Paimon looked at Qiu Bai with a puzzled expression."Erosion… what does that mean?"
"Paimon doesn't really get it."
She turned to the Qiu Bai beside her and asked.
"Hehe, it's nothing."
"I was just talking to myself, little Paimon."
Qiu Bai smiled and gently patted her head as he spoke.
"Hmm..."
Hearing that, Zhongli also let out a sigh.
He slowly closed his eyes, crossed his arms, and said nothing as if he had remembered something from long ago.
"Why do I feel like…"
"the atmosphere's gotten a little gloomy?"
Paimon glanced at Lumine and asked curiously.
"No idea."
"But judging by how Qiu Bai and Zhongli are acting, they probably remembered something from the past."
Lumine looked at the two and responded to Paimon.
"Let's move on..."
After a while, Zhongli opened his eyes and spoke to the group.
"Let's go."
Qiu Bai smiled and said to the others,
"Let's move out."
And so, the group continued onward.
They entered a valley, at the center of which stood a massive ancient tree.
The tree was towering dozens of meters tall.
Parts of its trunk were embedded with faintly glowing blue crystalsthat lit up the large pool beneath it.
In the water, fish could be seen swimming and dozens of other trees grew around the edges.
Beside the pool was a lush, vibrant green lawn.
"Whoa! What a huge tree!"
Kun Jun stared in awe.
"There are all kinds of mysterious crystals on it too, how fascinating!"
Even Paimon couldn't hold back her amazement at the grand scene.
"Hehe."
"This tree… isn't it just the tip of Azhdaha tail?"
Qiu Bai smiled as he looked at the tree in front of them.
He had seen that ancient battle with his own eyes a thousand years ago and this very tree was the tip of the Geo Dragon King Azhdaha tail.
And this tree had a name: The Dragon-Subduing Tree (Fulong Tree).
"This ancient tree…"
Zhongli looked at the massive tree in front of him and sighed again.
Then he turned to Qiu Bai, who stood beside him.
"Old friend, I'll have to trouble you soon."
"I can sense that those miners are about to reach the gate of the seal."
Zhongli frowned and spoke to Qiu Bai through a voice transmission.
"Don't worry, Morax."
"But for the battle coming up, we'll need to fully release Azhdaha in order to erase the erosion."
Qiu Bai also frowned and replied via voice transmission.
"Fully release him…"
"We'll have to try to lure Azhdaha into the sky, otherwise this whole area will be destroyed."
Zhongli furrowed his brows too, stroked his chin, and responded telepathically.
Qiu Bai nodded, then looked toward Kun Jun, Paimon, and Lumine.
"Let's split up to investigate."
"We'll leave this area to you three—Zhongli and I will head over there."
Qiu Bai said with a smile.
"Be careful out there."
"No wait, how could you two even get into danger…"
Paimon started to say something, then shook her head and waved her hand, realizing who she was talking to.
"Little Paimon, we can get hurt too, you know."
"Last time in the Golden House, I got beaten up pretty badly."
Qiu Bai laughed and scratched his nose as he responded.
Then he and Zhongli began walking toward the Dragon-Subduing Tree.
"You—you still have the nerve to bring that up?"
"I'm so mad!!"
Paimon stomped her foot angrily and yelled at their backs.
"Let's go investigate over there."
"Forget those two for now."
Paimon turned to Lumine and Kun Jun and said.
Then she flew off in another direction, while Lumine and Kun Jun walked toward a stone tablet.
Kun Jun placed his hand on the tablet and slowly closed his eyes…
Then suddenly opened them wide, his brows furrowed tightly and his hair seeming to stand on end with fury!
He closed his eyes again briefly, as if remembering something—then slowly opened them once more.
"This is…"
Kun Jun's voice had become low and heavy.
"What's wrong?!"
Paimon flew back just in time to see Kun Jun in that state and asked worriedly.
"…Just a bit dizzy, that's all."
"It's fine now."
Kun Jun held his forehead, lightly closing his eyes as he spoke calmly.
The deep, low tone in his voice was completely different from before.
"Did you find anything?"
Lumine looked at Kun Jun, who was rubbing his aching head and asked with some confusion.
"For now… hmm, not yet."
Kun Jun crossed his arms in front of his chest and replied steadily.
"No other choice then, Traveler. I'll go look over there."
"Why don't you climb up the tree and have a look?"
Paimon turned around and suggested to Lumine.
"You sure there are clues up there?"
Lumine put her hands on her hips and glared at Paimon, clearly annoyed.
Why does she have to be the one to climb a tree?
"How would we know unless we try?"
"Besides, you'll have a better view from up high!"
Paimon also put her hands on her hips and retorted.
"Don't you think so, Kun Jun?"
Paimon turned to ask Kun Jun.
"…"
"Huh? Uh—yes, I guess so?"
Kun Jun seemed lost in thought and when Paimon asked, he took a moment to respond.
"See? My ideas are usually spot-on."
"Wait, I can fly! Aiya, I'll go then."
Paimon suddenly remembered she could fly, glanced at the big tree, and took off into the air.
Meanwhile, in the distance, Zhongli and Qiu Bai had discovered an underground tunnel.
From within the tunnel came faint clanging sounds—clang, clang, clang…
"This must be it, Morax."
"There's something strange at the end."
Qiu Bai stroked his chin as he stared down at the tunnel and spoke slowly.
"Yes, this is the place."
"Old friend, I'll go call the others over."
Zhongli turned toward Qiu Bai and said calmly.
"Wait, Morax. Are you sure we should call them?"
"The danger down here… it's not any less than the battle with Osial."
Qiu Bai furrowed his brows and asked, surprised.
"I will protect the Traveler during the battle."
"What happens in Teyvat needs someone to witness and record it."
Zhongli turned and replied solemnly.
"Sigh… alright then."
"Morax, since you insist, we'll do it your way."
Qiu Bai sighed and spoke softly.
"Everyone, over here!"
Zhongli then turned and called out to Kun Jun and the others in the distance.
Not long after, having heard his call, Paimon, Lumine, and Kun Jun came over.
"Qiu Bai, Zhongli did you guys find a clue?"Paimon asked curiously.
"Pretty much, yeah. I'd say we found it."
"Faster than I expected, too."
Qiu Bai smiled, arms crossed as he looked at Paimon.
"This tunnel was freshly dug."
"Looks like the answer lies ahead."
Zhongli said slowly, glancing at the group in front of him.
"There's a sound coming from inside the tunnel?"
"Uwahh… I-I don't wanna be the first one to go in!"
Paimon said nervously, hearing strange noises echoing from within the tunnel.
(T/N: Like the story fellow daoist? Read 20 chapters ahead on my P@treon [p@treon.com/DaoistRongyi] Thanks for your support! 😊)