Chương 69: The Crisis Strikes Again! The Alliance for the Day of Reckoning!

"It seems that Liyue's crisis hasn't been completely resolved yet..." Lin Yuan pondered silently, his gaze deep.

Lottia flew up to Lin Yuan, sensing his concern, and nervously asked, "Lin Yuan, you felt it too, didn't you?"

Lin Yuan was about to reassure her, but seeing that she had dragged out Ruotuo with a stream of water, he couldn't help but smile wryly. He raised his hand but ended up giving her a light tap on the head instead. "Alright, with me here, I'll handle this. What are you two up to again?"

Lottia scratched her head, dodged the question with a grin, and said, "Nothing much, I'll head back now~" Before hurrying off, she quickly made sure Ruotuo was standing properly.

Turning back, Lin Yuan noticed several pairs of curious eyes staring at him.

They recognized Lottia, but the little girl she had just brought along piqued their curiosity. Though they didn't recognize Ruotuo's new form, the dragon horns and the company of a pure water spirit made it clear she was no ordinary child.

The seven stars couldn't help but wonder: Could this be the reason why the Emperor went out this time? Before his trip, that little girl wasn't around, but now she appeared out of nowhere, and she had dragon horns. Could she be related to the Emperor?

However, they quickly refocused, realizing there was a more pressing issue at hand. Lin Yuan and Lottia's reactions had planted a troubling thought in their minds. They knew where Lin Yuan had just been looking—the direction of Guyun Stone Forest. Could something have gone wrong with the seal again?

Ningguang, speaking for the others, asked seriously, "Emperor, has something happened to the seal on the Vortex God?"

"Not entirely sure yet, but there's a strong possibility that Osial is trying to break the seal," Lin Yuan replied. The seal wasn't his own work, but he could sense some changes in that direction.

"Is Osial trying to break free again?" One of the seven stars exclaimed in shock.

"If Osial manages to break the seal and attack Liyue Harbor again, how will we defend against him?" Another star furrowed their brow in concern. Last time, when Osial broke open a small gap in the seal, they had to sacrifice the Jade Chamber to suppress him. And that was when Osial was still partially bound by the Emperor's original seal, and distracted by the Jade Chamber. Now, if he attacks again, what will they do?

Wait… something's different now. We have the Emperor!

The seven stars suddenly looked at Lin Yuan with expectant eyes, hoping he would give them a plan of action.

"You all continue with your duties, but be prepared to fight off monsters," Lin Yuan instructed. He understood why they would rely on him when it came to facing a god, but he also wanted Liyue to be able to defend itself.

The seven stars pondered his words. They realized that if Osial truly attacked again, it wouldn't just be him. Like last time with Baqiu, there would likely be a surge of monsters assaulting the city at the same time.

Though Lin Yuan was confident in his own strength, he wasn't certain he could protect the entirety of Liyue by himself. Moreover, he didn't want Liyue to be entirely dependent on him. For smaller threats, he wanted the city to have the ability to defend itself.

"Understood, Emperor!" The seven stars nodded in agreement.

"Given the situation, I believe we should resume work on replicating the Guizhong Ballista," Ningguang said after thinking for a moment, turning to the others.

"Agreed."

"I second that."

The other stars unanimously supported Ningguang's proposal.

The Guizhong Ballista had played a crucial role in the last battle against Osial. Ever since then, Ningguang had formed a team to study and replicate it. However, due to several other pressing matters, including the sacrifice of the Jade Chamber in the battle against Baqiu, progress had stalled. With a possible monster invasion looming, resuming the Guizhong Ballista project seemed like the right move.

"Additionally, if we can establish an alliance with Snezhnaya, we could request technological support from them!" The Qixing calculated in their minds and felt that this idea was full of potential.

"Well then, I will take my leave first," one of the Qixing said.

After paying their respects to Lin Yuan, the Qixing exited Wangsheng Funeral Parlor. Ningguang, just before leaving, inquired, "Emperor, when would you like to meet with Tartaglia?"

Lin Yuan thought for a moment. There wasn't much going on today, so he figured he might as well deal with everything today. "Notify Tartaglia to come over today," Lin Yuan instructed.

"Understood!" Ningguang responded, and the Qixing left. Lin Yuan began to contemplate the current state of Liyue. For some reason, many things seemed different from what he knew. He would need to consult with the old man again to discuss how to deal with this crisis.

