Chapter 254: Thump thump thump!

Salt God He Wu Li Ya.

A very weak Archon.

An Archon so weak that in the cruel Archon War, they could barely protect themselves.

Her death was also quite tragic.

Perhaps since the advent of Archons, she remains the first and only deity to be backstabbed by her own followers.

But even such a weak Archon.

The power that erupted at her death still nearly wiped out her killers.

This is also the origin of the salt stains scattered throughout the ruins.

The real sea salt is far more terrifying than the simple depiction in the game.

Because this place was Hecatia's last territory during the Archon War.

Even though Hecatia had been driven to desperation at that time, her followers still consumed precious resources to build a not-small temple for her to worship her.

The hall that Luo De and Apep just passed through.

That should be the place where the Salt God's followers once worshipped Hecatia.

And inside that hall.

Spattering white salt stains covered the heavens and earth; the Salt God's people who couldn't escape in time were buried under a thick layer of salt in their living poses, showing no sign of decay after thousands of years, and even on the faces of these salt statues, expressions of panic and fear remain clearly visible.

The dim, silent hall, salt statues everywhere, a deathly stillness devoid of any trace of life.

These phenomena stacked together.

Enough to make an ordinary person scared out of their wits.

However, after witnessing the true traces of the Salt God's death, Luo De sighed: "Truly weak."

A proper Archon.

The power released upon death merely destroyed a single temple, couldn't even kill all the assailants present, and even allowed some accomplices to safely escape from the sea salt.

Although this is related to her having no resentment toward her followers for killing her.

But that is only possible because there is no Archon's resentment.

If it were another powerful Archon, like Hecatia, when their Archon power fully dissipates at death, they could at least destroy the entire sea salt, rather than being unable to destroy even a single hall.

Hmph—

"Weak remnants, unworthy of living."

Apep's evaluation of Hecatia is extremely vicious; even though Hecatia is now a former Archon, she spares no malice, completely lacking the attitude she had when speaking with Zhongli.

Having said that.

She then impatiently said to Luo De: "How much longer do you need to prepare?"

Since teaching Luo De how to extract the residual Geo power from the artifact, an uninterrupted amount of time has passed.

Yet Luo De still took no action.

Under the pretense of needing preparation, he still examined those two artifacts in his hand.

Apep is no fool; naturally she saw that Luo De was somewhat unwilling, simply stalling for time, unknown what scheme he was concocting to try to keep these two artifacts with special functions.

Exactly.

Luo De just wanted to see if he could find some excuse to keep Hecatia's Salt Ruler and Salt Cup.

The Salt God is a special Archon.

The authority she wields is not suited for combat, so it cannot be compared to that of Archons who wield strong combat authority.

Salt making.

This is precisely the ability of the authority in her hand.

In peaceful times.

This ability is enough for her people to live prosperously; by controlling the salt rights alone they could become the wealthiest in Liyue.

Of course.

This peace means the other Archons harbor no ill will toward her.

Once war breaks out.

Weak as Hecatia, she truly has no ability to survive in the cruel war.

The wealth accumulated by the Salt God's people in peaceful times will also quickly dissipate in war.

And now this era.

Although there are still undercurrents, there is no doubt that this is a peaceful era.

Then as long as the Salt God's legacy is handed over to a powerful deity, the salt production rights will immediately bring vast wealth to that deity's nation.

Luo De is not a saint.

He also has selfish motives.

Compared to handing the salt production rights over to other countries, he still prefers to bring this salt production rights back to Xu Mi, using the wealth from salt making to fill the gap needed for aiding impoverished regions.

If following Apep's suggestion to destroy the Salt Ruler and Salt Cup, collecting the fragments of the Salt God's power stored within.

Then he would have no chance to take away this salt production right.

However, seeing through his intention, Apep will not give him the chance to realize this idea.

Just see her face turn cold, without hesitation she forcibly helped Luo De crush these two artifacts, and at the same time drew the faint light that scattered upon the artifacts' destruction into the Dragon King's Crown.

This was also Luo De's first time feeling the power of divine authority.

Even if it is Hecatia's weak authority.

When the authority entered his hand into the Dragon King's Crown, the sudden surge of Geo affinity despite lacking a corresponding Vision made Luo De spontaneously feel that he too could emulate Hecatia's salt making.

