Chapter 239: The Historic Meeting Between the Geo Archon and the Dendro Dragon King

If such a threat against Apep were spoken from someone else's mouth.

Even if the one standing before Apep were a god.

She would definitely crush that person to death.

But when Luo De said those words, it successfully made Apep laugh.

Hahaha—

Interesting, interesting.

You're someone who tells jokes, far better than any other human I've met.

Apep laughed until he doubled over, as if Luo De had just said some huge joke.

Such commotion also drew the attention of Yelan and Xiao.

Originally, they were immersed in the letters left by their ancestors and elder brothers.

As a result, upon suddenly hearing such a mad laugh burst out in this empty, silent cavern, they couldn't help but look over, bewildered.

Then they saw the Gnosis of the Geo Archon held in Luo De's hand.

——!!

Yelan didn't recognize the Gnosis, but Xiao did.

As one who participated in the Archon War and is among the adepts closest to Zhongli, he had not only seen the Gnosis but also knew what it meant to Zhongli.

"How could that be in his hand?"

Xiao's expression kept changing.

At first, when he came to the Layered Rock Abyss with Zhongli's Piercing Rainbow Spear for their appointment, even though he had Zhongli's admonitions, he still only regarded Luo De as a mere mortal valued by Zhongli.

Such a mortal favored by the Geo Archon, Luo De, was not the first.

Xiao, accustomed to this, never gave Luo De special treatment, always believing Zhongli's care for Luo De stemmed from the Dendro Archon, and that as long as he completed Zhongli's assigned tasks, it was fine.

However, after seeing this Gnosis appear, he could not help but adjust his view of Luo De.

What is the Gnosis?

This is Zhongli's symbol as the Geo Archon of Liyue, representing the dignity and authority of the Rex Lapis identity.

Yet such an important thing was given by him to a mortal with no connection to Liyue.

Thus a very serious question inevitably popped into Xiao's mind: "Why would the Geo Archon value a mortal so much?"

Meanwhile.

Luo De naturally didn't know what Xiao was wildly speculating about over there.

To be honest.

He had indeed guessed that Apep would feel no fear of the awakened Heavenly Principle, and what he actually wanted to say next was that he intended to use this Gnosis to trade for Apep's assistance in battle.

That's it.

Luo De never intended to threaten Apep; his plan was simply to give the Gnosis to Apep, toss away this hot potato, and let the Empress of Snezhnaya figure out how to deal with that Dendro Dragon herself.

To exchange the precious Gnosis for a single strike when he himself faced no irresistible danger.

This seems like a loss.

However, Zhongli gave him disposal rights over the Gnosis, and besides, he couldn't use it himself—holding it was troublesome—so trading it for Apep's strike seemed not a loss to Luo De.

But he never expected that, before he could even finish his words, Apep would be amused to this extent.

What's more unexpected is that.

After Apep finally managed to curb his laughter, he readily agreed to help collect the bones, the reason being that Luo De's joke was funny enough to win his favor.

Having said that, she gave Luo De no chance to speak and immediately got to work, without any hesitation.

"."

Watching Apep, who could sweep away a vast pile of bones with a single gesture, Luo De, holding the Gnosis, momentarily didn't know what expression to make.

Perhaps.

Would describing this mood as happiness coming too suddenly be better?

"Is this something the Geo Archon gave you?"

Xiao's doubts arrived as expected.

"Hmm."

Luo De chuckled and said, "Consider it a deal between me and him."

Yelan and Tartaglia also came over.

After hearing Luo De's explanation, Yelan, who didn't recognize the Gnosis, was fine, but Tartaglia, who did recognize it, had a strange look in his eyes.

He and the Lady came to Liyue this time.

Their main purpose was not this scientific expedition or to recruit Luo De.

They were here solely for the Gnosis.

However, when they previously audience with the Geo Archon, the Geo Archon said the Gnosis had already been promised out; if they wanted it, they'd have to find that person.

