I, the Rock King Emperor with 21 billion in power, have joined the chat group.

“I know you, Ke Qing of Yuheng Star.” Zhong Li smiled meaningfully, “After all, you were able to ask the Rock King Emperor directly at the Immortal Invitation Ceremony.”

"[The Emperor has protected Liyue for a thousand years, but will it be the same in the next Kaleidoscope year, ten thousand years, a hundred thousand years?]"

"These kinds of words are impossible to forget, even if you want to."

"Oh~~?" Ke Qing narrowed her eyes, her sharp gaze scrutinizing her. "I don't recognize you. Are you also a devout follower of those Rock Kings and Emperors?"

Zhongli shook his head slightly, neither admitting nor denying, but instead made a gesture of invitation: "Your Excellency Keqing, since you have brought something, please take a seat."

“My name is Zhongli. I am a guest elder of the Hall of Rebirth and also the one who received the sword box. According to the rules of the Hall of Rebirth, I have the right to decide the fate of the sword box.”

Although she was extremely impatient with this inefficiency, Keqing could only frown and accept Zhongli's invitation to sit down, all for the sake of the sword case she so desperately wanted.

After the maidservant served tea, Zhongli took a sip before speaking: "This sword case was made from the wood from which Qingli, the True Lord of Dividing Heaven and Clear Clouds, once resided."

"It was bestowed upon Tianquan Star, one of the first generation of the Seven Stars of Liyue, by Qingli, the True Lord of the Dividing Heaven and the Cloud of the Clouds. It can be called an unparalleled treasure. Its value cannot be measured in Mora."

"Therefore, only I can judge whether you are qualified to purchase this box. What we at the Hall of Rebirth hate most is treasures being neglected and sacred objects being misused. Please understand."

"Therefore, I need to ask you some questions. If your answers meet the expectations of the sword box, then you will be qualified to buy it."

"Hmph! I've heard of it." Ke Qing nodded slightly: "Ask away quickly."

PS: There will be about 4 more chapters around 12 o'clock.

Chapter Six: The So-Called Jade Balance, The So-Called Clear Sky

Cute girls get preferential treatment.

Zhong Li didn't dislike the somewhat arrogant young girl in front of him.

After taking a sip of tea, he asked his first question: "Lord Keqing, since you want that sword case, it must be to hold the sword. May I take a look at the longsword you possess?"

"As for the sword case, if the sword is not good, then no matter how much it likes you, it will not be willing to bear the sword for you."

Upon hearing this, Ke Qing drew her long sword from her waist without the slightest hesitation.

Beneath the simple scabbard lies a blade that gleams with a bluish light.

The young female official standing behind Zhongli suddenly trembled all over, feeling as if the blade was covered in thick blood that she could not wipe away.

Zhongli, however, did not react at all.

He gripped the one-handed sword that was placed on the table with his other hand and examined it carefully.

"A dragon's roar from its sheath. Indeed, this is a treasured sword that has been circulating in Liyue."

"This knife is incredibly sharp; it is said that a person stabbed by it will not realize they are dead for an hour."

"Legend has it that the swordsmith Kunwu forged this sharp and precious sword in just one day and one night. But the elderly master, seeing his disciple's masterpiece, lamented with regret, striking the ground with his staff—[Alas, this very thing is most lacking in mercy]."

"Then the old man sighed deeply and staggered away. Kunwu then pondered for three days, during which time he did not touch any swords. He then spent another year meticulously carving a sandalwood box. The young Kunwu believed that this magnificent scabbard would surely restrain the unruly sword."

"But later, the precious sword was lost to the common people. The blade remained, but the scabbard became a legend. The sharp sword forever thirsted for endless bloodshed. No matter how good the scabbard was, it could not contain it."

"I never expected that this precious sword would be in Lord Keqing's hands."

“I understand your desire for the sword case.”

Zhongli handed the long sword back to Keqing and nodded slightly: "Then the first question has been passed."

"The second question might be easy for you too. I want to ask you: What does Liyue represent to you?"

These words made Keqing think for a few seconds.

Without much hesitation, she stated directly, "I am proud to be a Liyue human."

"Although I am a descendant of a great clan in Liyue, my thoughts and actions are not for my own selfish desires. I can guarantee this with my own conscience."

"I make too many demands on many things because I can't stand seeing the Liyue people being unambitious and only hoping for the mercy of the Geo Archon."

"I asked the Geo Archon those questions to urge the people of Liyue to be mindful of potential dangers even in times of peace, and to know that relying on oneself is the right path."

"Everything I do is for the justice of Liyue, and my heart is without a single flaw."

Ke Qing's words were full of self-awareness, and this feeling of complete pride made Zhong Li's smile even more unpredictable.

He nodded slightly and said softly, "The second question is also answered."

"Third question, Miss Keqing, you once asked others, what should be done if the Geo Archon suddenly stopped favoring the humans of Liyue, like the Anemo Archon of Mondstadt?"

"This time, I want to ask you this question. Miss Keqing, if the Emperor were to leave, what would you do?"

