The Infinite Journey of a Certain Flame

"The food in Liyue is unforgettable, and the time spent with you will become the most precious memory of my life. When it's all over... everything will be alright."

But you won't have the chance to witness Inazuma's future.

Kiana slowly closed her eyes, unable to bear exposing this well-intentioned lie.

The two sides were of one mind and successfully kept Ying and Pai in the dark.

This allowed them to smile at each other and then continue to be enthusiastic about the purification process to come.

“I see…” Ying nodded, then asked Paimon and Kiana beside her, “Are you ready?”

Both nodded in agreement.

Upon seeing this, Hana Sanri began reciting the incantation to break the seal.

"...From the Whale Abyss in the east to the Ash Sea in the west. From the Blazing Light in the south to the Weak Water in the north...a thousand branches and ten thousand veins, clearing away calamities."

As the incantation was chanted, the pool of water filled with lightning element slowly receded, revealing the intricate root system of the Divine Cherry Blossom and numerous 'tumors' formed from filth.

After the seal was broken, Hana Sanri then asked everyone to jump down without hesitation and demonstrate their martial prowess to purify the filth.

Everything was ready to continue. After exchanging banter, Ying and Paimon leaped into the air, preparing to purify the final filth.

As the two left one after the other, Kiana, contrary to her usual behavior, did not immediately follow.

Before completing the Great Purification, she had some questions she wanted to understand.

"Is this all there is to it?" Kiana crouched down, staring at Ying with a hint of melancholy in her eyes, and asked.

"Are you worried about me? Hehe, actually there's no need. Completing the Great Purification is the meaning of my existence, and it's also what Lord Fox Palace expects."

"And what about you? As an inhuman defilement, as a priestess who inherited the memories of Fox Maiden... do you really have no regrets?"

"...I have personally tasted the delicacies of Liyue from my memories, used my meager strength to help travelers from foreign lands, and brought peace to this land—all of this is beyond my comprehension. Thank you, Lady Kiana, thank you all..."

Although it's a pity, as long as she's truly content, that's enough.

Kiana then got up, preparing to jump off the cliff to help Hotaru and Hana Sanri complete the final purification ritual.

Just before he jumped, a soft murmur suddenly came from behind him.

"If I must speak of regrets... it's a real pity that I couldn't see that lady's true face with my own eyes. I wonder what she would think if she saw such a filthy thing as me... Heh, never mind. Lady Kiana... please look at me as you would those filthy monsters, without the slightest hesitation or sadness."

“I...maybe I can’t do it, because you’re really different from them.”

Kiana slowly turned her head, looking at the priestess with a hint of helplessness.

Although she repeatedly claimed that she was far inferior to Fox Abbot in terms of greatness, when it came to caring for others...

She bore a striking resemblance to the witch who was swallowed by the dark filth.

But the Fox Palace will have the Thunder General, and countless people will remember her past.

And she, this filthy being who inherited the memories of the Fox Palace, this being who couldn't even be called human.

How many people will actually remember that?

"Please, please don't be sad. If you do, even if I disappear, I will feel guilty."

Amidst the whispered pleas of Hanazawa, Kiana leaped off the cliff, falling like a sun dispelling flames into the perilous roots of the divine cherry tree...

Gazing at the 'tumor' that resembled a heart, entangled by the roots of the Divine Cherry Tree, Kiana slowly raised the Blazing King Sword without the slightest hesitation.

Completing the Great Purification Ritual to cleanse the filth entrenched in the roots of the Divine Cherry Tree was Hana-san's final wish.

Kiana will finally fulfill her last wish in this life...

Song of Flames and Lightning (Genshin Impact Inazuma Main Story): Chapter Thirty-Five: My Mission is Completed.

The open space where the roots of the Thunder Cherry Tree are intertwined is filled with an extremely high density of lightning elemental power.

Dangerous areas like these, where lightning element is extremely abundant and ordinary people avoid them, are called lightning calamity zones.

It is a unique disaster belonging to Inazuma, and the reason why it has not erupted for many years is largely due to the purification by the Divine Cherry.

However, the Divine Cherry Tree is not omnipotent. When the filth accumulates to a certain extent, it needs to be purified to prevent the Divine Cherry Tree from withering.

However, in such a harsh environment, how many people could easily concentrate on fighting against monsters formed from filth?

Perhaps only the still-living Fox Abode Palace can guarantee absolute safety.

Kiana swiftly cleaved the filth that had begun to coalesce before any prayers could be offered.

It seems that for some reason, this great exorcism has become even more dangerous...

As if confirming this conjecture, a soft, uncomfortable cry suddenly came from behind.

"Uh... I didn't expect the lightning element here to be so fierce."

"It feels so numb, so painful..." Paimon covered his head, seemingly on the verge of collapse.

Unexpectedly, just landing here has caused them to be in such a bad situation?

Realizing this, Kiana quickly helped Luminous up and led her to a nearby area where the effects of the lightning calamity were less severe, where she summoned the Lightning Seed.

