"I have a preliminary idea... Hey, Jing Yuan? Where'd you go? Damn it, that brat isn't going to bail on the payment, is he?"
Only after he finished brainstorming a Curio to suppress the Mara-Struck affliction for the entire Xianzhou did Chen Li realize that Jing Yuan had vanished at some point.
Damn it, the Xianzhou owes me a Marshal!
He had a rough concept for the Curio; the next step was to figure out how to get the necessary Entries. Chen Li wasn't worried about taking a loss. The Xianzhou would never dare to default on this payment, otherwise, they'd have to deal with him flipping the table.
And besides...
Commission: Mara-Struck
Objective: Find a group-effective method to suppress or counteract the Mara-Struck affliction for the Xianzhou.
Issuer: Jing Yuan
Reward: 30 ~ 100 Miracle Crystals
Risk: Low ~ Medium
This was the biggest single commission Chen Li had ever accepted. Clearly, solving a problem that had plagued the Xianzhou people for thousands of years was considered no small miracle. The risk was only low-to-medium because even if the Mara was suppressed, it was unlikely the Xianzhou people would suddenly decide to destroy the world.
The Honkai: Star Rail universe was filled with so many monsters and demons; why would it be the Xianzhou's turn to bring about armageddon? Besides, long-life species without such negative side effects already existed in this universe. The Xianzhou's situation was hardly unique. The followers of Abundance were numerous across the cosmos, and none of them had a system where they were carted off to the Ten-Lords Commission for euthanasia upon becoming Mara-Struck. The universe was still doing just fine, wasn't it?
The only difference between the Xianzhou and those other factions was that they had a big daddy watching over them.
"That brat Jing Yuan runs too fast. Good thing I gave him a Friends Circle terminal beforehand, or I wouldn't even have a way to contact him." Chen Li stood up and stretched.
The material Jing Yuan's teapot was made of was definitely not ordinary clay, otherwise, Chen Li wouldn't have received such a significant stat boost after eating it.
"Speaking of which, the Ambrosial Arbor should be edible too, right? I wonder if I'll get to see the Stellaron they throw into it. If I do, I'd really love to take a bite."
Ever since obtaining the [Gourmet Cells of Unconventional Taste], Chen Li's first reaction to seeing anything was to wonder if he could eat it. If Jing Yuan hadn't left so quickly, Chen Li would have asked if he could take a bite of the Lightning-Wielding Thunder-Clapping Spirit-Squashing Lord.
Just one bite. A tiny one.
Although he had a Divine Item of Abundance, it would be a waste to eat it. Eating the Ambrosial Arbor, however, he wouldn't feel bad about at all. While the Arbor would be an excellent material for extracting Entries, the process required him to incinerate the entire object with the Flame of Miracle. The Arbor's roots had become almost one with the Xianzhou over the millennia; burning it down would probably be a horrifying spectacle.
So, it was better to eat it than to extract from it. The Arbor was big enough anyway. He could always extract Entries from whatever was left over.
Just then, a message arrived from Jing Yuan.
Jing Yuan: I felt it was improper to continue delegating the General's duties to others, so I took my leave. I hope you'll forgive my abrupt departure.
Dad: By the way, remember to prepare some strange foods for me. Or things that aren't food, that works too.
Jing Yuan: ...
Dad: I recall that the Luofu is one of the most business-savvy ships in the Xianzhou Alliance. Don't tell me you can't find some special items on a ship this massive? If possible, try to pick things that are valuable and powerful in their own right.
Jing Yuan: Understood.
Dad: And you don't have to worry about the cost. The Disciples of Sanctus Medicus are footing the bill for everything.
Jing Yuan: ...How about the Amber of the Divine Body of Butian Siming? Can you stomach that?
Dad: Huh?
Jing Yuan: The planet Pier Point maintains an eternal watch in the orbit of Butian Siming, waiting for a miracle that occurs only once every few decades or even a century: stardust that rains down as the great hammer falls. But the amber that sheds from Butian Siming's body as the hammer swings is always the most brilliant star in this meteor shower.
Jing Yuan: It is said that it only ever lands in the eyes of the destined. Though it is a minuscule fragment, it is still part of a divine body. If you want it, I can send it to you.
Dad: So generous?
Jing Yuan: A small gift. Consider it... payment for being forthcoming about Lord Ravager Phantylia.
Dad: My brother! I'll hold this in my heart! By the way, it's free, right?
Jing Yuan: Free of charge.
"Sometimes, the most expensive things are the ones that are free... Isn't that guy Jing Yuan a little too smart?" Chen Li sat on the stone bench, his fingers tapping lightly on the table. He had a feeling that there was a slight possibility Jing Yuan had discovered one of his true identities.
Chen Li could have easily given the Curios he produced different names, but he considered it an easter egg for the clever ones. If their powers of association were strong enough to think beyond the unique Curios native to the Honkai world and consider the recently "debuted" Curio Forger, then good for them. Besides, the "outworlder" identity he had revealed also fit the profile of the suddenly appearing Genius Society Member #85, the Curio Forger.
