Chen Tianwu extended his arm toward the assembled Yakshas.
At a silent signal from Morax, the Yakshas, who had been preparing to "counter-attack," voluntarily lowered their defenses.
"What is… this?"
With groans of suppressed, intense pain, a large amount of black mist surged from the Yakshas' bodies, coalescing into a sphere in Chen Tianwu's hand—
Crack!
He crushed it with one hand!
Standing behind Morax, the deer-like adeptus "Moon Carver" stared at the newcomer with an expression of utter disbelief. This suddenly appearing "Demon God" had accomplished what their Lord had attempted countless times, yet failed to achieve!
One must understand, for the sake of the Yakshas, Rex Lapis had personally visited more than one god seeking aid!
"This is just a small application of the Authority of Corrosion."
Chen Tianwu clapped his hands lightly.
"I am not particularly skilled in this area. About eighty percent of the 'toxins' in their bodies have been purged. With their strength, they should be able to maintain this state for about two thousand years before it deteriorates again."
"To resolve it completely…"
Chen Tianwu lowered his head in thought for a moment.
"The Death Legion is much more fond of playing in this domain. If 'that guy' were to act, he could completely eradicate these ailments in an instant."
"…"
"I have never heard of beings such as you."
After a brief silence, Morax spoke slowly.
"That is only natural."
"We do not belong to this world…"
Chen Tianwu's tone shifted.
"Are you satisfied with this down payment?"
Just like Ana, though the Empire's methods were a fifty-fifty split between "direct" and "indirect," they never deigned to hide their origins.
"…"
"How many powerhouses like you are there in your 'Legion'?"
Morax did not answer directly, but his question already revealed his inclination.
"How many?"
"It's not that I'm hiding anything."
Chen Tianwu, in a complete reversal of his previous image, scratched his head vigorously.
"It's that I really don't know. There are leaders above me, and leaders above them, and then the real high command even further up."
"As for those like me…"
"On the surface, there should be about a hundred, I suppose."
Hiss…
A sharp intake of breath was heard.
Without a doubt, to hold a seat among The Seven Archons was to represent the pinnacle of combat power among the Demon Gods. And among them, Rex Lapis, the most ancient, was one of the strongest of the Archons.
Hundreds of powerhouses of that caliber, and they weren't even their top-tier forces!
If this newcomer was not lying—
"What are the terms of the contract?"
Only Morax spoke, his voice calm and unhurried.
"Become a part of the Empire, and His Majesty the Emperor will resolve your 'Erosion'."
"Can these words be trusted?"
"'Those who break their word shall suffer the punishment of eating rock.'" — A Legion Commander of the Empire, even when using an Authority they were not skilled in, could inadvertently gather a great deal of intelligence.
"…"
"The world has long suffered under Sky Island."
---o---
Strum.
Amidst the soothing notes of a harp, Khamsin, seated before a giant tree, concluded his performance.
"Greater Lord Rukkhadevata, please grant me an audience."
"…"
A moment later, a pale green sphere of light slowly precipitated from the giant tree, and a humanoid figure, its voice and appearance completely indistinct, materialized before Khamsin.
This was Sumeru, the nation of flora. Khamsin, a master of the [Authority of Consciousness], had already obtained most of the information he desired from [the Void], which connected all of Sumeru.
"Hello, outlander."
"Please forgive me for being unable to meet you in my true form."
A low and steady voice echoed in Khamsin's spiritual world.
"Hello, Lord 'Dendro Archon'."
"I understand your concerns, but time is of the essence. Let us get straight to the point."
Although Khamsin had the appearance of a young boy in his humanoid form, his lifespan was longer than that of all the other Legion Commanders currently on Teyvat combined. He was an existence who had become a [Primordial Species] during the first millennium of the Empire's founding, and his current power was unfathomable.
"Although Sky Island has blocked much,"
"As a 'temporary' loser of a war, it does not have much time. The Apostles are not so easily dealt with."
"And you…"
"Through the existence of [the Void], you should already know a great deal."
"As the 'Greater Lord Rukkhadevata,' the most knowledgeable of the Demon Gods, you know far too much—so much that it even threatens the stability of the Teyvat continent."
Khamsin spoke in a calm, unhurried manner.
"You will die."
"And although you do not fear death,"
"Since I have come here, I will naturally offer you a better choice."
"…"
"Please speak."
Though it was barely perceptible, Khamsin still sensed a faint mental fluctuation from the being before him.
"Please give me the key to the door."
"…"
---o---
"Lord 'Dendro Archon'."
"This is no time to play dumb."
"Although this 'examination' is merely a pretext, I am actually quite interested in the position of Apostle. You don't need to know the details, just one thing: if you force my hand, all of Sumeru will be buried alongside your foolishness."
Khamsin spoke, still with a smile on his face.
"This is not a threat."
"After all, the difference between having the key and not… a secret that interests even His Majesty the Emperor holds potential threats that I cannot bear."
"To trade a nation for a bit more certainty."
Khamsin paused for a moment.
"For an old fellow who has lived for too long, this is a very worthwhile trade."
"…"
Greater Lord Rukkhadevata's silence lasted longer than ever before, but Khamsin did not interrupt her decision.
"Since it is a choice,"
"Then may I consider it a transaction? What will Sumeru gain from this?"
"But of course."
"The oppression of the sky will be no more. Knowledge far beyond this 'cage' will be accessible to all. And the power for all things to become 'gods'."
Khamsin's smile widened.
"His Majesty the Emperor…"
"Is never stingy with his generosity."
---o---
"I see."
Khamsin looked down at the giant fruit and the tree.
"Using memory as a key, becoming one with the forest."
"And every piece of memory (every individual) is your retainer…"
"A truly unique idea. If you had been born in the Empire, your attainments in the Authority of Consciousness would be far beyond their current level."
"…"
"Thank you for the praise."
After a long ritual, a seed slowly rose from a fruit buried deep beneath the giant tree, floating directly in front of Khamsin.
"This is the 'key' you are looking for."
Accepting the floating, emerald-green seed, Khamsin slowly closed his eyes.
"Let's see now…"
"Just what is the secret that Sky Island is hiding."