Ying and Paimon hadn't left yet, and the strange look on Azhdaha's face immediately piqued their curiosity.
Paimon couldn't help but ask, "Azhdaha, have you already reached the floor where Zhongli appears? So… just how strong was Morax in his prime?"
Hearing that, Azhdaha's expression turned inscrutable. "You'll know when you get there yourselves."
"'When we get there?'" Paimon spread her tiny hands helplessly.
Who knew how long that would take!
The two of them were still stuck struggling on the fifty-fourth floor!
"Come on, just tell us," Paimon insisted, unable to hold back her curiosity.
"Well…" Azhdaha shook his head. "All I can say is: those who know, know. If you don't… there's nothing I can do."
He was already chuckling inwardly.
Was Morax strong?
That was beyond question—Morax's strength was well-known to all.
But why, back in the days when they had fought side by side, had he never felt that Morax was this terrifying?
Everyone knew Morax was powerful, but he never gave off a crushing sense of dread. On the contrary, he had always been calm, steady, and reassuring.
In his youth, Morax had been a bit more outspoken and proud, even approachable.
But to face him as an enemy?
That was another story entirely.
When Azhdaha reached that floor and unlocked the gate, the very moment he stepped in he saw the sky above erupt with an endless storm of rock.
Not mere stones.
Not raindrops.
But spears of solidified divine power, descending like a torrential rain.
"You're still human?!"
No greetings, no testing of strength—Morax opened with a cataclysm meant to kill.
Just how terrifying was it?
Wearing the visage of unbounded slaughter, Morax even summoned the falling stars.
Who starts a fight by dragging meteors from the heavens to smash you flat?
Morax, that's who.
The colossal star split the sky and came crashing down with a force that seemed to pierce the clouds and crush the world.
The instant Azhdaha saw it, despite having no fur, he felt every nonexistent hair stand on end.
"Brother… who even are you? Are you really the Morax I knew?"
He was ruthless. Every single strike carried devastating divine might.
Of course, Azhdaha wasn't instantly defeated—he managed to hold his ground.
As the dragon of the earth, as long as his feet touched the ground, his power was endless. The Trial Tower hadn't stripped that away.
So he could keep clashing with Morax.
But why bother?
There was no chance of victory.
Better to withdraw than to drag things out for hundreds of hours and leave battered and humiliated.
This was Morax—untouched by the erosion of time, proud and fierce in his youth, at his absolute peak, wielding full divine might with unbridled killing intent.
Azhdaha could only say: in Teyvat, under the rule of the Four Archons, unless you use the card system, no one could defeat such a Morax. Whoever can beat him without cards deserves a big thumbs-up.
"Is he that overpowered?" Ying asked.
"Not exactly overpowered," Azhdaha replied, shaking his head.
At least Morax didn't have the power to completely crush him.
"If you put it in plain numbers, Morax is at a solid one-hundred," Azhdaha added with a wry face.
Ying sighed softly. "Who knows when I'll ever see that floor myself… I need to ask my brother for more coins!"
Zhongli raised a brow, while Azhdaha looked at her enviously.
So that's the benefit of having a rich brother behind you.
"Old man," Azhdaha turned to Zhongli, "when are you going to sponsor me with some coins?"
"In general… no," Zhongli replied with a slight smile.
"Unbelievable," Azhdaha grumbled. "Baal has 'Baal'… and Morax doesn't even have 'Mora'? Isn't that ironic?"
Zhongli blinked and pondered. "That's… an interesting way to put it."
"Uh…" Paimon scratched her head. "So if he hadn't been resurrected, Baal would have no Baal, and Morax would have no Mora?"
"Something like that," Azhdaha nodded. "Want to give it a try yourself?"
"I intend to," Zhongli replied with a nod and stepped forward.
As they watched him dissolve into motes of light and vanish, Paimon muttered, "Wonder how long it'll take him…"
The three of them chatted idly as they waited.
Before long, Zhongli returned, walking out calmly.
