At the gates of the Taixuan Sect, peace had returned once more.
Moments ago, eight mighty Archons had marched upon the mountain, and now—only their bleached bones lay scattered across the valleys.
No one, upon seeing the tranquil peaks, would imagine that eight Archons had just perished here.
The sect master's divine might was truly terrifying.
Gu Chen stood silently at the edge of a cliff, expression calm as still water, as if everything that had just happened had been within his expectations.
Behind him, Guizhong watched his back with eyes full of awe.
So strong…
Those were eight Archons—each brimming with immense elemental power—yet not a single one could withstand even one strike from him.
Were Archons always this fragile?
"No," she murmured to herself, "it's not that they're weak—it's that he's too strong."
The longer she spent in the Taixuan Sect, the more she realized how vast and frightening this new path truly was.
Before them stretched a boundless road, one whose end could not be seen.
A road far beyond the reach of mere Archons.
What was the strength of an Archon, really? No matter how great, they were still bound by the title Archon. Between gods and all other living beings lay a chasm that could never be crossed.
But now—
Even the weakest mortal, through their own cultivation, could rise to stand alongside gods, perhaps even surpass them.
Such a concept… even an Archon like Guizhong could scarcely comprehend it.
While she was deep in thought, Morax walked up beside her.
"Guizhong," he greeted with a nod.
"The Sect Master's strike just now nearly scared me out of my wits," Guizhong said with a laugh.
Morax nodded gravely. "I once believed myself unmatched among gods and demons alike... yet now I see how small I truly was. The world is vast, and there are always higher heavens. Compared to the Sect Master's divine power... I am far beneath him."
Just how powerful was Gu Chen?
Morax had no answer. Neither did Guizhong.
And it was precisely that mystery that made them believe even more in his grand vision.
Because such a dream—required that kind of power to sustain it.
"By the way," Guizhong asked with a curious tilt of her head, "our Chief Enforcer—you must be stronger than before, yes?"
Morax thought for a long while before replying, "I was fortunate enough to comprehend a profound immortal scripture. I am no longer who I once was. With this power... My former ideals now seem far too narrow. I should set my sights where the Sect Masters do."
To merely protect a corner of the world?
That had once been his ambition.
But now—his heart had opened.
To protect, he would protect the entire world.
[Venti]: The old man's starting to sound less humble. I think he's about to start bragging. （laugh）
[Kaeya]: Put yourself in his shoes! If I suddenly got that strong, I'd be like—one little region? Nah! I'm protecting the whole world, baby! （laugh）
[Zhongli]: "..."
Zhongli couldn't deny it. Deep down, he felt the same.
After all, when one touched a higher realm of power, such growth of heart was only natural.
"The me of that world," he mused softly, "should be able to accomplish everything I ever wished for, shouldn't I?"
He chuckled quietly, feeling a hint of envy toward his other self.
With the Taixuan Sect in that world—and with Sect Master Gu leading it—
Even if the Archon War had been several times more brutal, his old friends might still have survived peacefully.
Even Azhdaha… perhaps would not have been lost to erosion and madness.
As his thoughts wandered, Zhongli's golden eyes seemed to pierce through the ground beneath his feet, down to the sealed form of the great dragon slumbering under the roots of the Vishap Tree.
"You all have such grand ideals," Guizhong said with admiration. "As for me... I just want to help Gu Chen however I can."
"Oh?" Morax raised a brow teasingly. "So becoming the Sect Master's wife doesn't count as a grand ideal?"
"Eh?!"
Guizhong's cheeks flushed scarlet. She waved her hands in panic. "W–What are you saying?! Don't talk nonsense!"
"Hahaha!"
Morax's laughter boomed through the mountain pass.
The more he laughed, the more embarrassed Guizhong became.
She had never really thought about it before… but now that he said it out loud, a tiny spark of expectation flickered in her heart.
At first, she had simply respected Gu Chen's ideals and wanted to help him out of admiration.
But bit by bit, this mysterious, powerful man's presence had begun to draw her in.
To become the Sect Master's wife... she thought, her cheeks growing even redder. That doesn't sound too bad, does it?
Just then, Gu Chen approached, puzzled to see Guizhong staring dreamily at the Glaze Lilies by her feet.
He turned to Morax. "What's wrong with her?"
Morax thought for a second, then replied solemnly, "...Spring fever, perhaps?"
"Eh?!"
Guizhong snapped out of her trance, face flaring pink. "No! Absolutely not! Don't listen to him!"
Gu Chen eyed the color in her cheeks, but decided not to pursue the matter.
"Anyway," he said seriously, "with the warlike Archons fallen, the rest are mostly neutral—or too weak to fight. It's time we take full control of this land. From here, we'll extend our influence across the entire continent."
He turned to Morax.
"You'll go personally to meet each remaining Archon. Tell them the Taixuan Sect welcomes all who wish to join us—so long as they obey our rules. After all, we all claim to protect humanity. But if anyone overestimates themselves... kill them."
His tone was calm, yet each word carried a cold killing intent.
Morax bowed deeply. "As you command, Sect Master."
He departed immediately.
Guizhong waited a while, then finally couldn't help asking, "What about me? What do I do?"
"You?"
Gu Chen glanced at her, then said with a straight face, "The Glaze Lilies here aren't growing well. You can stay and tend to them."
Guizhong blinked in confusion.
She looked around—the flowers looked perfectly fine to her.
Then it clicked.
He's worried I'll get caught up in danger...
Warmth bloomed in her heart, though she still puffed her cheeks indignantly. "But I'm a god too, you know! I'm not weak!"
