Havria's eyes held no hesitation, only gentleness as she spoke, " Believers... they are no longer important. Having you is enough.
"
As she spoke, her slender, jade-like hand made a slight beckoning gesture toward the outside of her chamber.
The Salt Scale and Salt Vase, enshrined within the secret chamber, drifted before Lin Mo in response to Havria's summons.
" These are the Salt Vase and Salt Scale I forged with all my power long ago," she said. "
I hope they can bring you some help. "
Lin Mo looked at the two floating sacred salt artifacts before him, but felt no joy.
Seeing them only reminded him.
It was precisely because Havria created these two sacred objects that she exhausted her strength, becoming her weakest.
And it was this weakness that led her followers' faith to become impure, breeding thoughts of rebellion.
In the eyes of others, the Salt Scale and Salt Vase were treasures.
But in Lin Mo's eyes, they were the very cause that led to the demise of his dear friend.
He truly did not wish to see these sacred artifacts.
Thus, Lin Mo made a decision.
" In that case, you keep the Salt Scale and Salt Vase safe yourself. "
" When we return to Liyue Harbor, you can personally present them to Ningguang, the Tianquan Star who oversees Liyue. "
" With her business acumen, I believe she can surely utilize these sacred artifacts to benefit the people of Liyue. "
" Mmm, I'll listen to you~"
Havria smiled softly, a flicker of interest in her eyes. " Outside... several thousand years have passed, right?
I'm quite looking forward to seeing how Liyue has developed now. "
" Yes, under the management of Rex Lapis and successive Qixing, Liyue has developed very well. "
Lin Mo nodded with a smile. " However, we can't go to Liyue just yet.
"
" Oh? Do you still have matters to attend to?
" Havria inquired.
" Yes, I... need to go to Dragonspine. There are some personal matters to handle.
"
" Dragonspine... it's near the Sal Terrae. "
Lin Mo explained.
Havria nodded, speaking gently, " Then let's go. Once you're finished, take me to see the prosperous Liyue of today.
"
Lin Mo nodded.
Together with the others, he left Havria's ruins.
Upon exiting, they could immediately see the towering, majestic snow-capped mountain piercing the clouds.
Soon, the group set foot upon the vast, snow-white expanse.
At that moment, Paimon, perched on Lin Mo's head, whispered, " Mr. Diplomat... have you noticed...
Dragonspine seems different from before? "
It wasn't just Paimon. Yae Miko also seemed to sense something unusual about the mountain, a trace of confusion flashing in her eyes.
" Mmm... "
Lin Mo nodded. " Along the way, the Ruin Guard remnants that were originally everywhere... seem to have all disappeared.
"
" Do you think... this might be because of that Lady Rhine? "
Paimon asked curiously.
" I'm not sure... "
Lin Mo frowned slightly.
It was important to remember that Rhine wasn't the only one with the technology to reactivate Ruin Guards.
Durin could likely do it.
The Fatui's " Doctor" could too.
Without concrete evidence, Lin Mo dared not jump to conclusions.
He raised his head, gazing toward the mountain peak, and said calmly, " As long as we find Durin, we should know if Rhine has returned. "
Speak of the devil.
No sooner had Lin Mo finished speaking than the snowy ground before them suddenly began to tremble violently, instantly putting everyone on high alert.
*Swish!*
An enormous Whopperflower appeared before Lin Mo.
" Father~ We meet again~"
Accompanied by a light, ethereal voice, Lin Mo immediately recognized her.
Wasn't this his daughter-in-law, Huahua?
" Huahua, what brings you here? "
Lin Mo asked with pleasant surprise. " Where's Durin?
Why isn't he with you? "
" Replying to Father, Durin is at the summit~"
Huahua explained, " As soon as Father entered the borders of Dragonspine, Durin sensed it~"
" Worried about causing an avalanche, he sent me to guide Father to meet him and Mother~"
" Mother!? "
Lin Mo quickly pressed, " You mean Rhine? She's on the mountain too!?
"
" Yes~ Mother returned to the mountain just a few days ago. Durin was so happy~"
Huahua responded sweetly.
" Did she... mention me? "
As Lin Mo asked this, he couldn't help feeling a bit uneasy inside.
Because back then...
He truly hadn't realized Rhine's special feelings for him.
" This... she didn't really mention Father much... "
Huahua's voice sounded somewhat hesitant as she explained, "~ It might be because, these past few days, Mother has been busy collecting Ruin creatures from all over the mountain, so there hasn't been much chance to chat. "
" Collecting Ruin creatures? Why?
"
Lin Mo couldn't help but feel puzzled.
Huahua shook her flower crown helplessly. " I don't understand Mother's intentions either, but... right now, at the mountain summit, there are no less than a hundred Ruin Guards.
"
" No less than a hundred... "
Lin Mo's expression shifted slightly.
A single Ruin Guard, taken alone, might not be particularly strong.
But if they reached a certain number, they would undoubtedly become a formidable fighting force that could not be ignored.
Take the four Ruin Guards at Guyun Stone Forest as an example.
Vision holders capable of defeating four Ruin Guards alone were not nonexistent, but they were exceedingly rare.
Those who could likely manage it would be Vision holders with powerful short-term burst capabilities, like the Yaksha Xiao, Eula, Kamisato Ayaka, or Hu Tao.
Even Tartaglia, one of the peak combatants among the Fatui, had to use the power of a Delusion within the " Doctor's" factory to easily dispatch four Ruin Guards.
Using only the power of a Vision, he could probably still win, but certainly not with such ease.
For other Vision holders, defeating four Ruin Guards alone would be nearly impossible.
This was also why Khaenri'ah had drawn the vigilance of the Heavenly Principles back then.
Rhine had suddenly assembled a hundred Ruin Guards. What was she planning?
This was no less than a hundred Ruin Guards.
It was even enough to assault any nation without a deity guarding it.
Lin Mo couldn't help but ask, " Why is Rhine forming a Ruin Guard legion? "
" This... I'm not too sure either.
"
Huahua gently shook her flower crown and suggested, " How about... Father, I take you to Mother, and you ask her yourself?
"
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T/N:
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