WebNovels

Chapter 216 - Ninth Life, Gave Me Power Yet Forbade Me to Use It

He accepted the Stone Dumbbell from Guizhong and examined it carefully. The more Morax looked, the more it resembled Planet Befall.

The only difference was that the chains of the Stone Dumbbell were slender, delicate like those of a girl, while the chains of Planet Befall were thick and heavy.

"Did you make this yourself?" Morax asked, holding up the lock.

"Yes. You can try unlocking it," Guizhong said with full confidence, as though certain that Morax's rock-hard head would never figure out something like this.

"I'll give it a try." With that, Morax tucked the Stone Dumbbell away.

Guizhong smiled softly, then grabbed Morax's hand and pulled him along with bright cheer. "Come on, I'll take you to meet our other companion, Marchosius, and my lovely people."

"Ah… I can walk on my own." Morax stumbled a little as he was dragged along, but as he watched Guizhong's back, a faint smile rose unexpectedly to his lips.

It felt as though…

As though the God Archon War had vanished, and they had returned to an age of peace.

Everything here was calm. Serene.

Through a meadow blooming with Glaze Lilies, Morax was led by Guizhong toward the village.

...

Half a year earlier.

"Still no sign…" Standing atop a mountain peak, Elliot gazed out over the vast field of blooming Glaze Lilies.

"I'll try again next time."

With that, he left, returning to Liyue.

During those six months, Elliot hadn't idled away. From time to time, he came to check on this place, the land that would one day be known as Guili Plains.

At that time, though, it had no name—just endless grassland. Aside from the sea of Glaze Lilies, there was not a single person in sight.

By the original course of history, Morax and Guizhong should have known each other long before the God Archon War began. Perhaps Elliot's arrival had thrown the timeline into disarray.

Even though the war had already been raging for some time, Guizhong had yet to appear, and no one had settled in this land.

It was as if the place had been forgotten.

Such a fine land, and yet no god had come to claim it.

...

After countless visits, Elliot finally saw a group of people—refugees displaced by war—arrive in the area.

They soon began to settle here. They cut down trees, built houses, and opened farmland.

As more and more refugees gathered, the empty grasslands gradually gained life.

When the settlement grew large enough, other gods took notice of the unclaimed land and tried to seize it for themselves.

Elliot stepped in to protect the people. He didn't kill those gods; instead, he bound them and cast them into the sea.

To his surprise, the method seemed effective. After that, he even tested it on a god invading Liyue, binding and throwing it into the sea as well.

But the result was disappointing. That god's resentment had violently resonated with the karmic debt festering inside.

Through several trials, Elliot discovered something: the gods who attacked Guili Plains did not cause karmic resonance. Only those who targeted Liyue did.

And so, Elliot took on the role of protector for Guili Plains.

As time passed, one day, Guizhong appeared there.

The people quickly sensed her gentleness and wisdom, and before long, they were moved by her presence and began to revere her as their god.

But rather than a lofty deity, she was more like a village chief—kind, approachable, and always among her people.

Not long after, Marchosius also appeared. Both gods loved the people and cherished peace, so they chose to settle together in Guili Plains.

Everything was peaceful, until recently, when Elliot made a troubling discovery.

The karmic resonance that had never affected Guili Plains before… had now begun to appear.

So Elliot could only expand his reach and guide Morax toward the land.

After all, he was no longer suited to take action himself.

Without Morax's protection, Guili Plains would inevitably be seized by other gods. Guizhong and Marchosius were no match for them—that much was certain.

Of course, it would make no sense for Morax to protect such a place for no reason.

So Elliot also nudged Guizhong to hold onto Morax, while giving Morax himself a subtle hint. With his intelligence, Morax would surely piece it together.

"It should have worked by now…" Elliot took a light sip of tea.

"The real trouble starts from here." Just the thought gave him a headache.

Their meeting and recognition of one another was only the first step. The real difficulties still lay ahead.

Morax, Guizhong, Marchosius—three gods united.

And then there was Azhdaha, a powerhouse beyond compare.

Such a lineup was bound to draw attention.

Even with Morax and Azhdaha's strength, they still lost dear friends in the original war. The other gods would surely band together against them.

That much was undeniable.

And when that time came, those gods would inevitably be suppressed by Morax, while Guizhong would fall.

Most crucially of all… Elliot could not intervene.

Each of those gods was capable of resonating with karmic debt. If Elliot acted and triggered an eruption of the karmic debt within him, then forget protecting anyone—he could bring ruin to all of Teyvat.

"Tsk…"

"They gave me power, yet forbid me to use it." Elliot scratched his head, weighed down by the frustration.

More Chapters