Moreover, he didn't say who the Gnosis was given to.

After confirming that the person Zhongli mentioned, with whom he had made a contract, was not their own Ice Empress,

the Lady and Tartaglia began screening many people who might possess the Gnosis.

They had speculated about the Anemo Archon who also appeared in Liyue, thought it might have been given to the Liyue the Liyue the Liyue Qixing, suspected it might be one of Liyue's many adepts, but never guessed that the foreigner Luo De, who didn't know why he was there, could be the holder.

"You made a contract with the Geo Archon?"

Tartaglia's personality is straightforward; he asked bluntly.

"Correct me: it's not me; I made the contract on behalf of the Dendro Archon with him."

Again, the Dendro Archon?

Dadalia frowned.

If I remember correctly.

The Anemo Archon's Gnosis before was also taken by Luo De in a deal he made on behalf of the Dendro and Anemo Archons.

Could the Dendro Archon also be collecting Gnoses!?

Thinking this through,

Dadalia's gaze toward Luo De became less friendly.

If the Dendro Archon is also collecting Gnoses, then in other words, she and the Cryo Queen are bound to have an inevitable conflict!

Dadalia could get along with Luo De, willing to regard him as a friend.

Even if Luo De openly showed his distrust of him, he could completely ignore it, calling him friend all day long.

But the premise of all this is that Luo De will not come into a position conflict with him.

But now, once it's confirmed that the Dendro Archon is also collecting Gnoses,

this conflict between the gods,

will inevitably develop into a positional conflict between the two of them.

Simply put.

Friendship is probably out of the question, and they might become enemies in not much time.

"Let me correct that."

"Nadixa doesn't have a hobby of collecting Gnoses; this thing was actively given to me by the Geo Archon."

Luo De isn't an idiot; he could see Dadalia's emotional shift at a glance, so he briefly explained in two sentences.

"The Geo Archon actively gave it to you?"

Dadalia blinked.

Xiao also blinked.

Only the confused Yelan furrowed her brows.

However she didn't ask anything.

Since it involved matters between the gods, she didn't want to get herself involved.

To avoid suspicion.

She even deliberately went to a place where she couldn't hear their voices, making her attitude clear as day.

"I helped the Geo Archon solve a rather troublesome matter."

"So he gave me this as compensation."

After a moment's thought, Luo De spoke the truth, adding: "According to the contract, I can now freely dispose of this; do you understand?"

Saying that.

Luo De winked at Dadalia.

Such a frank statement left Dadalia feeling a bit lost.

Luo De didn't speak in riddles.

What he said, Dadalia indeed understood what it meant.

But

Can a mortal really freely dispose of a god's Gnosis?

Just as Dadalia hesitated about how to answer, Luo De also said to Xiao, who seemed to have something to say: "This is the contract I made with the Sovereign; you shouldn't think I have the gall to joke about a contract personally drafted by the God of Contracts."

Just that one sentence.

Even Xiao, who still had some doubts, was left speechless.

Since it's a contract personally drafted by the Sovereign, no matter how absurd Luo De's words and actions are now, he can't raise any objections.

The three fell silent for a while.

After Dadalia pondered for a long while, she finally came to, her expression inscrutable as she said: "Name your price."

Luo De had already made that clear himself.

What's there to be shy about?

Referring to the previous negotiation over those two Gnoses, where the compensation ended up being gratuitous industrial aid, the price for exchanging the Geo Archon's Gnosis this time might also not be much different.

Dadalia usually doesn't bother with these matters.

But now the Gnosis is right before his eyes; even if he didn't want to deal with it, he couldn't just stand by. He must first get a clear stance from Luo De, then after leaving, discuss bargaining with the Lady; if that fails, he may even have to report to Her Majesty the Empress for a decision.

As for whether to use forceful means,

Considering Luo De has behind him the three ministers and an even more terrifying Dendro Dragon King,

That's right.

