The sky gradually darkened. Even under the veil of night, the beautiful scene retained a gentle warmth.
At Liyue Harbor, the Steam Battleship shone with white light, drawing endless crowds and conversation.
While the harbor shook under the shock of the battleship, one of the Liyue Qixing—
Keqing—arrived at the Jar Shop.
"Lady Keqing!"
"Yuheng Star!"
Seeing her approach, the Millelith guards Doyle and Wenqi straightened and greeted her respectfully.
As one of the Seven Stars, the Yuheng was someone they deeply respected.
"Mhm."
Keqing nodded and stepped into the shop.
Inside, Felix was still talking with Hu Tao.
"Director Hu, do you not eat dinner?" Felix's eyelid twitched as he looked at her, still propping her chin on her hand. "Shouldn't Wangsheng Funeral Parlor be busy with all the new business?"
It was almost night, and Hu Tao was still here.
Was she planning to camp in his shop?
He really had no way to reverse her "benefit."
"You haven't eaten either," Hu Tao countered, her plum-blossom eyes drifting over to him. "The Parlor can wait. I want to know where that Fire Dragon Egg came from. I've never heard of a 'fire dragon' before. Can you explain it to me, Shopkeeper?"
This was why she had stayed.
She had already tested the Soul Staff and the acupuncture needles.
But the Fire Dragon Egg... that still puzzled her.
She had never heard of a species called "Fire Dragon."
Did it come from some distant land of fire?
As she spoke, she looked up and noticed Keqing entering.
"Shopkeeper."
Keqing also saw Hu Tao and paused briefly. She hadn't expected the Director of Wangsheng to be here.
Nor had she expected to overhear something about a "Fire Dragon Egg."
But she focused on her purpose and turned to Felix.
"What brings Lady Keqing to my humble shop?" Felix asked with a light smile. "You've already used up your ten jars for this week."
If she wanted to sponsor others, she wouldn't have come alone. So coming here alone meant she wanted to talk.
"I came mainly to talk to you."
Keqing smiled faintly. "There's a question in my heart that I want to discuss with you, Shopkeeper."
"I'd wanted to ask before, but the timing never felt right. Now that I've seen Captain Beidou pull that Steam Battleship from your jars, I believe you can answer this question for me."
"I wonder if you have the time?"
"Of course."
Felix nodded. "What would you like to talk about, Miss Keqing?"
"I've always believed that matters concerning the fate of humanity should be handled by humans," Keqing began, her violet eyes reflecting the lamplight. "And that humans are fully capable of doing it better."
"Once people grow used to living under the protection of gods, they stop thinking about their own future. I've often wondered—if the gods were no longer here, what would become of Liyue?"
"In the past, every few years, after every Rite of Descension, the commercial sector of Liyue would undergo major upheaval. The Geo Archon's new policies would always bring joy to some and misery to others."
"The poor prayed for a chance to rise overnight. The rich prayed the winds of policy wouldn't blow against their interests. Instead of focusing on real economic development, people became obsessed with 'belief-based investments.'"
"In the Liyue of the past, this was understandable. The Archon's divine authority was strong. Relying on him meant safety and prosperity."
"But if, one day, the god ceased to shoulder this duty... where would Liyue go?"
"The prosperity we see now is like a sandcastle on the beach. But the tides are not controlled by mortals."
"Today, when I saw Captain Beidou pull a Steam Battleship from your jars, I realized that just this one vessel alone could elevate Liyue Harbor to a new height. It's an entirely new level of technology."
"I've always had a question: can humans truly surpass gods?"
"Even those with Visions are only 'qualified' to pursue godhood. I'm more interested in whether humanity as a whole can surpass the gods."
Originally, she had simply wanted Liyue to remain standing if Morax ever left.
But after seeing the battleship, her question deepened: how could ordinary humans surpass the divine?
"Of course they can."
Felix smiled. "Why couldn't they? A god is merely a being that possesses tremendous power. Once humans possess tremendous power, they can naturally surpass gods—and become what you call 'gods' themselves."
