Genshin Impact, all those behind-the-scenes big shots are me

"ended."

Looking up at the dazzling desert emperor in the sky, the Flower Goddess's eyes flashed with an unusual light.

As it turns out, her initial choice was correct.

"it's over..."

The lurking demons silently retreated one by one.

Having witnessed this scene firsthand, they had to consider the future war for the throne in the desert. Without the Red King's courage and strength, would they be able to stand before that desert emperor?

"Azir... is truly an incredible being."

The figure on the lush green grassland turned around, a thoughtful look appearing in their eyes.

The Red King's defeat and flight signify a complete change of power in this desert. Due to the underground kingdom, you did not choose to relocate the Shurima palace here, but instead sent your people to occupy the heart of the desert.

[With the war over, Shurima's area has nearly tripled, attracting large numbers of humans seeking the protection of the Desert Emperor.]

Shurima's population has surged in a short period, surpassing one million and continuing to grow rapidly.

[Nasus advises you to rest and recuperate, giving Shurima enough time to adapt; otherwise, excessive expansion will only bring unbearable consequences. Flora also suggests the same. The current map of Shurima already occupies more than half of the desert area; there's no need to rush further expansion.]

More importantly, among the remaining demons, there are many powerful beings. If they are pushed too far and join forces, it will pose a huge threat to Shurima. In addition, the Red King is missing, but given his nature, he will certainly not admit defeat so easily.

The Flower Goddess's suggestion was to defeat them one by one, both openly and covertly, first recruiting them, then attacking them; to use diplomacy before resorting to force.

[In the thirty-fifth year of the Desert Calendar, Shurima, after nearly ten years of recuperation, has become stronger than ever before. The Ironclad Cavalry still numbers only 100,000, but the number of ordinary guards has expanded to nearly 200,000, and wherever the yellow sands stretch, the figures of the Yellow Sand Soldiers can be seen everywhere.]

[The faith of your people has united, Shurima has grown stronger, and your power has increased.]

[In the past decade, you have summoned several decent followers, but in terms of individual ability, these individuals are far inferior to Nasus and Renekton. Nasus, in particular, has seen the most significant increase in power among them, having fully entered the realm of a Demon God.]

[Furthermore, Nasus selected three exceptional warriors from the Ironforge Legion, and Su Chen guided them to absorb the power of the Sun Disc. However, only one succeeded; the other two were reduced to ashes by the immense power.]

"Asna, thank Your Majesty for your grace!"

After ascending to immortality, the female warrior Asna knelt on one knee to express her sincerest gratitude to Su Chen.

She had long, golden hair, was dashing and heroic, and was no less valiant than anyone else on the battlefield.

"Only one person succeeded..." Su Chen stared at her. Although it was a bit of a pity, the probability of one in three was actually quite high. After all, not everyone can become an ascendant.

“Loyalty will be rewarded,” Su Chen said calmly. “Asna, remember how you feel right now, and etch the glory of Shurima into your very bones.”

"As you wish, Your Majesty."

Nasus said with burning eyes, "If this continues, one day Shurima will rule Teyvat!"

"To rule Teyvat?"

Su Chen's eyes flickered slightly.

If he could have enough time to create Ascended beings, and then enhance the power of the Sun Disc, allowing all the Ascended beings to reach the level of Daedric Lords... it wouldn't be impossible for him to rule Teyvat.

Of course, ruling seven kingdoms is just empty talk if Heaven intervenes.

After all, the so-called demons and gods are merely convenient tools in the hands of Heaven's justice.

He needs even greater strength.

[In the thirty-sixth year of the Desert Calendar, Shurima, having had ample time to recuperate, once again embarked on its conquest. However, this time you did not expand recklessly as before. You heeded the advice of the Flower Goddess and decided to defeat the remaining demon gods one by one.]

But just then, a god from the edge of the desert came to visit.

This deity hails from the forest and is known as the 'Great Compassionate Tree King.' He is one of the gods whose fame resounds throughout Mount Sumeru, and whose wisdom has astonished countless demons.

Surrounded by flowers and green grass, the Tree King is not accompanied by valiant guards, but by countless adorable spirits, collectively known as Lanaruo, the Tree King's retinue. Arriving with retinue rather than weapons signifies the Tree King's goodwill towards you.

