Guyun Stone Forest, at the seal.
"Zhongli, how does it feel to be the Geo Archon of Liyue and personally release Osial to attack Liyue Harbor?" Koji teased.
Zhongli sighed helplessly. "Do you think I want this? It's supposed to be Tartaglia who releases Osial. But right now he's bedridden."
"Tartaglia woke up, but he injured his spine. He needs time to recover. So in the end, I have to release Osial myself."
He also felt awkward.
What kind of plan was this?
Destroying Liyue… devised by Morax? Please. Whatever Morax did back then had nothing to do with Zhongli today.
"How strong is the Vortex God?" Koji asked curiously.
"Among the demon gods, middle-to-upper tier. But Osial has just broken free from his seal. His strength won't be at its peak. If the Qixing arrange their forces properly, they'll have a chance to repel him."
Zhongli explained. Back then, Osial had caused tremendous damage to Liyue Harbor.
The reason he hadn't been killed was simple: the residue of slain demon gods drifted with the waves. Since Osial dwelled in the sea, killing him there would have polluted the ocean, and that would have poisoned all of Liyue Harbor.
Liyue's entire livelihood depended on the sea. So sealing him was the most appropriate choice.
"Strong or not, he still ended up sealed by you."
During the Archon War, Liyue had the most demon gods, and the fiercest competition. Only Morax's overwhelming strength allowed him to stand as final victor.
In Sumeru, by contrast, the God of the Woods, the Scarlet King, and the Flower God had not clashed. Their relationships were harmonious.
Until forbidden knowledge shattered it all.
"Enough. I've undone the seal. Three days from now, the Vortex God Osial will appear."
Zhongli condensed four golden talismans of divine power and pressed them onto the seal.
"I heard you hate seafood?"
"Yes. Some unpleasant experiences. The fishy stench of seafood—I don't like it," Zhongli nodded.
So when he suppressed Osial back then, he had simply hurled spears from a distance.
"Zhongli, compared to your power during the Archon War, are you stronger now, or weaker?"
There had been erosion, certainly. But whether Zhongli's strength had grown or declined—only he himself truly knew.
"Suppressing Osial as before is not a problem." Zhongli stroked his chin. Power could not grow endlessly. Demon gods had limits. If strength could increase infinitely, Celestia would never permit it.
"My young friend, you may inform Ningguang and the others about Osial—or not. I want to see if, given preparation, Ningguang will surprise me when facing a demon god."
Koji nodded once and vanished.
"Spatial power… the Ruler of Space also commands it," Zhongli muttered.
Without doubt, space was one of the supreme forces. Even among demon gods, those with spatial attributes were rare.
If he were to fight the Ruler of Space, his odds of victory would not be high.
When Ningguang and the others heard Koji's report, their expressions grew solemn.
"So it's the Vortex God, Osial?"
This demon god, sealed by the Geo Archon, was familiar to the Qixing. Records of him were in their archives.
Being suppressed in the past did not mean Osial posed no threat. Compared to humans, the gulf between them and a demon god was vast and unbridgeable.
The Archon's so-called "test" was outrageous—asking mortals without godlike might to face Osial.
"Ningguang, we must ready the Millelith, and also begin evacuating the people," Keqing said gravely.
Liyue Harbor lay on the sea. If Osial stirred up a tsunami, the casualties would be unimaginable.
The harbor could be rebuilt. But if its people died in great numbers, Liyue's vitality would truly be broken.
"Since we know in advance, we must prepare."
"Then leave it to you, Keqing." Ningguang did not oppose, handing the matter over.
Keqing nodded and left the Jade Chamber.
"Ningguang, what about the funeral of the Archon?" Koji asked.
"This…"
Ningguang froze. They all knew the Archon wasn't truly dead, but in suspended disguise. Yet the people of Liyue didn't know that. In their eyes, their revered lord had indeed perished.
If the Qixing did nothing—no rites, no mourning—the public outrage would drown them.
But to hold a grand funeral, when the Archon still lived—would he be pleased to see his own burial? That was the dilemma.
"I have an idea. Why not let the Wangsheng Funeral Parlor handle it?" Koji grinned.
"Wangsheng Funeral Parlor?"
Ningguang raised her brows. In funerary matters, no one surpassed them.
"Was this suggested by Mr. Zhongli?" she asked.
"No. I already spoke with the Hall Master, Hu Tao. I promised her a major commission. Wangsheng's long history and expertise—who else could be worthy of conducting the Geo Archon's funeral?"
Ningguang's mouth twitched. She couldn't deny it. This was indeed a monumental order. Who else had ever held a funeral for an Archon?
Still, this would need the Archon's approval. They couldn't decide unilaterally.
"Forgive me. We must deliberate carefully. Right now, Osial is the greater priority."
Koji nodded. That was what he expected.
Still, he could just speak with Zhongli directly. Issue an edict, and it was done.
Zhongli, you wouldn't want to disappoint Hu Tao's eager eyes, would you?
"Koji, can you and Lumine fight a demon god?" Ningguang asked.
At a time like this, wealth was also power. If he had it, why not use it? She wasn't stupid.
"As long as the pay is right, everything's negotiable," Koji smiled.
"By the way, should we appoint an acting Geo Archon? With no god suddenly, the impact is not small."
"You mean a supervisory proxy position?"
Ningguang considered. While the Archon lived, no one dared harbor ambitions.
"Exactly. I recommend Zhongli as the second Geo Archon."
The Archon is "dead"? What's that to Zhongli? Old man, you keep your job.
"Mr. Zhongli? That could work."
With the truth of his identity revealed, no one would object to an adeptus becoming Geo Archon.
"I'll note it. We'll decide later, once we reestablish contact with the Archon."
With two Honorary Knights at their side, even if they could not defeat Osial, they would not let Liyue become ruins.
If the Archon himself intervened, then they had failed the test.
(End of Chapter)
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