Xiao had already mentioned that Lantern Rite was about to begin.
After sorting out Chongyun's problem, Ellin spent a few more days wandering around Liyue Harbor.
During that time, she also sought out Zhongli.
Now that he had successfully retired, Zhongli was enjoying his leisure. He spent his days admiring flowers, walking his birds, listening to storytellers, or watching plays.
A Gnosis was merely proof of godhood. It did help Zhongli, but it was only icing on the cake.
After all, before becoming a god and obtaining his Gnosis, Zhongli had already earned his reputation as the Warrior God through his formidable strength as the Geo Archon.
How much weaker could he possibly have become just because he no longer had his Gnosis?
As for whether he could still conjure Mora at will... Ellin had never asked.
But he had once said this to her: "I live in Liyue Harbor as the mortal Zhongli, and mortals do not possess a god's authority."
Ellin understood those words to mean that the Geo Archon had made a contract with himself. Since he had chosen to live in Liyue Harbor as Zhongli, he could not use his divine powers while living as a mortal.
Although she did not know whether he could still conjure Mora, on reflection, even if he could, he would probably no longer exercise his divine authority as Zhongli.
There were fewer than seven days left until Lantern Rite.
As Liyue's grandest annual festival, preparations for this year's Lantern Rite had begun early at the Ministry of Civil Affairs.
Liyue Harbor was already festooned with lanterns and decorations, bustling with activity.
Millelith soldiers working overtime patrolled everywhere, while vendors had voluntarily set up their stalls along one street, creating a long stretch of food stalls.
The streets were filled