"ROAR!"
Junze threw his head back and let out a howl, as if declaring to the entire continent the ferocious god of the ancient era, Taotie, had descended!
The remaining Geovishaps shrank to the edges of the mountain, their bodies pressed flat against the ground, not daring to move.
This was how Geovishaps expressed submission.
Junze had slain their king, the Primo Geovishap, and displayed overwhelming power.
If they did not wish to be eaten, surrender was their only option.
Eula slowly stood up and gazed at him.
"You saved me again… At this rate, my 'revenge'…"
She let out a soft breath.
"In any case, may the Anemo Archon bless you."
Though praying to the Anemo Archon in the land of the Geo Archon and offering blessings to a Liyue Adeptus was admittedly strange.
But Eula thought: as a Liyue Adeptus, he must already have the Geo Archon's blessing.
Having one more couldn't hurt, right?
After Junze completely dealt with the Primo Geovishap, black mist spread outward, devouring the fallen Geovishap corpses one by one.
He rubbed his belly.
"Why do I still feel a little hungry?"
Even after digesting the Primo Geovishap and countless others, hunger lingered.
Just as he had said before creatures like Geovishaps provided far too little power.
Even the malice clinging to them was not truly theirs, but contamination from other evil remnants.
Naturally, the energy he gained was limited.
That earlier outburst had consumed quite a bit of his reserves.
"I wonder if I can get a few more bottles of coconut milk from Master later…"
Even in his enormous beast form, he muttered quietly.
Growing through coconut milk required time and accumulation, but its replenishing effect was still impressive.
Coconut milk supplements calcium.
And it tasted much better than those crunchy, hard-to-chew Geovishaps.
Suddenly,
Thump!
His heart convulsed violently.
A powerful wave of weakness swept through his body.
It felt exactly like the first time he went out on a mission.
And at that very moment those who had rushed here finally arrived.
When they saw the sight below Cuijue Slope, shock spread across their faces.
Flames towered skyward. Black mist drifted thickly.
Geovishap corpses lay everywhere, gradually being devoured by shadow.
At the center stood a colossal beast, overlooking all.
Ancient demon god pressure radiated from its body.
The black aura around it carried ominous dread.
"T-Taotie!"
Cloud Retainer's voice trembled the moment she saw Junze.
Memories from thousands of years ago surged back being pinned by Taotie.
Having feather after feather plucked from her body.
Her form trembled.
Perched upon Cloud Retainer's back, Ganyu paid no attention to her master's trauma.
She stared intently at the massive beast.
"So… this is Taotie?"
Even though her master said so, she simply could not connect the terrifying creature before her with her well-behaved disciple.
"Will Ze… become like this one day?"
Worry filled her expression.
She feared whether she could truly guide Junze onto the right path.
After all, Taotie's appearance alone screamed calamity.
"I can do it."
Ganyu silently encouraged herself.
Even if she doubted herself, she would not doubt Junze.
He was such a good child. He would never harm others.
In that instant, Ganyu made a firm decision after returning, she would increase his coconut milk supply.
And mix in more of her own essence.
Surely that would temper Taotie's nature.
If that still failed…
Then she would…
Her expression hardened with resolve.
Cloud Retainer frowned at the beast below.
"Why is there another Taotie? Could it be that child belongs to this one?"
"!!!"
Ganyu's heart instantly tightened.
Her hands clenched the feathers on Cloud Retainer's back.
"Ah!"
Cloud Retainer cried out, flapping her wings wildly and nearly dropping from the sky.
Only after a moment did she realize it was her disciple tugging her feathers.
"Ganyu! Why are you pulling your master's feathers? I almost thought—"
She stopped mid-sentence.
She absolutely could not let her disciple know she had momentarily thought Taotie had come to pluck her feathers again.
"Ah! I'm sorry, Master!"
Ganyu snapped out of her daze and quickly released her grip, full of apology.
Cloud Retainer huffed.
"You child… what are you thinking? So restless, so worried about gaining and losing."
Ganyu looked down at Junze and spoke anxiously.
"I'm worried that this Taotie has appeared to take Ze away."
…
Cloud Retainer fell silent.
That possibility had never entered her calculations.
The previous divination had shown that Junze would completely change Ganyu's thousand-year state of being—he was the key to her integration into the mortal world.
But it never stated whether Junze would stay.
Now that Ganyu had already begun to change—
Would he leave?
Or remain?
Even Cloud Retainer did not know.
"It shouldn't be the case…"
She spoke uncertainly.
"Taotie devours everything and is perpetually hungry. If it truly sought its child, it might even… eat it."
"Eat him?!"
The moment those words left her mouth, a terrifying surge of Cryo energy erupted from Ganyu.
Cloud Retainer sucked in a sharp breath.
Since when had her disciple become this frightening?
"Ganyu, calm down! This Adeptus was only speculating! Perhaps this Taotie truly wishes to reclaim its child?"
"…."
Ganyu slowly steadied herself.
She looked down at the Taotie below.
Her emotions were a tangled storm.
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