Junze, who had vanished earlier, soon reappeared at another task location.
The reason Yanfei had been unable to detect even the slightest trace of him was simple he had used the quest teleportation mechanism directly.
Still, whether it was good luck or bad luck was hard to say.
For the next several Vishap-subjugation missions, he almost always ran into Millelith squads.
Then again, it made sense. As Liyue's standing army, the Millelith would naturally arrive the moment danger appeared.
For a time, Junze even felt as if he were competing with them.
Although these squads did not possess the overwhelming power Eula had shown in rapidly defeating Geovishaps, their battle experience was rich. Through coordination, they could still resolve threats efficiently.
So Junze didn't dare linger. He would appear, end the battle quickly, and depart at once.
With continuous real combat and targeted training like this, Junze's Trail of the Qilin proficiency rose rapidly. After several missions, it had already reached 55%.
When he returned and demonstrated it to Ganyu, it would definitely shock her.
Meanwhile, the Millelith were repeatedly startled by the sudden appearance of that shadowed "adeptus."
Some among them had intended to approach and make contact.
But Junze was rushing between task points. He had no time to interact.
If he slowed down, the mission might vanish.
After repeated encounters like this, stories about him began to spread among the Millelith:
Beyond Liyue Harbor, there was a cold and aloof adeptus who disdained conversation with mortals, silently eliminating rampaging monsters and protecting passing Liyue citizens…
Junze himself, however, knew nothing of this.
He had only meant to conceal his identity and indulge a little in the fantasy of being an adeptus.
How had it turned into this?
After clearing another wave of monster-subjugation quests, Junze paused near Nantianmen.
Gazing toward the enormous Dragon-Queller Tree, he murmured thoughtfully:
"The missing miners… Liyue's miner disappearances seem to involve that one."
The "one" Junze referred to was the ancient being who had once fought beside Liyue's creator, the Geo Archon Morax and who, after succumbing to erosion, had lost control: Azhdaha.
The rampaging Dragon King had ultimately been sealed beneath this very Dragon-Queller Tree by Morax and the adepti.
"If Azhdaha really revived, I'd just get hammered to death if I went in now."
Junze rubbed his head.
Though he had grown much stronger thanks to Ganyu's cocogoat milk and instruction, he wasn't arrogant enough to believe he could defeat Azhdaha at present.
That said, he still found himself slowly walking toward the Dragon-Queller Tree.
As he drew closer, his Greed attribute began to stir faintly.
The black aura coiling around his body grew more feral and clawing.
Clearly, the immense greed buried underground was making Junze excited and… hungry.
Negative emotions, in certain ways, resonated with one another.
Around the Dragon-Queller Tree, the Dragon King's malice appeared in Junze's perception like exquisite cuisine.
"Seems Azhdaha hasn't awakened yet."
Though there was abundant greed resonance here, the malice itself was strangely "calm."
If Azhdaha were about to break his seal, this presence would not be so restrained.
"As expected of Azhdaha… such enormous malice."
Junze's eyes flickered.
A dangerously bold thought suddenly surfaced in his mind.
If… he could devour Azhdaha.
"Heh. That's a truly outrageous idea."
Even Junze himself was startled by it.
Yet despite the self-mocking tone, the thought had already taken root in his heart.
Gluttony never overlooked food especially something this vast and delicious.
At last, Junze reached the Dragon-Queller Tree itself.
He also noticed a small girl beneath it.
Seeing him, she spoke in a distant, echoing tone:
"Have you come to witness the revival of Liyue's most ancient and majestic one?"
"Then you are early."
Junze knew exactly who she was.
The embodiment of Azhdaha's malice.
The malevolence emanating from her was practically overflowing.
And Junze liked it.
Gluttony had always relished the company of beings filled with greed and malice and then… devouring them.
Junze licked his lips and asked bluntly:
"The missing Liyue miners were they preparations for that one's revival?"
Direct and unvarnished.
Since Azhdaha had not yet awakened, he felt no need for caution.
The girl froze slightly and turned fully toward him.
A faint red glow surfaced in her gaze.
She studied Junze and spoke in a low murmur:
"You carry a detestable aura… yet in essence, you are a demon."
As Azhdaha's malicious incarnation, she had already seen through Junze's true nature.
"You covet that one's power."
Her voice suddenly rose, an indescribable pressure crashing forward.
Junze clicked his tongue.
These ancient monsters were truly sensitive.
"Presumptuous wretch!"
The sound rolled out like a dragon's roar.
Vegetation around them bowed and trembled.
In that instant, Junze no longer saw a small girl before him but an ancient Dragon King from primordial ages.
Azhdaha's colossal form seemed to loom behind the child.
But Gluttony was not something that would fear a sealed Dragon King.
In his eyes, there was only food.
"You… look delicious."
Junze's black aura erupted completely.
It surged and condensed into a massive taotie.
The attributes [Greed] and [Devour] flared with black-gold brilliance.
[Body of the Taotie] activated.
Junze felt overwhelming hunger.
A terrifying taotie silhouette manifested above him, locking eyes with Azhdaha's phantom.
"…"
"…"
Both the girl and Junze fell silent.
For Azhdaha's incarnation, the demon masquerading as an adeptus before her was coveting her power.
He deserved punishment.
Yet she sensed danger.
If she struck, unpredictable consequences would follow.
And Junze?
The more he looked at this incarnation of Azhdaha, the hungrier he became.
But hunger did not cloud his judgment.
Though his Greed authority granted him natural dominance over such malignant incarnations
The other party was still Azhdaha.
One of Liyue's most powerful existences.
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