Chapter 209: The Past Recounted by the Great Merciful Tree King

The Great Merciful Tree King's return was not announced publicly.

The people living in Hope City simply thought that day's omen was the Dendro Archon displaying her divine power.

After all, in name only.

This city could only be born in the desert thanks to the Dendro Archon's divine works.

This is the first time since the Red King's Ju'er City was destroyed that a true city has appeared again in the desert.

Thus even those Red King radicals merely secretly resent and stir up minor trouble, while openly they still obediently follow the various arrangements issued directly by the Academy.

The divine throne in the sky is something they cannot see.

But they know.

Now Sumeru still has only one god, so anything unusual that appears must be the work of that Forest Dendro Archon.

"You really aren't preparing to announce your return?"

In the Palace of Pure Goodness, Nadixa asked the Great Merciful Tree King a question.

Nadixa was quite clear.

The Sumeru people still love the Great Merciful Tree King; their longing and reverence for her were crystal clear even when she was imprisoned back then.

Since the Great Merciful Tree King has already returned to Sumeru,

Nadixa felt that perhaps she should let those believers who still miss her know the news of her return.

Regarding this question,

the Great Merciful Tree King's answer was negative.

"No."

"You know, my return to Sumeru isn't exactly good news for you." The Great Merciful Tree King shook her head and said: "Sumeru now only needs one Dendro Archon."

"Then are you just going to stay like this in the Palace of Pure Goodness?"

Nadixa understood the meaning behind the Great Merciful Tree King's words, made a suggestion, and then did not insist further.

Present-day Sumeru is not like the era when the three gods ruled together; back then the Sumeru people sincerely accepted the rule of the three gods, whether in desert or rainforest, their attitude toward the three gods was uniformly reverent.

But after experiencing the turmoil brought by the fragmentation of the three-god rule and the calamity of darkness,

the faith of the Sumeru people became completely divided and independent, and they came to regard each other as enemies.

Under such circumstances,

the Great Merciful Tree King's return could possibly reignite the rainforest people's pride and complacency and the desert folk's hostility toward her, ultimately reigniting the conflict between the two sides that had only just been stabilized.

"Not exactly."

The Great Merciful Tree King still had that carefree air, tugging at her skirt, barefoot she spun once on the ground and said: "How about it? Nobody should be able to recognize me in this guise, right?"

Different from what is recorded in the histories.

After her rebirth, the Great Merciful Tree King did not wear that iconic green dress; instead she changed into a set of brighter short clothes, which she said was the Flower God's favorite style, and after spinning around, her emerald green hair suddenly turned rose-red.

If Luo De were here.

One could tell at a glance.

The Great Merciful Tree King's current attire resembles Nilou's outfit when she dances the Flower God's dance.

It's visible.

She is very satisfied with this outfit.

"How about I dance the Flower God's dance for you at the next Flower God's birthday?"

The Great Merciful Tree King counted on her fingers, then her face lit up with delight as she said: "Oh, that would definitely be fun, you agree, right?"

"."

Two days have passed, and Nadixa still hasn't gotten used to this carefree Great Merciful Tree King, so she couldn't help but ask again: "You really aren't Nabu Marikat?"

Upon hearing this,

the Great Merciful Tree King, still admiring herself in the mirror, quickly walked over, crouched before Nadixa, and with their heads touching said: "You really can't recognize me?"

This sense of familiarity stemming from the soul is the same as it was in that consciousness space back then.

This is evidence that the two of them are the same person.

Nadixa's mouth twitched twice, then she bit her lip and said: "I just feel you're not quite the same."

"Oh—"

"This really can't be helped."

The Great Merciful Tree King also grew troubled: "This instinct can be resisted, so rather than fighting it and making yourself uncomfortable, you might as well go along with it."

Having said that,

She waved her hand and said: "Let's not talk about my affairs for now—has your letter of introduction been written?"

"It's done."

The letter of introduction the Great Merciful Tree King spoke of is one Luo De requested from Nadixa, which can be used directly in an official capacity to borrow the Gnosis from the Geo Archon Morax.

"Of course."

"The Gnosis isn't lent for free."

Nadixa's condition is that she can send scholars from the Academy to help resolve the black sludge in the Chasm.

The Chasm is Liyue's second-oldest mining area, and at the same time it is Liyue's largest mining base, producing many ores of high price and extreme value.

The black sludge is the final materialization of the Abyssal power under the might of the Heaven-piercing Nail.

