Arc 9Chapters 202–226

No recap yet.

Chapters 202–226 Vol. 3 Read

Ch. 202Stone Gate

Li Qiuzhi, Lumine, and Paimon stopped at a fortune-telling stall in Stone Gate, where a man claimed to be Rex Lapis's true disciple. His tale persuaded much of the crowd, while Li Qiuzhi suspected the fortune-teller was a swindler and wondered if one of his supporters was a shill.

  • Li Qiuzhi, Lumine, and Paimon rested in Stone Gate before continuing toward Dihua Marsh and stopped to investigate a roadside crowd.
  • A middle-aged man advertised himself as a half-immortal and the Geo Archon's true disciple, prompting Paimon to believe his claim.
  • The fortune-teller told the crowd that a flood had destroyed his village's crops and that he had been abandoned in the wilderness as a child.
  • He claimed Rex Lapis had saved him and his companions from monsters, taken them to a place of cultivation, and made him his true disciple.
  • A young man praised the fortune-teller for helping the people, and Li Qiuzhi suspected he might be a shill.

Ch. 203A charlatan

Li Qiuzhi, Lumine, and Paimon watched Qiu Shicai pose as a Half-Adeptus and swindle onlookers with fake fortune-telling. Qiu Shicai’s real target, Zhao Bing, offered to pay for adeptal arts, setting up the con as the chapter ended with the backstory of his dispute with the Five Blades Sect.

  • Qiu Shicai used a fake talisman to convince a young man that he had revealed a treasure worth ten million Mora, then charged him one hundred thousand Mora.
  • Paimon wondered whether Qiu Shicai was an Adeptus, while Lumine suspected he had used a trick involving gunpowder.
  • Qiu Shicai’s shills drew a crowd, and Zhao Bing offered to pay any amount to learn adeptal arts.
  • Qiu Shicai revealed that Zhao Bing was the son of the wealthy Five Blades Sect leader Zhao Kuo, who had been seeking cultivation arts for his son.
  • Qiu Shicai and his companions had searched for cultivation arts for months, then demanded three million Mora in wages from the Five Blades Sect, which refused to pay.

Ch. 204Kidnapping

Qiu Shicai lured Zhao Bing away by pretending to offer him Adepti Arts, intending to kidnap him and demand cultivation methods from his father. Li Qiuzhi, Lumine, and Paimon followed them, and the chapter left them watching as Qiu Shicai confronted Zhao Bing with two accomplices nearby.

  • Qiu Shicai decided to kidnap Zhao Bing and ask his father, Zhao Kuo, for Immortal Cultivation Arts.
  • Qiu Shicai convinced Zhao Bing that he would teach him Adepti Arts if he passed a test in the wilderness.
  • Zhao Bing ignored his attendant's warnings and left with Qiu Shicai for Dihua Marsh.
  • Paimon questioned Qiu Shicai's act, and Li Qiuzhi and Lumine decided to follow them.
  • Qiu Shicai stopped in the Remote Wilderness, mocked Zhao Bing, and met up with the two men who had pretended to search for treasure.

Ch. 205Disciples of the Guhua Clan

Qiu Shicai and Yao Liang kidnapped Zhao Bing to demand ransom from the Five Blades Sect, but Sun Yu and Xiao Que'er of the Guhua Clan intervened. As the kidnappers fought the two disciples, Paimon spotted an opening for Li Qiuzhi and Lumine to rescue Zhao Bing.

  • Qiu Shicai tied up Zhao Bing and sent Xu Guangxian to demand ten million Mora from the Five Blades Sect.
  • Paimon, Lumine, and Li Qiuzhi watched from hiding, and Lumine planned for Li Qiuzhi to free Zhao Bing before they fought the kidnappers.
  • Xiao Que'er confronted Qiu Shicai and Yao Liang, disarmed Yao Liang, and nearly struck him before Qiu Shicai attacked her.
  • Sun Yu arrived to protect Xiao Que'er and introduced them as disciples of the Guhua Clan.
  • Qiu Shicai put on his metal gloves and attacked Sun Yu and Xiao Que'er with Yao Liang, leaving Zhao Bing unguarded.
  • Paimon urged Li Qiuzhi and Lumine to seize the chance to rescue Zhao Bing, and they nodded.

