Chapter Summaries

Jiang Xiaofeng abandoned Venti’s plans and attacked Stormterror before heading to Stormterror’s Lair to destroy the three light-guiding platforms. As Abyss Order forces confronted him, he prepared to fight and draw more enemies to the lair.

• Jiang Xiaofeng furiously beat Stormterror until Venti intervened and soothed the dragon with Anemo energy.
• Jiang Xiaofeng told Venti he was done with the hero-versus-dragon scheme, memorized Venti’s map of Mondstadt, and flew toward Stormterror’s Lair.
• Jiang Xiaofeng broke through the wind barrier and used the Cursed Sword and his powers to destroy the three light-guiding platforms.
• Two Cryo Abyss Mages, two Pyro Abyss Mages, and an Abyss Hydro Herald arrived and accused Jiang Xiaofeng of an unforgivable act.
• Jiang Xiaofeng decided to fight the Abyss forces, aiming to collect cells and draw the factions involved in Mondstadt’s quests to Stormterror’s Lair.

Jiang Xiaofeng defeated the Abyss forces, but the Hydro Herald escaped as a clone and reported Jiang Xiaofeng’s abilities to Aether. Jiang Xiaofeng then intercepted Dvalin and found Venti, Lumine, Paimon, Jean, and Diluc together, leaving Venti to face questions about his plan to help Dvalin.

• Jiang Xiaofeng used Time Warp: Modified to freeze the Abyss Mages long enough to kill them and behead the Hydro Herald, who vanished into starlight.
• The Hydro Herald escaped to the Abyss and told Aether about Jiang Xiaofeng’s shield-piercing attacks and time-warping power.
• Aether dismissed the Hydro Herald and vowed not to let someone dangerous stay by Lumine’s side.
• Jiang Xiaofeng stopped Dvalin in flight and discovered Venti, Lumine, Paimon, Jean, and Diluc riding on his back.
• Jean explained how Venti’s plan led Lumine and the others to retrieve the Holy Lyre der Himmel and awaken Dvalin.
• Jiang Xiaofeng scolded Venti for dragging everyone into the plan, and Paimon asked why Venti had not used his authority as the Anemo Archon.

Jiang Xiaofeng sent Lumine, Venti, Jean, the others, and Dvalin to undo the seals at the ruins while he watched the Fatui and tested the Cursed Sword. Aether arrived and fought Jiang Xiaofeng, whose sword confirmed it could absorb Abyssal power, leaving him wondering how much it could consume.

• Jiang Xiaofeng sent Lumine and the others to the ruins, told Venti to undo the wind barriers, and destroyed the light-guiding mechanisms himself.
• Jiang Xiaofeng tracked Fatui movements from the Goth Grand Hotel, then tested whether the Cursed Sword absorbed Cryo or Geo energy; it did not react.
• Aether appeared, and Jiang Xiaofeng called him “brother-in-law,” provoking Aether to attack.
• Jiang Xiaofeng and Aether exchanged blows, and Jiang Xiaofeng kicked Aether away after dodging his sword strikes.
• Aether infused his longsword with black Abyssal light and clashed with Jiang Xiaofeng, who confirmed that the Cursed Sword absorbed Abyssal power.

Jiang Xiaofeng fought Aether while letting the Cursed Sword absorb Abyss power, then negotiated a temporary truce and warned Aether about Khaenri'ah and Celestia. Aether left Stormterror's Lair as Jiang Xiaofeng prepared to welcome another group.

• Jiang Xiaofeng used his Thunder Shield and Cursed Sword to defend against Aether's attacks, while the Cursed Sword absorbed Abyss power and began shaking violently.
• Jiang Xiaofeng activated Time Warp twice, allowing the Cursed Sword to absorb Aether's power for ten seconds, though the skill consumed his mental energy.
• Jiang Xiaofeng and Aether agreed to a temporary truce after neither could overcome the other's defenses.
• Jiang Xiaofeng told Aether that he had sought Lumine because of Paimon and warned him that Lumine would soon meet Dainsleif.
• Jiang Xiaofeng warned Aether that Khaenri'ah's revival could devastate the world and advised him not to oppose Celestia without confidence.
• Aether opened a portal and left Stormterror's Lair, while Jiang Xiaofeng turned toward the entrance to meet another group.

