Create an Archon!
What a ridiculous phrase.
But if it were actually put into practice, Zhongli felt an unprecedented rage surge within him.
From five hundred years ago until now, Zhongli hadn't been this angry.
The steady Geo Archon now resembled a giant rock on the verge of exploding.
Ready to spew out sky-high fury at any moment, engulfing the entire Akademiya.
"Create an Archon... create an Archon..."
Zhongli mumbled, the cold light in his eyes intensifying.
"They're even more disgusting than the people of Sal Terrae back then!"
"Do such people deserve divine protection?"
Sumeru creating an Archon—this matter could hardly be described as merely outrageous.
In Zhongli's eyes, every Archon was a parent to their people.
Even the Cryo Archon, who now knew no love, was ultimately seeking a way out for her beloved humanity.
And Sumeru?
To put it simply:
Because they couldn't get money from their mother, they found a way to lock their mother in a dark room.
Then, outrageously, they wanted to create a mother who would give them money every day.
Having lived for over six thousand years, Zhongli had never heard of such an utterly preposterous act.
He wished he could immediately go to the Akademiya and unleash a Planet Befall.
This was not only an insult to Lesser Lord Kusanali but also a blatant disregard for all Archons.
The atmosphere between the two was incredibly heavy. If not for the Seven Archons' Pact.
Zhongli would have already transformed and gone to deal with the Akademiya.
Admittedly, he wouldn't interfere with the rules enacted in other nations.
He wouldn't comment on his old friend in Mondstadt raising a group of giant babies.
He wouldn't participate in Snezhnaya's creation of the Fatui.
But even Archons had personal emotions.
The Akademiya's defilement of an Archon was an absolute taboo that Zhongli could not accept.
After a long silence, Zhongli looked at Jiang Xuan.
"What are your plans?"
Jiang Xuan said indifferently:
"Last night, I had a very pleasant time with Nahida in my dream. She is my friend."
"I am not an Archon. I am narrow-minded. I only care about my friends. After this trip to the Nether ends, I will go to Sumeru."
"I will bring Nahida back. Then I'll give the Akademiya a punch. Feeling the pain, they might understand the absolute majesty of a powerhouse in this extraordinary world."
"They might understand that without divine protection, they are nothing."
"If the Heavenly Principles appear to stop me, let her try to withstand one of my punches."
"If she cannot, then this Second Throne will be replaced."
Hearing this, Zhongli sighed and shook his head:
"The Heavenly Principles are heavily wounded and dormant; she won't awaken anytime soon unless you involve the Abyss or Celestia."
"As for Lesser Lord Kusanali, you can bring her to Liyue."
"Although the Seven Archons' Pact states that one cannot unilaterally enter another nation without permission, my old friend, the Anemo Archon, often came to Liyue in a transformed state."
"This pact, in fact, isn't very restrictive."
"As for the Akademiya... I do not interfere in the internal affairs of other nations, but rebels indeed need punishment. I just hope you don't cause too much of a stir. The common people of Sumeru are also poor souls who have been misled~"
"If you don't mind, I'd like Xiao to accompany you, both to help you maintain restraint and to vent some of my own anger. What do you think?"
Zhongli did not hide the purpose of sending Xiao.
He feared Jiang Xuan would lose control and punch the Akademiya like he did the Dark Ocean.
That wouldn't just be dealing with the Akademiya.
Moreover...
Even Rex Lapis harbored anger.
Jiang Xuan naturally didn't mind these matters. He nodded and said softly:
"That's fine. Xiao's Karma would be an unbearable pain for ordinary people. If I truly punched them to death, it would be too easy for them."
Zhongli said nothing.
He loved humanity fairly, asking for nothing in return.
But at the very least, humans should show respect and sincerity towards Archons.
Zhongli also understood that not everyone could be loved by an Archon.
Not everyone could truly be called human.
With a thought, Zhongli had Xiao enter the barrier.
He said calmly:
"After the Nether journey, you will accompany Jiang Xuan to the Sumeru Akademiya and act according to his instructions."
Xiao, having spent thousands of years with Zhongli, immediately perceived Zhongli's foul mood.
He instantly understood that the Akademiya must have done something that angered even Zhongli.
Immediately, Xiao's demeanor towards the Akademiya was filled with malice.
He said in a deep voice:
"I understand."
With the matter essentially settled and no need for further discussion, Jiang Xuan chuckled and changed the subject.
"You mentioned before that Barbatos often visited Liyue, but why hasn't he come these past few years?"
Zhongli reined in his anger and calmly said:
"He tampered with my pact without permission, fearing my punishment of being devoured by the earth."
"Moreover, he was severely injured and remained dormant for these years. I only recently sensed his presence again."
"Presumably, he's currently in Mondstadt dealing with the dragon disaster with that Traveler."
Hearing this, Jiang Xuan raised an eyebrow and mused:
"It seems you know that Traveler quite well."
Zhongli chuckled, offering no comment.
He merely paused, then said meaningfully:
"The winds from afar have swept across Teyvat more than once. Everything is a cycle of fate."
"However... for us, we no longer need to care."
"Now, you are the true destination."
Jiang Xuan pouted.
"Riddlers are the most annoying."
Zhongli found this amusing, and his earlier anger temporarily subsided.
