nycdaug Chapter 538 Xu Ning is a person with a destined connection
Chapter 538 Xu Ning is a person with a destined connection
"Ha, you've come. Look at this guy, who keeps calling himself an archaeologist but knows absolutely nothing about the ruins around here. I know more than him. I can find something of value just by relying on my intuition... that experience. And her? Nothing at all!"
When Clement saw Xu Ning and Zhong Li approaching, he immediately began to accuse Wan Yan.
Xu Ning smiled and walked over to Clement, comforting him, "Calm down. You see, if you two have a falling out, I'll definitely help her. If she starts hitting you, you'll be the one who gets hurt. That's not fair, is it? So calm down and let's all see what we've gained."
Clement was stunned for a long time before he realized the threat in Xu Ning's words, and looked at Zhong Li with a helpless expression.
Zhong Li slowly shook her head, disapproving of Xu Ning's bullying behavior, but she did not stand up for her employer.
"Let's take a look at what we brought first. The mysterious patterns on the surface of this stone slab still contain traces of demonic power, which should be very helpful for your archaeological research."
Upon hearing this, Clement immediately forgot all his emotions. "Quick, let me see! It has the power of a demon god! This is a steal! This is truly a valuable treasure..."
Wan Yan was very grateful to Xu Ning for standing up for her earlier. Looking at Clement's appearance, she said to Xu Ning with disgust, "Look at him, he's just like a mercenary merchant. He sees everything and says, 'This is worth so many Mora, that is worth so many Mora.' He just wants to make a fortune through archaeology."
Clement heard Wan Yan's evaluation of him and said disdainfully, "What's wrong with combining archaeology with making money? Why are you so rigid in your thinking! Come, Mr. Zhongli, take another look at these things I found. What value do they have?"
Zhongli glanced at the items Clement was carrying and shook his head slightly. "These things you found, although they were also brought ashore by the Whirlpool Demon God and its wife, have nothing to do with the demon god or anything like that. They are all sunken objects from the nearby sea..."
Clement looked at the items in his arms with some regret. "I originally thought these things were in pretty good condition..."
Zhongli continued, "...However, while these things may not be of much research value, the cup in your hand is a valuable item. It must have been Ningguang's collection and fell down with the Jade Pavilion..."
Clement's eyes lit up, but before he could do anything, Xu Ning shoved the stone slab into his arms and took the brightly colored cup.
"I didn't expect it to be something from our family. Well then, let's return it to its rightful owner. I won't let you work for nothing; the stone slab is yours for the taking."
Clement tried to pry open Xu Ning's hand twice in vain but failed, so he had to turn to Zhongli for help again.
Zhongli coughed lightly, "That is indeed his family's property, and even if you were given to you, you wouldn't be able to leave Liyue. Think about the consequences of offending Tianquan Star..."
Clement finally gave up in despair.
"I still prefer the original Liyue. You guys are too domineering now."
However, despite saying this, Clement was still quite satisfied with obtaining the stone tablet containing the power of the demon god.
"Alright, we've made a good start today. Since this guy keeps talking about the salt in the earth, let's go treasure hunting... no, let's do some archaeology there next!"
Wan Yan said disdainfully again, "This guy is really obsessed with money."
However, Wanyan was quite in favor of exploring the salt flats in the earth.
Xu Ning, however, was toying with his wine glass, thinking about something else.
The Emperor summoned me today, probably because he wanted me to know about this Salt Demon God.
So even if Clement hadn't decided to go to the Salt of the Earth to search for treasure, the Emperor would probably have considered the mission complete, driven away this money-grubber, and then had Wanyan lead him to the Salt of the Earth.
Is it because this Salt Demon God is special?
And why must you know her story yourself?
Is this also part of the witnessing process?
"The salt flats are said to be the home of the people of the Salt God, so there must be a lot of cultural relics there, right? Hehe!"
Before the ship even arrived, Clement was already imagining himself standing among the artifacts.
However, Zhongli shattered his illusion in an instant.
"Legend has it that under the protection of the salt goddess Heureia, her people did indeed enjoy a period of prosperity."
"However, after the people there disappeared, countless scavengers and homeless people visited this place, and there is probably nothing left in the wild."
"So poor and shabby? There's no need to go then." Clement immediately backed out.
“I know of a ruin that no one has ever been to. That is the real salt of the earth. However, it is sealed by a mysterious force and no one has been able to unlock it.”
Xu Ning tensed up the moment he saw Clement, who had almost turned the bow of the ship around.
"Full speed! Salt of the earth!"
Ignoring the greedy fellow, Xu Ning asked Wan Yan, "You said the entrance there is sealed. Do you have a way to get in?"
