SWNOVELXO Chapter 210: Chapter 210: Adeptus
At that moment, within a fragrant courtyard in Spirit Hall City, Aether, Paimon, Qian Daoliu, and Bibi Dong were seated around a stone table, engaged in casual conversation.
"Paimon, this is the latest batch we've been working on. Give it a try."
Qian Renxue walked in carrying several exquisite-looking desserts and set them in front of Paimon with a sweet smile.
"Waaah! They look super tasty!"
Paimon gasped, picked up a fork with a gleeful grin, and said,
"Then I won't be shy~!"
She promptly stabbed a piece and popped it into her mouth. As she pressed her lips together, the dessert melted instantly, and her face lit up with bliss.
Qinghe really knows her preferences. These past few days in Spirit City, she'd lost count of how many delicious treats she'd eaten~
Her starlit eyes narrowed into crescent moons as she silently gave Qian Renxue two big thumbs-up in her heart.
"Well? Do you like it?"
Though she could already see the joy on Paimon's face, Qian Renxue still asked with a light chuckle.
"Ah~ It's so yummy! You all have to try it too—it's really good!"
Paimon swallowed and cheerfully urged the others to eat, then skewered another piece and brought it to Aether's mouth.
"Traveler, you try some too~"
"…I really can't eat anymore."
Aether grimaced, but didn't refuse her kind gesture. He opened his mouth and took the bite, then washed it down with a sip of tea.
This girl never gets tired of sweets, huh? How many cakes has she had just this afternoon alone?
As Aether silently grumbled in his heart, his expression suddenly shifted. He lifted his gaze and looked off in a particular direction.
"Xiao, responding to your call—I came to protect."
A voice as ethereal as mist echoed across the heavens, dispersing the wispy clouds floating above in an instant.
Everyone seemed to hear it. They all looked up in the same direction.
"Hm? This aura… could it be a god?!"
Qian Daoliu instinctively gasped, sensing the power radiating from the voice.
"Another god descending into the world?"
Bibi Dong murmured in a daze, then reflexively turned to look at Aether.
"Eh?!"
Paimon looked equally stunned—but unlike Qian Daoliu and Bibi Dong's fearful awe, her expression was one of excitement.
She hurriedly floated up to Aether and tugged at his sleeve.
"Traveler! Did you hear that?! I think that was Xiao's voice!"
As soon as Paimon said it, everyone turned toward her and Aether, their faces filled with shock—but none dared to speak.
"…Yes. That was him."
Aether answered, his eyes narrowing as if deep in thought. He remained seated, unmoving.
"Paimon… are you saying you know the god who just spoke?"
It was Qian Renxue who finally broke the tense silence.
From what Paimon had said, she seemed to recognize the voice that echoed through the sky.
"God?"
Paimon shook her head. "He's not a god. He's an adeptus."
Seeing the puzzled looks on everyone's faces, she pouted slightly.
"Ugh, you guys don't know what the adepti are…"
"Adepti…? What are those…?"
Qian Daoliu asked curiously.
The aura he'd sensed felt indistinguishable from a god's. And yet Paimon had called it something else?
Was there a deeper distinction here?
Not just Qian Daoliu—even Qian Renxue and Bibi Dong were staring at Paimon, brimming with curiosity.
Paimon tapped her chin with a little finger. "Hmm… how should I explain… The adepti are basically the guardians of Liyue…"
"..."
Seeing that her explanation only confused them further, Paimon quickly changed tactics.
"Ugh! Okay, put it this way: they're like subordinates under Zhongli!"
"…Paimon, who's Zhongli? Is he a god?"
Paimon's barrage of unfamiliar names had left Qian Daoliu utterly lost.
"Mhm! Zhongli is a god! Wow, you're pretty sharp for an old grandpa~!"
"…Haha~"
Qian Daoliu forced an awkward laugh, trying to play off his confusion.
"So… Adepti are the god's subordinates?"
Bibi Dong pulled out the most important part of Paimon's explanation.
"You could say that~" Paimon nodded.
"They're a group of powerful beings who all follow the Geo Archon, Lord Morax—Zhongli."
"Wait—Paimon… are you saying there are many adeptus like the one we just heard?!"
Qian Daoliu looked visibly shaken. He could hardly imagine that such a powerful entity was only a subordinate—and not even the only one!
"Yup! There's that old la—er, oops oops oops~"
Paimon caught herself mid-sentence and nervously glanced around. Seeing nothing strange, she cleared her throat and continued.
"There's Cloud Retainer, Moon Carver, Mountain Shaper…"
She counted on her fingers as she recited the names of Liyue's adepti. Then, as if remembering something, she added:
"Oh! And there's Madame Ping too! She's the one who gave the Traveler the Serenitea Pot—her full title is Streetward Rambler!"
"..."
Everyone was left speechless.
Paimon's casual listing of impressive-sounding names left them stunned.
So… there was actually a distinction between gods and adepti in this world?
But why was there no such classification in the Douluo Continent's recorded history?
Once someone broke through Rank 100, didn't they become a god?
Qian Daoliu lowered his gaze to his hands, deep in thought, then voiced the question that had formed in his mind.
"Paimon… these adepti you speak of… how do their abilities compare… to mine?"
In the context of Douluo's cultivation hierarchy, Qian Daoliu was undoubtedly the pinnacle of human power.
One could even say he was the greatest beneath the gods.
But still…
"Eh? Uh… how do I even compare that…"
Paimon blinked, having no idea what Qian Daoliu was capable of.
Still, sensing his earnestness, she looked thoughtful for a moment. Then she raised a little hand and pointed toward a massive mountain in the distance.
"Okay, Grandpa—can you blow up that mountain?"
"Uhh…"
Qian Daoliu's mouth twitched. A little embarrassed, he said:
"If it's just one point on the mountain, then yes. But if you're talking about something like… leveling it entirely or moving mountains and diverting seas—well, even most gods in our legends couldn't do that…"
"Hmm~ Got it!"
Paimon nodded seriously.
"Well, every single one of those Adeptus I just named? They can do exactly that—move mountains and divert seas~"
"..."
Qian Daoliu remained seated, but his expression turned dazed and despondent, as though something inside him had just been crushed.
"Pfft—"
Bibi Dong, meanwhile, couldn't help herself. She let out a delicate laugh and quickly covered her mouth.
Qian Daoliu, oh Qian Daoliu… You really just embarrassed yourself, huh?
Still, the way this old man could be so earnest—maybe he's not that bad after all~
_
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