Qiu Bai explained with some amusement as he looked at Lumine and Paimon.
"Venti divine aspect?"
"Now that you mention it, we really haven't seen Venti use his divine powers."
Paimon spread her hands, looking at Qiu Bai.
"Haha... you will see it."
Qiu Bai chuckled, crossing his arms.
"But, Qiu Bai."
"If you've purified these two islands just like that, I bet all of Inazuma will be buzzing about it tomorrow."
Paimon scratched her head.
"Yes, by common reasoning, indeed."
"But since they don't know who did it, let them buzz as they please."
Qiu Bai smiled lightly.
"You really do good deeds without seeking recognition."
"If Paimon did something this great, she'd make sure all of Inazuma City knew about it."
Paimon said, crossing her arms.
She felt blissful just imagining being surrounded by admiring crowds.
"Hahaha..."
"Fame and glory aren't important to me anymore, little Paimon."
Qiu Bai couldn't help but pat her head.
"So, what do you plan to do next?"
Qiu Bai asked, looking at Lumine beside Paimon.
"We're planning to head back early tomorrow."
"To report to Sangonomiya Kokomi."
Paimon said with a smile.
"Report, huh?"
"Hmm... I plan to continue wandering around Inazuma."
Qiu Bai crossed his arms and spoke slowly.
"Lumine, do you remember what I gave you at the Komore Teahouse?"
"That disc—if you need anything, just give it a good tap."
Qiu Bai smiled.
"I remember."
Lumine nodded with a smile, taking out the Yin-Yang disc.
"Then I'll take my leave for now."
Qiu Bai nodded and vanished in an instant.
When he reappeared, he was already in the flower sea planted by Makoto and Ei.
"Last time I was here, I felt something strange."
"Let me sense it carefully..."
Qiu Bai murmured with furrowed brows, looking at the vast field of flowers.
Qiu Bai sat cross-legged, forming a hand seal as ink-white divine power emanated from his body.
"This is..."
Qiu Bai brows furrowed.
"No good. Like this..."
"I still can't sense the exact location."
He opened his eyes with a frown.
With a thought, he transformed into Qiu Xue.
After becoming Qiu Xue, her perception abilities were enhanced, and she immediately found the location.
"Is it over there?"
Qiu Xue rose slowly, looking at a distant spot and murmuring with a smile.
In a flowing white dress, she walked through the flower field.
The moon in the sky shone down on the sea of flowers.
Countless petals were blown into the air by the gentle breeze, creating a scene of incomparable beauty.
Fireflies nested in groups among the flowers, with cicadas occasionally singing.
Qiu Xue strode gracefully through the flower field.
"Is it here?"
Qiu Xue crouched slightly, extending her jade-like hand and closing her eyes to sense with her divine power.
"This is..."
Qiu Xue beautiful eyebrows furrowed.
Then she slowly opened her eyes.
On Qiu Xue wrist, a trace of yin-yang energy was flowing.
"This is my source energy, and judging by the look of it..."
"It seems to have leaked out from a serious injury."
Qiu Xue said, looking at the tiny thread of yin-yang energy on her wrist.
After being washed by time, this trace of yin-yang energy had become as small as a needle.
"It seems that big brother really was me."
"Suppressing eighteen archons while severely injured?"
Qiu Xue murmured with a smile at the corner of her lips.
It appeared that her former self had once fallen onto this land.
And was seriously injured, with not much time left to live.
"Let me sort this out."
"I fell here, met Makoto and Ei, and then was hunted by eighteen archons?"
Qiu Xue frowned, rubbing her chin.
There was no way to be certain—the known information was too limited.
But based on this yin-yang energy, she was now sure that she was that "big brother."
"Hmm?"
Suddenly, Qiu Xue eyebrows furrowed.
This trace of yin-yang energy seemed to be guiding her somewhere.
"What's over there?"
Qiu Xue said with curiosity.
Then she changed form, becoming Qiu Bai again.
Following the direction indicated by the yin-yang energy, he transformed into a black and white streak, shooting toward that place.
After flying for who knows how long, Qiu Bai brows furrowed deeply.
"Strange, this is already too far from Inazuma."
"Where exactly is this trace of yin-yang energy trying to lead me?"
Qiu Bai looked around at what was below.
There were no islands in sight, just the boundless sea in all directions.
And the yin-yang energy seemed to still be guiding him forward.
Finally, after flying for another half-hour, the yin-yang energy stopped guiding him.
Qiu Bai looked at the yin-yang energy in his hand with confusion, then raised his head.
"This..."
Qiu Bai was shocked by the scene before him.
"This is... the Dark Sea Beyond..."
Qiu Bai said in surprise, looking at the scene before him.
Before his eyes stretched a vast sea area.
The sky seemed to have no light, extremely dark and gloomy.
It was very oppressive.
Faintly visible were several huge islands standing around the periphery.
The color of the sea was no longer azure but dark with a slight reddish tint.
The yin-yang energy trembled slightly, then shot toward one of the massive islands!
"Hmm?"
Qiu Bai frowned and followed the yin-yang energy to that island.
"There's actually a village here."
"How is this possible?"
Qiu Bai murmured in shock, looking at the buildings below.
Qiu Bai landed on the ground, staring in amazement at the bustling village and the many mortals going about their business.
Moreover, this island seemed to be wrapped in something that prevented the darkness of the Dark Sea Beyond from affecting the island interior.
"And this thing enveloping the island."
"How is it so similar to my Yang energy?"
Qiu Bai murmured with a frown as he sensed it.
The island seemed to be encased in a transparent white light barrier.
The pedestrians here wore clothing completely different from the attire of the seven nations of Teyvat.
Even the buildings were of a strange design he had never seen before.
Faintly visible were several children playing, each with a leaf emitting white light on their heads.
The white glow from these leaves greatly shocked Qiu Bai.
"These leaves are imbued with my Yang energy..."
"What exactly is this place?"
Qiu Bai looked around with furrowed brows.
The village had about two hundred buildings.
Faintly visible in the center of the village was a beam of white light shooting skyward.
This beam spread outward, forming the protective barrier around the small island.
There were also several guards dressed in white uniforms guarding the village entrance.
Without exception, all residents here had glowing white leaves attached to their heads.
(T/N: Like the story fellow daoist? Now you can read 30 chapters ahead on my P@treon [p@treon.com/DaoistRongyi] Thanks for your support! 😊)