The scales of victory tipped toward Morax as Jiang Yan joined the fray.
Soon, with two piteous cries, the two Demon Gods fled in terror, scurrying away from the area.
"We won!!"
The Adepti watched the retreating Demon Gods and their followers, letting out a cheer of victory.
However, Morax remained in the sky, his grip tight on the Vortex Vanquisher, his gaze wary as he watched the Wood Dragon before him.
The Demon Gods were gone, but was the person before him friend or foe?
Jiang Yan wasn't in much better shape; his face was pale. If not for the Wood Release's innate ability to replenish its user, he likely wouldn't have been able to sustain the Wood Dragon for so long.
Sensing Morax's gaze, Jiang Yan turned to look at him.
Jiang Yan had no intention of making an enemy out of Morax. This was the Morax of old, not the Zhongli of thousands of years later his temper hadn't been weathered by erosion yet.
"Mr... Sir! I believe we are not enemies," Jiang Yan said with a smile. His soft, delicate face held a harmless grin that stood in stark contrast to the menacing Wood Dragon beneath him.
"Naturally... little friend. If you have nothing else to do, you are welcome to sit with me for a while."
Morax's tone was friendly. At least for now, it seemed the youth had no intention of being his enemy. If an enemy came, he had his Stone Spears; if a friend came, he would treat them well.
"Well... I am quite free."
Jiang Yan rubbed his chin and gave Morax a cheeky grin.
"Then I'll accept your kind offer."
Morax nodded with a smile and descended alongside Jiang Yan.
"Lord Morax!"
Moon Carver, Cloud Retainer, Mountain Shaper, and Skybracer the four Adepti in their beast forms approached him with delight as he landed.
"We won the battle!"
Morax nodded with a smile, then looked at Jiang Yan, who had retracted his Wood Dragon and landed behind them. "I was in a rush just now and forgot to ask. Might I know your name, little friend?"
"Ah... I'm Jiang Yan," he said with a smile. Looking at the three familiar Adepti, he couldn't help but feel a wave of nostalgia. He had finally met characters he was familiar with.
The one with the massive antlers must be Skybracer, right?
"This person is..." Mountain Shaper asked Morax, his gaze fixed on Jiang Yan.
The other three Adepti were also looking at him warily.
"He is not an enemy. In fact, he assisted us in the battle."
As he spoke, Morax looked at the Adepti. "Come, let us head back."
At the foot of Mount Tianheng, a massive camp appeared before Jiang Yan's eyes.
"The Lord has returned!"
"Lord Morax! Lord Morax!!"
Seeing their Geo Archon return, the people of the camp cheered. Their god had once again ensured their safety!
Morax led the group to the summit of Mount Tianheng, where a stone table was set. They sat down to drink tea and talk.
Looking at the surroundings, it suddenly clicked for Jiang Yan. Liyue hadn't been founded yet, and Zhongli hadn't even met Guizhong, the God of Dust. At this point, Morax was merely a god protecting a gathering of tribes.
"Friend Jiang, what is on your mind?" Morax asked, noticing Jiang Yan looking around.
The Adepti also stopped talking and looked at him. Even though Jiang Yan looked young, they didn't dare underestimate him after seeing him overwhelm a Demon God with his Wood Dragon.
"Mount Tianheng is large, but the arable land is pitifully small. At this rate, the survival of your followers will become a problem," Jiang Yan said softly. As someone with modern knowledge, he had plenty of theoretical ideas.
"Oh?"
His words immediately caught the interest of the Adepti.
Cloud Retainer, in particular, was intrigued. In Morax's group, she acted as the chief of internal affairs and a strategist. The issue of farming had always been a major headache for her. Countless followers had already voiced their concerns to her.
Arable land was too scarce, which was a fatal blow for a rising new group. If they couldn't even fill their stomachs, how could they compete with other Demon Gods for supremacy?
Even Morax had a look of surprise in his eyes. "In your opinion, how should this be resolved?"
"Expansion!"
Jiang Yan took a sip of the strong tea and spat out a stray tea leaf.
Upon hearing his suggestion, the Adepti looked disappointed. Expansion? Did they not know that was the best option?
However, Mount Tianheng was surrounded by powerful enemies. Osial, Chi, the God of Dreams all of them were top-tier Demon Gods. Morax was just a rising star at the moment; how could he contend with them all?
"I am aware of what you suggest, but..." Morax started, but Jiang Yan already knew what he meant.
"Though there are powerful enemies on all sides Osial to the south, the God of Dreams to the west, and Chi to the north it's not as if there's nowhere to expand," Jiang Yan said, pointing toward the northeast.
"To the northeast of Mount Tianheng, there are thousands of miles of fertile soil, and it isn't the territory of a top-tier Demon God, is it?"
The northeast...
The Adepti fell into deep thought.
At that moment, a small, chubby figure with horns on her head walked over carrying a tray of fruit. She set it down gently.
"Who is this?!"
Jiang Yan sat bolt upright.
Morax, who had been deep in thought, blinked and looked at the little girl.
Cloud Retainer smiled and said, "That is my disciple, Ganyu."
"Ganyu, come and greet Lord Morax."
Little Ganyu trembled slightly at her master's words. She walked over timidly and said in a soft voice, "Hello, Lord Morax... My... my name is Ganyu..."
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