Northland Bank.
Zhongli and Lumine hadn't bothered to hide their whereabouts.
The Cryo Archon had already been informed of their approach.
From a distance, Zhongli and his companions saw her waiting at the entrance with Tartaglia and several others.
Zhongli walked forward unhurriedly, Lumine and Paimon by his side.
A faint smile curved the Cryo Archon's lips as she spoke softly:
"Northland Bank welcomes the three of you. I've long admired your names—Miss Lumine, Miss Paimon.
And… Morax? Or should I call you First Seat Zhongli?"
Paimon swelled with pride. Once, following Lumine around, she had been dismissed as nothing but a mascot, or worse, "emergency food."
But now—!
Look! Even a figure like the Cryo Archon had to say she'd "long admired the famous Miss Paimon."
She, Paimon, was finally getting the respect she deserved!
Still, she didn't speak up—after all, Zhongli was the main figure here. She and Lumine were more like bystanders.
Zhongli inclined his head slightly.
"Outside, there's no need to be so formal. Just call me Zhongli."
The Cryo Archon's eyes flickered with understanding. So, Zhongli truly was firm about abdicating.
But that was no great matter. What mattered most was that—
at a time she never expected, she was standing face-to-face with people of Mount Shu.
And not just anyone—from the very top levels.
That was significant.
Her smile widened as she gestured inside:
"Let's not linger at the door. The three of you are major figures of Mount Shu—if the common folk saw, they'd surround the entire Bank within minutes.
I've already had Snezhnaya's finest chef prepare a grand feast of beast meat. I hope it suits your tastes."
Before Zhongli could respond, Paimon's eyes lit up.
"A top chef? A Snezhnayan-style beast feast?"
She swallowed a mouthful of drool.
The Cryo Archon chuckled inwardly. Seems her intelligence was accurate—this little one really could be bought off with food.
Truly the best investment return she had ever seen in a god-body genius.
And Tartaglia? The fool didn't even think to use such a simple tactic!
Brute through and through.
Smiling, she added, "I don't think you'll be disappointed. This chef has been with me for years."
"Wow, really? You're the best, Sister Cryo Archon!"
See? That's how you win someone over. Already calling her sister!
Yes—she knew how to deal with people.
The group quickly entered the Bank's third floor.
The meeting hall had been hastily converted into a dining chamber.
She gestured toward the main seat, but Zhongli shook his head.
"No need for such courtesy. We are old friends, after all. And this time, I'm here to ask for your help."
Her thoughts churned, though her face remained warm:
"You can't put it like that. This is still Liyue. My earlier intrusion here was already a breach of contract. Let this meal serve as an apology."
Since she put it that way, Zhongli no longer refused, and sat calmly at the center.
With a glance from the Cryo Archon, Rosalyne nodded gracefully and went to arrange the food.
Lumine, having no history with her, merely thought idly: Tall, elegant, and a really good figure.
That was all.
Soon, the feast was served—a spread of roast meat from a late Foundation Establishment beast, brought by Tartaglia himself.
It wasn't rare for Zhongli, but for Paimon? It was more than enough.
The aroma alone made her drool. She stared longingly at the glistening meat.
The Cryo Archon smiled knowingly.
"Paimon, don't be shy. Dig in. In fact, if you like, consider this place your own dining hall. Whenever you crave it, come by—I'll have the chef prepare something for you."
Paimon's eyes shone as she looked at her with warmth.
"You're amazing, Sister Cryo Archon!"
Then she dove headfirst into a piece of roast meat bigger than herself.
Lumine said nothing. She could clearly see through the Cryo Archon's intentions.
Sugar-coated bullets, really.
No—just the sugar coating. The Archon wouldn't dare aim the bullet at them.
She herself was already Mondstadt's Honorary Knight and Liyue's Honorary Consultant.
If Snezhnaya wanted to tack on another "Honorary Harbinger"? Why not.
All depended on how many benefits were offered.
After all, she, a god-body genius of the Glazed Swordheart, wasn't cheap.
For now, she was in no hurry. Zhongli's cultivation knowledge was already in his head.
If Aether had to wait longer, so be it. He was already down bad enough to "live off his sister." Surely he wouldn't complain.
The Cryo Archon glanced at Lumine and Paimon's happy faces and said nothing further. Winning them over would take time.
They weren't naïve children. A long game was necessary.
Two god-bodies—worth any price.
Then her gaze fell on Tartaglia. Her face darkened.