Dadalia also counted Apep among Luo De's protectors.

Perhaps it's because those in the middle are confused.

Anyway, in Luo De's eyes, Apep is a vicious person he'd want to flee eight hundred li upon seeing; in Dadalia's view, if something happens to Luo De, the Dendro Dragon will definitely be the first to come kill him.

This isn't because he learned any inside information.

It's purely based on intuition.

Dadalia believes his intuition will never fail, so he still decided to first ascertain Luo De's stance, then prepare for subsequent negotiations.

Meanwhile, Luo De also stated his request: "I want to borrow a person from you."

"Who?"

"Doctor."

"Ah? This?"

Dadaliliya was stunned again.

To pay the price of one Gnosis, just to borrow the Doctor?

It's not that it's impossible.

But in Dadaliliya's view, this price seems a bit too light.

"Listen to me finish."

"I also have other demands regarding the Doctor."

"First, I need him to erase all his clones, keeping only the one that will fulfill the contract in Sumeru."

"Second, the Doctor must not conduct any further human experiments or other inhumane experiments in Sumeru."

"Third."

"."

"Twentieth, we assume no responsibility for the Doctor's life or death in Sumeru; any accident stemming from his personal actions will not be Sumeru's liability."

Luo De stated all twenty additional conditions for the Doctor in one breath, then added: "Agree, the deal is made; disagree, I would rather destroy this Gnosis than give it to you."

Luo De's attitude was very firm.

Since this hot potato couldn't be sent away anyway, I might as well sell it off firmly to gain enough benefits for myself.

"."

Faced with Luo De's firmness, Dadaliliya could not immediately give a definite answer to these conditions involving colleagues, no matter what.

Moreover, Luo De had also issued so many restrictive conditions.

Given Dadaliliya's understanding of the Doctor, let alone having such a heap of restrictions, even if there were none, the Doctor would be unlikely to agree to this.

Also.

Unlike Dadaliliya, who became the lowest-ranking executive solely through the Cryo Archon's grace,

The top three executives of the Fatui are not in a subordinate relationship with the Archon; rather, they are more like partners in cooperation.

Therefore, trying to forcibly order the Doctor to comply as a condition for exchanging the Gnosis is basically impossible.

If one were to forcibly seize the Gnosis,

That, however, can be done.

But the same saying applies: doing so would surely offend all four individuals standing at the pinnacle of Teyvat behind Luo De.

Dadaliliya's homework is still done quite well.

He knew that the Dendro Archon of Sumeru's support for Luo De was nearly unconditional, especially since they had recently succeeded in reviving the previous Dendro Archon, meaning that behind Luo De actually stood four gods plus a dragon king.

If one really were to forcibly seize it,

That would truly be idly looking for trouble for the Her Majesty the Queen.

"Can we change the condition?"

After thinking it over, seeing no chance of the Doctor agreeing, the hopeless Dadaliliya said helplessly:

"If not exchanged, then this is the condition."

"Luo De thoughtfully reminded: 'If he is unwilling to come, you tell him that Sumeru is willing to give him all these years of research results; you should know that I can represent the Dendro Archon, and my promises are no different from what Nadixa says, so there's no need to doubt the truth of this.'"

"Really cannot change the condition?"

Dadaliliya naturally knew Luo De could represent the Dendro Archon, but he was still unwilling to give up, and his expression grew even uglier.

He had reason to suspect.

Luo De proposed this nearly impossible condition precisely because he did not intend to let Snezhnaya obtain this Gnosis.

"Cannot be exchanged."

"Go back and discuss; I'll await your reply."

Luo De's attitude was resolute, giving no chance for bargaining.

"Okay, I understand."

No matter how unwilling, Dadaliliya could only grit his teeth and tentatively agree for now.

This unpleasant trade agreement also plunged the originally jovial Dadaliliya into silence.

Looking at his expression, it's unclear whether he's pondering how to get the Doctor to accept Luo De's conditions, or wondering what scheme Luo De has in mind by insisting the Doctor go to Sumeru.

