Morax traveled swiftly all the way to the region known as Jueyun Jian.
He followed a stone-paved road that wound through the mountains, and as he rounded a bend, a small mountain village came into view.
Wisps of cooking smoke curled lazily into the sky. In the fields, old farmers were inspecting their ripening rice paddies, while children herding cattle ran about laughing and playing.
The peaceful scene before him made Morax feel as if he had stepped into a secluded paradise.
It seemed that the raging War of the Archons in the outside world had not touched this place at all.
But within these mountains lurked countless beasts and monsters—how could these villagers live here so peacefully?
"Could this be… the Taixuan Sect?"
Morax lifted his gaze toward the distant sea of clouds. The mountain peaks there rose and fell like islands in a celestial ocean.
As he continued along the road, one of the herding boys noticed the unfamiliar traveler.
"Hey, big brother!" the boy called out, cupping his hands around his mouth. "Are you here to join the Immortal Sect too?!"
Morax was momentarily taken aback, then smiled.
"Oh? And why do you think that I've come to join the Immortal Sect?"
The boy laughed gleefully.
"Who doesn't know there are immortals living in these mountains? My second uncle joined them! He can even kill a tiger with one blow now! So everyone who makes it this far is usually here to become a disciple!"
Morax chuckled.
"You could say that."
"Then take that path—see? That's the shortcut! You'll reach the Taixuan Sect's gate in no time!"
"Thank you."
Morax nodded in gratitude and continued along the indicated road.
Before long, he arrived at the base of a towering mountain.
A stone stairway wound upward along the cliff face, and beside it stood a massive boulder, upon which three bold characters were carved—Taixuan Sect.
The calligraphy seemed to hum with a faint spiritual resonance. One glance told Morax that the one who had written it was far from ordinary.
As he ascended, the palatial halls of the sect gradually came into view, nestled among the clouds. White cranes glided gracefully through the mist, and on the path ahead, a man was reading a book.
Hearing footsteps, the man lifted his head.
"You must be the visitor our Sect Master is expecting?" he asked, closing his book and cupping his hands in greeting.
Morax blinked in surprise.
"You knew I was coming?"
"Not quite." The man shook his head. "The Sect Master divined that a guest would arrive today and ordered me to wait here."
He studied Morax for a moment, then smiled faintly.
"Few can ascend this path unscathed. It seems you are indeed the guest our master foresaw. Please, follow me."
Without another word, Morax followed. They soon reached the mountaintop, where a grand hall stood upon a wide plateau.
"The Sect Master should be by the cliff. Please, proceed on your own."
"My thanks."
After the man left, Morax walked toward the cliffside.
There, he saw Gu Chen, clad in azure robes, his silver hair cascading down his back.
Beside him sat a small tea table, with two cups already prepared.
Gu Chen was gazing serenely at the rolling clouds. When he noticed Morax's approach, he turned, smiled faintly, and gestured for him to sit.
"You've arrived."
"The Sect Master knew I was coming?" Morax asked curiously.
"I cast a divination in my leisure," Gu Chen replied lightly. "It said a guest would arrive today."
He poured two cups of tea, pushing one toward Morax.
"Gu Chen—Daoist name, Taixuan. Please."
"Morax, Archon of Stone. I've long admired your name."
Morax lifted the cup, took a sip, and sighed in appreciation.
"Excellent tea."
"It grows nourished by the mountain's spiritual energy and the essence of the Great Dao," Gu Chen said with a soft chuckle. "Naturally, it's good."
Morax nodded and then asked,
"Sect Master, I greatly respect your vision. I came here today to ask—how do you view the great struggle of our age?"
Gu Chen replied calmly,
"Humankind is weak—so weak that only under the protection of the Archons do they have a fragile chance at survival.
Frailty, poverty, suffering, disease, and short life… But humans should possess the strength to protect themselves. They should ignite the flame of civilization and usher in an age of glory.
That is why the Taixuan Sect exists."
Morax fell silent for a long while before sighing deeply.
"You speak the truth. Humans are indeed fragile. Even when Archons mean them no harm, the aftershocks of our battles often bring disaster. Though we carry the duty to love and protect them, few of us can resist the temptation of the Seven Powers."
Gu Chen's gaze was tranquil.
"In this world, the gods and demons rise in multitudes. The age is one of chaos and conquest. What do you intend, Morax?"
Morax's expression grew solemn.
"I have no desire to fight for dominion—but I have seen the suffering of the common folk. I wish only to cleanse the land and protect one corner of the mortal world."
[Keqing]: In that era, humanity really lived in misery… Thank goodness for the Geo Lord!
[Ningguang]: Even without open war, people still had to guard against monsters and evil spirits every day.
[Xingqiu]: That's why the Geo Lord fought endlessly—to shield the people from harm.
[Venti]: The old man's ideals are truly admirable. nods
[Raiden Ei]: nods
[Chongyun]: To emerge victorious among so many Archons… It must have been unimaginably hard.
[Kamisato Ayaka]: The Seven Nations were all born from such wars. Even Inazuma, though less plagued by Archons, faced countless threats from the sea and forests.
[Kujou Sara]: That is why the Shogun is so great! For the eternity of the Way and the nation!
[Raiden Ei]: …It was mostly my sister's doing, not mine.
[Raiden Makoto]: If not for you, sister, I might have perished long ago. smiles
[Oceania Vortex God]: Uh-oh… if Morax teams up with Gu Chen, we're all doomed…
[Azhdaha]: Just imagining it gives me chills.
"To guard one corner of the mortal world…"
Gu Chen nodded thoughtfully, then smiled.
"We cultivators seek a thread of life in this merciless heaven and earth.