"The Grand Elder's role is too important," Gu Chen said gently. "Without you, the Taixuan Sect wouldn't run. Leave the fighting to Morax."
"Really?" she asked, her voice brightening.
"Would this Sect Master ever lie to you?" Gu Chen nodded seriously. "Now hurry and get to work. Without you, I wouldn't even know what to do."
"Heehee~ okay, okay~"
Guizhong hummed happily as she skipped away.
[Venti]: Old man Morax: Wait, so I'm the hired muscle now?! （laugh）
[Kaeya]: Yup. You two flirt while I do all the grunt work, huh? （laugh）
[Zhongli]: （Zhongli. helpless shrug）
[Nilou]: No, no! The Sect Master was just worried Lady Guizhong might run into danger—that's why he kept her behind!
[Collei]: Exactly! Those Glaze Lilies are perfectly fine! He just didn't want her to fight. That's so sweet!
[Keqing]: I don't know... I kinda feel like he's just tricking her into staying put. （Paimon. shocked）
[Kaeya]: Low EQ: "You're too weak, don't embarrass the Sect."
High EQ: "You're indispensable! The Sect can't function without you!" （laugh）
[Venti]: Nonsense! The Sect Master just didn't want to do the paperwork himself and passed it to her! True workplace tactics! （laugh）
[Gu Chen]: Excuse me? A few chapters ago you were all worshipping me—now it's jokes? （Nahida. pointing angrily）
[Kaeya]: Sect Master! I swear, a breeze made me send that message—it must've been Venti's fault! （certain）
[Venti]: Hey! Stop blaming everything on "faithful little Venti"! You're just trying to ruin my relationship with the Sect Master! （Keqing. pout）
[Yae Miko]: Oh, I see now. If he takes you out, he becomes the Sect Master's favorite fanboy. Simple math. （Miko. sly smile）
[Venti]: You sneaky fox! I see your game! （Nahida. pointing）
[Kaeya]: （Hu Tao. mischievous grin）
Morax did not rush.
He walked slowly across the land, every step a silent declaration.
The slower he moved, the greater the pressure upon the remaining Archons.
The Taixuan Sect Master's one-stroke annihilation of eight Archons still haunted their memories.
They all knew—Morax's "diplomatic visits" were a warning.
And none dared defy it.
One day, Morax arrived at a mountain range.
"Hm?"
From below the peaks came a distant sound—low, mournful, and resonant.
At times it was like a lamenting song; at others, a thunderous roar.
Curious, Morax followed the sound into a deep fissure in the earth.
He descended into the vast dark below... until he found it:
A massive stone formation, shaped like a dragon, perfectly lifelike—except for the empty hollows where eyes should be.
"An elemental lifeform born of the earth itself," Morax murmured. "The sect lacks a guardian spirit beast... perhaps you might fill that role?"
He reached out, and the two struck a pact.
Morax granted the stone dragon eyes with which to behold the sun, and in return, the dragon would serve the Taixuan Sect.
Should it ever betray its oath, Morax would seal it back into the earth forever.
[Ganyu]: In our world's history, Lord Azhdaha was indeed born on the earth. Lord Rex Lapis granted him sight and made a pact—to protect Liyue and its people.
[Azhdaha]: Hah! Impossible. Absolutely impossible! That stone-headed Morax? As if! （picks nose）
[Vortex God]: But… What if it's true? （Kokomi. thoughtful）
[Azhdaha]: You "what if" too much.
[Vortex God]: I don't know… but my memory doesn't lie. I do recall you and Morax fighting side by side once. （Paimon. shocked）
[Azhdaha]: How much did Mora pay you to say that? I'll double it! （angry）
[Keqing]: Why do you refuse to believe the truth, Lord Azhdaha?
[Azhdaha]: Truth? You dare deny the memory of the stone itself?
[Xiaoyue Zhuyang Zhenjun]: Stone does remember—but even stone erodes with time. Its memories fade, piece by piece. Lord Azhdaha is no common rock, yet even he has been worn down by ages. Now he believes only the fragments that remain—and thinks our truth is false.
[Azhdaha]: ???
[Lishui Dieshan Zhenjun]: Most Geo beings born underground cannot see. You, too, were once blind. The video shows this clearly. Do you still insist your worn memory is the complete truth?
Azhdaha fell silent.
The third part of the video had already been released.
Though its details differed from recorded history, too many elements matched perfectly.
He wanted to deny it—but found no ground to stand on.
"Could... could my memory truly have been eroded?" he murmured.
It was unbearable.
All intelligent beings trust their memories—they are the proof of self, the record of existence.
And now he was being asked to doubt that very thing.
The video felt too real.
Deep within, a part of him whispered that it was the truth.
"Erosion... erosion..."
"Could it be... I was wrong?"
He didn't want to believe it.
That his so-called enemy, Morax, had once been his savior—
The one who brought him from darkness to light, granting him eyes to see the world.
Absurd.
Too absurd!
And yet—every sign pointed to it being true.
Torn between rage and confusion, the dragon roared in agony deep beneath the earth.
The hatred he had nursed for millennia now turned upon itself, threatening to consume what remained of his sanity.
Sensing the tremors from far below, Zhongli sighed softly.
He had long expected this day to come.
Even the strongest soul, weathered by time, could not withstand endless erosion.
A gentle pat on the shoulder pulled him from his thoughts.
"Why think so hard?" Venti grinned. "Erosion's scary, sure—but it's not hopeless. At least now, there is hope. Don't go brooding like that silly General!"
Zhongli blinked, then chuckled. "You're right. I worry too much."
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