Chapter 7: Beneath Tianheng Mountain

The scales of victory gradually tipped toward Morax's side with Jiang Yan's intervention.

Soon, accompanied by two wails of misery, the two Archons fled in panic, slinking away from the place in disgrace.

"We won!!"

The xian folk gazed at the fleeing Archons and their subjects, erupting into victorious cheers.

But Morax, standing tall in the sky, still gripped the Rainbow-Through Spear in his hand, watching the wooden dragon ahead with wary eyes.

The Archons had already been driven off, but the one before him—was he friend or foe?

At this moment, Jiang Yan's condition was not much better either, a trace of pallor on his face.

If not for the Wood Release's innate feedback property, he really might not have been able to endure manipulating the wooden dragon in prolonged combat against the Archons.

Seemingly sensing Morax's gaze, Jiang Yan turned his head to look at him.

Jiang Yan had no intention of making an enemy of Morax.

The Morax of this time was not Zhong Li of several thousand years later; his temper had not yet been worn down.

"This... Mr.! I don't think we are enemies."

Jiang Yan spoke with a smile, his delicate, soft-looking little face revealing a harmless grin.

Forming a new contrast with the ferocious wooden dragon beneath him.

"That is only natural... this... young friend, if you have nothing to do, feel free to come sit with me."

Morax's tone was amicable—at least for now, it seemed the youth before him had no intention of opposing him.

When enemies come, there are rock spears; when friends come, they should be entertained properly.

"Mm... I'm actually quite free."

Jiang Yan rubbed his chin and let out a sheepish grin at Morax.

"Then I won't stand on ceremony."

Morax smiled and nodded, descending together with Jiang Yan.

"Lord Emperor!"

Moon Carver, Cloud Retainer, Mountain Shaper, and Skyward—four true adepti of the xian beasts—saw Morax descend and gathered around him joyfully.

"We won!"

Morax smiled and nodded, then looked back at Jiang Yan, who had recalled his wooden dragon and landed, and said, "I was in a rush earlier and forgot to ask—may I have the young friend's name?"

"Ah... I'm Jiang Yan."

Jiang Yan said with a smile, gazing at the familiar adepti before him, a hint of nostalgia unconsciously surfacing on his face.

At last, he had encountered characters he knew once more.

That other deer immortal with the great horns—should be Skyward, right?

"This one is..."

Mountain Shaper looked at Jiang Yan and asked the Emperor.

The gazes of the other three adepti also carried wariness.

"This one is no enemy; in this war, he also lent us his aid."

Morax spoke as he looked at the adepti, then said, "Let's go, we'll head back."

Beneath Tianheng Mountain, a rather sizable tribe appeared before Jiang Yan.

"The Emperor has returned!"

"Emperor! Emperor!!"

Seeing their Geo God return, the people of the tribe cheered—their Geo God had once again sheltered their safety!

Morax led everyone to the summit of Tianheng Mountain, where a stone table was set out, and they drank tea and chatted together.

Looking at the scenery around him, Jiang Yan suddenly understood.

At this time, Liyue had not yet been founded, Zhong Li had not yet met Lady Guizhong, and the Morax of now was still merely a god worshipped by a gathered tribe.

"Young friend Jiang, what are you thinking about?"

Morax noticed Jiang Yan surveying his surroundings and asked.

The adepti also paused their conversation and looked at Jiang Yan.

Although Jiang Yan looked very young, given his earlier feat of the wooden dragon overwhelming the Archons, the adepti did not dare underestimate him.

"Though Tianheng Mountain is vast, the arable land is pitifully scarce. At this rate, the survival of your people will itself be a problem."

Jiang Yan said softly; with his modern mindset, he still possessed a great deal of theoretical knowledge.

"Oh?"

Hearing Jiang Yan's words, the adepti were immediately intrigued.

Cloud Retainer especially.

Being meticulous by nature, she served in Morax's group as the chief steward of internal affairs and strategist.

The issue of farming had always been a major problem here.

She had no idea how many believers had already come to her with their grievances.

She too found it rather headache-inducing.

The farmland available for cultivation was simply too scarce—a fatal blow to a rising new faction.

If they couldn't even fill their bellies, how could they talk of contending with other Archons?

Even Morax's eyes held a trace of surprise.

"According to the young friend's words, how shall this be resolved?"

"Expand!"

Jiang Yan took a light sip of strong tea, then gently spat out the tea-leaf bits in his mouth.

Upon hearing Jiang Yan's words, the immortals immediately wore expressions of disappointment.