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"Heaven cannot brook two suns, nor earth two masters."
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"All fragments of the primordial were driven to devour each other."
The Iudex of Fontaine, Neuvillette, quoting the memory of the previous Hydro Sovereign regarding the nature of the Archon War
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It took a while for Artoria to pull Xiao out of his prostrated position.
She can sense a burgeoning appreciation, respect...and even a bit of loyalty? Coming from the Yaksha.
And although she can somewhat appreciate the sentiment coming from the fully purged Yaksha, the way he's constantly thanking her with teary eyes, and addressing her in reverent titles such as 'Most Honored Lady' or 'Most Benevolent Mistress' was starting to get a little too much for her!
Artoria was never really comfortable when someone would show extreme reverence towards her, especially when she felt she didn't deserve it.
It reminded her of her past life as King of Britain, where her subjects would praise and honor her for being a 'perfect king' when in reality she was just a lonely girl who had sacrificed her own humanity for the sake of her kingdom.
Hell, she's barely even coping up with her Inner Circle's constant antics and worship, especially from Theron who kept preaching in his sermons the glory and benevolence of the 'Most Beloved Among the Archons' and is probably writing an entire New Testament about her life to be added later in the Church of Favonius's official sacred texts!
'Oh for god's sake, not another one!'
After pinching the bridge of her nose and letting out a barely concealed exasperated sigh, Artoria gently placed a hand on Xiao's shoulder urging the prostrated Yaksha to look up.
"Stand up, Xiao. There is no need for such formalities." she said with a firm and gentle voice.
Xiao looked up to her with his golden eyes still moistened with tears.
"But my Most Honored Lady, I...I…"
"Please, Xiao, again there's no need for such formalities," she said, her voice warm and reassuring.
"Stand up, I insist."
She gently guided him back to his feet, her gaze meeting his own golden eyes.
"What I did, I did not do it to seek your gratitude nor your unwavering loyalty. I did it because I saw a kindred soul who was suffering and I wanted to help, that's all."
"There is no need to repay me for what I did. Your service and sacrificeto the people of Liyue for all these millennia is more than enough repayment for any boon I have given you."
Xiao stood there, still a bit dazed from everything that had transpired.
He had expected the goddess to perhaps demand some sort of service from him, to use her newfound influence over him to her advantage.
'But instead, she had shown me kindness and compassion without asking for anything in return.' he thought to himself.
He was profoundly touched by this goddess' words and actions. He had never met anyone like her before, not even Lady Guizhong was this kind and compassionate towards him!
"But my Most Honored Lady I…I must truly…"
Xiao's words were once again cut short when Artoria raised her index finger.
"If you truly insist on repaying me, then consider these two requests as your payment: one, continue to protect the people of Liyue from the shadows, just as you have always done. But this time, do it not out of obligation or duty, but because you choose to do so, because you want to, without the weight of your past deeds holding you down." Artoria gently proclaimed.
"And two…" Artoria's expression this time somewhat turned a bit serious.
"I would like to inquire further about the strange occurrences that have been plaguing this part of Liyue for the past two years. I believe you mentioned earlier that there have been an increasing incidents of demonic attacks and sightings in this area, correct?"
Artoria then walk towards the wooden railings of the balcony and lean forward, looking out at the vast expanse of the Bishui Plain below.
"Earlier this morning, I, along with my family were invited to a boat ride along the upper portion of the Bishui River courtesy of the Qixing."
"Along the way, we passed by an abandoned fishing village called Downriver. Our guide, a local historian by the name Lu Fu, told us that most of the inhabitants of the said village had mysteriously disappeared overnight almost two years ago."
Artoria momentarily paused.
"But that's not all. He also mentioned that there had been an increasing number of missing persons lately, blacksmiths, herbalists and even some historians. People, who according to him, have certain connections to the lore concerning the old gods and the magical arts of ages past."
Artoria then turned around to face Xiao once again.
"I assume that you have some knowledge concerning this peculiar matter, Xiao."
Xiao's expression turned serious, all signs of his earlier emotional outburst gone, replaced by the grim and stoic demeanor of a seasoned warrior.
"I do, my lady," he answered with a firm and resolute voice.
"The situation is...troubling, to say the least."
Xiao then began to recount the events that had transpired during the past two years, painting a vivid picture of the growing threat that loomed over Liyue.
"The attacks…the appearance of random beasts and demons…they were random and chaotic at first."
