We traveled through time together, but I'm the only dragon? The others are all beautiful girls?

But that's not the case for others.

Xiao's golden eyes, as calm as a lake, swept over everyone present.

Finally, all eyes fell on Akalion and Luminosity, who were leading the group.

"Hu Tao, the 77th generation head of the Hall of Rebirth, greets the Great Sage Who Subdues Demons." Hu Tao put away her usual playful nature. She could feel the suffocating aura of killing and karmic burden emanating from the girl in front of her. She respectfully introduced herself to the Great Sage Who Subdues Demons, who had protected Liyue for over a thousand years.

“Luminous, this is Paimon,” Luminous introduced briefly, “and Akalion.”

Xiao's gaze lingered for a moment on Akalion's inhuman dragon horns. Her voice, like two pieces of jade striking each other, was clear and melodious, yet devoid of any warmth.

"The Emperor has decreed that this token is sufficient to seal the Salt Demon God."

She glanced at the Rock Mark in Paimon's hand, then her grip on He Puyuan tightened suddenly, and her previously calm eyes sharpened like knives.

"However, before we get down to business..."

She instantly lowered her body, assuming an aggressive fighting stance, her entire being resembling a fully drawn bow about to be released.

"We need to clean up those cowardly rats hiding in the shadows first!"

The moment she finished speaking, she turned around abruptly, and the spear in her hand transformed into a streak of cyan light, piercing straight towards the empty, dark corner of the inn's rooftop!

"Ding--"

A crisp metallic clang rang out. The spearhead, powerful enough to pierce steel, was steadily blocked by a longsword that appeared out of nowhere, imbued with the power of the dark abyss.

From the shadow that had no physical form, a tall, slender figure dressed in black slowly emerged, step by step.

He wore a strange mask that covered half of his face, and his right eye, which was the only one visible, reflected a cross of light as bright as stars. He was dressed in a black cloak with a dark blue lining and embroidered star patterns.

"No need to be nervous, Guardian Yaksha." His voice was deep, as if it came from the bottom of the sea. "I have no hostile intentions."

"Dainsreb".

Ying looked at the uninvited guest in front of her and immediately realized who it was.

“I followed the footsteps of the abyss and here I sensed the blood ties of the ‘Prince’.” Daisreb’s gaze swept over everyone and landed directly on Luminous and Akalion, “as well as a vast power of transcendence, and I have come to deliver a message.”

Akalion responded to Daines Reeb's gaze, focusing his magical and psionic visions entirely on him.

It wasn't just an ordinary gaze, but rather an invisible gravitational field that enveloped Daines Reeb's entire body.

His body stiffened instantly, a state unlike any he had ever experienced before.

The undead curse that had haunted him for five hundred years, originating from the reign of the dead, was something this seemingly quiet dragon greatly feared.

Although in his perception the dragon's power was not as great as the Seven Rulers of the Mortal World—like the wind and the rock—he felt a primal emotion called fear, originating from the deepest part of his soul, surge up like a rising tide.

Daines Reeb suddenly raised his head, his eyes fixed on Akalion, golden flames surging deep within his four-pointed star-shaped pupils.

Such a being descending upon Teyvat would inevitably clash with the laws of nature, but it's too far off to talk about that now. Once Akalion is targeted by the laws of nature... Daines Reeb composed himself. With this dragon safeguarding the core of the world's first tractor, there was no need to worry about the Abyss Order.

"Traveler, if you wish to find your blood relative, then go to the Abyss of the Rocks, where he and his Abyss Order are active."

If it weren't for her encounters with Akalion and her many selves, Luminosity, as a transmigrator, might have actually embarked on a journey to the Abyss of Laminaria because of Daines Reibu's words.

But now...

Ying's heart was clear and pure.

She has never publicly expressed her intention to find her blood relatives.

Why did Daines Reeb choose this moment to so bluntly reveal this clue? Was it because of... Akalion?

Thinking of this, she glanced at the silent white dragon wearing an elemental crown.

Seeing a hint of displeasure in Akalion's greyish-white dragon eyes, as if he were about to speak up for her, Ying quickly stepped forward and greeted Daines Reeb's words.

"Dainsreb, the Sword of the End of Light, I no longer wish to see my brother immediately. If you do see him, please pass on a message for me."

She paused, then spoke each word clearly and solemnly.

“I’m already married to Akalion, and if all goes well, he might be able to visit his nephew or niece in a few years.”

