Inside the basement of the Wangsheng Funeral Parlor, brand new coffins were neatly arranged, and with the dim lighting of the basement, it looked quite eerie.
"Didn't I say, couldn't we have just talked here? Why did we have to go all the way to Mt. Tianheng?"
Yu Jin raised his hand, and a flickering flame appeared, illuminating the large basement.
"Hmm..., Brother Yu Jin can just think of it as an elderly person's after-dinner stroll," Zhongli stroked his chin, pondering for a moment before speaking.
"Elderly person? What's going on? I've noticed both you and Venti seem like this? Like you're about to die."
Zhongli's words were blunt, but his meaning was clear.
Zhongli's chest rose and fell a few times. Although he had anticipated Yu Jin's personality, dealing with him still required a strong heart.
"Just erode, don't mind it." Zhongli waved his hand, then looked at Yu Jin, who was looking around, and said, "However, Brother Yu Jin, your mindset truly makes one envious."
"It's alright, your souls have been tampered with, mine haven't," Yu Jin said, with a hint of boastfulness in his tone.
"That is truly admirable." Zhongli's eyes narrowed slightly. 'Your'? 'Tampered with'? It seemed Yu Jin knew more than he had imagined.
However, Zhongli quickly dismissed these thoughts. Everyone had secrets, and prying was a very impolite behavior.
"We've chatted for so long, it's time to talk about serious matters."
"Brother Yu Jin, what do you think of this incarnation of mine?"
Zhongli raised his arm, and a thick Geo element force gathered in his hand. Then, a bright yellow stream of light appeared in the not-too-large basement of the Wangsheng Funeral Parlor.
"Clatter!" The stream of light dissipated, and a massive half-dragon, half-scaled beast appeared on the ground.
The beast was carved from gold, stone, and beautiful jade, its form resolute yet not lacking in grace. Its amber-colored horns and scales reflected a faint orange glow under the firelight, looking reassuring.
However, why did this beast truly look like it was carved from stone? Yu Jin reached out and poked the body of the jade beast; there was no deformation at all.
Identification successful: pure stone statue.
"This incarnation has been displayed for thousands of years, it's time for it to retire," Zhongli walked to the side of the incarnation, his tone filled with a sense of melancholy.
The 'Immortal' invited during Liyue's annual Rite of Descension was this very incarnation.
"So small, without the grandeur of a God," Yu Jin stood up and complained.
He wasn't exaggerating; Zhongli's incarnation was at most ten meters long. Not to mention compared to Kutri, even compared to Dvalin, it was pitifully small.
Perhaps, it could barely compare to Andrius?
"It's not about size, it's about essence. In the eyes of the Liyue people, it is Morax, no different from other Gods," Zhongli explained calmly.
"Then how do you plan to retreat behind the scenes?" Yu Jin looked at the lifeless, statue-like incarnation before him, and a guess formed in his mind.
"The Rite of Descension will be the day Morax dies." Zhongli's expression was calm, as if he wasn't talking about himself.
However, Zhongli couldn't maintain his composure for long.
"No problem, I'll carve a few openings for you right now!" A dazzling light suddenly appeared in the dim basement.
Yu Jin pulled out a straight sword from somewhere; unlike before, this straight sword was perfectly smooth, its blade like a silver mirror.
Irithyll Straight Sword — A straight sword bestowed upon the knights of the Boreal Valley, a frosty weapon that inflicts frostbite.
All the knights eventually transform into beasts, and Pontiff Sulyvahn's black eyes keep them eager for battle.
The Irithyll Straight Sword was one of the few weapons Yu Jin considered 'clean.' It was most suitable for making a few holes in Zhongli's incarnation.
"Wait, Brother Yu Jin. This incarnation has another use for me, no need to trouble yourself." Zhongli saw Yu Jin about to stab it and immediately stepped forward to stop him.
"What? You still have a use for this pile of broken stones?" Yu Jin disappointedly retracted the frosty Irithyll Straight Sword — he had just been thinking of framing the Tsaritsa of Snezhnaya!
