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

If it weren't for the lingering demonic energy from that brutal war between demons and gods, which completely transformed this place into a twisted paradise for monsters, the development potential here would probably be far greater than that of Liyue Harbor today.

but……

Akalion flew all the way from Liyue Harbor. He could clearly sense that the number of demon gods who had fallen on this land was perhaps a bit too many.

Based on his perception, he roughly estimated that there were at least twenty of them.

Among them, there are more than five powerful demon gods who possess the strength to contend for the position of the Seven Rulers of the Mortal World, whose remaining aura after death is even stronger than that of the Lone King of the Tower, Dekalapian.

No wonder, in the entire Qiongjiye region, only the Sen'iwa Army's outposts are used to maintain the most basic road access.

"This is it."

Xiao, who had been silently leading the way, finally stopped. The Divine Eye at her waist lit up slightly, and the next moment, the seemingly ordinary mountain in front of everyone shattered like a mirage, turning into countless golden specks of light that dissipated into the air.

The illusion dissipated, revealing the true form of a massive sealing ritual vessel engraved with countless ancient runes.

The azure-blue radiance, constructed from pure celestial power, illuminated the entire night sky in an instant.

"Wow! What a huge entrance! It seems like Akalion could go down directly without even turning into human form!" Paimon exclaimed in amazement, comparing his own size to Akalion's as he looked at the enormous sealing ritual object.

“No,” Xiao shook her head. She came to Akalion’s side, her golden eyes fixed on the bottomless entrance below. “The main structure of the entrance has collapsed most of its length because of the power that the Salt Demon God Heureia unleashed when she fell. He must return to human form in order to safely enter that demon god’s underground kingdom.”

"Great Sage Who Subdues Demons, could you tell us the story of this Salt Demon God?" Perhaps it was because salt and rock sound similar, or perhaps it was out of the hall master's professional instinct, but Hu Tao showed a very interested expression.

"...It's best to let the deceased rest in peace." Xiao paused for a moment, his voice growing colder. "Once the seal is broken, the strange phenomena here will inevitably attract the attention of mortals. It's better to resolve this as soon as possible."

"Huh?" Hu Tao looked at Xiao in confusion. "With you, the Great Sage Who Subdues Demons, here, how could we Liyue people possibly cause trouble?"

“I am not referring to the people of Liyue.” Xiao’s gaze passed over Kurumi and landed on the silent dragon. “The eyes of mortals are not on us immortals, but on… him.”

"Oh right!" Hu Tao clapped her hands, looking as if she had just realized something. "Because of the Liyue Seven Stars' publicity, now the whole of Liyue probably knows that Akalion is the Emperor's personal disciple!"

Given the almost fanatical worship that the people of Liyue have for the Geo Archon, it is likely that fearless pilgrims will flock to the site in droves.

"Then let's hurry down!"

Upon hearing this, Paimon immediately understood and swiftly grabbed Akalion's thick dragon neck.

Seeing this, Ying and Hu Tao immediately followed suit, each grabbing one of his dragon wings and securing themselves firmly to it.

"This time, please land slowly, Dragon—"

"If you dare call me 'Dragon Baby,' I'll immediately descend vertically at top speed."

Akalion's threatening dragon roar boomed in Kurumi's ears, immediately stopping her from using that shameful nickname.

"But that name sounds really nice." Hu Tao was still unwilling to give up and wanted to try again.

"—" Akalion simply turned his head and glanced at her with his cold, emotionless vertical pupils.

“Okay.” Hu Tao immediately gave in.

"You guys...what are you doing?"

Looking at the three of them in their bizarre, ornament-like poses, Xiao, whose face remained as icy as ever, finally revealed a hint of pure confusion.

“Let Akalion take us down?” Paimon said matter-of-factly. “Great Sage, there’s a best viewpoint on the back of the [Savior Dragon] that I can reserve for you.”

"?" Xiao stared blankly at the scene before her. Then, she seemed to finally react, a barely perceptible blush rising on her fair cheeks. She abruptly took a step back and, in an almost reprimanding tone, hissed:

"Disrespect the Immortal Master!"

