"I need to consolidate my true strength into my current realm as fast as possible,"
the Tsaritsa said gravely. "Slow cultivation works… but the Nine Nether Secret Realm opens in just over twenty days. I can't wait that long."
"If I want rapid recovery, only spirit stones can do it."
She looked earnestly at Zhongli.
Zhongli spoke casually:
"Merely spirit stones? I can give you one thousand mid-grade stones."
She froze.
"T-That's… a bit much, actually."
"No matter."
Zhongli waved her concern aside. In the Tsaritsa's eyes, the man was a walking treasury.
"Spirit stones are plentiful. Besides, you are now an Elder of Bamboo Peak, a member of Mount Shu. Helping you recover is a trivial effort."
"And when the Nine Nether expedition begins, I will be hunting down the Greenhorn Yaksha. I won't have time to watch over the others."
"If you recover quickly, you can help watch the disciples—and keep yourself safer."
"Once Osial is dealt with, the thousand stones are yours."
Hearing how effortlessly he said such numbers, the Tsaritsa felt an ache of envy at Liyue's bottomless wealth.
But she still nodded.
"Then I will not refuse. Thank you, Peak Lord Zhongli."
Zhongli continued:
"After releasing Osial, please keep an eye on things."
She blinked, puzzled.
"It's just Osial. Why so cautious? With Liyue's current strength, he's no threat at all."
She said this reflexively.
Ever since stepping onto the path of cultivation, she realized something:
Even without knowing spells, even with barely-refined true essence, she could easily overpower her former self—the divine form she once ruled with.
With Ningguang and the others wielding spell arts and magic treasures, Osial would be…
a moving target.
A punching bag.
Possibly fragile.
One might worry for Osial's dignity as a former Archon before worrying for Liyue.
"Things aren't so absolute,"
Zhongli replied calmly.
"You haven't been in Liyue these days. Perhaps because the Sect Master stayed in the Harbor, the spiritual revival here has accelerated."
"The energy is already spreading toward the sea. There is a small chance—unlikely, but possible—that Osial may undergo a mutation."
"Though improbable, it cannot be ignored."
The Tsaritsa considered this, then nodded.
"I see. I'll watch him. But… with spirit energy spreading toward the ocean, I imagine the Inazuma side will be panicking."
Their situation was already dire—now spiritual revival would hit them faster.
"There is no need to worry for Inazuma,"
Zhongli said, shaking his head.
"The Sect Master has already ordered Lumine to depart in a few days and settle the chaos."
He paused, sighing softly.
"Mount Shu… is interfering with mortal nations for the first time. Remarkable, truly."
He couldn't help but marvel at Jiang Yan's devotion to Miko.
"Not a matter for us to speculate."
The Tsaritsa chuckled behind her hand.
Then suddenly—she remembered something.
"Zhongli, aren't you staying to monitor the situation? Are you going to the Lock-Demon Tower already?"
Zhongli shook his head.
"There is no need to observe this battle. Even if complications occur, the result will be Liyue's victory."
"As for the Lock-Demon Tower… I won't go yet. I won't gamble with my life. I will wait until I travel with the Sect Master."
"For now, I am heading to Tianqiu Valley—to visit an old friend."
The Tsaritsa paused, then understood.
"Azhdaha? You're going to bring him into cultivation?"
Her tone held undisguised awe.
Liyue's background was outrageous.
Zhongli—late Spirit-Transformation, almost at the peak.
The Adepti—late Essence-Refining, with Xiao ready to transcend at any moment.
Ganyu the same.
Liyue even had a Spirit-Transformation beast.
And now Azhdaha?
If restored, Azhdaha would absolutely be a late-stage Spirit-Transformation powerhouse.
"Mere erosion means nothing now."
She sighed.
"Then congratulation are in order—another titan returning to Liyue's ranks."
Zhongli smiled faintly.
"Bringing him into cultivation is not decided yet. It must receive the Sect Master's approval."
"As for this trip, the reasons are twofold: removing his erosion… and because my cultivation technique requires it."
"Your technique?"
The Tsaritsa frowned.
Zhongli's fundamental method was famous in Mount Shu:
Qingyuan Marvelous Manifestation Mantra
—also known informally as:
The Summoning Art.
Everyone knew it.
Zhongli's expression stiffened for a second.
"My Summoning Art can manifest the power of Erlang Shen. At present, I can partially access his combat strength."
"But to advance further… I must emulate his complete combat state."
"And that includes…"
He coughed lightly.
"…his loyal companion."
The Tsaritsa blinked.
Companion?
Oh.
Oh.
Her mind whipped back to Mount Shu's archives.
Erlang Shen's famed companion was—
"…the Howling Celestial Hound?"
She stared at Zhongli.
Zhongli calmly avoided eye contact.
Mystery solved.
She now understood exactly why Zhongli was marching off to find Azhdaha.
If he needed a vessel suitable for the manifestation of the Hound's divine spirit—
and it had to be someone tied to him, loyal to him, historically intertwined with him—
then there was no better candidate than…
Azhdaha.
Which meant—
Zhongli wanted Azhdaha… to be his dog.
He wanted to turn the ancient Geo Dragon Sovereign into his Summoned Celestial Hound.
The Tsaritsa stared at him with a gaze too complicated to name.
Zhongli cleared his throat.
"This is also Azhdaha's opportunity. Together, we will be stronger."
"And I do plan to introduce him to the Sect Master for cultivation guidance. He is a dragon-species elemental being—his talent will be extraordinary."
"He will also be free from erosion forever. It is a blessing to him."
"I am sure… he will not refuse."
The Tsaritsa nodded slowly.
Everything he said was logical.
But it didn't change the core fact:
Zhongli wanted Azhdaha to become his hound.
Azhdaha:
Betrayed.
Enslaved.
Now… Dogified?
She couldn't help imagining Azhdaha being awakened, only to hear:
"Azhdaha, old friend—I need you to become my dog."
That expression would be priceless.
Perhaps the dragon would try to headbutt Zhongli back into a stone seal on the spot.
Zhongli stood, clearly noticing her expression.
"Go handle Osial. Afterward, return to Mount Shu. I'll give you the spirit stones."
"And I trust you no longer need me to explain things to Ningguang and the others. Tell them this was my intention."
"Also—watch the proceedings carefully. Venti is unreliable. Alice is… even more unreliable."
"I can only entrust this to you."
"And remind them—this is Liyue's trial. No outsiders may intervene."
With that, Zhongli vanished instantly—no sword, no ripple.
The Tsaritsa exhaled helplessly.
"A trial? If a mere fallen Archon counts as a trial, then Osial should have won the Archon War."
She shook her head, then flew toward the sea in a streak of icy light.
She soon reached the seal.
Even after a thousand years, it was intact—unyielding.
She sighed.
Zhongli's sealing arts… even weakened, had been terrifying.
But for her now—
It was nothing.
She tapped lightly.
A golden-shining formation shattered like glass.
Had she not restrained her strength, Osial would have died instantly.
The newly-freed Archon stared blankly.
The Tsaritsa clicked her tongue.
"My control truly needs refinement. That nearly went poorly."
"Well… Osial is free. Time to summon Beisht too."
She plucked a strand of Osial's essence and flicked it into the deep sea, carried by her true essence.
Far away, in the vast ocean, Beisht received the call.
Osial finally realized what happened.
He didn't know why the seal was broken.
But—
Revenge.
The time for revenge had come!
Dark clouds surged over Liyue's waters.
The sky dimmed.
A storm was rising.
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