In Teyvat, it all begins with rescuing the grass god.

"Yes, it's my hometown."

As he spoke, a look of nostalgia appeared in Rhodes' eyes.

This chaotic and haphazard space is primarily a city built upon Rhodes' memories, and its location is Rhodes' hometown.

Don’t say anything else.

It's so realistic, it's almost unbelievable. Even the Snow King on the street looks exactly like the one I remember.

If it weren't for the Teyvats wandering the streets, Rhodes would have really thought he had traveled back home again.

"Your hometown?"

D'Artagnan, who was listening nearby, exclaimed, "No wonder Her Majesty the Queen wanted you to join us. Even if you don't fight, just building all this would be enough to give the people of Winter a better life."

"I think you're overthinking it."

Rhodes rolled his eyes at D'Artagnan: "Don't tell me I don't know the principles behind these things in my hometown. Even if I did, with Teyvat's industrial capabilities, I don't know how many years it would take to reach the level of my hometown."

This is the truth.

The technological levels of the various countries on the continent of Teyvat vary greatly, and their development paths are also different. Even if Rhodes had a library in his head and brought modern knowledge to Teyvat, he still couldn't replicate the modern technology he knew in a short time with these nascent industrial capabilities.

But now that things have come to this.

Tartaglia, still looking like he didn't understand what she was saying, proudly boasted about his homeland: "Don't underestimate us, Winterfall! Under Her Majesty's leadership, our development is unparalleled in all of Teyvat, even Fontaine can't compare. If anyone in Teyvat can replicate the scenery of your homeland, it can only be us, Winterfall!!!"

"Bullshit!"

Tartaglia's boasting naturally displeased Yelan: "How could the wondrous arts of Liyue be compared to those of your Zhidong?"

"Mystical arts? Where are they? I can't see them."

"I've already mentioned the wondrous arts of immortals; isn't it normal that someone from a foreign land like you can't see them?"

"Hey, no matter what, do you guys use your magical arts on ordinary people like you do in Rhodes' hometown?"

This heated debate ended with a truly devastating remark from D'Artagnan.

No matter how much Ye Lan wanted to argue,

We must also acknowledge a fact.

The magical arts of Liyue are indeed top-tier in Teyvat.

The downsides are that the cost is too high, the difficulty is too great, and it is hard to popularize.

Even though the immortals never hesitated to share their knowledge and imparted all sorts of ingenious and mysterious mechanical techniques to mortals, they ultimately could not be widely applied to the common people for various reasons.

The only thing that could spread was probably the talismans taught by the immortals.

But a talisman is still just a talisman.

Its contribution to people's livelihood is extremely limited, and it cannot possibly be the kind of assistance that Rod remembers as being completely integrated into people's lives.

And let alone applying the mystical arts of immortals to the level of Rhodes' memory.

Even trying to fully integrate into the community, as Dadalia described, is extremely difficult.

"What's there to argue about?"

"Each country has its own national conditions."

Rhodes was both amused and exasperated by Tartaglia and Yelan's inexplicable comparison: "As long as we do our best to ensure that ordinary people live a good enough life, that's enough. Why do we have to compare who is better? Do you think that life in Winter Solstice is more convenient and comfortable, and that people from Liyue will change their nationality and religion when they arrive in Winter Solstice?"

These words left D'Artagnan, who had been wearing a victorious expression, speechless.

Rod is absolutely right.

Neither D'Artagnan nor Nightland could find a point to continue the debate.

After Rhodes finished speaking, the two of them looked thoughtful, but it was unclear what they were thinking.

only.

Their thoughts were quickly interrupted by the strange changes in the spatial illusion.

When they first entered the sealed space.

Although they were all trapped in this seemingly real illusion, the illusion did not attack them. Instead, it tried to devour them by consuming their souls, turning them into wandering ghosts on the ground.

Speaking of shadows.

The silence was broken by the shadows that lingered within the sealed space.

Xiao opened his eyes at this moment.

"I've found the spatial connection point you mentioned."

"But this seems to have provoked resistance from this space."