"Huh? Did I say anything strange?" Paimon looked at Kurumi beside him, puzzled.

“Great Sage Who Subdues Demons can fly by himself now.” After explaining to Paimon, Hu Tao looked at Xiao with great excitement and said, “Great Sage Who Subdues Demons, you don’t need to worry. Akalion is still a young dragon that is only four months old. There’s no need to care about so many worldly etiquettes!”

Volume 1 Snowfield Dragon Lord: 110. Salt from the Earth (Part 2)

Xiao glanced at Hu Tao, who was engrossed in the activity, with a hint of worry in his golden eyes.

The immortals are naturally aware of the matter concerning the Hall of Rebirth.

While establishing a connection with beings of Akalion's stature might seem like a convenient shortcut, it's best for humans to avoid getting too involved with the affairs of immortals.

Qiongji Field, or Qiongji County, is fundamentally different from the Brightcrown City-State in Mondstadt. It was not divided through the Mondstadt Knights, but was directly granted by the Geo Archon, and has almost no connection with the Liyue Seven Stars.

In other words, this place can be described as the kingdom of immortals. If the Emperor had not issued a decree and his disciples had not gone to Minlin to visit their fellow disciples, the immortals who did not want to be disturbed by seekers of immortality would have gone there long ago.

Over the years, the immortals have been upholding the Emperor's decree and silently protecting Liyue, but the people of Liyue... the human heart is always the most fickle thing in the world, and we must be cautious.

"This is the salt... never mind, it sounds too much like 'rock,' I'll just call her by her real name, Heureia."

As the group descended underground, Paimon gazed at the vast underground kingdom before him and couldn't help but sigh in amazement. The overall architectural layout of this place did indeed bear some resemblance to the Liyue Kingdom on the surface, but above ground, thick rivers of pure white salt crystals flowed continuously, like accumulated snow, with the amount of salt increasing the further one went into the center.

"Wow, it's really all salt! It's not too different from the storm-filled city of Mingguan before it was liberated."

The essence of most demons is a miracle born from the combination of the power of heavenly principles and elemental life.

Because the power of the natural order is eternal and indestructible, even if the demon gods die, their remnants will carry this "eternal" characteristic, causing permanent elemental pollution to the land.

If it weren't for the seal set up by the Rock King Emperor, these salinization phenomena would not have stopped there—just look at the three places across the sea: Hachiyū Island, Kannazuka, and Seirai Island in Inazuma.

This also meant that Akalion could no longer use his psionic powers as freely as he had in the Wind Dragon Ruins, to gather all the remnants of the demon gods.

However, under the control of the Rock King Emperor's might, the remnants of the demon gods here have been completely concentrated in the deepest part of the temple area. He only needs to go there and then begin the process.

"Hicchu people?"

Just as everyone was preparing to venture deeper, several unusually tall Hilichurls appeared on the road ahead, seemingly resting there.

Before they could even react to the newcomer, Ying raised her hand, and several sharp rock element crystals were launched like cannonballs, accurately piercing through their bodies.

"Why are there Hilichurls here?" Paimon asked, puzzled. "Wasn't this place sealed off?"

“This place is also a site of disordered ley lines. Moreover, the Emperor's power only targets the remnants of Heureia's demonic possession; it has no effect on these beings twisted by the curse,” Xiao calmly explained, watching the Hilichurl corpses slowly dissipate into black smoke under the curse's influence. “We—”

Before she could finish speaking, Akalion, as if he had encountered something extremely filthy, suddenly waved his hand, and a pure psionic shockwave completely wiped out the dissipating Hilichurl corpses, along with the black smoke they had turned into, from this world.

"what happened?"

Almost instantly, Ying drew [Echo of Eldra], her golden eyes scanning the surroundings warily.

Paimon immediately darted behind Akalion.

"?" Hu Tao looked at Akalion suspiciously.