Ch. 206Subjugation

Li Qiuzhi, Lumine, and Paimon helped the Guhua Clan disciples defeat the kidnappers and rescued Zhao Bing. They declined his invitation to visit the Five Blades Sect and prepared to continue toward Liyue Harbor.

  • Li Qiuzhi used the tied-up Zhao Bing to lure Qiu Shicai away, and Lumine knocked Qiu Shicai unconscious from an ambush.
  • Sun Yu and Xiao Que'er cornered Yao Liang, who surrendered and was knocked unconscious.
  • Paimon startled Xiao Que'er, and Sun Yu apologized for his junior sister before chasing after her when she ran off.
  • Li Qiuzhi freed Zhao Bing, who introduced himself as the young master of the Five Blades Sect and invited the group to visit.
  • Lumine declined Zhao Bing's invitation because they were heading to Liyue Harbor, but Zhao Bing insisted they should receive thanks.

Ch. 207Land of Extreme Thunder

Zhao Kuo arrived and thanked Li Qiuzhi, Lumine, and Paimon for rescuing his son, offering them rare thunder jade as a reward. After Zhao Kuo left with his son and the kidnappers, the group continued toward Liyue Harbor, and Li Qiuzhi considered how to find Electro materials for Little Amy.

  • Zhao Kuo arrived, reunited with Zhao Bing, and introduced himself as the master of the Five Blades Sect.
  • Paimon asked Zhao Kuo for Mora, so he gave her a piece of thunder jade worth about a million Mora.
  • Zhao Kuo explained that the Land of Extreme Thunder lay in the Chasm's eastern underground mines and warned Li Qiuzhi that its volatile Electro made it dangerous.
  • Zhao Kuo took Zhao Bing and the unconscious kidnappers back with him, while Li Qiuzhi, Lumine, and Paimon continued toward Liyue Harbor.
  • Li Qiuzhi suggested that Lumine carry Paimon, but Lumine threatened stamina training, prompting Paimon to refuse the ride.

Ch. 208Red Demon King

Li Qiuzhi, Lumine, and Paimon met Sun Yu and Xiao Que'er while they were fishing and told them Zhao Bing had been rescued. After Li Qiuzhi caught a Red Demon King with his bow, a huge black creature leapt from the river, swallowed the fish, and escaped upstream.

  • Paimon and Xiao Que'er exchanged insults before Sun Yu asked whether Zhao Bing was safe, and Li Qiuzhi confirmed that the boy had been taken home and the kidnappers brought to justice.
  • Sun Yu invited Li Qiuzhi, Lumine, and Paimon to share the Guhua Clan's secret-recipe grilled fish, and they prepared a meal by the river.
  • Xiao Que'er hooked a Red Demon King that dragged her fishing rod toward the water, and Sun Yu helped her hold the line.
  • Li Qiuzhi recognized the fish and shot it with his bow, earning 42 Experience Points.
  • As Sun Yu and Xiao Que'er began lifting the fish, a huge black creature leapt from the river, swallowed it, broke the fishing line, and swam upstream.

Ch. 209Invitation

Li Qiuzhi and his companions caught and cooked a poisonous Darkscale Catfish with Sun Yu and Xiao Que'er. Sun Yu invited them to join the declining Guhua Clan, then offered them a letter of introduction to Xingqiu when they declined.

  • Sun Yu warned that a Darkscale Catfish had dragged away the Red Demon King, but Li Qiuzhi chased it along the riverbank and defeated it with a Pyro arrow.
  • Li Qiuzhi and the others hauled the giant catfish ashore, removed its poisonous parts and skin, and shared the grilled fish for lunch.
  • Sun Yu asked whether Li Qiuzhi and his companions knew about the Guhua Clan, then explained that he and Xiao Que'er were searching for adepti to help revitalize it.
  • Sun Yu invited the group to join the Guhua Clan, but Paimon asked about the benefits and the group declined.
  • Sun Yu offered to write them a letter of introduction to his junior fellow disciple Xingqiu, the second young master of the Feiyun Commerce Guild, in case they needed help in Liyue Harbor.

Ch. 210A way to make money

Li Qiuzhi and Lumine considered turning a bicycle design into a way to make Mora while traveling toward Wangshu Inn. Lumine agreed that they could make a prototype and sell the design, putting her search for her brother aside only long enough to pursue the plan.