"Alright, let's not talk about these unpleasant things anymore. If something makes me unhappy, I'll just punch it, and then all grievances will vanish into thin air."
Jiang Xuan smiled, shrugging his shoulders, and softly said:
"Get ready. We'll enter my world, make some arrangements, and then head to the Nether."
Zhongli nodded slightly and withdrew the barrier.
He thought that no one would notice their conversation during that brief chat.
But he never expected that Ningguang and Ganyu had been constantly observing Jiang Xuan.
Ningguang didn't really care; she had long suspected Zhongli's identity.
But Ganyu...
She hadn't had any suspicions before. Zhongli and Xiao, accustomed to hiding their identities, had been almost flawless.
But coincidentally, Ganyu happened to witness Zhongli and Xiao's interaction this time.
Though brief, the attitude with which Zhongli gave orders in that instant, and Xiao's serious and solemn acceptance.
It was too clear.
No one else could elicit such an attitude from Xiao except the Rex Lapis he most revered.
Ganyu had a suspicion in her heart, but she didn't voice it.
After all, it was that old saying:
The Archon must have his reasons for doing this!
Compared to guessing Zhongli's thoughts, Ganyu was more concerned about Jiang Xuan.
Seeing Jiang Xuan's mood improve significantly, she happily ran over.
"Jiang Xuan, are we leaving?"
The others also stopped talking and gathered around.
With a thought, Jiang Xuan opened the Dual-Passage Door and said with a smile:
"That's right. First, let's go see how the Miners are doing, then make some arrangements, and then we'll enter the Nether."
"Oh, right..."
Suddenly, Jiang Xuan looked at Ningguang and said softly:
"Have you notified Keqing? So she doesn't worry if she can't find us."
Ningguang smiled and shook her head.
"Keqing is fine. I contacted her last night; she still has hundreds of acres of land to replace the soil on."
"Also, there's some good news. Crops are already maturing in Guili Plains, and..."
Ningguang seemed to glance at Zhongli inadvertently and said softly:
"Teyvat's crops are also growing very well in the replaced soil."
"Furthermore... the wild Glaze Lilies, which had been extinct in that area for over a thousand years..."
"Have bloomed again..."
Hearing this, Zhongli and Cloud Retainer's eyes trembled slightly. In that instant, Jiang Xuan clearly sensed the complex emotions in Zhongli's heart.
The scene fell silent for a long time, inexplicably.
After a while, Cloud Retainer said gently:
"Thank you... That land, those Glaze Lilies, and those stories are incredibly important to this Adeptus and to Rex Lapis."
"Even if Rex Lapis knew, he would be very happy."
"This time... please trouble yourself with a letter, and convey this Adeptus's gratitude to that child..."
Then, as if losing her Adeptus composure, Cloud Retainer cleared her throat and pretended to be proud:
"Hmph! It's merely an elder's emotion at a junior's filial piety; don't misrepresent it!"
"That child, Yuheng, did... acceptably well this time!"
Ningguang knew Cloud Retainer's personality and naturally said nothing.
To make this proud Adeptus say thank you, Keqing would probably be very surprised to know.
However, this was a good thing. Ningguang had to let Keqing know.
This was a crucial statement of the Adepti's deeper recognition of Liyue's human governance.
"Cloud Retainer is thanking Jiang Xuan!"
Ganyu suddenly chimed in, looking earnestly at Cloud Retainer.
"If it weren't for Jiang Xuan, that land wouldn't have been replaced!"
Hearing this, Cloud Retainer was somewhat amused.
"Naturally, this Adeptus will certainly not forget to thank Jiang Xuan. However, little Ganyu, you are truly adorable for protecting your man so."
"Cloud Retainer!!!"
Ganyu cried out in annoyance, shrinking behind Jiang Xuan.
Ningguang glanced at Ganyu, showing no particular emotion.
"Alright, alright, no more wasting time."
Jiang Xuan smiled, pointing to the Dual-Passage Door behind him.
"Let's go, it's time to go to the Nether."
...
Passing through the Dual-Passage Door, they returned to the Minecraft world.
Compared to the usual morning tranquility, the Minecraft world was bustling even in the early hours.
The Miners and Millelith were already awake. The Millelith were doing their morning exercises, and the Miners were preparing to go underground.
Standing on Jiang Xuan's villa high ground, he could see the vast, boundless prairie across the river.
Inexplicably, it reminded Jiang Xuan of his dream from last night, bringing a touch of displeasure to his heart.
But he didn't show it much.
After a pause, Jiang Xuan first activated Body Synchronization, then softly said:
"Ningguang, you all go get your equipment and prepare some food."
"Cloud Retainer, we don't know how long this trip will be, so I'll entrust you with looking after the main camp during this time."
"For the Miners, Xiao, please pay more attention to them. There are still three or four small and large mines left in the vicinity, which should be enough for this period of mining."
"For now, don't leave this place. Even if these mines are completely depleted, don't go exploring other areas."
"Getting lost would be troublesome."
Hearing this, everyone nodded. Jiang Xuan knew that they had been here for so long, they should at least know what to do.
He said no more, only looking at Ganyu and the others, softly:
"I'll wait for you on the Sky Island. Once you're ready, we'll head to the Nether."
🚨 Note: Consider supporting this story on Patreon.com/Flokixy to access 400+ advance chapters and 2 new chapters daily! (Full story bundles also available without a subscription).