Chapter 576

At the summit of Mount Tianheng.

It was that old spot again.

Jiang Yan sat on the stone bench, looking at Morax, who had taken a seat opposite him, and said:

"Speak up. How do you plan to retire?"

As he spoke, Jiang Yan snapped his fingers, and two pots of steaming hot tea appeared before the two of them.

"Pretend to die."

Morax lifted the hot tea, took a light sip, and said faintly.

The hand holding Jiang Yan's teacup paused slightly.

Pretend to die?

Jiang Yan looked at Morax with a strange expression.

"You mean you want to fake your death and then test how the people of Liyue respond?"

After hearing what Jiang Yan said, Morax nodded.

"I don't think that will work."

Jiang Yan shook his head and spoke softly.

"Oh? Tell me why."

It seemed Morax knew Jiang Yan would say this; the purpose of coming to see him this time was precisely because of that.

He needed Jiang Yan to offer some constructive advice.

"No, do you really think your fake death can test the people of Liyue?"

Jiang Yan rolled his eyes, looking at Morax.

"Not to mention that I, the Wood Spirit Immortal Lord, am only retiring, not kicking the bucket."

"Ruo Tuo, Markos, the Immortals, the Yakshas, Lady Guizhong, and Heuria are all far from idle."

"If you fake your death and none of us make a move, wouldn't that be too fake?"

"Furthermore, even if we don't interfere."

"Do you think, unless it's a high-level or top-tier Archon, there's anything capable of challenging Liyue's three armies?"

"Not to mention the million-strong Millelith army on land."

"The navy's six major fleets, and the air force's twelve sky-fortresses."

"Don't tell me you plan to let those guys from Snezhnaya come over to die."

"If my four little ones get fired up, they might just lead troops straight into Snezhnaya."

The four little ones Jiang Yan referred to were, of course, Little Ningguang, Little Beidou, Little Shenhe, and Sara.

Hearing Jiang Yan's words, Morax fell silent successfully.

Indeed, what Jiang Yan said was exactly the problem troubling Morax.

He did intend to test the people of Liyue, but given the current situation, unless another Cataclysm like the one five hundred years ago, which swept across the entire continent of Teyvat, were to happen again.

Otherwise, there truly is nothing capable of testing present-day Liyue.

During the thousands of years Jiang Yan governed, he forged Liyue into an impregnable fortress.

Making it truly difficult for him, Morax, to retire.

"Then what should be done?"

Morax sighed lightly, a look of worry on his face.

Really, how is it so hard to retire?

I should have let Jiang Yan be the Geo Archon back then.

Now the one with the headache wouldn't be me.

"Nothing. Right now, you only have two choices."

Jiang Yan played with the teacup in his hand and said faintly.

"The first is to continue being your Geo Archon and stop thinking about this so-called retirement."

"The second is to openly announce your retirement, just as I stepped down five years ago."

"Morax, Teyvat is, after all, still the era of the Seven Sovereigns."

"You can retire just like I did."

"But you absolutely cannot die!"

"Understood?"

Jiang Yan's words struck Morax like a warning bell, instantly waking him up.

Yes, he had been thinking about how to completely hand over political power to humanity, letting humans lead the next era of Liyue.

But he overlooked one point.

Teyvat is an era where divine authority is supreme.

The Seven Sovereigns are indispensable.

You can be absent for a century, just like that slacker in Mondstadt.

But you absolutely cannot die right in front of these people.

Even disappearing would be better than dying in front of the faithful masses!

This is why Jiang Yan simply retired, rather than using a fake death to escape.

"Then I'll just come back and announce the retirement directly?"

After pondering for a long time, Morax spoke to Jiang Yan.

"Yes. If you want to retire, just tell Little Ningguang directly."

"Don't let it get to the point where my eldest disciple comes crying to me, saying her Shibo bullied her or something like that."

Jiang Yan thought of that scene and suddenly wanted to laugh.

Although, given Little Ningguang's personality, she certainly wouldn't do such a thing.

"Sigh, let me think about it, but the date is already set: next year's Rite of Descension."

Morax said this to Jiang Yan.

Jiang Yan also nodded.

In that case, by next year, the Traveler should arrive too, right?

The main storyline is about to begin.

By the way, won't Barbatos have his heart dug out by next year?

Should I go take a look?

When Jiang Yan thought of the mighty Anemo Archon Barbatos, the being who could shave mountains and blow seas, having his heart dug out right at the doorstep of the Mondstadt Cathedral...

... he wanted to laugh!

As the saying goes, if there's fun to be had and you don't watch, you're just a damn fool.

How could Jiang Yan miss such a famous scene?

"Alright, since there's nothing else, I'm heading back."

Jiang Yan stood up, preparing to leave.

"Hmm, won't you stay a bit longer?"

Morax asked.

"No, I can't. That little girl Xinyu asked me to cook for her today."

"I need to head back early to prepare."

Hearing Jiang Yan's words, Morax chuckled lightly.

"Then go quickly. I'll stay here a bit longer and think things over."

"Oh, then you continue thinking. I feel the plan I just mentioned is already the best choice."

Upon hearing this, Jiang Yan shrugged, then turned and departed as a streak of flowing light.

Morax quietly watched Jiang Yan's departing figure; Jiang Yan's words also made him weigh the matter of his retirement more carefully.

He needed to plan properly before the next Rite of Descension.

He couldn't really just retire directly, as Jiang Yan suggested, could he?

That won't do!

If he simply stated he wanted to retire like that, Little Ningguang would surely veto it, then assume he had done something unqualified and go find Jiang Yan again.