  • Li Qiuzhi declined Sun Yu’s invitation to join the Guhua Clan, and Sun Yu left with Xiao Que’er for Stone Gate.
  • Li Qiuzhi, Lumine, and Paimon continued toward Wangshu Inn, discussing how bicycles could make travel faster.
  • Lumine proposed developing a bicycle and opening a factory to sell them across Teyvat.
  • Paimon reminded Lumine that she was searching for her brother, so Lumine hesitated to commit to a factory.
  • Li Qiuzhi suggested building a prototype and selling the design to Liyue merchants, and Lumine agreed to try it while keeping her brother’s search as her priority.

Ch. 211Wangshu Inn

Li Qiuzhi, Lumine, and Paimon traveled toward Liyue Harbor, with Li Qiuzhi testing his new Dandelion Shield and asking Lumine to exchange swordsmanship knowledge with him. They reached the crowded Wangshu Inn at night and hoped to find a room and a caravan ride to the harbor.

  • Li Qiuzhi and Lumine postponed their bicycle plans so they could focus on reaching Liyue Harbor for the Rite of Descension.
  • Li Qiuzhi, Lumine, and Paimon camped outside a village after finding its inn full of visitors.
  • Li Qiuzhi defeated two Hilichurl Mitachurls and nine smaller Hilichurls, tested his Dandelion Shield, and gained over five thousand Experience Points.
  • Li Qiuzhi asked Lumine to exchange swordsmanship knowledge with him and asked whether she knew a way to increase Psychic Power; Lumine agreed to exchange swordsmanship tips but said she had no such training knowledge.
  • Li Qiuzhi, Lumine, and Paimon arrived at Wangshu Inn, where crowds and merchant caravans filled the area, and Lumine suggested they book a room before eating.

Ch. 212Only one room left

Li Qiuzhi, Lumine, and Paimon arrived at Wangshu Inn and booked its last available room, agreeing that Li Qiuzhi would sleep on the floor. After settling in, they went downstairs for dinner and gathered to watch the inn’s auction, which was just beginning.

  • Verr Goldet told Li Qiuzhi, Lumine, and Paimon that only one single room remained, and Lumine agreed to share it with Li Qiuzhi as long as he slept on the floor.
  • Li Qiuzhi paid for the room, and Verr Goldet invited them to attend Wangshu Inn’s auction that evening.
  • An inn employee led them to room eighteen in the Autumn Wind Pavilion, where Paimon admired the view and Lumine and Li Qiuzhi inspected the cramped room.
  • Lumine offered to pay for dinner, and the group explored the inn before ordering several Liyue dishes at the crowded open-air restaurant.
  • A middle-aged man in Liyue-style robes stepped onto the auction platform as the crowd quieted.

Ch. 213The Feiyun Commerce Guild's second young master

At an auction at Wangshu Inn, Lumine bid on Brilliant Diamond Slivers she needed for her next breakthrough, with Li Qiuzhi offering to help pay. Just as the bidding seemed to be ending, Xingqiu raised the price to 1.3 million Mora, and Li Qiuzhi urged Lumine to bid again while keeping their travel funds in mind.

  • Huai'an opened an auction at Wangshu Inn and presented six Brilliant Diamond Slivers from the Jinhua Commerce Guild.
  • Li Qiuzhi realized Lumine needed the Slivers for her breakthrough and set aside his plan to buy them for Fischl.
  • Lumine said she had about a million Mora, and Li Qiuzhi offered to lend her more if needed.
  • Lumine bid 1.15 million Mora after other bidders pushed the price above one million.
  • Xingqiu raised the bid to 1.3 million Mora, and Li Qiuzhi advised Lumine to bid another fifty thousand while preserving their travel funds.

Ch. 214Traveling together

After the auction drained their Mora, Li Qiuzhi, Lumine, and Paimon planned to design a Bicycle to earn money. Xingqiu introduced himself and invited them to travel with the Feiyun Commerce Guild caravan to Liyue Harbor the next morning.

