"In legend, under the protection of Havria, the God of Salt, her people did indeed enjoy a period of prosperity. However, this legend has circulated for a very long time, and countless scavengers and treasure hunters have passed through here. There shouldn't be much of value left in the wilds..."
Zhongli said faintly, his understanding of Klement's ulterior motives crystal clear.
"Alas, what a buzzkill... If I'd known it was this impoverished, I wouldn't have come," Klement sighed, shaking his head.
"Regarding this, I know of a ruin deep within this cave, related to the God of Salt. In fact, this is also the original origin of the name 'Sal Terrae.' However, the entrance to this ruin has been sealed by a mysterious power, and no one has ever been able to break it. Although I found a mechanism that might be related to the unsealing, even after activating it, the seal remained unmoved.
Therefore, the origin and method of breaking the seal are currently very important research topics for the God of Salt."
Wan Yan felt that the significance of the seal's existence was likely to hide some truth.
The God of Salt was kind and benevolent, loved by all, and possessed strong authority. She wouldn't leave behind anything shameful.
It must have been after the Geo Archon murdered the God of Salt that he sealed this place to conceal the truth.
Zhongli: Sitting at home, and this pot lands on my head. This accusation comes too suddenly!
"Alas, such matters are of no consequence. I'm more concerned about the treasures within the ruins. There must be all sorts of treasures of the God of Salt stored there..."
Klement chuckled. This archaeologist named Wan Yan indeed did not disappoint him. With just a little guidance, she led to the topic of the Archon's ruins.
Having others propose entering the ruins would better conceal his true intentions and facilitate his subsequent actions.
"Are you even listening? Alas... Even if there are relics of the God of Salt inside, how can anyone enter if the seal cannot be broken?"
"Oh, but we have Mr. Zhongli! He seems to know everything. A mere seal shouldn't be difficult for him."
Klement shifted his gaze to Zhongli, which was the true reason he had hired Zhongli at such a high price.
"But this seal has existed for a very long time. Everything about it is a mystery. Even Mr. Zhongli..."
Wan Yan spoke tactfully. Although she desperately wanted to enter the underground ruins, she had studied for years and consulted many puzzle-solving seniors with no success. Mr. Zhongli was so young; while he knew a lot, could he possibly be more knowledgeable about puzzle-solving than the seniors?
"I have a passing acquaintance with such matters."
Zhongli said faintly.
Passing acquaintance = I did this myself, how could I not know?
"In the folklore, there are many fragmented tales related to the seal, seemingly chaotic but actually irrelevant..."
Wan Yan: Listening to your words is like listening to no words.
What's the difference between what Mr. Zhongli said and nothing at all?
"Mr. Zhongli means... to discard the clues that mislead and confuse, to unravel the threads, and find the core fragments of clues?"
Yuan Shang roughly guessed what Zhongli was about to say next.
"Precisely. How to find the correct clues is the key. I know a place related to the unsealing mechanism you mentioned, Miss Wan Yan. I shall lead the way."
Zhongli nodded, affirming Yuan Shang's guess, and then led everyone to a desolate area with a broken wall.
"This place... Ah, I remember! There were several strange Elemental Monuments. So they are connected... No wonder, when I investigated this seal before, I specifically invited people who possessed a 'Gnosis.' After the monuments were lit, nothing happened, and then they extinguished..."
Wan Yan had some impression of this place. She had tried here before, but it had failed.
"In fact, these Elemental Monuments not only need to be activated simultaneously but also cannot break the seal if they are not lit in the correct order. The secret here is hidden within a saying from the Archon War: 'South towards Tianheng, East into Yaoguang, West ascend Jueyun, North visit Qingce. All lands are desolate, life is a ruin, Liyue is vast, yet no place can hold peace.'"
"South towards... East what? Why do Liyue people speak so obscurely?!"
Klement found Zhongli's verbose explanation as good as useless.
"I... I think I have an impression of this phrase!"
Wan Yan's heart stirred.
"Indeed, what this phrase describes is also related to the God of Salt. This kind and benevolent god, to provide a safe haven for humans suffering from war, ventured throughout Liyue at great risk. In that era, the gods were at war, and flames of conflict blazed. Even a moment of peace was a luxury. What she finally found was this land, which we now call 'Sal Terrae.'"
"Alas... this peace was ultimately shattered by Morax."
Wan Yan was determined to expose Morax's true colors and vindicate the God of Salt!
Zhongli: Calling me Morax one after another. I won't take this blame. Remember your words now, and let's see what you say when the truth is revealed?
"Stop talking about these ancient stories. Since we have a clue, let's break the seal quickly! Hurry, hurry! As long as the seal can be opened, anything goes!"
Klement: Can we skip these pointless ramblings? Or talk about them after we get to the ruins below?
Zhongli said no more and had Feng Yi use Electro to light the Elemental Monuments sequentially in the directions of South, East, West, and North.
After the last Elemental Monument was lit, the seal on the cave entrance of Sal Terrae immediately dispersed into light.
"Look! The seal is really opened! Mr. Zhongli is truly amazing!"
"I only know a little."
Zhongli and the others arrived at the entrance of the ruins. It was time for long-hidden secrets to be revealed.
"Before we enter the ruins, I have a proposal to avoid the pointless squabbles like in Guyun Stone Forest. I request you few to sign a contract. The content of the contract is: take one item at a time, in sequence. To show sincerity, you may choose, and I shall not be included in the sequence."
Before entering the ruins, Zhongli proposed this to them.
"Zhongli, am I also included in the sequence?" Paimon suddenly asked. This was a great opportunity to get rich overnight.
"Of course, you are also part of the sequence," Zhongli affirmed.
"I object! This means... I have to share the spoils equally with this half-baked archaeologist and this useless flying creature? Impossible! Absolutely impossible!"