After Jiang Yan had gathered the energy storm born from the self-destruction of the demon gods, Morax sensed that the danger had passed and withdrew his shield.
"Is it over?"
Azhdaha approached Jiang Yan's side and asked quietly.
"Mm. Basically, yes."
Jiang Yan nodded, even tossing the sphere of condensed energy lightly in his hand.
"Are you sure you can keep that thing stable?"
Morax stepped forward, his expression heavy. Clearly, even he could feel the terrifying energy pulsing inside that sphere.
After all, it was formed by the compressed remains of energy from over ten self-destructed demon gods.
Even Jiang Yan himself dared not leave it unattended.
Handled carelessly, it was no different from a ticking nuclear bomb.
He had to find a way to seal it away.
Jiang Yan explained his thoughts to Morax.
Morax fell silent for a moment, then turned to him and said,
"Sometimes, I really want to crack open your head and see what kind of strange ideas keep coming out of it."
"But this one—I approve."
The two locked eyes and exchanged a faint smile.
A cold smile.
So cold that Azhdaha Dragon King, standing to the side, couldn't help but shiver.
These two devils—!
Even the energy left behind by dead demon gods isn't spared by them!
Morax, you've been corrupted by that brat Jiang Yan!
"When we return to Liyue Harbor, I'll call Guizhong and Cloud Retainer over. Let's see if the two of them can seal this thing with their mechanisms."
Morax said.
Jiang Yan nodded.
"Before that, I'll hole up in that forest of rock spears you smashed out in the sea. I'm not taking this thing anywhere near Liyue."
He looked at the orb in his hand, his tone solemn.
He had to maintain its volatile energy constantly—if anything went wrong inside Liyue Harbor, it wouldn't just destroy the city. It would wipe it off the map.
"Very well. Then let's return to Liyue Harbor first—you wait for us there."
Morax nodded and then turned to the Adeptus beside him.
"Xueyue, you, Yixiao, and Azhdaha stay here to clean up the battlefield. Have the Millelith and Liyue Millelith take control of this area at once."
"Azhdaha, return to Liyue Harbor only after everything is fully stabilized."
"Yes!"
Azhdaha, Xueyue, and the other Adepti bowed in unison.
"Then I'll go ahead and speak to Guizhong and the others."
Morax turned back to Jiang Yan.
"Alright. Go on ahead—I'll fly over in a bit."
Jiang Yan replied with a nod.
Though he didn't say it aloud, he had already sensed something.
To the west and north of Chenyu Valley, faint traces of demon god auras still lingered—
In the direction of Sumeru's rainforests and Fontaine's marshlands.
Jiang Yan planned to "visit" them—with this orb in hand—and have a little talk about life.
"Don't do anything reckless."
Morax, having lived for millennia, saw through Jiang Yan's intentions at once.
"Aiya, don't worry, don't worry. You know me."
Jiang Yan chuckled, scratching his head.
At that, Azhdaha and Xueyue exchanged looks full of disbelief.
Yeah, we know you all too well. Which is exactly why we know you're definitely up to no good right now.
"Mm. I'll be off then."
Morax didn't bother exposing Jiang Yan's little schemes. In his view, someone with Jiang Yan's strength could afford a bit of mischief.
As long as he didn't provoke that one above, Morax was confident he could protect him.
Let him run wild, then.
After bidding everyone farewell, Morax summoned a colossal hand of stone beneath his feet and flew off toward Liyue Harbor.
Jiang Yan watched him go, then smiled faintly.
"Well then, I'll be on my way too. Got a few things to handle."
Seeing that mischievous grin, Azhdaha and the others shivered once more.
But they didn't stop him.
If even the Geo Lord himself didn't intervene—what right did they have to?
The moment Jiang Yan finished speaking, he tapped his foot lightly against the ground. His figure lifted off into the air, the orb trailing quietly behind him as he flew westward.
Azhdaha and the others stood silently, watching him disappear into the sky.
After a long moment, Azhdaha finally spoke.
"…West? Isn't that the wrong direction for Liyue Harbor?"
"If I recall correctly,"
Xueyue mused,
"West of Chenyu Valley lies the Sumeru rainforest."
"The immortal has never known the meaning of rest. It's best not to dwell on it."
Menogias sighed lightly—he'd long since accepted such things.
"Ha, true enough."
Azhdaha laughed, shaking his head.
"Come, let's do what needs to be done."
Xueyue and Yixiao nodded, leading the Qianyan soldiers to clear the battlefield—subduing rampaging monsters and rescuing scattered survivors left by the demon gods' final explosion.
At the border of the Sumeru rainforest—
A young woman in a flowing green dress sat upon a swing that glimmered faintly with emerald light.
"Ahemar, it seems the war over there has ended."
The Greater Lord Rukkhadevata, said softly, gazing toward Chenyu Valley.
The Crimson King, Ahemar, nodded with a calm face. He was just about to speak when his eyes suddenly narrowed.
"Tree King, stand back."
He raised his crimson spear and lifted into the air.
The Greater Lord Rukkhadevata's expression also changed as she looked eastward.
A human figure was streaking toward them at incredible speed.
And in his raised right hand—
was a sphere radiating an aura that made even gods feel dread.
The newcomer was—Jiang Yan.
"Well, well… I'd heard that the Sumeru rainforest was jointly ruled by three kings. Seeing it now, it seems the rumors were true."
Jiang Yan descended before Ahemar with a faint smile.
"Heh. And who might you be?"
Seeing that Jiang Yan wasn't attacking, Ahemar's voice remained calm. His gaze flicked briefly toward the sphere in Jiang Yan's hand, his tone wary but measured.
"Ah, right, right—I almost forgot the introductions."
"Hold on, let me think—my titles are a bit long."
Jiang Yan even tilted his head, pretending to ponder for a moment.
Ahemar stared blankly at him, speechless.
Finally, Jiang Yan clasped one hand behind his back and declared with a smile:
"I am the Wood Spirit Immortal under the command of the Geo Archon,
also the Regent of the Liyue—
the Tianquan of Liyue,
and the Grand Steward who oversees all affairs of the realm."
He smiled pleasantly
"You can call me any of them."
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