South Heaven Gate.
A group of people rode their dragons and arrived here.
This time, they had to enter the sealed realm where Azhdaha was imprisoned — naturally, bringing the Jade Chamber along was not an option.
Ningguang had wanted to try out her newly adjusted floating war fortress from a few days ago.
Mounted on top of it was the brand-new Skyborne Dragon-Slayer Cannon.
However, Zhongli refused.
The best outcome would be to not let Azhdaha emerge at all.
If Azhdaha were to come out, he could quickly regain his strength by drawing on the power of the earth.
The Orbital Dragon-Slayer Cannon was indeed powerful — it could even kill Zhongli himself if he was unprepared.
But Azhdaha was, after all, a creature born of the ley lines; standing upon the earth, it was his source of life.
To kill him completely — the cannon might not be enough.
Though to severely wound him — that was likely possible.
Moreover, releasing Azhdaha could easily lead to widespread destruction.
The scenery at South Heaven Gate was beautiful enough; there was no need to risk ruining it.
Landing before the Dragon Queller, they could still see many of the huge craters left behind by the TNT explosions from last time.
There weren't many monsters left — likely because Xiao had already cleansed the area thoroughly before.
Azhdaha hadn't had the time to summon more.
But the moment their feet touched the ground, everyone felt it — a deep, oppressive malice.
It seemed to seep from the ley lines themselves, as though this land was rejecting their presence.
Zhongli's gaze grew complicated — he was about to personally slay his old friend.
Even if it was for the sake of saving him, the thought still weighed heavily on his heart.
Tartaglia, on the other hand, looked thrilled.
They were about to fight the legendary Azhdaha, a once-mighty dragon king — this would be a once-in-a-lifetime battle experience.
For Tartaglia, nothing was more exhilarating than a thrilling fight.
Zhongli sighed, then turned to Ryen and the others.
"You remember the plan, don't you?"
Ryen, still grumpy about being woken so early, muttered in annoyance:
"You said it eight hundred times last night! We're not senile yet!"
Zhongli wasn't offended. He simply turned away and walked under the Dragon Queller Tree.
He didn't rush into the sealed domain — instead, he clasped his hands behind his back and stood there quietly for a while before speaking softly:
"Old friend… won't you talk to me?"
The moment his voice fell, endless black mist gathered before them — forming into the figure of a bespectacled young girl, Jiu.
Only this time, her expression was twisted with madness.
Her eyes glowed with a bloody light as she glared at Zhongli with deep hatred.
"Morax… you've finally come…"
"Morax! A thousand years of resentment — how will you repay it!?"
"Come then, Morax! Kill me! This is our destined battle!"
Though Zhongli had already imagined what Azhdaha's current state might be, seeing it in person still pained him deeply.
In the past, Azhdaha had never been like this…
He had been an innocent child, filled with boundless curiosity about the world, gazing upon all of Teyvat's wonders with endless fascination.
He had been a valiant warrior, always leading the charge — as steadfast as a mountain — the shield that protected Liyue's immortals and its people whenever Morax was absent.
And now…
The comrade who once fought beside him—had become a mortal enemy.
Everything traced back to Celestia… to erosion itself!
Zhongli clenched his fists tightly, the hatred toward the Heavenly Principles surging once again within him.
If it weren't for Celestia forcing the Archon War, Guizhong wouldn't have died, the adepti wouldn't have perished, and Azhdaha would never have fallen to this state…
"My old friend…" Zhongli sighed softly.
Jiu sneered coldly.
"Morax, don't act so hypocritical! You brought all these people here—just to kill me, didn't you?"
"Come then! Today is the day of reckoning!"
"I'll sever you, crush you, tear you apart! I'll turn your beloved Liyue into ruins!"
"Morax, the hatred of that day will be repaid today—either you die, or I do!"
"Morax! Morax! I'm waiting for you! Come, kill me!"
The crazed screams spilled from the lips of a young girl, a sight as eerie as it was heartbreaking.
Jiu vanished, and before everyone's eyes appeared a massive vortex.
The once-clear skies darkened completely, smothered by oppressive clouds—
like the embodiment of Azhdaha's millennia of resentment.
Zhongli let out a long, sorrowful sigh.
"Azhdaha…"
Ryen shook his head.
"At this point, don't tell me you're hesitating."
Zhongli was silent for a moment before nodding slightly.
"Forgive me… but he was my friend."
"Azhdaha gave everything for Liyue. It is I who wronged him."
"Even if I must do this to save him… to kill him with my own hands…"
Ryen had already expected this reaction.
For someone who had lived over six thousand years, Zhongli seemed calm and detached,
but the longer one lived, the deeper one's attachments grew.
For Zhongli, there were two things he could never let go:
Liyue… and his friends.
So this hesitation didn't surprise Ryen in the slightest.
But he had already prepared a way to snap Zhongli out of it.
He stepped close, and in a low voice that only the two of them could hear,
he imitated Azhdaha's tone perfectly:
"Morax, I curse your ancestors…"
Zhongli's face instantly darkened.
After a long pause, his voice turned icy cold.
"…Let's go."
"Eh?!" Venti blinked in surprise.
"That fast? You've already made up your mind?"
Zhongli gave no reply.
Indeed, Azhdaha might have had his reasons,
but no reason could justify cursing his ancestors!
That was rebellion of the highest order.
And strictly speaking, it was Zhongli who had granted Azhdaha sentience—
he was Azhdaha's ancestor.
Without another word, Zhongli stepped forward and entered the portal first.
~~----------------------
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