"Just like the terms of your contract with the Tsaritsa of Snezhnaya, which would not be convenient for you to disclose to me either, right?"

"Is this... done?"

Star Dou Great Forest, restricted zone.

The many ferocious beasts looked at one another. Bi Ji in particular widened her eyes, staring at the scene on the light screen in disbelief.

Within the Silver Dragon Space.

The Silver Dragon King narrowed her eyes.

She had a feeling this was not so simple.

"So, you represent Celestia in reclaiming the Geo Gnosis?"

Chen Fan's heart tightened at Rex Lapis's smiling question, and he did not answer immediately.

After a moment, he said, "The Gnosis is a symbol bestowed by Celestia upon the victors of the Archon War. If it is to be reclaimed, then one of Celestia's rulers should come personally."

"In other words, you do not represent Celestia?"

Chen Fan neither confirmed nor denied it. "I trust Rex Lapis has met the Four Shades of the Heavenly Principles, as well as the Heavenly Principles itself.

"So there is no need to ask such a question again, is there?"

The smile on Rex Lapis's face faltered slightly. His originally sharp golden eyes immediately gleamed with golden light as they fixed upon Chen Fan.

He had not expected it.

This man from another world actually knew of the Four Shades of the Heavenly Principles and the Heavenly Principles itself?

Could he truly be connected to Celestia?

If he remembered correctly, the one in Celestia and the origins of the Gnosis were both Descenders—

Could this man also be a new Descender?

But—

After examining him for a moment, Rex Lapis felt that something was off.

The strength of Descenders was beyond doubt. Whether it was Phanes of old or the Third Descender, yet this man before him—

Forgive him for saying so, but while this man's achievements were impressive, he had not even reached the level of an Archon. It was truly difficult to associate him with the powerful Descenders.

Of course, Rex Lapis did not deny the possibility because of that. He had met someone who was suspected to be the Fourth Descender, yet was still ridiculously weak. Now, he could not tell whether the man before him was the Fourth Descender, or that traveler who had arrived in Liyue long ago.

"Then why have you come to Liyue again?"

Chen Fan answered frankly, "I trust Rex Lapis already knows about my appearance at the Jade Chamber?"

Rex Lapis neither confirmed nor denied it. He said nothing and merely took a sip of tea.

"I made an agreement with Ningguang. I would help her prevent the possible destruction of the Jade Chamber, and she would help me build a ship capable of withstanding thunderstorms."

"A contract has been made, and it must naturally be honored."

Upon hearing this, Rex Lapis was visibly stunned. "You are going to Inazuma?"

If he merely wanted a ship, it would not mean much. But a ship that could withstand thunderstorms—other than Inazuma, Rex Lapis could think of no other destination.

"Yes."

Rex Lapis paused slightly. "Are you going to Inazuma for the Gnosis?"

"This question seems to fall neither within the authority of the Geo Archon nor within the scope of our contract, does it?"

After a pause, Chen Fan smiled. "Just like the terms of your contract with the Tsaritsa of Snezhnaya, which would not be convenient for you to disclose to me either, right?"

Rex Lapis's hand froze around his teacup. A look of shock appeared in his golden eyes as he stared at Chen Fan.

The contract he was about to make with the Tsaritsa of Snezhnaya was a secret among secrets. In the original story, it had only been revealed at the very end. It was something that should have been known only to Heaven, Earth, him, and her.

Yet how did this man from another world know about it?

Of course, that shock lasted less than two and a half seconds before he returned to normal. "Indeed."

"As long as you do not endanger Liyue, it has nothing to do with me."

After a pause, Rex Lapis said calmly, "The Liyue of today should be ruled by humans."

"As for me, an idler about to retire, I will no longer involve myself."

As he spoke, he set down his teacup. It was already empty.

"Then I will not disturb Your Excellency's leisure any longer."

After saying that, Chen Fan did not linger and turned to leave.

Rex Lapis paid him no mind. It was as though he had not heard Chen Fan's words, and he once again turned a blind eye to his departure.

Rex Lapis's attitude toward Chen Fan was much like his attitude toward Alice back then.

As long as Chen Fan did not endanger Liyue, Rex Lapis was happy to remain at ease.

As for why he had kept watch over Alice at all times back then but did not need to keep an eye on Chen Fan now—Rex Lapis felt that, by comparison, this man from another world had a normal brain, and his strength was within a controllable range.

As for Alice—best not to mention her!

With that thought, Rex Lapis stopped paying attention to Chen Fan.

But this completely blew the minds of everyone on Douluo Continent!

"Wait, is Chen Fan an idiot? Wasn't this an obvious chance to use Celestia's authority to get the Gnosis? Why didn't he just agree?"

"Exactly! It was practically being handed to him, so why did he turn it down instead?"

"See? I told you. People who are good at fighting always have something wrong with their brains."

"This human is way too stupid, isn't he?"

Star Dou Great Forest, restricted zone.

Seeing this, the Scarlet King's face was filled with bewilderment. "The opportunity was right in front of him. Why did he not use it?"

"Or is it as the Beast God said? Is this human completely not of one mind with us?"

At those words, King of Ten Thousand Demons snorted. "I said this human definitely had some ulterior motives, but the Beast God refused to believe me!"

"Enough, all of you, say less!"

Seeing that things were going badly, Bi Ji hurriedly tried to smooth things over.

She was the only one who had gone through a Teleportation Gate mission with Chen Fan.

Every time, Chen Fan had looked completely confident, nothing like what these fellows were claiming.

Of course, her words carried little weight. She could not change the opinions of the other ferocious beasts. At most, they would spare her some respect and not argue with her to her face.

Chen Fan had no idea that those foolish beasts in the Star Dou Great Forest were arguing over his actions. Even if he knew, he would not care much.

As for why he had not used Celestia's authority just now—

Rex Lapis had made a contract with the Tsaritsa of Snezhnaya at some point.

What he needed to give up, besides the Gnosis, was all of his divine power.

Although Chen Fan did not know what price the Tsaritsa of Snezhnaya had paid to balance that contract.

The original Seven Archons had once gathered in Liyue. I do not know whether the Tsaritsa is one of the original The Seven, but that contract definitely was not made recently. It must have been made long ago.

Could I rely on Celestia's name alone to make Rex Lapis violate his own contract and hand the Gnosis over to me?

Although he has lost his divine body and suffers from erosion, Morax still possesses at least sixty to seventy percent of his peak strength. Could I really make him destroy his own contract with nothing more than an empty promise?

As for impersonating one of the Four Shades of the Heavenly Principles—the original Seven Archons had all gone to Celestia for meetings. Did they really not know the Four Shades of the Heavenly Principles?