"We thought they were perpetuated by remnants of some old cults worshiping long deceased gods or some grumbled group of anarchists, but as the months went by, we realized that there was a pattern to them."
He looked at Artoria with a solemn expression.
"The attacks, the sightings…they mostly happened in places where some of the gods, gods who fought my master Rex Lapisduring the Archon War had fallen. Places where traces of their once formidable power still lingered on, even after all these years."
"Gods who had fallen during the Archon War…" Artoria muttered quietly as her entire demeanor became eve more serious.
Apart from the occasional lore drop concerning story quests, Artoria or rather Emily as she was known in her previous life, was not that well versed in the specific details concerning the history surrounding Teyvat during the time of the Archon War.
She knew that the Archon War was a cataclysmic event instigated by Celestia to determine which of the numerous gods would rule the nations of Teyvat and help usher in the dawn of a new order for all humanity.
However, the specifics of the war, the names of the combatants…the lesser gods who fought and died during the said time period, as well as their stories and their legacies...all of those were but a complete mystery to her.
If she wanted to get to the bottom of this mess, she must have some context and who better to ask than someone who fought and survived in that said war.
Artoria then looked towards Xiao.
"Xiao, could you perhaps tell me more about these gods and their final moments. Their names and their final resting places. Any information you can provide would surely be of great help."
Xiao nodded then began to tell her about the gods that had once roamed the land of Liyue, the gods who had met their end at the hands of the Geo Lord and his allies during the Archon War more than two thousand years ago.
"There were many, my lady. Too many to count. But there were some of them who were more...notable and powerful than the rest."
"The Serpentine god Chi, otherwise called Qingce, who once ruled the area surrounding the human settlement that would later be called Qingce village."
"He was a massive and powerful god, with a body that could stretch for miles."
"He was once a gentle giant however, the flames of war had twisted him into a bloodthirsty monster who threatened to devour the very people he once protected inside his domain. My master had no choice but to slay him."
"The Prime of the Adepti, Rex Lapis fought him on the summit of Mount Qingce, and after a long and grueling battle, my Sovereign Lord emerged victorious."
"....But Chi was not so easily defeated. Even after my master slew him, his 'aspects' or body parts continued to plague the land, forcing my master to hunt down each and every one of them, destroying most of them and sealing the rest lest they cause more harm to the people and the land."
"Next, the Behemoth of the Sea, Baqui, a deity who was born from the depths of the ocean and who took the form of a giant turtle."
"Baqui's size was so massive that a forest was seen growing in his back. He was one of the most formidable gods that my master had ever faced."
Xiao then paused for a bit before continuing.
"The DragonLord, Azhdaha who once aided my master in fighting Baqui had a hard time trying to contain the collosal beast while my master prepared to deliver the final blow."
"In the end, my master forged a spear made of the purest jade and stone, and after infusing it with most of his might, hurled it towards Baqui, finally killing the great beast of the sea."
"Once it was over, the spear, now reduced to an above average divine construct was given to me. This," Xiao then brandished the spear in his hand.
"This is the Primordial Jade Winged-Spear, the very same spear that killed Baqui."
The Yaksha then continued.
"There was also Tao Dou, otherwise known as Bune,the tree god who guarded the border between life and death."
"Tao Dou was defeated and purified long ago by the Eight Adepts and his remains were sealed underneath Mount Qingce, although there were rumors that some of his branches were scattered all throughout Liyue before his demise."
'Hmmm, the Eight Adepts huh? They were said to have had adeptus-like abilities, despite not being actual adepti themselves. If I recalled correctly, Zibai the Gold-Eyed Celadon Mare was one of them.' Artoria thought to herself as she remembered a few historical tidbits from the game.
"Then there was Shui You…"
Xiao sneered as he mentioned the name, carrying a hint of venom in his tone.
"The Rabid River god that once controlled most of the Bishui River. He was known for his cruelty and....has a sadistic sense of humor."
"That damned monster, he would often lure unsuspected boats or merchant vessels and would threaten the passengers aboard with death by drowning if they do not bow and worship him on the spot."
"His victims would of course comply to his demands and after luring them in a sense of false hope, the mad god would tossed the entire vessel in the middle of the raging rapids…drowning and killing everyone on board."
"Men, women…children, he would spare not a single soul. And Shui You? That damn deity would laugh at the entire ordeal as if it was nothing more but an amusing game!"
"He was....truly a despicable creature, even amongst the other gods."