The old man had really dug a lot of holes in the past! Lin Yuan thought, feeling a bit speechless. Though he knew many of the issues were due to objective reasons, sealing so many gods within Liyue without being able to completely eradicate them posed a great risk.

Now, there were two major threats at hand: a sea monster and a mountain demon. After thousands of years, both seemed ready to stir up trouble again. Both had once been defeated by the old man, but he couldn't completely eliminate them. Now, both were preparing to threaten Liyue simultaneously.

After heading to the backyard, Lin Yuan played around with Lottia and Ruotuo for a while, stopping their frequent "world wars" between Lottia and the younger Ruotuo. He also spent some time chatting and joking with Hu Tao.

It wasn't long before news came that a Harbinger from the Fatui had arrived to visit.

It seemed Tartaglia had arrived.

Removing the two little troublemakers from his shoulders and leaving them inside to play, Lin Yuan left his cozy space and flew to the guest hall.

"Snezhnaya's diplomatic envoy, Eleventh Harbinger Tartaglia, greets the Dragon Emperor!" Tartaglia greeted respectfully, uncertain about the personality of Liyue's new god. He opted for caution, showing the proper respect due to a deity.

"No need for formalities, take a seat," Lin Yuan said.

Tartaglia let out a small sigh of relief. It seemed this god was relatively easygoing. That was good—Tartaglia wasn't one for flowery diplomatic language. He found a chair and sat down, his eyes briefly scanning Liyue's new god. The Dragon Emperor's current form was the same as the one he'd taken in battle, only shrunk a thousand times smaller.

Still, to be able to transform into such a powerful combat form intrigued Tartaglia immensely.

His gaze didn't linger long on Lin Yuan—strong individuals were highly sensitive to such scrutiny, and Tartaglia didn't want to get himself killed just for staring. Even in this diminished form, Lin Yuan's presence exuded an overwhelming aura. Tartaglia's instincts screamed that this was an enemy far beyond his ability to confront.

"Let's get to the point. Tell me about the alliance," Lin Yuan said, reclining comfortably in a specially designed chair, his eyes now focused on the young man before him.

Tartaglia was measured in his approach and did not take offense to Lin Yuan's direct manner.

Lin Yuan observed Tartaglia in return. While the Harbinger had caused trouble for Liyue before, most of it had been orchestrated by the old man. And while Tartaglia had stirred up some chaos, he hadn't caused irreparable damage. Since the old man hadn't pursued the matter, Lin Yuan didn't dwell on it either.

In truth, Lin Yuan appreciated Tartaglia's straightforwardness and his relentless pursuit of martial excellence. Of course, if Tartaglia intended to cause trouble again, Lin Yuan wouldn't hesitate to deal with him.

Lin Yuan's forthright approach suited Tartaglia perfectly. "Yes, I represent Snezhnaya, and we hope to form an alliance with Liyue," Tartaglia said, cutting straight to the point.

Lin Yuan listened, surprised by how much Snezhnaya was willing to offer. It seemed they were eager to cement this alliance with Liyue. But what would be the cost?

Lin Yuan's golden eyes narrowed as he focused on Tartaglia, and a faint aura of dragon's power began to leak from him, filling the room.

Tartaglia was stunned. The oppressive aura was terrifying—perhaps even more overwhelming than that of the Tsaritsa, the strongest being he had encountered. And this wasn't even Lin Yuan intentionally suppressing him. It was just the natural pressure radiating from a god deep in thought.

So this is the power of a god? Tartaglia thought, feeling a mix of bitterness and awe. But alongside the bitter acknowledgment of his own weakness, a familiar sensation arose—battle lust. He wasn't afraid of strong opponents; he only feared that he himself might never grow stronger.

His fighting spirit helped him break free from the unconscious pressure Lin Yuan emitted, which in turn brought Lin Yuan out of his contemplation.

After Lin Yuan withdrew his dragon's aura, it took Tartaglia some time to calm his fighting spirit.

"Sorry about that," Lin Yuan said.

Tartaglia was nervous under Lin Yuan's piercing gaze but didn't let it show. He hesitated, wondering if he'd be killed for overstepping. After all, he had his share of responsibility in the past conflicts.

But Lin Yuan didn't dwell on the incident. Instead, he asked directly, "What does Snezhnaya want in return for this alliance?"

Fixing his gaze on Tartaglia, Lin Yuan asked in a low voice, "Snezhnaya is offering a great deal—what are they expecting in return?"

The greater the offer, the greater the ask.