"The Emperor has left???" Ke Qing was clearly stunned for a moment.

She glanced at Zhongli sideways, a hint of appreciation in her expression: "Your question is very good."

"I believe that nothing can exist in isolation; if one thing falls behind, many things connected to it will suffer."

"On the contrary, precisely because of the interconnectedness of all things, the departure of a single thing, although it may cause errors in many things connected to it, will also prompt these things to rethink new connections."

"There must always be someone who walks at the forefront of the times and personally paves new paths."

"Yuheng Star, we must step up without hesitation."

Are you satisfied with this answer?

Zhongli couldn't help but clap his hands lightly. He already knew that Keqing of Yuheng Star was an extremely opinionated person, and someone who had truly thought about the relationship between the Geo Archon and the people of Liyue.

Unexpectedly, this insight even exceeded his best expectations.

That's a pretty good answer.

He is satisfied.

So he turned to the young female official behind him and said, "I agree to sell the sword case made by Qingli, the True Lord of Dividing Heaven and Clouds, to Keqing of Jade Balance Star."

Yuheng Star Keqing was not surprised by this result at all. She quickly got up, nodded slightly to Zhongli, and then followed the maid to retrieve the sword box.

A few minutes later, she came out again with the young lady of the ceremonial office, holding the not-so-large sword box with an unusually satisfied expression.

"Ah."

Seeing her happy expression, Zhongli nodded slightly and said, "Your Excellency Keqing of Yuheng Star, is there anything else you wish to buy? Our Wangsheng Hall possesses all sorts of different treasures. If there is anything you like, you can buy it directly this time without needing to ask me."

Yuhengxing Keqing walked with light steps, and her not-so-long black-stockinged legs had a bewitching feel at this moment.

She walked slowly to Zhongli's side, raising her voice: "I don't lack treasures right now, what I lack is an assistant like you. What about you, Zhongli? Have you considered helping me build Liyue?"

This sudden poaching caught everyone in the Rebirth Hall off guard.

Zhongli also felt somewhat helpless.

He glanced at Ke Qing, then at the young female official behind him, and said calmly, "I'm sorry."

"Alright." Ke Qing had only mentioned it casually, so she wasn't surprised at all that Zhong Li refused.

She didn't look at any other goods and left the shop directly.

The next second, she flashed, as if the distance between the two points had instantly disappeared, and arrived at the corner of the street.

A few minutes later, she returned to her office in Liyue Harbor.

There wasn't much official business today. Under the control of the Rock Lord, even though she was one of the Seven Stars of Liyue, she only had the right to offer suggestions and consent on many matters.

He completed the official business quickly and efficiently.

Overjoyed, she took out the Dragon's Roar sword from its case and solemnly placed it into the newly purchased sword case.

Then observe it gently.

Buzz~~~~!

Buzz~~~~!

The sword inside the scabbard hummed incessantly.

She had a feeling that by nurturing the sword box in this way, perhaps one day she could truly become like the legendary "True Lord of Dividing Heaven and Clouds" Qing Li, making the long sword soar into the sky, controlling it with immortal techniques, and becoming invincible.

After a brief moment of contemplation, she smiled and put the sword case down.

The joy of finding a new toy quickly faded, and Keqing threw herself back into her work.

Sure enough, shopping and consumption are very enjoyable pastimes for her.

However, she also knew that shopping and consumption were merely forms of entertainment.

After all, Liyue is changing rapidly, and if you don't keep up, you'll definitely fall behind.

---She is the star Ke Qing of Yuheng, a person who rides the waves and opens up a new era.

---Without a doubt, she is the only one who can do it.

Chapter Seven: Group Gathering

After seeing Keqing off, Zhongli had no fixed schedule for the day.

He first strolled around the streets, and then, just as it was time for dinner, he went to Wanmintang to have dinner and ran into his old friend Dadalia.

After a friendly conversation, D'Addaria treated him to dinner to repay the kindness of the dragon-carved chopsticks from Panjin that he had given him.

Afterwards, Zhongli looked at Liyue under the night sky and leisurely returned to his home.

As dusk settles, the radiance of Liyue shines like the candlelight within a lantern, burning brightly yet fraught with peril.

But as long as he, the Rock King Emperor, is there, this candle will burn forever and ever.

But as Ke Qing, the current star of the Jade Balance, said.

While the Geo Archon can indeed protect Liyue without making a mistake for millions of years, the people of Liyue will certainly not grow much during this time.

Zhongli still remembered the earliest sixteen years of events, which were hidden in a corner of his memory.

The kingdom ruled by the only true god has appeared in novels, comics, and various other artistic forms.

And their results were not very good.

Or perhaps the gods suddenly lost their righteousness, causing the people to lose their correct direction and then fall into depravity along with the gods.

Or perhaps the gods suddenly disappear, and the people, deprived of divine guidance, are wiped out by simple natural disasters or internal strife, turning into dazzling fireworks and vanishing at the dawn of civilization.

Although Liyue has not yet reached that level, it is already showing this trend.

So, he wanted to leave.