Head to the designated location to meet Todd

📍 The Xianzhou Luofu Central Starskiff Haven

???

Oh it's you, {NICKNAME}.

Options

...Todd?

Who are you?

Todd

Same old me. The one and only.

Todd

Although I probably shouldn't say "old," because this body doesn't grow old anymore.

Todd

It's me, Todd. The one and only.

Todd

This is what I want to share with you. As a researcher of Xianzhou culture, my teacher and I have combed through all the literature. And I've gotten a good grasp of all the main precious parts.

Options

Have you gotten younger!?

Did you get plastic surgery?

Todd

Hey — Shhh! The Xianzhou people are extremely sensitive to that kind of talk.

Todd

...Now that's letting your imagination run wild.

Todd

Immortality... The Xianzhou Alliance possesses a secret which all short-life species crave, but they keep it to themselves.

Todd

The Guild is always keen to obtain stable and safe longevity therapies from the Xianzhou Alliance — In fact, it forms the basis for all research into Xianzhou culture.

Todd

But generation after generation of scholars came here, grew old, and returned without success. Until finally, the Guild almost gave up this field completely.

Todd

My teacher, Scholar Bernini, was one of them. He should have gone home empty-handed just like everyone else. But somehow what he found was adventure.

Options

So you want to enter Scalegorge Waterscape...

Those patterns left in Scalegorge Waterscape...

Todd

Yes. A Vidyadhara brought my teacher to this sacred place once, which switched his focus on longevity over to the Vidyadhara.

Todd

But that violated the Xianzhou's "Ten Unpardonable Sins." Knowing he couldn't leave behind any traces, he used the Guild's markings and left behind a series of patterns that seemed to merely illustrate history.

Todd

And now that I've deciphered the code to these patterns, I now understand their hidden meaning — the Vidyadhara pursue longevity in the correct manner.

Options

What did you do...

That's a crime on the Xianzhou.

System

A look of pain falls across Todd's young face.

Todd

I never thought I'd ever have anything to do with "crime" in my life, but... {NICKNAME}, by the time I'd realized it, things had already happened.

Todd

I took a few samples from inside a Vidyadhara egg. Nobody was harmed in the slightest.

Todd

That egg also remained intact, but it just lost... a little bit of "egg white." That's all. But its benefit to society is obvious, isn't it?

System

Todd raised his once dry and skinny hand to show that his wrinkles had disappeared, revealing fair, smooth skin instead.

Todd

I could have just walked away. I could've just kept quiet — talking to anyone would mean risking jail time. But... It's you, and I wanted to tell you about all of this.

Todd

My whole life I've always been sticking to the rule of reciprocity, and nothing's changed now. Without your help, I would never be where I am today.

Todd

{NICKNAME}, you are an outstanding young {F#woman}{M#man}, and this old timer... Well, you've inspired me to reconsider taking on an apprentice.

Todd

I've got a proposal for you: Join our Guild! We'll split all the glory, the riches, and the extended youth granted by this secret. You'll be free to do whatever you want. Just keep this a secret until we leave the Luofu.

Todd

How about you think it over? And then give me your answer, okay?

Talk to Todd and make your choice

Todd

Thought things through yet, {NICKNAME}?

Todd

As someone who's shown me kindness before, I will not treat you poorly.

Options

(Decline Todd's proposal)

(Promise to keep it secret)

Todd

No? Why not?

Options

I'm not interested in immortality.

I have no intention of becoming a criminal accomplice.

Todd

Ha... Hahaha...

Todd

You don't get it. You don't understand the true value of this secret at all. I was just a know-it-all just like you at your age, thinking I'd have countless possibilities before me and that youth would never fade.

Todd

No, you don't understand! You could never believe or even imagine what kind of hell aging actually is!

Todd

You don't know what it's like to be soaked in the humiliation of your own incontinence. The never-ending torture of arthritis. Memory loss and dementia have yet to gnaw into your quick-witted mind just yet...

Todd

{NICKNAME}... One day, we'll all be old.

Todd

You're scared? Are you scared of being hunted by the Xianzhou Alliance?

Todd

Don't panic. You'll find you have plenty of protection when the super-rich and powerful can profit from something. The Xianzhou will be helpless.

Todd

Do you have some sense of innate justice? Or do you believe that rhetoric about how the Xianzhou people forbid Abundance? *sigh* None of that matters now, anyway.

System

Todd sighs deeply.

Todd

You've made your choice, I guess for the sake of my own safety, it's time for me to go.

System

Todd bows and shoots you a smooth salute, before turning to quickly leave.

System

You're not sure about Todd's future plans, but you somehow feel that your destinies will still intertwine somewhere.

Todd

I knew I was right about you.

Options

I don't plan on becoming an apprentice...