After helping her out of the crisis, Kiana patted her on the back and then spoke to Paimon.

“You’ve held out here long enough, now leave the rest to me. Paimon, keep an eye on her.”

"Okay, Kiana, good luck!"

"Hehe, I'll do my best even without your reminder." Kiana rubbed the little guy's head and said with a smile.

However, before she could move, she felt a faint force tugging at her cloak...

Turning around, she saw that it was Yingzheng weakly tugging at her, her eyes filled with worry.

"Kiana, please be careful. I'll be devastated if anything happens to you..."

In the distance, the tumors clinging to the roots of the Divine Cherry Tree are constantly oozing black filth, forming burly and terrifying monsters.

There are samurai in the form of wild savages and sea demons, as well as enemies in the form of fools, fire debt collectors, and hidden mirror ladies.

At this moment, Ying finally realized the crisis in the situation...

They were also apprehensive about the dangers Kiana would face next.

Her delicate body trembled slightly, making her look so pitiful that one couldn't help but want to hold her tight...

“Don’t worry,” Kiana slowly crouched down, put her arms around Luminous’s shoulders, and whispered a promise in his ear, “Our journey has only just begun. Don’t worry, Luminous. With me here, this story will never end easily.”

"Well, I believe you!"

"hehe."

Kiana pressed her forehead against Ying's, a comforting smile playing on her lips.

After calming the frightened girl, she slowly got up. When she opened her eyes again, her bright blue eyes shone brightly in the dim environment.

Immediately afterwards, she brandished the Flame King Sword and fearlessly faced the filthy monsters...

The battle was about to begin. All sorts of filthy monsters perished under the sharp edge of the Flame King Sword. Kiana flew through the air, tearing apart the filthy bodies with her fierce slashes. If the number of those filthy creatures suddenly increased.

She would then unabashedly use the power of the Herrscher to gather enemies into a black hole-like spatial core, and then detonate it.

This cycle continued, and even though the number of filthy demons was vast, she eventually slew them all.

After dealing with the minions, you need to offer prayers to cleanse the tumor formed by the accumulation of filth.

This process, while not difficult, is extremely complex.

For those new to this, they will certainly have to endure the torment of lightning and expend a great deal of effort.

However, Kiana, with the system's assistance, could handle these tasks with ease.

After some adjustments, she began her prayer, and as the light connected in sequence, the tumor entangled by the tree roots collapsed to the ground.

"It's done!"

Kiana smiled, a smile that suggested everything was finally over.

"Ready, ignite!"

With lightning speed, she rushed towards the tumor lying on the ground, which was constantly spewing out filth. The accumulated filth quickly transformed into vivid and dangerous monsters.

However, the tumor's final struggle was completely futile. As Kiana's sprint ended, the Flame King Sword drew a beautiful arc in mid-air, as if an inextinguishable flame had completely ignited that filth.

"Ahhhh!!!"

In an instant, the filthy monster was bathed in the raging flames, letting out a scream that sounded like the wailing of a wronged soul before gradually fading away.

When the flames subsided, the tumor, symbolizing the aggregate of filth, had vanished...

Only the scorch marks where the tree roots intertwined symbolize that it once existed.

"...it's over."

Kiana stood with her sword in hand, feeling a sense of relief despite finding it hard to accept what happened next.

With the removal of the filth, the calamity of lightning also vanished, and the space, once filled with the extremely dangerous cacophony of lightning elements, became dark and tranquil...

Kiana, are you alright?

"Phew, finally solved." Paimon followed behind Luminous, waving to Kiana with a smile. "I knew you could do it. Hehe, now, shouldn't the Masked Shrine Maiden tell us everything? By the way, will she suddenly appear this time?"

"Hey, Paimon, Hana-san has never appeared with a 'bang' sound, has it?"

"That's true. She always likes to appear silently. Let me think... by now, she should be behind us, right?"

However, when Paimon and Ying turned around, they did not see Hana Sanri's figure.

Just as the two of them were about to turn back and discuss with Kiana whether they should go and meet the elusive shrine maiden.

"Then, it's all over. Now, the pain that Shenying endured should also subside. Thank you, Child of Man, and you... Traveler from another world, well done! You were indeed destined..."

"Hehe, no need to praise us like that!" Paimon scratched the back of his head, looking pleased with himself.

Ying glanced at her speechlessly, then looked at Hana Sanri and voiced the question that had been on her mind all along.

"Who exactly are you?"

"As you can see, Hana Sanri... Ah, I'm sorry, I had promised to reveal my identity. Now, please allow me to formally introduce myself."

Hana Sanri cleared her throat and then revealed the secret she had kept hidden in her heart.

"I am the filth formed by absorbing the memories of the Fox Palace. Because I am filth myself, I am unable to purify other evil spirits and demons. But fortunately, I met Lady Ying, Lady Paimon, and Lady Kiana. Thank you for your help. In this way... I can leave in peace."