On the streets of Liyue Harbor, Feng Ji, the Millelith's chief instructor, led a squad of Millelith in maintaining order throughout the city.
With the Geo Archon descending, the entire city had to be placed under martial law to prevent troublemakers from causing trouble.
Feng Ji's gaze constantly swept across the surrounding crowd, searching for suspicious individuals.
Just then, cries of surprise rose from the crowd.
"Look! It's the Divine Medicine bestowed by Rex Lapis!"
Hearing this, Feng Ji subconsciously looked up and suddenly widened his eyes.
The Divine Medicine bestowed by Rex Lapis was flying toward him.
The Divine Medicine slowly came to a stop before Feng Ji, and he hurriedly caught it.
"Thank you, Rex Lapis, for bestowing this medicine!"
The surrounding Millelith were delighted for Feng Ji as well. As the Millelith's chief instructor, Feng Ji held great prestige among them.
Not only did he teach everyone combat techniques, but he also charged at the front in every battle, earning the Millelith's wholehearted respect.
"Congratulations, Chief!"
"Chief, shouldn't you put out a few tables and treat the brothers to some drinks?"
"Exactly, exactly. We won't fleece you—Wanmin Restaurant will do."
Feng Ji readily agreed.
Having received the Divine Medicine bestowed by Rex Lapis, he really ought to celebrate and treat his brothers to a drink.
"Alright, I should treat you.
But going to Wanmin Restaurant isn't practical. Our days off don't line up.
How about this? Next time I'm off duty, I'll bring some food back from Wanmin Restaurant. We can eat together in the barracks. Sound good?"
The nearby Millelith all agreed. As long as there was food, they were happy.
Feng Ji looked at the potion in his hand and drank it in one gulp.
The instant the potion entered his stomach, Feng Ji felt unbearably itchy all over, as though new flesh were growing on him.
Once the sensation passed, Feng Ji felt brimming with energy, as if this vigor would never run out no matter how he used it.
A fresh wave of astonished cries suddenly erupted from the surrounding crowd.
"Oh heavens! What the Geo Archon said was true! This medicine really can prolong one's life! Look at Instructor Feng—he's become as young as a lad!"
"What are you saying? Are you implying the Geo Archon would lie to us?"
"No, no, that's not what I meant. I'm just too excited, too excited. Please forgive me."
Feng Ji looked at his hands. The calluses had indeed diminished considerably, and his skin had become far more vibrant.
At that moment, a Millelith brought over a bronze mirror.
"Chief Instructor, look!"
Feng Ji focused his eyes on it. This... wasn't this exactly what he had looked like at seventeen or eighteen?
It truly was Divine Medicine. It had actually restored his youth.
Feng Ji's experience quickly spread throughout Liyue Harbor.
After all, he was the only example of someone receiving Divine Medicine and drinking it in full public view.
Through Feng Ji's experience, the people of Liyue Harbor became even more devoted to Liyue.
For example, Northland Bank suffered because of it.
The people of Liyue Harbor flocked to withdraw their Mora, saying that depositing money in a foreign bank was disloyal to Liyue and so on.
After Ningguang learned of this, she immediately established Liyue's own bank: Liyue Bank.
One could only say that Ningguang truly lived up to her reputation. Her response was so swift that while Liyue Harbor's other merchants were still catching on, she had already taken action.
The people of Liyue Harbor eagerly deposited their wealth into Liyue Bank, leaving Northland Bank's staff completely dumbfounded. Seriously, did they have to go this far?
People of Liyue Harbor: Yes!
With this move of distributing Divine Medicine, Zhongli successfully won the hearts of Liyue Harbor's people.
Belobog, Bronya's office.
Bronya sat in her chair with a gloomy expression, looking utterly dejected.
"It's over. It's completely over. The Stellar Jade is gone!"
Seele, beside her, sighed.
"It's not all bad. We reacted quickly enough and took back quite a lot."
Just now, Bronya and Seele had summoned Gepard and Pela, leading a large contingent of Silvermane Guards to Commercial Street.
They had still been a little too late. Stelle and March 7th, along with Chimchar and Bu Bu Seed, had already turned over half of Commercial Street.
On Commercial Street's main thoroughfare, opened and emptied chests could be seen everywhere.
There had even been three Luxury Treasure Chests among them! The kind with thirty Stellar Jade in each chest!
When Stelle and March 7th saw the rightful owners arrive, they whistled a greeting and slipped away.
Stelle, March 7th: Hehe, we're rich! We're rich!
After the two women slipped away, they decisively fled to the Underworld to hide for a while. They were truly afraid Bronya might lose it and put out warrants for them.
Though she would not actually do that—everyone had fought and lived through death together as comrades—the two women still felt a little guilty.
Gepard said,
"Supreme Guardian, didn't we successfully reclaim Commercial Street this time as well? We killed all the Fragmentum Monsters inside."
Hearing Gepard's words, Bronya felt much better.
Indeed, by all rights, she should have thanked Stelle and March 7th.
The chests had been ownerless to begin with; those capable could claim them.
While opening the chests, they had also helped her clear out more than half the Fragmentum Monsters on Commercial Street.
"Yes, that's true."
Bronya took a deep breath, adjusted herself, and looked solemnly at Gepard and Pela.
"Gepard, Pela, I have an extremely important task for the two of you now."
Hearing this, Gepard and Pela straightened up and waited for Bronya's orders.
Bronya took a deep breath and slowly said,
"Gepard, after the Succession Ceremony ends, lead a squad of Silvermane Guards to collect Stellar Jade. Do not miss a single chest."
"Pela, lead people to exchange for Stellar Jade from Belobog's residents. As for the price, use your judgment—but do not shortchange the people."
Gepard and Pela nodded heavily, indicating that they understood.
Afterward, the two left the office to carry out their mission.
Once they had left, Bronya looked at Seele.
"Seele, after the Succession Ceremony ends, will you accompany me to the train?"
Seele nodded in agreement.
"Sure. I remember Natasha is going to purchase supplies today too. I'll let her know, and we can go together then."
Bronya smiled and nodded.
Seele walked out of the office, and Bronya looked at the box of Stellar Jade beside her.
Thankfully, Seele had realized it in time and come to find her.
Otherwise, these eight hundred Stellar Jade would probably have been looted by Stelle and March 7th too.
The Succession Ceremony soon began.
First, Cocolia appeared and explained the danger of the Stellaron, stating that she had been seriously injured in her battle against it and needed time to recuperate.
Thus, she formally appointed Bronya as the new Supreme Guardian.
Bronya took the stage and gave a speech, receiving the people's fervent support.
The people of Belobog had all witnessed Bronya's abilities firsthand.
No one objected to Bronya succeeding the position.
Bronya also thanked Stelle, March 7th, and Dan Heng for their assistance.
This delighted Stelle and March 7th, who were hiding in the Underworld, crouched beside a broadcast speaker and listening in secret.
Hehe! I'm a great hero!
The Succession Ceremony did not have many complicated procedures. It was nothing more than the new Supreme Guardian delivering an inspiring speech, and it ended quickly.
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