"Then I agree." Cid directly locked in his answer.
The Kitty Dragon Rex Lapis did not seem surprised. "Do you not feel that your choice is too hasty?"
"This is not hasty. I've already come to this world. If I know I have the ability to save someone yet choose not to, then in the future, when I see little Hu Tao grown up and grieving over her grandfather's death, I will definitely regret it."
Cid said it very casually, as if this matter had no impact on him at all.
"Then what is your wish?"
"Has the Adeptus Cloud Retainer taken a disciple named Shenhe?"
The Kitty Dragon Rex Lapis showed no particular expression. "No."
"According to Cloud Retainer, that child has the fate of a lone star of heavenly calamity. In my memory,
she seems to live in a village on the back side of a certain famous mountain range, related to Chongyun of the exorcist family—Chongyun would have to call her little aunt.
When she was five years old, her mother died of illness. Later, her father would summon an evil god's defilement, offering that child as a sacrifice to revive her mother.
Then the child fought the evil god's defilement to the death for three days and emerged victorious, only to be taken as a disciple by Cloud Retainer who arrived afterward..."
Cid tried to say everything he knew.
"If possible, save that child's mother. If her fate cannot be changed, could Cloud Retainer take her as a disciple earlier?"
The Kitty Dragon Rex Lapis remained majestic. "It can be done, but this counts as a connection between adepti, and in the end, it would be Cloud Retainer gaining the advantage. You may make some additional wishes."
Ah, additional wishes— I really don't know what else to ask for.
I feel like right now, I don't lack anything.
Hmm... Let me think carefully. Is there anything I'm really missing? And more wouldn't hurt?
"Then... let me learn some adeptal arts?" Cid boldly made a wish.
"The premise of the contract is fairness. A descender's lifespan is far more important than you imagine. Make some more requests."
The Kitty Dragon Rex Lapis seemed dissatisfied with the old uncle's small appetite.
But the old uncle didn't know what else to say.
After all, although Morax is very powerful, Cid the old uncle was still quite aware of his limits—at the very least, he could not revive his old friends.
"I don't know. How about we wait until I return alive from Wuwang Hill? Lord Rex Lapis, why don't you just leave a portion of your power inside this Kitty Dragon Rex Lapis to use for communication?"
The Kitty Dragon Rex Lapis glanced at his own round, plump paws.
For the sake of the continent of Teyvat, sacrificing this much is worth it.
"Very well. The contract is established. Should one break their word, may they suffer the punishment of devouring rock."
The Kitty Dragon Rex Lapis leaped toward Cid's head. In the next second, the old uncle collapsed straight down.
The Kitty Dragon Rex Lapis also lost its vitality and fell beside the old uncle.
...
Ah ba ah ba...
The world is so beautiful, yet I'm so irritable. This isn't good.
Cid the old uncle discovered that many things had appeared inside his Vision.
When he mobilized it with the Vision, many techniques for using elemental power emerged.
The so-called adeptal arts are actually high-level applications of elemental power. This makes perfect sense.
Cid the old uncle looked at the Kitty Dragon Rex Lapis beside him.
He pondered for a while.
In the end, he placed it on the altar, lit three incense sticks, and bowed.
"Old uncle! The sun is shining on your butt!"
Little Hu Tao pushed the door open and entered, just in time to see the old uncle worshiping Rex Lapis.
"Old uncle! You're actually using this as a divine statue!?"
Little Hu Tao seemed very surprised.
"What do you know! Yesterday, Lord Rex Lapis actually descended upon this Kitty Dragon Rex Lapis!"
"Old uncle... are you telling the truth?"
Little Hu Tao believed it on the spot, without a single trace of doubt.
She immediately joined the ranks of worshiping Rex Lapis.
And at this moment, the elderly Zhongli...
was enjoying his morning tea.