Wan Yan bit her lip and shook her head. "No, but according to my deduction, that place should have been sealed by the Rock God Morax. He must have sealed it to hide some truth, which is why I wanted to ask the learned Mr. Zhongli to see if he could unlock it."
Xu Ning glanced at the girl sideways, "You have no idea how terrifying those two sentences sound when put together."
"The Salt Demon is kind and benevolent, loved by all, and possesses great power; he wouldn't have anything to hide. But since someone sealed this place away, the person hiding here must be the murderer, so it's quite obvious—Morax..."
Watching this girl recklessly flirt with the Emperor, Xu Ning felt that even though his Emperor was indifferent and didn't care, he, as her henchman, couldn't let this girl slander his boss.
"I don't think this seal was placed by Lord Yan, do you agree, Mr. Zhongli?"
Xu Ning felt that his question was incredibly clever. As long as the boss said no, he would definitely argue with Wan Yan and help the Emperor win back some ground.
However, Xu Ning noticed that Zhong Li stared intently at him for a while without saying a word.
The eldest brother neither denied it nor admitted it!
"But regardless of whether it was placed there by Lord Yan or not, Mr. Zhongli should be able to solve it, right?"
Xu Ning didn't get the answer she wanted, so she could only cautiously ask one more question.
"I do know a little about this."
Clement cheered immediately, "That's good! Let's hurry up and go. You, take us to find the entrance."
After the group landed on the island, Wanyan led them to a stone tablet, pointed to the words on it, and said, "Look at the words on it yourselves!"
Xu Ning stepped forward, carefully examined the inscription on the stone tablet, and pondered, "I can tell that these are... two lines of text, right?"
Clement didn't even step forward. "Even I, a Winter Solstice person, can see there are two lines of text. You quickly step aside and let Mr. Zhongli see it..."
"It is written here: Respectfully sealed in salt, it may not be opened without reason."
Zhongli glanced at it and then read out the words on the stone tablet.
Wan Yan said dejectedly, "I have tried many methods, but there is absolutely no response here."
Clement said dismissively, "That must be because you haven't found that 'fate' yet. I've already said that it can't be opened without it. But what does this 'fate' look like, and how are we supposed to find it?"
Xu Ning chuckled and said, "In Liyue, fate represents opportunity, chance. It's invisible. Just like this Miss Wanyan's opportunity hasn't arrived yet. No matter how many times she comes here, this door won't open. But maybe another destined person can just push it open..."
Xu Ning casually pressed on the stone tablet, and the entire tablet suddenly trembled. Then, the ten characters on it lit up one by one. A loudspeaker clicked once, and the stone tablet actually moved back nearly a foot, revealing a crack.
"...and then the door opened."
Xu Ning finally finished speaking in a daze at this moment.
Wan Yan looked at Xu Ning in disbelief, "Why were you able to open it... Is it because you are a follower of the Rock God Morax?"
Xu Ning thought about it carefully and felt that this statement might not be wrong.
Although Wanyan is also from Liyue, judging from her constant use of "Morax," this little girl clearly doesn't believe in our Emperor. If this seal was truly made by the Emperor, then she is indeed the only one among this group who can open it.
After all, I am the Emperor's number one henchman.
Clement didn't care who opened the door; he just stared at the gap in the stone tablet and reached his hand in to probe it.
“There’s a strong wind blowing out from inside, so the space below seems quite large. It’s just that this gap is too small for any of us to get in. We need to find someone to dig it open…”
Zhongli said calmly, "There's no need for a big fuss. There should be two mechanisms here. Come and look behind this stone tablet."
The three of them quickly followed Zhongli to the back of the stone tablet, then obediently stood in a line, waiting for Zhongli to explain the words carved on the back of the stone tablet.
"The mystery here refers to a line from a story about a war between demons and gods."
"From Tianheng in the south, to Yaoguang in the east, to Jueyun in the west, to Qingce in the north, all places are desolate and the people are suffering. The vast Liyue region cannot find a place of peace."
Xu Ning and Wan Yan exchanged a glance. They understood the sentence, but what did it have to do with the organization?
Clement nodded, looking as if he understood something.
Xu Ning couldn't help but blurt out, "You foreigner, we didn't understand, but you do?"
Clement shook his head. "You Liyue people speak a very difficult language, and your writing is even more difficult to understand. However, I heard the directions, and I also heard your name 'Ning'. From the fact that you were able to push the stone tablet just now, it means that if 'Ning,' the destined person, runs around in all directions, it might be able to open the door."
Xu Ning was stunned. Could it be interpreted that way? Are you sure you don't want me to run errands?