Zhongli, Guizhong, and Azhdaha stayed in the divine realm for a day, but a whole year had passed in the Douluo Continent.
When Zhongli returned to his residence, a figure appeared before him with a "whoosh."
"Xiao!"
"What's wrong? What's wrong?"
"Wait for me!"
Paimon arrived late, calling out anxiously.
Just as they were eating, Xiao's expression changed, and he disappeared like the wind, leaving Paimon utterly stunned.
When Paimon finally caught up to Xiao, she found him frozen in place.
"Guizhong..."
Xiao murmured, his voice trembling slightly.
He stared blankly at the girl in the large-sleeved robe before him. Even after more than 3,700 years, her image was still etched in his mind.
The sudden appearance of a deceased close friend was something he had never dared to imagine, let alone witness.
"Kid Xiao, don't just stare at Guizhong, I'm back too!"
In Guizhong's arms, Azhdaha spoke with urgency.
"You... You're Dragon King Azhdaha?"
Hearing this, Xiao instinctively looked at Azhdaha, his mind in a daze.
Dragon King Azhdaha was supposed to be massive, so how had he become smaller than Xiao?
"Uh..."
Disrespecting the Dragon King...
Paimon scratched her head, shocked as she looked at Guizhong. Wasn't she supposed to be dead?
How did she cross over?
As for Azhdaha's arrival, Paimon wasn't particularly surprised.
"Sigh, I don't know what happened either. I woke up like this."
Azhdaha spread his claws helplessly.
Being in this state, he felt a bit embarrassed to meet old acquaintances.
"It really is Dragon King Azhdaha..."
Xiao swallowed hard, feeling his scalp tingle and itch.
Dragon King Azhdaha's true form was like a walking mountain, yet now he was only the size of two palms?
Good grief, how much had he been weakened?
"Let's eat first, we can talk while we eat."
Seeing this, Zhongli said with a smile.
But when Xiao saw Zhongli's expression, he was stunned.
How long had it been since this man had last smiled, after losing his friends one by one?
"Sigh... Alright..."
At the dining table, Xiao and Paimon finally learned the whole story. They never expected that Zhongli's trip to the divine realm was to resurrect Guizhong!
And along the way, Azhdaha had also crossed over, allowing him to be revived as well.
After hearing Zhongli's explanation, the expressions on their faces were quite peculiar.
Perhaps due to spending so much time with Paimon, Xiao's expression had a hint of mischief.
"So, you plundered the divine realm's spiritual energy and various elemental powers, and then threatened them?"
Paimon rubbed her chin, reaching a conclusion.
"What are you saying, little one?"
"If those weak humans hadn't tried to kill us, I would have compensated them!"
Azhdaha pouted, clearly displeased.
The survival of the fittest was an eternal truth. They hadn't killed those humans, which was already a great mercy.
Those humans... those who weren't even truly human, but rather self-proclaimed gods, false gods!
For such false gods, Azhdaha had no patience.
"Dragon King Azhdaha, did you just call me a little one?"
Paimon flew over to Azhdaha, circling around him twice.
Azhdaha: "..."
If he were in his true form, he wouldn't have to endure such humiliation!
This little one wasn't even as big as his eye!
"Hmph... Disrespecting the Dragon King!"
Xiao said to Paimon, then turned his head away.
Dragon King Azhdaha held a very high status in Liyue and was deeply respected by the adepti.
Even when humans overmined the ores, even when he was worn down, he never harmed them. Instead, he chose to separate his benevolent side and asked Morax to seal him away again.
Though it seemed foolish, what great righteousness was this?
"Paimon is right, that's exactly what happened."
Zhongli, however, didn't try to justify himself. To resurrect Guizhong, necessary measures were worth it.
If not for Azhdaha's unexpected appearance, the divine realm wouldn't have been left in such ruins.
Of course, Zhongli didn't blame Azhdaha.
He was more relieved that Azhdaha had appeared in the divine realm. If he had appeared in the Douluo Continent, the entire continent might have sunk!
Despite his small size now, the amount of spiritual energy and elemental power he needed to revive was more than twice what Guizhong required.
"So, Zhongli, you don't feel even a bit of guilt?"
Paimon stared with wide eyes, full of curiosity.
Zhongli didn't hesitate, shaking his head.
"Not a shred of guilt, only immense relief."
"If there are consequences, let them fall upon me."
Guizhong and Azhdaha were his own people, and Zhongli was clear about that.
As for the divine realm, Azhdaha's words were correct.
If the other side hadn't harbored murderous intent, Zhongli would have compensated them, making the divine realm more stable. This was something he could have done.
Unfortunately, the gods exuded nothing but killing intent.
Only a few deities lacked such malice.
Upon hearing this, the expressions of those present changed, though not in anger.
Azhdaha and Guizhong were deeply moved, while Xiao believed that Zhongli must have had his reasons for acting as he did.
Paimon didn't fully understand but didn't press further. After all, she was on Zhongli's side now.
"By the way, Haagentus..."
"Your human name is Zhongli now, right?"
"Zhongli, I prefer you call me Guizhong. I like that name better."
Zhongli, Guizhong, Zhongli, Guizhong...
After a moment of thought, Zhongli nodded. He also felt that calling her by her divine name wasn't as intimate.
"Guizhong, Cloud Retainer has also come to this world. She's currently on the other side of this planet..."
"Sigh, Cloud Retainer is here too?"
"As for Madame Ping, she..."
Speaking of this adeptus, Zhongli couldn't help but feel sorrowful. Though she was alive, her heart had died long ago.
In other words: she had let go.
But had she truly let go?
Adepti were immortal, yet after Guizhong's demise, she had become a shadow of her former self, a truly heartbreaking sight.
But such things couldn't be consoled.
"What happened to Madame Ping?"
"She's fine. Perhaps one day, she too will come to the Douluo Continent."
Zhongli waved his hand, sighing.
"Old friends are falling like leaves in the wind."
Azhdaha lamented. Guizhong had been resurrected, but what about the other adepti and yakshas?
Hearing this, Zhongli instinctively glanced at Azhdaha on the table. The words felt eerily familiar.
Divine Realm.
After Zhongli and the others left, the divine realm was abuzz with activity, each party harboring their own ulterior motives.
There was no unity as one might expect; everyone was only concerned with their own interests.
They had thought that the God of Destruction, who proposed expanding the divine realm, would take the lead, selecting a target and then annexing it.