You’re standing on Mt. Tianheng. The wind is howling, Paimon is hungry—big surprise there—and you’re staring at a floating palace that seems impossible to reach. Honestly, this is the moment most players realize that the Liyue storyline isn't just a simple fetch quest anymore. It’s a turning point.
When a new star approaches genshin, the game fundamentally shifts from "whimsical adventure" to "political thriller with a side of cosmic horror."
Most players treat Chapter I: Act III as just another box to check for those 120 Primogems. They rush through the dialogue, skip the lore about the Archon War, and then wonder why the ending hits like a freight train. But if you're paying attention, this quest is where the gloves come off.
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Why the Jade Chamber is a Massive Red Herring
Everyone talks about the Jade Chamber like it’s just Ningguang’s flashy office. It’s more than that. It’s a literal manifestation of her ambition, and in the quest a new star approaches genshin, it serves as the ultimate sacrificial pawn.
You spend the first half of the act essentially being a delivery person. You're gathering ingredients for a "Sugar-Frosted Slime"—which, let's be real, sounds disgusting—just to get an audience with the Tianquan.
But look at the subtext.
The Qixing aren't just rich bureaucrats. They’re humans trying to prove they can run a nation without a god. While you're busy hunting for an "Extra-Sweet Sweet Flower" near the Sea of Clouds, the game is quietly setting up the argument for humanity's independence.
The Childe Problem
Childe is a mess. A lovable, murderous, highly confused mess.
During the Golden House duel, which is arguably the first real "skill check" for many players, you see the cracks in the Fatui's plan. He thinks he’s the mastermind. He thinks he’s found the Gnosis in the Exuvia.
He hasn't.
Basically, Childe is being played by both Zhongli and La Signora. It's a three-dimensional chess game where he's the only one playing checkers. When he realizes the Gnosis isn't there, he loses his cool and summons Osial, the Overlord of the Vortex.
Beating the Childe Boss Fight Without Tearing Your Hair Out
If you're stuck on the Heart of Glaze section, you aren't alone. This was the first major roadblock in 2020, and even in 2026, new players still get caught off guard by the Phase 3 transformation.
- Phase 1 (Hydro): Stay close. If you let him range you, he’ll rain arrows down that are way harder to dodge.
- Phase 2 (Electro): This is where the "Raging Tide" comes in. If he marks you with a purple ring, run to the edge of the arena to cleanse it. If you don't? Boom. Instant death.
- Phase 3 (Foul Legacy): He’s a glass cannon here. He hits like a truck, but he can't take a hit. Bring a shielder like Noelle or Layla if you don't have Zhongli yet.
The fight is a test of stamina and reaction time, not just gear.
The Osial Battle: A Mechanical Mess or Masterpiece?
Once the dust settles at the Golden House, the real chaos begins. A new star approaches genshin culminates in a tower defense-style battle on the Jade Chamber.
You’ve got the Adepti—Cloud Retainer, Mountain Shaper, and Moon Carver—all lending you their power. It feels epic. The screen is filled with golden light, Fatui agents are portaling in from everywhere, and the Guizhong Ballista is firing massive bolts into the ocean.
But honestly? The actual gameplay here is a bit frantic.
You’re defending three different points while receiving buffs that make your character feel like a god. Ganyu shows up (her first real introduction), and Keqing is darting around the battlefield. The real takeaway isn't the combat, though—it’s the sacrifice.
Ningguang dropping the Jade Chamber onto Osial is the most "human" moment in the game's early chapters. She spent her whole life building that palace from a single coin, and she threw it away to save a city that was already mourning its god.
What Most People Miss: The Zhongli Contract
The ending of a new star approaches genshin is where things get controversial.
Zhongli—spoiler alert for the three people who don't know yet—is Rex Lapis. He’s been alive the whole time, sipping tea and watching the chaos. He gave up his Gnosis willingly.
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Why?
"The contract to end all contracts."
Most players think he just got tired of being a god. But if you read the fine print of the dialogue at the Northland Bank, you realize he was testing Liyue. He wanted to see if the Qixing and the Adepti could actually work together without him holding their hands.
The result? They could.
He didn't just quit; he retired after ensuring his legacy was safe. It’s a level of foresight that makes the previous Archon, Venti, look like a complete amateur.
Essential Rewards Breakdown
Don't forget to actually claim your stuff after the "Fond Farewell" segment.
- 120 Primogems: Enough for nearly one whole pull (yay...).
- Adventure EXP: About 4,425 total across all sub-quests.
- Memory of Immovable Crystals: This is huge. It’s the material you need to unlock the Constellations for your Geo Traveler.
- Monolith Fragment: A quest item that serves as a souvenir of the battle.
Your Next Steps in Liyue
So, the star has approached, the god has "died," and the bank is missing a lot of gold. What now?
First, go talk to the NPCs around Yujing Terrace. Their dialogue changes significantly after the Rite of Parting, and it adds a lot of flavor to the world-building that the main quest skips over.
Second, make sure you've hit Adventure Rank 30. You’ll need it to start the "We Will Be Reunited" chapter, which introduces the Abyss Twin and Dainsleif. If you’re underleveled, head to the Guili Plains and clear out some world quests; the "Treasure Lost, Treasure Found" questline is a great way to bridge the gap while staying in the Liyue lore loop.
Finally, check your inventory for the "Sigil of Permission." It’s a useless item now, but keeping it is a nice reminder of the time you were a wanted criminal in the Land of Contracts.
The story moves to Inazuma soon, but the fallout of a new star approaches genshin ripples through the game for years. Don't rush the ending—the "Fond Farewell" with Zhongli on the balcony is one of the few times the game actually lets you breathe and ask questions. Take the time to listen to his answers.