After some time passed, miHoYo released Zhongli's PV — The Listener.
Once the PV came out, Zhongli's popularity surged so dramatically that it even surpassed Qiu Nian's.
Countless players flooded the comments under the video.
And of course, many of them still hadn't forgotten one thing—
begging miHoYo to add Qiu Nian to the gacha banner.
The reason was simple.
He and Zhongli were old friends.
In fan creations, a huge number of videos had already begun shipping Zhongli × Qiu Nian as a CP.
Then Version 1.3 arrived.
Along with it came the PV titled "All That Glitters."
Yes—
Lantern Rite Festival had arrived.
In the PV, fireworks burst across the sky while countless Xiao Lanterns slowly rose into the air.
The scene was dazzling.
Liyue Harbor bustled with people.
Characters such as Qiqi, Chongyun, and Xinyan could be seen among the crowds.
And for a brief moment—
players spotted Qiu Nian, Zhongli, and Hu Tao walking together through the street.
Meanwhile, Lumine and Paimon ran through the lively city, curiously looking at everything around them.
The PV also featured Xiao's character demonstration.
The new enemy Primo Geovishap appeared as well.
In one scene, the official showcase even had Xingqiu, Xiangling, and Ningguang fighting the beast.
Near the end of the PV—
the Traveler suddenly glimpsed a figure in the distance.
It was the Abyss sibling.
Lumine reached out instinctively, trying to stop them.
But the figure kept walking forward—
never once turning back.
Until the silhouette finally disappeared.
The screen then changed.
The setting shifted to a mountaintop overlooking Liyue Harbor.
Qiu Nian stood before Xiao.
He slowly raised his hand toward him.
A white-and-red divine power began flowing from his palm.
At the same time—
Xiao's pupils shrank sharply.
Then he suddenly clutched his head with both hands.
Dark karmic energy erupted around him as if he were in unbearable pain.
As the camera zoomed closer—
Xiao raised his head and let out a pained cry.
The PV ended there.
After the PV, the event rewards were announced.
Players could choose a free four-star character:
Xiangling
Xinyan
Beidou
Ningguang
Xingqiu
Chongyun
There were also numerous festival activities and rewards.
For example:
10 Intertwined Fates through login rewards
1600 Primogems sent through in-game mail
The comment section immediately exploded.
[Why are there sad scenes at the end? It's supposed to be New Year!]
[Qiu Nian, what are you doing to my Xiao?!]
[If Xiao doesn't come home, I'll quit the game.]
[Xiao, I've prepared 520 Almond Tofus for you. Please don't dodge my pulls!]
[It doesn't look like Qiu Nian is harming Xiao though. It feels like he's saving him.]
[Ever since the battle with the God of Obscuration, the game hasn't shown anything that epic. Did miHoYo spend their entire budget on that one fight?]
[Xiao looks so cool!]
[Zhongli, Qiu Nian, and Hu Tao together!]
[First Gui Xu's blessing, then Qiu Nian giving us a fully refined five-star sword, and now twenty free pulls for Lantern Rite. miHoYo is so generous!]
[When is Inazuma coming out?]
[miHoYo, when will Qiu Nian finally enter the banner?! I've saved 40,000 Primogems!]
Players began comparing their saved currency.
"I saved 45,000."
"I have 30,000."
"Day 90 of saving for Qiu Nian."
"I've saved for 98 days already."
Below that comment, players proudly posted screenshots of their saved Primogems.
[Happy Lantern Rite! Happy New Year!]
At the same time, Version 1.3 also added a short interlude quest.
Chapter I, Act IV — Bough Keeper: Dainsleif.
When Xuehua played the quest, she was cosplaying Xiangling.
The mysterious man called Dainsleif appeared before the Temple of the Falcon.
Dainsleif remarked that although the Falcon of the West could soar with the wind—
it still remained beneath the light of the gods.
Later, the Traveler discovered Abyss Mages and Wolfhook berries nearby.
In Wolvendom, Dainsleif hinted at having once traveled with a companion.
He and Lumine continued tracking the Abyss Mages.
Before that, he had also asked Lumine several strange questions—
about Visions and gods.
Because most of Dainsleif's words were extremely cryptic,
Xuehua could only vaguely sense that he might be connected to Lumine's brother.
The only statement he made with clear information was this:
"The Abyss…"
"It is chaos. It is destruction."
"It is a mad and unfathomable force that erodes the foundations of this world."
"That is why even the Dragon of the East Wind—one favored by the gods—could not resist its corruption."
"The monsters of the Abyss seek only one thing."
"To overturn the world ruled by the gods."
"Heh."
"My ties with the Abyss… run deep."
"But speaking of the Abyss…"
"In an ancient kingdom that has long since fallen…"
"There exists a legend recorded in one of its books."
"A primordial god named Gui Xu once walked beyond the world."
"And with a single sword strike…"
"Split the entire Abyss apart."
"Then he left this world."
When Lumine and Paimon heard the name Gui Xu, their expressions changed instantly.
They were shocked.
But they stayed silent and let Dainsleif continue.
"During my travels with that companion…"
"I learned that such a god truly existed in ancient times."
"But although his power was immense…"
"From what I know, the strength he possessed before disappearing from Liyue…"
"Was far from enough to cleave the entire Abyss in two."
"So I have always doubted this legend."
"Because I do not believe any being truly possesses the power to split the Abyss itself."
Dainsleif seemed to find the story absurd.
He continued coldly:
"Because if he truly could…"
"Then the world would not look the way it does today."
"They say gods love humanity."
"But if he possessed such power—why did he stand by and watch?"
"Why did he only split the Abyss…"
"Instead of destroying it completely?"
"He simply cut it open—"
"and then left this world behind!"
Dainsleif clenched his fist tightly.
If that ancient god had chosen to destroy the Abyss entirely—
then the Black King, the force that shook the foundations of the world, would never have existed.
Khaenri'ah might never have fallen.
Even if Rhinedottir, Gold, had tried to create monsters infused with Abyssal power—
she would have failed.
The Five Sinners would never have been tempted by the Abyss.
They would never have seized the powers capable of destroying the world.
The people of Khaenri'ah would never have been cursed with immortality.
The Abyss Order would never have existed.
…
If that ancient god truly had the power to split the Abyss—
then why…
why didn't he erase it completely?
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