This matter Nadixa specified in the letter.

It refers to the strange incident that occurred several years ago in the underground mining area of the Chasm; according to Liyue's official account, the miners dug out a strange stone deep in the tunnels, and thereafter anyone who came into contact with it suffered varying degrees of mental trauma. Since no solution could ever be found, the Liyue the Liyue the Liyue Qixing ordered a complete halt to all mining in the Chasm, had all the miners withdraw, and used five Geo Seals to form a great formation that completely sealed off the Chasm.

Because the Chasm is an important source of income for Liyue, many people rely on it for their livelihood.

Thus the suspension of mineral production in the Chasm dealt a huge blow to Liyue's society and economy, leaving many miners without work or livelihood.

The time has come to today.

The Shenlu Department, which oversees the mining and trade of glazed ware and ceramics—one of Liyue's Eight Ministries—is still negotiating with the Tianquan Star, the head of the Seven Stars, striving to get the Layered Rock Giant Abyss back to work as soon as possible.

Strange occurrences in the Layered Rock Giant Abyss are nothing new.

After realizing that official forces alone could not resolve this matter, the Liyue authorities issued a commission, inviting adventurers and researchers from other countries to come help investigate the black sludge incident.

The Academy had also previously received an invitation from Liyue.

However, after sending people there at that time, the Academy deemed the situation beneath the Layered Rock Giant Abyss overly complex and difficult to resolve in a short time.

Rather than wasting time and effort, it would be better to assign this commission to scholars of various academies as a research topic.

Thus, until now.

The Academy has not officially sent anyone to help.

Nadixa's trade condition is, for Liyue, exceedingly precious—enough to be exchanged on equal terms for the temporary use of the Gnosis.

"That Grass Dragon is still a hassle."

Nadixa knows Luo De's reason for heading to Liyue all too well.

The problem now before them.

Namely, Apep, who clearly harbors special intentions toward Luo De.

Actually.

Being a Descender does not guarantee victory over the Heavenly Principles.

The example before us.

Namely, the third and fourth Descenders were both crushed by the Heavenly Principles—one was torn to shreds, the other could be easily handled by even a fragment of the Heavenly Principles.

But there is still one point.

That is, non‑Descenders will surely fail to overcome the Heavenly Principles.

Apep was the one who discovered this.

Hence, his attitude toward Luo De is exceptionally distinct.

Moreover, Luo De inherited the Flower God's abilities, granting him extraordinary resistance and conversion against Abyssal power.

Put more aptly.

Luo De is essentially a walking humanoid Frostsky Nail.

Regarding the strength of Abyssal power.

Apep will never forget it, even in his dreams.

After enduring the Scarlet King's scheming, she, who once spared no effort in seeking Abyssal power, realized she could not withstand the erosion and pain wrought by Abyssal power.

So when she discovered that Luo De, who possesses extraordinary resistance to Abyssal power and is a Descender bound by the Sky Island,

Her thoughts are easy to imagine.

Nadixa is very worried.

Will Apep, upon learning that Luo De is heading to Liyue, follow him all the way and then forcibly continue to undo his shackles?

"Don't worry."

The Great Merciful Tree King finally stopped smiling, his face stern as he said: "I will do my utmost to keep her here."

"Just you alone?"

Nadixa asked.

At the same time, worry spread across her face.

There was worry for Luo De, as well as worry for the Great Merciful Tree King.

Apep is not someone easy to deal with; he is a powerhouse whose strength far exceeds the current limits of Xu Mi Cheng. Trying to stop him and make him abandon his intentions is no easy feat that can be done just by saying so.

However, the Great Merciful Tree King's answer remained the same as before.

"Hmm, I alone am enough."

He said.

She stood up, her gaze firmly fixed on a certain place in the city: "You just return to Xu Mi Cheng these two days; I'll stay here alone. No matter what, I can consider myself her daughter; she wouldn't do anything excessive to me, but you."

The Great Merciful Tree King didn't continue speaking, merely shaking his head.

Apep is a very contradictory person.

Although she often says she doesn't care about her subjects, she actually deeply cares for the beings formed from her elemental power.

Including the Great Merciful Tree King, it's the same.

On the surface.

The Great Merciful Tree King was revived by borrowing the Flower God's divine light and his own residual consciousness.

Actually.

The primary force constructing the Great Merciful Tree King's body still comes from Apep; in this regard, she differs little from Apep's subjects, and is even closer.

After all.

