After discussing the specific arrangements for a while longer, Jiang Yan said to the assembled adepti:
"Alright, you should all get back to your duties. With the Liyue Millelith and the Zi Shu stationed near Mingyun Town, those people controlling the machines shouldn't dare act recklessly."
The adepti exchanged glances and nodded to one another.
"Oh, right—Morax, stay for a moment. I have something to discuss with you."
Just as everyone was about to leave, Jiang Yan suddenly spoke up, stopping Morax, who was about to depart as well.
Once the others had all left, Morax looked at Jiang Yan with some confusion.
"What is it?"
Jiang Yan stood up and walked to the window.
"Morax, I'm preparing to leave Liyue."
He gazed at the bustling crowds below and spoke softly.
"Leave Liyue?"
Morax's eyes narrowed slightly, his expression turning strange.
Leaving Liyue at a time like this?
"Don't tell me you're planning to go alone to that Black Sun Dynasty."
"I won't agree to that."
Morax's voice was deep and firm.
"Relax, relax…"
Jiang Yan chuckled lightly.
"I'm not stupid enough to march into that place by myself."
"There are just some things I need to go deal with."
His gaze flickered as he stared out the window, clearly lost in thought.
"What things? You can discuss them with me. At a time like this, if you say you're not going to the Black Sun Dynasty, I don't believe you."
Morax showed no sign of backing down.
He knew Jiang Yan well—if he was leaving Liyue now, even if he wasn't going directly to the Black Sun Dynasty, he would definitely come into contact with that so-called Abyss.
"What are you thinking?"
Jiang Yan rolled his eyes and replied calmly.
"I'm really not planning to go there yet."
"Don't worry. I won't die. Even the Heavenly Principles can't kill me."
He spoke softly and turned around.
Seeing the disbelief on Morax's face, Jiang Yan smiled.
"Morax, you know me."
"Even if you try to stop me, I'll still go."
Jiang Yan knew that with Morax's wisdom, he had already guessed his intentions.
That's right—Jiang Yan planned to get close to the Abyss and understand exactly how its corrosive power came into being.
However, before coming into contact with the Abyss, just to be safe, Jiang Yan decided to visit the other nations first and thoroughly sweep through any regions he hadn't yet explored.
He needed to stock up on a few more luxurious treasure chests—just in case.
If the Abyss truly originated from the erosion of the Sea of Quanta, then Jiang Yan honestly wasn't very confident.
After all, to completely dispel the erosion of the Sea of Quanta, one had to go beyond the world itself.
Morax fell silent.
He knew Jiang Yan was telling the truth.
With Jiang Yan's current strength, even Morax at his peak couldn't fully see through him.
In other words, there was a very high chance that he simply couldn't stop Jiang Yan.
Even so, Morax still spoke:
"Jiang Yan, fight me."
"If you defeat me, I won't try to stop you."
"But if you can't even beat me, then stay in Liyue and go nowhere."
Jiang Yan smiled faintly and nodded in agreement.
Two streaks of light shot up from Yuehai Pavilion and into the sky.
Above a stretch of sea thousands of li away from Liyue, Jiang Yan descended onto the ocean surface as if landing on solid ground.
Morax hovered in the air, golden pupils glowing, standing quietly in the heavens.
"Honestly, the last time we sparred seriously was probably back when we were preparing to build Liyue Harbor, right?"
Jiang Yan said with a smile.
Morax did not answer.
The sky suddenly darkened.
A colossal meteor, blotting out the heavens, descended from above.
To stop Jiang Yan, he opened with his strongest move.
Jiang Yan smiled faintly and closed his eyes.
"I'm not the same person I was back then, Morax!"
As he spoke, seven-colored light bloomed around his body.
White Hole Link!
Binary Star State—activate!
The moment his words fell, his eyes snapped open.
Seven-colored starlight flared within them, like a galaxy coming to life.
At the same time, within Jiang Yan's mind, the Ox Talisman and the Rooster Talisman lit up simultaneously.
The surrounding space began to tremble under the pressure of his aura.
"Boom!!"
Jiang Yan stomped down hard with his right foot. Towering waves exploded outward as his body shot forward like a blade, charging straight toward the falling meteor.
"Shatterfall!"
With a cold shout, Jiang Yan slammed a fist into the massive meteor.
In an instant, it was as if the stars themselves were collapsing. Even the world showed signs of instability.
The sheer force of that punch pulverized the meteor completely. Immediately after, the residual shockwave engulfed Morax.
Bang!!!
Morax was blasted away, smashing into a small island on the sea and shattering it to pieces.
Almost instantly, Jiang Yan appeared before Morax, looking down at him as he teetered on the brink of unconsciousness.
Morax struggled to stand, but the intense pain wracking his body left him completely unable to move.
At this moment, Morax finally understood why Jiang Yan had said that even the Heavenly Principles couldn't kill him.
"I'm sorry, Morax. I hit a bit too hard."
"I'll be fine. Please… trust me."
"Don't tell anyone about my departure. I'll leave behind a clone—proof that I'm still alive."
Those were the last words Morax heard before he lost consciousness completely.
After speaking, Jiang Yan stood there for a long moment, gazing at Morax's unconscious form.
Light gathered in his hand as the Horse Talisman flared to life in his mind.
Pure white radiance enveloped Morax, completely healing the injuries within his body.
Then Jiang Yan brought his hands together.
"Wood Release: Wood Clone!"
Wood erupted from his body, rapidly shaping itself into another Jiang Yan.
"Take Morax back. You possess all my memories and the power of Wood Release—take care of Liyue for me."
The clone nodded solemnly.
"Travel safely."
"Mm. I'm going."
With that, Jiang Yan turned into a streak of light and shot toward the horizon.
The clone lifted Morax's unconscious body. A wooden dragon appeared beneath them, carrying them back toward Liyue.
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