That idiot was wolfing down meat alongside Paimon, ignoring everything else.
In front of them sat Zhongli, his direct superior, and two treasured geniuses of Mount Shu.
And what was Tartaglia doing? Shoveling food like a starving boar!
Useless! Completely tone-deaf!
Look at Rosalyne and Arlecchino—already chatting with Lumine and Paimon, helping them with food, building rapport.
That's how a proper Harbinger should act.
But even they, after tasting the roast, soon joined the food frenzy.
The Cryo Archon sighed inwardly, then tried a piece herself.
…Hmm. Surprisingly delicious. The flavor even seemed to strengthen her body.
No wonder they were all hooked.
Zhongli, however, remained indifferent. Foundation-level beast meat meant nothing to him.
His personal stores of Nascent Soul-stage monster meat were far superior, both in taste and effect.
Finally, Zhongli set down his cup.
"Tsaritsa, I've come to ask a favor."
Rosalyne and Arlecchino froze, rising quickly to leave.
But Zhongli stopped them.
"No need. This matter will also require your help."
Both stiffened. A late Refining Void and Unity expert asking them for help?
That sounded like a death sentence.
The Cryo Archon, however, put down her utensils and asked seriously:
"Is this about Mount Shu or Liyue?
If it's Mount Shu, I'm powerless—even if I know a few things, there's nothing I could do to intervene."
Zhongli shook his head.
"Rest assured, it concerns Liyue. If the matter succeeds, I will grant you a favor—one reasonable request within my power."
Her breath caught.
A personal favor from a late Refining Void and Unity cultivator, Mount Shu's First Seat?
That was priceless!
Perhaps she wouldn't even need Tartaglia's inner disciple quota. With such a favor, she herself could be introduced into Mount Shu.
She straightened, intent.
Just as she was about to ask what he wanted, she hesitated, then asked softly:
"Before that, may I ask you something? How strong is a late Refining Void and Unity cultivator? Tartaglia couldn't explain it clearly."
Zhongli was silent for a moment. His eyes lifted, gaze piercing beyond the ceiling as if reaching Celestia itself.
At last, he said quietly:
"If I unleash my full art, I could drag down the Heavenly Principles from her throne.
If I went all out, in a single day, I could sweep across Teyvat.
Even shatter a corner of the world itself."
Teyvat was, after all, a small world. The deeper Zhongli delved into cultivation, the more fragile it seemed to him.
And yet, behind that fragility, he could sense a vast, dangerous power—one even he felt wary of.
Even so, to the Cryo Archon, his words meant only one thing:
If he willed it, he could kill her with a flick of his finger. Effortlessly.
Cultivation… how outrageous.
But then, hope stirred in her heart.
If Zhongli, once just another Archon, could reach this level after switching paths—
then she, too, as a god, could surely attain at least some of that power.
Though realistically, she thought bitterly, she might only ever reach the early Refining Void and Unity stage.
Too much of her original power had already been split among her Harbingers.
For the first time, she regretted giving so much away.
"…Any other questions?" Zhongli asked gently.
She shook her head, but then spoke again:
"I've heard you plan to enter Mount Shu's Demon-Sealing Tower. Won't that be dangerous?"
Zhongli's reply was vague:
"I have my reasons. The Tower is… complicated. Hard to explain in a few words."
She understood.
Yes, it would be dangerous. Dangerous enough that even he might die inside.
But it was his decision. She had no right to interfere.
So she let the subject drop.
"I have no more questions. What do you need my help with?"
Zhongli drew a steady breath.
"In three days, I will formally abdicate as Geo Archon."
She nodded—already aware from Tartaglia. "So it's settled?"
"Long ago. It was only delayed by circumstance."
Her eyes sharpened as she waited for the real request.
Zhongli continued calmly:
"This Rite of Descension… the Sect Master himself will attend."
The Cryo Archon's composure finally cracked.
Even Tartaglia stopped chewing, staring blankly.
"The Sect Master? He's leaving Mount Shu? Coming here to Liyue?"
At last, Tartaglia realized the true gravity of the coming Rite.
The Cryo Archon's breath quickened, her mind racing.
To meet the legendary Sect Master of Mount Shu face-to-face—
that alone was worth everything. Perhaps she could bypass even Zhongli's promised favor and secure her own path into Mount Shu directly.
Perfect.
But then Zhongli spoke his next words.
And she froze.
"I need you to help me draw out the sea demon god—Osial.
And his wife, Beisht."
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