"Not bad at all. You're way stronger than I imagined!"
"I take back what I said earlier— even if you've offended Keqing, you can probably survive a bit longer!"
After confirming that the Ley Line Stone had fully shut down, Hu Tao hopped over to Bai Ge's side.
Hearing that, Bai Ge—who had just relaxed after a smooth battle—paused, a trace of helplessness appearing on his face.
"Why are you still hung up on that…?"
"And in your imagination, was I really that weak?"
Bai Ge complained.
The reason the fight ended so quickly was simple—he had almost gone all out.
Hu Tao was different from Fatui.
Though she looked carefree and playful, she was someone who could truly keep secrets.
That was why Bai Ge didn't mind unleashing three elements in front of her.
As for the ordinary people?
It was nighttime to begin with. Even though visibility in Teyvat at night was fairly good, this area was a secondary battlefield, surrounded by monsters and obscured by Dendro constructs from the Hilichurl Shaman.
Bai Ge didn't believe anyone could clearly see his full burst of power.
Besides, a Hilichurl had also charged into the miners' area earlier.
What surprised him was that these miners from the Chasm were all fairly capable.
Under the foreman Shi Gan's command, they had actually taken down a Hilichurl on their own.
Sure enough—people never realize how strong they are until they're forced to.
"Esteemed sirs… um, are we considered fully 'cleansed' now?"
The miners' leader, Shi Gan, stepped forward to ask.
"Yes, all cleansed," Hu Tao nodded cutely.
"You can all feel it yourselves, right? Your bodies feel much more refreshed now?"
Hearing confirmation from an authority, the miners lit up with joy.
"Yeah! I really do feel much better!"
"It's like something was suddenly pulled out of me—my energy came right back!"
"Hall Master Hu is amazing!"
"That handsome guy is great too!"
Praise poured in nonstop.
Behind Hu Tao, Bai Ge's lips twitched.
They'd been cooped up for ages, then suddenly ran around, got scared, and fought a battle.
Of course they felt energized afterward.
Still, since they'd called him a handsome guy, Bai Ge decided not to expose the truth.
Of course—just because he didn't say anything didn't mean Hu Tao wouldn't.
"So, you're all sure you've been cleansed, right?"
"What if I told you… that you were never actually afflicted by any evil in the first place?"
Hu Tao said suddenly.
"How could that be?" The miners immediately protested.
"I clearly felt something being pulled out of my body!"
"That's just psychological effects—psychological effects!"
Thus began the lecture from the Wangsheng Funeral Parlor's director herself, explaining how ghosts didn't exist and everything was a matter of the mind.
Bai Ge watched quietly from behind her, finding it oddly entertaining.
The scene felt like a mountain master telling you there were no gods or demons in the world—then flying off on a sword in the next second.
But as he laughed, Bai Ge suddenly froze.
Behind him, as the monsters vanished, the raised Ley Line Stone slowly sank back down, its cleared node sealing once more.
At the same time—
A warm, gentle power flowed into Bai Ge's body.
Along with it came a vague yet profound understanding.
This was a reward for helping the ley lines—
a gift from the ley lines themselves.
Ley Line Power.
Then, the system's voice rang out.
[Ding! Detected one of Teyvat's fundamental powers: Ley Line Power. Initiating system upgrade.]
[Ding! System upgrade complete. Daily sign-in rewards enhanced. Reward pool now includes Ley Line Power.]
[Ley Line Power: One of the foundational forces sustaining Teyvat. It exists as planetary vitality, aether, or primal source energy, and serves as raw material for elemental power.]
[Absorbing Ley Line Power enhances all attributes of the user. Once accumulated to a certain level, it will also grant a mysterious additional bonus.]
Bai Ge barely had time to wonder why the system upgraded so quickly—
Because the surprise brought by the Ley Line Power instantly overwhelmed him.
"Ley Line Power is this versatile?"
"It's basically like merit or karma in cultivation novels!"
"No… it might actually be Teyvat's version of merit."
"After all, the entire world is supported by ley lines. And in the game, aren't dungeons always about fixing ley line disorders?"
Deep in thought, Bai Ge realized the system's implications went even further.
"If there's Ley Line Power, then does that mean there's also adeptal power, Archon power, divine power, Abyssal power… Heavenly power?"
"Very likely."
Still, as he thought this through, Bai Ge shook his head.
Today had made it clear—his exploration of this world was still far too shallow.
Even with the Nine-to-Five System, he'd need to find time to go out and truly experience the world himself.
How to balance the system with his own path, however—
That would require time and experimentation.
"I'll note this down for now," Bai Ge decided.
"When my strength reaches the very peak of the mortal realm…"
"Then I'll truly be free to walk the world."