"If you want to protect Liyue, you must raise Liyue's overall level. That includes technology."
"For example, Beidou's Steam Battleship. Just by sitting at the harbor, it becomes a blueprint for Liyue's shipwrights. They can study it and raise the standard of all Liyue vessels."
"Then there's the Finance Management book that Ningguang drew. It allowed her to found the Liyue Bank and spread financial literacy. Liyue's economy has already improved, and the benefits will only compound over time."
"The Devil Fruits also offer tremendous power, limited only by how much they are developed."
"And the Dragon Balls—if seven are gathered, the Shenron can grant any wish. If you wished to become a god, or to kill a god, it would be easy."
"Even if my shop closed tomorrow, I would not reclaim what I've already sold. There is no hidden leash. These tools will continue to benefit Liyue indefinitely."
"I'm not a god. I'm just a shopkeeper who sells jars."
"So as long as you keep opening jars, and keep drawing useful items, humans can absolutely surpass gods."
"What you're seeing now are only the lowest-tier jars. Above them are more advanced jars, containing things beyond your imagination."
"Whether it's personal power or urban development, you can obtain it from jars. All you pay is Mora."
"There are even items that can do something like—freeze time across the entire world, leaving only you able to move."
Felix spoke slowly.
Keqing's eyes widened.
Such a thing existed?
Time stopping for everyone but herself?
She never would have dared to even imagine such an ability.
But when she thought about all the items the Jar Shop had already produced—the finance book, the Devil Fruits, the Dragon Ball, the Steam Battleship—her heart pounded.
All of Liyue's recent changes had come not from divine decrees, but from jars.
So if they continued to draw and use these items wisely, mortals could indeed surpass gods.
At that moment, Keqing understood just how important the jars were.
"I understand."
She took a deep breath and nodded firmly at Felix.
Her gaze drifted to the rows of jars on the shelf. She now fully appreciated their value.
Ordinary people only needed to pay Mora to have a chance to gain power equal to or greater than gods.
It was a ridiculous bargain.
Seeing Keqing's serious expression, Felix smiled.
"Then I'll take my leave. My doubts have been answered," Keqing said, bowing her head slightly.
As she left, Hu Tao tilted her head.
"Shopkeeper, was all that true?" she asked curiously. "Is there really an item that can stop time so only one person can move?"
If such a gadget existed, it sounded incredibly fun.
"Of course."
Felix raised an eyebrow. "There's nothing you can't get—only what you haven't drawn yet. Those are child's toys compared to what's possible."
"Speaking of which, how do I hatch that Fire Dragon Egg faster? How long will it take?" Hu Tao suddenly remembered.
"I have no idea," Felix admitted.
The egg of a small fire dragon—he didn't know its incubation time. The description hadn't specified it.
"What if I roast it with fire?" Hu Tao mused seriously. "Since it's a fire dragon, it should be immune to flames, right? If I wrap the egg in fire, maybe it can absorb it and speed up the hatching?"
Felix: "..."
His eyelid twitched.
That... would probably just cook it.
From what he knew of Pokémon-like creature eggs, they needed careful, gentle care—not being grilled.
"I don't recommend that, Director Hu," Felix said flatly. "If you roast it to death, you'll regret it. Just wait patiently."
"I see."
Hu Tao nodded thoughtfully. "Got it."
"Alright, I'm heading back."
With that, she hopped off the chair and skipped out of the shop.
Felix: "..."
He strongly suspected she hadn't really listened. But he had no proof.
Meanwhile, outside Liyue.
On an ancient stone bridge, a woman in a large witch hat and cloak slowly made her way toward the city.
"Every time I come to Liyue, I feel its prosperity even more," she murmured, gazing at the glowing city in the distance.
"Liyue really is the most prosperous city."
If she had the money, Mona thought, she would definitely build herself a proper laboratory here.
Read ahead with 100+ chapters now with daily updates!
@patreon.com/Zefyrus