Mountain Shaper looked at Paimon and Lumine before him, his elderly face betraying a hint of hesitation.
At that moment, Granny Ping stepped forward.
"Alright, didn't Ningguang just say to take a good look at this city? To observe every person here?"
"I've tried doing this kind of observation myself… so why don't you give it a try too?"
She then slowly turned around, gazing down at Liyue Harbor beneath the Jade Chamber.
"Everyone, look. This is what this era looks like."
Hearing her words, the Adepti behind her also shifted their gazes toward Liyue Harbor below.
"The Nation of Contracts still respects the Adepti, but throughout the years, Liyue has faced countless challenges and yet, not every issue required the power of the Adepti to be resolved."
"The mortals we once called weak are fragile in blood, but strong in will."
"The contract between the gods and Liyue has lasted for over a thousand years, but now, it is an era where Liyue's people forge their own contracts."
Granny Ping calm voice carried across the scene, depicting the current state of Liyue Harbor.
Beside her, Mountain Shaper and Moon Carver exchanged glances.
"Sigh… Let's go back."
Looking at the bustling streets of Liyue Harbor, they realized that even if they remained, they would be out of place.
"Liyue, which I have not seen in a long time, has become vastly different from what I remember."
"By the time I fully understand the new contracts of this land, you humans will have already reshaped it once again."
Mountain Shaper sighed as he looked down at Liyue Harbor.
"Ah… Forget it. It's best to return, it's best to return."
With that, he transformed into his beast form, spread his wings, and flew away.
"Enough. If all the other Adepti agree, I will not insist either."
"But with the Adepti withdrawing, can the Qixing truly rule unchallenged? In my view, caution must still be exercised."
Moon Carver cast a glance at Granny Ping, then at Ningguang, Qiqi, and finally Ganyu. He, too, transformed into his beast form and leaped into the sky.
"Heh…"
Ningguang chuckled softly, her eyes closed briefly in amusement.
"Alright, alright, old Moon Carver, stop dwelling on it. Even the Immortal Lord has already acknowledged this. Why are you still so stubborn?"
"If you ask me, the power of oversight should be left to the people of Liyue."
Granny Ping stood atop the Jade Chamber, speaking gently to the deer-like silhouette in the sky.
Moon Carver did not reply, as if silently agreeing, and soon disappeared into the distance.
Behind them, Ganyu remained motionless, standing there in a daze, unable to find any words to say.
"Whew, I guess the crisis of a battle between mortals and Adepti has been peacefully resolved."
Paimon let out a long sigh, still recovering from the tension of the confrontation.
"At least the Adepti were reasonable in the end."
Lumine glanced at Paimon, who was still catching her breath, and sighed in relief herself.
"Ah, right! Peace is great and all, but there's still one thing left unresolved!"
"The reason for this crisis is that Childe released the Demon God, while Dottore lifted the seal that had been suppressing it. And Childe goal in releasing the Demon God was to force the Geo Archon and the Adepti to appear!"
"But the crisis was resolved by an Adeptus, so why didn't the Geo Archon show up?"
"Hmm… If that's the case, then what about the death of that god?"
Paimon smacked her forehead as she suddenly remembered—Rex Lapis, the god of Liyue, had not appeared at all.
"Hmm… this is all so confusing. But maybe the most important clue is…"
"Could it be our Rite of Parting, a ceremony without an Adeptus to send off the god?"
Paimon turned to look at the Traveler.
"Let's go to Wangsheng Funeral Parlor and find Zhongli!"
Lumine nodded at the confused Paimon, and together, they began walking toward Wangsheng Funeral Parlor.
The scene shifted to Jueyun Karst.
Xiao sat cross-legged on the ground, his eyes closed. In front of him stood Qiu Bai, also known as the Immortal Lord.
"Relax, Xiao," Qiu Bai said calmly.
As he spoke, a brilliant white light flickered in his hand before flowing into Xiao body.
A dark black-red aura seeped from Xiao form, continuously forced out by Qiu Bai purifying light.
"Urgh…"
Xiao clenched his teeth, his body wracked with an indescribable pain.
Karmic debt was not the same as physical wounds despite enduring this torment for thousands of years, for the first time, Xiao face twisted in pain.
One could only imagine how excruciating it must be.
"His karmic debt runs so deep…"
Qiu Bai frowned as he observed Xiao suffering. He then intensified the purifying light in his hand.
Only then did Xiao pained expression begin to ease.
After a while, his karmic debt was completely cleansed.
"Conqueror of Demons, how do you feel?"
Cloud Retainer watched as Xiao slowly stood up, concern in her gaze.
Xiao seemed momentarily disbelieving, staring at his own hands.
"Now, you can approach humans without fear."
"You no longer need to worry about your karmic debt harming others."
Qiu Bai nodded as he looked at Xiao.
Xiao felt lighter than ever before. Taking out his polearm, Primordial Jade Winged-Spear, he gathered pure Adeptal energy and Anemo power, striking a nearby boulder.
With a single blow, the massive rock shattered instantly.
Xiao clenched his fist and for the first time in a long while, he smiled.
"I feel great. Now that my karmic debt is gone…"
"My Adeptal power has grown stronger."
Xiao turned to Cloud Retainer, nodding in confirmation.
Then, his gaze shifted to Qiu Bai.
"Thank you, Immortal Lord, for cleansing my karmic debt."
His golden eyes shone with genuine gratitude as he spoke.
"No need for such formalities, Xiao."
"As an Adeptus who protects Liyue, you and I are no different in essence."
Qiu Bai smiled as he met Xiao gaze.
"Hmph, Conqueror of Demons, why bother being so polite to him?"
"This guy has probably slept himself into stupidity, what need is there for formalities?"
Still in her human form, Cloud Retainer turned away with a huff.
"In that case, I shall return to Dihua Marsh and resume my watch."
With those words, Xiao figure vanished.
"Cloud Retainer, are you still holding a grudge over this matter?"
"If one day Liyue Harbor truly strays down the wrong path, we can correct it then."
"But for now, Liyue Harbor is moving in the right direction."
Qiu Bai spoke calmly to Cloud Retainer.
He wasn't wrong. Liyue Harbor was no longer the same as it had been thousands of years ago.
And as Adepti, their role was to silently protect it from the shadows.
Surely, a certain Wangsheng Funeral Parlor consultant must also be quite satisfied with the Liyue Qixing's current course.
"Hmph, you fool! I'm not talking to you anymore!"
"This Adeptus is leaving now."
Cloud Retainer let out a proud snort, her cold expression carrying a trace of reluctant acceptance of Qiu Bai words.
Then, she reverted to her beast form and soared toward Jueyun Karst.
"Heh, bye-bye, oh great and eloquent True Lord!"
Qiu Bai chuckled, waving lightly at the departing crane silhouette in the sky.
Hearing this, Cloud Retainer faltered mid-flight almost falling out of the sky.
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