Others might fear Morax—
But Azhdaha did not.
Though sealed beneath the earth, the elemental dragon remained utterly unshaken.
He clung to a single conviction: the day he broke his seal would be the day Morax fell.
"Trying to frighten me?"
"Hah! I dare you to come."
If a battle could even slightly erode the seal—then wouldn't that hasten his freedom?
In fact, Azhdaha was looking forward to Morax showing up.
He looked down at the light screen and frowned.
Yes, he was powerful, but ruling Liyue after breaking free would be… difficult.
From the first life's video, it was obvious that Morax was not just strong—he was a symbol of faith for the people.
If Morax perished, humanity might not threaten him—but their grief could still make ruling troublesome.
"If only Gu Chen would join my side," Azhdaha muttered.
If Gu Chen stood with him, victory would be inevitable.
That mysterious man's strength was terrifying, and in this third life… even more absurd.
A celestial immortal!
Not like the "Adepti" of Liyue—no, this was something higher, purer.
The moment Azhdaha saw him, the word "Immortal" escaped his lips instinctively.
When one saw a talking beast, one might call it a monster—
But Gu Chen? His very existence inspired reverence.
Azhdaha had a gut feeling: this "immortal" was unimaginably strong.
In the video—
Gu Chen turned back; the heavenly gate slowly closed behind him.
As it shut, it twisted into a great vortex that drew in all light and wonder until the world grew calm again.
Suspended high in the air, robes fluttering in fierce winds, Gu Chen frowned slightly in thought.
After a while, he sighed softly and looked down upon the vast land.
"I've arrived in this unfamiliar realm… but what am I to do here?"
His voice drifted away in the breeze.
[Lyney]: So in this life, Gu Chen doesn't seem to have any goal at all? (Sucrose innocent look)
[Yoimiya]: He looks so lost… why's that? (Nahida puzzled)
In his first two lives, he had a clear purpose—but now? Nothing. Everyone was confused.
[Childe]: Maybe his power's too overwhelming. When you're invincible, maybe you feel lonely? (Keqing puzzled)
[Kaeya]: You know what? That actually makes sense! (nods)
[Furina]: Do people really get bored of being unbeatable? (curious)
[Venti]: Can't say, never had the experience. (shrug)
[Charlotte]: @[Gu Chen]—Mr. Gu Chen, mind an interview? What's your view on "loneliness at the top"?
[Gu Chen]: Sitting view. Enjoying life. (troll emoji)
[Albedo]: Odd… To me he doesn't seem bored—more like a scholar who's nearly finished a grand project but can't find the final missing piece. That kind of helpless confusion.
[Sucrose]: As expected of Mr. Albedo—yes! That's exactly the feeling!
[Tighnari]: Wait, he's sitting down somewhere now? Is he meditating? (observing)
In the video—
Gu Chen found a mountain peak with a perfectly sized stone and sat cross-legged upon it.
He looked once more at the heavens and the earth, then closed his eyes.
Wisps of luminous energy floated through the air, swirling around him like butterflies.
His aura deepened—calm, profound, infinite.
Moments later, the sky darkened.
Thick clouds rolled in, thunder rumbled—rain began to fall.
Heavy drops splashed through the forest, drummed against stones, and rippled ponds below.
Yet not a single drop touched Gu Chen.
An unseen force kept the storm at bay.
[Bennett]: Whoa, that's awesome! If I could do that, I'd never get soaked on adventures again! (jealous)
[Kaeya]: Knowing you, it still wouldn't work. (Zhongli shrug)
[Klee]: If Humpty Dumpty could resist water too, that'd be great! (Klee pleading)
[Jean]: …
[Kaeya]: So he is meditating, right? Any adepti care to explain? (curious)
[Cloud Retainer]: More or less.
[Mountain-Shaper]: To refine oneself is cultivation. To gain strength is cultivation. Battle itself can also be cultivation. What Gu Chen does—drawing in the power of heaven and earth—is another form. (pondering)
When the storm cleared, sunlight returned.
Gu Chen slowly opened his eyes.
He raised his palms—tiny motes of spiritual light danced between them like living dragons.
"The world's laws differ," he murmured, "but the essence of power is the same. I suppose I now have some means of self-defense."
[Venti]: I can't anymore—you descended from heaven and this is "a bit of self-defense"? What is this, an Archon War or a Creator War?! (stunned)
[Nahida]: (shivering)
[Zhongli]: …beyond comprehension.
This third-life Gu Chen was a complete mystery.
No one knew where he came from, how strong he was, or what he wanted.
Even his aura seemed unfathomable.
Suddenly, the video shifted—
A man in white robes, black-gold markings on his arms, stood on a hillside.
Behind him were several humans carrying fruit.
"These mountains are dangerous," said Morax. "Come, we'll move to the plains."
The humans bowed deeply and followed him.
Far away, on another plain, dust rose as a smiling girl led people in building homes.
[Songdust True Lord]: Ah… this period… before the Guili Assembly was even founded. Many of our old friends hadn't yet met.
[Sun Chaser True Lord]: Then Gu Chen's place must be what is now Jueyun Karst.
[Mountain-Shaper]: Indeed. Back then it was a hidden paradise—far from the wars of gods, but still filled with terrifying beasts. I myself nearly perished there once.
