"My old friend, it has been a long time. Sealing you here was not my intention…"
Before Zhongli could finish, a roar from Azhdaha interrupted him.
"Morax, I could have endured the darkness, but you accustomed me to the sunlight, only to cruelly snatch it away…"
Azhdaha's anger grew as he thought about it. He braced himself on all fours, intending to forcibly break through the stone pillar's seal.
The stone pillar groaned under the pressure, making it seem like it would shatter at any moment.
"Alas~"
Zhongli waved his hand, and a powerful surge of adeptal energy reinforced the sealing pillar. The groaning ceased immediately, rendering Azhdaha's struggles futile.
"Jade of Torments, illuminating the eight directions.
Brilliant as celestial stars, peerless in its might…"
Zhongli's voice was deep and resonant as he recounted Azhdaha's past, attempting to awaken his dormant good nature.
"Damn you, Morax! If you have the guts, release me and let's fight again… Ah! Stop chanting, stop it!"
Azhdaha roared in fury, but his violent red eyes flickered, showing Zhongli his method was effective. He sped up his recitation.
"Heavenly movements, mountains and seas take form.
Stars are born in barren lands, shining as the sun.
The bright moon descends upon branches, a dragon's roar in the southern sky.
A momentary brilliance, an unmoving rock heart…"
As Zhongli continued his narrative, Azhdaha's struggles gradually weakened.
"Mor… Morax, it has been a long time. I am glad you came to see me…"
Azhdaha's eyes regained their clarity, and his dormant good nature successfully reasserted control over his body.
"Azhdaha, I apologize for what happened before…"
Seeing his old friend able to communicate normally, Zhongli was overjoyed.
"There is no need for apologies, Morax. This is my own tribulation, it has nothing to do with you!"
Azhdaha knew Morax was referring to his inability to prevent his corruption back then, but he did not consider it Morax's fault.
"Morax, have you considered my previous proposal? Rather than waiting for my weak good nature to be completely eroded and my malevolence to break free and disrupt Liyue's peace, wouldn't it be better to dismember me now and benefit Liyue's people? This would be the last thing I could do for Liyue…"
Azhdaha spoke earnestly. He knew his own condition best. This struggle for control with his malevolence would greatly deplete his already weak good nature and soul. This might be his only chance to see Morax again, and his time in control was limited. He had to persuade Morax quickly! Azhdaha had proposed this to Morax before, but the latter's indecisiveness left him helpless.
"No, I cannot do it! At least, not yet!"
Zhongli refused again. "Severing ties for a greater cause" was easy to say, but difficult to enact, especially when Azhdaha was an old friend who had fought alongside him to build their empire.
Fengyi understood. If it weren't for the melodramatic television dramas of her past life, they wouldn't have spanned so many episodes!
Fengyi simply pulled up a stool, sat down with Yuanbao, and brewed a pot of spiritual tea, ready to watch Zhongli and Azhdaha's "love-hate" entanglement unfold.
"Cowardly! Where is the God of War, Morax, who slew demon gods without batting an eye back then? Show some courage, I don't have much time left!"
Azhdaha, filled with disappointment, cursed, trying to provoke Morax into action.
"Morax will transform into the God of War against sinners who invade Liyue. But against a comrade who shared hardships with me, I cannot raise my sword…"
Zhongli shook his head. Azhdaha still had hope for salvation; he would not act rashly. If he had to act, it would only be when Azhdaha was completely consumed by his madness and beyond saving.
"If not with a sword, perhaps with a hammer?"
Fengyi suddenly interjected. The solemn atmosphere that Zhongli and Azhdaha had painstakingly built instantly froze. They both turned to look at him.
"Just kidding, you two continue, please continue…"
Fengyi chuckled sheepishly. He just wanted to lighten the mood, as the situation was becoming too emotional.
"I was so engrossed in our conversation that I forgot we have guests. Morax… who are these two?"
Azhdaha's brewing emotions were shattered by Fengyi's interruption. How could they continue now?
"Azhdaha, I specifically invited them to help you recover your consciousness. They are the destined individuals – Fengyi and Yuanbao!"
Zhongli was grateful for Fengyi's intervention. He didn't know what else he could say if the conversation had continued.
"Morax, you don't need to comfort me. 'Corruption' is a shackle imposed on us by the Heavenly Principles. No one can escape it, not even you, the God of War. How could these… these children possibly be an exception?"
Azhdaha smiled, taking Zhongli's words as a mere attempt to console him. He wasn't a fool, after all.
"Of course, I know that. While we cannot escape corruption, it doesn't mean we cannot resist it, or weaken it!"
Zhongli revealed a confident smile. The Seven Archons of the world each had their own methods to resist corruption, but they could not help others. However, if he couldn't, it didn't mean no one in the world could. The world was vast and full of wonders, and the Heavenly Principles couldn't be everywhere. There were always loopholes. To Zhongli's knowledge, the Phoenix could greatly cleanse its corruption through rebirth, and the Dragonbird was even more potent. Yuanbao's Golden Flame Seed possessed similar characteristics to the Phoenix and had a high chance of helping Azhdaha mitigate his corruption.
"Not long ago, Yuanbao successfully helped Makoshis regain his consciousness and reduce his past corruption…"
Zhongli cited an example to reassure Azhdaha, then beckoned Fengyi to bring Yuanbao forward.
"Is what you say true?"
Azhdaha trembled. If Yuanbao could truly help his old friend Makoshis regain his consciousness, then he still had hope. After all, he knew Makoshis's condition, and he believed his own remaining consciousness was stronger than Makoshis's.
Azhdaha: Who would willingly play the hero if they could avoid death? He still wanted to go out and see the empire he and Morax had fought to build!
"Of course, when have I ever lied to you?"
Seeing that Azhdaha was finally convinced, the heavy burden on Zhongli's heart was finally lifted.
"Grandpa Dirt Clod, your situation is rather unique. Yuanbao needs to enter your spiritual consciousness!"
Azhdaha's malevolence far outweighed his good nature. If Yuanbao directly gave his life fire seed to Grandpa Dirt Clod, his good nature would surely be unable to contend with the malevolence. Therefore, Yuanbao needed to enter his spiritual consciousness and use his Golden Flame to scorch the malevolence, at least enough to allow his good nature to win the fight!
"Dirt… Grandpa Dirt Clod?!"
Azhdaha was so taken aback by Yuanbao's address that he was speechless. But when he met Yuanbao's clear and innocent eyes, he couldn't muster any anger. He understood that Yuanbao meant no harm. Who would have thought that from this day forward, he would have another illustrious title!