Artoria involuntarily clenched her fists at the mention of the river god's cruelty.
She had encountered many despicable villains in her past life as a king.
Some of them even came from her own ranks, but the sheer cruelty of this river god as mentioned by Xiao was on a whole different level of evil.
A genuine and insane psychopath underneath the skin of a god!
"So utterly disgusted by that monster's cruelty, Rex Lapis killed him by impaling him with a hundred stone spears before grinding his bones to dust!"
"My master then sealed what remains of Shui You's soul in a remote area somewhere in the vicinity of Qiongji Estuary. Rumor has it that the seal itself had been weakening for the past few decades allowing a sliver of his impure essence to linger within the area and forming illusions that would occasionally cause problems to the local fisherfolks."
Xiao took a deep breath in order to calm himself before he continued on with his tale.
"There was also Houjiao, the Lord of the Roaring Thunder and the god who once claimed Mount Tianheng for his own, after Rex Lapis left it unprotected."
"He was a rather prideful god, and he saw my master's temporary absence as a sign of weakness, and an opportunity to expand his own domain."
"His strength almost matched that of Red Lapis, and the blows from their battle were so intense that it almost made Mount Tianheng collapse, endangering the human settlements below."
"One of my fellow adepti and acquaintance, Skybracer, sacrificed himself in order to prevent the total collapse of the mountain, saving countless lives in the process. His noble act allowed my master to focus entirely on his battle with the Thunder God."
"At the end, Houjiao was defeated and his ruined body was hurled down somewhere within the Lisha region, killing him in the process."
"Lord Skybracer's sacrifice was honored by the people of Liyue, and even some of the Eight Adepts mourned his passing. They gave him a grand burial near the base of the mountain he had so valiantly protected." Xiao added as he looked south towards the direction of the Mount Tianheng, a hint of sorrow was seen in his eyes.
'To sacrifice one's self for the sake of the people...truly, he was a true hero.' Artoria thought as she too looked towards the direction of the mountain with respect and admiration.
"Then there was the meek and kind-hearted Salt goddess, Havria."
There was a trace of melancholy present in Xiao's tone.
"Though she never considered herself an enemy of my master or the adepti, her people were different. They waged a series of skirmishes near the Guili plains, encroaching upon the territories of others including the Guili Assembly which was the primary domain of Rex Lapis and Lady Guizhong before the establishment of Liyue Harbor."
"Those people disregarded their deity, thinking her as too weak and docile to rule over them."
"They were so blinded by their own selfishness and greed that they started to desire the power of their own deity for themselves and had become obsessed with the idea of immortality."
"In the end, they turned against her, betrayed her trust and ultimately murdered her on the very altar that they had built for her."
"Their civilization of Sal Terrae, however would soon collapse with most of its inhabitants dying after being turned into salt statues….a sort of poetic justice for the one they deemed so weak."
Anger was evident on the Yaksha's voice. He may not have known the goddess Havria personally, but he had heard stories of her kindness and compassion towards her people….which made their betrayal even more despicable in his eyes!
"And finally there was the goddess....Yu...Yunu."
Suddenly, as if a switch was flipped, Xiao stopped talking.
He looked as though he was recalling a very, horrible memory…
His face became paler and a bead of sweat trickled down the side of his face…
His hands, which were previously resting at his sides, were now clenched tightly into fists…
The abrupt shift in the Yaksha's demeanor didn't go unnoticed by Artoria. She looked at him with concern.
"Xiao? What's wrong?" she gently asked.
When she received no response, Artoria placed a reassuring hand on Xiao's shoulder, giving it a gentle squeeze.
The sudden contact seemed to snap Xiao out of his reverie.
He blinked a few times, as if trying to clear his head, then looked at Artoria, a mix of fear and hatred in his golden eyes.
Artoria didn't press further, she could see that the name uttered earlier was a sensitive one for the Yaksha, thus she gave him a few moments to compose himself.
When he finally spoke, his voice was barely a whisper, laced with nostalgic pain that appeared to had been buried deep within his soul for thousands of years.
"Before….before I served Rex Lapis and became a Yaksha... I was once a servant of Yunu."
Xiao hesitated for a moment, before he reluctantly continued.
"She was a goddess who once ruled the northeastern part of the Jueyun Karst."
