The Sumeru Earthquake and the Dendro Archon's Shock!

While the adepti of Liyue Harbor made their appearance, the situation in Fulong Valley was looking grim.

At this moment, in Fulong Valley, the once flat ground suddenly split open, revealing a giant chasm. Emerging from the depths of this rift was the colossal form of Azhdaha, rising up along with the layers of rock. On the other side, Zhongli and the others slowly floated up from the underground, landing softly on the surface. Kun Jun ran out from the cave opening, warily eyeing the massive Azhdaha ascending from below.

Everyone present realized that Azhdaha, now on the surface, posed an even greater threat, capable of causing unprecedented devastation. If Azhdaha wasn't quickly dealt with, Fulong Valley would soon undergo a drastic transformation, becoming another massive chasm like the Chasm in the Layers of Rock.

However, it was clear that Azhdaha was not going to be an easy foe to handle. After having absorbed the power of four elemental forces, Azhdaha had regained the strength it once had at its peak. The group now found themselves facing an opponent almost as powerful as Morax in his prime.

As soon as Azhdaha reached the surface, his battle spirit surged, and he roared, "Sealed for a thousand years, I have finally seen the light of day again! Only through your destruction will I be able to repay the hatred that has simmered for these millennia!"

With that roar, Azhdaha unleashed a simultaneous barrage of fireballs, ice shards, lightning, and torrents of water, all aimed at Lin Yuan and the others.

Having absorbed the power of four elemental forces and regained the strength he had at his peak, Azhdaha was now able to wield all four elements at once. For Zhongli and the others, dealing with even one of these elements individually would already be a formidable challenge, but now they were faced with an onslaught of all four elements simultaneously.

Zhongli quickly summoned two massive stone hands, clapping them together to shatter the incoming ice spikes. Lottia, using her natural talent, manipulated torrents of water to collide with the fireballs. The impact caused a sizzling sound as steam billowed up, and both elements dissipated into nothingness. However, the remaining lightning was too powerful to resist.

They could only watch as the lightning flashed, striking the shield. The shield distorted under the impact. After already having withstood several attacks from below, it was nearing its breaking point. Azhdaha's peak-form attack almost shattered Zhongli's shield entirely.

The lightning crashed down on the land where Lin Yuan and his group stood, scorching the earth black. Even though Azhdaha himself wasn't a master of any specific element, in his peak state, his mastery over elemental creation was fully unleashed. His four-elemental assault was as sharp and devastating as if an Archon of each element had launched the attacks personally.

At that moment, Azhdaha suddenly moved, his colossal form shifting with shocking speed, far faster than when he was sealed beneath the earth.

Both Lin Yuan and Lottia were stunned—Azhdaha's speed had significantly increased compared to when he was underground. With his enormous body accelerating at such a pace, the sheer force behind him was terrifying. He charged directly at Zhongli's shield with incredible momentum.

Zhongli's protective shield, which had been sheltering Lin Yuan and the others, was shattered instantly upon impact. Without hesitation, Zhongli summoned his stone hands to catch everyone, bringing his palms together just in time to protect them. He swiftly moved them out of Azhdaha's path, widening the distance between them and the rampaging dragon.

At this moment, Zhongli remained calm and composed, his eyes closely following Azhdaha's movements. He spoke in a steady voice:

"Now that Azhdaha has escaped the seal, his abilities have been enhanced across the board—even his speed has returned to its peak." Azhdaha's true speed was far from slow; otherwise, he wouldn't have been able to battle Zhongli on equal footing in the past.

Lin Yuan could also feel how daunting this was. In his peak state, Azhdaha was like a fully balanced warrior with no weaknesses, making him nearly impossible to counter. He thought to himself that Zhongli had truly outdone himself when he created Azhdaha. Now, that thoroughness had become their biggest challenge.

Zhongli shook his hands, raising another protective shield. He calmly stated:

"This will be my final shield. The fight with Azhdaha must end in the next round."

