Zhongli Mansion.
Zhongli brewed a pot of tea and looked at the Sky Screen with great interest.
He had lived on the Teyvat Continent for more than six thousand years. The memories of his past life had nearly been worn away.
The Sky Screen had erased his erosion, and his "dead" memories flooded wildly into his mind. Blurred memories became clear.
He was fairly familiar with the Douluo Continent.
If he remembered correctly, the Sky Screen's TOP 10 was that Famous Scene involving Tang San...
The hand holding the teapot trembled slightly.
At his age, as a Demon God, he generally did not laugh.
"Looks like there won't just be Famous Scenes..."
Zhongli's words carried a double meaning.
A Famous Scene could also be an "underworld" scene.
As though he had thought of something, Zhongli lifted his teacup, took another sip, and said,
"There will be plenty to keep us busy next."
Sure enough, just as Zhongli set down his teacup, someone knocked on his front door.
"Knock, knock, knock..."
The knocking was highly rhythmic—three knocks at a time, followed by a brief pause.
The visitor was someone who valued etiquette.
"The appearance of the Sky Screen has taken up ninety percent of people's free time."
"They spend what leisure they have discussing the powerful figures on the Sky Screen, or preparing for battle."
"Those two certainly have refined tastes..."
Zhongli said impassively.
With a casual wave of his hand, two teacups appeared on the table. Guided by amber-colored energy, the tea from the pot flowed into the two cups.
With another wave, the tightly shut door opened. The refined middle-aged man who had been about to knock again paused, then immediately lowered his hand.
He exchanged a glance with the elderly man beside him before the two entered through the gate.
If they had not been invited in, the door would not have opened.
Nor would they have remained standing at the entrance in one piece.
Zhongli Residence was not large. It took only a dozen or so steps to reach the main hall from the gate.
Upon entering the hall, the first things they saw were calligraphy and paintings, followed by several "strange" stones.
At the sight of those stones, the middle-aged man's eyes lit up!
This was the Rock Demon God. It was perfectly normal for him to enjoy collecting unusual stones.
"Ning Fengzhi and Chen Xin pay respects to Lord Emperor!"
Ning Fengzhi and Chen Xin bowed to Zhongli as they spoke.
They were juniors and the weaker party. Addressing Zhongli by his divine name would have been inappropriate.
Calling him by his human name would have been equally inappropriate.
Among his many divine titles, Geo Archon was the most fitting form of address.
Ning Fengzhi and Chen Xin had discussed this before coming.
"A guest is a guest. Please, sit."
Zhongli gestured for them to take their seats.
Seeing this, Ning Fengzhi and Chen Xin breathed a sigh of relief.
This Rock Demon God—Morax—could be reasoned with.
At this moment, they felt like six-year-old Children without Soul Power visiting a Peerless Douluo who had been famous for ages.
If he ignored them or killed them, it might have taken no more than a casual gesture.
Something he would not even care about.
Yet this one was willing to communicate.
Worthy indeed of being humanity's god...
Looking at the teacups before them and the tea within, Ning Fengzhi and Chen Xin felt even more at ease.
Only after the two had seated themselves did Zhongli speak.
"You are both too courteous."
"I have abdicated godhood. I am no longer the Geo Archon, nor am I humanity's god."
"Now, I am merely an ordinary man named Zhongli."
"You may simply call me Zhongli."
Upon hearing this.
Ning Fengzhi and Chen Xin wore extremely complicated expressions.
They knew perfectly well that Zhongli was a Demon God and the Geo Archon. His supposed "humanity" was merely a disguise.
How could they dare show disrespect toward such an existence?
Could godhood really be abdicated just because one said so?
"This..."
"Let us still call you Mr. Zhongli. Fengzhi truly cannot bring himself to address you directly by name."
Ning Fengzhi cupped his hands and spoke with a solemn expression.
Zhongli might say that, but he did not dare do so.
The man was accomplished in the zither, chess, calligraphy, and painting—masterful in every art, unmatched in every one!
He was more than worthy of the title "Mr."
Zhongli glanced at Ning Fengzhi, calmly lifted his teacup, took a sip, and said,
"Very well."
Ning Fengzhi did not dare display even the slightest airs of a Top Three Sects master.
"Mr. Zhongli, please forgive our unannounced visit. This is a small token of respect from this junior."
After saying that.
Ning Fengzhi rose and brushed the storage bracelet on his wrist. One exquisitely crafted gift box after another appeared on the table before him.
There were six gift boxes in total. Each was of the highest quality and enormously expensive, treasures in their own right.
Only the Seven Treasure Glazed Tile Sect, with its immense wealth, could use boxes of such caliber for presenting gifts.
Ning Fengzhi did not open the boxes, nor did he introduce the gifts inside.
He had come this time solely to "visit" Zhongli.
He had no other intentions.
As for the gifts in the boxes, he believed Zhongli's discerning eye would recognize their value.
Too much explanation would instead make him seem as though he had ulterior motives.
As the head of a sect and a great merchant, Ning Fengzhi understood such simple reasoning better than anyone.
Zhongli said nothing, but Chen Xin stood and placed the six gift boxes in a corner of the hall.
This gave Zhongli no chance to refuse.
Their etiquette was impeccable, leaving nothing to criticize.
"Mr. Zhongli, we sincerely apologize for disturbing you so abruptly today."
"We still have some matters to handle. We will certainly come visit again another day."
Ning Fengzhi did not linger, nor did he ask any questions or engage in idle conversation.
His purpose in coming had already been fulfilled.
If they stayed any longer, they might provoke the other's displeasure.
"Mm."
Zhongli looked at Ning Fengzhi, then at Chen Xin, and nodded faintly.
"Since you two have business to attend to, I will not keep you any longer."
After exchanging a few more polite words, Ning Fengzhi and Chen Xin finally left the hall and headed toward the gate.
As they left, they closed the door behind them.
All the way back to the Seven Treasure Glazed Tile Sect, the two did not exchange a single word.
"A sect-based chamber of commerce? That is somewhat interesting."
"There are truly very few Soul Masters in this world who use their brains."
On the Douluo Continent, whenever Soul Masters could solve a problem with Soul Power or soul skills, they generally would not bother thinking.
It was not that they were unintelligent. It was simply an ingrained habit.
Seven Treasure Glazed Tile Sect.
Just as Ning Fengzhi and Chen Xin returned, under Gu Rong's astonished gaze, the two slumped into their chairs without the slightest concern for appearance.
A closer look would reveal that their backs were already soaked through. Their body temperatures were terrifyingly low, as though they had just taken a trip to the Extreme North Land.
"What happened to you two?"
Gu Rong asked with a puzzled expression.
Had they not merely gone to deliver gifts?
Why had it come to this?
It would have been understandable for Ning Fengzhi, but why was Chen Xin, that sword maniac, in the same state?
"Uncle Gu... it is not that I am incompetent. It is just that Lord Emperor's presence was far too oppressive."
"Before him, I nearly failed to maintain my composure..."
"Huff... huff..."
Ning Fengzhi took two deep breaths, still feeling a lingering fear.
Was this the oppressive presence brought by a Demon God?
He had clearly seemed "kind and approachable," and exuded an immense sense of security, yet Ning Fengzhi's heart refused to cooperate, pounding without stop!
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