  • Lumine won six Brilliant Diamond Fragments for 1.4 million Mora after Xingqiu bid against her, and the group watched the auction continue until it ended that night.
  • Li Qiuzhi repaid Lumine for the fragments and gave her extra Mora to account for the Thunder Jade he had received, leaving both of them nearly broke.
  • The group decided to postpone exchanging sword techniques and return to their room to begin designing a Bicycle they could sell for Mora.
  • Xingqiu approached them, apologized for bidding against them, and introduced himself as Sun Yu's junior fellow disciple from the Guhua Clan.
  • Xingqiu invited Li Qiuzhi, Lumine, and Paimon to travel with the Feiyun Commerce Guild caravan to Liyue Harbor, and they agreed to leave at six the next morning.
  • Lumine suggested activating Wangshu Inn's Teleport Waypoint, and the group agreed to do so.

Ch. 215Conqueror of Demons

Li Qiuzhi and his companions activated the Teleport Waypoint at Wangshu Inn and learned that the mysterious figure watching them was Xiao, the Conqueror of Demons. Back in their room, Li Qiuzhi and Lumine began designing a bicycle, settling on a rough frame plan before turning in for the night.

  • Lumine activated the Teleport Waypoint while Verr Goldet watched, and its glow changed from red to blue.
  • Li Qiuzhi spotted a shadowy figure on the roof, who vanished after Lumine called out to him.
  • Verr Goldet identified the figure as Xiao, an adeptus known as the Conqueror of Demons.
  • Li Qiuzhi and Lumine began planning a bicycle, dividing it into five basic systems while Paimon gave up and went to sleep.
  • Li Qiuzhi and Lumine sketched a rough triangular bicycle frame and then prepared for bed.

Ch. 216Quiet

Lumine and Li Qiuzhi shared a room at an inn, where a sleepy mishap left them embracing in bed. The chapter ended with Li Qiuzhi kissing Lumine while still asleep.

  • Lumine asked Li Qiuzhi to turn away while she undressed and got into bed.
  • Late at night, Lumine woke when Paimon bit her shoulder and reached for water.
  • Lumine used Anemo to disperse spilled water, then accidentally fell onto Li Qiuzhi.
  • Li Qiuzhi mistook Lumine for Fischl, pulled her into his arms, and held her close as she tried to escape.
  • Li Qiuzhi patted Lumine's bottom and told her not to move before kissing her.

Ch. 217Lumine's Sword Intent (two chapters in one)

After traveling with Xingqiu’s caravan toward Liyue Harbor, Li Qiuzhi fused his swordsmanship skills and gained Lumine’s Sword Intent, a powerful new secret art shaped like Lumine. The caravan neared Liyue Harbor as Li Qiuzhi considered the awkwardness of using his new skill in front of her.

  • Lumine spent the night in Li Qiuzhi’s embrace, struggled with her feelings after he kissed her, and hid what happened the next morning.
  • Li Qiuzhi, Lumine, and Paimon joined Xingqiu’s Feiyun Commerce Guild caravan, and Xingqiu explained that he was escorting valuable Mondstadt fabrics.
  • During the journey, Li Qiuzhi, Lumine, and Xingqiu practiced swordsmanship and worked on bicycle designs, while Li Qiuzhi mastered Guhua Swordsmanship.
  • Li Qiuzhi defeated monsters along the route, gained enough Experience Points to master Memories of the Past, and fused it with Royal Swordsmanship: Guhua.
  • The fusion created Lumine’s Sword Intent, a secret art that summoned a golden phantom of Lumine and launched sword energy carrying the traits of its component styles.

Ch. 218Liyue Harbor (Double-length chapter)

Li Qiuzhi, Lumine, and Paimon arrived in Liyue Harbor, where Xingqiu invited them to dinner and Li Qiuzhi hoped to launch a bicycle business. After finding local rentals too expensive, they headed to the Adventurers' Guild to ask about temporary lodging.

  • Li Qiuzhi discovered that Lumine's Friendship had risen to level seven and suspected that they had kissed while he slept at Wangshu Inn.
  • The group admired Liyue Harbor's busy port, and Xingqiu invited them to dinner at Wanmin Restaurant that evening.
  • Li Qiuzhi and Lumine discussed earning Mora through adventurer commissions and making a bicycle prototype with a local blacksmith.
  • After entering the harbor, the group declined several costly rental offers and decided to check whether the Adventurers' Guild provided temporary lodging.