"At first, she appeared to be a wise and benevolent ruler, and I, along with so many others, served her with unwavering loyalty…"
"We believed in her…"
"We looked up to her…"
"We even saw her as….our mother…"
"....but at the end, it was all but a lie."
"Her mask, the one she had so carefully crafted, began to crack at the dawn of the Archon War. Lured by the promise of power and authority, Yunu allowed her true self to emerge....a cruel, sadistic monster who delighted in the suffering of others."
Xiao shakily took a deep breath in order to reign over his emotions concerning the past. With a slight stutter reminiscent to that of fear, he continued his tale…
"It took me a while to realize that my mothe….my original master, the goddess who raised me....who taught me...was actually a MONSTER hiding behind the facade of benevolence."
Xiao's body trembled slightly, shaking as he recalled the memories concerning the horrible ordeal he went through.
"She would often...subject me to unimaginable torture, both physical and emotional."
"She would often do things that were beyond human comprehension, placing intricate spells upon me that would allow her to command me to do anything that she desires...anything…"
"With a simple flick of her wrist, she would force me to commit the most heinous of acts of barbarism against the innocents….all for her twisted amusement!"
Xiao's voice cracked as he recounted the horrors he was forced to commit under the rule of the malevolent goddess who raised him.
He had tried so hard to forget….to bury those memories deep within the recesses of his mind, but now, they all came flooding back with a vengeance.
"For years, I endured her sadistic whims but with the flames of war now raging across the land, she saw an opportunity."
"She had grown arrogant over the years, believing that the power she possessed made her invincible, that no one could stand against her."
"And so, she foolishly challenged Rex Lapis, believing that she could defeat him in combat and claim his territory for herself. She was actually the first deity to challenged him during the war and her arrogance became her undoing."
"She was soundly defeated by the Lord of Geo, though not without a fight. Her power was immense, and for a moment, it seemed as though she might actually stand a chance against the Rex Lapis who at that time was still not in his prime. But in the end, she was defeated and those whom she had enslaved were freed….including me."
The Yaksha's expression then turned to one of bittersweet relief.
He was freed from her grasp, though not entirely. The trauma of his past, the scars she left upon his soul...they remained.
"After Yunu's defeat, Lady Guizhong took me in, and for a brief period, I had found solace under her care."
A small smile formed in Xiao's face.
"Her kindness and compassion were different from my former mistress, they felt genuine and she treated me like a son."
Xiao paused for a bit as the said smile began to transform in a frown.
"However, that moment of peace was cut short when she….Lady Guizhong was killed when another rivaled god attacked and destroyed the Guili Assembly."
"I, along with Rex Lapis and the rest of the adepti arrived too late and we saw her now stone-turned body slowly crumbling into dust…"
"After her passing, I pledged my loyalty to my new master, Rex Lapis aiding him in his war. After a few years, I became a full-fledge Yaksha along with the rest of my kin, and I have been protecting Liyue ever since."
Xiao then took a deep breath, as if to finally free himself from the painful memories that had been haunting him for centuries.
"As for Yunu, she somehow managed to survive the encounter with my master, though she was gravely wounded from the encounter."
"She then retreated towards Chenyu Vale, were she once again masqueraded as a benevolent goddess, this time under the name 'Yunnan',The Mistress of Chenyu Vale. She would soon put the entire region under her dominion, and would even gain three new adepti followers, namely Fujin of the North, Herblord and Lingyuan, all of whom would later contribute to her downfall and death centuries later at the closing years of the Archon War."
"Slowly calm yourself Xiao and allow the air to cool your soul."
Artoria said with a soft and nurturing tone as she once again placed a comforting hand on the now tensed Yaksha's shoulder.
"Remember that you are no longer bound to the cruelty of this false goddess nor will karmic debt ever take hold upon your very being."
"You are now free to live your life as you see fit. You no longer have to be a prisoner of your past, Xiao."
With the foreign goddess's words of comfort and the warm reassuring touch of her hand, Xiao felt a sense of relief wash over him. It was as if a heavy burden had been lifted from his shoulders.
He closed his eyes and slowly allowed himself to drift towards the calming peace brought about by that night's cool and gentle breeze.
"Thank you, my Most Honored Lady." Xiao said, his voice now calm and steady.
"Thank you for your kindness and your understanding."
Artoria smiled at him, her expression gentle and reassuring. "You are welcome, Xiao."
She allowed a few moments of silence to pass between them, letting the Yaksha collect himself and process everything that had happened.