As he spoke, Xiao also gripped his own weapon and the Jade Falcon, his face showing vigilance as he stared at the phantoms, the frenzied Fools, the Treasure Thieves, and the various monsters that were rushing towards the four of them like a tidal wave.

"If I'm not mistaken, the spatial connection point is behind this pile of phantoms, right?"

Holding his newly acquired Rainbow Piercing Spear, Rhodes stared solemnly at the spot where the phantoms were most concentrated.

Honestly.

Every change within the sealed space was beyond Rhodes's expectations.

These shadows are undoubtedly the transformations of the Thousand Rock Army who died here back then. According to their last wishes and obsessions, they came out to stop Rhodes and his group when they tried to leave the sealed space.

But they've shown up now.

The intense, lingering killing intent caused the entire illusion to tremble.

"Ah."

On the other side, Xiao gave a positive answer: "You guys hold off these shadows while I break the connection point, then you can leave directly."

"No."

Rhodes naturally could not agree to this request, which was almost like a will.

This is not alarmist.

Xiao's tone definitely implies leaving a will.

Without finding the Taiwei Instrument Plate, there was no other way but to forcefully break through space.

Even with Xiao's all-out attack, it could only tear a small opening in the passage. To send someone out, they would have to stay inside the sealed space and continuously inject power to keep the passage intact.

This means that not only can Xiao not leave, but he also has to face an unknown number of Thousand Rock Army souls here, in addition to the wear and tear on his spirit and will from this space and the torment of his own karma.

If he stays here.

Even if Zhongli came to rescue him personally, he would probably only be able to collect his body.

Not to mention that Rod had to ensure Xiao's safe escape after accepting the reward from Zhongli, even if he hadn't accepted the reward, he couldn't just stand by and watch Xiao go to his death.

Then he was heard questioning him sharply: "Did you come here just to die? You haven't even seen Fushe yet, are you really prepared to die like this?"

"Floating Abode."

Xiao hesitated for a moment, and the determination on his face became somewhat more hesitant than before.

"Listen to me, don't do anything reckless."

"With the strength of the few of us, these phantoms can't stop us. We just need to break through to that spatial junction."

After saying that, Rhodes looked at D'Artagnan and solemnly instructed, "Don't use your Demon King Armor. Conserve your strength. The three of us will break through, and you can come with us."

"why?"

D'Artagnan immediately voiced his dissatisfaction.

In his opinion.

They're just illusions; with his abilities, he doesn't need anyone to protect him.

"When we reach the spatial junction, we will need you to open the door. You must conserve your strength before then, so as not to be exhausted after opening the door."

This time, Rhodes stopped hiding it and explained directly that he needed D'Artagnan to open the door.

"Open the door?"

D'Artagnan asked, "You mean, you want me to break that flaw?"

"Correct."

"Only you can do this."

As he spoke, Rhodes continued to tempt him, saying, "If you don't go and open the door, there's no hope of seeing the remnant soul of Fushe. You don't want to come to the secret realm and leave with regrets, do you?"

"."

D'Artagnan's lips twitched slightly.

Rhodes's reasoning was lame.

But no way.

That last sentence was incredibly damaging to Tartaglia.

He simply couldn't resist the temptation to fight against a master of immortal level, who was also recognized as the number one Yaksha under the Rock King Emperor.

"Okay, I'll do as you say."

Having made his decision, Tartaglia withdrew the power of his Evil Eye, which he had been preparing to unleash, and instead used only the power of his God Eye to protect himself. He stood in the middle of the group and, for once, enjoyed the opportunity to be protected.

Rod brandished his spear, nodded to Yelan and Xiao, and then took the lead, charging to the very front, with Xiao assisting from the side and Yelan covering the rear.

This was an arrangement specifically made to prevent Xiao from getting out of control.

The Phantom's individual strength is not much stronger than that of the Slime.

It's just that there are a lot of them.

There are so many.

Moreover, it regenerates extremely quickly; if one is broken up, it can recover in the blink of an eye.

Fortunately.

The people who followed Rhode into the sealed space were not weaklings, especially Xiao, who was completely unharmed.

Following Xiao's directions.