Jiang Xiaofeng confronted La Signora and the Fatui at Stormterror's Lair, hoping to harvest cells before pursuing the Gnosis. His plan to draw Venti's group into the fight fell through when he realized they had learned about his encounter with Aether and refused to help him.

• Jiang Xiaofeng flew to meet La Signora and her Fatui forces, and La Signora offered him a place among the Fatui if he stayed out of her way.
• Jiang Xiaofeng revealed that he knew La Signora sought the Gnosis, then killed the two Fatui Agents with Knife Dance.
• La Signora froze Jiang Xiaofeng, but he broke free by devouring the ice and greedily inhaled her Cryo power.
• Jiang Xiaofeng fled toward the center of the ruins while blocking La Signora's attacks, hoping to draw Venti's party into the confrontation.
• Jiang Xiaofeng saw Venti and the others watching from beside the tower and concluded they had discovered his fight and agreement with Aether, so they would not help him.

Jiang Xiaofeng carried La Signora to Venti and let her take his Gnosis, then left with her. Venti was left shaken as Jean and the others stayed behind.

• Jiang Xiaofeng descended to the Fatui while Venti refused to help him, and Jean stopped Lumine from intervening.
• Jiang Xiaofeng offered to fly La Signora to the top of the ruins, pulled her into his arms, and carried her upward.
• Jiang Xiaofeng found Venti and the others, then used a purple braid to pull Venti over and slapped him for accusing him of belonging to a faction.
• Jiang Xiaofeng handed Venti to La Signora, who extracted his Gnosis, and he flew away with her.
• Jean helped Venti up while Lumine reassured her that he was fine, and Jiang Xiaofeng laughed as he left.

Jiang Xiaofeng left Stormterror’s Lair with La Signora and arranged to ride with the Fatui toward Wangshu Inn, joking with her along the way. In the carriage, he revealed how he had learned to seal away the emotions attached to troubling memories and asked whether that was normal.

• Jiang Xiaofeng ordered the Fatui Skirmishers to leave and asked La Signora whether he could join the Fatui.
• Jiang Xiaofeng declined to travel to Snezhnaya with La Signora, and she told him she was heading to Liyue to deliver the Gnosis.
• Jiang Xiaofeng tried to fly toward Liyue but lost his bearings, so he accepted La Signora’s offer of a ride and directed the carriage to Wangshu Inn.
• Jiang Xiaofeng told La Signora to call him The Beheaded or Jiang Xiaofeng and teased her about romance.
• Jiang Xiaofeng explained that he could lock away the emotions tied to troubling memories and asked La Signora whether that was normal.

Jiang Xiaofeng parted ways with La Signora and traveled to Wangshu Inn, where he activated a waypoint and rented a room while hoping to meet Xiao. After settling in, he flew toward nearby monster camps to gather cells for his next system reward.

• Jiang Xiaofeng told La Signora to stop clinging to past regrets, then left the carriage and headed toward Wangshu Inn.
• Jiang Xiaofeng hunted animals and cleared nearby Hilichurls and an Abyss Mage, collecting raw meat along the way.
• Jiang Xiaofeng activated a waypoint near Wangshu Inn and asked Verr Goldet about finding Xiao.
• Verr Goldet suggested that Xiao often cleared monsters from nearby camps, and Jiang Xiaofeng paid for a room to wait for him.
• Jiang Xiaofeng rested briefly in his room, then flew east of the inn to gather cells for his next system reward.

