The Sandstorm Demon God swept up a violent surge of sand and fled from Liyue at great speed.
Once he departed, the storm lost control and the sand rained down. A gray film coated the vegetation all around Liyue's borders.
It wasn't a serious issue. After a bit of snow or rain, everything would return to normal.
Zayn lowered the barrier.
Morax returned to his side.
Zayn looked at him and asked, "Why did you let that Sandstorm Demon God escape? If you wanted to, you could've caught up."
"It was a trivial matter. Why must one be killed over such a small offense?" Morax replied calmly.
Zayn shook his head.
This Morax was still too young.
Well… it made sense.
The one who would one day say, "Though I have no desire for conquest, I understand the suffering of the people", had not yet experienced the cruelty of the Archon War.
He hadn't yet been forced into battle after battle, pushed forward by enemy gods until fighting became inevitable.
Back then, Morax had no choice.
And even if he had none, he could never simply watch as people died before him.
Thus he threw himself fully into the Archon War and claimed victory.
Zayn sighed.
"After today, you've already formed enmity with the Sandstorm Demon God."
"Open aggression is easy to handle. Hidden retaliation is harder to prevent. If he comes again later, what will you do?"
Morax replied, "I am not boundless in compassion. I have already given him one chance. If there is a next time—he walks the path to his own destruction."
His meaning was clear.
He had offered lenience once.
If the Sandstorm Demon God still refused to reflect, still blamed mortals forced to flee, and still sought revenge—
then Morax would end him.
Hearing this, Zayn finally relaxed.
This Morax was not yet the battle-hardened deity of the Archon War, but at least he showed the beginnings of resolve.
Growth was inevitable—for humans and demon gods alike.
And often it was the environment that forced such growth.
The Archon War was exactly such an environment: harsh, merciless.
Without decisive resolve, any god could be betrayed, ambushed, and destroyed.
Zayn muttered, "Still, if someone becomes your enemy, it's best to uproot them completely. Better than letting future trouble fester."
Morax paused for a moment.
Zayn looked so harmless and youthful—yet his thinking could be brutally decisive.
On that front, Morax admitted he was inferior to Zenos.
A few days have passed since the Sandstorm Demon God incident.
Zayn was behind his residence preparing a small garden.
He planned to plant roses and tulips.
Why not teach the people to cultivate wheat and rice?
Because he knew the history of this land: soon enough, this early settlement would face the turmoil of the Guili Assembly era.
If Liyue grew too prosperous too early, what if Morax became reluctant to leave?
Just as Zayn scattered the manifested seeds into the soil, the sky once again darkened.
Sand surged in the distance, rolling toward Liyue.
Zayn extended his demon-god perception—
He sensed no demon god nearby.
If the Sandstorm Demon God had stirred up such a massive storm, Zayn would have detected him instantly.
But he sensed nothing.
There was only one possibility left:
This sandstorm came from far away, carried like a natural cataclysm.
Yet Liyue's region was not one where sandstorms should naturally occur.
Before Zayn could ponder further, a streak of golden light shot past him—
Morax had already flown straight toward the storm.
Zayn shook his head, then raised a barrier again.
No way was he letting Liyue be buried in sand.
He wasn't hungry—he didn't need the Sandstorm Demon God feeding him "free sand."
Meanwhile, Morax traveled along the storm's path, following it all the way back to the Sandstorm Demon God's own territory.
Upon reaching the skies above the domain, he spoke no word of warning.
A massive spear of golden stone formed in his hand—
and he hurled it straight at the aura emanating from the demon god's palace.
By the time the Sandstorm Demon God sensed danger, it was far too late.
The colossal spear pierced through his entire form.
"No!!!"
His final roar echoed in the air.
Then his body detonated, bursting into a storm of razor-sharp sand that blasted outward in all directions.
Like a dying star erupting, every shred of remaining power exploded forth, leaving behind the lingering stain of a demon god's dying resentment—
a corruption akin to eternal radiation.
The Sandstorm Demon God's death shook his entire territory.
Fortunately, most humans weren't near the palace.
They only swallowed mouthfuls of sand.
But word spread instantly.
The Sandstorm Demon God—dead.
The palace lay in ruins, skewered by a massive stone spear.
It looked like a grave mound stabbed through by a monument.
Some rejoiced at their newfound freedom.
Most were lost and afraid.
Without the protection of a demon god, how could fragile mortals survive in such a brutal world?
Morax hovered above the ruined domain in a radiant golden glow.
With the sandstorm dissipated, the people clearly saw him.
"I am the Geo God, Morax.
If you wish, you may come to my land.
If you do not, I will not force you."
At those words, the remaining humans all fell to their knees.
None of them truly loved the Sandstorm Demon God.
Those loyal to him had perished alongside him, crushed in the destruction of the palace.
To be offered the protection of another, stronger demon god—
That was a blessing beyond imagining.
Especially since many demon gods did not accept outsiders at all.
Morax's offer was salvation.
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