After half a day of listening in, Xiao glanced left and right, finally choosing silence like Dadaliliya, without saying more about the Gnosis.

After all, it was a promise spoken aloud by Zhongli.

The so-called 'The Sovereign doing this must have his deep intentions.'

In Xiao's eyes,

Zhongli is always right, no matter what he does, beyond doubt.

Therefore, how Luo De chooses to handle this Gnosis is entirely his own affair; Xiao cannot interfere.

At this moment, what are Xiao and Dadaliliya thinking?

Luo De neither knows nor wants to know.

His sole focus now is having ventured alone into the dark Apep.

Waiting for her to emerge again from the darkness.

Luo De immediately stepped forward briskly, beginning his genuine soft-persuasion tactics.

The content is very simple.

It is to first explain clearly that through archaeological literature and geological survey, he determined this space is a world rift in Teyvat, and at the same time honestly admitted that with their meager strength as juniors, it is difficult to leave this secret realm that does not follow Teyvat's rules smoothly; moreover, he also slightly praised Apep, and earnestly apologized for his earlier arrogant remark 'Whether there is Apep or not, it's fine'.

It can be seen.

Regarding Luo De's flattery and the 'sincere' apology, Apep was quite receptive.

"Hmph—"

Self-conceited human brat.

You really think I don't know what you're thinking?

It's nothing but you deliberately provoking me, then when you really can't do it, you apologize and admit fault, making me lose face, forcing me to bring you all out of here.

Apep confidently voiced Luo De's 'plan'.

Luo De also responded with 'Ah yes yes yes, everything you say is right'.

As one of the first Dragon Kings of Teyvat, the Grass Dragon King.

After Luo De apologized and softened up, Apep, who considered themselves magnanimous, generously forgave Luo De's arrogant ignorant remarks, and proactively said: 'Follow me from now on, I'll take you out'.

That's exactly what I wanted.

Luo De happily called over Xiao and the other two, confirmed they were ready, then, as a role model, led the three to salute Apep.

O Grass Dragon Lord, thank you for the trouble.

Whether genuine or pretended, at least their outward appearance was properly done.

Hypocritical human etiquette.

Although Apep clearly enjoyed it, after saying those words insincerely, Apep lifted the right hand and lightly traced a slash.

As her finger swept across the dark cavern, a crackling explosion violently burst forth.

Earlier, Dadalia expended great energy, yet only after finding the spatial junction point could she open the spatial gate.

Now in Apep's hand, without needing to find the junction point, she easily sliced open a more stable and secure door within the firm space.

Such a difference, like that between a firefly and the bright moon, made Dadalia's eyelids twitch involuntarily.

Alright, with me here, you can all go out safely.

Apep casually waved her hand, indicating Luo De and the others could leave.

Opportunity is rare.

Luo De and the others didn't hesitate; following the prior arrangement, they rushed toward the gate at top speed.

Since they were unsure of the environment outside the spatial gate, Ye Lan took the lead, the frail Dadalia followed closely behind, while Xiao and Luo De brought up the rear, walking side by side at the back.

As for Apep,

She can leave anytime; no need to worry about her.

Just when Ye Lan and Dadalia had already left.

Xiao, who had already half-stepped into the spatial gate, suddenly paused, turning his head to look toward the dark part of the cavern.

Immediately.

A dark phantom slowly emerged from the darkness.

In appearance.

This phantom is no different from the phantom that previously chased several people on the first layer of the illusion.

However, not only Xiao, but Luo De also felt an inexplicable sense of familiarity toward this phantom.

Hey, interesting.

Even now, does it still retain its own consciousness?

Apep also sighed with interest.

Fushi.

Xiao retracted his foot, standing straight as he stared at the phantom.

Thanks to the reminders from Xiao and Apep.

Luo De now also confirmed where that feeling of familiarity came from.

Fushi.

