Chapter 070: We Are Willing

The assembled immortals were astonished to discover that above the clouds of Guizoli, a pavilion stood tall amidst the mist.

Curiosity filled their hearts as they observed every detail within the pavilion.

Remarkably, Vorthis stood firm amidst the clouds.

This was no ordinary adeptal art; it was genuine mist. Somehow, the clouds supported his weight.

Initially, they believed that only the pavilion could serve as a foothold, but now, they were proven wrong.

How extraordinary.

Despite their amazement and numerous questions, the immortals refrained from expressing their thoughts. At Vorthis's invitation, they entered the pavilion nestled within the clouds.

"Please, take a seat. There's no need to stand on ceremony," Vorthis said warmly to the immortals.

The pavilion was no longer the modest structure it once was, having undergone numerous upgrades and renovations by Vorthis.

Now, the pavilion could host a grand party or gathering with ease, making it perfect for entertaining the immortals.

The immortals reverted to their human forms and took their seats one by one. Meanwhile, Vorthis calmly prepared a pot of hot tea for them.

"Immortals of Jueyun Karst rarely venture out. Your unexpected visit left little time for preparation. If the hospitality falls short, I ask for your understanding," Vorthis addressed the immortals with a modest tone.

Despite his words, Vorthis had displayed the utmost courtesy and the distinctive hospitality of Guizoli, from welcoming the immortals to hosting them in the cloud pavilion.

"Hmph, it's all because of the trouble caused by the eight Gods surrounding Jueyun Karst," Adeptus Retainer Cloud Retainer grumbled, her voice brimming with disdain for the eight Gods.

"Oh?" Vorthis's interest was piqued.

As the immortals narrated the ongoing conflict between Jueyun Karst and the eight Gods, Vorthis listened attentively.

From their account, he quickly grasped the situation.

Just as he had suspected, the immortals of Jueyun Karst were facing significant trouble.

Unable to secure their submission, the eight Gods had resolved to destroy them.

Vorthis had a deep bond with the immortals of Jueyun Karst. Naturally, he would not stand by and watch as their home was destroyed.

"I see. I now understand the situation," Vorthis said. "What do you intend to do now?"

If they needed his help, Vorthis was willing to assist them, given his strong friendship with the immortals. However, a single intervention might not suffice to resolve the matter long-term.

Thus, he decided to hear their thoughts first.

Upon hearing his question, the immortals fell silent. They had decided on their course of action long before setting out, but... who would take the lead in expressing their intent?

Cloud Retainer, Mountain Shaper, and Moon Carver huddled together, whispering among themselves.

As a God, Vorthis could have eavesdropped if he wished, but he chose to respect their privacy.

After some time, the immortals seemed to have reached a consensus.

Cloud Retainer stepped forward, breaking the silence.

"Hmph, fine. Since none of you are willing to speak, I shall take the lead," she declared. "You all had so much to say earlier, but now that we're in the presence of the God of Geo, you're hesitating and passing the responsibility around. Unlike me, who is forthright and bold."

Her words, though seemingly self-assured, did not convince the others, who knew she had participated in the earlier hesitation.

So, what was the matter?

Vorthis's curiosity deepened as he awaited Cloud Retainer's explanation.

"On behalf of the immortals of Jueyun Karst, we have come for one purpose," Cloud Retainer announced solemnly.

"One purpose?" Vorthis pondered, his thoughts racing.

Before he could delve further, all the immortals, led by Cloud Retainer, stepped forward, bowing in unison toward him.

"We are willing to join Guizoli! We humbly ask the God of Geo to accept us!" they declared in unison.

"?!"

Vorthis was momentarily stunned.

This development caught him completely off guard; he had not anticipated such a scenario.

However, upon reflection, it made sense.

If the immortals of Jueyun Karst joined Guizoli, it could serve as a solution to their predicament.

Few Gods dared provoke Guizoli, and with the immortals' various talents, Guizoli would undoubtedly reach new heights of prosperity.

That said, this was a significant matter. Vorthis could not make such a decision alone. He would need to discuss it with the other Gods.

Still, Vorthis was inclined to accept their proposal.

Unlike Gods, the immortals' presence was not politically sensitive. Moreover, he already shared a deep connection with them.

"Are you certain this is your decision?" Vorthis asked.

"Absolutely!" the immortals replied in unison, their determination evident in their voices.

Acknowledging their resolve, Vorthis nodded.

"As one of Guizoli's four Gods, I have no objections to your request. However, this matter is significant and requires consultation with the other three Gods. Only then can I provide you with a definitive answer."

The immortals expressed their understanding.

They were well aware that Guizoli was not solely under Vorthis's jurisdiction; three other Gods held equal authority.

Though uncertain about the others' opinions, they trusted that Vorthis's support would smooth the process.

Vorthis then left the pavilion, advising the immortals to explore Guizoli City in the meantime, provided they avoided disrupting the lives of the common folk.

