"To repair the erode…"
Zhongli looked down at Azhdaha, who was sleeping like a mountain, and fell into thought.
He looked back at Ningguang and the others behind him, then felt the three Guizhong Ballistae on the Jade Chamber, brimming with Adeptal power, and nodded imperceptibly.
"Yes! Just two hits, a good night's sleep, and I guarantee you'll be refreshed the next day!" Saying this, Yu Jin swung his curved sword, and the sharp sword light instantly shaved off a few strands of Childe's and Balladeer's hair.
The cool sensation on their heads made the two men involuntarily take a few steps back. If Yu Jin's hand had trembled even slightly, it would likely have been their heads that fell.
"I thank Brother Yu Jin for his kindness. However… the Geo Archon's duty ends here." A slight smile played on Zhongli's lips.
"With my divine office relinquished, erode is no longer a fatal danger to me. Furthermore, among The Seven Nations, the Geo Archon has fulfilled his divine office for over two millennia."
"And Liyue, I have watched over for more than 3,700 years. Now… it is time to retire."
Zhongli recalled the past with an air of nonchalance; the more he did so, the more resolute he appeared in relinquishing his divine office.
"Is the Geo Archon planning to leave Liyue?" Ganyu, who had been silent on the Jade Chamber, inquired.
"I don't have that thought for now." Zhongli shook his head, turned around, and spoke earnestly to the crowd behind him:
"The protection of the Gods will not last forever. Through today's events, I have come to know your character, which is sufficient to lead Liyue forward."
"Therefore, for the Liyue of the future, I trouble the Liyue Qixing greatly." Zhongli cupped his hands and bowed to the crowd behind him, formally handing over the duties that belonged to the Geo Archon to the Liyue Qixing.
"The Geo Archon speaks too highly." Ningguang, Keqing, and the others quickly bowed to Zhongli. While excited, a hint of worry also appeared on their brows.
There had always been voices within the Liyue Qixing advocating for expanding the 'duties' belonging to humans, but most were suppressed by others who followed the Geo Archon.
And Ningguang herself had, in the dead of night, imagined how long the shadow of the Jade Chamber would loom over The Seven Nations if Liyue were entirely in her hands.
Now, this imagination had become reality, and besides the immediate excitement, Ningguang also felt a hint of doubt and apprehension in her heart.
For thousands of years since Liyue's establishment, every step had been guided by the Geo Archon, and Liyue had thus become the most prosperous nation on the continent.
Now that the guide of Liyue had changed to them, could they hold the rudder of such a large ship?
The self-doubt in her heart did not last long; after a few deep breaths, the worry on Ningguang's face disappeared.
Although she represented the Liyue Qixing, she was not the entire Liyue Qixing.
Yuheng Keqing's executive ability, Tianshu's ingenious calculations… these were areas where even Ningguang herself could not compare.
Not only that, she also had many reliable companions. Thinking this way, the originally somewhat heavy divine duties seemed to lighten considerably.
Seeing Ningguang regain her confidence, the smile on Zhongli's face grew wider. He had not misjudged them; this generation of the Liyue Qixing could take on his burden.
"Hey! Geo Archon, we've been old friends for so many years, how could you not even tell us?" Cloud Retainer flapped her wings, a hint of indignation in her tone.
Tricking the Liyue Qixing was one thing, but Zhongli had even kept them in the dark. Did he not trust his old friends?
"Cloud Retainer, don't joke. Everyone knows how big your mouth is. Besides, the Geo Archon left enough clues; it was easy to see his intention."
Moon Carver, with his deer-like form, stepped forward and retorted. Cloud Retainer's big mouth was well-known far and wide.
"Indeed, indeed." The red crane-like Mountain Shaper also nodded in agreement.
"You guys…"
"Hahaha, it seems your relationships are still as good as ever. It just so happens that when I come to your abodes to join the fun in the future, don't you dare dislike it."