The night was now deep and the moonlight casted a soft glow upon the balcony. For a while, the only sounds that could be heard were the gentle rustling of leaves and the distant chirping of crickets.
It was a peaceful and serene moment.
After a few minutes of silence, Xiao, once more looked upon Artoria and gave her a small nod.
"I am ready, your Grace. Ready to answer any of your questions."
A newfound resolve can be heard in his voice.
"I'm glad to hear that." Artoria replied.
"Now, I want to ask you something else. These gods...these fallen deities that you've told me about, I assume that you and the rest of the adepti, as well as the Qixing had suspected that whatever schemes the perpetrators behind this entire mess were planning were somewhat connected to these fallen gods or what's left of them, correct?"
Xiao nodded.
"Indeed, my lady. After the sudden and unusual spike of demonic attacks and sightings for the past two years, we had initially suspected that the remnants of these gods might have somehow awakened, or worse, they might have been disturbed by some external force and are now seeking vengeance upon the land that had long since forgotten them."
"So, we, the adepti, along with the Millileth, conducted a series of investigations and patrols all across the areas where these gods had met their end."
"We've searched for any signs of unusual activity, any traces of malevolent energy, or any indication that their essence might have been disturbed."
Xiao's expression then turned grim as he continued.
"We searched for months, my lady but despite our efforts, we found nothing."
'Huh? Nothing? But what about that trace of abyssal energy I found in a nearby riverbank this afternoon? Weren't they able to track any other signs of abyssal anomalies? Something is clearly not adding up.' Artoria furrowed her brow in confusion as Xiao continued his report.
"Our investigation concluded that the final resting places of these gods remained undisturbed, with no signs of any sort of tampering or corruption."
"We were baffled. It was as if whatever was causing these phenomenon was not connected to the fallen gods, or at least, not in the way we had initially thought."
"However, there were some places that we haven't yet thoroughly investigated." Xiao added.
"What do you mean?" Artoria asked while she raised her brow in confusion.
'Didn't he just mentioned earlier that they had conducted a series of investigations all across the areas where these gods had met their end? If that was the case, then why haven't they thoroughly investigated some of them?'
Xiao seemed to have read Artoria's confusion. He slightly turned his head to the side out of embarrassment and muttered two words.
"The Qixing."
"Huh? What about them?"
"Well, my lady. Some of the members of the Qixing had placed some...restrictions when it comes to investing certain areas." Xiao hesitated for a bit before continuing.
"You see, the final resting place of the salt goddess, Havria, had become a sort pilgrimage site for many of her existing followers particularly the members of the Yinyuan Hall, one of the Eight Trades under the jurisdiction of the Liyue Qixing that governs the country's salt industry."
"The place was now designated as a protected historical and cultural site, and the Qixing had strictly forbidden any form of intrusion without their explicit permission."
'The Eight Trades...so it is a matter of economics then? Are they trying to protect their salt industry from potential disruptions that a thorough investigation might cause?'
Artoria frowned at the thought. While she could understand the reasoning behind the Qixing's decision, shouldn't the safety and security of the people be the paramount priority here?
'Ugh... merchants/businessmen'
"Then there's the final resting place of Chi, the serpentine god." Xiao continued.
"The Qixing argued that since the god had been rendered asunder with its fragments made inert by our Archon Rex Lapis, there was no need to waste resources investigating that place."
"And finally, the resting place of Shui You, the one that was located within the Qiongji Estuary…..well the Qixing actually sent a small contingent of Milileth and Exorcists into that area last year, but they found nothing, other than some minor illusions that they associated with the coastal mists."
"They then concluded that the area was free from any form of malevolent contamination and has since been considered safe for the local fisherfolk."
...
...
..
'SERIOUSLY?! They concluded that the area was safe based on what? A single investigation?! Are they incompetent or are they deliberately trying to downplay the severity of the situation?!'
'How…how can they be socareless?!So negligent?! If the abyss is truly behind all of this, then the entire region could be in danger!'
'And what about the people? The innocent civilians who are going about their daily lives, unaware of the actual magnitude of the looming threat that could be lurking just beneath their feet!'
Xiao's explanation made Artoria realize that this generation of Qixing seemed to be either incompetent or were deliberately turning a blind eye to the situation for reasons she couldn't quite comprehend. Whatever it was, it wasn't a good sign.
'By the Seven, how I wish Ningguang or even Keqing were already grown up by now. At least I know that those two would take this matter seriously.'
