"Is this what the world looks like...?" Azhdaha stood stunned for who knew how long before finally uttering those words in disbelief.
For thousands of years, he had lived in the pitch-black depths underground.
Hearing had been his only means of perceiving anything.
This was the first time he had ever seen what the world looked like.
Overwhelmed by the sight, Azhdaha felt a powerful surge of gratitude.
It was like being locked in an enormous dark room, unable to see anything or find anything.
There were no games, no music, no novels, no videos, no friends, no delicious food. You did not even know what time it was.
Just imagining spending thousands of years in such a place was enough to inspire despair.
Yet Xiu Yuan had given him all of those things.
He could see the world now, no longer confined to the darkness underground. He could chase the sunset or await the dawn, feel the breeze caressing the earth and the moonlight spilling over the world.
From this moment onward, the beauty of the world belonged to Azhdaha.
"You're the Dark Archon, named Xiu Yuan, correct?" Azhdaha looked at the Demon God beside him, who wore a black coat and a mask that seemed neither quite smiling nor quite weeping.
"Yes," Xiu Yuan replied.
"You've given me a second life. I would brave fire and water for you," Azhdaha said solemnly.
"There's no need for that. But wars are breaking out constantly across the world, and the flames of battle rage everywhere. Though the people under my protection haven't been caught up in them, the fighting will only intensify with time. I hope you'll join us in protecting Liyue."
"Liyue... is that the name of your nation?"
"Yes. Liyue has two Demon Gods. Apart from me, there's