"Liyue need not give anything in return right now. The only request is that when the Final Battle begins, the Dragon Emperor stand by the Tsaritsa's side. In exchange, Snezhnaya will provide the necessary support to help with Liyue's current crisis."

It was an incredibly generous offer—a win-win for Liyue. Lin Yuan finally understood. What the Tsaritsa wanted was his support in the endgame of whatever conflict lay ahead.

For Snezhnaya, the so-called "Final Battle" refers to the moment when the Tsaritsa raises the banner of rebellion against Celestia. The Fatui have been carrying out her will, and all their actions, from creating chaos in various nations to collecting the Gnosis of the Seven Archons, are in preparation for this ultimate conflict against Celestia.

Lin Yuan couldn't help but marvel at the boldness of Snezhnaya's Tsaritsa. Offering such significant benefits so early on to win him over...

With a smile, Lin Yuan asked Tartaglia, "If I refuse this condition, does that mean Snezhnaya won't form an alliance with Liyue?"

Tartaglia remained composed and replied, "No, the alliance with Liyue is mutually beneficial. The discussion of an alliance can continue."

However, the words Tartaglia left unsaid were clear—if Lin Yuan didn't agree to the current terms, the alliance would simply be between two nations. While Snezhnaya might still offer some concessions out of a desire not to make Lin Yuan an enemy, the terms would definitely not be as generous as they were now.

This was inevitable. Morax, Liyue's previous Archon, had tacitly supported Snezhnaya's plan. No one had expected a sudden change in Liyue's deity, which posed a major variable for Snezhnaya's strategy.

Snezhnaya's current stance was clear: even if Lin Yuan could not become a friend, he must not become an enemy. Tartaglia's mission reflected this, with three possible outcomes representing Lin Yuan's three potential attitudes.

If Lin Yuan accepted the terms, he would most likely become Snezhnaya's ally in the battle against Celestia. If he declined but still agreed to an alliance, at least he wouldn't be an enemy. But if he rejected the alliance outright...

Tartaglia lowered his head, waiting for Lin Yuan's decision.

From what Tartaglia knew, Celestia had the potential to wipe out entire civilizations. It wasn't just Khaenri'ah; fragments from ancient ruins hinted that many nations had fallen under the judgment of the gods.

Lin Yuan didn't know the reasons behind Celestia's destruction of civilizations. But if, one day, Celestia decided to target Liyue, it was something Lin Yuan could never accept. Celestia was like a Damocles' sword hanging invisibly over Liyue, and Lin Yuan didn't know when it might descend to bring ruin.

Based on the agreement between the old Archon and the Tsaritsa, aligning with Snezhnaya might be a wise choice. Furthermore, the Final Battle seemed far off at this point, so agreeing to this now could be beneficial.

"Very well, I agree to the terms of this alliance," Lin Yuan said, meeting Tartaglia's gaze directly.

"Thank you, Dragon Emperor!" Tartaglia rejoiced. With Lin Yuan agreeing to join the Tsaritsa in opposing Celestia, Tartaglia's mission was now a complete success.

Since the agreement had been reached, there wasn't much left to discuss. Lin Yuan asked about some finer details of the alliance, and then sent Tartaglia on his way with a satisfied smile.

Tartaglia left Wangsheng Funeral Parlor beaming, a sight that puzzled passersby. Seeing someone exit Wangsheng with such a bright smile was odd—were they so grief-stricken they had gone mad?

After Tartaglia left, Lin Yuan was left with some lingering doubts. Regarding the fight against Celestia, he would rely on his own eyes to understand the truth of the matter. What puzzled him was: did the Tsaritsa truly believe he wouldn't betray her? He wasn't like the old Archon, who lived by the principles of contracts.

Or did she think that once he learned the truth, he would naturally turn against Celestia?

Regardless, Lin Yuan had already agreed to the alliance, and unless something major changed, he would maintain his stance. What he hadn't realized was that he now exuded the aura of a powerful figure whose word was final. This was one of the reasons why the Fatui and the Tsaritsa placed so much importance on this agreement. Powerful individuals like him had no need to lie.

By taking a stance on this issue, Lin Yuan had made his position clear. For Snezhnaya, that was all they needed to know.

Having handled all the day's affairs, and with more unresolved questions accumulating, Lin Yuan decided to go find the old man, Zhongli. He wanted to discuss Liyue's current crisis and see if he could extract more information about Celestia and the Tsaritsa.

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T/N:

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