"Now that we've settled that, let's return to our original topic."
"Recently, the Akademiya lost a Canned Knowledge in the desert. It's said to be a Canned Knowledge of the Divine, capable of granting the wisdom of a God upon use."
Paimon: "Wow, something like that actually exists?!"
Paimon turned to Lumine. "If we find it, do you think we could learn how to meet the Dendro Archon? Maybe even find out about your brother?"
Alhaitham continued, "I highly doubt its supposed miraculous properties. However, the artifact does exist, and it's currently in Port Ormos."
"Where is it now?"
"That's the question we need to answer next."
Alhaitham then explained his plan to Lumine and Paimon, earning their trust.
Lumine had previously purchased a Canned Knowledge from Dori. Driven by her curiosity about new things, she asked Alhaitham to help her test it.
The results were underwhelming. Given Lumine's extensive combat experience, the basic one-handed sword techniques it contained proved utterly useless to her.
After agreeing to meet again once Lumine and Paimon obtained information from Dori, the group dispersed.
Two days later, Lumine and Paimon secured a lead on the Canned Knowledge of the Divine from Dori. They immediately rushed to find Alhaitham, and the trio arranged to meet at 3 PM on the day of the Eremite's transaction involving the Canned Knowledge of the Divine.
Several more days passed, during which Lumine and Paimon remained in Port Ormos. At 3 PM, they met Alhaitham and proceeded to the designated exchange location.
Upon arriving, the atmosphere was thick with tension. After only a few words, a fight erupted.
The Eremite members proved no match for Lumine and her companions, quickly falling into disarray.
Just then, the Eremite leader emerged from the shadows. His condition was clearly abnormal: the green Akasha terminal at his ear glowed a fiery red, and his eyes had turned crimson under its influence.
When his subordinates approached to check on him, he violently pinned them to the ground and began beating them mercilessly.
"We have to sever his connection to the Akasha first!" Alhaitham shouted, charging into the fray. Seizing an opportunity, he slammed his elbow into the Akasha terminal at the leader's ear.
The Eremite leader collapsed unconscious.
"Target acquired! Immediate apprehension!"
The Corps of Thirty, who had been lying in wait nearby, surged forward, pinning down every Eremite involved in the incident.
The Corps of Thirty was named because it originally consisted of only thirty members. Now, the Corps of Thirty has grown into a massive organization, officially affiliated with Sumeru and considered a semi-official armed force of the nation.
The leader scanned Alhaitham with his Akasha device and said, "Please do not obstruct official business, Scribe Alhaitham!"
"How could I? I'm merely providing assistance."
Seizing the moment when the others lowered their guard, Alhaitham swiftly retrieved the Canned Knowledge of the Divine that had fallen from the Eremite leader's body.
The Eremite leader, still partially conscious as the Corps of Thirty dragged him away, murmured, "The world... forget me."
This was the second time Lumine had heard those words, the first being beneath Irminsul.
Instinct told her that this phrase carried immense significance.
After the Corps of Thirty departed, Paimon remained in shock.
"What just happened? That big guy suddenly turned into... that!"
Alhaitham replied, "It seems he used the Canned Knowledge of the Divine."
"Did that Canned Knowledge cause him to transform like that?"
Lumine: "Speaking of which, Haypasia mentioned earlier..."
Paimon: "You mean how scholars who access Irminsul's knowledge can go mad from exposure to the Archon's knowledge?"
Alhaitham: "It seems this Canned Knowledge of the Divine is indeed connected to the gods, though it's likely not as legendary as the myths suggest—possessing it doesn't grant divine wisdom or power. Did you hear what that man said? 'The world... forget me.' What could that mean?"
Lumine lowered her head in thought.
Paimon: "If the disciplinary officer took him away, the Akademiya will probably reclaim the Canned Knowledge of the Divine, right? What a shame—we just missed our chance to get it."
"Still, I never imagined the Canned Knowledge of the Divine would be so dangerous. If we had tried it recklessly, we might have ended up like him..."
Alhaitham remained silent beside them.
Only after Lumine and Paimon turned to look at him did he speak: "Now that things have come to this, there's no reason for me to stay in Port Ormos any longer. Our collaboration ends here. I'll return to the Akademiya. What about you two?"
Paimon glanced at Lumine. "Looking at the time, the Sabzeruz Festival is almost here. Should we head back to Sumeru City too? We've been running around non-stop these past few days. Maybe a little rest will help us get our spirits up."
"You're right," Lumine said. "Let's head back to Sumeru City."
Paimon turned to Alhaitham. "Alhaitham, we'll say goodbye here. See you later!"
[The world... forgot me... It feels like a knife.]
[A knife? It's normal to have a knife, right? Look at the previous three nations—which one didn't have knives?]
[Having knives is normal. I just hope Mihoyo will have some decency and spare my precious Yuna.]
[Huh? Still thinking about Yuna? Heh, I thought I was the only one.]
[Speaking of which, is Silaya really the Pure Soul?]
[Guaranteed, bro!]
As the game screen shifted, the "Through Mists of Smoke and Forests Dark" questline concluded. Chen Xiyao, having eaten and rested well, felt refreshed.
Earlier, she had worried that the massive quest update would be exhausting to grind through in one go. Now, she wished there had been more.
Fortunately, there was still the main quest to tackle, ensuring her livestream would last long enough for the day.
Two days before the Sabzeruz Festival.
Silaya, having returned early, was already helping set up the Zubayr Theater for the festival.
Silaya was desperately poor, and the only thing she could contribute to the Sabzeruz Festival was her own labor.
Although she knew the Sabzeruz Festival would inevitably be disrupted by some detestable individual, the festival's true protagonist was always watching.
As long as they executed the preparations well, the outcome would essentially be achieved.
The Dendro Archon would surely be pleased!
Chu Xi had also been pulled into helping by Silaya. Since they were living together, the two were practically inseparable.
The day before the Sabzeruz Festival began...
It was the day Lumine and Paimon returned from Port Ormos.
Before heading to Port Ormos, Lumine and Paimon had already activated several Teleport Waypoints in Sumeru City, allowing them to quickly teleport back.
Instead of teleporting directly into the city, they chose to teleport outside the walls and walk in slowly.