Genshin Impact: A Mortal's Ascension to Godhood

Sedimentation! Sedimentation! (Part 1)

At noon one day, in Liyue, Feiyunpo.

Li Tao and Xingqiu had agreed to meet here. Previously, Li Tao's seemingly rude request was accepted by Xingqiu. For the sake of the Adventurer's Association, Master Xingqiu readily agreed to help Li Tao practice. After all, Li Tao, like him, was also a rare user of the Water God's Eye in Liyue. The two could communicate and verify their understanding of the elemental power.

After a while, Xingqiu came to the meeting place with a sword on his waist and said with a smile: "Brother Li, you are here really early."

Li Tao shook his head helplessly and said, "This is my own request, how can I not care? Brother Xingqiu, let's set off quickly."

Li Tao wanted to call Xingqiu "teacher" during the consultation, but Xingqiu was too modest to agree. In the end, the two agreed to call each other brothers. Although Li Tao was a little bit cautious when meeting Xingqiu, it did not hinder their normal communication. However, the two had only met for a short time and their interactions were not very close, so Li Tao also tried to write to Xingqiu in the past few days to strengthen their connection. At least now, they can be called ordinary friends.

Starting from the west gate of Liyue, the two followed the road to the western mountain road. A gentle breeze accompanied by wind elements blew on their faces. The two talked and laughed loudly as if they were out for an outing, telling each other about their own things. After walking for a distance, the surrounding environment began to change - the originally green hilly area gradually turned into a cliff area with exposed rocks and rich rock elements on all sides. The ecological environment of Tianheng Mountain is roughly the same as that of the Minlin Mountains: there are many monsters hidden here, and the surrounding vegetation is also concentrated in the place where the grass elemental force gathers. The enrichment of different elemental forces constitutes the strange natural landscape on Tianheng Mountain.

"It's almost in front!" Xingqiu walked gracefully, raised his arm and pointed forward. Li Tao approached him, put his hand on the awning, and looked far away. Soon he saw a stream hidden in the mountains, running along the cracks of the rocks with a large drop, and finally reached a cliff, leaping with fierce momentum and shocking power, forming a huge waterfall like a silver thread.

"Is that the Feipu Pond you mentioned, Xingqiu?" Seeing this magnificent natural landscape and feeling the gradually abundant water element in the air, Li Tao couldn't help but feel happy.

They walked down the hillside quickly and came to Tianheng Mountain, in front of Feipu Pond. As the name suggests, there is a deep pool of water below Feipu Pond, with stones piled up on the edge of the pond as a bank, but this is not a pool of stagnant water - through the flow of elemental power, Li Tao discovered that there is an underground water channel under the pool, which means that even if there is no waterfall falling here, there will be a handful of spring water.

Li Tao and Xingqiu stood in front of the waterfall, bowed to each other, and then simply warmed up their lower bodies. Xingqiu took off his long gown that was in the way, revealing the white shirt underneath. At the same time, he rolled up his sleeves, revealing his arms as white as lotus roots, drew out the long sword at his waist, sensed the water element between heaven and earth, and practiced the Guhua swordsmanship passed down by the Guhua School of Liyue.

Li Tao also took out his own weapon - a standard long sword recommended by Xingqiu and purchased from Feiyun Chamber of Commerce. After waving it around, he decided to use it as a staff for the time being.

There was no other way. Li Tao had never systematically learned swordsmanship before, and he only used sharp weapons for self-defense. After he awakened the Eye of God, he didn't need to use weapons when facing weaker monsters, because he only needed to use water elements to condense water into blades. But when facing stronger monsters or opponents, the usefulness of the weapon could affect the entire battle situation.

Therefore, Li Tao must master the use of a certain weapon, or continue to improve his understanding of the water elemental force, to achieve the level of "no sword is better than a sword". But the latter is too illusory, so Li Tao decided to learn from Xingqiu how to master the one-handed sword first, and gradually exercise the control of the elemental force in the process of sword practice. After all, the upper limit of pure swordsmanship is limited, and the auxiliary killing power of the elemental force can reach a higher level.

Therefore, Li Tao's way of cultivation is to practice with Xingqiu. In actual combat training, whether it is the proficiency of martial arts or the ability of elemental attack, it can be improved in battle. Of course, simply fighting is not enough. It is necessary to review and comprehend after the battle, so as to improve oneself as a whole.

