Chapter 22
Becoming a true adeptus—a being whom, even in such a supernatural world as Teyvat, many people worship as gods. At first glance, achieving such a goal should require a long period of study…
As it turned out, that wasn't the case.
On one of the islands in the middle of the Serenitea Pot, surrounded by tranquility and peace, Keqing and I sat in the grass at a certain distance from each other, ready to listen to the wisdom of the Ancient Adeptus, while Zhongli acted as an observer.
"Before we start, show me how you cultivate," Madame Ping said. "I need to see if your current method is suitable for awakening, or if you must be taught anew."
Her request was clear and left no room for questions. I closed my eyes and focused. Soon, I began channeling Dendro energy from my Vision into my body, following a familiar pattern. With each cycle, I felt my core's reserve grow a little. I could also sense that Keqing was doing the same, though she was channeling Electro instead.
"Hmm... interesting," the lady of songs and wanderings mused thoughtfully.
"That's actually even better this way," her voice sounded strangely cheerful, as if she had thought of something amusing.
"Don't stop now. Trust your element—it will guide you," she said firmly. In the next instant, strong gusts of wind swept from her, ruffling my hair. I had the urge to open my eyes and see what she was doing, but restrained myself. Judging by how, in the next moment, an unfamiliar energy flooded my body—soft and enveloping—I realized it was the right choice.
This energy gradually intertwined with the Dendro energy I'd been circulating, and instead of accumulating in my core, the blend began to suffuse my body: first my skin and muscles, then bones and vessels. Finally, it reached my bone marrow and internal organs. With each stage, I became ever more aware of how my body was changing, along with the rising energy, which no longer came from outside, but instead bubbled up from within, swirling like a spiral in my chest. Each time, its rotation speed increased more and more—until finally, there was an explosion!
"Boom!" "Boom!"
Two beams of energy shot into the sky of the artificial space: one light-green, the other pink. They intertwined at their base, creating a mesmerizing spectacle. After a few seconds, the light faded. Instead of humans, two divine beasts now stood before Madame Ping and Morax. Around them blossomed a field of beautiful violet flowers, as if nature itself celebrated their arrival.
A qilin, not less than four meters tall: its bluish-green scales shimmered under the artificial sun. Bright veins of energy ran between the scales, and its dragon-like head was adorned with two elegantly arched horns—obviously not meant for battle, but rather served as a kind of crown, emphasizing the creature's nobility.
Opposite stood a winged tigress about three meters tall. Her fur shimmered with shades of violet and pink, electric flashes occasionally dancing along her body, adding a living, dangerous beauty to her appearance.
When I opened my eyes, everything had changed. The world seemed different, and so did I. I felt tall, strong, and that was just the start. The air was no longer just a medium—it felt like a dense substance; if I wished, I could stand atop it. I felt the breathing of surrounding plants, my body utterly transformed. Instead of arms and legs—four powerful paws, and so much strength within me that I felt I could crush rocks without using elemental energy. Yet I also knew this was probably self-deception brought on by the sudden influx of power.
This metamorphosis brought mixed emotions: awe at my new strength and a tinge of confusion at existing in this bestial form. Yet all of that faded compared to the one before me. The tigress. Keqing.
I'd always loved cats, and now, despite her impressive size and lightning-framed fur, she looked incredibly adorable to me. I moved closer and, lowering my head, gently rubbed my forehead against hers in an attempt to express affection. In response, she gave a deep purr and, seemingly instinctively, licked my nose.
"Ahem," came Zhongli's polite but reproachful cough. "I don't believe this is the right time and place for such behavior."
"Sorry," I apologized, mentally noting how my voice had changed—now deeper, with a raspy bass.
"How do we return to human form?" Keqing asked. Her voice, too, sounded different now—more mature.
"Feel the energy within. It will guide you," Madame Ping responded, more sternly, "but be careful. Picture your form clearly. The first transformation is especially important; it becomes your foundation, and you won't be able to change it until you learn to command the energies of heaven and earth."
"Understood, master," Keqing nodded, settling down and closing her eyes, focusing deeply.
"What are you waiting for?" Madame Ping asked me sternly.
"I have a feeling," I replied, watching Keqing. "It seems I'm about to see something wonderful, and I don't want to miss it."
"Hm... I understand. Your intuition doesn't fail you; she really will change," the old woman smiled softly.
"Wait…" It suddenly occurred to me. "Her clothes… Will she still have them?"
I cast a quick glance at Zhongli. The last thing I wanted was for another man to see my wife naked.
"No need to worry. I wouldn't put Lady Ke in an awkward position," the Archon responded calmly.
"Ah... sorry," I mumbled, though I honestly didn't feel guilty. For such an ancient being, those small things might seem insignificant, especially considering how he regularly forgets to bring money when shopping.
Keqing's transformation soon reached its climax. There were no grandiose special effects—just a calm flow of energy swirling around her in a violet-golden vortex. In a moment, as if reaching a limit, the energy coalesced into a sphere, which quickly unraveled, revealing a young woman of about twenty-four.
Her features remained: sharp eyes, graceful figure, her signature dress. Yet, new details appeared. The pattern on her tights now resembled a tiger's head with an open mouth, and where her hairstyle once imitated cat ears, she now had the real thing. A tail lazily swayed behind her. She'd grown taller—and her bust had just passed the boundary into a full C cup.
"You're beautiful," I breathed out, enchanted by her appearance. She just smiled, feeling the sincerity in my words, then approached and asked,
"Why are you still in that form?"
"I didn't want to miss your transformation and also… how about a flight above Liyue?" I replied.
"Young lovers," Madame Ping sighed helplessly. "Their heads are filled with nothing but romance."