The phantom before them, which has no body of its own, is the Fushi who died here years ago.

Fushi, do you have something you want to say to me?

Gazing at the Fushi walking toward him, Xiao asked in a low voice.

Luo De looked at Xiao, then at the phantom that was the Fushi.

He did not urge Xiao.

Instead, he stepped back two steps, allowing Xiao to communicate face-to-face with the Fushi.

Apep, who was maintaining the spatial gate, also did not urge Xiao, staring intently at the phantom drawing ever closer.

However, the situation around them soon changed.

As the Fushi's phantom appeared, numerous phantoms bearing murderous intent silently emerged from the darkness, quickly shrinking the encircling ring with strong hostility.

Seeing Apep still staring at the Fushi's phantom, completely ignoring these phantoms.

Luo De sighed, holding Guan Hong in hand, ready at any moment to repel these phantoms that might suddenly attack.

Suddenly.

A fragmented voice issued from the Fushi phantom's mouth.

All.

Stop.

His command was very effective.

These phantoms, having lost their will from life, truly stopped their steps upon hearing it, keeping a certain distance from Luo De and the others and then not moving again.

Yo, there really is consciousness present.

Apep first praised, then clicked her tongue regretfully: 'What a pity; if you still had a fleshly body, you'd be far stronger than this green-haired brat'.

Xiao ignored Apep's belittlement of him, his face calm as he stared at the Fushi phantom, repeating his earlier words: 'Fushi, do you have something you want to say to me?'

Xiao's voice was very calm, no different from usual.

His slightly trembling body, his unconsciously bitten lips—everything proved his inner turmoil at that moment.

"Golden Peng."

Fushe's phantom drew nearer, and its voice grew ever clearer.

"What an inconvenient body."

Seeing this, Apepu kept one hand maintaining the spatial gate, while with the other he casually flicked at Fushe's phantom.

Then the black on the phantom quickly faded.

In the blink of an eye, the pitch-black phantom transformed into a tall, purple-haired, four-armed man.

"Thank you, senior."

Fushe, whose body had returned to normal, first thanked Apepu.

"Make haste."

"Your consciousness is limited; you have, uh, thirty seconds."

Apepu waved his hand and said no more.

Thirty seconds.

Even with Fushe's astonishing willpower, only this little time remained.

In silence.

Fushe, having returned to his yaksha form, walked up to Xiao. He said nothing more; his four arms shimmered, the upper two holding paint palettes, the lower two each gripping a brush, and he began to paint on Xiao's face with both hands.

Xiao offered no resistance, letting Fushe's brush dance across his face.

Yet no color was left behind.

But Xiao's body trembled all the more violently, and tears glimmered faintly in his eyes.

The thirty seconds quickly passed.

At the brink of death, Fushe withdrew his brush, stroked Xiao's head, burst into silent laughter, then opened and closed his mouth to speak two words before vanishing like a bubble in water.

Luo De could make out a bit of simple lip-reading.

Before departing, Fushe told Xiao, 'Live well for us all, and go see the sights of this world we have yet to behold.'

"Fushe, big brother."

"I will live well."

Xiao touched the spot on his face where Fushe had just painted; instantly the tears vanished, his expression resolute as he turned and stepped into the spatial gate.

Luo De followed behind him.

In an instant.

The dim, dark environment instantly became a sunlit ground.

The sudden blinding light forced even Luo De's sturdy frame to adjust for a while before he could finally make out the scene before him.

Yelan and Tartaglia, who had already come out, went up to them, concernedly asking why they had taken so long to emerge.

Luo De did not tell them about Fushe's affair.

He just smiled, shook his head, and talked about other things.

Meanwhile, as they chatted and rested,

At the summit of the Chasm's highest peak, Zhongli, who had been looking down on them, withdrew his gaze, turned, and smiled at a suddenly appearing green figure, saying, 'Long time no see, Your Excellency the Grass Dragon.'

(End of chapter)