Several months slipped by quietly, yet they were enough to transform all of Liyue.
Now, the total area of farmland already far exceeds that of the residential districts.
Looking over the countless green fields, Zayn made a quick estimate.
With the enhancements he added through divine power, these farmlands were easily enough to feed all thirty thousand people living in Liyue.
If nothing unexpected occurred, then in just a few more months, the people of Liyue would welcome—
The first great agricultural harvest in the history of Liyue.
Centuries, even millennia later, this sight would be recorded as legend, retold by storytellers and written into books, spreading across generations like a myth.
Zayn could already picture it:
He and Morax sitting inside Third Round Knockout, listening to Tian Tiezui narrate their tale.
Heh… the image was so beautiful it was almost unreal.
As usual, after inspecting Liyue, Zayn flew to Qingxu Pool—
to the territory of the Sword Demon God, Qingxu.
Qingxu greeted him with an unusually solemn gaze.
"What I am able to teach you… I have already taught.
Everything beyond this, only you yourself can comprehend.
Today is the final lesson."
Time was nothing to gods.
Unknowingly, a full year had already passed since Zayn first came seeking guidance.
Throughout this year, he had learned countless sword techniques—some refined, some purely practical.
He had also come to understand one thing:
Swordsmanship cannot be copied.
It must be understood.
"Saying goodbye already?" Zayn chuckled. "Honestly, I'm a little reluctant. I didn't expect to finish learning so quickly."
Qingxu smiled freely, as always.
"What is there to be reluctant about?
A lesson ending does not mean our friendship ends.
For gods, time is the one thing we will never lack.
Just remember to bring wine the next time you visit."
Zayn laughed out loud.
Qingxu was still Qingxu indeed.
But since today was the last official day of training, Zayn had prepared a special surprise for him afterward—
something far bigger than just a bottle or two.
After all, once the lessons were over, Zayn's lazy nature would surely take over again; he would not visit Qingxu every single day.
If he didn't, Qingxu—who loved good wine more than anything—would have no one to drink with.
That would be tragic.
"Well then," Zayn said, lifting his sword with a grin, "let's begin the final lesson."
Qingxu nodded and began to demonstrate.
Today's topic was his ultimate technique—
The Sword of Spatial Severance, the culmination of his entire life's mastery.
He raised the Qingxu Sword, its blade glowing with a soft cyan light.
Closing his eyes for a moment, he drew in a deep breath, then opened them sharply—his gaze piercing the distant mountain.
In one gentle, almost casual movement—
He slashed.
A streak of cyan light tore across the horizon.
A heartbeat later…
A canyon opened in the middle of the mountain.
Rock and dust cascaded down as if the world itself had been cut open.
Fortunately, these plains were completely uninhabited for hundreds of miles.
No human would ever witness this terrifying display of power.
Zayn clapped his hands in amazement.
"Truly worthy of the Sword Demon God. That slash could open the heavens."
Qingxu only smiled calmly.
He knew full well—
With Zayn holding the Sky-Severing Sword, a divine weapon already infused with spatial rupture, this technique would become something far surpassing what he himself could unleash.
"Try it," Qingxu said.
Zayn nodded.
He raised the Sky-Severing Sword.
White light gathered around its blade, humming with restrained might.
Zayn focused, channeling his divine power and mimicking the technique just demonstrated.
His eyes locked onto another mountain.
Then—
He swung.
"One slash!"
A blinding white arc exploded out.
A moment later, a massive sword scar—stretching for tens of kilometers—appeared across the landscape.
Zayn froze in place.
"H-Huh?!"
He had only intended to try it out casually.
He hadn't expected the power to erupt so violently!
Even for a demon god, this was terrifying.
Qingxu, however, remained composed—
He had already predicted that the Sky-Severing Sword, combined with Zayn's power, would exceed his own technique.
Qingxu smiled faintly.
"Zenos, with that slash… you have already surpassed me.
Perhaps it is I who no longer deserves the title 'Sword Demon God.'"
Zayn chuckled.
He knew Qingxu wasn't genuinely lamenting—just expressing emotion.
Qingxu cared little for titles, nor did he bother with the ideas of strength or weakness.
He protected a small territory, lived freely, and pursued swordsmanship for its own sake.
Zayn had grown fond of his personality.
He wondered, though—
During the brutal Age of the Archon War, had Qingxu survived?
In later eras, Qingxu Pool had become ruins.
It was rebuilt once or twice but eventually abandoned again.
Whether Qingxu died in the war or fled to the dark seas beyond Teyvat… no one knew.
But that was a question for the future.
If Qingxu was ever in danger, Zayn wouldn't abandon him.
"Come now," Zayn said with a cheerful smile, patting Qingxu on the shoulder. "Don't be modest. It was just a bit of brute force."
"Your understanding of the sword is still far deeper than mine."
Qingxu laughed heartily.
Zayn continued:
"Let's go! Today I prepared a big gift for you.
I can guarantee—you'll love it."
Qingxu blinked.
A gift?
From Zenos?
If it was wine…
then that would be perfect.
And knowing Zayn…
It probably was.
Advance Chapters available on Patreon
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