Qiu Nian nodded and agreed.
However, if Lumine had heard the conversation he and Zhongli had just shared, it would have been utterly shocking.
After all, aside from the fact that Zhongli was Morax, everything they discussed contained information that absolutely should not exist in Version 1.1.
Just as that thought crossed his mind, Lumine and Paimon arrived.
"Qiu Nian, what were you and Mr. Zhongli talking about?"
"And when did you get here?"
Paimon looked at the two of them with curiosity.
"I was just discussing ancient Liyue history with Mr. Zhongli."
"I didn't expect him to know so much about old Liyue. I learned quite a lot."
Qiu Nian replied with a perfectly straight face.
"You flatter me, Mr. Qiu Nian."
"Your insights earlier were equally enlightening."
Zhongli replied calmly.
Meanwhile, viewers in Xuehua's livestream began discussing the scene.
[Those two together feel kind of suspicious.]
[Yeah, I get that feeling too.]
[What's suspicious about two handsome men standing together? Birds of a feather flock together.]
[Is that really how that idiom is used?]
"Looks like you two get along pretty well."
Lumine said with a smile, hands on her hips.
"Oh right, Mr. Zhongli! We brought the perfume!"
"Three bottles—just like you asked!"
Paimon proudly reported.
"Thank you both."
"Let us try offering them one by one."
Zhongli nodded and looked toward the Statue of the Seven.
The statue depicted Rex Lapis sitting in a bold and imposing pose.
It looked incredibly domineering.
"This is the first perfume. Miss Ying'er said it's sweet and dreamy—something little girls would love."
As Paimon explained, Lumine placed the perfume called "Golden House Secret" on the offering altar.
The second perfume was called "Adeptal Elegance," suited for noble and refined ladies.
The third perfume was gentle and long-lasting, the type most favored by mature women.
As soon as the third perfume was placed down—
A white glow shimmered from the statue.
"Eh… what was that just now?"
Paimon looked confused.
"It seems the Geo Archon liked that one."
"Looks like the answer is the third perfume."
Lumine explained.
"Haha…"
Qiu Nian chuckled softly as he looked at the statue.
"That's the fragrance mature ladies prefer, right?"
"Does that mean… Rex Lapis might actually be a mature woman?"
Paimon speculated.
"Haha… who knows?"
"The Geo Archon has taken countless forms."
"Perhaps such a form once existed."
Zhongli laughed lightly and crossed his arms.
Seriously?
I've never seen that form.
Qiu Nian glanced at the statue and then at Zhongli, silently complaining in his mind.
The livestream chat exploded again.
[The statue doesn't look female at all though.]
[Rex Lapis: Since when was I a woman?]
[Totally normal. Gods don't really have genders anyway.]
At this point, many players believed the gods had no fixed gender.
"It's a shame we've only seen that massive dragon form…"
"And…"
"I hope the Liyue Qixing catch the real culprit."
Paimon said with a complicated expression.
The real culprit is literally standing in front of you right now.
And talking to you like nothing happened.
Qiu Nian couldn't help finding it amusing.
"Those matters should be left to those in power."
"All we need to do is prepare the proper farewell rites for Rex Lapis."
Zhongli said calmly, placing one hand over his chest.
What exactly are the Qixing and Childe plotting…
Forget it. If I want to see the Exuvia…
Lumine frowned slightly in thought.
"Oh right, Zhongli."
"Since you know so much about Liyue's ancient history…"
"Have you ever heard of that one?"
Lumine suddenly asked.
"That one?"
Zhongli looked puzzled.
"It's like this. When we went to Jueyun Karst to find the adepti…"
"They all mentioned someone called that one."
"And they all believed that person had the power to assassinate the Geo Archon."
Paimon explained.
"But they also said that person would never actually assassinate Rex Lapis."
"And the Conqueror of Demons said that person disappeared about a thousand years ago."
"He told us to search Jueyun Karst for them."
"We looked everywhere but couldn't find anyone."
"After we met Qiu Nian living in seclusion, we gave up."
Lumine added.
"Hmm… that one."
Zhongli thought for a moment.
"The thousand years you mentioned is likely just a rough estimate."
"If we speak of someone in history who might truly possess the power to assassinate Rex Lapis…"
"There may indeed have been such a person."
"That individual arrived in Liyue during the early-to-mid stages of the Archon War."
"So… who exactly was that?"
Paimon asked eagerly.
The livestream chat instantly exploded.
[It's coming!]
[We're finally going to learn who the adepti were talking about!]
Xuehua glanced at the chat, equally excited.
Was the truth finally about to be revealed?!
After a brief pause, Zhongli began explaining.
"According to historical records, near the end of the early stage of the Archon War, an Outer God arrived in Liyue."
"An Outer God refers to a deity who has no people within Liyue's lands."
"For reasons unknown, that god engaged Rex Lapis in a battle capable of destroying heaven and earth."
"The two gods were nearly equal in strength."
"No one knows who truly won that battle."
"However, most people in Liyue believe Rex Lapis emerged victorious."
"This is also the conclusion widely accepted by Liyue's historians."
"The reason is simple."
"If Rex Lapis had lost…"
"Liyue would not exist as it does today."
"But records do state that shortly after that battle ended…"
"An unknown adeptus appeared in Liyue."
"That adeptus remained in Liyue for about ten years…"
"…before eventually leaving."
By the time Zhongli finished speaking, Lumine and Paimon were already completely stunned.
Meanwhile—
Qiu Nian simply smiled.