By this point, Zhongli had expended a tremendous amount of energy. Without his Gnosis, and having been worn down, he could no longer draw power endlessly from the earth as Azhdaha could. His energy depletion couldn't be replenished quickly.

The calmness in Zhongli's voice seemed to carry a certain gravity, causing Lin Yuan's heart to sink. It felt as though Zhongli had already prepared himself for something, knowing that facing Azhdaha might require a heavy price.

As Zhongli and the others distanced themselves from Azhdaha, the dragon roared furiously. With a mighty stomp, he slammed down on the earth, causing the entire Fulong Valley to quake violently.

The nearby mountains began to collapse, and cracks spread across the ground in all directions.

Zhongli and Lin Yuan's eyes sharpened, realizing that with Azhdaha back at his peak, the earthquakes he caused had an even more massive impact. It wasn't just Liyue feeling the tremors—across the western lands, even Sumeru was affected by the ground's upheaval.

In Avidya Forest, Forest Ranger Tighnari twitched his long ears in surprise and looked into the distance.

"Did an earthquake just reach us?" he muttered in astonishment.

Beside him, Collei was equally shocked.

"An earthquake? Tighnari-sensei, how could there be an earthquake without any warning?" As seasoned forest rangers, both Collei and Tighnari were highly attuned to nature. If it had been a normal earthquake, they would have sensed precursors long in advance.

After thinking it over, Tighnari responded:

"This earthquake came from the direction of Liyue. It was likely caused by an entity of immense power, perhaps something on the level of a god."

Collei's eyes widened in disbelief. If an earthquake of this magnitude reached all the way to Sumeru, the being responsible was no ordinary god—it had to possess power equivalent to the strongest of Archons.

"A terrifying existence like that... has appeared in Liyue? What in the world is happening over there?" Collei wondered, filled with concern.

In the city of Sumeru, too, the earthquake's effects were felt. The people of Sumeru City were startled as the earth beneath them began to tremble, and the city was soon abuzz with alarmed voices:

"An earthquake?"

"The land that has always been peaceful… how could it suddenly shake?"

"Fortunately, the tremor wasn't too strong. Otherwise, the houses in the city might have collapsed!"

In the Zubayr Theater of Sumeru, Nilou, dressed in her exotic dancer attire adorned with graceful, flowing patterns, was practicing her dance moves when she suddenly felt the tremors. Surprised, she halted her steps, her eyes filled with concern.

"What is going on? Why is there an earthquake?" she asked, her voice carrying a hint of anxiety.

Instinctively, Nilou sensed something ominous about this unexpected quake. It wasn't just any ordinary natural disaster—its timing and intensity felt unnatural. Even the esteemed scholars of the Akademiya, renowned for their foresight and wisdom, had not predicted this event. This only deepened Nilou's unease.

In her anxiety, Nilou clasped her hands together in prayer and murmured, "With the little Lesser Lord Kusanali watching over us, Sumeru will be safe."

At that moment, far away in her sanctuary, the little Lesser Lord Kusanali, also known as Nahida, observed the abnormal earthquake through the Akasha System. Her expression turned thoughtful as she reflected on what might have caused such an unusual tremor.

Had Liyue's Geo Archon truly fallen? she wondered. How else could an earthquake powerful enough to shake Sumeru have occurred?

Nahida could feel that the source of this quake wasn't just any natural disturbance—it originated from an immensely terrifying elemental lifeform. Its power rivaled that of the top-tier Archons, far beyond anything she could handle, with her few hundred years of existence.

Even with her great wisdom, Nahida knew she was no match for such a powerful entity. Liyue, without the protection of its Archon, now faced a being with strength equivalent to the highest of gods. She couldn't help but imagine the crisis befalling Liyue at that very moment.

"I don't want to see the people there suffer, but… I'm afraid there's nothing I can do to help them," Nahida's gentle, yet childlike voice echoed softly, tinged with a sense of helplessness.

