Lin Yuan, Above the Seven Gods!

T/N:

Ruotuo Dragon King=Azhdaha

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A large amount of black mist spread over the sea near Guyun Stone Forest, surging toward Osial's seal.

Deep beneath the ocean, Osial was resting within the sealed space. Suddenly, waves of black fog flowed in, wrapping themselves around Osial's massive body.

These black mists instinctively tried to attack Osial's enormous form, attempting to corrupt him. However, for a demon of Osial's caliber, the black mist was completely ineffective.

Osial lowered his head and observed the creeping black mist, saying, "It's interesting that remnants of a demon god can seep in here."

Though this level of demonic taint posed no threat to him, the fact that such a dark, malevolent force could appear within the seal was something Osial had never encountered before.

He watched the evil power for a while and, finding nothing particularly special about it, lost interest. Just as he was about to dispel the black fog, a voice entered his mind:

" Osial, you and I are both beings sealed by Morax. We share a common enemy."

This voice piqued Osial's interest slightly. With a hint of indifference, he responded, "What are you? If you wish to cooperate with me, first show me your power. I have no interest in joining forces with a weakling."

Even though he was sealed, Osial was still a powerful demon god, his pride preventing him from working with lesser beings.

The voice in his mind continued:

"I am the Ch'i, sealed by Morax a millennium ago. Surely you've heard of me."

Upon hearing this, Osial immediately understood the identity of the voice.

Thousands of years ago, the seas of Liyue were plagued by the great demon Osial, while the mountains were occupied by the fierce Ch'i.

The Ch'i was once an equal to Osial, a powerful creature in its own right.

"Very well, I acknowledge your strength. Now tell me your purpose," Osial said after recognizing the Ch'i's power, his curiosity piqued about the Ch'i's plan.

The Ch'i responded:

"Liyue is currently facing a calamity. Your wife, Beisht, is attacking from the sea, while on land, I have released my corrupting forces, controlling many monsters to attack. Underground, the terrifying Dragon King Azhdaha has risen, causing massive earthquakes that are turning Liyue into ruins. Now is the perfect time for us to break free."

The Ch'i's words left Osial quite surprised:

"I can feel that Beisht is attacking Liyue, but I hadn't expected even Azhdaha to have awakened."

From what the Ch'i said, this truly seemed like the best chance to break out of his seal.

Sensing something from Osial's response, the Ch'i let out a sinister laugh:

"It seems your seal is stronger, preventing you from fully perceiving what's happening outside. I can help you completely shatter your seal, and together we'll destroy Liyue!"

The Ch'i's voice dripped with deep hatred, as it had been sealed for thousands of years. Its enmity toward Liyue and Morax had long reached a level where only Liyue's total destruction could satisfy it.

Osial remained silent for a moment.

His seal had been reinforced after his last assault on Liyue, and even with his power, it would take an extremely long time for the seal to naturally weaken enough for him to break free.

But now, with his wife Beisht already attacking Liyue, and with Liyue suffering from so many simultaneous threats, if he didn't seize this moment, when else could he?

Osial finally spoke:

"If you help me break free from this seal, I will destroy Liyue along with Beisht."

The Ch'i let out a wild, arrogant laugh and said,

"Very well, but once you break free, there is still one existence you need to be cautious of."

"Is it Morax?" Osial responded immediately.

The Ch'i shook its head,

"Morax seems to be struggling to deal with Azhdaha. He's no longer at his peak, and isn't as important."

"Someone stronger than Morax is protecting Liyue?" Osial asked, surprised.

Although Morax was his sworn enemy, Osial had to admit that Morax was among the strongest of all gods. During the Archon War, few could match the power of Morax in his prime. When Osial last escaped, he hadn't sensed any protector stronger than Morax. How could a new, even more powerful guardian have appeared during his recent imprisonment?

The Ch'i's tone grew calmer,

"It's the new Geo Archon, a dragon god just like Morax."

"The new Geo Archon?" Osial, upon hearing this, seemed less concerned.

"Morax was the mightiest of all dragons. How could this new dragon compare to him?"

The Ch'i gave a sinister smile,

"If you're confident in dealing with the new god, that's all the better. That new god is currently locked in battle with Azhdaha, and even if they manage to return afterward, they'll hardly be at full strength."

Osial's seal had remained intact, preventing him from sensing Lin Yuan's ascension to godhood. However, the Ch'i's seal had long since loosened, allowing it to perceive the immense power that Lin Yuan had gained.

For the Ch'i, having the powerful Osial lead the charge was the ideal scenario. Osial's arrogance played right into its plans.

