The next day, they spent time exploring Springvale and made a point to visit the legendary spring itself.
The water tasted as sweet as the rumors claimed.
They also took a lot of souvenir photos.
That evening, everyone gathered around the campfire again to chat under the stars.
Looking up, they could see countless bright stars twinkling overhead.
"Mona, what's the weather going to be like tomorrow?"
"Clear skies again."
"And? Can you divine anything else from the stars?"
"Hmm… looks like something good is going to happen…"
"What kind of good thing?"
"Let me check more carefully… oh!"
"What is it?"
"I think I'm going to meet the person I've been searching for… Remember how my master told me to come to Mondstadt to find someone? I think I'm going to meet them tomorrow!"
"Seriously?"
"Of course! My astrology is super accurate!"
"Then can you divine my love life?"
"Nope, not doing that!"
Mona shook her head firmly.
She sneaked a glance at Xia Zhi, who was sitting a little ways off.
Like heck she was going to do that…
Ever since she secretly did a reading on Yelan's love fortune back at Mr. Xia's place and saw it pointed toward him, she'd gotten curious and looked into Zhu Zi and Ying'er too—only to find the exact same result.
It was outrageous, but she trusted her readings.
Which was exactly why she couldn't tell anyone. If she said it out loud, things would definitely get awkward between everyone.
Mr. Xia would probably feel uncomfortable too.
What if he got mad at her and stopped letting her eat his cooking? No way was she risking that!
Mona quickly averted her gaze.
"Anyway, just wait and see. You'll all know if I'm right tomorrow."
"Guess we'll find out soon enough."
—
As night fell, everyone returned to the Serenitea Pot for a bath.
Since it wasn't exactly appropriate for him to join a bunch of girls, Xia Zhi stayed outside, sitting by the campfire alone.
After warming himself for a bit, he stood and began walking deeper into the woods.
It had been several days since his last journey into Durin's dream—plenty of time for the dragon to consider the offer he'd made.
Tonight, he'd go to the mountain and speak with it directly.
Reaching a secluded clearing, Xia Zhi took out his [Temporary Certificate] and wrote in a suitable identity:
[Angel of Interstice].
Then he raised a hand and drew a slash through the air.
A silent rift opened, its interior filled with countless unblinking, twitching eyes.
Xia Zhi stepped forward and entered the rift.
It vanished behind him.
In the next instant, he stood in a freezing snowfield, before the colossal remains of the demon dragon.
Its massive, living heart still pulsed stubbornly, slowly, within the cavity of its ribcage.
But there was still no progress bar on its body.
Xia Zhi approached.
Sensing his presence, the heart beat faster.
It felt like excitement… mixed with fear.
He stopped right in front of it, placed a hand on the warm surface of the heart, and spoke in the ancient tongue of monsters.
"Durin, I've come as promised."
The heart beat even faster.
"What did you decide about the offer I made in your dream?"
"Will you keep lying here on this snowy peak, waiting to decay?"
"Or will you form a contract with me and be reborn?"
"Give me your answer."
A few seconds passed.
Then a faint voice echoed in Xia Zhi's mind.
It sounded familiar.
Much like the voice he'd heard when he first entered Durin's dream and witnessed the truth behind the calamity five hundred years ago.
Like a young girl softly whispering.
She said, "I accept."
"Good."
Xia Zhi nodded.
He lifted his hand from the dragon's heart.
Then he took out the same [Temporary Certificate] and changed his assumed identity to one he'd used before:
[Vampire Progenitor].
The new role replaced the previous one.
Once equipped, a whole list of blood-type spells populated his skill interface.
He'd glanced through them before and had taken particular interest in two: [Rebirth of Flesh and Blood] and [Curse of Blood].
Now was the perfect moment to test one out.
Xia Zhi raised a hand.
With a thought, his fingernails sharpened into deadly claws.
He slashed across the heart—like a blade through flesh—and a thin wound opened on its tough surface.
Scalding crimson blood spurted from the pulsing wound.
A few droplets splashed onto Xia Zhi's lips.
He pressed them together lightly.
The taste exploded on his tongue—sweet and oddly delicious, stirring a deep thirst within him.
A vampire's unique sensory response.
Fascinating.
He gestured with a hand.
The blood hanging in the air gathered together, forming a single floating mass.
"Be reborn."
Xia Zhi murmured.
He invoked his divine power.
The blood-based spell [Rebirth of Flesh and Blood] underwent a transformation—turning into the golden-tier [Rebirth of Flesh and Blood: Divine].
Light surged from his palm, merging with the floating blood.
It swelled instantly, unraveling into a web of blood strands.
The strands interwove and cocooned the heart inside them.
Forming a massive blood cocoon.
At first, it was silent.
The heart inside seemed to stop beating.
Xia Zhi stood still and waited patiently.
After a while…
Bang.
A sound came from within.
The first stirrings of new life.
Then, fine cracks began to appear on the cocoon.
They widened.
And widened.
Until a massive head broke free from within.
Clear, bright eyes blinked as it looked down at the figure standing on the ground.
Xia Zhi looked up.
Through his god's-eye view, he could see a platinum progress bar floating above the newly born demon dragon.
Its rebirth had downgraded its tier—just as expected.
"Durin."
Xia Zhi greeted it in the tongue of monsters.
It opened its mouth and let out a deep, rumbling roar.
But what Xia Zhi heard was the cheerful, high-pitched voice of a little girl.
She said, "Daddy."
----
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