Azhdaha immediately lifted his head, scrutinizing his expression.
"How did it go?" Paimon asked eagerly.
Zhongli didn't answer. Instead, he simply held up his badge.
[Trial Tower Record]: [Fifty-Eighth Floor] – Outstanding
The ranking badge gleamed with the same platinum sheen as his equipment, adorned with ornate patterns. The word "Outstanding" at the end shone with a brilliant light.
"Outstanding?!"
Azhdaha was genuinely surprised.
"You actually beat your peak self?"
"I used cards, that's all," Zhongli replied evenly.
"Another lucky guy…" Paimon sighed.
Ying laughed softly. "By rights, your current self should only be able to fight your prime to a draw at best, earning a mere 'Pass' rating. But now you got 'Outstanding,' not far from a total one-sided victory. The card system really is incredible."
"If only your gear and cards were better," she added, "you might even hit the highest rating—'Godlike.'"
Zhongli nodded in agreement.
"Indeed."
Everyone knew cards were powerful, but how powerful exactly was always a little vague.
Even Zhongli had only been able to speculate about his growth without proper benchmarks.
The Trial Tower provided that benchmark.
With just a handful of cards and rather ordinary equipment, he'd already come close to rivaling the Four Shadows.
If he seriously improved his gear—say, reaching even fifty percent of its potential—he would at minimum be Four-Shadow level.
"Anyone else want to give it a try?" Zhongli asked the three.
Seeing them all shake their heads, he smiled faintly.
"After such a battle, it's time to relax. How about we head to Heyu Teahouse? My treat."
"Hold on, I've got a question first," Paimon said with mock sternness.
"Don't worry," Zhongli chuckled. "I brought money."
"Guess retirement taught you to carry cash, huh?" Azhdaha teased, laughing.
"Well then, let's not delay!"
After all, tea paid for by Zhongli somehow tasted better.
That afternoon, under the warm sunlight,
Lu Heng strolled leisurely through the streets of Sumeru City.
He casually sampled local snacks from the stalls, listening to the lively chatter of the townsfolk.
The hottest topics in the city these days were none other than "The Return of the Great Dendro Archon," "The Plot of Azar and the Fatui," and "The Card Shop."
"Hey, do you know about the gear devices and the phones?"
"Of course I do! I'm planning to buy one myself."
"No need to go queue over there. The line's endless—might not even get your turn by tomorrow!
I happen to have what you need right here. Just pay a tiny bit extra and you can take it home right away. Isn't that worth it?"
"How much?"
"Only twenty-four thousand Mora."
"That's four thousand more than the store price! Are you robbing me?"
"Now, now, don't put it that way. Think about it—four thousand Mora in exchange for your time. Instead of wasting hours in line, you get it right away. That's worth it, isn't it?"
"Three thousand five."
"Deal!"
Money changed hands.
Dori smiled broadly as she counted the Mora, then carefully tucked it away like a precious treasure.
Just as she looked up, her smile froze for an instant.
"Ah… ha-haha… L-Lu Boss! H-Hello!" she stammered nervously.
If she'd been reselling someone else's goods, she wouldn't have felt the slightest guilt. After all, it was just business—an information gap, nothing more.
At worst, it was a little unscrupulous.
But these goods came from his shop.
How would Lu Heng see her actions?
She couldn't tell.
He was both a businessman and someone whose mere word could decide the fate of entire worlds.
Most people's respect for Lu Heng came from this—no matter how gentle and approachable he seemed, knowing he could crush a world in his palm inspired instinctive awe.
She had hesitated before doing this.
But the lure of Mora was irresistible.
She had to take the gamble.
Would she win or lose that bet?
It all depended on how Lu Heng judged her.
Lu Heng smiled lightly. "Sangoma-haba Bai, the great lord himself out here running a stall?"
"Please, just call me Dori!" she said quickly, wiping the sweat from her brow.
Lu Heng chuckled. "Relax, I'm not here to give you a hard time. Just happened to run into you while wandering."
