Chapter 30: Mr. Zhongli, who would you say is stronger, the Geo Archon or the Guardian Star Deity?

"This isn't a loss of strength, but I'm not clear on exactly what it is… Their world contains so many incomprehensible forces that it has long outgrown the realm of 'techniques' in martial arts."

Guo Haihuang cleared his throat and, with evident appreciation, nodded at Jiepad: "Nevertheless, this person's strength should be considerable; when they saw Dan Heng and the others, they didn't even blink an eye."

"One whose chest rumbles like thunder yet whose face is as calm as a lake may be appointed as a senior general. Lie, you still need to keep learning from them."

"Yes!"

"Officer Jiepad, they're in league with that blue‑haired main culprit!" several soldiers who had just fought Xing said.

"Who's in league with him? Let me state up front I'm not being evasive! We truly aren't allied with that villain. Did you see any hesitation when he abandoned us?"

San Yueqi planted her hands on her hips, growing angrier as she thought: "We kindly rescued him from the snow, only to find he's using us against you. You mustn't be swayed by his provocation—"

"As citizens of Beiloboge, you have the right to a defense, but not now," Jiepad turned and signaled the nearby guard, "Take them back first."

"But we're not citizens of Beiloboge!" San Yueqi said anxiously.

"What did you say?"

Jiepad finally turned his head to examine the three's attire. The dark‑haired, cold‑noodle‑eating youth remained silent, while the gray‑haired and pink‑haired girl's clothing was indeed vastly different from Beiloboge's norm. The key point was that in this icy climate they dared to dress so… light, which is completely unlike the habits of Beiloboge's people.

If ordinary people dressed like that, they'd freeze to death out here in the desolate wilderness.

"San Yueqi, quickly show her the photo!" Xing hurriedly reminded.

"Ah, Xing, you're so clever! That's a great idea!" San Yueqi quickly took the camera off her waist and walked toward Jiepad, "You haven't seen what your own planet looks like, have you? Let me show you the Yalilo‑VI I photographed…"

After viewing the photo, several soldiers beside Jiepad were incredulous.

"You're saying this white sphere is… here? Our dwelling place? That's just…"

"It is said that long ago, strange visitors from beyond the heavens often came here… but after the Cold Snap, no one has crossed the snow veil to reach this place again."

After a brief contemplation, Jiepad concluded that if the outsiders' statements were true, the matter fell outside their jurisdiction and belonged to the Great Guardian's responsibilities.

"You must come with me to meet the Great Guardian," Jiepad's voice softened considerably, "Outsiders, follow me. Beiloboge lies beyond this snow veil."

The group followed Jiepad's steps through the snow veil; after passing several defense zones, they finally arrived at Beiloboge's city district.

It is a city wrapped in heating. On the streets, the blend of white steam and metal creates a unique visual experience. The deep‑blue sky is sliced by towering smokestacks that intermittently spew gray‑white steam clouds. On the stone‑paved roads, copper heaters and vent openings set into the walls are everywhere, occasionally emitting a dull gear‑click.

Xing and the others, led by Jiepad, passed through the commercial district; shop windows displayed a dazzling array of mechanical toys and steam‑powered devices, drawing the curious gazes of children.

The city's style resembles Piiertewofu.

Jie Si walked to the laboratory window, placed both hands on the windowsill and looked down from above at Piiertewofu, from the districts to the Progress Plaza, then to the city's highest‑elevation Parliament Hall… Upon careful comparison, although the overall aesthetic differs greatly, the technological applications are strikingly similar.

Beiloboge's ground still bears partially melted snow; although the city area doesn't look that cold, it's certainly not as warm as Liyue's pleasant climate.

"It seems the scientific level of other worlds is also uneven."

Weike Tuo gazed at the city reflected in the sky, slightly lost in thought, "Lady Black Tower's research can reverse aging, yet this city's technology is comparable to ours. If we could develop more advanced Hextech, we should be able to completely surpass Beiloboge."

"We can't be so certain; perhaps this city also possesses its own 'Hextech Crystal'?"

Weike Tuo recalled Jiepad's earlier mention of the Guardian Star Deity, wondering if the Star Deity's power also manifests in this city.

"This is Beiloboge, humanity's last bastion."

"Last bastion?" San Yueqi showed a puzzled expression.

"…" Jiepad inhaled deeply and, in a stiff tone reminiscent of a primary‑school student reciting aloud, said, "Seven hundred years ago, monsters from beyond the heavens (the Antimatter Legion) ignited the planet. The earth became scorched, filled with burning lava and boiling black smoke."

"At the brink of life and death, the Cold Snap suddenly struck—unforeseen gale swept in, the invading legion was hidden by blizzard, and only Beiloboge remained—"

The steadfast City Builders erected this city, and under the Guardian Star Deity's protection, Beiloboge, though battered by wind and snow, remains eternally warm.

At storyteller Tian Tiezui's side, a few tea‑drinking onlookers listened to Jiepad's narration while chatting endlessly.

"The Star Deity can actually protect an entire city? My goodness, that means he's as mighty as our Geo Archon in Liyue!"

"Hey—brother, that's off the mark. The Guardian Star Deity can indeed safeguard a city, but it doesn't claim to subdue all sea‑borne demons or eradicate worldly evils. Without our Geo Archon's prowess, you might have left Liyue Harbor only to be devoured by a rogue demon."

"That brother's point is valid, and have you forgotten?" a merchant‑looking man recalled, "Two years ago, during the Liyue the Liyue the Liyue the Liyue the Liyue the Liyue the Liyue Qixing's celestial ceremony, the Geo Archon personally bestowed a divine decree, guiding Liyue's governance for the year. Liyue's current prosperity owes much to the Geo Archon's counsel!"

"Indeed, the Guardian Star Deity sounds impressive, but our Geo Archon is more personable."

"But the Guardian Star Deity can protect multiple planets! Those worlds might even be larger than Teyvat!"

"Why are you twisting your elbow outward? No matter how mighty the Star Deity, in Liyue, on the Geo Archon's turf, even a dragon must coil, even a tiger must lie down… Whether it's Guardian or not, during the Archon War, perhaps the Geo Archon could have subjugated it."

"Damn… you're cheating!"

The few who had been chattering earlier suddenly fell into argument, each unable to persuade the other, and finally they turned their gaze toward the two youths quietly drinking tea not far away.

One wore attire in the Snezhnaya style and appeared under twenty.

The other, surprisingly, was Zhongli, a guest official of the Hall of the Departed! Rumors in Liyue Harbor long held that Mr. Zhongli is erudite and learned, possessing a wealth of knowledge that even many elders cannot grasp, yet this guest could recite such oddities offhand.

The group hurried to Zhongli's side, bowed and asked, "Mr. Zhongli, you are learned and most impartial. Could you judge—who is truly stronger, the Geo Archon or the Guardian Star Deity?"