Only after a long while did Zhongli explain what had happened.
It turned out that this Artifact's previous owner had been an Adeptus (a certain Adeptus surnamed Zhong). Due to the erosion of time, this Adeptus had been forced to depart from this world (are we sure he hadn't just wanted to go on strike?).
But he hadn't wanted these Artifacts to disappear along with him. He had wanted them to inherit his will and continue protecting Liyue.
Yet he had also feared that the Artifacts were too powerful and might fall into the hands of someone who would use them for evil.
So he had placed seals on them. Only when certain conditions were met would those seals be lifted, revealing their true forms.
One of the conditions for lifting the seal on this yellow pocket watch was gaining the approval of Liyue's will.
When Zhong Baiye and the others had made an offering to the Statue of the Seven and received its response, they had fulfilled that condition.
That was why this Artifact had awakened on its own.
After explaining everything, Zhongli returned the yellow pocket watch-the Golden Bronze Sundial-to Zhong Baiye.
Zhongli also gave them a word of advice.
"Its name is the Golden Bronze Sundial. Judged by the standards of ordinary Artifacts, it is an Artifact that has surpassed the limits. An Artifact like this can be of some use even to Adepti and Demon Gods."
Zhong Baiye stared at the Golden Bronze Sundial before him in disbelief. This Artifact was actually that powerful? It was far stronger than the five-star Artifacts in the game.
By Zhong Baiye's estimate, the Golden Bronze Sundial had to be a six-star or seven-star Artifact. After all, the Artifacts in the game had never been said to work even on