Genshin Impacti: This Priest is Cringe, But She's Also Unbeatable — Chapter 66

Chapter 66: The Grind is Real, But The Skills Are… Questionable

Celeste froze, her head slowly tilting upward.

Stretched across the ceiling of the training room, a massive, translucent holographic screen had materialized out of thin air.

On the screen, a chibi version of Shenhe sported an impossibly flowing, high pink ponytail, her cartoonish design bordering on the absurd. Her tiny body was wrapped around a bowl larger than her face as she buried her head in it, slurping down steaming hot noodles with gusto. Her cheeks were puffed out like a chipmunk’s, and her eyes scrunched shut in pure bliss. Two silly-looking characters floated above her head: “Delicious!”

Beside her, a small line of text provided the character setting.

【Adepti Daily Life · Part 4: Pure of heart and with few desires, but utterly powerless against a good bowl of noodles.】

Celeste went completely rigid.

‘System, if you’re going to upgrade, just upgrade! Why are you injecting your own fanfiction into the character PVs?!’she screamed internally.’And you specifically Photoshopped my pink hair onto her?! Are you afraid my social death won’t be painful enough?!’

She stiffly turned her head away, fighting to maintain Shenhe’s aloof and glacial demeanor, pretending she hadn’t seen a thing.

“Sis,” Selene pointed up, her voice laced with curiosity. “Does this unstable Heroic Spirit Summoning come with little skits now? I thought only ultimate moves got cutscenes.”

Celeste’s face remained a mask of ice. “Correct. This is also part of the training—to thicken one’s skin.”

The Shenhe transformation lasted for a full three minutes.

During that time, Celeste forced herself to practice a few sets of spear techniques. The frigid tip of the spear sliced through the air, leaving shimmering talismans in its wake. The chilling aura it exuded was obvious, its power truly shocking.

Once the three minutes were up, a familiar pink halo enveloped her again, and she reverted to the form of the priestess, staff in hand.

“Continue.”

Celeste expressionlessly raised her staff, aiming it at the training puppet once more.

“Healing Spell!”

“Healing Spell!”

“Hea—”

【Overtones triggered! BGM: 《Moon in the Cup》 (Liyue Harbor Battle Theme). Costume Change Character: Yanfei.】

A bright, lively melody, woven with a scholarly air and the vibrant energy of a bustling city, instantly flooded the training room.

Amidst the swirling pink light, the simple priest robe on Celeste’s body dissolved, reforming into a smart red short skirt. An exquisite Xiezhi legal crown, symbolizing justice, materialized atop her head. A book so thick it could be used as a murder weapon—《Liyue Legal Essentials》—appeared out of thin air, nestled in her arms.

【Extra Buff: Can use Yanfei’s Pyro element talisman techniques and legal debate skills. During the duration, eloquence and logical thinking are greatly enhanced.】

【First trigger of this character costume change, extra reward drawing…】

【Congratulations to the Host, you have permanently mastered: Photographic Memory (Expert Level)!】

Celeste was stunned for a second before a tidal wave of pure joy crashed over her.

‘A god-tier skill! This is an absolute cheat code!’she thought, ecstatic.’Whether it’s learning ancient martial arts or just cramming for university exams, this ability is completely broken!’

Her elation, however, didn’t even last three seconds. The holographic projection above her head lit up again.

The chibi, pink-haired Yanfei was facing the camera, waving a small hand as she chattered on about legal education.

“Remember, if I really wanted to commit a crime, I would first read the entire criminal code from cover to cover and find all the legal loopholes… oh, wait. I am a law-abiding, excellent citizen. How could I possibly commit a crime?”

That expression, a perfect blend of righteous indignation and the sly cunning of a little fox, made the corner of Celeste’s eye twitch violently.

She clutched the massive law tome to her chest, struggling to keep her face a blank canvas as she mechanically recited the character’s lines to her bewildered sister.

“Want to fall asleep quickly? Then allow me to explain the evolutionary history of Liyue law. None of my friends have ever been able to last more than twenty minutes…”

Selene just stared. “…?”

‘Is my sister getting a little too into character?’

A few minutes later, the light flashed, and Celeste silently raised her staff for the third time.

“Healing Spell!”

‘Next song! Let’s get this over with!’

【Overtones triggered! BGM: 《Moon Over the Mountain》 (Qingce Village Theme). Costume Change Character: Baizhu.】

A melodious and gentle tune filled the air, seeming to carry with it the faint, bitter scent of medicinal herbs.

The pink light dispersed. Celeste now wore a long, flowing robe of green and white. A surprisingly realistic white snake prop named “Changsheng” was even wrapped around her neck. Holding a medicine pouch, her entire temperament shifted, becoming gentle and elegant.

The only problem was that the male-tailored outfit looked a bit… generous around her chest, severely undermining the ethereal, world-saving aura she was supposed to be projecting.

‘Mere men’s clothing! Don’t think you can make me blush again!’ Celeste snorted internally. It wasn’t like she hadn’t worn Zhongli’s suit before!

