Chapter 350

What catches the eye is the reddish-brown gradient twin ponytails, the reddish-brown Chinese-style clothes with a back hem embroidered with Bianhua flowers, the Qiankun Taigua hat on her head, and the plum blossom-shaped pupils full of vitality. She walks along the street with her hands behind her back, unconcerned about others' gazes.

Noticing a familiar face, she waves in his direction and skips over to him.

"Oh my, isn't this Brother Takumi? Long time no see!"

Takumi looked at the lively Hu Tao and greeted her: "Hey, Hall Master Hu, it's been a while. I didn't expect to see you here."

Hu Tao grinned: "Brother Takumi, are you trying to say that this ceremony is not just for higher-ranking gods? Why am I, a mid-ranking god, here?"

Takumi shrugged: "That's not what I mean. Sumeru isn't a closed-off country. Anyone can come here to travel and do business."

Hu Tao gave a thumbs-up: "Brother Takumi, you really are one of the few who understand me. Yes, I'm just here to travel, hehe."

Having said this, she turned to look at Nilou standing beside Takumi: "Brother Takumi, who is this?"

Nilou quickly introduced herself: "My name is Nilou."

Hu Tao's eyes lit up, and she spoke warmly: "Nilou, what a lovely name! We'll be friends instantly, I can already tell. I'm Hu Tao, the seventy-seventh master of the Wangsheng Funeral Parlor in Liyue. I just became a deity a couple of days ago."

Seeing how enthusiastic Hu Tao was, Nilou quickly responded: "I am a dancer at the Zubayr Theater in Sumeru City. I recently became the Goddess of Dance."

Hu Tao nodded: "The Goddess of Dance? Miss Nilou must be an amazing dancer." Then she changed the subject, "By the way, Miss Nilou, are you interested in the services of the Wangsheng Funeral Parlor?"

Nilou blinked, confused: "Funeral Parlor?" Though she wasn't sure about the relationship between this enthusiastic Miss Hu Tao and Lord Takumi, they certainly seemed close.

Hu Tao smiled and produced a business card: "This is a special business card I had made by the Steambird Newspaper in Fontaine. Currently, Wangsheng Funeral Parlor is offering a promotion: mortals get a 'buy one, get one free' deal, and the second god's tombstone is half-price. Value guaranteed!"

Takumi looked at Hu Tao, who had already begun promoting her business, and couldn't help but comment: "Hall Master Hu, you do realize gods are immortal, right? Are you sure you'll ever get to use that second tombstone to hold a funeral for anyone?"

Nilou stared at the business card, her expression frozen. So the Wangsheng Funeral Parlor was for funerals. What did Miss Hu Tao mean by this?

Hu Tao patted her chest with a sincere tone: "Oh, Brother Takumi, while gods may be immortal, they aren't invincible. Accidents happen."

"Just like the demon war we had in Liyue—even demons and evil gods perished. And when they die, their remains contaminate the land. That's why Wangsheng Funeral Parlor exists."

"I promise that after death, I'll handle the remains of demon gods and ensure they're given luxurious burial plots."

"If you're worried about your estate being mismanaged after your untimely demise, we at Wangsheng Funeral Parlor can even help draft your will. Rest assured, everything will be handled properly."

Hu Tao puffed her chest out proudly, though, even as a deity, her chest didn't move in the slightest.

Nilou blinked and thought deeply for a moment: "What Miss Hu Tao said makes some sense."

Hu Tao gave Nilou a thumbs-up: "I knew it! You're sharp, as expected of my friend. It took me quite a while to come up with this new business."

Takumi rubbed his chin thoughtfully: "It does make some sense... A business for gods, huh?"

Once the number of gods reached a certain level, would they form a unique "society of gods"?

An organization with rules like the Wangsheng Funeral Parlor was akin to the "community" concept in the Little Garden Universe. A divine organization engaged in business could be called a "trade community," while one specializing in hosting games would be the "player community." Simply put, in understandable modern terms, it was like the different players in the NBA or a football club.

Takumi couldn't help but laugh: "Haha, this is really interesting."

Even if he didn't intentionally guide it in this direction, things had already taken shape.

The major gods governed each pantheon, and the gods in those pantheons began running their own "business." Every deity engaging in "business" formed their own "community."

After all, gods would naturally have many followers, and these followers would create a small social ecosystem within the "community."

It was comparable to a company, where the deity acted as the CEO.

Takumi's thoughts drifted, envisioning the godly ecology of the Teyvat Universe.

Mondstadt.

Diluc, who ran the wine industry, had invited Diona, the Goddess of Wine, along with other minor gods, to form the Dawn Winery caravan and sell their wine to other nations—a business community.

The Knights of Favonius, meanwhile, represented a "knightly community," dedicated to safeguarding Mondstadt's divine system.

Liyue had even more such "communities."

Liyue's Qixing and Eight Gates could be regarded as communities, as could the Feiyun Commerce Guild, the Lion Dance Troupe, the WeiHan Opera Troupe, and the Crux Fleet—all of which already included minor and mid-level deities.

Wanmintang, where Xiangling served as the "God of Cooking," was another example.

Sumeru.

Zubayr Theater, Aaru Village, the major academies, and the Gilded Brigade all had their divine influences.

Fontaine.

Merope-Turner Bank, Steambird Newspaper, and the Tohruns Roses Society.

Snezhnaya.

The Northland Bank, and the Adventurer's Guild.

This wasn't limited to just nations within the main world. The newly ascended gods quickly adapted to this "god ecology" and prepared to explore new lands to establish their own nations.

The corners of Takumi's mouth curled into a smile: "It's becoming more and more interesting. No, this is the only way for it to truly be interesting."

Hu Tao assumed Takumi meant her new business idea was amusing, and she put her hands on her hips proudly. "Brother Takumi has a good eye."

Her eyes sparkled with expectation: "Since you think it's interesting, Brother Takumi, how about booking a deluxe package? I promise it'll be worth the money. With our relationship, I'll even give you a 'buy one, get two free' deal!"

Takumi's expression froze, and he almost paused. He reached out and flicked Hu Tao's forehead.

"Ow!" Hu Tao clutched her head in pain, squatting down defensively as tears welled up in her eyes. "Why did you give me a brain flick out of nowhere?"

Takumi shrugged: "Buy one, get two free? Are you wishing for my quick demise?"

Hu Tao rubbed her forehead, her plum blossom eyes flashing as she leaned in and spoke quietly into Takumi's ear.

"Brother Takumi, there's something I'm unsure if I should ask. Let me say it first, though—if I'm wrong, just pretend it was nonsense, okay?"

Takumi's eyes shifted slightly as he pondered: "Oh? What does the Hall Master want to ask?"

Hu Tao smiled slyly: "Oh, you have to promise first, then I'll dare ask."

Takumi, amused by her quirky behavior, said: "Alright, I promise."

Hu Tao's plum blossom eyes flickered slightly, and with hesitation in her voice, she cautiously asked: "Are you... the one from the heavens?"