A wave of disappointment washed over Artoria with her expression now laced with concern.
She had high hopes for this generation's Qixing, believing them to be capable and responsible leaders. But it seemed that she had been mistaken.
But there's still hope...
"What about you and the rest of adepti? Aren't your group independent from the Qixing? Why haven't you, or the others, investigated those places yourselves?" Artoria asked with a stern voice.
The apparent seriousness of her words made Xiao flinched for a second.
"It's complicated my lady." The Yaksha sighed as his shoulders slumped in resignation.
"Centuries after the conclusion of the Archon War, my master, along with the rest of the adepti, including myself, entered a long period of semi-seclusion."
"The world had began to changed, and we, as beings of immense power, decided it was best to withdraw from most of the affairs of mortal world, to allow them to govern themselves without much of our interference."
"Our Archon, Rex Lapis would still regularly descend every year during The Rite of Descension in order to stir Liyue on the right path. But other than that, and a few incidents were divine intervention is needed, we would rarely meddle in mortal affairs."
"This arrangement has been in place for centuries. The Qixing would manage the day-to-day affairs of Liyue, while we would serve as guardians and protectors of the realm, ready to intervene when the need arises.'
"When these unusual anomalies started to appear, the adepti, though still adhering to the ancient contract, had decided to initially intervene."
"We were the ones who conducted the initial investigation, and we were the ones who had concluded that these incidents might have some sort of connection with the remnants of the fallen gods."
"After we presented our findings to the Qixing, to our surprise, they insisted on handling the matter themselves, stating that it is a mortal affair and that our involvement might cause unnecessary alarm or panic among the populace."
"They also pointed out that some of these places were now of cultural and historical significance, and any form of intrusion, even by the adepti, would be seen as a sign of disrespect."
"They then assured us that they would handle the matter with the utmost care and diligence, and that they would call upon our assistance if the situation escalates beyond their control."
Xiao frowned as he recalled the conversation between the adepti and the Qixing.
"Naturally, most of us didn't agreedwith their decision. Even Cloud Retainer had expressed her utter disappointment and was one heartbeat away from unleashing her adeptal might upon the Yujing Terrace!"
"But before the situation could escalate any further, our Lord suddenly manifested himself in our presence in his Exuviaform and told us to stand down."
"He then told us that he would allow the Qixing to handle this matter…for now as a sort of test for their capabilities and worthiness as the administrators of Liyue."
"We, the adepti, had no choice but to obey our Lord's command. However, he did order us to remain vigilant especially within our respective domains and to act accordingly should the need arise."
Xiao's expression darkened a bit, a hint of frustration was present in his golden eyes.
"So, we've been doing that for the past several months. We've been patrolling our respective domains, keeping a close eye on any unusual activities, but so far, there's been nothing. No signs of demonic presence, no traces of abyssal energy…"
"What if I told you that I had found traces of that vile energy just this afternoon." Artoria suddenly cut him off.
The sudden statement made the Yaksha's eyes widen in disbelief.
"WHAT?! My lady, are you certain?" He asked, his voice filled with urgency and surprise.
"Very." Artoria replied with a nod.
"I found it near a riverbank not far from this inn. It was faint, almost unnoticeable, but it was definitely there."
The news sent shockwaves through Xiao's being.
He and the other adepti had scoured the entirety of the land for months now, and they had failed to detect any signs of abyssal energy.
Yet, this woman…this mysterious and powerful goddess, had managed to find it in just a few hours after her arrival?!
'How? How is that possible? Are her senses far more acute than those of us Adepti?!' No, that would make perfect sense, she's a goddess after all, her abilities might be near the level of Lord Rex Lapis himself.'
Regardless...
"This changes everything, my lady." Xiao said, his voice now laced with a newfound urgency.
"If the Abyss is truly involved, then this is far more serious than we had initially thought."
"The Qixing's and the adepti's initial investigations must have either been manipulated or simply missed these traces. The fact that this corruption is so subtle yet present is deeply concerning." Artoria added.
"It speaks of an enemy who's cunning and has the power and the means to conceal their activities from both mortal and divine scrutiny."
"It's a violation. A violation of the natural order. The Abyss has no right to exist in this realm. Its presence is a stain upon the world, a cancer that must be eradicated!"
Xiao's grip on the Primordial Jade Winged-Spear tightened as the jade shaft seeming to hum in response to the Yaksha's mounting rage.