"?" × 3

This calm declaration, however, was like a boulder thrown into a calm lake, instantly stirring up completely different ripples in the hearts of three unsuspecting bystanders.

Hu Tao blinked her plum-blossom eyes in confusion at first, but almost instantly she understood the deeper meaning.

This is a white lie (not a lie).

It was a fact that no older brother could ignore that compelled the leader of the Abyss Order to anxiously search for his sister.

Xiao, on the other hand, was purely curious. Her tranquil golden eyes swept between Ying and Akalion before she looked obediently at the ground.

As for Daines Reeb—almost immediately, the image of Kong's expression upon hearing the news flashed through his mind.

So much so that his heart, which had long been eroded by time and curses to the point of near numbness, uncontrollably felt an urge to laugh. The corner of his mouth twitched violently, and Daines Reeb used all his willpower to suppress the laughter that was about to burst forth.

"Traveler, please rest assured." He bowed slightly, responding to Ying's request with the demeanor of his former captain of the palace guard, "I will convey to him this sentence and your expression at this moment in perfect detail."

Volume 1 Snowfield Dragon Lord: 109. Salt from the Earth (Part 1)

The dark blue light on Daines Reeb's figure flickered for a moment, and then he vanished without a trace.

Although he failed to achieve his goal, he confirmed information far more important than the original plan—a powerful ally had appeared by the traveler's side, and the plan needed to be readjusted.

Akalion's gaze immediately fell on Luminous beside him the moment Daines Reeb disappeared.

Ying responded with a calm smile.

"Firefly! You...you just said that, are you really okay?" Paimon flew over, still looking worried, her little face filled with unease. "That's—"

"Oh dear, little Paimon, you just don't understand!" Walnut stepped forward, extended her index finger, and gently tapped Paimon's head, interrupting him. "This is just a white lie Ying told to get your sulking brother to show up and find her!"

"Well...but..."

Paimon, who understood all of this, could only watch Kurumi silently, after all, everything Ying said was true.

Xiao, who had been silently and vigilantly watching her surroundings, finally spoke, her voice still devoid of any extra emotion.

"It's time to go."

The moment she finished speaking, her figure transformed into a dark blue-green light, like a shooting star traveling in reverse, heading straight for the sky.

“I will be ahead, guiding you to the entrance to Heureia’s burial place in the Salt of the Earth.”

Akalion immediately tossed Luminous, Paimon, and Kurumi onto his back, and with a leap, his massive body flew in the predetermined direction.

As Akalion sped along, an abandoned town appeared on the east side—that was Mingyun Town.

Information from the game slowly surfaced in his mind.

Long ago, Mingyun Town was a prosperous town that thrived because of its mining industry, but it was also completely abandoned because of the mining industry.

Although its mineral reserves cannot be compared with giant veins like the Stranded Rock Abyss, it remains the most important source of minerals in northern Liyue due to its convenient waterway access to Azurewater and Sinking Jade Valley.

Transporting ore from the Deep Rock Abyss and Blackrock Depths to northern Liyue is prohibitively expensive, enough to deter any merchant.

The direct cause of the abandonment of Mingyun Town was a farcical and foolish affair.

On his deathbed, Yuan Hong, the patriarch of the prominent Yuan family, devised an absurd plan to test the character of his children by using a fake "treasure" as a testament.

He probably wanted his children to understand that family is far more important than wealth.

However, the human heart is the most fragile thing in the world, and the one that is least able to withstand testing.

This test not only failed to bring him the family harmony he desired, but instead directly ignited the long-standing tensions within the Yuan family.

In the end, Yuan Hong's three children, along with most of the Yuan family, perished in that deep, dark mine.

Their resentment and bitterness became a breeding ground for the vengeful spirits of this place, turning the entire mining area into a ghostly realm that no living person should approach.

Of course, Liyue can solve this problem, but the issue is that Liyue Harbor doesn't lack mineral supplies to begin with.

The Blackrock Factory at the foot of Mount Tianheng and the almost endless output of the Layered Rock Abyss are enough to meet Liyue's needs.

On the other hand, there were also problems with the earth's veins caused by the remnants of demons, which, catalyzed by the tragedy of the Yuan family, completely erupted and became unsolvable.

However, if in the future, the Abyss of Strata is sealed off again due to erosion from the abyss...

Akalion already had a new plan in mind. As long as the vengeful spirits and demonic pollution of this place could be completely eradicated, and then alchemy and elemental power could be used to repair and rebuild this dilapidated town, it would soon be able to regain its former vitality and prosperity.