Even though her true form remained in the Sanctuary of Surasthana, even if she could make it to Liyue, she didn't have the power to defeat such a powerful being. Not to mention, the heavens prohibited them from fighting on the lands of other Archons. The Little Lucky Grass King could only sink into a dream, filled with compassion and pity for Liyue.

At the source of the earthquake, in the Fulong Valley, Azhdaha surged with terrifying momentum and launched another fierce attack. His massive body, as large as a small mountain, partially submerged into the earth, leaving only a pair of colossal horns exposed, charging straight towards Lin Yuan and his companions.

With Azhdaha submerged into the ground, he gained an even greater connection to the earth, further enhancing his speed and power. His horns, carrying an immense destructive force, were aimed directly at Lin Yuan and his group. Faced with such an assault, Lin Yuan couldn't be certain whether Zhongli's shield could withstand a direct hit from Azhdaha's horns.

If this last shield were shattered, they would be forced to fight Azhdaha with their physical bodies alone. Zhongli, aware of this danger, manipulated the giant stone hands supporting them, lifting everyone into the air, narrowly avoiding Azhdaha's charge.

Azhdaha, with all his formidable momentum, crashed into a nearby mountain. With a tremendous crash, the mountain crumbled, sending boulders tumbling down. A significant portion of the mountain was destroyed by Azhdaha's sheer force, triggering yet another tremor in the earth's veins.

Zhongli and the others watched the scene with heavy hearts. They understood that they couldn't allow Azhdaha to continue causing these earthquakes...

There was no immediate way to stop Azhdaha.

The Dragon King, restored to his peak strength, would require a great battle even for the fully powerful Zhongli to seal him away again, let alone now, with Zhongli weakened and worn down.

To stabilize the quakes and control the tremors shaking the earth's veins, Zhongli would have to descend to the ground. But by doing so, Azhdaha would be able to more easily launch attacks on them. This was part of Azhdaha's plan.

Zhongli sighed deeply but made his decision. He couldn't allow the quakes to keep spreading across Liyue. The earthquakes caused by Azhdaha, now at his peak, were growing more violent, and the structures of Liyue couldn't withstand this overwhelming force.

The moment Zhongli touched the ground, he used his divine power to take control of the earth's veins, reducing the impact Azhdaha had on the surroundings.

At that same moment, Azhdaha emerged from the rubble of the collapsed mountain, letting out a furious roar. "Morax, you're still the same as before—choosing to protect these insignificant ants. In that case, you will fall here for the sake of these ants."

The Dragon King's true form had been reduced to nothing more than pure, primal black hatred. He held nothing but disdain for humans, whom he viewed as utterly insignificant. Seeing Zhongli now splitting his strength to safeguard them only fueled Azhdaha's rage further.

Despite being at a disadvantage, Zhongli still chose to divert his power to protect humanity. Was this a mockery of Azhdaha?

In his fury, Azhdaha charged at Zhongli again, unleashing a barrage of devastating elemental attacks. Zhongli had no choice but to use the stone hands he controlled to continuously shatter these attacks before they could reach him.

Lottia was also nearby, helping to alleviate the pressure from Azhdaha's relentless attacks. Even so, some of Azhdaha's elemental assaults still managed to hit Zhongli's shield. The shield held firm against the onslaught from Azhdaha at his peak strength, but everyone knew it couldn't last much longer.

Zhongli was focused on containing the earthquakes Azhdaha was causing, leaving him with little ability to counterattack. Meanwhile, Azhdaha moved with surprising speed, closing in on the group. Lowering his head, he charged directly at them.

Lin Yuan quickly unleashed his unique dragon aura, causing Azhdaha's aggressive momentum to pause, if only briefly. However, for Azhdaha at his peak, it was merely a momentary delay before he crashed down upon them.

That brief pause, though, had diminished some of Azhdaha's power. Zhongli managed to use the stone hands to block the force of Azhdaha's charge. But the Dragon King was quick and agile, swiftly turning his massive body and whipping his tail toward Zhongli's shield.