Unfortunately, Zhongli extinguished his idea.
"Of course, you may not know, but one of Morax's authorities is the forging of Mora."
"And the material for forging Mora is my flesh and blood." Zhongli extended his hand, and a few flickers of light passed, and a golden shimmering Mora appeared in his hand.
Correspondingly, Zhongli's incarnation's body visibly shrunk a little.
"Morax? Does that mean there will be no more Mora production after this?" Yu Jin was startled by Zhongli's words.
This was a major issue, because Mora was something that could truly dissipate between heaven and earth.
Mora was a catalyst; whether for alchemy or forging weapons, Mora was needed to fuse the power of materials or integrate it into weapons.
If Mora was not produced, Yu Jin could already imagine everyone holding dull swords and failing to kill a wild boar after a long time.
"I think it's better if you don't die," Yu Jin nodded earnestly, advising Zhongli.
"That's why I asked Brother Yu Jin for help." Zhongli shook his head; even if the Heavenly Principles themselves came, they couldn't change his mind about retiring from Liyue.
Previously, his only concern was what would happen to the Mora on the continent after he, Morax, died.
The Golden House had ample Mora reserves, and the Exuvia after his death could also smelt a large amount of Mora, but that was ultimately finite.
One day, that Mora would be completely consumed. At that time, would the 'dead' Morax have to be resurrected?
Originally, Zhongli had planned to take things as they came, but when he saw red flowers blooming above the Northland Bank, he already had a plan in mind.
"This body of mine is neither too big nor too small. If Brother Yu Jin is willing to protect its form from dissipating and its flesh from diminishing, then Zhongli will be eternally grateful."
With that, Zhongli clasped his hands and bowed to Yu Jin as a sign of respect.
"No, no, no, I'm getting goosebumps." Yu Jin shivered when he saw Zhongli's solemn demeanor.
Cultured people, especially powerful cultured people, were the most difficult to deal with. The numerous etiquettes made Yu Jin's scalp tingle.
"I agree, I agree," Yu Jin waved his hand and said. Zhongli had indeed asked the right person; flesh regeneration was something he was familiar with.
"But speaking of which, I thought you were asking me to help with acting or something. I even thought of a script: Lord Rex Lapis battles a tentacle monster, is defeated, and tragically perishes!"
"What a pity, what a pity, the people of Liyue won't get to see this grand show!" Yu Jin said, shaking his head in regret.
"Cough, cough... Brother Yu Jin, I still need some face. Besides, the people of Liyue probably wouldn't accept such a development."
Zhongli chuckled. He had originally considered that idea. But now, Zhongli only felt fortunate that he hadn't spoken it aloud.
If he were to actually do as Yu Jin suggested, the news of the Geo Archon Morax being annihilated by an unknown God would shock more than just the nation of Liyue.
Zhongli looked at the body of the exotic beast lying quietly before him, then glanced at Yu Jin, who was holding flames nearby, and let out a sigh of relief.
Now, everything was ready. Next, it would be up to the people of Liyue to see if they could shoulder this responsibility that originally belonged to the Gods.
"Brother Yu Jin, your timing is quite fortunate this time." Zhongli smiled, his tone for the first time in a long while carrying a sense of ease.
"Fortunate for what? Just to see the Geo Archon die?" Yu Jin said indifferently. He had seen too many Gods perish.
"Not just that, you might also witness the grand spectacle of the Liyue people uniting to suppress a God!"
[If all goes well.]
Zhongli secretly said to himself. The seal suppressing the Vortex God had weakened considerably.
If the seal truly broke, it could be an opportunity to strike at the restless Osial, and at the same time, test the people of Liyue.
"I just wonder if you all have the courage?" Zhongli murmured, clutching the bright Gnosis in his hand.
-------------------------------
I've already uploaded 40 chapters of this story on Patreon!
If you enjoy it, come check out the latest chapters in advance.
Here's the link:
[patreon.com/Greyhounds]
Thank you so much for your support!!
"And If you're enjoying it, drop a Power Stone for me!"