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

"This item is called the 'Locking of the Mortal World.' I've only ever seen it in ancient texts; I never imagined it would look like this." Zhongli gently touched the magical artifact, a nostalgic smile playing on his lips.

He raised his gaze and looked at the Traveler. He smiled and said, "It seems you don't know many of the stories that are familiar to us Liyue people. That's fine, it avoids preconceived notions."

"The story I am about to tell is the truth of history as I have researched it, but in the eyes of many Liyue people, it is certainly full of blasphemy against the Geo Archon. I'm afraid even Keqing, the Jade Balance Star, would scoff at the story I tell you."

"Speak, speak quickly," Paimon urged in a low voice, eager to see what was going on.

“Alright, let’s talk as we go. There are still many things to collect.” Zhongli casually slung the [Locking of the Mortal World] on his body and pushed open the door again.

The young female traveler followed closely behind him.

"I was fortunate enough to acquire a rare book from two thousand years ago at the Hall of Rebirth. The author is unknown, and its name is [Qingli and Yanjun]."

"Based on my research, historical reconstruction, and the records in this book, I have learned a historical truth."

"That is, the Rock King Morax of yesteryear was not one person, but two people, two demon gods!"

"The name Morax is used by two demon gods."

"One of the demon gods was named Qing Li, who was also the [True Lord Fen Tian Li Yun] who passed away two thousand years ago. The true name of the other demon god is unknown, but it is definitely the Rock King Emperor who just passed away recently."

"These two demon gods, one in charge of conquest and the other in charge of logistics, are able to expand rapidly and ensure the happiness of their people."

"At the same time, according to records, these two demon gods were also husband and wife, sharing both prosperity and adversity."

"Wow! Really?" Paimon's mouth dropped open. "This is earth-shattering news!"

“Hehe, it’s actually easy to understand.” Zhongli smiled: “Back then, Barbatos, the god of wind, was just one of the thousands of breezes in Mondstadt, a wind spirit representing the wind of hope and change. He only became the god of wind after he obtained a divine position. Andrius, the wolf king of the North Wind, who fought alongside him against the god of the storm, did not obtain a divine position and remained just the wolf king of the North Wind.”

"But the deeds of the North Wind Wolf King and many others who rebelled against the Wind God have been attributed to the Wind God Barbatos in the course of history."

"The current Rock King Morax is the same; many of his early achievements were actually done by [True Lord of Dividing Heaven and Clear Clouds]."

"When the Dust Demon God returned to his final form, the one who signed the contract with him was [Qing Li], not the recently deceased Rock King Emperor."

"What's the difference? According to you, aren't King Yan and Qing Li a married couple?" Paimon found it a bit strange.

The traveler beside him also showed a puzzled expression.

"Hmm...it's hard to say." Zhong Li paused, a wry smile appearing on his lips as if he couldn't hold it in any longer.

That wry smile lasted only a moment before he returned to his usual self.

"Although... it's not good to talk about the deceased Rock King Emperor like that."

"Hmm..." He sighed again, hesitating to speak.

This was completely unlike his usual expression, which could be described as "unfazed even if Mount Heng collapsed before his eyes."

"Say it, say it," Paimon urged quietly from the side.

The travelers also looked very interested.

"Hmm..." Zhongli finally sighed and said it.

"Based on records and my research into history, I can confirm that the Demon God of Dust returned to the end, and he fell in love with [True Lord of Dividing Heaven and Clear Clouds] at their first meeting."

"Love???"

Paimon's eyes widened.

Chapter Thirty-Nine: The Prerequisites for Resurrection

"Love??"

The traveler, along with Paimon, stared wide-eyed.

Paimon hurriedly waved his hand and asked again, "But according to your words, isn't that Dust Demon God Gui Zhong a female demon god? A young woman in loose-fitting clothes, right? I can't have misheard, can I? And [True Lord of Dividing Heaven and Clear Clouds] is obviously also a woman, I can't be wrong about that either."

"You're saying that the Demon God of Dust has finally developed feelings for [True Lord of Dividing Heaven and Clear Clouds]?"

“Of course.” Zhongli had regained his composure and nodded slightly. “The gender of a demon god is not such an inconvenient thing. Do not use common sense to bind the common sense of a demon god.”

“Yes, that’s true.” Paimon nodded slightly.

"But..." The traveler girl wanted to offer her opinion, but she gave up halfway through.

But I saw a book on Gui Zhong's bookshelf called "How to Flirt with Boys". Does that mean that Gui Zhong, the God of Dust, doesn't like boys?

----Well, even if Mr. Zhongli is incredibly talented, he probably doesn't know why.

“Alright, let’s continue.” Zhongli walked out of the room and headed towards the next door.

"The Rock King Emperor and the Demon God Qing Li are husband and wife, and the Dust Demon God Gui Zhong is in love with the Demon God Qing Li. This relationship is not complicated. I think you understand it now."

"Therefore, I guess that perhaps for the Rock King Morax, the dissipation of the Dust Demon God's final form was a good thing. But the Rock King Morax couldn't bear to see Qingli sad, so he finally gathered up the remains of the Dust Demon God's final form and sealed them under the rock spear, using the power of the Vortex Demon God to nourish the body of the Dust Demon God's final form, waiting for her resurrection."

"This is the story recorded in the unique book 'Yan Jun and Qing Li' from a thousand years ago. According to my research, most of it is true."

