If Akio could hear Keqing's thoughts, he would probably put her over his knee and give her a good spanking. Was being tall, handsome, and rich not enough?
It had to be said, Keqing truly lived up to her status as a wealthy young lady. The lavish spread of dishes before them would easily cost tens of thousands of Mora.
"Keqing, I've heard that Liyue has the Rite of Descension, right?" Akio suddenly asked.
"Yes, and it's coming up soon—in about a week," Keqing nodded as she picked up a Golden Shrimp Ball. "This year's Rite of Descension will be hosted by the Tianquan, Ningguang. Would you like to come and see it?"
"In about a week?" Akio nodded. "Sure."
The Rite of Descension was only a week away. It seemed Zhongli's retirement plan was about to begin. Soon, he would get to meet the Traveler. He wondered if it would be Aether or Lumine.
"Keqing, do you like Golden Shrimp Balls?" Akio asked, already knowing the answer as he watched Keqing continuously pick up the dish.
"Huh? You noticed?" Keqing nodded. "Even just one Golden Shrimp Ball can satisfy my taste buds and clear away all the stress."
…
The meal ended quickly. After Keqing paid the bill, she bid farewell to Akio and Kitsune Saiguu and hurried off. She needed to go back and practice her sword techniques.
Akio and Kitsune Saiguu, meanwhile, walked hand in hand through the streets of Liyue. The city was beautiful at night, bustling with people. As the most prosperous city in Teyvat, even at night, people could happily stroll and enjoy themselves.
"The nation of contracts. Seeing it today, I can't help but marvel at the gap between nations," Kitsune Saiguu sighed.
"Inazuma's resources are already scarce, and with Ei's Sakoku Decree, it's truly shaken the foundation of the country."
"The Sakoku Decree… truly one of Ei's most foolish policies," Akio scoffed. "When Makoto is revived, let's see how Ei explains herself."
"If Makoto saw the state of Inazuma today, even someone as gentle as her would be furious, right?" Kitsune Saiguu speculated.
"Maybe… Hmm?" Before Akio could finish, he seemed to sense something and looked up. Not far down the street, a figure dressed in elegant attire, exuding the aura of a kind old father, was walking toward them. His presence was as solid as bedrock.
"What is it?" Kitsune Saiguu followed Akio's gaze but didn't notice anything unusual.
"Morax," Akio said softly.
Clearly, the approaching figure had also noticed Akio. In the next moment, their golden eyes met.
"The Geo Archon?!" Kitsune Saiguu exclaimed, looking at the man in the brown dragon-patterned robe.
Zhongli paused for a moment, then walked straight over, making Kitsune Saiguu a little nervous. This was one of the oldest and most powerful gods in Teyvat!
"Hello, friend. Shall we talk on the mountaintop?" Zhongli approached and spoke.
"Of course," Akio nodded, then disappeared from the spot with Kitsune Saiguu.
Zhongli felt the spatial fluctuations left behind, and a hint of surprise flickered in his calm eyes. This power was the same overwhelming force he had sensed earlier.
In the next moment, Zhongli also disappeared, reappearing on a high peak above the Ministry of Civil Affairs. He looked at Akio, who was already there, and said, "May I ask how I should address you?"
"Akio," Akio replied, looking at Zhongli. "Morax?"
"Indeed," Zhongli nodded. He spoke seriously, "Akio, can you tell me why you've come to Liyue? You should know that gods cannot casually enter the territory of other gods."
"I mean no harm. I've long heard that Liyue is the most prosperous nation in Teyvat and was very curious. This time, I've just brought my wife to travel and see the sights of Liyue," Akio explained.
"Ding~ Meeting the Geo Archon, Morax, has unlocked the SS-level Herrscher of the Void template. Unlocked the Key of the Void's transcendence—Domain of the Void."
Suddenly, the system's voice rang out, and Akio could clearly feel his power surging, far stronger than before.
Indeed, meeting these figures was the key to unlocking more templates!
"Then, Lord Akio, would you be willing to make a contract with me?" Zhongli asked. As the God of Contracts, he wouldn't easily trust the words of another god unless a contract was made. No one dared to break a contract in his presence.
"I can agree to a contract, but Morax, let's have a spar first," Akio said, feeling excited now that he had gained new power. Wasn't this old man right in front of him the perfect sparring partner?
"…" Zhongli looked at the battle-hungry Akio and fell silent for a moment. Indeed, he was from the Electro Archon's side—just as combative as Beelzebul.
"Since you've invited me, I cannot refuse," Zhongli nodded. Divine light enveloped him, and his attire changed into a white and gold hooded robe.
"Let's go to the sea. If we fight here, we might destroy Liyue Harbor," Morax said, his own fighting spirit rising. After all, he had risen to power through battle.
"I was thinking the same," Akio nodded in agreement.
"Akio," Kitsune Saiguu looked at him with concern. Morax was one of the oldest and most powerful gods!
"Don't worry, it's just a spar," Akio reassured her. "Wait here for us to return."
Now that he had unlocked the SS-level Herrscher of the Void's authority, according to the system, he was more than capable of easily defeating Teyvat's top gods.
"Be careful," Kitsune Saiguu had no choice but to nod.
In the next moment, Akio and Morax disappeared from the spot.
Hundreds of kilometers away from Liyue, above the ocean, two golden figures appeared.
Morax's hand slightly clenched, and a golden spear appeared in his grasp—the Vortex Vanquisher.
"I've long heard that the Geo Archon, Morax, suppressed countless demon gods and displayed unparalleled ferocity during the Archon War," Akio said, the Domain of the void manifesting in his hand. His fighting spirit was at its peak. "Please, Geo Archon, give it your all!"
Aside from his previous battle with the Shogun, Akio had never fought at full strength. It had never been satisfying. Now, with Morax as his sparring partner, he was thrilled.
"I'll take your advice," Morax nodded, then disappeared. In the next moment, he appeared beside Akio, thrusting the Vortex Vanquisher.
But it only struck air. Akio's speed far surpassed Morax's. With a phase shift, Akio created a small spatial confinement, trapping Morax.
Several Void Lances, carrying the power to distort space, shot toward him.
"Solid as Stone!" A sturdy Jade Shield enveloped Morax. The Void Lances collided with it and exploded on impact.
The tremendous force sent Morax flying. He barely managed to stabilize himself, only to find that the Jade Shield was covered in cracks. In the next moment, it shattered completely.
"Such formidable attack power," Morax praised. Even during the Archon War, no one had been able to break his Jade Shield so easily.
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