Chapter 199: A Zha'er's Final Request

Under the nourishment of the Oasis Source, the Great Merciful Tree King's condition has been improving lately.

Luo De has been back in Sumeru Cheng these past few days.

She has already approached the state of blooming.

Of course.

In ordinary people's eyes, she is still just a Patisha orchid ready to bloom at any moment.

The difference from before.

It is that, when she is conscious, ordinary people can hear her voice.

This is what Nadixa told Luo De after she and the Great Merciful Tree King had a divine exchange.

At the same time, she also confirmed it.

Under the nourishment of the Oasis Source, the Great Merciful Tree King should be able to truly recover soon.

Luo De will bring A Zha'er over, also because he received this news.

A Zha'er as a person has no worth while alive.

He is dead.

Or dying publicly, that would be more valuable.

As a god, Nadixa's authority in Sumeru is too low.

Not to mention the desert side's attitude toward her, which is sometimes aloof and sometimes resistant; the rainforest side at most shows her respect as a god; not to mention comparing with how other nations' peoples treat gods; even the usually silent Mondstadt cannot compare.

All this is caused by those few words 'imprisoned by mortals'.

Don't underestimate the impact of this matter.

A god imprisoned by mortals.

Even if placed in the chaotic Archon War period, this would be a shocking event; the only thing Luo De thought of that could compare is the Salt Archon being assassinated by his own followers.

Moreover, speaking of the present peaceful era, the Seven Divine Sages' divine might is at its height on the Teyvat continent.

The impact of this matter.

It is just after the brief excitement of the gods' return.

The Sumeru people's attitude toward Nadixa has clearly cooled considerably.

Not having a god of one's own is not a good thing.

Having a god that is too weak is also not a good thing.

"A god ought to be omnipotent."

This is the common idea among Teyvat's peoples.

The Sumeru people naturally think the same way.

But it is regrettable.

Nadixa, who can be imprisoned by mortals, seems to have nothing to do with that saying at all.

Apart from the problem of insufficient reverence for Nadixa within Sumeru.

Weak divine authority also shows up in diplomacy.

A very straightforward example.

The Lady clearly came to take the Gnosis, yet she dares to speak boldly in front of Luo De, who is clearly related to the Dendro Archon, not caring whether her words will reach the Dendro Archon's ears and thus affect diplomatic relations between the two nations.

Such domineering conduct.

This clearly shows that they do not put Nadixa, the god, in their eyes.

"Fan Gu the Great, I despise all."

"Those overly tall, I treat rationally."

This is Luo De's earlier another evaluation of the Lady.

Toward the Mondstadt Wind Archon, I punch and kick; toward the Puppet Electro Archon, I command you; toward the Sumeru Dendro Archon, I want to interfere in your nation's internal affairs.

Toward the Geo Archon, who bears the title of War God, even if her attitude is not sufficiently respectful, she can still maintain rationality and dare not overstep in speech.

This is the difference between weak divine authority and overbearing divine authority.

Therefore, A Zha'er this rebel must become the stepping stone for Nadixa to rebuild divine authority.

It is precisely because of Nadixa's personality.

She definitely would not be willing to use killing A Zha'er to establish prestige.

That is why Luo De thought of bringing him to see the Great Merciful Tree King, to shatter his ideology at its root.

A Zha'er is a very proud and arrogant person.

Although Luo De hasn't had much contact with him, from that one encounter at the Academy, Luo De could see part of his personality.

It is also precisely through that negotiation.

Luo De clearly saw his weakness.

That is, once the thing A Zha'er prides himself on is punctured, he will plunge into utter hysterical madness.

For example, when Luo De said in Sumeru Cheng that he would bring him to see the Great Merciful Tree King.

The Academy's layout of the past five hundred years was completely negated by that sentence.

Realizing that he and his predecessors were not only doing useless work but also committing the grave sin of blasphemy against the gods, he immediately went insane.

Until now, when Luo De said he would bring him to see the Great Merciful Tree King, his eyes regained clarity, no longer showing the appearance of a mentally ill person's episode.

However, regarding the upcoming meeting with the Great Merciful Tree King, A Zha'er was not as resistant as Luo De imagined.

This was somewhat beyond Luo De's expectation.

Originally he thought A Zha'er would at least struggle a bit.

As it turned out, this old fellow, though his mind had already cleared, still showed not a hint of resistance; fortunately, there were no idlers near the Pure Virtue Palace, otherwise seeing Luo De so roughly treat the former Great Sage would surely attract many strange looks.

The distance between the flower garden and the Pure Good Palace is not far.

It didn't take much time.

Luo De and Azhaer then came before the Great Merciful Tree King.

"Where is the Great Merciful Tree King?"

Azhaer couldn't see the Great Merciful Tree King inside the flower bud; to him, it seemed as if Luo De had brought him into a small garden, and the only thing somewhat special was that purple Patisharan.

"Yo? Willing to speak now?"

Luo De raised an eyebrow, looking at Azhaer with his hands behind his back, whose previous listless, dispirited appearance had changed.

This old fellow had still been a death-or-life kind of figure before.

As a result, upon arriving at the Great Merciful Tree King's place, he returned to the calm, composed demeanor he had as a Great Sage.

"Isn't it just that you want my life to restore the prestige of the Little Auspicious Grass King?"

Azhaer smiled calmly: "What if I give it to you?"

"Huh?"

"I haven't said anything yet?"

That answer was something Luo De hadn't expected.

Azhaer is, after all, a Great Sage of the Academy, not some foolish fool with empty ambition; it's not surprising that one can see his thoughts, but it's unexpected that he would voluntarily say he's willing to accept death in exchange for Nadixa's divine authority.

This made Luo De unconsciously cross his arms and stare at him: "What conditions do you have? Speak up."

"Great Merciful Tree King."

Azhaer only uttered these four characters.

This only made Luo De more confused, unable to figure out what Azhaer actually wanted to say.

"I said I would bring you to see the Great Merciful Tree King."

"Do you not believe me?"

Luo De stroked his chin and said.

"No."

"I believe you."

"But I just don't want to see the Great Merciful Tree King."

After he said that, Luo De understood.

Azhaer doesn't disbelieve that the Great Merciful Tree King is still alive; he simply doesn't want to see him.

"You only say that now that we've come all this way."

Luo De glanced at the Great Merciful Tree King.

The flower bud was nearly fully open, and the Great Merciful Tree King's figure was clearly visible.

Luo De could see clearly that she was now sitting cross-legged on the flower's stamen, smiling as she watched his and Azhaer's interaction.

"I"

Azhaer couldn't see the Great Merciful Tree King, and could only say somewhat dejectedly: "I have no face to see her."

"It's not easy for those words to come out of your mouth."

Hearing that, Luo De didn't mock Azhaer, glanced again at the Great Merciful Tree King's position, then nodded and said: "Fine, since you don't want to see her, let it be—but you should know what to say when you're needed."

"Heh——"

Azhaer let out a relieved sigh: "Naturally."

(End of chapter)