High above the Fountainhead Palace, a colossal demon was desperately attempting to retreat through the cracks of the firmament. The Divine Dragon was no fool; sensing the tide had turned, it immediately resorted to its old habit of "shedding its skin" to escape. Centuries ago, it had used this exact golden cicada trick to survive a fatal encounter, and now, after being pummeled by Venti, it didn't hesitate to try again.
Thunder crashed incessantly over the palace. A massive plant-like dragon floated in the air—being a flora-based demon, it could survive losing a portion of its body, though it would be severely weakened. But escape was the only option. Against this young boy's terrifying wind, its current power was insufficient.
As the dragon twisted its body, preparing to step upon the clouds and vanish, it cast a hateful glance at the spot where the Sacred Sakura had been uprooted. But before it could flee, a hurricane materialized directly in its path.
"Hey now... where do you think you're going? Did you really think that little trick could fool a God of Wind?"
Venti's form slowly coalesced within the eye of the gale. Had Su Han not warned him about the dragon's slippery nature before the mission, he might have actually let it slip away, leading to a mission failure. This was his first outing; he wasn't about to lose face.
The Divine Dragon roared, plucking lightning bolts from the sky with its claws and hurling them at Venti. BOOM! A corner of the palace was vaporized by the golden lightning, and the sacred waters began to pour out of the rift, carrying away the mutated palace guards and the giant carp.
The demon was frantic. It had sacrificed half its body to create a diversion, yet the boy was still there, showing a power far beyond its own.
"Alright, the playdate is over," Venti said, raising a single arm. "The big snake from the valley is almost here. Let's finish this, you wicked thing."
[The Power of a God]
Suddenly, the sky above the Fountainhead Palace transformed into a localized catastrophe. Venti unleashed his true divine authority—the Thousand Winds. A storm far more terrifying than anything Dvalin could conjure swept across a hundred-mile radius.
Back at the Jade Chamber, everyone watched the screen in awe.
"Is... is this the bard's real strength?" Paimon stammered.
"The power of a God isn't just for show," Hanachirusato smiled softly. "He won the Archon War. Did you truly think Barbatos was weak?"
The Raiden Shogun nodded slowly. "I dislike his attitude, but his strength is undeniable."
Xiao, leaning against a nearby pillar, added quietly, "The Lord of Wind... once saved me as well."
[The Judgment of the Gale]
"Escape? Let the winds punish you! Tempest: Eviscerate!"
With a roar, countless emerald wind-blades swarmed the dragon. Unlike Zhongli's heavy suppression, Venti's attacks were high-frequency, omnipresent, and carried a lethal cutting attribute. Within a minute, the Divine Dragon's body was being eaten away—its limbs severed, its horns shattered.
As it neared its end, a voice full of malice erupted from the dragon's chest. "Even if I die, you shall have nothing! Watch me destroy this paradise!"
A black, viscous sludge erupted from the dragon's tail, raining down upon the palace. Where it touched, the land withered instantly.
"You shameless dog!" Venti cursed. "Even in death, you want to ruin the environment?"
"And why did you come to kill me?!" the dragon hissed back before its form finally dissolved into the gale.
With the dragon's death, the power of the Centipedes and the Rejuvenating Sediment vanished across Ashina. The "undying" curse was severed. Venti quickly took out the Tenseiga and began collecting the dragon's soul fragments. He hadn't forgotten the "soul scavenging" part of the job—these fragments would be perfect for nourishing Raiden Makoto.
[The Purge and the Theft]
Venti descended to the ruined palace. He threw the Blood Lotus into the central rift where the black sludge had fallen. The lotus acted like a vacuum, greedily devouring the corruption and the lingering demonic energy. Within ten minutes, the foul waters turned crystal clear, and the lightning in the sky lost its sickly hue.
Just then, a massive Great White Serpent slithered up the mountain. Venti looked at the beast and waved. "Yahoo! Hello there. If you're looking for the demon, I already killed it. This place is yours now!"
The serpent stared at him, confused. He killed the demon but is leaving?
[Ding! Five-Star Mission Complete. Reward: 800,000 Points.]
[Prompt: You may stay for 15 minutes.]
Venti was about to leave when Yae Miko tagged him in the chat. "Venti! Venti! Bring the palace back for us! I love it! We can put it on Mt. Yougou!"
Venti hesitated, but thinking of all Su Han had done for him, he sighed. "Alright, alright... I'll take it."
The Great White Serpent, still trying to process its mother's revenge, was suddenly blown back by a "gentle" breeze. When it regained its footing, it witnessed a scene of absolute absurdity.
A terrifying vortex descended from the clouds and literally sliced the top off the mountain. The entire Fountainhead Palace—buildings, bridges, and sacred springs—was lifted into the sky and vanished into Venti's Serenitea Pot. The serpent stared at the now-bald mountain peak, feeling like it had been robbed by someone even more wicked than the dragon.
[Recruiting a Legend]
Venti didn't leave immediately. With his remaining minutes, he drifted toward Ashina Castle. On the moonlit roof of the lookout, he materialized before a man sitting with a jug of sake.
"Your internal injuries are quite severe, old man," Venti noted. "Want to come to another world? The demon is dead. You can retire in peace there."
"Who are you?" Isshin Ashina asked, surprised.
"I am the Wind God, Barbatos. Your body is at its limit—sake won't fix a failing heart. Come to my world; I can guarantee you'll live to see many more sunsets."
Emma, the physician, stepped out from the shadows. "Can he truly be saved?"
"I promise," Venti smiled. "He'll have plenty of years left."
Emma looked at the weary Sword Saint. "Let us go, Lord Isshin. The curse of immortality is broken. Lord Genichiro can handle what remains of Ashina."
Isshin took a final swig of sake and stood up, laughing. "Fine. I've lived long enough in this frozen place. Let's see what a God's world looks like."
As the gold light of the portal enveloped them, the Legend of Ashina departed for the lands of Teyvat.
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