It's just a pity.

This authority in hand vanished in an instant.

And this also made Luo De, after the authority entered the Dragon King's Crown, unable to help sighing out loud.

He was very clear about his own strengths and weaknesses.

As for elemental energy alone, Luo De was confident he had touched the edge of Archon-level, but having not fought anyone of that level for a long time, he couldn't say what his current standard really was.

But elemental energy being enough to rival an Archon doesn't mean he could truly rival a real Archon.

The reason is simple.

It's simply the Archon's authority.

Luo De truly does not control any authority.

The Dendro Archon's authority ultimately isn't his.

Borrowed authority and one's own authority are not concepts that can be equated.

The Salt's Authority that just passed through his hands is an ownerless thing.

If possible.

Luo De indeed had a hint of greed, wanting to claim it as his own.

But once this authority entered the Dragon King's Crown, he would have no chance to seize any authority again.

Luo De's sigh was also heard by Apep.

She glanced at Luo De, speaking coldly: "The next place."

Feeling like he had become a transport machine, Luo De had no room to retort and followed her again.

No one knows how many Archons fell in Liyue during the Archon War.

In short, Apep thus led Luo De around to dig up Archons' burial sites.

It's visible.

During the time she disappeared, she must have gone to dig graves.

Under her skilled guidance, they spent three days digging, and Luo De and she together excavated seven tombs of deceased Archons.

The reason it was so slow.

It's because many Archon remnants carry resentment, namely the karmic remnants that torment Xiao.

These resentments can be called deep-seated grudges.

Even if Apep wanted to clear them, it would be very tricky.

Fortunately,

All she needs are the authority fragments left in those Archon remnants; collecting them into the Dragon King's Crown finishes the job.

"Here?"

Having traveled all over Liyue with Apep, Luo De looked at the new Archon tomb before him, recalling that when he arrived here the sky seemed to never clear of sun-obscuring black clouds, and he involuntarily thought of a certain familiar Archon.

Verdant Pendant Slope.

This is where Luo De and Apep are currently staying.

Originally, Luo De had never associated this place with those words "Archon tomb".

But when Apep brought him to an underground tomb beneath Verdant Pendant Slope, he suddenly recalled that Archon who had once allied with Zhongli, skilled at raising dust to repel enemies.

Dust Archon Hagen, once the master of Return-to-Departure Plain, Dust God Gui Zhong. 【Initially, it arose from agriculture, gathering as a market.】

【With a god's descent, the name Gui Zhong, skilled at raising dust, obscuring the sky for thousands of li.】

【Four prohibitions, announced to the people.】

【Later another god descended, taking rock as vessel, moving the Liyue people to the settlement, jointly protecting the people.】

【Taking the names of the two gods, calling this settlement Gui Li.】

【Battle at Gui Li Plain, at that time black dust filled the sky, thousands of rocks cracked.】

This is something Luo De had seen recorded in a book concerning Dust God Gui Zhong.

"Black dust filled the sky, thousands of rocks cracked."

This description combines the black clouds on Verdant Pendant Slope that have not dissipated for thousands of years, plus the fact that before Return-to-Departure Plain was washed away by flood, Verdant Pendant Slope was also part of Return-to-Departure Plain.

Luo De easily drew a conclusion.

The tomb Apep is now bringing him to dig is the mausoleum built by Zhongli and the Liyue adepts after Gui Zhong's death in battle.

"Gloop—"

Other Archons' tombs are fine; Luo De feels no psychological burden digging them.

But this is Dust God Gui Zhong, who was on good terms and extremely close with the Liyue adepts.

Randomly digging her tomb.

That could well result in being hunted across the land by the Liyue adepts, including Zhongli.

No need for many words.

Luo De decisively beat the retreat drum: "If the Sovereign doesn't come, I won't go in first."

"Oh?"

"Just because this is, uh, uh, the Dust God's tomb?"

Remarkably, Apep actually uttered the divine name of Gui Zhong.

"You know?"

Luo De furrowed his brow.

This isn't Apep's character.

Could Gui Zhong actually be a very powerful Archon? Powerful enough for Apep to remember her name?

However, Apep's following answer shattered Luo De's thought.

