Lost in thought, Xianyu was pondering over the matters ahead. After an unknown period, a knock on the door roused him from his thoughts.
"Is Lord Xianyu here? The executive instructed you to go to the Northern Bank to discuss urgent matters," the voice outside the door said.
"I'm here, just a moment," Xianyu replied, opening the door to find two individuals waiting outside.
"Let's go," he said, gesturing for them to lead the way. "And you don't need to call me 'lord,' just use my name. I'm not planning to join your group."
The two guides exchanged a glance but remained silent, leading the way without acknowledging his request.
At the Northern Bank's meeting room, Xianyu encountered Tartaglia.
"Well, well, my friend, it's been a while," Tartaglia greeted him. "Your strength seems to have increased again. Care for another bout?"
Xianyu didn't respond directly to Tartaglia's challenge. "We can discuss that later. I'm here for a specific reason, and you know what it is."
Understanding the gravity of Xianyu's visit, Tartaglia dropped the subject of their sparring match.
"Indeed, I'm well aware of your purpose, and I'm also quite intrigued by the 'Unrestricted Scroll of Taboos'," Tartaglia said.
"I was informed of it by my subordinates a few days ago, but you weren't in the city at the time, so I didn't seek you out," Xianyu explained. Seeing Tartaglia now helped alleviate any lingering concerns he had.
"It seems you've been off understanding the Unrestricted Scroll of Taboos," Tartaglia remarked. "I assume you have some insight into its effects."
Tartaglia nodded, indicating that he had indeed researched the scroll after hearing about it during their previous transaction.
"As for my plans to obtain the Archon Gnosis from Morax, taking on a deity like him solely with my own power would be foolish, even with the authority bestowed upon me by Her Majesty," Tartaglia continued. "That's where external forces come in, and what better force to weaken him than the battles between the gods themselves?"
Unfortunately, Morax's suppression of the sealed gods in the Cloud Pavilion has weakened during this period. Once the seal is broken, the accumulated resentment of those gods, sealed for years, will surely not go unanswered."
Incorporating all these elements, Xianyu and Tartaglia continued their discussion, each understanding the significance of their collaboration in the face of formidable challenges.
To unlock the seal, one item must be mentioned—the 'Unrestricted Scroll of Taboos'!
So, when Tartaglia heard that Xianyu wanted to make a deal with him, he was also eager and even considered personally going to Resplendent Cloud Pavilion to find him.
However, considering that Xianyu initiated the trade, it indicated that he also wanted something, and he couldn't achieve it on his own or found it difficult to do so, hence why he came to find Tartaglia.
Ultimately, Dadelia patiently waited at Liryue for a few days.
As soon as Xianyu returned to his residence, Tartaglia immediately sent someone to invite him.
Both of them attached great importance to this transaction—one involved the possibility of "becoming a god," and the other involved the opportunity to obtain the "Archon Gnosis."
Both of their actions were crucial!
No one could stop them, and anyone who tried would face dire consequences. This transaction would be kept secret from anyone who might disrupt it.
Indeed, the matters concerning both parties were possibilities, not certainties, because ascending to godhood or obtaining the Archon Gnosis presented exceptionally great challenges.
Xianyu had never witnessed or experienced the process of ascending to godhood, so he was unaware of the requirements. However, as an Elemental Lord, advancing further would at least elevate him to a quasi-deity status.
After all, a demigod was still a god!
The divine crystal, as an evolutionary material, would undoubtedly contain some aspects of divinity.
Xianyu's uncertainties and Dadelia's plans were both uncertain, not because of anything else, but because Morax was revered as the "God of War" by the world.
Would it be easy to obtain his Archon Gnosis?
Nevertheless, despite the challenges, both of them would not miss any opportunity. If successful, Xianyu would no longer fear anyone beneath the gods, even facing the true forms of those weak lesser deities.
He could unleash divine techniques by combining divine power and spiritual power, a power that could rival that of the lesser gods!
As for Tartaglia, if successful, the probability of obtaining the Archon Gnosis would greatly increase!
"Well, after you mentioned the Unrestricted Scroll last time, I sent someone to investigate, but unfortunately, we found nothing," Tartaglia said. "So, what do you want from me in this trade?"
Tartaglia didn't hide the fact that he had investigated, understanding that Xianyu must have had similar considerations. Since Xianyu had brought it up, there was no need to hide anything.
As for its effects? It could only be said that Xianyu was indeed formidable and mysterious, knowing things that ordinary people couldn't comprehend.
If it weren't for the fact that he appeared to be a normal human, Tartaglia would have thought he was one of those "Adeptus."
In the silent room, after Tartaglia finished speaking, they looked at each other.
"What I want is..."
*Knock knock knock*
Suddenly, a knocking interrupted the silence, breaking the atmosphere.
Tartaglia looked displeased at the interruption, and although Xianyu was also annoyed, he didn't show much reaction.
"I've said it before, don't disturb me unless it's urgent! Hmph!"
Outside the door, the person could sense the displeasure in their master's tone, feeling a bit flustered. While Tartaglia was usually amiable, private conversations being interrupted would naturally put anyone in a bad mood.
However, since the interruption had already occurred, they had to finish what they came to say.
"I'm sorry, Master!"
"I just received news that someone from Lord Xianyu's side has been arrested, so I came to report it. Please forgive me!"
Upon hearing this, Xianyu was taken aback. Someone from his side?
The only ones associated with him were the three members of the Zhang family, and they had been safe for the past few days, so how could they be arrested now?
But Liyue was a lawful country, so there shouldn't be any immediate danger.
In response to Dadelia's inquiring gaze, Xianyu spoke, "Who captured them? Officials from Lryue, or people from the Shui family?"
The only ones in Liryue with whom he had grievances were a person named Wudan and the Shui Family.
Apart from these two, there shouldn't be anyone else who would have a problem with him.
"It's the Shui Family, Master."
"Hmm? The Shui family? Why do they have the leisure to bother with me? Instead of worrying about their own affairs, why come to me for trouble?"
Tartaglia also understood that they needed to know the whole story.
"They probably have someone backing them up; otherwise, they wouldn't dare to lay hands on your people like this."
Who was the mastermind? Both parties knew who the mastermind likely was. In their eyes, he was just an ordinary mortal who had lost his ambitions. Compared to their pursuits, he was hardly worth their attention.
"Well, it's probably the work of that person. I didn't want to deal with him, but it seems he's come to us after all..."