Genshin Impact: Awakening in the Darkness

Chapter 176 The Lantern After a Year (9)

He still remembered how humanity, once depleted of resources and unable to sustain itself, had proactively suggested to Morax that they mine the vein from which he was born. This opened the door to commerce for Liyue and indeed the world.

As a creation of the elements, he could always feel the connection between himself and the earth's veins. As human mining increased and the veins could no longer bear the burden, weakness, powerlessness, and pain were transmitted to him, but he gritted his teeth and endured it.

He saw these things by chance.

Late at night, a man gritted his teeth and locked himself on a mountain, venting his pain and letting it out until the pain subsided and he regained his senses before quietly returning to the military camp and the front line.

When he asked her, she didn't deny it, but just smiled sheepishly and rubbed his head: "Xuan Yue, this world is beautiful, so beautiful that even dragons can't help but be captivated."

"Unfortunately... it's almost impossible to get everyone to stop and appreciate it in this day and age. Some people spend all their energy and luck just to live, while others can't even see the beauty of this world."

"do you understand?"

A thousand years ago, Xuan Yue was still baffled: "Beautiful? While that makes sense, the scenery is beautiful, but is it really that simple?"

"Hahaha." Ruotuo burst into laughter at Xuan Yue's bewildered look, and even took the opportunity to pinch his cheek: "So cute, but why can't people be a part of this beauty?"

"Are you kidding me?" Xuan Yue pushed away the hand that was rubbing his face, and said speechlessly, "You think this scene of ruins and parting is a beautiful sight? I can't appreciate it."

"Yes—when the world is free of the smoke of war, when this era ends and the next era begins."

"When the time comes, will you come have a drink with me?"

"I'm not old enough to drink yet! Don't get me into trouble!"

"Tsk tsk, that's really pathetic."

.........

“You are not him.” Xuan Yue moved again, gripping Shao Yang tightly, the tip of the spear igniting with golden flames: “He would not say these words, much less be so indifferent to the countless lives he has protected with his own hands.”

"Who are you-!"

As Xuan Yue spoke, she relentlessly attacked Ruo Tuo's incredibly strong body, which was covered in rocks. Against such overwhelming defense, the simplest moves are often the most effective.

Ruotuo became increasingly annoyed by Xuan Yue's fighting style, his temper flared, and he began to relentlessly attack Xuan Yue, completely ignoring the fact that there were more than just the two of them on the battlefield.

Seeing that Ruotuo was already restrained, Zhongli took the opportunity to minimize his presence and changed tactics to repair the sealing formation first.

"Annoying ant, what is the meaning of this provocation!" After exchanging blows for more than a dozen rounds, Ruotuo finally regained a sliver of reason and stopped being led by the nose: "I see you have some strength too, why don't you leave Morax and come with me..."

boom-!

Before Ruo Tuo could finish speaking, he was unexpectedly hit by a fireball.

"So arrogant, aren't you afraid of biting your tongue!" After attacking, Xuan Yue immediately retreated to the side to avoid the boulder pushed by Ruo Tuo.

"court death!"

"I won't die even if you die!"

"If I am the Dragon King, a creation of the elements, then comparing my lifespan to his is utterly presumptuous!"

"Roar! I am the representative of 'Order,' and I possess the bloodline of the Golden Crow. I don't believe I'll lose to you in a contest of lifespan!"

"What use is bloodline? Time can erode everything. You will all eventually turn to dust, while I will still live on!"

"Ha! Then I really should praise you, Old Huanglong!"

"You! You!" Ruotuo was speechless for a moment.

"Me, me, me, me? What do you mean, 'me'? I know I'm naturally beautiful, why would I be envious?"

"me…"

"What do you mean, 'you'? Look at yourself, your skin is thick and rough, and it's covered in spots, you're really ugly."

"Roar—!" Xuan Yue's words broke Ruo Tuo's defenses, and Ruo Tuo immediately unleashed a rock element attack, which rushed towards Xuan Yue.

Golden wings immediately unfurled from his back, and he soared into the sky. But he couldn't help but sneer, "Hey, hey, hey, you've only said a few words, how did you break down?"

"You—you come down! What kind of skill is it to fly into the sky? Come down, and let's continue fighting!"

"I have wings, I can fly however I want, it's none of your business. Come on up here if you dare!"

"Then I'll shoot it down for you!" Ruotuo was furious at this moment, and raised his tail to aim at Xuan Yue flying high in the sky.

At this moment, Zhongli, who was already unable to finish repairing the formation, watched as the two who were clearly enemies suddenly started arguing, and for a moment he suddenly felt like he was back in the past.

"What a pity..." Taking advantage of this opportunity, Zhongli immediately activated the formation, and the eight rock pillars suddenly reappeared, restarting the sealing formation!

"This is... You've tricked me!" Ruotuo looked at the now-repaired sealing array and Zhongli standing not far away, and he immediately understood what he had overlooked.

"Hmph, don't blame others for your own stupidity." Seeing that the sealing formation had trapped Ruotuo, Xuan Yue stopped wasting words and put away Shaoyang, flying to Zhongli's side: "Since you can't get out now, then I should collect some interest."

"Look, my wrist is all red. The gun hit you and the shock almost made me lose my grip." Xuan Yue said, rolling up her sleeve to show him her wrist. Zhong Li glanced at it too; it was only slightly red, and the redness disappeared after a moment.

"You're just making excuses!" Ruotuo was like a trapped cat with its fur standing on end, only able to rage helplessly. Seeing Xuan Yue getting closer and closer, Ruotuo, trapped by the sealing array, felt he had nowhere to retreat.

“Yes, but you have nothing to bargain with me.” Xuan Yue smiled, but her strange eyes held no smile. “However, if you agree to one condition, I can let you out until the sun rises the next day. How about it?”

"What are the conditions?" (As soon as I go out, I will...) Ruotuo muttered to herself, suppressing her temper.

"Simply show your other side and say hello to us."

"I am who I am, there is no other side to me!"

"Oh? Then... I'll come and investigate myself." Xuan Yue's smile sent a chill down Ruo Tuo's spine.

He closed his eyes, his long white hair was dyed gold, and specks of light connected to form threads that passed through the sealed barrier and entered the consciousness of the Ruotuo Dragon King.

The silk thread connected Xuan Yue's consciousness, searching for something within Ruo Tuo's sea of ​​consciousness. But all around was pitch black, filled only with his evil thoughts, his complaints, and his pain.

"None of these are it. Where is it? Where is it?"

"The heavens...phenomena...transformation..."

"That's it!"

"The desolate...stars...shine like...the...sun..."

"Found it! Found it!"

The silk thread suddenly became joyful, passing through those evil thoughts, and following the intermittent sounds, finally saw a weak, tiny white ball of light.

It was still emitting the intermittent sounds it had just made; it was its last remaining will.

"Even you... are leaving...?"

But he couldn't care less about his sorrow. His wisp of consciousness began to move, trapping all the malicious beings outside his consciousness body, which was like a white ball of dough, in the golden cage.

One of the unique talents of the Golden Crow is to trap the enemy's consciousness, thus preventing them from controlling their own body.

It has been a thousand years since it was last used.

Back in reality, Xuan Yue opened her eyes and saw that Ruo Tuo in the sealing array had calmed down, closed her eyes, and seemed to have fallen asleep.