Thousand Miles Invite the Moon,” captivating the audience.
• Theresa secretly planned with Stellaron Essence to use the Clockwork Trick on Zhong Li, then took the stage to sing her altered “Song of the Koi.”
• Theresa proposed showing Zibai’s memories, and Zibai agreed after Theresa promised to avoid private scenes.
• Theresa projected a memory of Zibai being praised by her people before the moon shattered and a Skyfrost Nail descended, devastating their homes.
• After speaking with Istaroth, Zibai resolved to save her people despite the danger.

Zibai sacrificed herself to help the people of Langgan escape the Skyfrost Nail, and Istaroth saved fragments of her soul before the kingdom was destroyed. After the account of her past moved Liyue and the Stellaron Hunters, Theresa and the Stellaron Essence used a Clockwork Trick to make Zhong Li mourn his horse.

• Zibai defied the Heavenly Principles and used her power to hold back the Skyfrost Nail while the people of Langgan fled east.
• After Zibai fell, Istaroth stopped time and divided her soul among a magic treasure, her conveyance, and the False Moon.
• The Skyfrost Nail destroyed Langgan, and the story explained how Nibelung's battle with Phanes had left Abyss contamination for the Heavenly Principles to purify.
• March 7th cried over Zibai's fate, while Changye Yue comforted her and Zhong Li mourned.
• Theresa signaled the Stellaron Essence to use the Clockwork Trick on Zhong Li, who cried out for his dead horse as Theresa recorded him.

Theresa adjusted Zhong Li’s emotions after his tearful farewell to Zibai, then took the group to Xianyun’s abode to prepare for Zibai’s final Heavenly Soul. They found Mt. Aocang covered in mint, and Theresa empowered Mountain Shaper and gave Zibai a hair clip that let her fight him.

• Theresa finished recording Zhong Li’s grief and restored his emotions, prompting him to wipe away his tears and disappear.
• Theresa took the group to Xianyun’s abode, but Ganyu noticed Mountain Shaper was missing, and Xianyun flew off to find him.
• Theresa teleported everyone to Mt. Aocang, where they discovered Mountain Shaper had covered the mountain in mint to get back at Xianyun.
• Theresa empowered Mountain Shaper into a muscular bird-headed fighter, and he attacked Xianyun after taunting her.
• Theresa gave Zibai Yixuan’s hair clip, and Zibai joined the fight with an Azure Nether Bird while Mountain Shaper resisted their attacks.

Xianyun, Zibai, and Lishan sparred while Theresa transformed Mt. Aocang with a crop of powerful cabbages. After Lishan’s enhanced form was punctured and deflated, Theresa prepared Zibai to summon her Heavenly Soul from the moon.

• Lishan held off Xianyun and Zibai’s attacks in his muscular form, while Xianyun and Zibai took to the sky to launch a combined strike.
• Theresa used the Blessing of Abundance to cover Mt. Aocang with bizarre cabbages that could fight anyone who tried to harvest them.
• Xianyun realized the cabbages could become valuable local specialties, despite her frustration at the strange new crop.
• Xianyun and Zibai struck Lishan with a giant golden divine bird, and he blocked it before stepping on Zibai’s stone spike and deflating back into a crane.
• Theresa explained how Lantern Rite wishes would break down the False Moon and free Zibai’s Heavenly Soul, then instructed Zibai to call to it.
• Zibai leaped into the air, struck a one-legged rooster pose, and began calling to her Heavenly Soul.

Zibai reunited her three souls and revived under the moonlight, then fled in embarrassment after everyone laughed at her summoning cries. The next morning, the group boarded the Astral Express and set off for The Chasm to deal with the Abyss contamination.

• Theresa assured Xianyun and the others that her strange method would restore Zibai without endangering her.
• Zibai called out to the moon, reunited with her Heavenly Soul, and reshaped her body as her three souls fused.
• Zibai blushed at the crowd's laughter and vanished using Time Acceleration, while Zhong Li smiled and departed.
• Theresa told everyone to rest before heading to The Chasm the next day, and the Stellaron Hunters offered the group a place to stay in their transformed Astral Express.
• The next morning, Stellaron Essence invited Shenhe, Xianyun, Zhong Li, and the others aboard the Astral Express, which then departed for The Chasm.