Chapter 150: Barbatos... Has He Always Been... Like This?
Zhongli offered a helpless smile, long accustomed to his old friend's blunt and straightforward nature.
He carefully held up the stone casket and explained calmly, "This item is no ordinary tool. It is a fragment of a world's foundation, known as a World Rune."
"A Genesis foundation?" Azhdaha's pupils contracted. While he didn't fully grasp the term, the word 'genesis' was enough to convey the artifact's deep significance.
"Indeed," Zhongli affirmed with a slight nod. "It can greatly enhance the wielder's power, but for me, that is not its most precious quality."
His gaze grew distant, as if piercing through the walls of the room to survey the vast mountains and rivers of Liyue.
"The core power of this rune lies in 'protection'and'stabilization.' It can spontaneously regulate the ley lines, soothe disturbances, and imbue the land with stronger vitality and resilience."
Zhongli's voice grew softer, filled with a quiet hope. "If placed properly, perhaps... the subterranean pollution and chaotic ley lines that have long plagued The Chasm may finally have a chance at a complete resolution."
Of all Zhongli's words, Azhdaha latched onto one critical point: The Chasm's problem could be solved.
The Chasm—his birthplace, the source of his power, and the sorrowful ground where he was tormented by erosion until he was forced to fight his oldest friend. Too many memories and complex emotions were buried deep within that scarred earth.
Upon hearing that the chronic ailment plaguing that land for centuries finally had a turning point, Azhdaha's voice immediately took on an uncontrollable excitement and urgency.
"Really?! An artifact that powerful... how is it used? Do I need to set up a formation? Or dig a deep pit? Tell me, I'll go do it now!"
Zhongli fully understood the storm of emotion in his friend's heart. The Chasm held an extraordinary significance for the former Geo Lord, and its importance to Liyue was just as self-evident.
He soothed him gently, "It is not so complicated. The power of this rune is subtle and pervasive; no specific ritual is needed, nor does it need to be buried deep within the earth."
"It only needs to exist within Liyue's territory. Its power of protection and stabilization will naturally spread, slowly and continuously nourishing the ley lines and purifying the defilement. Given time, it will surely yield results."
Hearing that the method was so simple, Azhdaha grew even more delighted.
But in the midst of his joy, a thought suddenly struck him. He narrowed his eyes at Zhongli, his tone turning suspicious. "Wait a minute! Earlier, when I asked if you had any interesting new things, you clearly told me 'there are no such items'! So how do you suddenly have one now?! I knew it! You're definitely trying to trick me again!"
He pointed an accusatory finger at the World Rune, then quickly added, "And don't you dare tell me you just got your hands on this! I'm not foolish enough to believe that! Hmph!"
Zhongli fell silent.
Azhdaha had precisely blocked his intended, truthful explanation. He had also, it seemed, automatically excluded strategic artifacts like a 'World Rune' from the category of "interesting new gadgets."
"I don't want terrifyingly high-level things from you," Azhdaha grumbled, crossing his arms. "Just give me some fun, new little trinkets to pass the time! That's not too much to ask, is it?" He wore an expression that screamed, 'You won't fool me again.'Zhongli looked at his old friend's stubborn demeanor, feeling a mix of helplessness and quiet amusement. He pondered for a moment, recalling that the chat group's shared warehouse did indeed contain some common-quality daily items from previous prize draws, such as'game consoles'and other'odd toys.'
Perhaps taking one out to entertain Azhdaha was a good choice. It would certainly stop his nagging.
He had just retrieved a handheld game console from the group warehouse and hadn't even had time to explain what it was when his movements suddenly froze.
Almost at the same time, Azhdaha, who was standing beside him, also looked up sharply. He stared in a specific direction outside the window, a hint of surprise on his face.
A unique aura—light, free, yet tinged with a touch of urgency—was rapidly approaching from Mondstadt in the north. Its destination was unmistakably Liyue Harbor.
Azhdaha frowned in confusion, sensing the familiar yet somewhat distant divine presence. He looked uncertainly at Zhongli. "Huh? This aura... so light and free, completely unrestrained..."
"If I'm not mistaken, that should be Barbatos, that carefree, constantly drunk Anemo Archon from Mondstadt, right? It's so late. Why isn't he in Mondstadt drinking himself to sleep? Why is he suddenly rushing to Liyue? To pick a fight with you?"
Zhongli put away the stone casket, his gaze also turning toward the invisible but swift-flowing wind in the night sky. A flicker of understanding crossed his eyes before melting into faint helplessness.
He could guess, with near certainty, why the idle poet would suddenly pay a visit at this hour.
Zhongli shook his head gently, his tone calm. "Not a fight."
Then, with a touch of exasperation, he added, "But I'm afraid... it's trouble more tiresome to deal with than any battle."
Before Zhongli had even finished speaking, a wisp of unusually agile, clear wind had silently swirled into the room. After hovering for a moment, the figure of Venti materialized within it.
The moment he stood firm, his emerald eyes immediately locked onto the strangely shaped, dark-screened handheld game console in Zhongli's hand.
A single glance at its design—so clearly not of Teyvat's craftsmanship or style—was all Venti needed to be one hundred percent certain of his guess. The old blockhead was indeed in that mysterious chat group, too!
Without giving Zhongli a chance to speak, Venti immediately strode forward, his face instantly twisting into an expression of deep betrayal and heartbreak.
He accused in his dramatic, bard-like tone, "Zhong—li—! You hid this from me so well! And here I was, thinking of you every time I found an exquisite wine, ready to cross mountains and seas to Liyue just to share a cup and enjoy the pleasures of the mortal world together!"
"And what's the result? The Traveler pulls you into such an interesting, such a magical chat group, and you... you didn't even breathe a single word of it to me! Our millennia of friendship... can it really not compare to some otherworldly chat group you just joined? It truly breaks my heart!"
As he spoke, he clutched his chest with both hands in an exaggerated display, as if the ache in his heart was so great he couldn't breathe. His acting was truly masterful.
Zhongli looked at his old friend, who was currently possessed by the spirit of a drama queen and utterly devoid of any divine image, and could only raise a hand to his forehead in weary resignation.
He knew that with Barbatos's personality and keen nose for "fun," this matter would be exposed sooner or later. He just hadn't expected the "interrogation" from Mondstadt to arrive so quickly, and so directly.
Azhdaha, standing to the side, watched the entire scene unfold, completely dumbfounded.
Although he knew of this Anemo Archon, their acquaintance wasn't deep, limited mostly to knowing of each other's existence and identity. In his understanding, a god—even the most idle one—should at least maintain some basic dignity, right?
But this person clutching his chest, tearfully accusing Zhongli... was that really Barbatos, the protector god of Mondstadt?
He couldn't help but widen his eyes, subconsciously mumbling to himself, "Barbatos... has he always been... like this?"
Azhdaha began to deeply doubt his entire past understanding of the "Seven Archons."
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