Smith and Keqing arrived at Yujing Terrace, where they were greeted by the kind-hearted Grandma Ping, who was accompanied by a cute little girl.
When the young girl, Yaoyao, saw Smith and Keqing approaching, her gaze immediately fell on the Pichu nestled in Keqing's arms. Her eyes sparkled with curiosity. What a cute little creature! She had never seen anything like it before.
"Hello, Grandma Ping," Smith greeted with a polite nod.
"So, you must be Smith?" Grandma Ping looked at him with curiosity. "The Emperor has mentioned you before. This is our first meeting. Is there something I can do to assist you?"
"Actually, I came to see her," Smith replied, gesturing toward Yaoyao, who was still gazing at Pichu with fascination.
Yaoyao blinked in surprise. Although she was focused on the tiny creature, she had also been listening to the conversation. This man was the new consultant for the Liyue Qixing and someone under the Emperor's watchful eye. She had heard plenty of talk about him.
"Me?" she asked, tilting her head.
"Yes. I heard that you possess the Grass Elemental Vision. May I examine it for a moment? It won't take long—just a few seconds." Smith bent down slightly and asked gently.
Yaoyao hesitated for a brief moment before glancing at Grandma Ping. Seeing no objections from her, she nodded and handed her Grass Vision to Smith.
Taking the Vision into his hands, Smith studied it carefully, confirming that the Guild Store had indeed recognized it, unlocking the Grass Element Godhood. Satisfied, he returned it to Yaoyao. "Thank you, Yaoyao."
As if suddenly recalling something, Smith reached into his belongings and pulled out a Poké Ball. He handed it to Yaoyao with a warm smile. "Inside this is a Bulbasaur from another world. You should befriend it. It will be a great companion for you."
Before coming here, Smith had used Mewtwo's help to capture several Pokémon. Giving Yaoyao a Bulbasaur was a small gesture of gratitude. Besides, Bulbasaur had a calm and friendly personality, making it a perfect match for someone like her.
Yaoyao looked at the Poké Ball in her hands with wonder. She had no idea what a Bulbasaur was, but she could feel Smith's sincerity. However, she couldn't help but feel puzzled—had she really done something to deserve such a gift?
"Yaoyao, go ahead and accept it," Grandma Ping encouraged with a smile.
"Thank you, big brother!" Yaoyao said cheerfully, cradling the Poké Ball with both hands. She was still unsure what kind of creature was inside, but her curiosity had only grown.
"Well, we'll take our leave now, Grandma Ping, Yaoyao." Smith flashed a grin before eagerly pulling Keqing along.
Morax, I have become a god!
Yaoyao, still holding the Poké Ball, turned to Grandma Ping. "Grandma?" She hesitated, unsure whether she should hand it to her.
Grandma Ping chuckled warmly. "Haha, what an energetic young man. The traveler from another world truly is fascinating. It seems he has brought many wonders to Liyue and Teyvat. Keqing, too, has been given a great opportunity."
Turning to Yaoyao, she nodded. "Go on, open it. I'm quite interested in these creatures from another world myself. It should be something similar to what Yuhengxing Keqing is carrying."
---
As they walked away, Keqing shot a look at Smith, who had practically dragged her out of there. "She's an immortal, you know. Can't you be a little more respectful?" she asked, exasperated.
Smith turned to her with an amused expression.
"What's with that look?" Keqing huffed, crossing her arms. "I do respect the immortals. They have protected humanity for a long time, and no one can deny their contributions to Liyue. I just don't always agree with their methods."
Smith nodded. That was exactly the kind of attitude he expected from Keqing.
"I want to become a god," he declared suddenly.
Keqing's steps faltered. "What?"
Without hesitation, Smith spent 50,000 points to purchase the Godhood of the Grass Element. Almost instantly, he felt a profound change in himself. A surge of vitality coursed through his body, and he could sense a new power awakening within him.
Is this what it feels like to become a god? Smith thought to himself.
The Godhood had granted him the qualifications of a deity and the authority over the Grass Element. He could feel it slowly transforming him, enhancing his abilities in ways that he had never imagined. However, it was clear that true divine power wasn't something that came instantly—it required time to develop.
His situation was different from Nahida's. Nahida was a natural-born god, the incarnation of the World Tree. Smith, on the other hand, had started as a mere human. His transformation resembled that of Focalors, who had once been a simple water spirit before rising to godhood.
Even among gods, there were varying levels of power.
Still, Smith was confident. It wouldn't be long before he could reach a level comparable to the Archons.
Keqing, meanwhile, was staring at him, trying to process what he had just said. She could sense something different about him. His presence now carried an aura similar to that of the Emperor, though not nearly as overwhelming. Even so, it was undeniable—he felt more… divine.
This feeling…
Her heart pounded. She found herself liking Smith even more.
"What do you mean, you became a god?" she finally asked, trying to maintain her composure.
"My Guild Store is different from yours," Smith explained. "I can purchase Godhood. I just bought the Godhood of the Grass Element, which means I'm now the second Grass God."
Keqing's mind raced. "Does that mean… you already have power comparable to the Emperor?"
She couldn't help but think of Sumeru. According to Smith, the people of Sumeru had imprisoned the Lesser Lord Kusanali. If Smith was now a Grass God, did that mean he could take her place? Could he become the ruler of Sumeru and bring it under Liyue's influence?
Seeing the look in her eyes, Smith sighed. "You're overthinking it. Just because I have the ability to become a god doesn't mean I'm immediately on the same level as the Emperor. Growth takes time. Gods are not all equal."
Still, he couldn't help but grin. With this newfound power, his journey had only just begun.
Deciding to check the Guild Store once more, he opened the special offer section and purchased the Wood Release Ninjutsu Collection.
This was only the beginning.
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