"My name is Qiu Nian, twenty-four years old."
"I live in the outer area of Jueyun Karst, in the northwest of Liyue."
Qiu Nian calmly answered the two Millelith members in front of him.
Hearing this, the two exchanged glances, both showing a trace of surprise.
Still, the woman dutifully wrote down his information in her notebook.
"The outer area of Jueyun Karst?"
"Are there actually people living there?"
The Millelith soldier asked quietly, leaning toward the woman beside him.
"Mr. Qiu Nian."
"Why do you live in a place like that?"
Instead of replying to the soldier, the woman looked directly at Qiu Nian and asked.
"There's a house there that has been passed down through my family."
"And the reason I came to Liyue Harbor this time… is because of the rumors about the Geo Archon."
Qiu Nian replied calmly.
"I see."
"So this is what people call living in seclusion, right?"
The woman nodded.
"Haha… I wouldn't go that far."
"I'd love to live in Liyue Harbor too, but unfortunately my pockets are empty. I have no choice."
Qiu Nian chuckled lightly.
"That's all we needed."
"You may go now, sir."
After writing something else in the notebook, the woman said.
"Then I won't disturb the two of you any longer."
Qiu Nian nodded politely before walking away.
As she watched his figure gradually disappear into the distance, the woman fell into thought.
After hesitating for a while, she finally decided to place the young man named Qiu Nian onto a special whitelist.
But this was not an ordinary list.
Anyone recorded there was someone… a little suspicious.
Meanwhile, Qiu Nian continued strolling around the outskirts.
The sky was clear today, and the air was fresh.
"Hmm…"
Looking in the direction of Liyue Harbor, he sank into contemplation.
After thinking for a moment, he decided to go meet the Overlord of the Vortex, Osial, ahead of time.
Speaking of Osial reminded him of a book he had read not long ago.
…
It was a distant past—the age when countless sails cut across the sea and sea monsters roamed the waves.
In those days, Liyue Harbor was far from peaceful. Beasts of the ocean frequently caused chaos.
Legend spoke of a vast shadow lurking in the deep sea.
It summoned whirlpools and towering waterspouts, shattering sturdy ships and dragging prey into the endless abyss.
Another legend told of a floating island that would appear across the sea like a rainbow.
Mist poured from it endlessly…
Those fortunate enough to step upon the rainbow bridge and reach the island would uncover ancient treasures hidden for ages.
There was also a tale claiming that the island was no island at all—
But a slumbering sea monster.
Sailors and ship captains were fond of strange stories like these.
Yet there was one tale they all firmly believed.
The Geo Archon once hurled a divine spear through the heavens, piercing the rainbow itself and pinning the raging vortex deep within the sea.
It was said that after that day, dolphins and whales often gathered in those waters, circling and singing.
Some said the creatures mourned for the god they revered, singing sorrowful elegies.
Others said they marveled at the Geo Archon's spear—its power truly capable of piercing both rainbow and falling sun.
There was also a rumor whispered among the people—
One day, the vortex sealed by the Stone Lord's divine spear would awaken again.
The wind would carry the stench of the deep sea onto the land.
And when that happened…
Nine-headed waterspouts would rise once more.
…
Qiu Nian slowly closed his eyes.
After a long moment, he opened them again—
And found himself standing atop the highest peak of Guyun Stone Forest.
Strictly speaking, this was not a mountain peak.
It was the tail end of Morax's stone spear.
"So my current power still isn't enough to cross such distances in an instant…"
Qiu Nian clasped his hands behind his back.
Before him stretched an endless expanse of blue ocean.
Seagulls soared through the sky.
The weather was calm and bright.
Feeling the sea breeze against his face, Qiu Nian gazed down into the depths below.
White energy began to flow around his body, threaded with faint strands of crimson.
The next moment—
He plunged into the ocean.
After descending to an unknown depth, Qiu Nian finally stopped.
Before him lay several enormous "sea serpents," their bodies emitting a faint blue glow as they drifted slowly through the deep sea.
Compared to those colossal forms, Qiu Nian was smaller than an ant.
These were none other than the divine remains of the Overlord of the Vortex, Osial.
His massive body had long been pinned to the seabed by the spearhead of Morax's stone lance.
Around Osial floated ancient golden runes.
Each character was enormous, radiating terrifying suppressive power.
At this moment, Osial had fallen into deep slumber.
Far beyond the ocean's depths, Qiu Nian sensed another presence.
There was no need to guess.
It was Beisht, the wife of the Overlord of the Vortex.
Seeing this scene, Qiu Nian couldn't help sighing inwardly.
He had originally planned to chat with Osial.
But it seemed the ancient god was still asleep.
His condition wasn't terribly weak…
But it certainly wasn't good either.
Without outside interference, he probably wouldn't awaken anytime soon.
Thinking of this, Qiu Nian shifted his gaze toward the distant sea where Beisht lingered.
Compared to Osial, Beisht's body appeared much smaller.
Her power was only about a tenth of Osial's.
And that comparison was with Osial still pinned to the sea floor.
Even so—
She was still a true god-level being.
Ever since Osial had been sealed by Morax's spear, Beisht had likely remained in these waters.
But she stayed in the deepest parts of the sea, beyond Liyue's domain.
She never caused trouble on the surface.
So Morax had simply ignored her.
"Osial's wife, huh…"
"Let's go have a chat."
With that thought, Qiu Nian shot forward through the ocean at incredible speed.
Halfway there—
Beisht sensed a powerful divine presence approaching.
And the aura felt strangely familiar.
It triggered an instinctive fear deep within her.
For a moment, she hesitated.
If she fled toward Inazuma's waters, then the moment she crossed the boundary—
Raiden Ei would surely notice her.
Which meant she was trapped in a dilemma.
She glanced toward Qiu Nian's direction…
Then toward Inazuma.
Back and forth.
By the time she finished hesitating—
Qiu Nian had already arrived before her.
Looking at the tiny figure before her—no bigger than an ant—Beisht's massive body stiffened slightly.
"…You."
"You're still alive?"
Her enormous head leaned closer to Qiu Nian, her voice filled with shock.
Her voice echoed softly through the sea, elegant and gentle—like that of a mature woman.
"Haha…"
"Aren't you still alive as well?"
Qiu Nian laughed lightly and asked in return.