Jiang Xiaofeng slaughtered a Hilichurl camp, and the system awakened to reward him with new equipment and five Legendary Scrolls of Power. After testing one scroll’s Brutality, Tactics, and Survival knowledge, he found he could only scatter caltrops for now, then noticed the Cursed Sword’s eye had begun moving and headed for another camp.

• Jiang Xiaofeng attacked the Hilichurl camp with Ground Shatter, his gauntlets, Corrupted Power, and the Cursed Sword, killing every Hilichurl there.
• The system awakened after collecting cells and awarded Jiang Xiaofeng five Legendary Scrolls of Power, two mutations, Wave of Denial, Gilded Yumi, and a Flamethrower.
• Jiang Xiaofeng used a Legendary Scroll of Power and absorbed knowledge about Brutality, Tactics, and Survival, but his attempt to use Tactics only scattered caltrops.
• Jiang Xiaofeng noticed the Cursed Sword’s eye moving and charged toward another Hilichurl camp to test his gains.

Jiang Xiaofeng fought Xiao and used the Cursed Sword to absorb his karmic debt, then carried him to Wangshu Inn. While the sword continued draining Xiao, Jiang Xiaofeng went to the kitchen for almond tofu and learned that Yanxiao had been frightened by something strange.

• Jiang Xiaofeng tested his weapons on the Hilichurls, then flew to Zhongli's Statue of the Seven and encountered Xiao.
• Jiang Xiaofeng tried to persuade Xiao to let him remove his karmic debt, but Xiao refused, so Jiang Xiaofeng fought and restrained him.
• Jiang Xiaofeng pressed the Cursed Sword against Xiao, which absorbed his karmic debt until nightfall.
• Jiang Xiaofeng carried Xiao to Wangshu Inn, where Verr Goldet and Huai'an saw him arrive.
• Jiang Xiaofeng went to the kitchen for almond tofu and learned from a kitchen hand that Yanxiao had become jumpy after seeing something strange.

Jiang Xiaofeng made almond tofu at Wangshu Inn and used it to soothe Xiao’s nightmare before absorbing four scrolls of records and passing out. Ningguang learned about Jiang Xiaofeng and considered him a potential ally, while Xiao woke after an unusually restful night.

• Jiang Xiaofeng argued with Yanxiao, gathered ingredients, and made a bowl of almond tofu despite lacking a setting agent at first.
• Jiang Xiaofeng told Yanxiao how to handle the girl haunting the inn and returned to his room with the almond tofu.
• As Xiao’s nightmare worsened, Jiang Xiaofeng fed him almond tofu and pulled him back from the Abyss.
• Jiang Xiaofeng absorbed four scrolls of records and collapsed unconscious on the bed.
• Yanxiao reported what he knew about Jiang Xiaofeng, and Ningguang received Verr Goldet’s information and judged Jiang Xiaofeng a promising ally.
• Jiang Xiaofeng and Xiao both rested through the night, and Xiao woke on the floor in broad daylight.

After Jiang Xiaofeng freed Xiao from his karmic debt, Xiao accepted his recognition and ate almond tofu without fear of losing control. Jiang Xiaofeng left for Liyue Harbor while Xiao remained at Wangshu Inn, remembering his lost fellow yakshas.

• Xiao woke at Wangshu Inn, found Jiang Xiaofeng asleep, and realized the almond tofu nearby smelled irresistible.
• Jiang Xiaofeng explained that his weapon had absorbed Xiao’s karmic debt and encouraged him to visit Liyue Harbor without fear.
• Jiang Xiaofeng invited Xiao to travel to Liyue Harbor with him, but Xiao chose to keep dealing with nearby monsters.
• Xiao threw Jiang Xiaofeng his dark green mask as a token of recognition, and Jiang Xiaofeng rubbed Xiao’s head before leaving.
• Xiao ate the almond tofu in tears and said he missed Bosacius, Bonanus, Menogias, and Indarias.