I'm not interested in immortality...

Todd

Is the path of the Nameless more popular with the kids these days? I won't force things.

Todd

Ha... Hahaha...

Todd

You don't get it. You don't understand the true value of this secret at all. I was just a know-it-all just like you at your age, thinking I'd have countless possibilities before me and that youth would never fade.

Todd

If you ever change your mind, come find me any time. My proposal stands in perpetuity.

System

Todd bows and shoots you a smooth salute, before turning to quickly leave.

System

You're not sure about Todd's future plans, but you somehow feel that your destinies will still intertwine somewhere.

{NICKNAME}

Surprisingly, Todd's research was successful. He's got some guts...

{NICKNAME}

Where is this guy planning to hide, and how does he intend to leave the Xianzhou? Let's wait and see — he might come asking for my help again in less than a day.

Head to Starskiff Haven and meet with Todd

System

A child stands alone in the place where Todd was always waiting. For some reason, his young face looks rather familiar.

Todd

There you are.

Options

How did you turn into... this?

What in the world happened?

Todd

...

Todd

Hehe, I just was a little sloppy with my experiment. An inevitable result.

Todd

I thought I'd gained immortality, but unfortunately things were not that simple.

Todd

My body, it keeps shrinking. My skin, muscles, organs... Indeed, I'm getting younger, you see, but this "youth" doesn't seem to have an off switch.

Options

You're de-aging?

Kind of like the Vidyadhara tradition of hatching rebirth...

Todd

Yes. But so far as I know, their "rebirths" have a limit.

Todd

Test results indicate that this de-aging process seems to have no endpoint. It won't be long before I'm illiterate and won't be able to understand my own reports — which would seem no difference from regular dementia.

Todd

In the end, I might even become an egg again, just like the Vidyadhara. Perhaps I could become a human embryo once again — I mean, I'm not Vidyadhara, am I?

Todd

Ahh... Isn't it ironic? Don't you think?

Todd

My wish came true — just not in the form I thought it would take. The oldest stories in human civilization are fables that take this line. Seems like they aren't just a cliche, after all.

Options

What can I help you with?

Do you want me to fetch a healer from the Alchemy Commission?

Todd

You've already done so much for me. More than my teachers and apprentices combined. And I don't want to bother anyone else anymore.

Todd

Please, {NICKNAME}. There really is no need for anything. Just coming to chat with me is cause enough for celebration.

System

The boy cups his chin in thought for a brief moment in a pose that is beyond his age.

Todd

If you really are sincere about helping me with something...

Todd

Just take me for a spin around the market, buy me some snacks, and have some fun with me! Don't doctors always say that when a terminal case is hopeless to "Take them out to eat whatever they want, and go around and have fun"?

Todd

I want to have one last good time before I turn into a mindless baby.

Follow Todd to the food stall

Todd

Let's go!

Todd

I want something sweet!

Fulfill Todd's wish and buy him a berrypheasant skewer

Food Stall Owner

Tuskpir wrap! Songlotus cake! Berrypheasant skewers! Come and get 'em!

Todd

It's silly, but when I was researching Xianzhou culture, I never paid attention to these street snacks. The Guild never had much time for ordinary knowledge unless they were profitable.

Options

What'll it be?

Todd

Can you please ask for me...

Todd

Oh, no it should be...

Todd

I want berrypheasant skewers! I just want berrypheasant skewers! Can you please get me some?

Todd

Is that okay?

Options

Quit being so childish!

Buy whatever you want yourself!

Todd

Hehe, I can't help putting on this tone. I haven't been a child for so long that I'm not really used to speaking. Forgive me.

Todd

What? I thought you were sincere about wanting to help me do something? But now you're asking me to fork out for it?

Todd

...I, I won't! I won't do it! I want you to buy it for me! I want to eat a berrypheasant skewer!

Food Stall Owner

Young {F#woman}{M#man}, is this your little brother? He's so cute. You can't be so harsh like that to a kid, or you'll scare him.

Todd

Hear that?

Give the berrypheasant skewer you bought to Todd

Activation Conditions:F202020321

Options

Success

Fail

Todd

Did you buy it?

Options

Here, take it.

Options

Deliver item

Cancel

Todd

Alright... Let me have a taste...

System

The boy places the bright red candies into his mouth, one at a time.

Todd

Ha, it's so sweet.

Todd

Most people rarely get to enjoy such a carefree feeling, except in childhood. Growing up, studying, working... Always chasing this or that thing.

Todd

Thinking about it like this, doesn't living like a long-life species seem hopeless... How can they put up with the endless repetition of life for hundreds of years?

Todd

For them, life should be like this candy here in my mouth. Sweet at first, but then soon disappearing without a trace just to leave behind nothing but empty desire.

