Purifying the source

In the deepest reaches of The Chasm, Qiu Bai looked at the black miasma before him and immediately took action.

He split off his yang incarnation. The white-robed Qiu Bai brought his hands together, and a dazzling white light shone between them.

As bright as the sun, it illuminated the entire underground space.

Under that dazzling white light, the black miasma surrounding the ancient tree seemed to burn away.

Before long, all the black miasma clinging to the ancient tree and its roots had been purified.

The ancient tree sprang back to life. Emerald leaves sprouted from its branches, and its dense tangle of roots regained their vitality, turning emerald green.

The white-robed Qiu Bai tossed the light in his hands above the ancient tree, illuminating the underground space.

Taken as a whole, it really did look rather like Enkanomiya under daylight.

"That takes care of it."

Qiu Bai drew his incarnation back into his body, then left The Chasm.

A little while later, two Abyss Heralds emerged from a portal.

Had Qiu Bai been there, he would certainly have been surprised. Wasn't this Mr. "Grace"? He was always getting a taste of that "grace" in the game.

The two Abyss Heralds stared at the now-purified ancient tree in horror.

"How did the combined power of the Abyss and the pitch-black calamity suddenly get purified?"

"The pitch-black calamity stumped even the Geo Archon of the mortal world. Yet even with the power of the Abyss added to it, someone dealt with it."

The Abyss Heralds surveyed the surrounding space helplessly. The plan they had spent so many years working on had been ruined just like that.

"It seems we'll have to rethink our plan."

"Let's return and report to His Highness first."

With that, the two Abyss Heralds teleported away again. Had they lingered any longer, the Geo Archon would surely have sensed them.

At that moment, Aether sat on his throne, recalling his recent reunion with his sister.

"Sister, we will meet again, but not now."

"Until the Abyss engulfs the divine thrones, my war with the Heavenly Principles remains unfinished."

Just then, Aether sensed something and looked ahead. Two Abyss Heralds emerged from a black portal.

"Your Highness, the pitch-black calamity beneath The Chasm has been purified."

"We do not know who did it. Our plan..."

The two Abyss Heralds knelt on one knee, their eyes lowered to the floor, as they reported the matter to Aether.

"Even we of the Abyss could do nothing about that pitch-black calamity."

"We added the power of the Abyss to it hundreds of years ago, yet it was still purified."

Aether thought through the seven Archons of the mortal world. None of them seemed to possess the ability to purify the calamity.

"Anyone capable of purifying that thing must be a god at least equal to the Seven Archons."

"Set that plan aside for now. We should turn our attention to Enkanomiya in Inazuma."

Aether glanced at the many Abyss Heralds standing along the sides of the hall, seemingly reaching a decision.

"Enjou, go to Enkanomiya."

"Make certain you complete the mission."

Enjou stepped forward from the side of the hall and knelt on one knee.

"Thank you for your trust, Your Highness. I will see the mission through."

Then Enjou vanished from the hall.

Aether gazed into the distance and murmured.

"We will be reunited, Lumine."

"That day will not be far off."

Meanwhile, in Liyue Harbor, Qiu Bai spotted Zhongli listening to a storyteller and grew curious. Zhongli looked over and greeted him.

Qiu Bai walked over and sat beside Zhongli.

"Zhongli."

"You certainly have time to spare, sitting here listening to stories."

Qiu Bai picked up the teapot, poured himself a cup, and addressed Zhongli beside him.

"Heh, Tian Tie Zui's storytelling is quite entertaining."

"Though most of it doesn't match the facts, the story he's telling today happens to concern you."

Zhongli gave Qiu Bai a mysterious look. Intrigued, Qiu Bai settled into his chair, ready to hear what the storyteller had to say.

Tian Tie Zui began, holding his fan before his chest as he launched into his tale.

In those days, floods towering like pillars that held up the heavens swept through the Guili Assembly.

The adepti joined Rex Lapis in protecting the people as they relocated to Liyue Harbor. Just then, a terrifying surge of power shot into the heavens from afar!

After searching far and wide, Rex Lapis finally found a figure in a valley.

He was none other than the Adeptus of Yin-Yang and the Two Principles. As the saying goes, friendship can be forged through a fight!

Rex Lapis and the Immortal Lord fought for three hundred rounds. Their battle shattered the heavens and split the earth! The mountains shook and the ground trembled!

At last, the Immortal Lord briefly fell on the back foot, and the two gods became friends.

The Immortal Lord could not bear to see the common people below in the Guili Assembly suffering through fierce winds, torrential rain, and illness.

With his divine power, he scattered the dark clouds in the sky! He calmed the raging winds!

Then a storyteller stepped forward, looked upon our great Immortal Lord, and bestowed upon him the name Adeptus of Yin-Yang and the Two Principles!

Tian Tie Zui snapped his fan shut, and the audience below showered him with tips.

"That really doesn't match the facts. I couldn't even withstand a few of your moves."

Qiu Bai looked awkwardly at Zhongli beside him. Saying he could fight Zhongli for three hundred rounds now would at least have been plausible.

Back then, Qiu Bai had only exchanged a few moves with him. Had Zhongli not held back, Qiu Bai might have kicked the bucket.

"Heh, why be so modest, old friend?"

"Your power is probably no less than mine now."

Zhongli took a sip of tea and spoke slowly as he looked at Qiu Bai.

"I've completely purified the black miasma beneath The Chasm."

"I don't know where it came from, but I've turned the place into a tourist attraction."

Qiu Bai wasn't wrong. The scenery there was now breathtaking.

Especially with the little sun he had installed, it was like an underground world.

"Even so, the people of Liyue cannot be allowed to set foot there."

"That place reaches deep into Liyue's ley lines. I have sealed it once more."

Zhongli looked at Qiu Bai in surprise. He had barely been gone, and he had already solved the problem.

Back then, Zhongli had tried all sorts of divine powers there to no avail, yet Qiu Bai had dealt with it in just a few moves.

Still, he wasn't all that surprised. This old friend of his was far too mysterious, after all.

Meanwhile, in Jueyun Karst, the adepti flew out across Liyue in search of the Immortal Lord.

Half a day later, all the adepti gathered in Jueyun Karst again.

"Where on earth have you gone, Immortal Lord?"

Cloud Retainer took human form and murmured as she gazed into the distance.

"Perhaps the Immortal Lord has already awakened and simply wanted to look around outside?"

Mountain Shaper suggested from behind her.

"You old fool! The Immortal Lord was still asleep just the day before."

"Are you saying he could awaken without any warning?"

Qiu Bai: "Have you considered the possibility that I really could?"

Cloud Retainer looked at Mountain Shaper and snapped at him.

"You two go back first. I'll keep searching."

Mountain Shaper and Moon Carver exchanged helpless glances.

They followed Cloud Retainer anyway, preparing to search for the Immortal Lord once more.

Where could the Immortal Lord have gone? Had someone really stolen him away?