"Don't be so hard on them. They're on their honeymoon, and time still feels fleeting for them," Zhongli replied with a smile, as if talking about his grandchildren.
Of course, we overheard their conversation, which managed to embarrass me. I realized I'd behaved rather improperly, proposing to Keqing that we fly off before even completing our assignment or waiting for permission.
"Forgive me, Madame Ping, I got carried away," I apologized for the umpteenth time that day.
"It's all right, child," she shook her head. "Go on, you can change back without my supervision."
"I'll see you next week—until then, take care of your own affairs," said the adeptus. At that moment, I felt something pull me, and suddenly Keqing and I appeared outside, right in the middle of the Yujing Terrace, instantly attracting many glances—it's not every day a Qilin appears in the city.
"Please, take your seat, my lady," I said playfully, bowing down so Keqing could climb onto my back more easily.
She simply rolled her eyes, hopped up and settled comfortably, grabbing onto my mane.
"This better be worth the wait," she smirked, running her hand along my neck, making pleasant shivers run through my body. For a moment, I even wanted to skip the flight and carry her straight to our mansion. But I controlled myself—well, rather, my paws—and instead jumped, hovering in the air.
A golden-green glow flared under my paws, as if marking an area of air that adjusted to hold my weight. It was surprisingly easy—to stand in the air, as if on solid ground, which made me feel more confident.
"Hold on tight. We'll circle the whole city," I said, feeling her fingers tighten their grip in my mane.
With those words, I soared upwards. The wind howled, my heart beating in time with our flight. In moments, we rose to the level of Ningguang's Jade Chamber, circling it a few times, then soared even higher, right to the edge of the clouds, not forgetting not to try climbing higher than Celestia.
Here, in the skies, everything was different.
The air was cleaner, clearer, filled with the scent of thunderstorms and freshness. The clouds drifted around us like slow waves of a white sea, and I ran across them easily, leaving a sparkling trail. As I ran, the very clouds seemed to bounce under my paws like soft pillows, and meanwhile, the horizon began to glow pink and gold with the setting sun.
Keqing laughed quietly, clinging tightly to me. Her hair streamed in the wind, her eyes sparkled with excitement. Her newly acquired tail lashed from side to side in tune with her mood.
"This… is incredible…" she whispered, and I felt her heart beating in time with mine.
We weren't just running—we were flying, like two spirits, living embodiments of elemental power. The city below bustled with life, streets lively with movement, ships sailed slowly in the sea, lanterns flickered, lighting up one after another. Some people glanced up, noticing the glowing silhouette in the sky, and I could almost physically sense their wonder, awe, and reverence. But all of that was far away. Here, in the clouds, it was just the two of us.
I sped up, as if racing the wind, then veered sharply in a wide arc, sending even the clouds spinning. From this spiral, we burst right into a ray of sunset, golden light wrapping around us like a blanket, reflecting in her eyes and on my scales.
"I wish this could last forever," she whispered.
"Really? I thought you wanted to see how I'd look after transforming back," I teased.
"Don't spoil the moment," she scolded, then sighed. "But you're right—I really am curious now. Let's head home."
"As you wish, dear," I responded, heading toward our mansion's courtyard.
What we didn't know was that, as we returned home, another qilin—this time sky-blue, almost snow-white, with velvety red horns—soared restlessly across the sky, searching for its kin, and would become the subject of rumors among common folk for a long time.
Meanwhile, I settled myself in the center of our training grounds, closing my eyes. All my focus turned inward, to the finest currents of the energies of heaven and earth slowly circulating within me. Madame Ping had warned me—it's important to form your image precisely—but I decided to go further: not just imagining myself, but focusing on the ultimate goal my body-tempering technique should lead to, one that I'd received after my first day in this world: the "Body of Apollo."
Yes, it was a risk; things could go awry. But if my theory was correct, the result might be far better than expected.
With these thoughts, I immersed myself even deeper. The transformation took me longer than Keqing—perhaps because I was trying not just to change, but to lay the foundation for deeper, fundamental shifts. The energy flowed out, condensing into a dense cocoon enveloping my body. Eventually, so much energy was spent I began to feel weak. Remembering that the energy I was using was, in essence, my own life force, I got a little worried, but didn't stop, certain I was almost finished.
Suddenly, a sharp shift. The cocoon, shining with golden light, contracted as if gathering energy one last time, then burst apart, scattering in the air. I didn't even notice the moment I moved from qilin form to human—so smooth and swift was the metamorphosis. However, unlike what I'd expected, there wasn't a sharp surge in strength. As in the qilin state, I still felt I could crush rocks with my bare hands, but honestly, I'd expected something more.
"Are you sure you pictured yourself?" Keqing asked, a bit stunned, as she approached me.
"Is something wrong?" I started examining myself. The first thing I noticed—my clothes looked straight out of the 21st century. A fitted turtleneck highlighting muscles that looked like the very paragon of the "Apollo type." Slacks and a watch on my left wrist, with my Vision built into it in place of a face.
"Everything's just fine," Keqing exhaled, suddenly running her hands down my abs; through our connection, I could feel her growing arousal.
"Let's go!" She grabbed my hand and dragged me into the house.
"Lady Keqing?!" came an astonished cry as we crossed the threshold. "Who is this man, and what's happened to you?"
"I'm Yun Che..." I said stone-faced, already curious how much I'd changed for even the maids not to recognize me.
"B-but…" the confused maid began.
"We've ascended today, and now let everyone know: nobody is to disturb us, even if someone from the Qixing comes. Understood?" Keqing cut her off, keen to avoid questions, and dragged me further, simply ignoring the other maids we met on the way. Once in our room, she suddenly used her strength to throw me onto the bed, then leapt after me in true feline fashion, straddling me. It looked like it was going to be a very hot night.