As expected, Osial, full of pride, scoffed dismissively,

"Hmph, if it's just some newly risen dragon, how strong could it be compared to Morax? I'll crush it all the same."

Lin Yuan gazed down at Fulong Valley from the clouds, his draconic majesty sweeping across the landscape. His overwhelming aura surged like a tide, enveloping heaven and earth alike. Below, Zhongli stood with his hands clasped behind his back, his godly powers gone, but still able to sense the grandeur radiating from Lin Yuan. His eyes were filled with both relief and admiration, and within his heart, he knew without a doubt that his earlier decision had been the right one.

Lin Yuan's true form was far more colossal than Zhongli's, a dragon so vast that its body reached the sky and disappeared into the clouds, its shape elegant yet exuding an awe-inspiring authority. This was the form of a divine dragon, one that now bowed its head from the heavens, casting its gaze over all of Fulong Valley, unleashing an unparalleled and sacred draconic aura.

As this aura spread out, Zhongli felt his weakened body gradually rejuvenating. Even though his divine power had been lost, his draconic nature—his original body—still retained the formidable strength of a mighty demon god.

Kun Jun, who had collapsed to the ground, coughing up blood, felt his own strength returning, the effect of Lin Yuan's dragon might healing his injuries. Even his mind, once clouded by pain, was becoming clear again.

On the ground, the half-dissolved form of the pure water spirit Lottie also received Lin Yuan's special attention. The draconic aura infused her with powerful energy, causing her instinctively to begin absorbing nearby water elements to replenish her strength.

"Stand up. A creation of the Geo Lord is not so easily defeated," Lin Yuan's voice echoed as the Ruotuo Dragon King, buried under rubble, slowly crawled out of the deep crater. Though its body had recovered earlier, it was once again covered with countless cracks after being crushed by Lin Yuan's overwhelming waterfall-like attack.

Enraged by the assault, the Ruotuo Dragon King roared fiercely. With a flick of its tail, it sent magma-like fireballs skyward, accompanied by a pool of lightning formed from countless bolts. The two massive elemental attacks converged as they ascended toward the heavens, becoming increasingly unstable as they drew closer.

Seeing this, Lin Yuan remained calm and said with ease, "You want to bombard me with lightning and fire? Fine, I'll return the favor."

With a single thought, the clouds around Lin Yuan darkened, and a massive bolt of lightning struck down from the sky. At the same time, Lin Yuan opened his dragon mouth, spitting out a torrent of fire aimed at the Ruotuo Dragon King.

Lin Yuan's elemental attack collided with the Ruotuo Dragon King's unstable lightning and fire, causing an explosion in mid-air, like fireworks blooming in the sky. Almost instantly, the instability in the elemental attacks triggered a massive explosion. However, Lin Yuan's lightning and fire continued their descent, unaffected, and slammed directly into the Ruotuo Dragon King.

The impact caused a devastating explosion where even light seemed to be swallowed up. The entire Fulong Valley was swept by a violent gust of wind.

Kun Jun quickly ran to take shelter under Zhongli's shield, his face pale with fear. "Such terrifying power... Won't it affect the ley lines?"

Zhongli, calm and composed, replied, "Do not worry. Lin Yuan has limited the range of the attack's impact."

Now that Lin Yuan had gained his divine power, there was no need for concern.

Zhongli no longer addressed Lin Yuan as "Little Dragon Lord." However, it didn't seem appropriate to call him "Emperor" or "Geo Archon" either, so he followed Lottie's lead and referred to him by his name.

The intense explosion caused by Lin Yuan, though violent, was carefully controlled. It only affected the area around the Ruotuo Dragon King, with the rest of Fulong Valley left unscathed. The shockwaves didn't even reach Liyue. After the explosion subsided, a charred crater appeared where the Ruotuo Dragon King had stood, with smoke continuously rising from it. The bottom of the pit was flat and blackened, with no trace of the Ruotuo Dragon King.

In her spirit form, Lottie curiously asked, "Where did the Ruotuo Dragon King go?"

Kun Jun, who was connected to the Ruotuo Dragon King, replied, "Underground. That strike will take it a long time to recover."

Although Lin Yuan had limited the range of his attack, its power was more than enough to destroy the entire Fulong Valley. Zhongli, observing the aftermath, slowly remarked, "It seems that Lin Yuan innately commands the power of seven elements. With his divine power, he can unleash elemental attacks on par with the Seven Archons." The lightning, fire, and water attacks Lin Yuan had just used were incredibly potent, rivaling even the elemental powers of the respective Archons.

