186: seat

Even Zhongli couldn't help but furrow his brows when he sensed that object.

Incomprehensible.

It wasn't that the object itself was incomprehensible, but rather that Zhongli had used the Art of Resonance once more to ask Huo Xi if he needed help, and the conclusion he reached was incomprehensible.

As the saying goes, 'The Way that can be spoken of is not the constant Way; the name that can be named is not the constant name.' The existence of profound and unfathomable things inherently contains a massive amount of information, making it impossible for those of lower status to understand their deep meaning.

Just like the so-called Old Gods, it is not that those high-and-mighty deities intentionally pollute you, but rather that their existence itself contains a massive amount of information. Their names cannot be spoken by human vocal organs, and naturally, the 'information' attached to their divine forms cannot be understood by the human brain.

Merely looking at them causes the excessive information to burn the retina. A mere eighty-six billion neurons are completely unable to accommodate the massive information brought about by a God's mere 'appearance.' This is the true reason why Old Gods drive people to madness.

A God simply stands there, and a person will go mad. The so-called physical mutations are merely the mind influencing the flesh; every cell in your body is seeking a means of self-preservation, causing your physical form to shift toward a state capable of accepting the God's thoughts, becoming that twisted visage.

Undoubtedly, Huo Xi's thoughts in Zhongli's perception at this moment were such an existence.

The moment the tendrils of his divine sense touched the boundaries of Huo Xi's mind, a flood of information equivalent to several stacked Unlimited Voids surged into Zhongli's mind, leaving him momentarily dazed.

Fortunately, the Heavenly Principles and the Third Descender are also outworlders. The Gods were all elevated by receiving a fragment of the Heavenly Principles, and the Seven Archons likewise possess the remains of the Third Descender, the [Gnosis].

Zhongli happened to be the oldest of the Seven Archons and the one who understood the process to erode most deeply. Among the living beings walking the lands of Teyvat, he was the most capable of withstanding such an information bombardment.

'I fear an ordinary human would suffer brain death just by touching his thoughts. If any other Adepti were to use the [Art of Resonance]... the most intellectually inclined Cloud Retainer should be able to handle it.'

Zhongli thought to himself, yet he still focused his energy, eventually finding the thoughts belonging to the 'Huo Xi' persona and understanding his plan.

In an instant, Zhongli's mind was pushed out of the Giant Spider's body. His eyes remained vacant for a moment before he slowly spoke: 'I see.'

By now, all the workers had long since woken up. They, along with everyone from the WangSheng Funeral Parlor and the Millelith, had gathered around Zhongli. They knew that being near this man was currently the safest place to be.

Seeing everyone gathered and sensing the 'movement' beneath his feet, Zhongli thought: 'Brother Huo, since you haven't forgotten our agreement even now, then I shall lend you a hand.'

On the other side, Azhdaha, certain that the movement beneath him had ceased, immediately turned his crimson gaze toward Zhongli and the others.

'Morax... Morax!!!'

The roars struck terror into the hearts of the crowd. The people of Liyue were all subjects of Morax; now that the Dragon King was roaring the name of Rex Lapis, they feared he was about to turn his blade upon His subjects!

Suddenly, Zhongli reached into his robe. This movement caught the eyes of both the crowd and the Dragon King; the people were suddenly filled with hope, while the Dragon King became wary.

Then, under the watchful eyes of everyone, Zhongli slowly pulled out—a Jade Pendant.

At that moment, the people of Liyue all showed expressions of confusion, while Azhdaha grew even more cautious.

Many of Liyue's strange Adepti arts could be performed using jade as a medium. Could this be another kind of Catalyst?

Zhongli suddenly spoke, using a slightly unnatural, high-pitched voice to narrate: 'Back then, Brother Huo only gave me this jade token of alliance as a precaution. I didn't expect it would actually be used today!'

Hu Tao looked at the Dragon King, who was standing still, intimidated, then looked at Zhongli: 'What use is that Jade Pendant? Can it one-shot the Dragon King, or can it save Huo Xi?'

'Director, do not be anxious,' Zhongli soothed. 'Do you know that Brother Huo possesses a certain Anomaly?'

Upon hearing this, Yelan immediately thought of something: 'Could it be the curse rumored by the Mondstadters?'

'He's also afflicted by a curse?!' Keqing and Yakoda exclaimed in unison.

Zhongli was also stunned. Was there such a setting?

'Correct,' Zhongli immediately corrected his statement. 'And this jade token of alliance is the token Brother Huo gave to Liyue Harbor to overcome difficulties. Once this object is crushed, the long-suppressed curse on Brother Huo's body will completely erupt. Though it may harm himself significantly, it will deal a devastating blow to the enemy!'