Jiang Xiaofeng flew toward Liyue Harbor, detouring through Guili Plains to loot treasure and give Soraya advice about a future visitor. After unlocking a Teleport Waypoint and making his way through the heat, he arrived at Liyue Harbor’s main entrance for the second time.

• Jiang Xiaofeng examined Xiao’s Nuo mask token, then set out for Liyue Harbor with a map from Verr Goldet.
• Jiang Xiaofeng looted chests in Guili Plains, disabled Ruin Guards, and gathered their cores and the Mora inside the chests.
• Jiang Xiaofeng told Soraya that someone would eventually help her investigate Guili Plains and advised her to prepare Mora and blue-and-pink stones as payment.
• Jiang Xiaofeng harvested monsters along the road, flew through the heat, and unlocked a Teleport Waypoint near Liyue Harbor.
• Jiang Xiaofeng arrived at Liyue Harbor’s main entrance and remarked that he had returned for the second time.

Jiang Xiaofeng tried to sneak into Liyue Harbor, but his attempts to reach the Northland Bank led him into Bubu Pharmacy, where Baizhu caught him. After escaping and meeting Madame Ping, he ran into Xiangling and Yanfei and asked Xiangling if she was ever going to stop.

• Jiang Xiaofeng found that Xiao's mask could not get him through Liyue Harbor's gate, then learned Xiao had left and flew over the walls instead.
• Jiang Xiaofeng sneaked into Bubu Pharmacy and tried to possess Herbalist Gui, but Baizhu trapped him with vines.
• Jiang Xiaofeng made the vines attack Baizhu, reattached his head to his body, and escaped; Baizhu and Changsheng discussed his dangerous aura.
• Jiang Xiaofeng met Madame Ping, who said Xiangling had been at fault when he fought her.
• Xiangling and Yanfei approached Jiang Xiaofeng, and he turned to Xiangling and asked, "Are you ever going to stop?"

Jiang Xiaofeng avoided Keqing and the Millelith until Keqing revealed that Ningguang wanted to meet him. He flew to the Jade Chamber and sat down to hear what Ningguang wanted.

• Jiang Xiaofeng teased Yanfei about the laws he had broken, then left when he saw the Millelith approaching.
• Keqing told Jiang Xiaofeng that Ningguang wanted to meet him, and he flew to the Jade Chamber.
• Madame Ping told Xiangling and Yanfei what she knew about Jiang Xiaofeng, then teased Xiangling about losing to him.
• Jiang Xiaofeng entered the Jade Chamber after Ningguang ordered the guards to let him in.
• Jiang Xiaofeng sat across from Ningguang and asked what she wanted.

Jiang Xiaofeng rejected Ningguang’s attempts to draw him into Liyue’s affairs and left the Jade Chamber after attacking Baiwen. At the Northland Bank, he realized the Fatui Skirmishers waiting for him had likely been sent by someone other than La Signora and prepared to fight them.

• Jiang Xiaofeng refused to serve as hired muscle or get involved in the adepti-mortal conflict, then told Ningguang to call him the Beheaded.
• Ningguang questioned Jiang Xiaofeng about Liyue Harbor, but he only criticized the shady business tolerated at Yanshang Teahouse.
• Ningguang dismissed Jiang Xiaofeng, and he knocked Baiwen unconscious when she and Baishi scolded him before flying to Liyue Harbor.
• Ningguang and Keqing heard that Jiang Xiaofeng had entered the Northland Bank, and Keqing vowed to find a reason to punish him.
• The bank manager led Jiang Xiaofeng to a room containing Fatui Skirmishers; Jiang Xiaofeng suspected someone had arranged the ambush and drew Acceptance to attack them.

Jiang Xiaofeng met Childe at the Northland Bank and warned him about the Rite of Descension, then arranged to join the Fatui later under another identity. After leaving with one million Mora, Jiang Xiaofeng changed back into The Beheaded’s familiar appearance and headed toward Tian Tie Zui.