Thanks to Morax's blessing, I know this name.

Apep's tone remained as arrogantly as ever, but when mentioning Guizhong's name, it ultimately became somewhat milder than when he had spoken of other Archons before.

Her attitude also led Luo De to guess: "Did you come here together with the Emperor?"

Not really.

Just when I found this place, Morax also came running over.

Apep seemed to be speaking of a trivial matter, lightly saying: "You don't need to worry about him; reclaiming this authority is also his intention."

Ah?

Luo De scratched his head, no longer wasting words.

Apep is someone who disdains lying.

Moreover, given her status and power, there's no need to lie about this to deceive herself.

Since she and Zhongli have reached a consensus on this, Luo De no longer needs to hesitate as he just did.

Compared to those before, which were either directly buried in the ground or sealed and suppressed, the Archon remnants.

Guizhong's tomb chamber is obviously far more luxurious.

Perhaps it is out of remembrance for an old friend.

Here, one can see other immortals' leftover writings and drawings everywhere; marvelous mechanical creations are also hidden in the dark corners of the tomb chamber, bringing a chilling cold light to launch a fierce attack at these two outsiders, Luo De and Apep.

Fortunately, I am traveling with Apep.

If Luo De were to face these immortal-made killing machines alone, he might not even last a single tomb chamber.

Under Apep's protection.

Luo De and she passed through several heavily guarded large tomb chambers, all the way to the final tomb chamber.

Here.

Finally, there is no trace of those killing machines.

Come into view.

The most conspicuous is a stone statue.

It is a girl with wide robes and large sleeves, bare feet curled up, layers of stacked rocks protecting her within.

At her feet lie an ancient zither, a miniature model resembling a catapult, a jade-green longsword, a splendid long dress that remains pristine after thousands of years, and several other objects clearly not made by mortal hands.

These are the immortals' mementos in remembrance of this old friend.

This is the Dust God Guizhong.

The stone statue that Guizhong transformed into is several meters tall; Luo De looks up at the clear girl's face on the statue.

Even though she died in battle.

Her face still bears a relaxed smile, as if she is pleased for having fulfilled her covenant and guarded the people of Guiliyuan.

Does she still have a remnant soul?

Just like.

Luo De need not say it explicitly; Apep also knows what he means.

If possible.

Luo De wants to give it a try.

Can we borrow the power of the Dragon King's Crown to rescue Guizhong like the Great Merciful Tree King was saved?

But Apep immediately poured cold water on him.

Don't fantasize.

Her divinity and soul have long since dissipated.

Apep glanced at Guizhong's stone statue and said: "The authority fragments are also almost gone, hah, the Archon War."

So it's completely hopeless?

As expected, Luo De did not show any disappointment.

If Guizhong still had a chance to be saved.

Zhongli and the immortals wouldn't have waited so many years; they would have long since started various means to bring her back to the mortal realm.

Actually, Luo De had already thought of that.

The Great Merciful Tree King's revival was purely an accident.

Because she is different from other Archons.

She is a true and genuine Dendro Archon.

She is the victor in the rules of the Archon War established by Heaven's Principle.

But Guizhong cannot.

Other defeated Archons also cannot.

As defeated ones.

Their existence during the Archon War was supposed to be erased; aside from Osiel as an exception, other Archons, once dead, are dead, with no chance of rebirth.

A bit of a pity.

Luo De pursed his lips, and under Apep's command, began to use the Dragon King's Crown to recover the authority fragments still lingering on Guizhong.

Just as Apep said.

The authority fragments remaining on Guizhong are few.

Perhaps it is because the battle at Guiliyuan was too fierce, causing her to burn herself out completely.

With so few authority fragments, theoretically recovering them is very simple.

But this time.

However, some unexpected accidents occurred.

Just as Luo De resonated with the Dragon King's Crown and power fragments, preparing to reclaim them.

A crisp sound made his heart skip a beat.

Guizhong's statue cracked.

And what made Luo De's heart skip another beat was.

After the statue cracked, the Archon's power that seeped out did not, like other Archon powers, follow the guidance and drill into the Dragon King's Crown; instead, it ignored the guidance, bypassed the Dragon King's Crown, and directly drilled into Luo De's body.

(End of chapter)