"...And so, it led to the great battle between you. In the end, you willingly allowed Morax to seal you here."
Just then, a voice spoke up from behind the adepti.
The adepti turned to see an unfamiliar middle-aged man. They were about to rebuke him and drive him away when Zhongli suddenly spoke. "Azhdaha?"
"Yes, it has been a long time, Morax." The newcomer was none other than Kun Jun, who nodded at Zhongli.
"No, no..."
The Dragon King Azhdaha, however, shook his head vehemently at Kun Jun's words.
Hearing this, Kun Jun turned his gaze back to Azhdaha. "You may be angry, but you cannot deny the truth."
"I am a fragment of the Dragon King Azhdaha, the remnant of his benevolent nature. I embody the will of contracts, the aspiration for lofty ideals, and the desire for peaceful coexistence with humanity."
"As I said, the one who once recognized Morax the most was you—and also me."
Azhdaha roared in denial, shaking his head wildly. "No! Impossible! I would never acknowledge Morax, that despicable traitor!"
"Stars fall, and mountains rise..."
Seeing this, Kun Jun sighed and stepped forward, raising his voice.
Hearing these words, Azhdaha reflexively continued, "...Barren lands bloom with stars, radiant as... the blazing sun..."
"Strange... What is this feeling? These are... these memories..."
After speaking, Azhdaha suddenly froze. After a moment of silence, clarity returned to his expression. He turned his gaze back to Zhongli. "...It has been a long time, Morax."
Hearing this, Zhongli smiled. "It has been a long time, old friend."
"Come, while I still retain my senses... seal me away again. The erosion—"
Before Azhdaha could finish, Zhongli interrupted. "There is no need to worry. I have found a way to counteract erosion. I came here intending to free you from it, but I never expected..."
"???"
"!!!"
At Zhongli's words, both Kun Jun and Azhdaha were stunned. Did this mean... all this suffering had been for nothing?
Without waiting for their reactions, Zhongli took out the Ox Talisman and pressed it against Azhdaha.
A brilliant white light enveloped Azhdaha and Kun Jun, merging the two back into one.
When the light faded, only the humanoid form of Azhdaha—identical to Kun Jun—remained.
Now, Azhdaha's aura was as steady and profound as Zhongli's, with not a trace of madness left.
"I have returned, Morax."
"Welcome back, Azhdaha."
...
The adepti then engaged in lively conversation, as if no time had passed at all.
Afterward, Zhongli turned his gaze to the adepti.
A thoughtful glint flashed in his golden draconic eyes before his expression settled into resolve. He began issuing orders:
"Xiao, go to Snezhnaya and invite the Tsaritsa to Liyue for discussions about the future of our seven nations. If necessary, you may disclose the capabilities of the Ox Talisman."
"Cloud Retainer, seek out the Hydro Archon of Fontaine."
"Marchosius, I ask you to travel to Sumeru."
...
In no time at all, Zhongli had dispatched the adepti to invite the archons of the seven nations.
Understanding the gravity of the matter, the adepti did not hesitate. They immediately set off for their assigned destinations.
And so, the battle beneath the Dragon-Quelling Tree came to an end.
Regardless of how other powerful beings viewed Zhongli's combat prowess, the reborn Dragon King Azhdaha—now under the alias Kun Jun—moved into the Wangsheng Funeral Parlor with Zhongli to enjoy their retirement.
However.
Hu Tao was utterly bewildered. Her consultant... had doubled?
Though Kun Jun was just as knowledgeable as Zhongli... she could barely afford one of them, let alone two!
(＿)
After joining the Wangsheng Funeral Parlor, Kun Jun witnessed Zhongli's extravagant retirement lifestyle and initially considered emulating it. But under Hu Tao's withering gaze, he thought better of it and abandoned the idea.
Instead, he took up work as a blacksmith, immersing himself in the life of an ordinary mortal.
The World of Honkai Impact
St. Freya Academy.
The sky was just beginning to lighten at dawn, the morning air crisp and fresh as a thin mist enveloped the academy.
"Haah..."
In Wu Tong's residence, after cultivating all night, he remained full of energy. He ceased his practice, opened his eyes, and exhaled.
The breath shot forth like a sharp blade, effortlessly piercing a hole through the wall ahead.
"Pure Yang realm, twenty acupoints filled."
Wu Tong smiled as he sensed the immense power within him.
Truly, this was the Honkai World, a universe rooted in the cosmology of the Imaginary Tree. The energy within the Imaginary Space was practically infinite. After an entire night of relentless extraction, the energy showed no signs of depletion.
It had to be said—for a cultivation method like Wu Tong's, which required vast amounts of energy, an abundant supply made rapid progress effortless.
After all, this method did not rely on enlightenment. It only demanded energy accumulation to boost strength. Once the power was attained, comprehension would naturally follow.
Just as now—in a single night, Wu Tong had tapped into the boundless energy of the Imaginary Space to fill twenty acupoints.
With the aid of his AI core and his own efforts, he had fearlessly drawn and refined energy from the Imaginary Space, multiplying his strength dozens of times over.
Such a feat would have been unthinkable in the past, yet now it had become reality.
After finishing his cultivation, Wu Tong rose from his bed and freshened up.
Once ready, he donned a deep blue traditional Shenzhou-style robe and stepped out of his temporary residence.
Outside, he immediately spotted Fu Hua practicing Tai Chi in the distance, with Dan Zhu and Cang Xuan cheering her on. Little Cang Xuan, meanwhile, was dozing off.
Fu Hua's residence was close to Wu Tong's, just next door.
Despite the excitement of yesterday—reviving her friends had left Fu Hua too exhilarated to sleep—she still could not resist her long-ingrained habits.
Early in the morning, she had arrived at the open garden space downstairs to train.
Even with onlookers, Fu Hua felt no restraint or nervousness. Instead, the presence of her friends brought her even greater peace of mind.
With her left foot stepping forward, she smoothly transitioned into a practiced Tai Chi routine.
Her movements flowed like water—graceful yet commanding, stirring the air around her as it moved in harmony with her will.
...
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(End of Chapter)