Tartaglia quickly stepped forward, injecting his elemental power into the Fatui Pyro Agent to temporarily sustain his stamina.
The Fatui Pyro Agent quickly said:
"Lord Childe, my group of four followed your instructions and climbed down from Mt. Tianheng to explore that small courtyard."
"We successfully avoided the Millelith."
"However, before we could get within a hundred meters of the courtyard, we stepped on a trap."
"In an instant, the ground split open as if controlled by Rex Lapis, and two of our men fell in, immediately engulfed by the lava inside."
"Before we could react, six wolves ran out of the courtyard... no, they were dogs!"
Tartaglia was a bit impatient.
"Can't you tell the difference between a wolf and a dog? Besides, you are elite Fatui Pyro Agents, how could you not defeat six beasts!"
The Fatui Pyro Agent froze, then said bitterly:
"Lord Childe, those creatures looked exactly like wolves, but when they barked, they were definitely dogs!"
"And they were no ordinary creatures."
"We initially thought they weren't very strong, but..."
"One of those dogs bit off Agent Three's arm with a single bite. Our attacks barely caused them any damage."
"Conversely, if they bit or clawed us even once, we would be severely injured!"
"Agent Three fought them to buy me time to return and report. I saw it when I escaped..."
As he spoke, the Fatui Pyro Agent was terrified.
"Agent Three... Agent Three couldn't hold them off for long; in an instant, he was torn apart..."
"Even Agent Three's weapon was bitten to pieces by those creatures..."
"Lord Childe, those are definitely some kind of man-eating monsters!"
"I suspect even Ruin Guards would struggle to withstand them!"
Tartaglia's eyes flickered. He waved his hand, telling someone to take the Fatui Pyro Agent for treatment.
His mind, however, remained troubled.
A group of monsters that could easily tear apart Fatui Pyro Agents...
A group that clearly followed human instructions, perhaps even acting as guard pets...
Did Teyvat have such things?
Tartaglia had fought across the Seven Nations and had never heard of wolves or dogs being so powerful.
They could even withstand elemental attacks.
Even if the Fatui Pyro Agents' elemental power wasn't strong, it was still elemental power!
After all, even a pack of a hundred wolves would be easily annihilated by two Fatui Pyro Agents.
But...
Six wolves almost wiped out two of his Fatui Pyro Agents?
And what was with that lava trap?
Was the lava in Mt. Tianheng so close to the surface?
But he had never heard of Rex Lapis being able to influence lava!
What secrets did that small courtyard hold?
Liyue Qixing, Adepti, Millelith, Zhongli...
Were the recent Liyue mineral resources related to that small courtyard?
All sorts of questions swirled around Tartaglia, and even his fighting spirit rekindled.
His Vision and Delusion glowed brightly together.
"It seems... I'll have to find a way to go myself."
Tartaglia murmured softly, but then, a more pure and terrifying Adeptal power suddenly appeared in the air.
A slightly aged female voice sounded in his ear.
"It's just children playing house; there's no need for adults to get involved, wouldn't you agree?"
"Fatui Harbinger, Mister Tartaglia."
Tartaglia's pupils contracted, his body tensing.
A strong sense of deadly threat enveloped him.
He hadn't felt this way in a long time.
The last time was when he told Pierro he wanted to challenge him...
A Liyue Adeptus was watching him.
Tartaglia lowered his gaze slightly, the elemental power from his Vision flowing through his body, and his Delusion ready to activate Foul Legacy Transformation at any moment.
"Heh heh... I merely came to say hello, no need to be nervous."
"I'm old now and don't much care for fighting. If possible, a chat would be better, don't you think?"
Tartaglia narrowed his eyes slightly.
He understood; this was definitely one of the earliest Adepti who followed Morax.
Having lived through the Archon War, now hidden in Liyue Harbor.
An ancient being with countless battles and confrontations with Archons in her past, her strength was beyond question.
She was absolutely one of Liyue's pillars of strength.
While Tartaglia loved to fight, he wasn't confident in defeating such an Adeptus who had lived for thousands of years.
The Tsaritsa could empower her Harbingers, but that didn't mean Rex Lapis couldn't empower his Adepti...
Moreover, this was Liyue Harbor; if he dared to make a move, countless Adepti and Archon-level powerhouses might gang up on him.
His thoughts raced, and Tartaglia put down his elemental power, rubbing his head with a sunny smile.
"Since you've personally come to mediate, I, your junior, naturally won't do anything inappropriate."
The aged voice fell silent for a moment before continuing.
"Heh heh... you are sensible, and though you have some ulterior motives, you are quite frank, much stronger than that Pantalone."
Tartaglia nodded in agreement.
"Indeed, I also dislike those who constantly play tricks and schemes. If there's a problem, it's better to just have a straightforward fight."
The Adeptus knew Tartaglia was trying to provoke a challenge again.
"You young one... when I was young, perhaps I would have fought you, but now I'm old and don't wish to strain my old bones."
"That truly is a pity..."
Tartaglia shrugged, not pressing the issue.
"Long ago, I saw your Tsaritsa with Rex Lapis. She is a lonely yet very strong deity, bearing unnecessary responsibilities."
"Rex Lapis and I hold goodwill towards her, and you Fatui work for her. Out of respect for her, we wouldn't necessarily target you."