Zhongli didn't know if his fabrication was reasonable, but he felt it sounded quite plausible. As soon as he finished speaking, he swiftly crushed the Jade Pendant!

Seeing this, Azhdaha became even more alert! He projected his senses, frantically scanning for any changes. The fact that the old geezer Morax hadn't transformed to fight him yet suggested that this Catalyst was likely very extraordinary!

After crushing the Jade Pendant, Zhongli began ushering everyone to move back.

'Stand back a bit.'

The crowd moved accordingly.

'A bit further back.'

The crowd retreated again.

Zhongli sensed once more and then opened his eyes: 'That's enough.'

'What's enough?' Hu Tao asked.

Zhongli pointed toward Azhdaha: 'I mean, we've already won.'

The crowd looked over.

Without warning, and without even a vibration in the ground, a change truly occurred.

Two massive silver scythe-like legs suddenly pierced through the ground on either side of Azhdaha, as if the earth had grown two limbs!

Before Azhdaha could react, the scythe-legs quickly hooked downward. The massive, sharp scythes pierced through the rock on Azhdaha's back, pinning him firmly to the ground!

'ROAR!!!!!'

As intense pain surged, Azhdaha let out an earth-shattering roar of fury.

The Dragon King attempted to use his Authority over the earth to counterattack. He wanted to continuously increase the density of the ground beneath him to squeeze the life out of the terrifying monster that had suddenly emerged from underground, but to his surprise, he failed completely.

The power of his Authority was weakening.

'No, that's not right. It's not that the Authority is weakening!'

As his reason returned, Azhdaha gradually realized the gravity of the situation.

'This monster is absorbing my power! And my Authority!!!'

Azhdaha struggled even more violently, but his Authority and Abyssal Power were both rapidly draining away. He was almost beyond saving!

Suddenly, countless more silver limbs burst from the soil. Each limb, once extended, was over a thousand meters long, with two distinct joint-like areas—they looked exactly like long spider legs forged from silver!

Countless spider legs hooked their barbs into the Dragon King's flesh, rendering him completely immobile. Then, those limbs began to pull downward. The earth was deformed by the pressure of the Dragon King's mountain-like body as the soil and rocks gave way. The Dragon King was actually being dragged back underground by sheer brute force!

Zhongli could feel the power flowing beneath the earth. The sanctified land of Liyue was rapidly returning to its original state.

This was not because Azhdaha was being suppressed, but because Azhdaha's own great Authority was being forcibly usurped by an Outworlder Demon!

Only half of the Dragon King's body remained above ground. He thrashed his Tail and head wildly, his claws desperately clutching the rocks on the surface, but to no avail.

His clearance was draining! His connection to the Ley Lines was being lost! Even his Abyss Power was being sucked dry!

Suddenly, a subtle yet unreleased wave of mental energy conducted through the atmosphere. This power was forceful and overbearing. Because Zhongli had previously used the Art of Resonance to forcibly establish a link with Huo Xi's soul, even Greater Lord Rukkhadevata and Columbina in the distance were forced into the resonance due to the Ley Lines and the Frost Moon Pith.

But they were merely observers. This soul wave was something Huo Xi had inadvertently emitted while attempting to refine Azhdaha's great Authority.

They could only watch, unable to speak, forced to let the laughter from Huo Xi's soul echo in their ears.

'It's this power! This is the power I wanted!!!'

'The Great Authority of Geo isn't important, but this ability to read the Ley Lines shall belong to me from this day forward!!!'

They saw it—what seemed to be a scene from the past. It was at the Wangshu Inn in Dihua Marsh, when Huo Xi's group had just arrived within Liyue's borders. They were pointing and gesturing at Greater Lord Rukkhadevata, who was still just a large tree branch.

Suddenly, Huo Xi seemed to be struck by an inspiration; a whimsical thought occurred to him.

In the type-moon world, there is a throne of heroes that records the heroes within human history. The souls of heroes return to the throne of heroes, and then mages use rituals to summon a data copy from it, thus giving birth to the existences known as Servants.

So, while Teyvat has no [Throne]... 'Is it possible to do something with Teyvat's Ley Lines?' Huo Xi had thought so at the time, but he had dismissed it in the blink of an eye.

Time flowed back, and the consciousnesses of the three deities returned to the present. Echoing in their ears was Huo Xi's jubilant laughter.

'Record! Transmit! Read! The silver root system descends upon the mortal world with the Savior from beyond.'

'At this very moment, the planet's blood vessels are in my hands!'

'My body is the Imaginary Lock, and what I hold in my hand is the Ether Anchor!'

'Heaven is with me; the Will of the Star (O•R•T) compiles this great work here!'

'This is—the birth of the [Throne]!!!'

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The promised Great Resurrection Art is here.