Genshin Impact's Incense Burner Of Liyue [623]

Though his words were as unreliable as ever, Venti’s promise came from a place of genuine concern. That much, Gu Sanqiu had to admit.

“By the way, since you know what this seal is... can you tell me what it actually is?”

Gu Sanqiu asked curiously, “Honestly, I think this thing in my head is one of a kind. I’ve never met anyone else with a seal inside their brain.”

“Well, that’s hard to say. It’s not like you go around cracking people’s skulls open—how would you know what’s hiding inside them?”

Venti quickly dodged the topic. “Take little Kongkong, for example. You’ve seen how fast he picks up combat and grows stronger, right? Does that seem normal to you?”

“So what? It’s like how people from Natlan are just more naturally inclined toward battle. It just means that foreign visitor’s got talent. In his homeland, he was probably considered a prodigy.”

Gu Sanqiu narrowed his eyes. “Don’t try to change the subject. You’ve already told me more about Inazuma than you probably should’ve—surely a little seal can’t be more classified than the secrets of an entire nation?”

“It can, actually.”

Venti held up his hands. “Because what happens in Inazuma doesn’t really concern me. I can say whatever I want.”

“But you, my dear nephew, are a different story. If my loose tongue ends up getting you into trouble, your old man would beat me into next week.”

Got it. That strange black will inside him might amplify his power, but it clearly wasn’t anything good. Mishandling it could spell disaster.

Gu Sanqiu understood that now. But that didn’t stop him from pressing further.

“In that case, let me ask something else. Now that I can feel my destiny star, how do I go about strengthening that power?”

“In my experience, the strength of my destiny star and my personal growth don’t seem connected. Am I supposed to be leveling them both equally to prepare for the future?”

A destiny star symbolized the star in the sky that belonged to you alone. As lofty as that sounded, in practice it often felt pretty… detached from reality.

If cultivating personal strength was like grinding levels, then a destiny star’s power was like pay-to-win gear—nice to have, but not essential.

From that perspective, Gu Sanqiu didn’t think destiny stars were that important.

Especially given Teyvat’s peculiar celestial environment—and theories about the false sky or “eggshell” layers—there was no real guarantee that the power you obtained even belonged to you.

“‘Leveling both equally’? What nonsense. You been reading too many weird novels in Liyue?”

Venti shot him a disdainful look. “For a brute like you, increasing strength means being more likely to survive battles. Of course you should master any power that comes your way as soon as possible. What are you even thinking?”

“…Fair point.”

“As for destiny stars, that’s not something you can force. It’s already rare to awaken one in this era. You’re basically an anomaly—either a result of deep accumulation or sheer dumb luck.”

Venti patted his head.

“Didn’t your old man already talk to you about this? He probably mentioned that girl back home who awakened her destiny star—Keqing, wasn’t it? The Yuheng of the Liyue Qixing?”

Gu Sanqiu blinked. “You know about her too?”

“I am the great Barbatos, after all. Of course I know.”

Venti grinned. “If I remember right, during the Rite of Descension, she boldly questioned the Geo Archon without caring what anyone else thought. Didn’t flinch at the crowd, didn’t care about appearances.”

“From that moment, when she became clear on her own path, that girl awakened her destiny star.”

“That kind of power needs a strong will behind it. Some call it ‘spiritual force,’ but back in the day, we just called it ‘wishpower.’”

He shook his head. “These days, with more people studying magic, the terminology’s changed. ‘Wishpower’ is now ‘spiritual energy,’ or something like that.”

“And I call you a brute because, in this age, you’re the only one using the path of immortality to forge the Dao through sheer power. If that doesn’t make you a brute, I don’t know what does.”

Gu Sanqiu frowned. “Spiritual energy and wishpower… there’s no difference?”

Venti gave a vague, mysterious shake of his head. “Even if there is, it’s not something you can grasp right now. Just focus on building your strength, kiddo.”

“The power of the destiny star is a nice bonus. If it doesn’t work out, don’t force it. Just train properly and you’ll be fine.”

So if I want to ascend my constellation, I’ll need spiritual energy as a guide...

Gu Sanqiu mulled it over. In that case, maybe I could try tapping into the Thousand-Year Wish?

Though the odds weren’t great—after all, the nature of that wishpower was already well-established.

Still, drawing inspiration from it might help him emulate something similar. It could be useful for further exploration.

“So,” Venti said, looking smug, “you’re planning to go home and try connecting with your destiny star now, aren’t you?”

He knows me too well.

“Go on, go on,” Venti waved him off. “I’ve already sacrificed who-knows-how-many drinks to lecture you like this.”

“Alright, I’m off then.”

Gu Sanqiu came back to his senses, and before getting up, he placed two finely cut gemstones on the table.

“Today’s on me.”

“You know,” Venti sighed, “we’re regulars. Can’t you just carry Mora like a normal person? Paying with gems all the time—what is this?”

“Loose change wouldn’t cover my good uncle’s liquor tab.”

“Now that’s what I like to hear!”

Venti chuckled and waved for more drinks as Gu Sanqiu left the tavern, already beginning to test and simulate the flow of spiritual energy in hopes of communicating with his destiny star.

There was something peculiar about it: once you could sense your own destiny star, it didn’t matter where you were—it would always be hanging directly above you, watching silently from the sky.

As if it had unlocked full map view... and teleportation.

“Good thing I never get lost outdoors.”

Gu Sanqiu let his spiritual power drift upward, following the faint thread of connection toward the sky. Even in this simple act, obstacles presented themselves.

The interference of elemental energy… the disorienting nature of stellar shifts…

His brow furrowed. “The second part’s the real killer.”

If he was just observing, his destiny star was the brightest thing in the night sky. But when he tried to get closer—to truly connect—interference from the other stars surged in, chaotic and misleading.

No wonder you need powerful, unwavering spiritual energy to act as a guide. A moment of hesitation, and you’d get lost for sure. Failure almost seems inevitable.

Without a strong enough will, your spiritual power would collapse the instant it touched the stars, crushed mercilessly by the pull of the others.

“This won’t be quick.”

“Hey, you.”

Gu Sanqiu turned to see Eula standing at the roadside, arms crossed.

“Well, well. The Knights of Favonius already done for the day?”

He offered a casual invitation. “How about a drink? Call it a halftime break.”

“No way you guys can finish inventory in just one day. I’m sure tomorrow morning’ll be just as busy.”

“Hmph. That’s true enough.”

Eula tucked a lock of hair behind her ear.

“But no drinks tonight. Come with me.”

---

T/N: WOWOWOWOAHOHHWOASHDOAHOAHWO IS HE FINALLY GONNA GET ROMANCE

This is a fan translation of 原神之璃月奉香人 by 淡白蛋清. All rights to the original work belong to the creator. Please support them by exploring their original work or sharing it with others if you can. Thank you for reading and supporting my efforts to bring this story to a wider audience!