But that life is not for ourselves—it is for all living beings.
I bring forth the immortal arts that can make mankind strong.
I bring the path that can lead them toward transcendence.
I bring the method that can open an age of eternal peace.
That—is the Taixuan Sect."
Morax was silent for a long time, then his expression softened with respect. He clasped his fists.
"I am willing to lend my strength to the Sect Master!"
Gu Chen laughed heartily.
"With your aid, the Taixuan Sect shall soar like a dragon!"
Thus, Morax—the Geo Archon, the God of Contracts—joined the Taixuan Sect and became its Morax.
From that day on, any who violated the sect's laws would answer to him.
[Venti]: No way! The Geo Lord joined the Taixuan Sect?!
[Zhongli]: Gu Chen's vision in that era far surpassed mine. Since our ideals align, assisting the Taixuan Sect is only natural.
[Narration]: Morax sought only to guard one corner of the world, while the Taixuan Sect aimed for everlasting peace.
Their scopes differed—but their hearts were the same.
Soon, word spread swiftly among the gods.
Morax's power was already unmatched in his region—so if even he had joined the Taixuan Sect, how terrifying must their strength be?
Many Archons began to grow uneasy.
Whispers spread. Alliances formed in secret.
Meanwhile, the Taixuan Sect flourished.
Morax relocated his settlements here; the immortals under his command also joined the sect.
Years passed.
Half of the original outer disciples advanced to the inner ranks.
They vanquished demons, protected villages, and spread knowledge and immortal arts across the land.
One day, at the cliffside—
Morax arrived to find Gu Chen and Guizhong together.
"Find a good place for your sea of flowers," Gu Chen told her, smiling. "Or better yet, build a little cave realm just for it."
"Nah, I'll just keep it here on the mountain top—I live here anyway." Guizhong waved her sleeve lazily.
Gu Chen chuckled. "As you wish."
"Oh look, the Morax is here." Guizhong waved to Morax.
"Sect Master, Guizhong (Guizhong)." Morax cupped his fists. "Recently, I noticed that the wear on my essence has been fading as I cultivate. Is this because of the immortal scripture?"
Gu Chen nodded.
"Indeed. The Immortal Scripture can mitigate the erosion of divinity. Once your cultivation deepens, erosion will no longer trouble you."
Morax's eyes widened slightly.
"To us Archons, that is a blessing beyond measure…"
[Venti]: Wait—what?! Can it heal erosion?!
[Zhongli]: inhales sharply
[Dragon of the Sands]: …Impossible!
[Vortex God]: Sect Master, please! Look at me! I've been sealed under the sea for a thousand years—my erosion's driving me insane! Can I be your doorkeeper?!
[Raiden Ei]: So the scripture even removes erosion… I must study it.
[Furina]: This is insane!
The chat exploded.
[Venti]: Sect Master! I'll kowtow twice more!
[Zhongli]: Such grace deserves a bow of gratitude.
In the video, Guizhong reclined amid her flowers.
"Since the scripture can cure erosion, and most Archons suffer from it… why not leak the rumor? Let them come. If they all join us like Morax, we could unify the land easily."
Gu Chen's eyes gleamed faintly.
"Few would join willingly—perhaps five at most. The rest will still fight over their so-called authority… But your idea has merit. We can use it to draw them in—and eliminate them in one stroke."
"Eliminate… all of them?" Guizhong blinked. "Can that really work?"
"A pack of gods and beasts—hardly worth worrying about." Gu Chen waved dismissively.
[Kaeya]: Hear that? "A pack of gods," he says. That's our Sect Master!
[Venti]: Gu Chen: 'Forgive my bluntness, but you're all mere chickens and dogs.'
[Zhongli]: That includes me as well. shrugs
[Dvalin]: Brutal—but fair.
Soon, Gu Chen released the rumor:
"The Taixuan Sect possesses a treasure that can grant immortality, free Archons from erosion, and bestow unmatched strength."
At first, the gods laughed.
If such a treasure existed, would the sect really announce it?
But as time passed, something changed—
The sect's disciples grew stronger by the year, and even Morax seemed more powerful than before.
Doubt turned to fear.
"Could it be true?"
If the Taixuan Sect kept growing unchecked, what would happen to their ambitions for power?
So, eight Archons formed an alliance.
"We'll storm the Taixuan Sect ourselves! Even Morax can't withstand us all!"
And thus, eight Archons descended upon the mountain gate.
Their divine presence shook heaven and earth.
One of them—a white serpent—was so vast it could coil around the mountain peaks several times over.
[Sangonomiya Kokomi]: Wait—was that… the Great Serpent of Watatsumi?!
At the cliffside, Gu Chen stood calmly, watching them approach.
Then he smiled.
"Join the Taixuan Sect—or die here."
"Arrogant mortal!"
The eight Archons roared and struck.
"Just as planned," Gu Chen murmured softly. "Since you refuse to understand, there's no need to let you live."
He raised his hand.
BOOM—!
The lake below the mountain exploded skyward. Torrents of water rose into the clouds, twisting like a dragon.
The airborne current glimmered faintly—like the flow of time itself—and when it swept over the Archons' bodies, they began to wither and decay in an instant.
In just a few breaths, all eight gods were reduced to dry bones.
"One corner of the mortal world… secured."
Morax bowed deeply, awe in his eyes.
[Vortex God]: Thank the seas I stayed underwater! If I'd gone ashore, I'd be bones too!
[Venti]: What the—those eight Archons didn't even leave behind residue! Gu Chen's terrifying life!
[Kokomi]: Poor Great Serpent… again?!
It seemed fate had no mercy for the gods of the sea.
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