【Extra Buff: Can use Baizhu’s medical skills and Dendro element Healing Spell. During the duration, pharmacological perception and vitality affinity are greatly enhanced.】

【First trigger of this character costume change, extra reward drawing…】

【Congratulations to the Host, you have permanently mastered: Baizhu’s Herb Identification and Processing Techniques (Master Level)!】

Celeste processed the new knowledge that had just been downloaded into her brain—the characteristics and preparation methods of hundreds of rare herbs from the continent of Teyvat—and fell silent once more.

‘This… seems a little useful, but not by much.’

The plants on Blue Star and those in Teyvat probably weren’t even in the same botanical family, right?

“Sis, there are Heroic Spirits who know medicine, too?” Selene’s eyes lit up, her interest completely piqued.

Celeste pushed up a pair of non-existent glasses on the bridge of her nose, her tone gentle as she slipped into character. “Extend your arm. Let me take your pulse.”

Selene obediently held out her wrist.

Three seconds later, Celeste mused, “Your pulse is steady, and your qi and blood are vigorous. Only your liver fire is slightly high, which should be from recent training fatigue. I will prescribe a formula for you to clear the heart and reduce the fire: three qian of Violetgrass and one Qingxin, decocted with morning dew. You will recover in three days.”

Selene blinked. “…What are Violetgrass and Qingxin?”

Celeste answered calmly, “Specialties from another world.”

“…Oh.”

As the two sisters spoke, the holographic screen overhead played its little skit. The pink-haired chibi Baizhu was patiently explaining to a Sweet Flower, “This item is neutral in nature and sweet in taste. Although it has no major medicinal use, drinking it in water can soothe the mind… Changsheng, how many times have I told you not to steal the ingredients.”

In the corner of the screen, the little white snake was sneakily opening its mouth, taking a bite out of the innocent-looking flower.

Celeste pressed a hand to her forehead.

She was so, so tired.

“Continue!”

For the next several days, the training room became a stage for all sorts of bizarre costume changes.

The melodious strains of 《Tomorrow of Hope》 played, and Celeste transformed into the dashing Captain Beidou, a massive greatsword slung over her shoulder. She then permanently mastered… Beidou’s Deep-Sea Fishing and Ship Piloting Techniques (Proficient Level).

“At sea, the most important thing isn’t strength, it’s vision! Target the school of fish, cast the net… eh? Is inshore fishing prohibited here?”

The elegant notes of 《Jade of the Grand Chasm》 filled the room, and Celeste transformed into the Tianquan of Liyue, Ningguang, rubbing a gemstone between her fingertips. Her reward was permanently mastering… Ningguang’s Business Negotiation and Art Appraisal Abilities (Expert Level).

“This antique looks like an imperial kiln piece from the previous dynasty, but the glaze is too bright and the body is too light. It should be a high-quality imitation from about thirty years ago. Estimated price… 800,000 Mora, not a coin more.”

…

Selene had progressed from initial shock to a state of deep numbness.

By the end, she could hold a perfect horse stance while calmly delivering live, sharp-witted critiques.

“Sis, your pirate transformation has way more presence than that lawyer from last time.”

“Sis, why do you keep sneezing when you turn into this singer? Are you allergic to pollen?”

“Sis, that chibi person on the screen is stealing offerings from the shrine again…”

Two weeks flew by in the blink of an eye.

July 12th, the last day of their training.

Celeste stared at the dazzling array of “permanent abilities” that now populated her system panel, 80% of which had zero impact on her combat power. Her feelings were… complicated.

Shenhe’s spear techniques were a solid boost to her fighting ability.

Yanfei’s photographic memory was a huge help for studying.

But what the hell was the rest of this?

Medicine, fishing, art appraisal, writing novels…

“System,” she couldn’t help but complain in her mind, “is your reward pool themed around the ‘master of all trades’ concept or something?”

[Ding! The path of Elation lies in experiencing the infinite possibilities of life! The Host must learn to find joy in non-combat areas as well! Elation Coins +233!]

[Additionally, please face your identity as an unlucky person!]

Celeste rolled her eyes.

‘That’s the one thing you don’t need to remind me of!’

Whatever. Having something was better than having nothing. At least if she ever transmigrated to ancient times again, she could make a living with her medical skills or fishing techniques.

“Pack your things. We leave for Tianshu tomorrow.” She dismissed her staff and looked at her sister.

After two weeks of grueling training, Selene could now hold a horse stance for a steady half-hour. When she braced with a shield, her lower body was as immovable as a mountain. Her progress had been astonishingly rapid.

“Sis,” Selene leaned in, lowering her voice, her eyes sparkling with a gossipy glint. “Do you think… in the special training camp, there will be other classmates with a style as bizarre as yours?”

Celeste thought for a moment, and the corners of her mouth curled into an irrepressible, playful smile.

“Maybe.”

“After all,” she continued, her gaze drifting out the window, “anyone who was personally named by Teacher Chen and called for special training this early… should have something special about them.”

The sunset was a fiery blaze, burning the clouds on the horizon into a brilliant, molten gold.

The upcoming special training camp was sure to be very… “exciting.”

“I’m already looking forward to it.”