Genshin Impact's Incense Burner Of Liyue [358]

Azhdaha exhaled as if relieved.

"For a moment, I thought you were another lunatic planning to wipe out the Abyss Order entirely. Gotta admit, though, it's an amusing idea."

Gu Sanqiu sighed. "Old man, you're not even bothering to hide who 'those guys' are anymore, are you?"

"Humph. You've already fought them. What's the point of secrecy now? Better than letting you stumble on it and make me look like a fool."

Azhdaha wandered briefly, then returned to the core of his seal, peering through the barrier at the eager Gu Sanqiu waiting for advice.

"Check for places where monsters are unnaturally concentrated. That's the easiest way to find those bastards."

"And let me warn you—they're skilled at manipulation. Stick to your mission. If you can fight, don't waste time talking."

Gu Sanqiu's brows furrowed. "How do you know they're good at manipulation, old man?"

Azhdaha fixed him with a look that screamed Are you an idiot?

"You think I've never dealt with them? Those scoundrels once caused quite the ruckus in Liyue before Morax drove them away."

"Drove them away? There are still plenty of monsters and Abyss Mages in Liyue today. What's up with that?"

Azhdaha's eyes narrowed in disdain. "You ask too many questions. Off you go."

"I've said all I can. The rest is up to you to figure out."

Gu Sanqiu groaned. "Classic. Always with the cryptic half-answers. Can't you be a little more direct, old man?"

"Leave now, or I'll smack you again. I'm already bristling with irritation over the fact that you've mastered elemental laws. Another word, and I swear I'll hit you harder."

"Oh, and leave those dishes you pulled out earlier. You can go."

Gu Sanqiu perked up instantly. "If you like my cooking, I can bring food daily. It won't even cost much—just a dragon scale or a pinch of powder scraped from your horns per meal."

Now this, this is profit!

Boom!

The barrier shattered as a dragon claw smacked Gu Sanqiu, sending him flying while simultaneously snatching the plates into the core.

"Humph. You brat, trying to fleece me?"

Azhdaha glanced down at the fragrant dishes before him. A flick of his tongue cleaned the plates spotless, leaving no trace of the food.

"Surprisingly good."

Yet the portions were far too small. Even swallowing them whole, Azhdaha could discern every flavor meticulously.

"Did that boy figure something out? Why else would he suddenly pull out food to test me?"

Azhdaha adjusted his posture and settled down, his mind wandering to memories of a disheveled girl with hair always in disarray.

She was stunning yet dressed like a vagabond, an eccentric cook from the Gu family's lineage.

"Little Shuwen, the Gu heir. Your cooking wasn't bad either."

"Back then, you promised me something, and I suppose you've fulfilled it now, though it feels more like a prisoner feeding their elder."

Azhdaha's voice softened. "Not just 'not bad'—it's excellent."

---

Gu Sanqiu tumbled through the air, though the strike hadn't been random. It was Azhdaha's clumsy way of sending him to the ley line eruption site nearest the Dragon-Queller.

"Alright. Let's think this through. What level of firepower would I need to crush the Abyss Order?"

Once safely on the ground, Gu Sanqiu pondered his options. Given his current state, he'd need an invincible artifact or a heavily fortified elder shielding him to ensure survival.

And for offense? Another heavily fortified elder, of course.

"Ugh, this is impossible. At least for now," he muttered, kicking a pebble.

Wiping out the Abyss Order from top to bottom?

The difficulty of this task was practically equivalent to confronting the Abyss itself.

A faint rustling caught his attention. From the ground emerged a Whopperflower, its angry eyes locking onto him. A small bump atop its head twitched menacingly.

"Hmm? Did that pebble hit you?" Gu Sanqiu mused before tossing out an elemental crystal.

"Apologies. Consider this a peace offering."

The Whopperflower examined the crystal, its rich elemental energy radiating from within. Its head swayed gently as it transmitted a faint mental message.

"Accepted. Your apology. What are, you doing?"

It can talk?

Gu Sanqiu froze. "You... you can communicate with me?"

"Idiot. I'm very, awake."

Though halting, the telepathic message was clear enough for him to understand.

"But every Whopperflower I've encountered before just rushed me without a word, trying to eat me whole."

"That's because, you're, stupid."

The Whopperflower swayed gently. "The energy, here, is pleasant. Makes me, smarter."

The ley lines?

Gu Sanqiu's expression grew serious. "Do you know where the source of this energy is?"

If this flower was telling the truth, it could be the key to finding his next lead.

"The pleasant energy, that way, not far."

The Whopperflower asked, "Are you, going?"

Gu Sanqiu nodded. "Thanks. Meeting you was a lucky break."

"This, for you."

The Whopperflower lowered its head, shaking loose a glowing, fiery orb and handing it to Gu Sanqiu.

"New energy, absorbed. This is, old."

"Thanks!"

He placed the orb in a box, thinking of its potential use. The explosive expert in Mondstadt would no doubt turn it into a superweapon, though it might come in handy if there were explosive barrels ahead.

Not long after, Gu Sanqiu paused and tightened his grip on his spear, scanning the surrounding undergrowth.

"Come on out. I know you're there."

A sinister chuckle echoed as a Hydro Abyss Mage emerged from the shadows.

"Well, well. Impressive, kid. You actually sensed me."

Gu Sanqiu grinned. "Thanks for the compliment. Honestly, seeing you here makes me happy too—it means I'm on the right track. My family's advice was spot on. Saves me a ton of time."

"Oh, really? And what makes you so sure you're in the right place?"

The Abyss Mage sneered. "Did you know that Whopperflower you met earlier was about eighty meters away from you originally?"

"That's because I hit it with a pebble and guided it to you."

"All to lure you here!"

ROAR!

A cacophony of growls erupted as massive shadows crashed through the foliage. Elemental energy surged from their nostrils as they surrounded Gu Sanqiu.

"Take him down!"