Lottie was astonished. "So, is Lin Yuan still considered the Geo Archon? Is there truly a dragon that can wield the power of all seven elements?" Even the Ruotuo Dragon King, created from elemental essence, only mastered five elements. For Lin Yuan to control all seven made him an exceptional existence across the whole of Teyvat.

Kun Jun sighed in admiration. "Lin Yuan's innate talent is truly astounding. He's already this powerful just after becoming a god. Who knows how much stronger he could become with time?"

Lin Yuan's overwhelming power against the Ruotuo Dragon King left Zhongli, Kunjun, and Lottia in awe, and they finally relaxed, becoming mere spectators.

Lin Yuan sat calmly amidst the clouds, not attacking further, waiting for the Ruotuo Dragon King to reemerge, exuding an air of superiority, like a cat playing with a mouse.

After a while, the scorched earth finally cracked open, and the Ruotuo Dragon King slowly crawled out. Although its body had somewhat recovered, much of its rocky back had turned charred black.

The Ruotuo Dragon King's red eyes once again fixed on Lin Yuan, and for a moment, a hint of fear appeared in its gaze. But it quickly shook its head, dismissing the feeling, and prepared to launch another attack at Lin Yuan in the sky.

Just as the Ruotuo Dragon King was about to strike, Lin Yuan spoke leisurely, "Ruotuo, I've already seen through your moves. Next, you plan to launch a barrage of ice spears while causing an earthquake to divide my focus."

As Lin Yuan finished speaking, the Ruotuo Dragon King indeed shot out a barrage of ice spears towards the sky, while its feet stomped heavily on the ground, triggering a tremor aimed at all of Liyue through the ley lines.

At that moment, hearing Lin Yuan's words, the Ruotuo Dragon King was stunned and inwardly shocked. He actually saw through my fighting strategy?

Facing the incoming ice spears, Lin Yuan, who had anticipated everything, remained calm. He gently exhaled a flame that melted the ice barrage in an instant. At the same time, his body glowed faintly with a golden light as he used his divine power to control the ley lines beneath, forcibly suppressing the earthquake that the Ruotuo Dragon King had triggered.

With the Dragon's Eye—more accurately, a "Dragon Vision"—Lin Yuan could predict his opponent's moves during battle and effortlessly neutralize them.

Seeing both of its attacks neutralized so easily, the Ruotuo Dragon King stood in place, momentarily unsure of how to continue the fight.

"Using elemental attacks?"

The Ruotuo Dragon King couldn't help but feel a deep sense of frustration. The elemental attacks of this dragon in the sky, Lin Yuan, were far more powerful than its own, even though it was a creature born of elemental forces. Lin Yuan's attacks were akin to those of the Seven Archons combined. As for the earthquake, Lin Yuan had completely suppressed it, leaving it contained within Fulong Valley and preventing it from affecting the outside world.

"What's wrong? If you don't want to fight, you might as well lie down and surrender," Lin Yuan said calmly.

The Ruotuo Dragon King immediately felt humiliated. Controlled entirely by its malice, it went berserk once more and charged directly at Lin Yuan's tail, which hung down toward the ground. However, with a single flick of his golden tail, Lin Yuan slammed the Ruotuo Dragon King back into the earth.

Realizing it had actually been forced to the ground, the Ruotuo Dragon King quickly stood up again, roaring in rage and unleashing a barrage of elemental attacks. But whether it was elemental or physical attacks, none of them had any effect on Lin Yuan. In fact, Lin Yuan could easily counter each attack with his own, effortlessly knocking the Ruotuo Dragon King back down.

The entire battle was one-sided. Lin Yuan was clearly toying with the Ruotuo Dragon King, who once seemed invincible but now had no way to fight back. Lin Yuan even had the leisure to control the scope of the battle's impact, preventing the shockwaves from affecting other areas.

Kunjun watched in utter amazement as Lin Yuan toyed with what was essentially his own body. He was deeply shaken. "He's too powerful. Lin Yuan is simply too strong. His strength has surpassed even the level of a top-tier god."

Never before in Kunjun's memories of the Ruotuo Dragon King had he seen it treated so casually by another being. If Lin Yuan had existed during the Archon War, would there have even been any need for the other gods?

Lottia was equally astonished, exclaiming,

"I think Lin Yuan has surpassed even the Seven Archons," Lottia remarked. At least the two Hydro Archons she had encountered were far weaker than Lin Yuan.

Zhongli glanced calmly at the dragon in the sky and said, "Perhaps Lin Yuan's future is not limited to this world."

"Is that a good thing?" Kunjun asked.

Zhongli replied nonchalantly, "Let Lin Yuan make his own choices."

"Our era has passed; the next one belongs to Liyue's new age..."

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T/N:

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