"Yes, Brother Li, come over now."

"I don't know any martial arts skills... But I'm not afraid of fighting. Come on!"

Just like the protagonists in novels or comics, after exchanging words, Li Tao and Xingqiu faced each other cautiously, observing each other's movements and eyes. Li Tao was the first to take action. He dodged and the long sword in his hand drew an arc in the air, stabbing at Xingqiu's shoulder diagonally.

Xingqiu, who was well prepared, used his sword to flick and twitch Li Tao's sword in a casual manner, thus deflecting the crosshairs of the sword and making it deviate to one side. Then he slashed at Li Tao's chest with lightning speed. But Li Tao was no pushover. The reactions he had honed in his adventurous life made him quickly mobilize the water element to form a thin water shield in front of him, slightly delaying Xingqiu's sword.

At this moment, Li Tao did not retreat but advanced, and rushed forward, using his Iron Mountain Lean to ram into Xingqiu's arms. It was difficult to swing the long sword at this distance, and Li Tao did this with the intention of forcing Xingqiu to abandon his sword.

Unfortunately, almost the next second, Li Tao felt a cold sharp blade pressing against his chest - although the sword was not sharpened, it meant that he had already lost to Xingqiu in this round.

When he looked up again, he saw Xingqiu's slightly proud face and the water sword blades condensed by the water elemental force at his side. Xingqiu had just borrowed the water elemental force mobilized by Li Tao to condense these water sword blades to cut through the water shield condensed by Li Tao, and then easily handed the sword to Li Tao's chest.

Li Tao was not discouraged. He took two steps back, swung his sword, and said, "Come again!"

.....

“Ding!” “Bang!”

There was another round of crisp sword-fighting sounds, but the movements of the two sparring partners had slowed down a lot compared to before. Although both Li Tao and Xingqiu were nourished by the water element and their physical strength far exceeded that of ordinary people, they were not immortals after all, and would still get tired after fighting for a long time.

During the hours of practice between the two, Li Tao lost more than he won, and the few times he won were due to his unexpected moves rather than a stronger understanding of elemental power or more sophisticated swordsmanship.

However, in terms of profit, Li Tao felt that he had made a lot of money - whether it was swordsmanship or the use of water elemental power, Xingqiu gave him a lot of guidance:

"When using a sword, you should flexibly use your wrists instead of your arms. Doing so will increase the range of motion, consume more energy, and make your sword moves easier to see through."

"Adventurers each have different sword styles, but the basis of their sword skills is the most basic one-handed sword skills. The specific movements and force methods of these sword skills are recorded in the Teyvat Tourist Guide Collection. You can go back and borrow a copy to take a look."

"Move quickly and keep your center of gravity steady! Brother Li Tao, every time you attack, you habitually change your center of gravity. This is not bad, maybe some people's fighting style is to constantly change positions. But if you want to learn swordsmanship, it is best to keep your balance, otherwise it will be easy for the enemy to knock your weapon off or knock you to the ground. At that time, it will be your most dangerous moment!"

“Every Water Elemental God’s Eye Awakener has a different understanding of the nature of water elemental power. You just need to find the one or several that suit you best and use them in battle.

For example, the use of the water element's form changes that you demonstrated in today's practice is very good, enough for you to light up the first constellation. But if you want to develop moves such as [Heavy Attack] and [Elemental Combat Skills], this alone is not enough. Let me show you... Guhua Sword·Huayu Cage Mountain!"

When Li Tao really carefully observed the moves called [Elemental Combat Skills] by MiGame, he realized what Xingqiu meant when he said that it was not easy to develop new elemental moves.

Because in these so-called moves, the operation of water elemental force and the moves are completely combined. This is not like the flat A moves that Li Tao figured out on his own, which simply use the water element to fight, but a deep connection and combination.

When Li Tao clumsily tried to condense the small water sword released by Chu Qiu with [Painting Rain Cage Mountain], he seemed to have some inspiration to condense the water elemental force into something more tangible. However, this was the end of the day's practice.

The two thirsty people used the water element to get some clean water, took out some dry food from the bag they carried with them, sat down and ate it all. It was already getting close to evening, and the two watched the sun in the sky slowly set from the top of the mountain, and the afterglow of the sunset shone on the surface of the water in Feiputan, making it sparkle.

