In response to Jing Hongchen's suggestion, Zhongli touched his chin, appearing deep in thought.
The development and application of soul guides are of utmost importance to the future of Douluo Continent.
While gods can guide humans and spread knowledge, they cannot accomplish everything on their own.
Moreover, the guidance of the gods is not always entirely correct or suitable for humans.
Sending people to learn about soul guides?
Gods do not interfere with human choices. If those sent lack interest in soul guides, wouldn't that be misleading?
"Liyue's current development in soul guides is indeed somewhat lacking."
"If Mr. Jing can invite someone to come and teach after his return, Zhongli would be deeply grateful!"
Zhongli bowed to Jing Hongchen as he spoke.
These words clearly conveyed Zhongli's decision.
Sending people to the Sun-Moon Empire was evidently not feasible.
The only option was to request someone to come and see if anyone was willing to learn about soul guides.
Upon hearing this, Jing Hongchen understood Zhongli's meaning and nodded in agreement.
He had anticipated this when he raised the question. Unless Zhongli was entirely disinterested in soul guides, there would inevitably be a connection between Sun-Moon and Liyue!
Whether Zhongli sent people to the Sun-Moon Empire to study or Sun-Moon sent teachers to Liyue to instruct, it would constitute an exchange between two major forces.
As long as there was communication, there would be a connection!
Through this level of connection, deeper cooperation could become a possibility.
Jing Hongchen departed Liyue with an expression of excitement.
He was eager to bring this good news back to the Sun-Moon Empire as soon as possible.
This Lord Martial God's understanding of soul guides was far more forward-thinking than that of the Douluo Three Empires and Shrek Academy!
At the very least, Lord Martial God had shown no intention of rejecting soul guides from start to finish.
After Jing Hongchen left, Zhongli glanced at the tea leaves and the Soul-Devouring Knife on the table.
Zhongli stood up, placed the tea leaves on the main seat, and then turned his attention to the Soul-Devouring Knife.
After a moment, Zhongli grasped the Soul-Devouring Knife. At that instant, the faint wisp of black aura emanating from the blade suddenly vanished.
It was like a carving knife devoid of any "demonic energy," unusually well-behaved.
Erode my sea of consciousness?
Hehe...
Zhongli held the carving knife in his right hand without chanting any spell. He simply wiped the blade with his left hand.
In an instant, the black aura surrounding the knife seemed to evaporate, dissipating into the air and revealing its original form.
He casually put away the carving knife. For Zhongli, this was a trivial matter.
After a while, Zhongli was about to leave the living room when, in a fleeting moment, he seemed to recall something and shook his head.
Now that Zhongli's identity had been exposed, it was no longer possible for him to walk the streets as an ordinary person as he had before.
With a flash of amber light, Zhongli's appearance shifted slightly, transforming from a young man into a teenager of fifteen or sixteen years old.
He had often done such things while in Liyue in Teyvat, observing the city from different perspectives with countless faces.
Gui Zhong had once teased him about this, asking him to call her "big sister little Rex Lapis," and it had been somewhat difficult to break him of the habit...
This could be considered part of Zhongli's dark history.
"I wonder how she is doing now..."
In the end, this "girl" with flowing sleeves had not perished, surviving the war between demons and gods and the arrival of the Traveler.
Liyue was Liyue under the rule of these two!
It was far, far more powerful than the Liyue of the original timeline.
With Guizhong's intellect and Zhongli's martial prowess, even the laws of nature would tread carefully.
This version of Liyue stood as the strongest among the Seven Nations, without question.
Shaking his head to clear his scattered thoughts, Zhongli stepped out of the Zhongli Mansion.
In his teenage form, Zhongli had black and amber hair, amber eyes, and still carried an air of handsomeness.
Of course, his appearance had changed slightly. If he had simply looked like a younger version of "Zhongli," people might have mistaken him for Zhongli's son...
The streets were bustling with people coming and going, and occasionally, pedestrians would pause to glance at Zhongli, the "handsome boy."
Zhongli paid no mind to this. He simply walked at his own pace, stopping now and then to observe the residents working or the passers-by.
He had experienced all walks of life and nearly every kind of "profession."
Suddenly, a petite figure caught Zhongli's eye. This figure had green hair and delicate features.
She had a beaming smile on her face, as if she had encountered something joyful.
Zhongli had seen this girl before and knew her name and her original life trajectory.
Her name was Xiao Xiao!
Xiao Xiao was a freshman at Shrek Academy. She was supposed to remain at Shrek Academy to continue her education, but after meeting Zhongli in Shrek City and witnessing the subsequent events, she left Shrek Academy without hesitation and rushed to Liyue.
"How could Brother Zhongli be a bad guy!"
For Xiao Xiao, this older brother, whom she had only met once, left a deep impression on her.
When the battle broke out, she felt that Zhongli was not a bad person and that the Shrek executives must have made a mistake.
As the conflict escalated, Xiao Xiao grew increasingly troubled by Shrek's actions.
This was the reason she abandoned Shrek Academy and came to Liyue without a second thought!
Shrek's behavior had disappointed her. That big brother... was actually a god!
A very kind god!
As if sensing Zhongli's gaze, Xiao Xiao instinctively turned her head toward him.
With just one glance, Xiao Xiao was stunned.
This hair color, these eyes...
Fortunately, their appearances were different; otherwise, she might have wondered if the young man before her was Zhongli's younger brother or a relative.
"Hello, my name is Xiao Xiao."
For some reason, Xiao Xiao felt a slight fondness for the "young man" in front of her and took the initiative to introduce herself.
Perhaps it was because the boy shared the same hair and eye color as Zhongli.
There is nothing purer than loving the person you admire and extending that affection to those who resemble them.
Zhongli was momentarily taken aback, as if recalling something, and nodded to Xiao Xiao. "Hello, Xiao Xiao. My name is Barbatos, and I am a wandering bard."
Barbatos had imitated his handwriting to sign before, so why couldn't he borrow the "name" of his good friend this time?
As for why he didn't use the name Venti... that was due to Barbatos's erosion over time.
"Barbatos, Wandering Bard?"
Xiao Xiao looked at Zhongli in confusion and murmured.
Although puzzled, Xiao Xiao didn't dwell on it too much and asked, "Barbatos, are you new to Liyue?"
"Yes, while singing the Ballad of the Wind across the mainland, I heard that in the east lies Liyue, rising like the sun. So, I came here to see it for myself."
Zhongli spoke without a hint of hesitation or unease.
"In the east lies Liyue, rising like the sun..."
"Hiss~"
Passersby and Xiao Xiao couldn't help but gasp. This wandering bard was truly remarkable!