At this point, Zhongli turned to the traveler following behind him and asked, "Traveler, do you still remember what our purpose was in exploring the Tomb of the Dust Demon God's Demise?"

"Hmm..." The Traveler pondered for a moment: "Searching for [the Rock King's Past Memories]?"

“Exactly.” Zhongli nodded slightly. “In my research, the Emperor does not feel any longing for either immortals or the Liyue people. In any writing, he only records the Emperor’s expectations for the future and his affirmation of the present, but there is absolutely no longing for the past.”

"The Emperor is a deity who focuses on the present and looks to the future."

"The only person the Emperor could truly miss was his wife, Qing Li, the True Lord of the Dividing Heaven and the Clouds. But since Qing Li disappeared a thousand years ago, the kind of thing that could be called the Emperor's past longing has almost vanished from this world."

"I learned from the documents that in the cenotaph of the Demon God Gui Zhong, there are items placed by the immortals that once held the memories of Qing Li, the Emperor, and Gui Zhong. Although they are the memories of the three of them, for the Emperor, they should also be considered as 'past memories'."

"Wow!!" Paimon clapped his hands in admiration. "Mr. Zhongli, you are really amazing. You were able to find all of this. It must have taken you a lot of time. I would believe you even if you said you were a witness back then."

“Hmm~~!” Zhongli looked at Paimon deeply, responded softly, and then changed the subject: “The World Lock that I just received was a gift from the Dust Demon God when he first met Qingli and the Rock King Emperor. It was also the object that held the last words he spoke before turning into dust and scattering across the land of Liyue.”

"I still remember this passage."

"[We can no longer walk side by side; I have forgotten what I gave you.]"

"This is a token of our alliance, and also the challenge I bestow upon you."

"All my wisdom resides here."

"【If you can understand it...】"

"But judging from the appearance of this lock, it seems that the Rock King Emperor has not been able to unlock it." Paimon leaned closer to examine the [Worldly Lock] on Zhongli's waist.

“Yes, I couldn’t solve it.” Zhongli pushed open the third door without expression: “Come in.”

The traveler followed him closely and entered the third room.

As soon as you step inside, you are greeted by the fragrance of flowers filling the room.

Her gaze shifted, and she saw a profusion of blue and white petals, the delicate fragrance of lilies swirling and wafting throughout the room.

"Dust Demon God Gui Zhong's favorite is the Glass Lily, as is Qing Li, the True Lord of Dividing Heaven Glass Clouds. The two of them once talked all night about the varieties and cultivation methods of the Glass Lily, and the Rock King Emperor also participated. According to records, the Glass Lilies that fill this room are the descendants of the Glass Lilies that the three of them cultivated."

"You can take one."

"Traveler, could you help me choose one?"

The young traveler nodded, took two steps forward, looked left and right, and finally chose the most vibrant blooming flower she had on hand.

Seeing that the traveler had made his selection, Zhongli didn't say anything more and simply pushed open the door and walked out.

"Let's go to the next door."

Beyond the fourth door, there was nothing unexpected; it was simply the boudoir of an ordinary young girl.

Zhongli stood at the doorway but did not enter.

He simply said to the travelers and Paimon inside the door, "Behind this door is the boudoir of the Dust Demon God, which was once arranged by the True Lord Liuyun Jiefeng."

"As a man, it's really inconvenient for me to enter. So, traveler, please help me check if you can find a book called 'The Collection of Iron Forging for the Common People.' According to the records I've consulted, that book was written by Gui Zhong, Qing Li, and the Rock King Emperor. It's a secret record of the gods, specifically about farming and warfare. Apart from these three gods, it seems that even immortals haven't seen it. So, this thing can be considered a memory."

“Okay.” The traveler glanced at the three-sectioned boudoir and nodded.

She watched as the traveler entered the boudoir.

Zhongli gently closed the door. He took a few more steps on the corridor and pushed it towards the rockery courtyard.

A portal of light, which had previously gone unnoticed, suddenly appeared in the spot.

Zhongli took a step forward and entered.

This is an incredibly empty, blank room.

There was not a single color in any direction.

Only an hourglass filled with sand and dust was slowly dripping in the center of the room.

Zhongli took two steps forward with a nostalgic expression and took the hourglass into his palm.

"The Demon God of Dust has returned to the end."

"My...love rival"

"I've come to take you back to Liyue."

"I hope that in the future, you and Qingli can still sing happily in the field of glass lilies."

Chapter Forty: The Price of Resurrection

Yes, these are the memories that need to be burned to revive Qingli.

Zhongli chose himself.

Neither the Vortex Demon God, nor the Dragon King Ruotu, nor those demon gods and evil gods who have been suppressed, have enough memories to support the resurrection of someone like Qingli.

Of course, if the memories of several immortals, or the memories of protagonists like the traveler Ying and the guide Paimon, are used as anchors, it is indeed possible to support this resurrection orchestrated by Zhongli.

But if he chooses this path, then he, Zhongli, will no longer be Zhongli.

Therefore, the best option in the end is to burn his memories as the Rock King Emperor.

Even though his memories of Qingli would disappear in this world, he could still retrieve them if he transcended time.

Therefore, it cannot be considered a complete tragedy.

----It's just that on this continent of Teyvat, Zhongli can't remember Qingli.

It's just that on that day at the farm at the foot of Hengshan Mountain, Zhongli couldn't remember his master.

It's just that it was on the top of Tianheng Mountain, and Zhong Li couldn't remember that bird woman.