Chapter 67

Apart from the Great Dendro Archon, who has the deepest feelings about the changes in the land of Sumeru, it can only be Nahida.

In the energy cage called the 'Confinement Device,' Nahida looked exactly like a young version of the Great Dendro Archon. She could be called a fragment of the Great Dendro Archon or even her daughter. She looked like a canary with broken wings, caged and unable to fly freely.

Every joy in the land of Sumeru reached her ears.

She heard the joy of the elemental creatures after they regained their consciousness and said goodbye to the pollution.

She felt the gentleness after the dark energy in the earth's veins of Sumeru was purified.

She could feel the people in Sumeru City weeping with joy as the Demon Scale Disease was cured.

She also heard the voice of the 'Great Dendro Archon' amidst the purifying energy.

"The Great Dendro Archon..."

Nahida's small hand touched the energy cage, and her innocent eyes looked toward the gates of the Sanctuary of Surasthana.

From the day she was born, the person she most wanted to see was her. She had thought the Great Dendro Archon had died long before her birth.

She never expected to hear her voice again.

She had returned, and the people of Sumeru had long awaited her return.

Nahida thought to herself, *I am not qualified to be a true god.*

It was precisely because she did not have the strength and wisdom that the people of Sumeru expected that she was abandoned, confined here.

*I am not worthy to be the god of Sumeru.*

*But thankfully, you have returned.*

While Nahida was thinking these thoughts, footsteps approached, and like a frightened deer, she looked over quickly.

A young man with majestic golden eyes appeared out of nowhere and walked towards her.

Before she could ask anything, the stranger spoke.

"Is that really what you think, Nahida?"

Nahida blinked, taken aback, and asked softly, "Who are you? Are you asking me a question?"

Takumi looked at the imprisoned Nahida.

As a being with dominion over the laws of heaven, he could easily see into anyone's heart. No god could block his insight.

Of course, he knew what Nahida was thinking.

The Great Dendro Archon and Nahida both had the ability to see into the hearts of others, derived from fragments of the mental laws.

Their abilities were complex, but their power was fragmented and unfocused. They were not truly refined, not yet worthy of the name 'God of Wisdom.'

"Do you truly believe that the Akademiya imprisoned you because you let them down? Did someone tell you that it was the will of the people of Sumeru?"

Although Nahida didn't know who the young man before her was, she could sense the majesty and faint aura of a god from him.

Could he be the Geo Archon from Liyue?

Nahida answered humbly, "Yes, the sages of the Akademiya are disappointed with me because my wisdom could not bring happiness to the people of Sumeru, and my divine power could not even eliminate the Withering."

Takumi snorted coldly, his golden eyes shining. "Foolish. Very foolish. Do you know what you look like to me, Nahida?"

A majestic, cold temperament spread out with his displeasure.

Nahida was startled by such intense power and looked at him with her innocent eyes, confused.

"In my eyes, you are like a wild beast that has been tamed by a group of monkeys.

"The monkeys took advantage of the beast's ignorance, pulling out its teeth and cutting off its claws. Then they told the beast, 'You must cut a piece of meat from your body for us to eat every day. Only then will you be considered kind, wise, and useful.'

"The beast was taught by the monkeys every day that this was the truth.

"But to the monkeys, the beast was just a domesticated animal, kept in a cage."

Nahida came back to her senses, her cheeks puffing out in frustration. "Why do you speak of me and the people of Sumeru this way?"

Takumi continued, unfazed, "Do you think the Akademiya represents the people of Sumeru?"

Nahida nodded. "The Akademiya is the governing center of Sumeru, of course it represents the people."

Takumi chuckled. "But in my eyes, they are nothing more than parasites, feeding off the people like brain-eating worms.

"The sages of the Akademiya do not represent the people of Sumeru. They imprisoned you because they fear your growth, fear that you will hear the true voices of the people.

"They fear that when you grow strong enough, you will eradicate them all at the behest of the people of Sumeru.

"After imprisoning you, they congratulated themselves and felt proud. 'Look,' they said, 'we humans have imprisoned a god.'

"They made you believe that it was because of your inadequacies, so you would constantly strive to prove yourself to them. It's truly laughable.

"Even the Great Dendro Archon studied for thousands of years before she became a veritable god of wisdom."

"When it comes to forbidden knowledge and the power of the abyss, even the Great Dendro Archon, the Red King, the previous Hydro Archon Egeria, the previous Pyro Archon, the previous Cryo Archon, and the previous Electro Archon were all affected by it."

"Tell me, do you think you are stronger than them?"

"Right now, you are like a tamed beast, obediently accepting the scraps and the whips thrown to you by your master."

Having said this, Takumi continued, "I ask you again, do you truly think that the Akademiya represents the people of Sumeru?"

Nahida wasn't stupid; she simply lacked experience. Hearing the words of this god, she began to reconsider.

Reflecting carefully, she realized she had had very little direct contact with the people of Sumeru.

But the complaints she heard from those she had met now came back to her mind.

*'Oh, gods, the youngest son of that scholar from the Akademiya cut off my daughter's hand just because he fancied it.'*

*'Curse Kaveh, he stole the research of a civilian scholar because his mentor is a sage!'*

*'Damn it! The Akademiya bullies us desert people, forcefully buying our goods. How will we survive?'*

*'The sages forced my friend into their research lab for human experimentation! He never came back!'*

*'The merchants of Sumeru suffer because of the constant exploitation by the Akademiya.'*

Takumi looked at Nahida, still stunned, and spoke again, his voice demanding her attention.

"Do you understand what kind of will you need to be a qualified god?"

Nahida's worldview was completely shattered by Takumi's penetrating words, and her small body trembled slightly.

Thinking back to the god who was supposed to be the Geo Archon, she remembered the actions of the rangers in the forest.

They would capture wild hawks, break their spirits, and make them obedient tools.

She felt like she was that hawk, captured and tamed.

She felt anger now, an unfamiliar emotion.

Takumi looked at Nahida, who was slowly coming to her senses. After all, as a god tied to the laws of wisdom, she was capable of understanding instantly when the truth was pointed out to her.

Nahida lowered her head, her small hands clenched into tight fists. She looked up at Takumi with determination.

"Please, tell me how to become a qualified god."