In addition, a large quantity of gold, gems, precious silks, and ancient artifacts were brought into the Shurima capital by carriages. The Tree Queen, a woman of both wisdom and beauty, entered the palace amidst the grand spectacle; even the Flower Goddess, a celestial being, was awestruck by her beauty.

Inside the luxurious palace.

The Tree King, dressed in a jade-green gown, walked gracefully towards us. She had beautiful, snow-white long hair, long elf ears, and captivating eyes. Her temperament was gentle and refined, and every smile and gesture was like a breath of fresh air.

She is like a forest sprite, giving people a tranquil and dreamlike beauty, and is also the mother of all things in the forest, radiating maternal radiance.

She is the embodiment of wisdom, gentle, noble, and elegant; no amount of beautiful descriptions can adequately praise her.

"If she were an enemy, could you bring yourself to do it?" the Flower Goddess asked in a low voice.

You turn your head and see a glint of mischief in her eyes. You know that this beautiful and wise fairy also has a playful side, but you've pondered this question before, and the answer is no.

[Not only because the Great Tree King possessed formidable strength and exceptional wisdom, but also because she was the embodiment of the World Tree; her fall would inevitably impact the present and future world.]

Of course, it's undeniable that this tree king is truly beautiful; you'll be amazed by its beauty at first sight.

"Great Emperor Azir, it's a pleasure to meet you." The Tree King from the forest greeted Su Chen with a polite smile.

"Great Compassion Tree King, I have heard of your name." Su Chen's voice was also calm. "What brings you here?"

The Great Tree King said, "I have come to form an alliance."

Su Chen's eyes flickered slightly. He had thought that even if the wise Tree King intended to form an alliance with him, he would ask a few questions with hidden meanings, just like the Flower Goddess had done before. However, he did not expect the Tree King to be so straightforward.

Seemingly sensing Su Chen's doubts, the Great Tree King smiled and said, "Now most of Sumeru is under the rule of Shurima. I think you, Azir, will take down those lurking threats one by one. I know I cannot reach the Yellow Sands' attack, nor do I have any intention of vying for that throne. In that case, I might as well choose to ally with you."

Although the forest ruled by the Great Tree King was not weak, she had witnessed the battle between Su Chen and the Red King and knew that she was no match for him. In addition, considering the bravery of the Ironclad Cavalry and the performance of Nasus and others on the battlefield, the wise Tree King directly chose the most suitable path.

For her, that throne was not necessary.

For Su Chen, the addition of the Tree King was undoubtedly beneficial.

He was about to agree when he saw the look in the eyes of the Flower Goddess and knew what his clever ally was about to do.

The Flower Goddess said, "Respected Tree King, I do not doubt your wisdom, but I also have some doubts that I would like to seek your answers to. I wonder if you could help me resolve them?"

Upon hearing her words, Su Chen's expression immediately turned strange.

This woman, she's doing this again.

The difference is that he was different back then, but now he is different towards the Great Tree King. Does the Flower Goddess like to make friends by asking questions?

The Great Compassion Tree King's smile remained unchanged: "Mistress of the Floating Bodhi Tree, whatever doubts you may have, you may tell me without reservation."

Her confidence made the Flower Goddess unconsciously wrinkle her nose, the subtle change in her expression seemingly carrying a hint of defiance.

Gods do have their competitive moments, and Su Chen was well aware of this, so he did not interfere in the contest between the two goddesses.

"The first question... What is something that is as cold as an inanimate object when it is alive, but can bring people a warm breeze after it has passed away?"

The Tree King pondered for a moment and replied, "You are referring to the rose that fades quickly in late spring. Even though it is full of thorns, its fragrance cannot be concealed. The flowers are picked and made into rich perfumes, while the stems are cut to make the wicks for oil lamps. Throughout history, countless lovers have been captivated by it, and even emperors admire its chestnut beauty."

The Flower Goddess nodded slightly. The question was not difficult to answer, but the fact that the Tree King could answer it in such a short time was enough to prove her wisdom.

"The second question... What rises from the earth and falls from the sky, unseen by anyone, yet gazes upon everything, its upper part as its lower part, and its lower part as its upper part, yet can only descend from above, never from below?"

