While Keqing headed to the Jade Chamber, Sam Li led the others and Azhdaha to Mount Hulao to help Azhdaha restore his peak strength.

Just like their previous journey to Mount Aozang, the group traversed mountains and rivers, spending nearly half a day before finally reaching Mount Hulao.

Gazing at the towering range ahead, Billy couldn't help but exclaim in awe.

"Sam Li, was it from this very mountain that you unearthed Azhdaha back then?"

Sam Li nodded. "Yes. To be precise, it was from the rear slopes."

The group followed Sam Li's lead, making their way toward the back of Mount Hulao.

As they entered the mountain's domain, Nekomata suddenly gasped in surprise.

"Look, everyone! Azhdaha is radiating golden light! What's happening, meow?"

Azhdaha's deep voice rumbled. "Because this place is my homeland—"

He had once slumbered deep beneath this mountain. It was Sam Li who discovered him, freeing him from the stone that bound him.

Sam Li had personally given him sight and consciousness, and the two forged a pact—to guard Liyue together.

Azhdaha spoke in a low voice, recalling that ancient memory.

Hearing this, Billy's eyes widened.

"Wait, you were sealed in a mountain and dug out? Do you have any siblings—maybe another dragon down there somewhere?"

Azhdaha snorted. "There is only one Geo Dragon in this world—and that is I."

Nekomata tilted her head, tail flicking curiously. "Meow~ But Sam Li is Geo-aligned too, right? Doesn't that make him a dragon like you?"

Azhdaha replied solemnly, "His nature is different. He is not of the dragon race of Liyue."

Azhdaha didn't know much more than that. Yet as a dragon of Liyue, his sense for bloodlines was sharp—he could feel no trace of the ancient Seven Sovereigns essence within Sam Li.

Which meant... the Geo Archon himself did not belong to Teyvat, but came from the stars beyond.

Of course, across all of Liyue—and indeed, all of Teyvat—very few knew this truth. It was something Azhdaha had only learned during one of his long talks with the Geo Archon, when the god had spoken of his homeland and looked up toward the starry sky.

...

Before long, the group reached the rear slopes of Mount Hulao.

Standing atop a sheer cliff, they looked out over a vast canyon shrouded by dense jungle.

Nekomata raised a paw to shield her eyes from the sun, peering into the distance.

"Meow, are we there yet? Where exactly did you dig Azhdaha out from?"

Sam Li pointed toward the canyon ahead. "Right here."

Billy's eyes widened. "You mean... the lake down in the canyon?"

Sam Li shook his head slowly. "Not the lake. The canyon itself."

Billy froze. "Wait—you're saying you split open this entire canyon with your spear... just to dig Azhdaha out?"

Staring at the landscape before him, Billy was utterly stunned.

The gorge stretched for several kilometers, its height reaching hundreds of meters. The cliffs were sheer and treacherous—a true natural fortress.

And to think this entire canyon had been cleaved open by Sam Li?

As Billy stood there, dumbfounded, something nudged against his leg.

He turned to find Azhdaha beside him.

Azhdaha rumbled, "Human relic, move aside—"

Billy quickly stepped back. "Ahem! Allow me to reintroduce myself! I'm Billy Kid, a high-intelligence combat unit designed for wide-area firepower and tactical support…"

Before he could finish, Azhdaha had already leapt from the cliff.

Seconds later, a thunderous crash echoed from below, shaking even the rocks beneath Billy's feet.

Nekomata beside him lost her balance and nearly tumbled over.

Suddenly, Zhu Yuan stepped to the edge of the cliff and stared downward in awe.

"Mr. Azhdaha has manifested his true form again..."

Hearing this, the others hurried to the cliff's edge. Below, they saw Azhdaha's massive body moving slowly toward the center of the canyon.

Sam Li spoke calmly. "Wait here for now. I'll go help him restore his strength."

No sooner had he finished speaking than he stepped off the cliff.

Nekomata yelped, "Meow! Sam Li, be careful! That's a cliff—you'll fall to your death!"

Before she could finish, Nicole clamped a hand over her mouth.

"Don't say such nonsense! Sam Li is Liyue's Geo Archon. He can fly—how could he possibly fall to his death?"

Nekomata blinked. "Meow meow was just worried about Sam Li too!"

Just as Nicole had said, Sam Li didn't plummet like an ordinary person. He stepped onto thin air, each stride drawing Geo energy that formed floating slabs of stone beneath his feet.

He walked across those rocks, heading toward the canyon's center.

Soon, both Sam Li and Azhdaha stood at the heart of the gorge.

Azhdaha suddenly lifted his head and let out a roar that shook all of Mount Hulao.

Then he grew still, turning into a massive, statue-like form.

Sam Li wasted no time.

With a wave of his hand, he summoned a dozen colossal Stone Steles, which descended like a great formation around Azhdaha.

He then stepped lightly, sending ripples of golden energy across the air beneath him.

Those ripples intertwined like a glowing web and drifted down to the ground.

As the formation settled, golden lines began to spread outward from Azhdaha's position—racing across the terrain until they reached Nicole, Billy, Zhu Yuan, and the others.

Then the light continued, spreading through all of Mount Hulao.

By channeling the mountain's Geo energy, Sam Li refined Azhdaha's stone body, helping him recover the strength he once possessed at his peak.

Nekomata's eyes widened. "Meow! What are these spiderweb-like patterns on the ground? I can't avoid them—they're even on Billy!"

Billy panicked. "Oh no—why am I the only one with golden lines on me? Why don't you guys have any? Sam Li's not mistaking me for a rock, is he? Hey—hey! Sam Li, you've got it wrong! I'm not stone! Don't refine me too!"

Nicole sighed and kicked him lightly.

"What are you panicking for? Sam Li wouldn't hurt you. He's so skilled—while helping Mr. Azhdaha regain his power, he might even fix a few parts inside you."

Nekomata tilted her head. "Sam Li can repair robots too?"

Nicole thought for a moment. "He probably... can."

Billy was speechless. "..."

Still, the golden lines on his body didn't seem to cause any harm. There was no pain or discomfort—so perhaps Sam Li had simply made a small mistake.