Overjoyed by the permission, the immortals swiftly transformed into forms resembling ordinary humans, took a pouch of Mora that Vorthis provided, and headed into Guizoli City.

Meanwhile, Vorthis set out to consult with the other three Gods regarding the matter.

When Vorthis sensed activity outside his door, he exited his meditation and was surprised to detect Vorthis's presence.

For Vorthis to personally visit was highly unusual.

What could have happened today?

Had the unyielding stone finally blossomed?

No, a stone is a stone—it could never bloom.

Vorthis quickly got up and walked to the palace entrance, opening the grand doors to see Morax standing outside.

"Well, this is a rare sight—Morax himself paying a visit," Vorthis teased with a smile. "Is today some sort of special occasion?"

"From the perspective of common rationality, today is not a particularly memorable day," Morax replied seriously. "However, if all goes well, it may turn into one worth commemorating."

Huh?

Vorthis raised an eyebrow. Why was Morax suddenly speaking in riddles?

"Spit it out! Stop with the cryptic talk. I hate riddlers the most!" Vorthis rolled his eyes, a hint of impatience in his voice.

He'd always disliked riddlers in games—those who clearly knew everything but only dropped vague hints, forcing you to piece things together yourself. The process might be enjoyable for some, but Vorthis just wanted to take it easy.

"It's about the Adepti in Jueyun Karst. Earlier today..." Morax began explaining the day's events without further pretense.

After listening, Vorthis finally understood.

He only knew about the pact between the Adepti and Morax from his time in Teyvat's future, but he hadn't realized there was such a backstory behind it.

Well, it seemed those eight Gods deserved some thanks.

If not for their actions, how else could the Adepti of Jueyun Karst have been pushed into the arms of Guizoli?

Next time they met, what gift should he prepare to properly express his gratitude?

"So, I wanted to ask your opinion on this matter," Morax said, looking at Vorthis.

"Huh? What opinion could I possibly have? The Adepti joining Guizoli is a great thing, isn't it?" Vorthis replied, casually patting Morax on the shoulder.

However, given the height difference, he had to stand on tiptoes, making the gesture less smooth than he intended. Embarrassed, Vorthis retracted his hand.

Ahem, maybe he should've made his character taller during character creation.

At least he was still taller than that future seven-foot-five Adeptus. That thought alone was enough to satisfy him.

"Understood. Let's head out together to consult with Guizhong, Zennos," Morax suggested.

"Sure," Vorthis said with a grin.

Since he'd already interrupted his cultivation, how could he miss witnessing the scene where the Adepti and Morax sealed their pact?

Morax nodded slightly, and the two set off together.

Currently, Guizhong wasn't in Guizoli. She was likely in her workshop at the Tianheng Mountain defense line.

Over time, the continuous deployment of Guizhong Ballista at the Tianheng Mountain line caused wear and tear. Once these ballistae reached a certain critical point of damage, they would naturally stop functioning.

In such cases, Guizhong usually rebuilt them from scratch. Repairing them was too time-consuming due to the varying degrees of internal damage; it was simpler to start anew.

However, the time spent making Guizhong Ballista meant less time for other research or upgrading the devices.

To solve this problem, Guizhong had a brilliant idea: what if she could construct a machine capable of automatically manufacturing Guizhong Ballista when supplied with materials?

Her eyes lit up at the thought—it seemed entirely feasible!

And so, she began a new research project, integrating techniques she had learned from disassembling the intelligent chessboard Vorthis had gifted her.

Though it couldn't match the chessboard's computational power, it was more than sufficient for simple manufacturing tasks.

Theoretically, it was entirely possible, but many technical challenges remained for Guizhong to overcome, one by one.

Thus, she had secluded herself in her workshop on the Tianheng Mountain defense line.

When Vorthis and Morax arrived, Guizhong was surprised.

"Vorthis, Morax? What are you two doing here together? Don't tell me something major happened!"

Seeing these two—a dedicated cultivator and a self-described rock—showing up together, Guizhong immediately suspected trouble in Guizoli.

"There's no major issue, Guizhong. You're overthinking it," Vorthis replied with a laugh.

"Oh, good. So it's just a minor issue, then?" Guizhong asked, her gaze sharp.

Vorthis explained, "We just need your opinion on something, Guizhong."

Morax then briefly outlined the situation with the Adepti in Jueyun Karst, including their views on the matter.

"Oh!"

"So the Adepti want to join Guizoli because they've been harassed by neighboring Gods? That's great news—I have no objections," Guizhong said after a moment's thought.

With Guizoli currently facing manpower shortages, the addition of the Adepti would help fill those gaps.

Moreover, some Adepti were reputed to be skilled in mechanics. If she could convince them to join her in the workshop, wouldn't that be perfect?

Uh... Why was she having such scheming thoughts?

She blamed Vorthis—spending so much time with him must've influenced her personality.

Yes, that had to be it.