She has indeed called the Great Merciful Tree King her daughter.

Relying on this identity as a shield, the Great Merciful Tree King is still confident in keeping her.

Furthermore.

After spending this time with Apep, the Great Merciful Tree King also discovered some interesting things.

"She actually doesn't really dislike humans."

Using the sensing between elemental powers, the Great Merciful Tree King precisely locked onto Apep's location.

"She doesn't dislike humans?"

Nadixa was somewhat surprised.

Before, in Apep's traveling palace, her contempt for humans and gods was about to burst out.

Otherwise?

You think she went to help build the city just because she was bored?

Great Merciful Tree King recalled the past: "When Amon was still around, she had already been forced to live with humans for a period of time; back then, she—"

Pfft—

Great Merciful Tree King couldn't help laughing: "Even though she was clearly thousands of years old back then, she still acted like a child, even needing someone to teach her how to eat."

That's because she had never interacted with humans, right?

Nadixa explained on Apep's behalf.

Yeah.

It's precisely because she never interacted with humans that she knows nothing and can do nothing.

You don't know.

At first, she always kept an arrogant attitude, looking down on humans, and even toward Amon she was indifferent.

Back then, Amon's followers certainly didn't hesitate to criticize her.

The historical records probably all just scolded her, right?

Great Merciful Tree King said this with eyebrows flying and color dancing, full of a teasing expression.

Hmm.

Nadixa nodded: "The historical records basically have nothing good to say about her; as for the truth, I don't have enough clearance on the World Tree to look up events that far back."

Oh, normal.

You've been imprisoned too long; you still need time to regain control of the World Tree.

Regarding Nadixa's discouragement, Great Merciful Tree King offered two words of comfort, then continued: "You know Amon's people—their faith is of the more fervent kind, so naturally they dislike Apep's actions."

So then?

Apep just likes children even more.

Does Apep like children?

This is yet another historical tidbit that Nadixa didn't know.

You can't tell, can you?

Actually, back then Apep didn't have such great hostility toward humans.

However, because of her identity as the Dendro Dragon, she had to restrain herself, acting all day as if she disliked humans and Amon just as much; only those children, who didn't understand all sorts of complicated things, treated her with the same respect as other sages.

Great Merciful Tree King shrugged: "Unfortunately, none of this will appear in the historical records; those historians will only record Ahe Apep's disrespectful conduct toward the Red King in full, leaving her a stain among the Seven Sages."

Normal procedure.

Nadixa is no longer surprised by the severe mismatch between Apep's character and the historical records.

I understand.

Then this is left to you.

Nadixa no longer hesitated, entrusting both the affairs of Hope City and holding back Apep entirely to Great Merciful Tree King.

Her expression was resolute, yet with a hint of reluctance.

In Sumeru.

She only trusts two people in total.

One is Luo De, the other is Great Merciful Tree King.

And now.

She must part from these two people she trusts most again, and see them off to do something extremely risky for herself; to say she has no reluctance would be impossible.

Oh dear~~

Look over there.

Just as Nadixa was still feeling somewhat sentimental, Great Merciful Tree King's cheerful laughter pulled her thoughts back.

Following the direction of Great Merciful Tree King's finger.

Nadixa looked over.

The location is the branch of the Academy.

There are many people.

There are scholars from the Academy, people involved in the city-building work from the desert, mercenaries on duty, and a delegation from Mondstadt and a lady from Snezhnaya.

With nowhere to stand, some people climbed onto the roof and up the trees to watch what was happening at the Academy.

That is Azar.

Former Great Sage of the Academy.

What he is doing now is openly standing before the Academy's gates, in front of countless people, openly admitting his blasphemous conduct, destroying the harmony of desert and rainforest, and declaring that he has no face to receive the Dendro Archon's forgiveness, nor to live on bearing the guilt of blasphemy; he is willing to repay his past sins with his own life.

Having said that,

He turned to face the Pure Virtue Palace and loudly said: "O Dendro Archon, may your wisdom protect Sumeru for thousands of generations."

His words were righteous and solemn, and the process of confessing guilt was swift and decisive.

The only thing noticeable was his unwillingness visible in his brows and eyes, and his insincere, pretentious behavior.

Immediately after,

Then a clear voice rang down from the heavens: "Since you are willing to confess your guilt, guards, send our Great Sage on his way, let him depart with dignity; thereafter, anyone who commits blasphemy like him will meet the same fate."

(End of chapter)