Hearing Luya's words, Zhongli gave a soft acknowledgment.
Then, the Lock of the Mortal World that Zhongli always carried flew out from his waist.
The Lock of the Mortal World was a hollow, square stone lock. The material was no ordinary rock—its structure was exquisite, inlaid with an unknown jade that glowed with golden light.
The golden radiance illuminated both Luya and Zhongli's faces.
Reflected in that light, Zhongli's crimson eyes looked faintly lonely and desolate.
The Lock of the Mortal World floated around them, just like the Goddess of Dust, Guizhong, who loved to drift through the air…
Zhongli's thoughts could not help but return to that day thousands of years ago, when he first met the lock's owner…
On the Guili Plains, Glaze Lilies swayed in the wind.
A girl with long gray hair down to her waist, a white lotus flower in her hair, and eyes the color of a clear lake looked like a celestial maiden untouched by the mortal world.
"This is the token of our pact, and also my challenge to you!"
He recalled their first meeting… The wide-sleeved girl presenting the token with a facade of solemnity and bubbling excitement.
So foolish. There had been no formal contract, just an unspoken agreement to act together.
Yet he remembered it still… the blooming Glaze Lilies of the plains, their first encounter etched in memory.
Even though so much time had passed…
Albeit alas, Zhongli remembered too well—That wide-sleeved girl drifting about, and her words among the flowers.
"Those little people, so small and fragile like dust."
"I understand that!"
"So I thought—since the gap between our strengths is so great, then I'll rely on technique and wisdom! If a city can combine your strength with my mind… wouldn't it be remarkable?"
From then on, Zhongli and Guizhong made their first pact.
Together, they built a city on the Guili Plains and led their people through a millennium of joy.
Later, when the Archon War broke out, sea demons plagued Liyue's waters and wicked dragons coiled in the mountains. Zhongli led the Adepti to restore peace.
In battle against Beisht, he summoned a stone whale to fight to a stalemate.
When Beisht raised tsunamis that crushed homes and ships, Zhongli created a stone bird that soared skyward and then plunged into the depths, nailing it into a trench of darkness.
Against the vortex god Osial, Zhongli thrust his Vortex Vanquisher, sealing it beneath Guyun Stone Forest.
In battle with the God of Dreams, Zhongli drew his jade bow and slew him with a single arrow.
Nonetheless, the Archon War was cruel beyond measure…
The Goddess of Dust, Guizhong, perished in one of the great battles. The Guili Plains they had built together was reduced to ruins.
At the end, she smiled faintly, dissolving into dust.
"It seems… I cannot walk this path with you after all."
"As for the lock… forget it…"
The Lock of the Mortal World was both token and relic. Among a sea of Glaze Lilies, Guizhong dispersed into dust.
After her death, the Guili Plains never again bore wild Glaze Lilies…
"This is the token of our pact, and also my challenge to you… All my wisdom is sealed within this stone lock. If you can unlock it—"
Time flowed, the world changed.
Thousands of years passed…
To this day, Zhongli had never opened the lock, nor learned the rest of Guizhong's words.
Even as ages passed, no wild Glaze Lilies ever grew again on the Guili Plains.
As the saying goes, "The people of Guili come and go;" all Zhongli could do was sigh, wondering if he would ever see his old friend again…
Since Zhongli had brought out the Lock of the Mortal World, the atmosphere in the shop grew heavy.
Luya knew this lock held special meaning for him.
Seeing Zhongli bring it forth, Luya already guessed what he was about to ask.
Pointing at the lock drifting nearby, Luya asked tentatively:
"Mr. Zhongli… Do you want me to unlock the Lock of the Mortal World?"
Zhongli nodded.
"The shopkeeper truly knows all… You even know its name."
"This item was entrusted to me by an old friend."
As he spoke, Zhongli's lips trembled slightly.
"She said it was her challenge to me… Shameful as it is, I still cannot solve it."
"By my deduction, to open it requires both supreme strength and profound wisdom."
"The wisdom hidden in your Duel Monsters techniques is unlike any I've ever seen."
"And the power you displayed against Xiao—even as the God of War, I could not match that height…"
"So… Shopkeeper, who has both wisdom and strength, perhaps you can open the Lock of the Mortal World."
Luya nodded and said:
"Then I will try on your behalf, Mr. Zhongli. But I can't promise I can unlock it… I might even break it."
For once, Zhongli's stoic face lit up with excitement. He laughed:
"Haha… Shopkeeper, do try without fear. If even you cannot open the Lock of the Mortal World, perhaps none in Teyvat can."
"With time, its wear only grows. I do not know what my future will be."
"So… I hope to see it unlocked soon."
Luya reached out, and the lock floated into his hand.
It was icy cold to the touch.
Inside, something shifted constantly, like a living thing. Its outer form changed ceaselessly as well.
Luya studied it carefully, yet found no way to open it.
Seeing this, Zhongli realized it would not yield so quickly. He stood and said:
"I will return to Wangsheng Funeral Parlor for now. Leave the Lock of the Mortal World here with you."
Something he had failed to open for millennia was not urgent now.
Luya nodded.
The lock was indeed intricate, filled with ingenious mechanisms. For now, he could not solve it.
When the last customer left the shop, the system's settlement chime rang.
[Ding, congratulations, Host!]
[Today's business is complete!]
[Commencing settlement…]
[Today's total revenue: 50 million Mora!]
[Of which, card pack profit: 40 million Mora.]
[Duel Stage and other profit: 10 million Mora.]
[Available Mora: 70 million]
[Special Item Acquired: Lock of the Mortal World]
Luya checked today's settlement summary…
The system had counted the 500 packs he gave to Xiao as successful sales. But the gems Xiao gave in return, far exceeding their value, were not tallied.
The Yu-Gi-Oh! manga hadn't sold out. Nineteen copies of [Conqueror of Demons – Xiao] sold, one was given to Xiao, and profits weren't much.
However, Xiao's gemstones were worth a fortune…
Miscellaneous earnings totaled 10 million Mora.
[Generating Reward…]
As always, the system issued rewards according to revenue.
Today's revenue reached 50 million Mora.
Luya couldn't help but anticipate what rewards awaited!
"Congratulations, Host, on surpassing 50 million Mora in a single day's revenue!"
"Well done!!!"
[Reward: +400 automatic daily card pack generation]
[Reward: +200 square meters of shop space]
[Reward: +4 Normal Duel Stages]
[Reward: 10 Electronic Duel Machines]
...
Special Item Acquired: Lock of the Mortal World…
[Reward: Goddess of Dust – Guizhong, Card Synthesis Recipe]
...
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