[Genshin Impact]: I can become stronger by cooking.

A flash of light appeared, and a white jade bowl was filled with bright-colored tea.

Chao Ke took the clean white teapot from the private room, poured the entire bowl of "Enlightenment Tea Across Time" into it, then carried it downstairs and handed it to the old man.

"Mr. Zhongli, this is my specially prepared tea. Please drink it as soon as possible."

"I appreciate your kindness, young friend, and I will savor it carefully."

Chapter 101 [The Lock of the Mortal World]

Zhongli's figure flickered several times before stopping in a house in Liyue Harbor.

Pushing open the door, Zhongli entered.

On the shelf in the room was a fine tea set. Zhongli took out a teacup and placed it on the table.

No washing is needed; with a gentle touch, Zhongli removes the dust from the teacup.

After pouring himself a full cup of the clear tea given to him by Chao Ke, Zhongli silently activated his magic.

A beam of light flew out from a hidden box in the room and landed in Zhongli's hand.

This slowly rotating object is the token given to Zhongli by the Demon God of Dust, Gui Zhong – the [Lock of the Mortal World].

The Lock of the Mortal World turned slightly, and Zhongli's gaze seemed to traverse a thousand years with it.

In the past, on that field where glass lilies bloomed, he first met the girl with the long sleeves.

"Here," the girl said, handing over the [Lock of the Mortal World].

"This is a token of our covenant, and also my challenge to you."

"I have hidden all my wisdom within this stone lock..."

Looking back now, she was really foolish.

There was clearly no formal contract...

They're just colleagues who care about their own interests...

But it was precisely this "foolishness" that anchored him.

In retrospect, isn't it a kind of wisdom to interact with oneself in such a direct manner?

"..."

After the two demon gods formed an alliance, the humans under their rule were able to unite and build an extremely large city.

"Since the gap between my strength and yours is too great, I shall use my skills and wisdom."

"If I had both your strength and my intellect... this city would be amazing."

As Gui Zhong had predicted, under her guidance of technology and wisdom, these tiny people created an incredibly brilliant civilization.

The Lock of the Mortal World has turned and turned, and the story that follows is the past that Zhongli least wants to recall.

"It seems I still can't walk this path with you."

"Forget about that lock..."

In the end, it smiled somewhat forlornly and slowly turned into the finest dust and vanished.

"This is the token of our covenant, and also my challenge to you."

"I have hidden all my wisdom within this stone lock."

"If only we could solve it..."

For many years after that incident, Morax treasured the Lock of the Mortal World.

It was as if he buried this deep wear and tear in his heart, letting the dust of time cover its surface until the day his intellect faded and he completely forgot about it.

Zhongli took a big gulp of tea.

If things go as planned, it seems like a good option.

However, that day at noon.

The girl asked, "Mr. Zhongli, you are so learned, have you ever heard of the 'Lock of the Mortal World'?"

This swept away the historical dust that Zhongli had accumulated over the years to fill the worn-out areas.

Those memories and words suddenly reappeared clearly in his life.

Having finished his tea, Zhongli poured himself another pot of tea.

It's both strange and absurd.

The story of himself and Gui Zhong spans more than a thousand years, yet it was suddenly brought up by a foreign girl, who also seems to be learning Liyue Ancient Mechanisms.

Judging from his subsequent actions, it seems that he still intends to restore, no, to create a "Worldly Lock" that embodies his own wisdom, as a gift for his lover.

As Zhongli recalled that painful past, she also felt that this matter was quite strange...

As a token of their covenant, a symbol of Gui Zhong's desire to challenge himself, this "Chain of the Mortal World" would one day be used to witness their love...

From a purely rational perspective, it is quite absurd.

Zhongli drank another cup of tea; there wasn't much tea left in the pot.

As the recipient of the original "Chains of the Mortal Realm," Morax was certain that this token was originally intended to witness the covenant between two demon gods, not love.

He and Gui Zhong were not in a romantic relationship.

Zhongli remained silent as he watched the [Chain of the Mortal World] still slowly spinning in his hand.

At least not initially...

However, expressing love, to some extent, is also a kind of covenant, a contract.

Zhongli emptied the teapot given to him by Chao Ke, leaving not a trace of tea in the teacup.

He tilted his head back and gulped it down in one go.

Since it is a kind of covenant and a type of contract, Morax, as the god of contracts, naturally has the obligation to maintain the validity of this contract.

Therefore, Zhongli was willing to sit back on the divine throne that had been slowly slipping away, even if it risked delaying his plans, he was determined to do it.

With amber as the base,

Using the power held by Morax as the brush,

One cut, one stroke.

Each stroke,

To give Morax a sliver of his authority;

It is the work of the ancient Liyue ancestors and the founders of the Thousand Rocks Guardian Formation, representing the pinnacle of Liyue's defensive mechanical arts;

They were all carved into that stone plate.

The Jade Shield that pops up when the holder is hit is enough to withstand a full-force attack from a demon god.

That was the blow he couldn't block for Gui Zhong back then...

Since you have chosen to give away the [Chain of the Mortal World] as a contract.

Since you have chosen to forge this bond in Liyue.

Therefore, I, the Demon God [Morax], acknowledge the validity of the contract you have made!

And I guarantee this with my authority!

That night.

Zhongli drank the "Enlightenment Tea that Travels Through Time" and became completely drunk.

The next day.

With the opening of the Lock of the Mortal Realm, Zhongli finally learned of the information left behind by the Demon God of Dust.

The deep wear and tear on the ancient rock has now been truly filled in.

------------------

A few more days passed.

Farusan followed Chao Ke, passing through Huacheng Guo, stepping out of Daocheng Lin, and crossing Tianbi Pond.

The outline of her homeland reappeared before Farusan's eyes.

Thinking about it carefully, it hasn't actually been more than a few months since I left Sumeru, but the stories that happened during that time were just too... fascinating.

It was so wonderful that Farussen would never forget it in her lifetime.

They spent a few days enjoying the tranquility of the city.

Another farewell banquet was set up.

【The Ultimate Traditional Coconut Charcoal Cake】

【Truly exquisite golden shrimp balls】

[The truly ultimate Golden Finger-Licking Chicken]

[Truly the ultimate...]

Chao Ke did his best, and perhaps it was the emotions he felt during their separation that allowed him to vaguely grasp his true heart for cooking.

The dishes served all exceeded the category of "ultimate level" and achieved a perfect score of 100%.

That is, [the true and ultimate XXX].

Plates of delicious food were laid out before us, emitting an exceptionally enticing aroma.

But at this moment, Farusan had no appetite and silently got up and walked behind Chao Ke.

She gently wrapped her arms around Chao Ke and rested her forehead on Chao Ke's shoulder.

Feeling the warm embrace behind him, Chao Ke sighed.

"Don't eat?"

"Do you really want me to cry?"

"Would you feel better if you made me suffer?"