"Um, Brother Li?"

"Brother Xingqiu..."

The two spoke almost at the same time, wanting to ask each other questions, but both were humble and let the other ask first. In the end, Li Tao spoke first.

He said in confusion, "I have learned a lot today. Thank you, Xingqiu. But as the second young master of Feiyun Chamber of Commerce, why did you take so much trouble to teach me in person? Although I already know that you are a helpful knight, I am still a little surprised by your enthusiasm. Is there really nothing more I need to do?"

Li Tao didn't know much about Xingqiu before he traveled through time. He only knew that there was such a four-star water character in Liyue. As for Xingqiu's background story, it's not to say that he didn't know anything about it. He could only say that he heard it from others. It was not until he came to Liyue City that he hurriedly inquired about the Feiyun Chamber of Commerce and Xingqiu's relevant information in order to find someone to practice with. Only then did he understand Xingqiu's personality and hobbies.

But even so, Li Tao felt that his reasons were not sufficient. Just because he wanted to become stronger, did he have to trouble others? Would the president's face allow Xingqiu to help him? Why would the other party help an adventurer with whom he had no connection? Therefore, after a preliminary exchange with Xingqiu, Li Tao hurriedly gave him gifts and wrote letters to further his relationship. This was the lesson he learned from his life on Blue Star.

However, these experiences are not so effective when dealing with Xingqiu. Although Xingqiu grew up in a business family, he was not tainted by the smell of money - this was probably because he was the second son in the family and did not have to bear the responsibility of inheriting the family business; because he read widely, was naturally smart, loved adventure, and had good relationships with people; and because he adhered to his life principle of not being discouraged by small setbacks and not stopping at small joys, coupled with his own strong strength, he was able to live the life he wanted freely.

How could such a person care about the difference in status? As long as the requester was not a bad person and had a sincere heart, Xingqiu was willing to help him.

Therefore, Li Tao asked the question with trepidation, but Xingqiu gave him a negative answer: "What do I need from Brother Li? Am I a person who is greedy for money or cunning and always wants to take advantage of others? For me, helping Brother Li is no different from helping everyone else in Liyue."

As he spoke, he blinked and said with a smug smile: "Besides, I have already investigated Brother Li's situation. Although you have some secrets, I don't think this will hinder the normal communication between us. I am not a person who is so easily deceived. I still have some ability to judge people. Besides, who knows, I may have to trouble you more in the future, Brother Li! Hahaha..."

Xingqiu has a heroic spirit that is completely different from his handsome appearance. He explained to Li Tao that this is his chivalrous way. This is not a decision made in a fit of passion, but the life path he hopes to take in the future.

"As for the question I want to ask...haha, it's exactly the same question Brother Li asked just now."

"I also want to ask, why did Brother Li look for me? You could have gone and asked your closest colleagues in the Adventurer's Association. Moreover, when we first met, Brother Li seemed to know me, which made me feel very strange. But now that I think about it, maybe Brother Li had already known me and recognized me in advance, so he came to the bookstall to chat with me."

Li Tao smiled awkwardly, pointed at the sunset in the sky and changed the subject: "Ah - the sunset is so beautiful."

"Youth will never come back, and the day will never come back. We should be diligent in time, as time waits for no one." Xingqiu recited a poem like a poet who was sad about the passing of spring and autumn, and said in a mature manner, "Although I don't know what the future will be like, at least today, Brother Li is a good friend who practices sword with me. It would be nice if I had a glass of wine at this time, but unfortunately I can't drink much, so I can't feel the long life, only the illusion of today."

Looking at Xingqiu's handsome face and the charming golden eyes beneath his sword-like eyebrows, Li Tao almost blurted out words with great gravity, "Can you watch the sunset with me for the rest of my life?"

Brother, you smell so good... Ugh!

Li Tao quickly turned his head and kept warning himself in his heart: his sexual orientation is normal, and he is the man who wants to be the strongest person in Teyvat, so feelings are a big deal!

Well, it really gets in the way... maybe?

“But, I still have to seize every opportunity to make myself stronger. At least, I shouldn’t let the world of Liyue limit myself.” Li Tao thought.