Todd

Teehee, and in spite of everything I always dreamed of becoming one of them.

System

The boy smacked his lips, craving more.

Todd

All finished. Where should we go next? I wanna... go to the Exalting Sanctum!

System

The boy vanished without a trace.

- Todd's Snack x 1

Todd

Did you buy it?

Options

I haven't... bought that... yet...

Todd

Quit dilly-dallying, this old timer can't wait around for you all day! Quickly, c'mon! Berrypheasant skewers! Berrypheasant skewers!

Accompany Todd to wander and stroll around the Exalting Sanctum

📍 The Xianzhou Luofu Exalting Sanctum

🏃‍♂️

Move

Todd

Speaking of which, I've been around the block, y'know...

Todd

Pier Point, Vonwacq, Taikiyan...

Todd

And Banquet Star, where you never stop eating!

Bailu

Uh-huh!

Todd

...Once you grow older, you simply have to step off the Xianzhou to take a look at the cosmos outside!

Bailu

Uh-huh!

Todd

I've been to Pier Point, Vonwacq, Taikiyan, and even Punklorde... By the way, if it's a foodie paradise you're after, then you simply have to check out Banquet Star!

Bailu

Uh-huh!

Bailu

By the way, kid, I haven't seen you around here before.

Todd

I've seen you before though, Lady Bailu.

Bailu

Please, no need for formalities. I came out here just to be another diner among the people. You don't happen to have any snacks in your bag, do you? Why don't you share with us what you've got?

Todd

I'm sorry. I had a berrypheasant skewer but I already ate it all up.

Bailu

Oh, that's a pity. No matter, I'll be playing nearby here tomorrow, so you can bring me something to eat and come here.

Options

How's it going, O miracle doctor?

Mr. Todd, we should get going...

Just stop talking to yourself and running off, okay?

Bailu

Oh it's you, {F#Miss}{M#Sir}.

Todd

Oops, here comes my guardian. That's enough of our secret conversation for today, then.

Bailu

Alright, remember to bring some snacks with you tomorrow.

System

You take Todd to bid farewell to Bailu.

Todd

Now you're starting to get the hang of this parenting business. Running over to other kids and snatching away your own child.

Todd

Speaking of which, this kind of thing used to happen all the time when I was a kid. Whenever I wanted to play together with the pig-tailed girl next door, my parents would show up like an alarm clock and march me back to my desk.

Todd

I always wondered, what if they weren't always bothering me like that? Perhaps I'd have sired several grandchildren by now...

Options

Don't think about what could have been...

Where else do you want to go?

Bailu

Mister... Todd?

Todd

Can't you just treat me like a kid? If other people hear it, they'll be traumatized.

Todd

Oops, here comes my guardian. That's enough of our secret conversation for today, then.

Bailu

Alright, remember to bring some snacks with you tomorrow.

System

You take Todd to bid farewell to Bailu.

Todd

Now you're starting to get the hang of this parenting business. Running over to other kids and snatching away your own child.

Todd

Speaking of which, this kind of thing used to happen all the time when I was a kid. Whenever I wanted to play together with the pig-tailed girl next door, my parents would show up like an alarm clock and march me back to my desk.

Todd

I always wondered, what if they weren't always bothering me like that? Perhaps I'd have sired several grandchildren by now...

Options

Don't think about what could have been...

Where else do you want to go?

Todd

Oops, here comes my guardian. That's enough of our secret conversation for today, then.

Bailu

Alright, remember to bring some snacks with you tomorrow.

System

You take Todd to bid farewell to Bailu.

Todd

Now you're starting to get the hang of this parenting business. Running over to other kids and snatching away your own child.

Todd

Speaking of which, this kind of thing used to happen all the time when I was a kid. Whenever I wanted to play together with the pig-tailed girl next door, my parents would show up like an alarm clock and march me back to my desk.

Todd

I always wondered, what if they weren't always bothering me like that? Perhaps I'd have sired several grandchildren by now...

Options

Don't think about what could have been...

Where else do you want to go?

Todd

It's a real nightmare. Man did it seriously kill my mood for playtime.

Todd

Next up, let's go to Lunarescent Depths when it's windy.

Head to the Scalegorge Waterscape coast and talk with Todd

📍 The Xianzhou Luofu Scalegorge Waterscape

System

The little boy sits alone beside the sea.

Todd

...

Options

Are you all good?

Todd

I'm fine, just listening to the waves and watching the ocean. I've never felt so wide awake.

Todd

{NICKNAME}, I feel happy.

Todd

In this life I've been far better off than most people, who don't even know what they want, let alone how to get it. I became a published author, and I've taken on countless apprentices. I may have no children, but there are several of my students of whom I'm rather proud.

Todd

Best of all, I lived to see the results of my research and got the answers to what all the scholars were vying for — despite it all turning into a nasty joke.