"We must inform the adepti, the Qixing and most importantly, Rex Lapis." Xiao spoke with a sense of urgency.
"They need to know about this."
"Not yet." Artoria replied, her tone, calm and measured was a strike contrast to that of Xiao.
"We must proceed with caution. There are still questions left unanswered, and gaps in the puzzle that needed to be verified."
Artoria then turned her full attention to Xiao.
"I have a plan, but I will need your help, Xiao."
"I am at your service, your Grace." Xiao said without a moment of hesitation.
The Yaksha then kneeled in front of Artoria, bowing his head in a gesture of loyalty and respect.
"I will follow you wherever you may lead me, even into the very depths of the Abyss itself." Xiao spoke solemnly as if reciting an oath.
'Sigh…seriously? There's no need of him to act this way...but then again it kinda looks adorable, like a little duckling who's constantly following its owner' Artoria thought with a small smile, then she cleared her throat.
"Rise, Xiao. There's no need for such formalities."
"I propose that we do some discreet investigation of our own. I intend to visit the final resting place of some of these fallen gods that you mentioned, particularly, the three that were not thoroughly investigated."
"Hopefully we can find some clues out there that could lead us closer to the truth of this problem that has been plaguing this land." Artoria said.
"An excellent plan, your Grace." Xiao said as he rose from his kneeling position.
"When shall we begin our investigation?"
"Tomorrow morning. We will start with the closet one, the final resting place of the god of salt, Havria. If I recall correctly, the ruins of Sal Terrae are not far from here, correct?" Artoria said.
Xiao nodded.
"Excellent. We'll start there then afterwards we'll proceed to Qiongji Estuary and finally we'll go up north towards the vicinity of Qingce Village." Artoria continued. Her demeanour was slowly turning to that of a commanding officer.
The two then spent several more minutes going through the details of their plan, with Xiao providing valuable insights about the local geography, the potential dangers they might face, and the best routes to take.
Afterwards, with the plan now set, Artoria bid Xiao farewell leaving the Yaksha to contemplate on the unexpected turn of events that had happened to him in that evening.
(End of Chapter)
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(The Archon War)
- The Archon War was an era of various power struggles between gods that began several thousand years ago.
- The Archon War was triggered when Celestia created the Gnoses out of the Third Descender's (Saarelainen, also known as the Stranger of Winter's Day) remains, and also created the Archons' Divine Thrones out of pieces of the Dragon Sovereigns' authorities.
- The Gnoses and the Divine Thrones became the subjects for the gods to fight over.
- While different regions settled their power struggles at different times, the era drew to a close 2,000 years ago after the final seat was claimed.
- As the Archon War drew to a close 2,000 years ago, only the Seven remained, giving Teyvat the seven nations it now has today.
- ███ said however, that the war was started because ███ could no longer ██████ Teyvat after being severely injured during the War of Funerary Flame by ███
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(The Eight Adepts)
- The Eight Adepts lived in Liyue around the time of the Archon War. They were said to have had adeptus-like abilities, despite not being actual adepti.
- Members of this elusive group were divided into 3 subgroups.
- Three Hermits of Guizang, which included Wind Reader, Yunlai Angler and the Wuwang Kid.
- Two Sages of Lianshan whose members are Sages Hu and Jian
- Three Beasts of Tao Dou composed of the Jade-Plumed Silverwing, Gold-Eyed Celadon Mare Zibai, and Lone Butterfly of the Crimson Flame who's legacy was passed down to the Wangsheng Funeral Parlor founders.
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(The Eight Trades)
-The Eight Trades are the eight commerce sectors under the jurisdiction of the Liyue Qixing.
- The most well known sectors among them are The Communications Office which mainly handles shipments and transports around Liyue, the Shenglu Hall which governs the glazed ceramics industry, Huishan Hall which is in charge of Liyue's mining industry, and lastly the Yinyuan Hall, the sector that governs the salt industry of Liyue.
- As the leaders of the salt industry, the members of Yinyuan Hall worships the long-deceased God of Salt, Havria. Their ancestors were supposedly sheltered by the goddess during the Archon War in Sal Terrae.
- Havria's story was passed down through Yinyuan Hall but was somehow distorted. The most prevalent version claims that Morax himself assassinated her out of envy for her power. However, other descendants of Sal Terrae survivors have passed down an undistorted version of the tale, showing that it was the folly and greed of their ancestors that led to the death of the kind salt goddess.
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