Chapter 442: Ritual, Completed

Genshin Impact - the name Li Mo gave to this world. Just like the "A Certain Magical Index" world or the "Type-Moon" world.

A name is a designation pointing to a person, event, or object. Only with names can we distinguish between things. Otherwise, how would we differentiate among countless things with similar characteristics?

At first glance, "Genshin Impact" seems unremarkable. But once you understand this world's cosmology, you realize what "Genshin" truly means.

—Those qualified to become gods are called "Genshin" (Original Gods). These individuals typically possess Visions.

The concept of humans ascending to godhood naturally brings to mind "Gnosticism." On Earth, Eastern and Western philosophies differ greatly. The East has always had legends of cultivation to become immortals, while the West maintains a strict boundary between humans and gods—humans remain humans, angels remain angels. Their positions on the Kabbalistic Tree are immutable.

Thus, "Gnosticism" was considered quite heretical.

The history of these ideas mattered little to Li Mo. He was merely a magician skilled at borrowing and combining concepts.

Yet... something was peculiar. He found that "The Golden Alchemy" worked unusually smoothly in Teyvat. While the incantations couldn't be shortened, even when his pronunciation wasn't perfectly accurate—which normally would interrupt the spell—the ritual continued uninterrupted.

Why was this?

Having grown accustomed to the chants, Li Mo could divide his attention. Though all his attributes were at peak human level, his magical abilities elevated his actual power several tiers. Where others needed complete focus, he could use mysticism to multitask.

First, he observed the battle between Ei and the Shogun. Their combat was purely a contest of martial skill—understandable, as any contest of brute strength would have been settled centuries ago. Neither could overcome the other.

This battle wasn't about life and death, nor even determining superiority. It was Ei's confession to the Shogun, and her reconciliation with her past self.

Everything Ei did now was correcting her past decisions. In other words, she was betraying her former beliefs and actions.

This was painful. Even knowing her past actions were wrong, completely denying them was emotionally difficult for any human.

The battle between them didn't affect Li Mo. Having made this judgment, he turned to solving his earlier puzzle.

He already had a theory.

The answer was "Gnosticism."

"Humans are gods in the process of refinement. By continually tempering oneself to attain a divine body, one can freely wield miracles."

This was the core tenet of Gnosticism. The cosmology of the Genshin world aligned perfectly with this concept.

Alchemy also resonated with Gnosticism—its goal of transforming base metals (lead) into noble metals (gold) could be seen as "sublimating a leaden, tainted soul into a golden angelic soul."

"The Golden Alchemy" happened to be the supreme magic of alchemy.

Completing "The Golden Alchemy" in Teyvat was undoubtedly the correct choice. This world welcomed humans becoming gods.

Having realized this, Li Mo devoted his energy to chanting incantations and studying grimoires.

Time flew by like flowing water.

How many years had passed? Li Mo didn't know.

His body contained its own clock, accurate to the second. But like a mechanical watch, over long periods it would inevitably drift from true time.

Moreover...

Upon entering this space, Li Mo knew its time flow differed from the outside world. Makoto had received assistance from Istaroth, the God of Time.

Today, Li Mo stood up. His centuries-long chant finally ceased.

"The Golden Alchemy" was complete.

Fixed within his body, the ritual began cycling with his subconscious, accelerated by his spiritual foundation. Admittedly, this approach diminished the ritual's power—its omnipotent capability reduced to a mere framework. But...

The completion of the "Pseudo·Simulated Star Chart·Mystic Foundation" was his greatest achievement.

Next would be strengthening the connection between "The Golden Alchemy" and his spiritual foundation. Li Mo even envisioned perfecting the ritual:

Create a virtual deity within his body to serve as the ritual's operator instead of himself. This entity would reside within, maintaining the spell.

Would this count as hosting a heavenly court within himself?

Such bold ideas required extensive knowledge. Li Mo needed to study the grimoires in his mind—acquiring Index's 103,000 grimoires had clearly been the right decision.

If time permitted, he might study Aleister's two spells. Though he didn't fully understand them, he knew they were powerful—magic that didn't rely on collective belief. In Type-Moon terms, they were authorities exercised like a god's, bypassing magical foundations.

Retracting his fox ears and tail, Li Mo focused on the ongoing battle before him. The two combatants still fought, but he could tell the resolution was near.

Was the Shogun about to acknowledge Ei?

As a warrior, Li Mo's instincts remained sharp. The clash of "Musou no Hitotachi" at Tenshukaku wasn't just a contest of power—it represented the collision of the people's will against the Shogun's.

At that time, Li Mo had represented all of Inazuma.

"Hmm?"

Suddenly—

Li Mo felt a premonition. Looking around, he found nothing in the space that could have triggered it.

Could it be... from outside?

Memories from centuries ago surfaced. His mind fixed on a tachi covered in cracks.

Grasping this thread of "fate" was among magic's essential principles.

His mystically-enhanced perception expanded beyond the space into the void outside—a chaotic nothingness where nothing could be observed or heard.

Yet through this intangible connection, he saw a "tunnel." Within it were two figures—one tall, one small—and the golden-haired traveler held the very sword from his memories.

That was—"Isshin Art: Shadowblade."

The moment he perceived it, the "tunnel" instantly extended into his current space, making this realm its terminus.

Simultaneously, Li Mo sensed something peculiar—an intuition that Makoto's consciousness space had just connected with something else.

Could it be... time?

Withdrawing his perception, Li Mo set aside these thoughts for now and focused on his immediate surroundings.

Using him as an anchor, Lumine and Paimon appeared right beside him.

"Ah, what a pleasant reunion. Lumine, Paimon. You're both as youthful and lively as ever," Li Mo greeted.

Still disoriented from the transition, the pair stared at him.

"Eh? Your Excellency, what you said... Has many years passed here for you?"

"Indeed, many years have passed here. What about you? From your tone, has only a short time passed for you?" Li Mo feigned surprise.

Paimon nodded vigorously. "Yeah! It's only been a day since we parted! Hey, Traveler, why are you laughing?"

"Paimon, you little dummy."

"Why call me a dummy! Traveler!" Paimon stomped her feet. "If you keep secrets from me, I'll get mad!"

"Don't you remember? His Excellency was supposed to come here immediately after completing his mission."

"Hmm... So you knew about the time difference from the start!" Paimon rounded on Li Mo.

All she received was merciless laughter.

"Grrr! You're all meanies! Big, fat meanies!" Paimon shouted, flailing her limbs in flustered rage.