His gaze inadvertently swept over Hu Tao, who was perched on his dragon's back, curiously gazing down at the ruins to the east. Perhaps it was best not to let her deal with it out of curiosity.

While the Hall of Rebirth possesses secret funeral rites passed down through generations, the thousands of souls corrupted by the resentment of demons and gods, and the venomous death energy they contain, would likely be an unbearable burden for Hu Tao.

In the original game storyline, this girl, who was always smiling and seemed to have no worries, would probably have died early due to death energy if it weren't for Ying's appearance.

Perhaps Zhongli will make a move?

But what if?

This also shows that in this era where extraordinary powers exist, humanity, as a species, can indeed survive by relying on its own strength.

As long as... enough [price] is paid.

It seems that even in a world where supernatural powers do not exist, this cold law remains the same.

Humanity, this fragile yet resilient species, has always been able to sacrifice a portion of its own kind without hesitation, placing them on the altar of a better future as necessary sacrifices for the continuation of the entire group.

As for whether those who were sacrificed were willing, and whether their descendants would feel grateful, the question remains.

History always presents a variety of ironic answers.

Akalion still couldn't understand... why Zhongli would choose to end his rule by faking his death, a method fraught with risk and uncertainty?

The logic behind this is full of incomprehensible contradictions.

As a demon god, once it dies, its remaining power is enough to completely erode a piece of land.

What's more, the stage he chose to die on was in Liyue Harbor, the most densely populated area!

It's one thing for ordinary people not to know, but the Seven Stars of Liyue, those elites among mortals, surely they don't even understand this most basic common sense?

Moreover, Zhongli was one of the Seven Rulers of the Mortal World. The chain of problems that his death could trigger would be far more serious than the fall of an ordinary demon god.

By examining the history of salt in the earth, one can gain some insight.

The weak-willed Salt Goddess Heureia, whose power was among the lowest of all the demon gods, was betrayed by her own ignorant subjects and assassinated as a sign of loyalty to the Rock God. Her dissipated power then transformed the entire underground kingdom, along with all her subjects, into a lifeless salt kingdom.

If it weren't for the seal personally set up by Zhongli to restrain that demonic power, the entire salt region would probably have been completely salted.

So, what kind of terrifying and irreversible consequences will the death of Morax, the [Rock Demon] who is countless times stronger than Heureia, bring to this land?

If all of this was under Morax's deliberate guidance and absolute control, it would be somewhat understandable.

The problem is, the world is not peaceful by nature.

Beneath the towering abyss, the pollution from the Abyss is like a bomb that could explode at any moment. The many ancient demons that Zhongli personally sealed away are also constantly coveting the opportunity to regain their freedom.

In the future, having lost the protection of the Rock Ruler, lost the right to manufacture the currency [Mora] that circulates throughout the continent, and even had a strained relationship with the Sages—if it weren't for the intervention of Ying, a traveler, Gan Yu, the secretary who had worked as the Seven Stars' secretary for three thousand years, would probably have already retired to the mountains of Mount Oozang.

Can Liyue, having lost so many trump cards, truly survive stably in this turbulent world?

Once it can no longer exist stably, won't Zhongli have to step in again to clean up the mess?

Why bother?

This unnecessary trouble... surely it can't just be because they wanted to be lazy?

Amidst Akalion's tangled thoughts, they arrived at their destination.

【Salt in the Earth】is located in the waters east of Biyuan. It is an archipelago consisting of several islands of varying sizes, with a total area of ​​approximately 50,000 to 60,000 square kilometers, which is two-thirds smaller than Dihua Island.

Even before getting close, Akalion could clearly sense that the ley lines here were being forcibly stabilized by a heavy, steady, and orderly force.

The island is covered with unusually lush vegetation, exhibiting a vitality that is almost pathological.

Because the flow of the earth's veins has been artificially blocked, the elemental forces here have fallen into complete chaos and disorder, making it unsuitable for long-term human survival. Only anglers come here, and Akalion has already seen several night fishing.

He could sense that this uninhabited land contained extremely rich mineral resources deep underground.

In addition, the area has excellent water conservancy conditions...

In an instant, a massive golden mountain was automatically constructed in his mind.

Akalion's eyes lit up.

This forgotten Qiongji Wilderness is truly a blessed land!

No wonder, in the very beginning, Zhongli chose to lead the ancestors of Liyue to migrate to this vast land.