Liyue.
Wangsheng Funeral Parlor.
Hu Tao had just woken up.
Because of her line of work, she'd long developed the habit of sleeping late and waking late.
"Haaahh— …"
Stretching lazily, she kicked off her blanket, hopped out of bed, and began washing up.
She was planning to visit Boss Han's shop later for more manga.
Ever since discovering manga, she realized that life wasn't only business there were fun things too!
Once she finished getting ready, Hu Tao skipped into the main hall and froze when she saw Old Meng fully dressed up in formal robes.
"Old Meng, why are you dressed so properly? Going on a date or something?"
She circled him curiously.
She had never seen him look this ceremonious.
"No, no… Today is the Rite of Descension. I want to go and receive the Geo Lord's divine blessing."
Old Meng sighed helplessly.
Yesterday, after he got that terrifying Death God Constitution, the Millelith came straight to the parlor.
They weren't monitoring him, per se—just… "helping him handle emergencies."
But Old Meng absolutely hated being watched like that.
So today, since the Rite of Descension was happening, and the Geo Archon himself would descend at Yujing Terrace to give divine guidance…
As a Liyue native, Old Meng had total faith in the Archon.
Maybe divine aura could weaken his Death-God aura.
Even if it didn't erase it entirely, just reducing it would be amazing.
"I see, I see!"
Hu Tao nodded as understanding dawned.
Using the Geo Archon's spiritual power to offset the curse that actually sounded pretty logical.
But then her eyes gleamed mischievously.
"So you're not worried your Death-God aura will affect the Geo Lord instead?"
"Impossible! Absolutely impossible!"
Old Meng immediately rejected the notion.
The Geo Archon was a god.
One of the Seven.
Even if he couldn't purify Old Meng entirely, he couldn't possibly be affected by him.
So he completely dismissed his boss's teasing.
"Hehe, I only said maybe. Who knows what's possible in this world?"
Hu Tao giggled.
"Anyway, you're not coming to the manga shop today?"
"Not today..."
Old Meng shook his head quickly.
After getting that constitution, he was now terrified of the shop.
Boss Han did say manga could also give things to counterbalance his curse…
But what if he rolled another Death-God-tier reward?
Old Meng felt he might as well slit his own throat.
"Alright then. What about the rest of you?"
Hu Tao turned to the employees who were just walking out.
"No, no, Hall Master, I've got things to do!"
"Same! Same! My wife is giving birth—I need to check on her!"
"His wife's giving birth, so I need to help."
All the workers waved their hands frantically.
As if they'd dare go near that place!
After witnessing Old Meng's horrifying aura in person yesterday…
Who knew if they might also receive something similar?
If that happened, Wangsheng wouldn't be a funeral parlor anymore—
It'd be a walking mass-death event.
Not "wherever we go, people die" …
but "wherever we go, everyone dies."
"Ehh… fine then. I'll go read manga alone"
Hu Tao sighed.
She understood their fear, so she didn't force them.
But she couldn't help thinking—
They might be missing a chance to change their entire fate.
And so, humming a lively Hilichurl tune, she skipped out the door:
"Big Churl's sick,
Little Churl checks,
Third Churl picks herbs,
Fourth Churl brews,
Fifth Churl dies,
Sixth Churl lifts…
Seventh digs a pit,
Eighth Churl buries—♪"
Watching her go, Old Meng clenched his fists.
"Alright… I should head out too!"
Meanwhile — Yujing Terrace
The Rite of Descension traditionally took place at noon.
But due to a number of recent issues, Ningguang and the others agreed to hold it a bit earlier this year.
At this moment, Yujing Terrace was already packed.
People from Liyue, Mondstadt, Inazuma—even abroad—had all gathered.
All of them were here for one purpose:
To witness the true form of the Geo Archon.
"Wow… so many people!"
Lumine and Paimon squeezed through the crowd, wide-eyed.
"Ugh, Lumine, there's too many! We'll never get through!"
Paimon looked distressed.
They could just fly, but that would be rude in such a solemn ceremony.
"Hehe~ don't worry, I have a way."
Lumine winked.
Back in Mondstadt, when listening to Venti's storytelling, the crowds were huge too.
She simply used her Wind-Wind Fruit ability to pass through.
And once again—
whoosh—
The two effortlessly slipped from the back to the very front.
"Lumine, you're amazing!"
Paimon held a thumbs-up with admiration.
"Hurry and record! We'll send the video to Boss Han afterward."
"Right! Right!"
Paimon raised the camera.
Lumine raised her phone.
Meanwhile, Old Meng had also arrived but unlike Lumine, he couldn't cut through the crowd.
So he had to stand at the very outer perimeter.
"Lord Geo Archon… Please, please weaken or purify my Death-God aura!
I promise to burn extra incense for you later!"
Old Meng prayed with deep sincerity.
At the center of Yujing Terrace
Ningguang checked the time.
"It's time."
She stepped forward, palms poised before her.
"The auspicious hour has arrived!"
The two attendants behind her bowed deeply.
The crowd immediately quieted.
Ningguang steadied her breathing and raised her arms—
A golden pillar of light shot into the sky.
Instantly, clouds above began to swirl violently.
At the end of the golden beam, a vortex slowly formed.
But this time, unlike past years filled with divine radiance—
The sky turned dark.
Clouds twisted with streaks of gray and red.
A chilling, ominous aura filled the air.
"Something's wrong!"
Ningguang's heart tightened.
The Rite had always been peaceful…
Could something really be happening this year?
And then—
To the shock of everyone watching—
A half-dragon, half-kylin-shaped being plummeted from the sky like a meteor.
BOOOOOM!!!
A deafening crash shook Yujing Terrace.
The Geo Archon—Morax—lay motionless on the ground.
Life or death unknown
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