"Then… I suppose my luck's pretty good," Dori said with a weak smile, finally breathing a little easier.
"Actually, I should thank you," Lu Heng added. "If you hadn't been selling phones everywhere, the desert folk might still not know about the Card Shop. You've basically been advertising for me.
About that advertising fee though…" He drew out his words teasingly.
Dori completely relaxed at that.
He wasn't angry!
"Never! I wouldn't dream of taking a fee from you. Being able to promote your business is an honor!" she said with an emphatic pat on her chest.
Lu Heng chuckled, then asked, "So, how much have you earned?"
Dori answered honestly without hesitation.
"As of noon today, after paying my workers and covering travel expenses, I've netted three hundred sixty-eight million five hundred twenty thousand Mora.
Since noon until now, counting my caravan's sales and mine here, probably a few more million."
Lu Heng nodded slightly.
Now that the Sumeru branch of the Card Shop was open—even if only a partial one—fewer people would buy from scalpers like her.
She'd have to slash her prices, as that last transaction showed, so her profits would be cut in half.
"You're really not afraid of offending people, huh," Lu Heng remarked with a wry smile.
Dori fell silent for a moment, then asked something seemingly unrelated.
"Boss Lu… Mora used to not be all-powerful. But now that the Card Shop exists… do you think Mora has become omnipotent?"
"Why do you ask?"
"Because…" Dori's voice softened.
"If Mora truly becomes all-powerful… then with enough Mora, I'd never have to see the sad smiles of those I care about.
No one I love would suffer because we couldn't afford something… I could do anything."
In that moment, her usual sly merchant's grin was gone, replaced by utter seriousness.
Lu Heng remembered her past.
Years ago, Dori's elder sister had fallen gravely ill.
Though Sumeru's healthcare was free, the cure required a rare herb that only a few collectors still possessed.
For a poor family, the price was unthinkable.
By the time Dori learned of it, her sister had already passed.
She found the prescription tucked under her sister's pillow, along with the approximate price of the herb.
Knowing her sister had died simply because they lacked enough Mora, Dori swore she would amass unimaginable wealth.
From then on, she chased Mora with relentless determination.
So it wasn't surprising she dared to buy in bulk from Lu Heng's shop and resell at higher prices.
"Mora isn't truly omnipotent," Lu Heng said quietly. "But the cards hold infinite possibilities—possibilities that, in turn, require Mora."
Dori fell silent for a long moment, then suddenly asked, "If I want to become capable of anything… how much Mora will it take?"
"I don't know," Lu Heng admitted with a small shake of his head. "It's like an investment—you can't predict the returns. There's risk and opportunity alike. It all depends on your luck."
"I understand!" Dori said, nodding firmly.
Her resolve only deepened.
She would earn more and more Mora.
She would become the Sangoma-haba Bai who could achieve the impossible.
She would make sure that everyone dear to her would smile in genuine happiness, never again in sorrow.
"Work hard then," Lu Heng said with a teasing smile. "Just… don't fleece your customers too badly."
"Heh-heh…" Dori scratched her head in embarrassment.
"I'll be off then," Lu Heng said, turning away.
"The Card Shop, with its infinite possibilities, awaits every customer who carries dreams—or regrets."
"It's better to mend the tears fate once tore with your own hands. That way, you can truly find peace."
Dori opened her mouth as if to say something more, but he was already walking away.
She could only sink back into her seat, resting her chin on one hand in a daze.
"Boss! Are you still selling or not?"
She snapped out of it at once.
"Selling! Of course I'm selling! A full set for just twenty-three thousand six hundred sixty-six! I guarantee fair and honest business!"
"Really? No tricks?"
"Absolutely genuine!" she declared with a grin.
At least, at this price, it truly was fair.
That afternoon in Sumeru City, the breeze was light, the streets bustling, and the dreams of infinite possibilities continued to draw both the hopeful and the regretful toward the mysterious Card Shop.
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T/N:
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