A deafening, bone-rattling impact echoed in Lin Yuan's ears. After enduring the blow from Azhdaha's tail, the golden shield instantly became faint, appearing as if it could shatter at any moment.

Azhdaha continued to attack without mercy, while Zhongli, distracted by his efforts to contain the earthquakes, could only endure the assault defensively. After a relentless wave of attacks, Azhdaha turned, his enormous red eyes glaring at Lin Yuan as he said:

"what a terrifying talent you have," Azhdaha said, his voice echoing with a hint of acknowledgment. "I admit that if you continue to grow, I will never be your opponent. But right now, you cannot match me."

Just now, Lin Yuan's dragon aura had managed to restrain him, even if only for an instant. That momentary pause was enough to demonstrate Lin Yuan's extraordinary talent and the boundless potential of his bloodline. After all, Azhdaha was at his peak, comparable to the strongest of the gods, while Lin Yuan was merely a young dragon.

Despite the vast disparity in their strengths, Lin Yuan's dragon aura still made Azhdaha feel the pressure of a higher being, indicating that this little divine dragon's bloodline was far superior, perhaps even more advanced than Morax's.

With such frightening potential, Azhdaha certainly could not allow Lin Yuan to continue growing. He intended to eliminate Lin Yuan here and now to prevent the young dragon from maturing into a being capable of defeating him in the future.

Zhongli's expression became serious; he did not want to witness Lin Yuan's fall alongside him. After all, Lin Yuan bore the hopes of the people of Liyue and was destined to become the second Geo Archon in the future.

Noticing Zhongli's unusually grave demeanor, Azhdaha couldn't help but smirk. "It seems you, Morax, also do not wish for this endlessly potential-laden dragon to perish. Then I will take the initiative to eliminate him first."

Lin Yuan was at a loss for words upon hearing this. "You ancient beast, picking on me, who has just been born? If you gave me a hundred years to grow, I would smash your head in!"

Even though Lin Yuan's bloodline was special and he had the support of the Nourishing Vessel(Gods Milk), his growth speed was already astonishingly rapid.

But facing a being that had lived for thousands of years, like the peak Azhdaha, Lin Yuan still felt somewhat constrained. If he were given a hundred years to grow, he was confident he could defeat Azhdaha at his peak state. Unfortunately, Azhdaha, despite being worn down, had become incredibly violent yet still retained his intellect.

As soon as Azhdaha finished speaking, he opened his enormous mouth, intending to swallow Lin Yuan and the others. Zhongli immediately controlled the rock giant hand to block Azhdaha's gaping maw. However, Azhdaha's strength was no longer comparable to the earlier stages. His massive jaws slowly closed, directly shattering the rock giant hand.

Seeing this, Lotia's usually calm voice carried a hint of tension as she said to Lin Yuan, "Lin Yuan, you should retreat first. With your talent, you will surely be able to defeat Azhdaha in the future."

At this moment, it was clear that the peak state of Azhdaha was beyond what they could handle. Even Zhongli was unable to counterattack. Lotia wanted Lin Yuan to leave first; after all, among them, he was the only one with a genuine chance of defeating Azhdaha later on.

Lin Yuan, however, remained clear-headed and calmly transmitted his thoughts, "Retreat? Where can I retreat to? Azhdaha clearly intends to destroy all of Liyue."

"Go to Mondstadt or Sumeru; Azhdaha cannot invade the domains of the other seven gods," Lotia suggested. She had originally come from Fontaine to the border of Liyue.

However, Lin Yuan shook his head. He knew that with his talent, he could thrive in other countries as well, but he did not want to abandon Liyue, where he felt a strong connection. "Lotia, this is Liyue. It is the only place that can provide me with the sense of belonging I need."

Lotia and Zhongli both sensed Lin Yuan's special feelings for Liyue through his thoughts. For a moment, this sentiment towards his homeland left Lotia silent. Hearing this, Zhongli felt a sudden stir in his heart and made a decision within himself. He then slowly spoke:

"Since that's the case, I will use my divine power to assist your growth."

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T/N:

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