Liyue, Wangshu Inn.
A gentle breeze blew by.
Xiao knelt on one knee, appearing beside Zhongli. He looked around, making sure no one was watching before speaking, "Your Majesty."
Zhongli nodded without replying, his profound eyes turning away from the screen towards the direction of the Sky Islands.
"So, that one had already considered the final step for the world of Teyvat."
Once Celestia fell to the Abyss, Teyvat would be ravaged by the Abyss.
The Fourth Descender would bring the primordial loom of fate to open up a new world and materialize and recreate the people of Teyvat.
Led by the Fourth Descender, the recreated people would begin a new chapter and welcome a new future.
But-
Zhongli sighed heavily.
No one could predict the actions or the future of the Descenders.
Just like the Fifth Descender mentioned on the screen.
Clearly an existence beyond the plans of Celestia and the Abyss.
Yet, this screen could even expose the future of Celestia, the Abyss, and the Descenders, making its authority terrifyingly unimaginable.
"Looks like I can't retire after all."
Morax, the Geo Archon, who had guarded Liyue for thousands of years.
He had planned everything, the Rite of Descension was coming soon, and he would announce the arrival of Liyue's human-led era.
Now, everything was disrupted by the Fifth Descender.
You just had to get involved in the struggle between Celestia and the Abyss, why couldn't you just leave it to the Fourth Descender? You had to get your hands dirty.
Is this savior thing really so tempting?
Or is the Fifth Descender just trying to cause trouble?
However, Zhongli was still curious.
After all, no one could avoid being curious about future events.
Especially those related to the future of the world.
"Hmm?" As Zhongli pondered, he suddenly sensed someone calling his name.
He looked closely.
A familiar name in the chat group created by the screen was greeting him.
【Hu Tao】："Zhongli, are you there? Come out quickly, we have business at the Wangsheng Funeral Parlor."
【Zhongli】："Hu Tao, are you asking me to advertise the Wangsheng Funeral Parlor to everyone here?"
【Hu Tao】："Of course! Haven't you understood the future's hint?"
【Venti】："Hehe, Hu Tao, it seems you've understood the future's hint."
【Hu Tao】："The screen has already hinted that the Fifth Descender thinks many people are unqualified to be recreated, which means he will destroy those he deems unworthy before the world's destruction."
【Ningguang】："No wonder Hu Tao is excited. You want to let those unqualified people reserve their afterlife rites with the Wangsheng Funeral Parlor in advance."
【Hu Tao】："Tianquan Ningguang, you're so smart, you understood me immediately."
【Hu Tao】："But I'm puzzled. The world's ending hasn't been confirmed, why would the Fifth Descender do this? Also, what exactly are the Descenders?"
【Zhongli】："..."
【Childe】："The Wangsheng Funeral Parlor's director is quite open-minded. You don't seem worried at all."
【Hu Tao】："As the 77th Director of Wangsheng Funeral Parlor, I handle afterlife rites, I've seen too many life and deaths. I've developed a new perspective on death. The future is just death, it's just a matter of how you die. Nothing to worry about."
Fontaine, Court of Fontaine.
Foulina nervously kept swallowing.
"Death?"
There are people who aren't afraid of death in this world.
You may not be afraid of death, but I'm terrified.
Like Hu Tao, Foulina doesn't know what the Descenders are.
But the Fifth Descender dares to directly eliminate those he deems unfit, showing that he isn't afraid of the gods who protect each nation.
"Isn't this the end?"
As the fake Hydro Archon, Foulina had deceived the people of Fontaine for 500 years.
This act of deception would definitely be a crime.
The Fifth Descender would surely expose her crimes, and then all the people of Fontaine would collectively denounce her and send her to the Court of Fontaine to spend her life there.
No, according to the Fifth Descender, he will destroy people like her.
Foulina became increasingly afraid.
It's no longer a matter of being imprisoned in the Court of Fontaine for life.
In the future, the Fifth Descender might bring the people of Fontaine to execute her on the guillotine.
【"Traveler, Paimon, thank you for your help this time."】
【"We successfully repelled the large-scale attack of the Hilichurls."】
"What sound?"
The sudden voice startled Foulina, who had been deeply immersed in fear.
Only then did she realize that images had appeared on the screen at some point.
【A fiery red cape, a short skirt, and a pair of white long boots outline the girl's slender legs.】
【The red rabbit ear headband on top of her head further highlights the girl's cuteness.】
【Mondstadt City, Amber, the Outrider, happily danced with joy.】
【"Thanks to you, we were able to repel the Hilichurl invasion of Mondstadt in such a short time."】
【"Amber did a great job too." Paimon floated in the air, proudly crossing her arms.】
【Lumine followed suit, complimenting Amber, "This time, we owe it to Amber for discovering the Hilichurls' advance."】
【"Mondstadt was able to repel them in an orderly manner thanks to Jean's leadership."】
【Lumine, led by Amber, introduced herself to Jean.】
【She expressed her intention to find her blood-related brother.】
【Unfortunately, Mondstadt has been experiencing a recent Dragon Calamity. Jean needs to lead everyone to the abandoned temple of the Four Winds to deal with the geomancy disorder.】
【Once things are settled, she will have time to help Lumine find her brother.】
【With nothing else to do, Lumine and Paimon followed Jean, Lisa, and Kaeya to the abandoned Four Winds Temple.】
【After dealing with it, Mondstadt did not experience another Dragon Calamity for a while.】
【Instead, they were met with a large-scale Hilichurl invasion.】
【Fortunately, Amber, as an Outrider, is very conscientious, and when she first brought Lumine to Mondstadt and discovered a nearby Hilichurl tribe, she had a plan.】
【She discovered the Hilichurls' tracks attacking Mondstadt in advance.】
【This allowed Mondstadt to prepare for defense in advance.】
【Lumine stayed in Mondstadt, waiting for news of her brother, so she joined the fight against the Hilichurls.】
【"Kaeya said this is related to the Fatui." Amber pondered, her expression solemn.】
【"I wonder what the Fatui's goal is."】
【"I guess I'll have to keep an eye on those Fatui guys."】
【Amber muttered to herself, then suddenly looked up, apologetically towards Lumine. "I'm really sorry."】
【"I've been preoccupied with Mondstadt matters. I've already put out a missing person notice for your brother."】
【"But there's still no news yet."】
【"You've helped Mondstadt a lot this time, there's nothing much I can do to thank you, so let me treat you to a meal."】
【Paimon's eyes lit up immediately, her stomach rumbling.】
【"Really? I've been so hungry, can I eat a lot?"】
【"Of course, eat all you want, you are the heroes of Mondstadt." Amber laughed and patted her chest.】
【The three were about to go eat, when a gust of cold wind blew past.】
【Amber shivered, a strange feeling of apprehension arose from the bottom of her heart.】
【She couldn't help but look towards the forest outside the city. Several birds suddenly flew out.】
【Amber's brow furrowed slightly, unnoticed.】
【She has been engaged in reconnaissance work for many years, and she can easily tell something is wrong.】
【There must have been some disturbance in that forest, causing the birds to panic and flee in fear.】