Genshin Impact, I'm Slime

Chapter 681 The Last King
Outside the window, the last ray of moonlight vanished completely, swallowed up by the inky darkness of the night.

The only light source in the room was the flickering candle on the dressing table, which seemed ready to go out at any moment, casting a long, solitary shadow of Heuria holding the Eye of God on the wall.

Her fingers gripped tightly the Eye of the Rock Element that belonged to Ning Lan.

The crystal was cold and hard, its sharp edges digging into her palm, and the worn knot at the end of the rope hung down on her pale wrist.

This was once a symbol of Ning Lan's life and will, but now it has become a cold relic.

Just as Heureia's fingertips dug slightly into the metal base at the edge of the crystal due to the force she exerted.

A sudden change occurred!

The Eye of God, which had been dormant and only emitted a faint afterglow, suddenly trembled in Heureia's palm without warning.

Immediately afterwards, a tiny, almost imperceptible, amber-colored light suddenly shone from the very core of the crystal.

Heuria trembled violently, as if struck by an invisible electric current. She looked down in disbelief, her pupils contracting sharply in surprise.

This faint light is not an illusion; it is like a dormant heart being forcibly awakened, becoming brighter and more stable at a visible speed, gradually growing stronger.

"Om..."

A resonance, as if emanating from the depths of the earth, could be clearly heard in the silent room. Warm and deep, with an ancient, rock-like aura, the radiance of rock elemental energy suddenly burst forth from within the Eye of God.

The amber light instantly dispelled the shadows around Heuria's hand, enveloping the astonished expression on her face and the wooden box containing the ashes in a warm and strange halo.

What's even more astonishing is that the light didn't just drift away aimlessly. It seemed to have a life of its own, flowing gently yet firmly upwards along the veins of Heuria's tightly clenched fingers and arms.

A force, both unfamiliar and inexplicably welcoming, like a gentle stream, was trying to establish some incomprehensible connection with her current mortal body.

As the light flowed, tiny, pure facets, like those of salt crystals, even faintly appeared on the surface of the Eye of God, disappearing in a flash.

"What's this?"

Heureia gasped softly, her voice filled with shock and bewilderment.

She had clearly lost the power of salt, so why did Ning Lan's divine eye react so strongly to her? Why did this elemental crystal, which should have been dormant along with its master, reignite its light in her hands?

For the first time, Russell's eyes, which had been watching quietly from the sidelines, flashed with undisguised astonishment and a sudden surge of vigilance.

He subconsciously tensed his muscles, his fingers, hidden in his sleeve, silently curled up, as if ready to deal with this unexpected turn of events.

As Pantalone's steward, Russell had witnessed moments when mortals gained the eye of God.

Initially, when he witnessed the faces of mortals suddenly illuminated by the daylight, a bitter feeling, indescribable in its intensity, swept through Russell's heart.

Why is it that they can win the favor of the gods with just a glimmer of good luck or some kind of praised will, while he himself has to pay a much crueler price, exchanging the rest of his life for the power to wield the elements?
However, after seeing it many times, that slight astringency, like leftover tea in a cup, gradually cools and settles, eventually leaving no trace.

He learned to observe discreetly, as if examining reports that needed to be archived.

The Eye of God is merely one side of the dice rolled by fate.

Gaining it is an unexpected scene on the journey; losing it is not a dead end.

Every turn in his life was like the precise meshing of gears; otherwise, he would not have been able to stand beside Lord Pantalone, become his trusted steward, and indirectly control the wealth network that could shake the continent.

Even if we don't get the attention of those high above, it doesn't matter.

Winning Pantalone's absolute trust and reliance is another kind of glory that can make one proud and look down upon the world.

“This is the resonance of the Eye of God, Your Majesty,” Russell said in a deep voice, his tone unusually tense.

He quickly explained the nature of the phenomenon to Heureia and briefly described the origin of the Eye of God and the power it bestows upon mortals.

When mortal desires reach their peak, the gods will cast their gaze upon them.

Heureia remained silent, her knuckles turning slightly white from the force as she gripped the Eye of God, which had regained its faint light, tightly in her palm.

A longing? Ning Lan… my child… what was your last burning longing…?
Why did this crystal, born of longing, reignite in the hands of a demon god who has lost his power?
A jumble of thoughts clashed violently in Heuria's mind, eventually settling into an almost icy resolve.

Salt is her origin, and also her preservation.

This rekindled Eye of God is not a memorial tombstone, but the spark that Ning Lan passed on with her life, her final words to her mother.

Perhaps Ning Zhe was not the last human king of Yantu, but Ning Lan was.

Salt Mother solemnly hung the Eye of God, which originally belonged to Ning Lan, on her chest, closest to her heart, and then turned her gaze to Russell.

"Thank you for bringing me the truth, Butler Russell."

“I am willing to accept your invitation to go to the Winter Kingdom and pay homage to Lord Pantalone and the Ice Queen.”

Heureia's voice was unusually calm, without any discernible emotion.

She also kept a low profile, maintaining the same humility she had shown a thousand years ago, even after learning from Russell that she had regained the power to control the elements.

Despite some minor setbacks, the core objective has been achieved.

Russell felt a slight sense of relief, though he didn't show it on his face. He simply nodded slightly, his gaze sweeping over the urn on the dressing table.

"So, Your Majesty, how do you intend to settle Miss Ninglan?"

Heureia's gaze fell on the small wooden box, and she remained silent for a long time.

Finally, her fingers unconsciously clenched the Eye of God on her chest, and she slowly shook her head.

"Could you please help us, folk fools, to bring Ning Lan's ashes back to the salt of the earth for burial?"

Heureia's voice was very soft, as if she was afraid of disturbing something.

"I will do my best to serve you."

Russell agreed, then asked, "Do you need to go in person?"

Heureia nodded.

Russell gracefully gestured with his arm, indicating that he should go first. As he moved, shadows surged silently, and Inspector Daryl appeared like a ghost.

His task was to protect Russell's safety and also to oversee the completion of the mission.

“This is Inspector Daryl,” Russell introduced. “He knows a secret path to the Salt Flats. After the burial is completed, we will travel through the Abyss of Rocks, then through the port of Ormus in Mount Meru, and return by ship to winter.”

Heuria nodded again, stepped forward, and picked up Ning Lan's urn with both hands.

Under the gentle and continuous blessing of the rock elemental power in the eyes of God, the heavy wooden box in Heuria's hands felt as light as a feather.

But the heavy sorrow and resolve weighing on her heart did not lessen in the slightest; in fact, it became even heavier.

(End of this chapter)