"The Divine Foresight, General Jing Yuan. Truly lives up to his name. To gamble so boldly on such a small possibility... who gave you that confidence? Aha?"
"Did you call me?"
"Get lost."
"Right away."
"Huh, wait? What just happened?" Chen Li snapped back to reality after realizing that the blindingly bright Entry had flashed before his eyes and vanished in an instant.
Wait a minute! Who just popped up?
Goddammit, Aha is spying on me again!
"I was just kidding, come back! Get me some of the Aeon of Preservation's dandruff or something!"
"Elation isn't for you to keep, to keep just as you please~ Aha~"
Aha's mocking laughter echoed in Chen Li's ears.
"Damn jester! One day, I'm going to forge a button that, when pressed, randomly makes one jester in the universe unable to laugh!" Chen Li fumed silently. He felt that even if he hadn't told him to "get lost," Aha wouldn't have stuck around. He had only shown up to get revenge for that one die roll that had left him speechless.
However, after tossing the [Elation's 20-Sided Die] a few times, Chen Li's negative emotions instantly vanished.
Whatever. If I can have fun at his expense, why can't he have fun at mine? I'll just make a bet with him next time and get my fun back.
The Elation Points on his die were already maxed out. Being a "Divine Healer" really provided a lot of entertainment.
"Seize the day... whose day should I seize?" If he weren't so low on Miracle Crystals, Chen Li would have upgraded the die to two stars long ago to increase its point capacity. It was just that useful.
"Ah well, I'll go find my good brother first. I acknowledge that the goddess of Pure Beauty, Idrila, is of peerless beauty! My good brother Argenti, appear!"
Holding the [Pale Justice], Chen Li shouted the incredibly embarrassing line.
Countless illusory red rose petals materialized from thin air, and the first true friend Chen Li had made in his most desperate time appeared before him once again.
"My dearest friend, it has been too long." Argenti was even quicker than Chen Li to express his feelings about their reunion.
"Long time no see. I've finished forging the Eternal Rose that continuously sheds petals, just as I promised." Chen Li handed a beautiful and exquisite red rose to Argenti.
He had already retrieved this rose from Tonghua, giving her one of the five new negative Curios he had acquired in exchange. Since the negative effect of that Curio was actively triggered, it wouldn't affect Tonghua, as she would never use it anyway.
Chen Li was willing to gamble on the Recycler precisely to increase the number of Curios in his possession. Even if they were negative Curios, they were harmless as long as they weren't used. And in a crisis, he could immediately use the Friend System to summon his allies to his side and help them escape danger.
More friends, more paths.
After accepting the Eternal Rose, Argenti first praised its beauty... five hundred words of praise omitted here.
Then, he gently shook the rose in his hand. The petals fluttered to the ground, but the flower instantly became whole again, with only the scattered petals on the floor proving that any had fallen at all.
"A truly beautiful Curio. It fills my heart with elation. It is a shame I cannot touch it with my own hands," Argenti said, pleased but also with a hint of regret.
"Don't worry about that. I've successfully come to your world. I'm currently on the Xianzhou Luofu. You've probably heard of it, right?"
"I have heard of the Luofu, of course. If you have come to this world, then you must be the Genius Society's Member #85, the Curio Forger, yes? I am overjoyed to see my friend successfully join the ranks of geniuses." Argenti was genuinely happy for Chen Li.
He had suspected it when he first heard the title, and he was thrilled to have it confirmed now. Although Chen Li had only been a member of the Genius Society for two days, his deeds were already known far and wide.
"That's me. I'll be waiting for you on the Luofu," Chen Li nodded.
"Excellent. I shall pilot The Priceless to the Luofu at once. When I arrive, I would be honored to invite you to join me in soaring through the sea of stars."
"I look forward to it. Is this Knight's Trial still about spreading the glorious name of the Aeon of Pure Beauty, Idrila?" Chen Li asked with a smile.
"Of course. By the way, dearest friend, is there any souvenir you desire? I can bring some for you when I come."
"I don't need anything in particular. If you have to ask... bring me something I can eat," Chen Li said, before proceeding to explain the effects of his gourmet cells to Argenti.
"Consider it done."
"Oh, right. If possible, Argenti, could you help me find any Entries related to innocence or purity? It's fine if you can't, I have a feeling you might have some on you already," Chen Li said.
"Understood. I shall do my utmost." Unwilling to part with the rose, Argenti handed it back to Chen Li before his form dissipated, leaving behind only a Knight's Trial Certificate. He was eager to return to his true body and have it make haste to the Xianzhou; he couldn't bear to wait.
"It feels a bit like asking for a forging fee, but Argenti is the only source I can think of for an Entry of purity." Picking up the Trial Certificate, Chen Li sat back down on the stone bench.
These Entries were the materials he needed to forge the Curio to suppress the Mara. If he could really create such an item, he could demand a massive reward from the Xianzhou!
He'd have so much Divine Body Amber he could eat one and throw one away!