“These are just ordinary Hilichurls.” Xiao also gripped the Jade Falcon tightly, her brows furrowing slightly. She didn’t sense any abnormal energy fluctuations. Under the Emperor’s might, Heuria’s demonic remnant was still as docile as a lamb, obedient and submissive.

“…” Akalion remained silent for a moment. He did not explain, but instead established a private connection with Luminous through the [Mind Link]. After transmitting to Luminous the scene he had just “seen”—a scene that would make any living being uncomfortable—he slowly spoke, his voice carrying a clear hint of disgust.

"Their souls are struggling to walk towards me."

Ying's expression turned somewhat unpleasant the moment she received the image.

In Akalion's view, the souls of those Hilichurls were bound by chains, their skin had peeled off, and deep red to black energy surged within them; they could only be described as barely resembling human form.

“I see.” Hu Tao nodded in understanding, explaining in a professional tone, “The souls of these Hilichurls have long been corrupted by that unknown curse, and the very concept of their existence has been regarded as ‘foreign objects’ by the ley lines of Teyvat. When they die, the ley lines will not accept them, and they cannot return to the cycle of reincarnation. With nowhere else to go, they can only instinctively be attracted to a being as full of life as you.”

She paused, then her signature mischievous smile returned.

"In the end, it's just that the little dragon is too timid. These ghosts don't have physical bodies, so what's there to be afraid of?"

“I wasn’t frightened.” Akalion shook his head, his grey-white dragon eyes calmly fixed on Kurumi. “I just… I couldn’t bear to watch them being tormented by the curse.”

Again.

If he couldn't see it, he might not care, but now that he has seen it, and he happens to have the ability to resolve this pain, he can't just sit idly by.

Most importantly, he knew the nature of these Hilichurls, and the time allotted for torture had come to an end.

It's ridiculous that those who truly commit heinous crimes can still live a carefree and happy life outside the world...

It now seems that my [psychic energy] has an excellent restraining effect on this curse originating from outside the reign of the dead. However, there's no need to say it aloud.

"A curse?" Hu Tao's curiosity was piqued again. "What kind of curse?"

Akalion did not answer, but instead turned his gaze to Xiao beside him.

Xiao, in turn, remained silent, gazing back at Hu Tao with her emotionless golden eyes.

That look in his eyes said directly—this is not something you should know.

"If you can't say it, then you can't say it."

Hu Tao immediately understood. She stuck out her tongue and then gave up, no longer asking any questions.

Since Akalion could handle it, she didn't need to worry about these souls. In her view, these souls were 'purified' after touching Akalion's power, just as he 'purified' the death energy within himself. These pure souls were then accepted by the ley lines and returned to the cycle of life and death in Teyvat.

So along the way, she watched obediently and attentively as Akalion swept away all the Hilichurls she encountered, along with their cursed souls, as if sweeping the floor.

Then, without warning, two jet-black arrows, imbued with chilling killing intent, whistled out from the dark corner. One was knocked away by Xiao, the other grazed Ying's cheek, and Akalion caught it in his hand. It was just a hair's breadth away from hitting her.

Time seems to have stood still.

The next moment, a terrifying aura that could shake the entire underground salt capital erupted from Akalion's body!

Immediately following, an endless burst of light and shadow erupted, and Akalion instantly reverted to its original form. The area was quite spacious, approximately thirty square kilometers in size.

"Roar--!!!"

A roar filled with boundless rage exploded from his throat! Immediately afterward, a torrent of flames, powerful enough to engulf everything in sight, poured forth like a bursting dam in the direction from which the arrows had come!

The core of that fiery dragon breath had a straight length of 1,300 meters, a spread width of 200 meters, and a sweeping height of a terrifying 400 meters!

In an instant, the two or three hundred Hilichurl tribes entrenched in the heart of the Salt Capital, along with the Abyss Mages among them, were reduced to nothingness along with the land beneath their feet in the overwhelming fury of the dragon.

Even if that arrow might not even graze Ying's skin.

The problem is, was it because of my own carelessness that the attack passed through the force field... or did it become too powerful?

