In the sky above, countless spears of solid rock floated in formation, encircling Morax.
Overhead, massive meteorites hung suspended, awaiting only his command to strike.
The killing intent placed in Morax's cold words was enough to make the opportunistic gods who'd hoped to swoop in and claim spoils retreat in fear.
None of them knew whether that young Wood Spirit Adeptus still had any strength left to fight—
but they did know that the god before them, the Rock Sovereign, stood at the absolute height of his power.
None dared test him.
As several divine presences fled into the distance, Morax waved his hand, dispelling the rock spears and lowering Jiang Yan gently to the ground atop a massive slab of stone.
"What a reckless boy,"
murmured Azhdaha, the Dragon King, as he stepped forward, gazing over the shattered land of Dihua Prefecture and the pale, exhausted young man before him.
"Hey, Old Man Azhdaha—wasn't my Buddha just now pretty cool?"
Jiang Yan grinned, his usual playful tone returning, a stark contrast to the calm, divine figure who had once stood atop the True Several Thousand Hands.
"Powerful."
Azhdaha's comment was brief but sincere.
"Hahaha!" Jiang Yan laughed, clearly pleased.
Morax's gaze shifted toward the battlefield, his tone steady:
"And what about these few… what do you intend to do with them?"
With a motion of his hand, he summoned a colossal stone palm that lifted five battered figures from the rubble.
The five surviving Yaksha.
When Jiang Yan saw them clearly, his eyes flickered with emotion.
A sigh escaped his lips.
"So this is fate, huh…"
Even in the destructive storm of the True Several Thousand Hands, these five had somehow survived—
and not just any five.
Standing before him were Fushe, Fanan, Xiao, Mino, and Indarias—
the very same five Yaksha whose names he remembered from another life.
Especially the short one—
that small, green-haired boy.
Xiao-bao!
…Though, wow, he really is kind of short in person.
Rubbing his chin with amusement, Jiang Yan turned to Morax.
"What do you think, Emperor?"
"This is your victory," Morax replied calmly. "You decide their fate."
In that moment, the power of life and death for the five Yaksha rested entirely in Jiang Yan's hands.
He extended his palm.
Before the terrified Yaksha could react, five slender wooden tendrils sprouted from his fingertips, piercing lightly into their forearms.
A faint green glow spread through the vines—
warm, vibrant, carrying the essence of life.
Their breathing steadied. Their wounds began to close.
The Yaksha stared at him in stunned silence.
Morax and Azhdaha said nothing, simply watching.
"The Yaksha tribe," Jiang Yan said quietly,
"attacked the Thousand Rock Army. Though you acted under the God of Dreams's control, in my eyes, that crime alone should have condemned you to death."
His voice was calm, but the weight of judgment lingered in the air.
"Yet your clan has been destroyed in this war. Now, only the five of you remain.
The hatred between us… is settled."
He paused briefly before continuing.
"You five—are you willing to join the Thousand Rock Army,
and serve Lord Morax of Stone?"
The Yaksha exchanged uncertain glances.
Then, one by one, they nodded.
They had seen Morax's strength with their own eyes.
They had felt Jiang Yan's divine might would crush two Demon Gods.
Their former master was gone.
The God of Dreams was dead.
And they—homeless and wounded—had nowhere left to go.
Serving Morax was not only wise; it was survival.
Seeing their answer, Jiang Yan turned toward Morax.
"Then I'll leave the rest to you."
Morax exhaled softly, shaking his head with a faint smile.
"You really do know how to find me work, don't you?"
There was humor in his tone.
Still, he was pleased.
The Yaksha were powerful beings—each one capable of matching an immortal in strength.
Having them join the Thousand Rock Army would greatly bolster Liyue's military might.
Morax's golden eyes gleamed as he spoke solemnly:
"You five—
I am Morax.
If you wish to serve under me, then you must first form a contract."
He raised his hand, tracing five sigils in the air.
Each one flared with golden light and merged into the Yaksha's foreheads.
"The contract is sealed.
Those who partake of stone shall abide by the laws of stone."
When the light faded, the five Yaksha knelt as one.
"Golden Winged King—Indarias."
"Yingda."
"Fushe."
"Fanan."
"Mino."
"We greet Lord Morax and the Immortal Lord!"
Morax dismissed the stone bindings with a wave.
Thanks to Jiang Yan's healing, they could now move, though barely.
"Rise."
Morax's voice was steady. He turned to Jiang Yan, a teasing note in his tone.
"Seems your Thousand Rock Army just got a little stronger."
"Hey, what's that supposed to mean?" Jiang Yan shot back indignantly.
"My Thousand Rock Army are amazing, okay? Even Chi himself admitted it!"
"Yes, yes," Morax replied, chuckling softly.
"The army you trained is indeed strong."
"That's right!" Jiang Yan said proudly, practically puffing out his chest.
The five Yaksha exchanged uncertain glances, surprise flickering in their eyes.
This Emperor and Immortal Lord…
They weren't as fearsome as they'd imagined.
For the first time in a long while, the Yaksha felt something almost forgotten—
relief.
The God of Dreams had ruled them with cruelty and blood.
To her, subordinates were tools, nothing more.
But this Emperor of Stone and his Wood Spirit Adeptus—
They were different.
And for the first time, the Yaksha realized—
not all gods were monsters.
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