"But it's a pity... among you Fatui Harbingers, your intentions are not unified; each has their own twisted agenda."
Tartaglia could tell that the other party wasn't lying.
She truly sympathized with the Tsaritsa.
Tartaglia was still somewhat pleased; he understood the Tsaritsa's tragic wish and was willing to support it.
But as she said, the Fatui Harbingers' intentions were indeed not unified...
Pierro, Dottore, Scaramouche...
Their ideas differed from the Tsaritsa's.
For now, they were merely on the same boat, utilizing each other.
This was also why Tartaglia disliked them.
Tartaglia's heart stirred.
If the Tsaritsa's grand plan could gain the support of Rex Lapis and the Adepti...
However, before he could speak, the other party divined his thoughts.
"You young one, you truly seize every opportunity. Rex Lapis and I indeed acknowledge the Tsaritsa's grand ambition, but that doesn't mean we will join her."
"The path she walks is too dangerous; a single misstep could lead to eternal damnation."
"Liyue's three thousand seven hundred years of history cannot end with us. You should give up that idea."
Tartaglia sighed slightly, softly saying:
"Is that so... I apologize then..."
"No need to apologize."
The old woman replied with a chuckle.
"Perhaps her dream can be realized in another way, but... it's too early for all that, and you don't need to keep exploring there."
"You are a child with burning passion and a strong fighting spirit, yet you also possess deep love for your family and loyalty to your Tsaritsa. You are a good child at heart."
"You are different from the other Harbingers, so I am unwilling to make things difficult for you."
"Stop exploring things you shouldn't know. If you remain stubborn, next time you might face more than just me."
"The other Three-Eyed and Five-Hued Adepti and the Conqueror of Demons are not so easy to talk to... Even Rex Lapis, if provoked repeatedly."
"He might personally cut short your future."
"Do you understand?"
"Rex Lapis has not yet reached the point where he cannot wield a weapon. You should know how his title as the God of War was earned."
"Your Tsaritsa is a junior in comparison to Rex Lapis..."
Tartaglia rubbed his head, chuckling lightly:
"Thank you for the Adeptus's reminder; your junior understands."
"However, your junior still has one question..."
The old woman chuckled in reply.
"You want to know who I am?"
Tartaglia nodded firmly.
He firmly believed that even if his strength couldn't compare to an Archon, it was still much stronger than average Archon-level entities.
At the very least, he could easily crush Dvalin from Mondstadt.
But this voice, without even showing itself, gave him a powerful sense of deadly threat.
If Tartaglia didn't know which Adeptus this was, he wouldn't sleep soundly.
"I am now just an ordinary Liyuean... You're certainly not satisfied with that answer."
"However, if you ask for my former title..."
"Three-Eyed and Five-Hued Adeptus, Cloud Retainer..."
As her voice faded, the Adeptal power suddenly dissipated, as if nothing had happened.
But Tartaglia clenched his fists.
His eyes gleamed with intense excitement.
Three-Eyed and Five-Hued Adeptus, Cloud Retainer.
Her name was renowned even among the assembled Adepti of Liyue, and even during the Archon War.
This was a reputation earned through countless battles.
It was said that Cloud Retainer was a master of Adeptal arts, with astonishing spear skills, highly praised even by Rex Lapis.
During the Archon War, she was a primary combatant among the Adepti.
She was one of Rex Lapis's strongest and longest-living Adepti.
It was said that countless Archon-level entities died by her spear.
She was a friend of the Archon Guizhong and handled many enemies for the less combative Guizhong.
She was one of the rare Adepti who possessed extraordinary combat power even during the Archon War.
With Rex Lapis's blessing, her strength might not be inferior to a mid-tier Archon.
After so much time, it was hard to say what her current strength was.
But Tartaglia knew that if she wanted to kill him, it might not take much effort.
Fortunately, this Adeptus now disliked conflict and was relatively easy to talk to.
If it were a Yaksha, the Northland Bank might have been smashed to bits immediately.
Gazing at the streets of Liyue, Tartaglia was filled with mixed emotions.
Having failed to contact Zhongli and being targeted by an Adeptus due to too many changes.
Tartaglia had to learn a lot about Liyue's Adepti and Archon legends.
The more he learned, the more unfathomable Liyue seemed to Tartaglia.
Human strength might not compare to Snezhnaya, but the Liyue Adepti...
They were truly outrageous.
Jueyun Karst was home to at least three Three-Eyed and Five-Hued Adepti, and the Conqueror of Demons periodically cleansed Archon remnants.
Within Liyue Harbor were the half-Adepti Ganyu, Yanfei, and now this Cloud Retainer.
These were all confirmed to exist.
What about those vaguely mentioned Adepti, whose deaths or seclusion were uncertain?
What about the Archons?
Marchosius, Azhdaha...
It was even said there were Rex Lapis's primordial beasts, Jade and Stone Whale...
And that was without even mentioning Rex Lapis himself, the six-thousand-year-old God of War.
His relationship with the first Archon, Barbatos, was also very good.
Tartaglia sighed deeply.
"Liyue, Liyue..."
"What a deep, deep quagmire..."
"How many astonishing beings do you hide?"
"However... Jue"
Tartaglia smiled boldly, full of heroic spirit.
"Such a Liyue makes it necessary to ignite my fighting spirit!"
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