"【Savior Dragon】, calm down!"

"I'm fine!"

Ying and Paimon quickly flew forward, one on each side, to soothe the still enraged dragon that was spewing flames.

Akalion can now sustain this attack for hours on end without stopping.

Meanwhile, Walnut was completely stunned by Akalion's earth-shattering display, and for a moment, she couldn't utter a single word.

After the destructive dragon's breath passed, only a long lava lake covering nearly two square kilometers remained.

The saline land, after encountering extreme heat, steamed up billowing white mist, but the mist was forcibly stopped the moment it approached Akalion by the invisible force field surrounding him.

Xiao, standing to the side, didn't seem to care. After all, he was a naturally powerful being. It was understandable that he would act so rashly because his important companions were threatened. Akalion hadn't gone so far as to cause the Yakshas to be injured or killed by their companions in the past, so there was no need for him to intervene.

She simply waited quietly until Akalion's emotions gradually calmed down under the comforting words of Luminous and Paimon.

“…Phew.” Only now did Hu Tao finally let out a long sigh of relief. Looking at the apocalyptic scene before her and the giant dragon that still exuded terrifying pressure, she exclaimed from the bottom of her heart, “Akallion…you are amazing!”

This exclamation, brimming with pure adoration, made Akalion, who had just calmed down, feel that he had gone a bit too far.

The site of Heureia's fall, the Salt Demon Goddess, has been fully revealed thanks to Akalion's unintentional act of destruction. Behind that vast lava lake, an ancient temple, perfectly preserved, stands silently.

It was surrounded by Zhongli's immortal power.

It has not diminished in the slightest from a thousand years ago to the present.

“Paimon, the Emperor’s token.” Xiao’s gaze shifted to the white object floating in mid-air. “Give it to me.”

"Huh?" Upon hearing this, Paimon immediately hugged the seal that radiated a warm golden light tightly to his chest, his face full of reluctance. "What...what do you want to do with it?"

As a bit of a penny-pincher, I am very clear about the value of this item personally created by the Rock King Emperor.

"Unseal the seal personally set by the Emperor." Xiao's answer was concise. Her golden eyes calmly gazed at the temple below, which was shrouded in an array of talismans. "The core of this seal is connected to the Emperor's great power, and it cannot be broken without his own power."

The group easily obtained the powerful artifacts left behind by the demon god. To be honest, as expected of the demon god known for his gentle nature, not a single one of them was used for attack or combat; they were all objects used for creation and measurement, full of the spirit of daily life.

"Sigh..." Hu Tao picked up one of the exquisite rulers and sighed softly. Her plum blossom eyes, which were usually full of mischief and vitality, now revealed a trace of sorrow that came from seeing through life and death.

"Salt, the king of all flavors, is the very essence of life. This demon goddess, until her last breath, only wished for her people to live peaceful lives free from want." She stroked the cold ruler and murmured, "The power she left behind wasn't a sword to conquer the world, but a ruler for fair measurement, a salt pan to harmonize all flavors. Truly... a gentleness tinged with sadness."

“This is the surface level. The path ahead is only for Akalion and me.” Xiao looked at the underground entrance separated by golden light in the temple, his expression becoming extremely solemn. “The place where the Demon God sealed by the Emperor died is different from the places where other Demon Gods on Teyvat died. Because the remnants of power and resentment contained therein have not spread, the danger to humans is absolutely fatal.”

"So... even the Great Sage Who Subdues Demons can show other expressions?" However, Paimon's focus was always so peculiar. She circled around Xiao, as if she had discovered some new continent.

Immediately, Xiao's cold, golden eyes, like two drawn swords, were precisely aimed at the outspoken Paimon.

"Can't I do it either?" Ying glanced at the silent dragon beside her, a sense of worry rising in her heart. She took a step forward and looked directly into Xiao's eyes, which were slightly darker and more scarred than the gold in her own eyes, and asked softly.

"No."

Xiao's answer was firm and decisive, leaving no room for negotiation.

“That’s right, Ying.”