Ch. 219An exorcist who vanquished evil and upheld the righteous way (two chapters in one)

Li Qiuzhi, Lumine, and Paimon reached Liyue Harbor, discovered Katheryne was a bionic puppet, and arranged for a blacksmith to build their bicycle prototype. At dinner with Xingqiu and Chongyun, Li Qiuzhi asked whether Chongyun knew any arts for improving Psychic Power.

  • Lumine and Paimon found a Teleport Waypoint near the Adventurers' Guild, but Li Qiuzhi suggested they return at night to activate it without attracting attention.
  • Paimon and Lumine were surprised to meet Liyue's Katheryne, who explained that the Guild's receptionists were bionic puppets; she also told them that all temporary lodging was taken ahead of the Rite of Descension.
  • Li Qiuzhi and Lumine showed their bicycle blueprints to Master Zhang at Cold Steel, who agreed to build a prototype for about 150,000 Mora.
  • Li Qiuzhi, Lumine, and Paimon went to Wanmin Restaurant and met Xingqiu and his friend Chongyun, an exorcist with a Pure Yang Constitution.
  • Li Qiuzhi asked Chongyun whether he knew any arts that could train and improve Psychic Power.

Ch. 220Tied up by Yelan (two-in-one)

Li Qiuzhi and his companions planned to seek out Chongyun’s aunt to learn about Psychic Power, but Yelan detained them while they tried to activate a Teleport Waypoint. Lumine teleported the bound group to Mondstadt, where Rosaria confronted Yelan and asked her to release the Honorary Knights.

  • Xingqiu suggested that Li Qiuzhi, Lumine, Paimon, and Chongyun search for Chongyun’s aunt after the Rite of Descension, and Chongyun agreed.
  • Xiangling served the group dinner at Wanmin Restaurant, where they met Guoba.
  • Lumine activated the Teleport Waypoint in Liyue Harbor, but Yelan bound the group with her Lifelines and ordered them to come in for questioning.
  • Lumine touched the Teleport Waypoint and transported herself, Li Qiuzhi, Paimon, and Yelan to Mondstadt City.
  • Yelan questioned whether the group were spies, and Rosaria appeared to demand that Yelan release the Honorary Knights and Paimon.

Ch. 221The Rite of Descension (two chapters in one)

After clearing up the misunderstanding with Yelan, Li Qiuzhi and Lumine returned to Liyue and spent several days completing commissions before arriving at Yujing Terrace for the Rite of Descension. Li Qiuzhi used most of his Experience Points to raise his level to 48, and the story leaves the group at the ceremony venue.

  • Yelan learned that Lumine and Li Qiuzhi were Honorary Knights of the Knights of Favonius, released them, and recruited Lumine as a commission-based mission assistant.
  • Yelan spent the night at Li Qiuzhi’s home, then joined the group on their return to Liyue Harbor.
  • Li Qiuzhi, Lumine, and Paimon completed sixteen dangerous monster-clearing commissions, earned about 3.6 million Mora, and gained the nickname the “Black, White, and Gold Trio.”
  • While heading to the Rite of Descension, Li Qiuzhi spent 34,800 Experience Points to advance from level 40 to level 48 and strengthened his Psychic Power.
  • Li Qiuzhi, Lumine, and Paimon reached Yujing Terrace as the crowds gathered for the Rite of Descension.

Ch. 222The Lord Had Been Murdered (Two-in-One)

Li Qiuzhi, Lumine, and Paimon attended the Rite of Descension, where Rex Lapis suddenly fell from the sky and Ningguang declared that he had been murdered. As the Millelith sealed the venue and began questioning spectators, Li Qiuzhi persuaded Lumine not to flee, and soldiers approached their group.

  • Li Qiuzhi helped Lumine reach the front of the crowd, where they watched Ningguang begin the Rite of Descension.
  • A huge golden pillar appeared, and Rex Lapis's body crashed into the venue, smashing the incense burner and stone table.
  • Ningguang announced that Rex Lapis had been murdered and ordered the Millelith to seal off the venue.
  • Lumine tried to escape, but Li Qiuzhi stopped her and Paimon agreed they should stay and answer questions.
  • Paimon confronted Li Qiuzhi about holding Lumine's hand and his relationship with Fischl as the Millelith approached to question them.

