Chapter 263

Ganyu: "In order to blend into the group, I'd like to ask—when you're chasing someone, do you also have to shout, 'Come play, Su Ye'?"

Liuyun Jiefeng Zhenjun: "Ganyu, you..."

Granny Ping: "Sigh, youth really is wonderful."

【Guizhong kept chasing Su Bai from behind, determined to snatch the Chains of Guizhong from his hands.】

【Also known as the Chains of the Mortal World.】

【Even if she couldn't take it back, she still wanted to try to influence his thoughts, to keep him from opening the Chains of the Mortal World as much as possible.】

【Otherwise, all the secrets of the Guizhong Collective would be leaked.】

【But at this moment, another contradiction had arisen in Guizhong's heart.】

【Leaking the secrets of the Guizhong Collective would be irresponsible toward her people.】

【Perhaps Su Bai's earlier joking remark had struck a chord deep within Guizhong.】

【"What, the one who can open it is your fated lord?"】

【As for Guizhong herself, personally speaking—】

【She too hoped that somewhere in this mortal world there would be someone who could unlock her Chains of the Mortal World.】

【If she could spend time with the person who could unlock the Chains of the Mortal World, there would probably be endless things to talk about.】

【"Hey, it's already dark. Let's stop playing, okay? Give me back the Chains of the Mortal World."】

【Guizhong seemed to have tired herself out from the chase.】

【She was already starting to pant heavily.】

【As expected, her abilities were far too inferior compared to the Sword God.】

【Just in terms of stamina, she was already panting, yet he acted as if nothing had happened at all.】

【But then, along with Guizhong's final words—】

【A soft click reached her ears.】

【"Click!"】

【That soft click instantly left Guizhong collapsing in frustration into the sea of flowers.】

【It's over. This guy really did unlock the Chains of the Mortal World.】

【"Click... click click click..."】

【The soft clicking sounds grew more and more rapid.】

【Su Bai too was so stunned by the sight before him that he stopped in his tracks on the spot.】

【As the mechanisms of the Chains of the Mortal World were fully deciphered—】

【The palm-sized cubic object suddenly unfolded outward in every direction.】

【Immediately after, a scroll-like blueprint appeared before Su Bai's eyes.】

【"This is..."】

【Su Bai asked blankly.】

【"Sigh..."】

【Guizhong shook her head in distress and slowly walked up to Su Bai.】

【She, who had originally planned to seize the chance to snatch the scroll, gave up on the idea.】

【Just as Su Bai had said, without trust, nothing can stand.】

【Since the Sword God had already learned the secret of the Chains of the Mortal World—】

【If Guizhong were to forcibly snatch it now, she would thoroughly make an enemy of Su Bai before her.】

【By then, there probably wouldn't even be any room for a graceful retreat.】

【"This is the blueprint of all the Essential Mechanism Arts of our Guizhong Collective."】

【"It also includes the secrets of the Guizhong Collective's bountiful grain production."】

【Grain production?】

【Hearing this, Su Bai turned to look at Guizhong standing beside him in shock.】

【Only then did he recall what Liuyun and the others had said earlier.】

【Legend had it that the grain yield of the Dust God's Guizhong Collective was somewhat more abundant than that of an ordinary God's territory.】

【Presumably because the Dust God possessed part of the Earth authority.】

【Of course, speaking of authority, under the same climate, the Earth God's authority would have an even greater impact on grain yield.】

【Unfortunately, as of now, no one knew where this so-called Earth God was.】

【At the very least, they hadn't appeared in this land where Liyue stood.】

【It was also possible that they simply hadn't been born.】

【"You really are quite the treasure."】

【In his excitement, Su Bai directly pulled Guizhong, who was beside him, into his arms.】

【The sudden move instantly made Guizhong panic like a startled fawn, at a loss for what to do.】

【Moreover, Su Bai's strength far exceeded Guizhong's, leaving her without even the will to struggle.】

【Flushed and heart pounding, Guizhong stood rooted to the spot, staring at Su Bai in bewildered astonishment.】

【Looking at Guizhong's stunned expression—】

【Su Bai awkwardly let go of her, scratched his head, and said: "Sorry, got a bit too excited just now."】

【"Oh, i-it's... it's nothing..."】

【The two, who had just been chasing and playing around moments ago, fell silent at the same time.】

【After a long while, neither of them kept up the pretense any longer.】

【Guizhong was the first to break the deadlock with frankness, asking: "Sword God Su Bai, do you truly believe your choice is the correct one?"】

【"Under such a brutal war among the Gods, the people could never endure a one-on-one contest between a single God and another."】

【"Yet your actions gather the Gods together, aiming to launch a challenge for the position of God-Emperor."】

【"Since you have taken the initiative to issue a challenge for the throne, I think the other Gods will not let you have your way."】

【"They will only rush to emulate your actions, and the course of the God-War will shift from a war among the Gods of the seven continents into a war between seven major God organizations."】

【"How could ordinary people possibly withstand such a calamity?"】

【"Moreover, the power generated by the lingering regrets of the Gods after their deaths will also bring tremendous persecution to the people."】

【"Do you truly believe such actions are correct?"】

【Guizhong withdrew her earlier mischievousness.】

【At this moment, she was exceptionally calm, her expression extraordinarily serious.】

【Su Bai paused, lifted his head, and looked toward the moonlight in the sky.】

【He breathed in the faint fragrance carried by the breeze across this sea of flowers.】

【He smiled and said: "The God-War..."】

【"The reason the Rulers of the Mortal World are called the Seven Rulers of the Mortal World,"】

【"is that no other Gods possessing power are permitted to exist."】

【"If only the Seven Rulers are chosen, then regardless of whether the Gods fight one-on-one or otherwise, in the end only seven Gods who possess power will remain."】

【Su Bai bent down and lay amidst the sea of flowers.】

【Seeing this, Guizhong smoothed her skirt and sat down beside him.】

【Only then did she realize that Su Bai's eyes were so clear, as if not a trace of desire could be seen within them.】

【"When the time comes, whether it is you, or me, or Zhong Li..."】

【"Among us, a final ruler of this continent must be decided, one who will accept the identity of Ruler bestowed from above."】

【"I may not be able to control the others, but I could never harm my brother, the Geo God Morax."】

Zhong Li, who had once again run off to drink tea at Nowhere to Port Three Bowls, paused.

The teacup in his hand hovered in mid-air.

Just as Su Bai had said.

Why is the God-War said to be brutal?

First, it is because the scope and destructive power of the battles between the Gods are extremely vast.

Another point is the screening issue of the Seven Rulers of the Mortal World that Su Bai had just mentioned.

The reason Sky Island bestows seven Rulers is that it means the entirety of Teyvat cannot permit the existence of any other Godly power.

Even if the other party does not die in the God-War, they must still be dealt with and controlled.