Todd

So finally it's time for me to say thanks to you, {NICKNAME}, for being there for me right from the start.

Todd

By the way, I've recorded all the data from my experiments here — whether you want to pass it on to my apprentices, destroy it, or even hand it over to the Xianzhou authorities... The choice is yours.

Todd

It suddenly occurred to me that my teacher's final moments were spent swimming here with the fish in these ancient waters... And what of I? Will I also face such an ending?

System

The question went unanswered, and the child spoke no further.

Go to the Realm-Keeping Commission and report on Todd's doings

📍 The Xianzhou Luofu Realm-Keeping Commission Chancery

(Report Todd)

System

Dahao patiently listens to you recount the story, expressionless the whole time.

Dahao

Tsk, there's always a Guild scout who reckons that the Alliance's taboos are just hypocritical lies and not for them...

Dahao

"Immortality Theft" is one of the most grievous of felonies and is absolutely unpardonable. I'll report this to the Ten-Lords Commission. Thanks, {NICKNAME}.

Dahao

Mr. Todd's customs clearance docket and check-in details from the inn have been saved to the document office at the Realm-Keeping Commission. No matter how many more years his newfound youth affords him, he'll be spending the majority of it behind bars at The Shackling Prison.

Go to Petrichor Inn to ask the Ten-Lords Commission judge for information

📍 The Xianzhou Luofu Central Starskiff Haven

Xueyi

The Ten Lords are responsible for trying criminals, and bystanders cannot interfere.

Xueyi

You, I recognize you. Aren't you General Jing Yuan's esteemed guest?

Options

(Bring up Todd)

(Turn and leave)

Xueyi

He obviously won't be heading back to his residence. My team is on his tail.

Xueyi

You can't run from the long arm of the law. He won't get far.

{NICKNAME}

Surprisingly, Todd's research was successful. He's got some guts...

{NICKNAME}

Where is this guy planning to hide, and how does he intend to leave the Xianzhou? Let's wait and see — he might come asking for my help again in less than a day.

Head to the coast and meet with Todd

📍 The Xianzhou Luofu Scalegorge Waterscape

System

A child stands alone by the sea and, for some reason, his young face looks rather familiar.

Todd

There you are.

Todd

I was just hanging out over at the high elder statue and there was this guy, completely silent, who couldn't take his eyes off me. I thought he could be from the Ten-Lords Commission, so I snuck over here.

Options

How did you turn into... this?

What in the world happened?

Todd

...

Todd

Hehe, I just was a little sloppy with my experiment. An inevitable result.

Todd

I thought I'd gained immortality, but unfortunately things were not that simple.

Todd

My body, it keeps shrinking. My skin, muscles, organs... Indeed, I'm getting younger, you see, but this "youth" doesn't seem to have an off switch.

Options

You're de-aging?

Kind of like the Vidyadhara tradition of hatching rebirth...

Todd

Yes. But so far as I know, their "rebirths" have a limit.

Todd

Test results indicate that this de-aging process seems to have no endpoint. It won't be long before I'm illiterate and won't be able to understand my own reports — which would seem no difference from regular dementia.

Todd

In the end, I might even become an egg again, just like the Vidyadhara. Perhaps I could become a human embryo once again — I mean, I'm not Vidyadhara, am I?

Todd

Ahh... Isn't it ironic? Don't you think?

Todd

My wish came true — just not in the form I thought it would take. The oldest stories in human civilization are fables that take this line. Seems like they aren't just a cliche, after all.

Options

What can I help you with?

Do you want me to fetch a healer from the Alchemy Commission?

Todd

...

Todd

No no, no need this time. You've already done so much for me. More than my teachers and apprentices combined. And I don't want to bother anyone else anymore.

System

Todd's little eyes lit up with a flash of arrogance that was beyond his years.

Todd

That look in your eyes... Are you pitying me?

Todd

Please, {NICKNAME}. There really is no need for anything. Just coming to chat with me is cause enough for celebration.

Todd

In this life I've been far better off than most people, who don't even know what they want, let alone how to get it. I became a published author, and I've taken on countless apprentices. I may have no children, but there are several of my students of whom I'm rather proud.

Todd

Best of all, I lived to see the results of my research — despite it all turning into a nasty joke. But... Enough, that's enough for now. I'm satisfied.

System

The child's cherub face seemed to be smaller yet again.

Todd

...Sorry. That was a lot to just dump on you.

Todd

I just wanted to... say thanks to you, {NICKNAME}, for being there for me right from the start.

Todd

By the way, I've recorded all the data from my experiments here — whether you want to pass it on to my apprentices, destroy it, or even hand it over to the Xianzhou authorities... The choice is yours.

Todd

...

Todd

Goodbye, my friend.