Zhongli couldn't help but laugh when he saw the three Adepti bickering. Since becoming an Archon, the sheer volume of affairs he managed had left Zhongli with little free time.
Leisurely times, like sitting on a mountain for a day with a pot of tea, became increasingly rare. Fortunately, such wonderful days would soon return to him.
Thinking of this, even the usually composed Zhongli couldn't help but feel joyful.
"No dislike at all. It's perfect, I'm currently researching an 'Automatic Cooking Divine Machine,' and you can come and evaluate it then."
Cloud Retainer was naturally overjoyed. She had long wanted Zhongli to try all the various mechanisms she had completed and those she was still developing!
"Good, then I look forward to what kind of delicious dishes your 'Automatic Cooking Divine Machine' can cook up." Zhongli nodded and agreed.
"So… how do we deal with these two guys?" Yu Jin put away his weapon and pointed at Childe and Balladeer, who had happily received silver handcuffs.
"Who released me?" Osial spoke first before Zhongli made any move.
"This orange-haired one." Yu Jin pointed at Childe, whose eyes were darting around, and said so.
"Good lad, I can tell at a glance that you're extraordinary. Since you released me, this great one will reward you handsomely!"
Osial glowed with a faint blue light and continued, "Stick out your head, I'll give you a big one. I'll make you my familiar!"
Childe glanced at Osial but made no move.
"Don't be ungrateful, young man. Become my familiar, and you can manipulate element power without a Vision. And your lifespan will be equal to mine, you won't need to bathe anymore, and you'll be the same underwater as on land…"
Osial thought Childe didn't know a good thing when he saw it, and he rattled off many benefits of becoming a familiar, so much so that even Yu Jin wanted to try it.
At least the "same underwater as on land" part was quite appealing to Yu Jin.
"Um… actually, I'm already a familiar of the Cryo Archon." Childe scratched his head, a little embarrassed.
The power of the Fatui Harbingers far surpassed that of ordinary Vision wielders. While this certainly had to do with their own extraordinary factors, the Cryo Archon's divine blessing could not be ignored.
"What? You're already a familiar of the Cryo Archon?" Osial felt a jolt run through his entire serpentine body.
The first step in expanding his influence had failed before it even began.
Osial regained his senses. He first looked at the grim-faced others on the Jade Chamber, then at Childe beside him, and immediately felt schadenfreude.
What kind of grudge did the Cryo Archon and Morax have to go to such great lengths? It seemed that winning the Archon War did not mean one could rest easy thereafter.
"Since you're a familiar of the Cryo Archon, then never mind, find a good place to bury him." Osial suddenly became heartless.
These two guys had directly released him and Azhdaha; their methods were quite insidious. Although he didn't have the intention of destroying Liyue, that is.
"Brother Yu Jin, what do you think?" Zhongli naturally ignored Osial's words and turned to Yu Jin.
"Why are you kicking the ball to me? If I handle them, they won't die, so you guys handle them instead."
"After all, they destroyed your Liyue's land, and it's your things that were lost."
They wouldn't die, but they could get some tattoos, like La Signora.
"Is that so?" Zhongli stroked his chin, thinking for a moment. But soon, he seemed to suddenly remember something, slapped his head, and smiled helplessly:
"Haha, I'm truly used to it. I'm currently a consultant at Wangsheng Funeral Parlor, why am I worrying about this here?"
Zhongli walked over to Ningguang's side and nodded to her, saying, "So, the handling of these two criminals should still be left to the Liyue Qixing."
"Left to us?" Ningguang and Keqing murmured a few words, and soon they exchanged glances and nodded.
"Since the Geo Archon trusts us so much, then the Liyue Qixing will certainly give everyone a satisfactory answer."
Ningguang looked at Childe and Balladeer.
Immediately, a familiar chill swept through their entire bodies. That feeling was much like when Yu Jin was sharpening his knife earlier.
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