Ch. 223Childe (two-in-one)

After Rex Lapis’s apparent murder, Li Qiuzhi and his companions were cleared of suspicion and met Tartaglia, who gave them a Sigil of Permission to help them find the adepti. They spent two days completing commissions and resting in Mondstadt, then set out to inspect Old Zhang’s finished Bicycle prototype.

  • The Millelith questioned Li Qiuzhi, Lumine, and Paimon, confirmed their identities with Ningguang, and later lifted the lockdown after failing to find the killer.
  • Tartaglia introduced himself as the Fatui Harbinger Childe and suggested the Liyue Qixing might have been involved in Rex Lapis’s murder.
  • Tartaglia gave Li Qiuzhi a Sigil of Permission and told the group it would help them meet the adepti.
  • Li Qiuzhi and Lumine continued completing Adventurers’ Guild commissions, returned to Mondstadt each night, and reunited with Fischl and Oz.
  • After two days of commissions and rest, Li Qiuzhi and his companions went to see the Bicycle prototype Old Zhang had promised to finish.

Ch. 224Hu Tao Falls from Above (Two-in-one)

Li Qiuzhi, Lumine, and Paimon tested the bicycle Master Zhang had forged and rode it through Liyue Harbor to seek Ningguang about selling it. Hu Tao stopped them to ask for a bicycle and insisted on joining their business meeting.

  • Master Zhang completed the bicycle, and Li Qiuzhi, Lumine, and Paimon tested it before paying him 150,000 Mora.
  • Li Qiuzhi suggested approaching Ningguang about selling bicycles, and the group set out to contact her through the Ministry of Civil Affairs.
  • Li Qiuzhi rode the bicycle through Liyue Harbor with Lumine on the rear rack and Paimon in the front basket.
  • Hu Tao jumped into their path, stopping the bicycle and introducing herself as director of the Wangsheng Funeral Parlor.
  • Hu Tao asked to buy their bicycle, then offered to join their meeting with Ningguang in exchange for borrowing it afterward.

Ch. 225A chance encounter with Kitty Keqing at the Ministry of Civil Affairs (two-in-one)

Li Qiuzhi, Lumine, and Paimon met Hu Tao, who borrowed their bicycle and helped them reach Ningguang through an introduction from Keqing. The group entered the Jade Chamber, where Li Qiuzhi prepared to explain Childe’s request and the Fatui’s theft of the Anemo Archon’s Gnosis.

  • Hu Tao persuaded Li Qiuzhi to lend her the bicycle, then led him, Lumine, and Paimon toward the Ministry of Civil Affairs to find Ningguang.
  • Keqing left the Ministry troubled by the mystery surrounding Rex Lapis’s assassination and stopped Hu Tao after her reckless bicycle ride caused a commotion.
  • Hu Tao asked Keqing to introduce the group to Ningguang, and Li Qiuzhi said they had information about a possible threat to Liyue.
  • Keqing brought Li Qiuzhi, Lumine, Paimon, and Hu Tao to the Jade Chamber, where they met Ningguang.
  • Li Qiuzhi prepared to tell Ningguang about Childe’s request and the Fatui’s theft of the Anemo Archon’s Gnosis in Mondstadt.

Ch. 226Fifty (two-in-one)

Li Qiuzhi warned Ningguang and Keqing that the Fatui might be behind Rex Lapis's death, then sold Ningguang the bicycle blueprints. He traveled with Lumine, Paimon, Xingqiu, and Chongyun toward Mt. Aocang, where defeating Hilichurls brought him to level 50 and unlocked a new Racial Specialty choice.

  • Li Qiuzhi recounted the Fatui's crimes in Mondstadt, and Ningguang and Keqing agreed to investigate the possibility that the Fatui had killed Rex Lapis.
  • Li Qiuzhi and Lumine gave Ningguang the bicycle blueprints for testing and a future price offer, while Keqing left to investigate the Fatui.
  • Li Qiuzhi, Lumine, Paimon, Xingqiu, and Chongyun set out for Mt. Aocang, taking a faster route over the mountains with their Wind Gliders and Anemo abilities.
  • The group landed near Dunyu Ruins, where Li Qiuzhi defeated the Hilichurls and gained enough experience to reach level 50.
  • Li Qiuzhi unlocked a new Racial Specialty choice as the group prepared to rest.
Arc 9 of 33