The Tree King replied, “The principles of Heaven are the righteous laws established by the heavens, a sacred plan forged in the beginning. No one in the world has ever witnessed the eternal laws, yet the laws always govern all things in the world.”

The Flower Goddess paused slightly, then glanced at Su Chen, who chuckled and gestured for her to continue.

If such a question could stump the Great Tree King, she would not deserve to be called the Goddess of Wisdom.

“The last one…” The Flower Goddess’s eyes flickered slightly. “What can withstand destruction but not arrows? What can destroy a city but not armor? It yields neither to the messengers of the heavens nor to the nations of the earth. Neither the gods nor the demons can defeat it, no matter how hard they try?”

The Tree King remained silent for a moment.

"It is inexhaustible wisdom."

Everything in the world has its own law of change, and no one can escape the cycle of reincarnation, which is death. And above the eternal cycle of reincarnation, only 'infinite wisdom' can protect a pure land forever.

"..."

The goddess of flowers gently shook her head, and then nodded.

Su Chen knew that the flower's owner was expressing her feelings of helplessness and admiration for the tree king's wisdom.

The Great Compassion Tree King smiled and said, "It seems I have passed the test."

Su Chen chuckled: "There was no test at all, just her unintentional playfulness. Tree King of the Forest, Shurima welcomes you to join us."

[You warmly welcomed the arrival of the Great Tree King and prepared a feast in his honor. The people of Shurima rejoiced upon hearing the news, for a great divine ally would strengthen Shurima's rule.]

At the banquet, joyful dance music and the aroma of fine wine filled the air. The Tree King took a few sips of the wine, then suddenly looked at you.

"Azir, the Flower Goddess asked me three questions. Don't you have any questions for me?" The wine's intoxication added a few blushes to her exquisite face. The Great Tree King looked at Su Chen, a strange light appearing in his eyes.

Seeing this, Su Chen pondered for a moment: "There is indeed a problem."

"Please say."

"Great Tree King, do you know where the Red King went?"

The Great Compassion Tree King showed no surprise on her face; perhaps she had anticipated the question Su Chen would ask when she asked him earlier.

"This is also one of the gifts I brought to forge the alliance," the Tree King said softly. "The Crimson King is the king of the four lands and is known as the Son of the Sun. His strength and wisdom are evident to all. Similarly, as powerful as he is, he also has a pride and perseverance that outsiders cannot imagine. I witnessed the battle between you and him. Although the Crimson King was defeated, I am certain that he will return one day."

Su Chen asked, "Then you must have been keeping track of where he went?"

The Great Tree King nodded gently: "I have observed the traces of flowing water and felt the breath of every tree. Two years ago, in that place where the desert and forest meet in the north, I sensed the location of the Red King's power."

"North?"

Su Chen pondered for a moment, "Has he had contact with that forest?"

The Great Compassion Tree King was quite surprised. Su Chen's question must mean he knew about the special existence in that forest, but she had actually investigated the matter herself to find out.

Throughout the entire desert, there are not many demons who know the secret of that forest.

"Yes, he did enter that forest. My powers cannot enter it, so I do not know what he did."

The Great Tree King once tried to communicate with that forest, but was rejected by a powerful will within. Even she felt lingering fear at the existence within; it was the original source of plants and trees, more terrifying than any demon god.

If the Red King were to join forces with him, it would be a tremendous calamity for Shurima.

"I see."

Su Chen nodded.

His concern for the Red King stemmed from his fear that the latter would inevitably follow his destiny, introducing forbidden knowledge into Mount Sumeru and bringing disaster to Shurima.

Although the Flower Goddess and the Great Tree King are now allied with him, after several simulations, he knows the power of the word 'fate'. Even if he reaches the state of a complete dragon, he will find it difficult to avoid it.

If he wasn't entirely sure before, then based on the news brought by the Great Kindness Tree King, Su Chen was almost certain that the Crimson King had already decided to explore the unknown taboos.

Because that forest is inhabited by Apep, the grass dragon, the oldest ruler of all plants.

After the Dragon King's struggle against the Heavenly Principles failed, Apep has been dwelling here ever since, waiting for the day when the Dragon King will return and recreate the glory of when the seven dragons informed Teyvat.