Yujing Terrace.
Under the sunlight, Yujing Terrace shimmered with dazzling brilliance, drawing countless citizens to gather and watch. The place was packed, bustling with life, every face bright with excitement and anticipation.
Today, something of extraordinary importance to Liyue Harbor was about to take place—the annual Rite of Descension.
This solemn and grand ceremony carried the faith the people of Liyue placed in the Geo Archon, Morax. During the Rite, Rex Lapis would guide Liyue's developmental direction for the coming year. Each year, a different member of the Liyue Qixing presided over the ceremony, representing the harbor's highest authority and wisdom.
And this year, the one presiding over the Rite was the highly respected Lady Tianquan—Ningguang.
At the very center of Yujing Terrace rested an ancient, elegant table, its surface marked with the quiet traces of time. Atop it sat a delicate incense burner, thin trails of incense curling upward and filling the air with a faint, serene fragrance. The drifting wisps of smoke seemed to carry the people's devotion and prayers toward the heavens, as though hoping to reach the distant, unfathomable gods.
...
As a member of the Liyue Qixing, Keqing had woken very early. She had gone straight to the venue to help maintain order.
Luya had blended into the crowd as well, curious to see whether Zhongli planned on continuing his usual act of "playing dead."
By chance, Luya ran into Hu Tao, Xingqiu, and Chongyun, who were also watching from the sidelines.
"Hey, shopkeeper! You're here to join the fun too!"
Hu Tao immediately rushed over to greet him the moment she spotted him.
"So Hall Master Hu came as well~"
Luya looked at Hu Tao from a short distance away, the corners of his mouth lifting into a small smile as he raised a hand in greeting.
Hu Tao seemed to sense his gaze. She turned, spotted him, and instantly broke into a wide grin. Waving with enthusiasm, she called out, "Of course! How could this Hall Master possibly miss an event this big~?"
Then she took several quick steps toward him, stopping proudly in front of Luya with her hands on her hips.
"Every year's Rite of Descension—why, many of the preparations are fully handled by our Wangsheng Funeral Parlor!" she declared. "From venue arrangements, to offering procurement, to ceremony procedures—every single step has been meticulously planned and supervised by yours truly! You could say we pour our heart and soul into it!"
She gestured animatedly as she spoke, as though presenting her accomplishments.
Everything she said was, of course, something Luya already knew.
With Zhongli serving as the consultant for the Wangsheng Funeral Parlor—and constantly buying Incense of Passing, Noctilucous Jade, and Glaze Lilies—
all of it was to prepare for his own funeral~
But this time...
Luya had a fuzzy feeling Zhongli might not "play dead" at all.
Who knew what tricks he might pull this year?
Meanwhile, Xingqiu and Chongyun stood among the crowd, quietly discussing their Yu-Gi-Oh! strategies.
Many of the people gathered for the Rite—though watching the ceremony—already had their minds wandering.
In truth, nearly all of them were thinking about playing Yu-Gi-Oh! instead.
For these people of Liyue, going even a single day without drawing a few Card-Draw Breads or scratching a few scratch cards left them restless, as though life had lost some essential spark.
This wasn't a fleeting interest—it had become a deep-rooted obsession.
So even though the solemn Rite was unfolding before their eyes, their minds were filled with visions of dazzling monsters and endlessly shifting tactics.
Some were even secretly planning how to secure victory in their next duel—and win more precious rare cards.
In recent days, Liyue Harbor's dueling scene had surged with unprecedented fervor due to a new craze—the rise of Card Gambling Duels.
At some point, duelists stopped being satisfied with simple exchanges of skill and turned their covetous eyes toward the rare cards held by others.
In Card Gambling Duels, both duelists prepared rare cards as stakes. The winner would claim the loser's card. With such an enticing system, countless duelists rushed to participate.
In no time, Liyue's entire dueling scene descended into madness.
People threw themselves into these high-stakes battles with fiery passion. Everyone dreamed of making a name for themselves and returning home triumphantly with piles of spoils.
Even Chongyun—who originally had tight funds and struggled to purchase cards—had managed to earn many rare cards through this special format.
There were even Fatui Harbingers operating underground in Liyue Harbor, running illicit duel casinos, allowing them to profit greatly.
...
As the Rite of Descension formally began, Ningguang lifted her hand lightly. Several brilliant golden fragments gathered within her palm.
The fragments shimmered with a mysterious radiance, dazzling like stars.
Then, with a graceful sweep of her arm, she sent the golden shards shooting like meteors toward the ancient incense burner ahead.
In an instant, thick smoke surged from the burner, billowing like clouds and mist.
The smoke seemed alive—swirling, coiling, and gradually condensing into a colossal spiral structure. The vortex pulsed with strange energy, vast enough to blot out the sky.
As it formed, the once-clear sky darkened beneath heavy clouds.
Wind roared, thunder cracked.
A massive dragon suffused with Geo energy emerged from the swirling vortex.
This was the main figure of Liyue's Rite of Descension—Morax.
Although the spectacle was grand... after having witnessed so many mighty Duel Monsters, Luya found himself not particularly impressed.
In past years' Rites of Descension, people would look forward to this moment above all—just for a glimpse of the Geo Archon
...
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