• Jiang Xiaofeng defeated the debt collectors and met Childe, who offered to help him reach La Signora and tried to recruit him into the Fatui.
• Jiang Xiaofeng told Childe about the Rite of Descension and warned him that Osial needed few Sigils of Permission and that the Geo Archon’s corpse would reveal the Gnosis’s whereabouts.
• Jiang Xiaofeng proposed handling the dirty work himself so the Fatui forces in The Chasm would not be endangered, and told Childe he would join under another identity afterward.
• Childe admitted he had ordered the manager to claim La Signora had sent for Jiang Xiaofeng, then gave him one million Mora.
• Jiang Xiaofeng noticed his Fatui body was decaying, changed his appearance into The Beheaded, and continued toward Tian Tie Zui.

Jiang Xiaofeng asked Zhongli to destroy two strange things inside him that he believed were connected to his transmigration, hoping to return to the world of Dead Cells and address the Malaise. Zhongli could not help, so Jiang Xiaofeng returned to Liyue Harbor, while Childe heard a report about his movements and found him interesting.

• Jiang Xiaofeng joined Zhongli at Tian Tie Zui's storytelling spot, then asked Zhongli to accompany him through a Teleport Waypoint.
• Jiang Xiaofeng told Zhongli he was from another world and asked him to destroy the strange thing inside him; Zhongli revealed that he saw two unusual things instead.
• Zhongli said he could not destroy either thing, and Jiang Xiaofeng decided to resume collecting cells while considering how to return to the world of Dead Cells and help with the Malaise.
• Jiang Xiaofeng asked whether Zhongli planned to retire, wished him good fortune in battle, and teleported with him back to Liyue Harbor before leaving.
• A Fatui Debt Agent reported Jiang Xiaofeng's movements to Childe, who laughed and called Jiang Xiaofeng interesting.

Jiang Xiaofeng completed the light-guiding puzzles at the three-tower ruins, killing Hilichurls and collecting their cells and Mora. Treasure Hoarders ambushed him afterward, but he defeated them and killed their Vision-wielding leader.

• Jiang Xiaofeng flew to the ruins near the mountain where the Primo Geovishap slept and decided to solve the light-guiding puzzles instead of destroying the site.
• Jiang Xiaofeng opened the first tower’s chest, bypassed a puzzle in the second tower, and used the Cursed Sword to break a seal and retrieve another fragment.
• Jiang Xiaofeng defeated the Hilichurls in the third tower’s challenges, collected their cells and Mora, and placed the final fragment in the light-guiding platform.
• Treasure Hoarders emerged, revealed they had waited for someone to solve the puzzles, and attacked Jiang Xiaofeng; he killed most of them with Acceptance and Knife Dance.
• The Treasure Hoarder leader offered Jiang Xiaofeng a place in his crew, then used a Hydro Vision to shield himself and charge at him.
• Jiang Xiaofeng broke through the leader’s defenses with Magic Missiles, killed him with Lightning Bolt, and picked up his Vision.

Jiang Xiaofeng took over a Hydro Vision wielder’s body, defeated the Primo Geovishap, and traveled to The Chasm to absorb the black mud with his Cursed Sword. He activated a Waypoint, rang the upper bell, and defeated a Black Serpent Knight before leaving.

• Jiang Xiaofeng possessed the unconscious Vision wielder, tested the Hydro Vision, and changed into fresh clothes.
• Jiang Xiaofeng defeated the sleeping Primo Geovishap, collected its drops, and flew to The Chasm.
• Jiang Xiaofeng returned to the underground mines, planted the Cursed Sword in the black mud, and jumped into the fissure.
• Jiang Xiaofeng activated a Waypoint, took a Ruin Grader, and rang the upper bell.
• Jiang Xiaofeng used a Ruin Guard to pin and help destroy a Black Serpent Knight, then left by Waypoint.