[Ayaka Kamisato]: Unimaginable… (stunned)
[Paimon]: Even the adepti faced danger back then?! (Paimon shock)
[Ganyu]: Yes, the land teemed with monsters—too many to count.
[Cloud Retainer]: Hah! Speaking of beasts—little Ganyu once rolled all the way down a mountain and got swallowed by one. She only survived because she was too chubby—the creature choked to death!
[Furina]: Huh?! She choked a beast to death?! (Paimon shock)
[Venti]: (troll laugh)
[Kaeya]: I just heard something incredible. (grin)
[Yae Miko]: Oh my~ So Ganyu had such a colorful childhood? (teasing)
[Ganyu]:Liyue Qixing Notice: No rumors, no slander, no gossip! (angry embarrassed)
Poor Ganyu nearly cried—why did her master have to bring that up?!
[Shenhe]: (speechless)
[Cloud Retainer]: What? Why the strange mood all of a sudden? (confused)
[Songdust True Lord]: Because you can't talk properly, Cloud Retainer.
[Cloud Retainer]: Nonsense! I'm excellent at conversation! (pouts)
[Gu Chen]: @[Cloud Retainer]—private chat! (smirk)
[Kaeya]: True Lord, share the gossip privately then! (smirk)
[Venti]: Now I want to know too!
[Paimon]: Count me in!
[Ganyu]: Aaaah!! (screaming)
[Shenhe]: (quietly observing)
[Cloud Retainer]: Ahem. Fine, fine, none of you appreciate good stories anyway! (huff)
Meanwhile, in the mountains of Jueyun—
Though the outside world raged with war, this place remained still.
Only beasts battled for territory, their immense bodies shaking mountains apart.
Gu Chen's chosen spot was serene enough.
Time left no mark on him.
The world changed—rivers carved new paths, forests rose and fell—yet he sat unmoving.
Until one day—
A crisp crane's cry echoed through the clouds.
It was a beautiful creature: blue feathers lined with golden markings, elegant, mysterious.
Not an ordinary bird.
The crane landed nearby, searching for something—
It hadn't even noticed Gu Chen sitting quietly behind it.
"Such a spiritually attuned creature?" Gu Chen mused aloud.
The sound startled the crane—it flapped its wings to flee, but found itself rooted to the ground, unable to rise.
[Ganyu]: Wait—isn't that Cloud Retainer?! (snicker)
[Shenhe]: My master. (certain)
[Azhdaha]: Hah! That bird doesn't seem very bright.
[Keqing]: Um, no offense True Lord, but… were you not yet wise back then? (nervous)
[Cloud Retainer]: Hmph! Was I born enlightened? Even I could not sense Gu Chen's presence—he was one with nature itself! (Shenhe sigh)
[Mountain-Shaper]: Indeed. We all began as mere creatures of the wild—only by fate did we attain reason and become known as immortals.
[Cloud Retainer]: Wait—what's he doing?! Gu Chen, let go of me!!
In the video—
The crane struggled uselessly.
Gu Chen rose, approached, and grasped its neck gently but firmly.
"Such a strong spiritual sense… perhaps it can be refined," he murmured.
He tapped its forehead with one finger.
"Be still."
The crane winced, struggling harder.
Gu Chen raised his hand—the wind itself gathered into his palm, spiraling into a vortex of azure light.
He compressed it until it became a single shining orb.
Then, holding the crane with one hand, he pressed the light into its forehead.
The bird froze—stunned, unmoving.
After a while, Gu Chen nodded slightly and sat back down.
"It seems the creatures of this world are… normal enough."
For a long time, the crane stood still.
Then, slowly, its eyes changed—it showed emotion.
Confusion. Awe. Understanding.
It hesitated, gazing at Gu Chen's back.
"Go," Gu Chen said softly.
The crane bowed its head slightly, spread its wings, and flew into the sky.
[Kaeya]: Wait wait wait—he just enlightened the future Cloud Retainer?! (Paimon shock)
[Venti]: Incredible! That's true immortality—turning a beast into a sentient being with a touch! (Paimon shock)
[Ganyu]: @[Cloud Retainer]So, what do you think, Master? (smile)
[Cloud Retainer]: …I don't understand.
She was honest.
Because seriously—who could understand that?!
[Cloud Retainer]: @[Zhongli]Your thoughts, my lord?
[Zhongli]: … (black lines appear)
[Venti]: Let me translate: "You think I understand?!" (laughs)
[Azhdaha]: So none of you get it, right? (Hu Tao mischief)
[Vortex God]: You do? (Paimon shock)
[Azhdaha]: Nah, but if nobody understands, then not understanding looks perfectly normal!
[Furina]: Fair enough.
[Paimon]: Still, that's amazing—he just gave intelligence to a creature! Could he make people smarter too? Like, could I become super wise and all-knowing?! @[Gu Chen]
[Gu Chen]: Sure. Anyone can, if they master the method.
[Kaveh]: Bro!! My design headaches are killing me—please, grant me wisdom!!
[Paimon]: Tell us how!! @[Gu Chen]
[Gu Chen]: Write this down: First, take a nice bath. Second, change into clean sheets. Third, lie down and adjust your sleeping posture. If fate allows, you'll dream of your omniscient self. (serious)
[Paimon]: …Nice one. (speechless)
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