Chapter Two: "Crystalfly"

"Hoo~"

Exhaling softly, Xian Yu pushed aside his thoughts and began to practice basic sword skills once more.

In truth, he was already exceptionally skilled in swordsmanship, having had a year to hone his abilities. Furthermore, the technique was directly instilled, making it easier to practice.

Now, with a lot of free time on his hands, he had taken up sword practice as a daily routine. His plan was to practice swordplay during the day, meditate and breathe exercises at night, and occasionally explore the area.

Basic swordsmanship didn't involve complex moves but focused on speed, accuracy, and stability. Once these aspects became second nature, he could unleash entirely different powers once he gained more strength.

Though he was eager to gain power, he wasn't overly concerned. With the acquisition of the sword-drawing technique, wouldn't mastery of mental skills and more be just a matter of time?

Though he currently lacked access to elemental powers, he attributed it to his relatively short training period. He refused to accept that if it didn't work in a year, it wouldn't work in two. He was willing to invest more time until he achieved a breakthrough.

In fact, at this moment, Xian Yu began to suspect that it was his own inadequacy preventing him from unlocking the full potential of this "Sword-Slaying Technique."

It seemed ridiculous. Other techniques should have similar issues. If he could gain more power, he believed this technique should exhibit some of its true potential. He didn't expect it to work fully, as his current strength, even if doubled several times or dozens of times, might not be enough to defeat high-level monsters.

So, why couldn't he let go of "The Heaven-Destroying Sword Technique"? It was all because of the suffix.

"The Heaven-Destroying Sword Technique. With a name like that, the skill would undoubtedly be incredible.

But it was a sad thing to possess magical skills without the power to utilize them.

"I've had enough of this! The more I think about it, the sadder I become."

After uttering that, he halted his sword practice and stepped out the door.

He had mentioned feeling a bit more at ease, yet he hadn't completed his sword practice. He found it hard to put into words.

Liyue was the most prosperous nation in Teyvat, but Xian Yu had never explored it thoroughly. He had mostly lived in seclusion, partly due to his remote location, and partly because he had few memories and few familiar relationships from his past year.

Yet, this lifestyle wasn't difficult for him. Practicing swordsmanship and breathing exercises daily not only improved himself but also passed the time. It was a two-in-one endeavor, so why not do it?

As he strolled along the path, he noticed that the landscape was mainly comprised of mountains and rocks. This scenery was quite familiar to Xian Yu, as it resembled the game world. In reality, the world was even more magnificent and diverse.

Although the path seemed mountainous and had few pedestrians, it was bustling with people coming and going about their business.

After walking a few hundred meters, he reached a place with a row of teahouses. Visiting teahouses was one of the few activities Xian Yu enjoyed. It allowed him to meet people from various regions and hear interesting tales, adding some color to his life.

Additionally, people resting at teahouses sometimes sold their own wares, essentially creating a small market.

"We're selling family heirlooms. Come take a look. For just ten thousand moras, you can take home this immortal stone that the emperor and his elders once played with!"

"An item that the emperor used to play with? We can't miss that. Let's go have a look."

"Wait I'm coming..."

Listening to the shouts and conversations of pedestrians, Xian Yu decided to join the crowd. After all, it was something to do when boredom struck. However, he didn't hold much belief in the claims that these items had once been played with by the emperor. Even Morax, who might "visit privately" incognito, wouldn't scatter his belongings everywhere.

It took some effort to squeeze through the crowd, but when Xian Yu finally reached the seller, he found a very ordinary middle-aged man. The kind of person you'd easily overlook in a crowd.

What surprised Xian Yu, though, was the item the man held. It resembled a crystal but contained an "Elemental butterfly" within. Not just any butterfly, but a crystalfly, similar to those found in the game.

Crystalflies weren't particularly rare, but catching one was nearly impossible. Even if you were lucky enough to catch one, it would dissipate, leaving only its core. In other words, the item the middle-aged man was selling held some genuine value.

However, Xian Yu doubted that many people would be willing to pay ten thousand mora for it. It was more of a curiosity than a practical item.

Almost immediately, some in the crowd began to challenge the seller's claims. They doubted that the crystal block was a genuine artifact and criticized the seller for using the emperor's name.

Amidst the criticisms, the crowd dispersed, and the seller's efforts to save his sales were in vain.

The turn of events somewhat surprised Xian Yu, but he couldn't help but intervene. "Please wait a moment, can you show me the crystal?"

Upon hearing Xian Yu's words, the man, He Yuan, who was about to leave, paused and then handed the item to Xian Yu. "Sure, take a look. If you like it, I can give you a discount."

Xian Yu accepted the crystal, not because he wanted to collect it, but because he had a sudden thought about his "Bound Spirit" skill. This skill had remained unused for a while, and he hadn't attempted to make a contract with a Crystalfly. He wasn't sure what would happen if he tried, but he thought it was worth a shot.

As he observed the crystal, Xian Yu noticed something unexpected. It wasn't the crystal that restricted the Crysfly; it was the elemental power outside the crystal.

This realization intrigued him. He had never seen anyone capable of raising such a creature in games or reality. Despite its apparent weakness, Xian Yu's curiosity compelled him to give it a try.

At first glance, the crystal didn't look very impressive. It appeared freshly dug up, with traces of dirt that hadn't been cleaned.

"Could this be to increase its credibility?" Xian Yu briefly wondered before putting the thought aside.