A black cloud pressed down over the city, as if to crush it. From the vast depths of the sea came a vicious roar, shattering metal and stone, making ten thousand trees tremble.
The oppressive aura of an ancient demon god pierced through the storm of rain and thunder, making the floating Jade Chamber gently sway.
The closer one drew to Guyun Stone Forest, the stronger that wordless pressure became. Many Millelith soldiers' legs had begun to shake—not from cowardice, but a reflex before overwhelming might.
"Adeptus, some days ago we found the Guizhong Ballista. It may be of use today."
Ningguang gazed at the churning vortex afar that sought to fully break free of its suppression. Her jade-like face was composed, but her eyes were sharp as blades.
This battle could no longer be avoided. If there must be battle, then let there be battle.
"The Guizhong Ballista?"
Cloud-Retainer snorted. "You mortals are fortunate indeed to have found it. In days past, when the God of Dust created the Guizhong Ballista, this adepti also made modifications to it. Such adepti mechanisms—what can you mortals hope to study from them? Wait until I make a few changes to this obsolete arbalest—then you will witness an evolution beyond your imagination."
Cloud-Retainer still could not let go of what happened to the Geo Archon during the Rite of Descension.
Even if they had to set aside grievances with the Qixing for now to fight the demon god, the mention of the Guizhong Ballista still drew a few barbed words.
Still, a weapon crafted by the God of Dust counted as a decent source of firepower—of some use against Osial.
"Finding the ballista could be called a stroke of adepti fate."
Ignoring Cloud-Retainer's mockery, Ningguang said in a low voice, "With this, we can utilize the Guizhong Ballista against the demon god. I trust the adeptus present can also pour adepti power into it."
"There's no time to lose. The decisive battle is now—begin!"
With her shout, Ningguang formed a hand seal. Golden Geo power surged around her.
That golden power warded off the torrential rain, dazzling as a blazing sun as it spread from her.
In an instant—
Her figure vanished from where she stood and appeared atop a high pavilion of the Jade Chamber. White hair streaming, eyes resolute, her slender hands gathered immense energy, weaving blinding golden light into a vast Geo sigil.
The mysterious sigil, mighty and magnificent, bloomed like a flower and activated the arrangement around the Jade Chamber.
Beams of blue light shot skyward. A transparent platform rose in front of the Jade Chamber, revealing the ballista hidden within.
The sight stirred all who saw it. Even among the Millelith, few had seen Lady Ningguang act personally. It was as impressive and stirring as rumored.
Even Klee, hidden in the dark clouds high above, couldn't help but clap her hands. "So cool—is that the Tianquan, Ningguang?"
After Ken picked Klee up, he and Zhongli concealed themselves high in the sky, watching quietly and waiting for the right moment to act.
"Not bad." Ken patted Klee's head, inwardly impressed.
The 'Ningguang' they pulled in the game was never this strong.
He had reason to suspect that Ningguang was a five-star by nature.
But only on the Jade Chamber could Ningguang unleash her "six-star" strength.
Ningguang was Ningguang; the Tianquan was the Tianquan.
And seeing her perform this move up close was far more shocking than in the game.
Roughly the difference between 360p and 4K.
"Uncle Zhongli, when can Klee blow up that three-headed fish?"
Knowing Zhongli's identity, little Klee politely asked as she watched the demon god roil the sea into towering waves.
"Don't be hasty," Zhongli said softly.
"Okay then…" Klee, barely able to wait, hugged her Jumpty Dumpty close and nestled by Ken's side. She wouldn't even eat the snacks laid in the clouds—she just wanted to blow up the big fish.
…
On the Jade Chamber.
With the ballista exposed, the adeptus landed upon it, channeled their mighty adepti power, and fired the heavy bolts at the sea, toward Osial.
"Roar!!"
Osial's hatred was boundless. Ages of imprisonment and suppression had bred limitless resentment. Even though he had not yet seen his old enemy, he knew Liyue Harbor was Morax's domain. He wished for nothing but to destroy Liyue Harbor and take vicious revenge on Morax.
Seeing the bolts, Osial roared in fury.
His sound waves raised hurricanes and tsunamis, trying to block the ballista's bolts.
But just then, three strange portals appeared above the Jade Chamber, and a flood of Fatui poured out.
"Eh? So it's just like the story."
Having seen the plot, Lumine wasn't surprised.
Only this time she didn't charge in with Keqing like in the game.
This was the Geo Archon's test for the Qixing and the adeptus—slacking a little shouldn't be a problem, right?
After all—
Even if they stopped the Fatui, the ballista would still be destroyed by Osial. In a sense, wasting strength on the Fatui now was unnecessary.
She gripped her sword and proceeded to slack.
Of course—
If the Millelith were in real danger, she would intervene.
Slacking was slacking, but she wasn't about to watch Millelith die.
Fortunately, the Fatui were limited in power. With everyone's efforts, they were quickly cleared out.
But though the ballista harmed Osial, it was not decisive, which made the adeptus frown.
If things continued like this, they might not be able to re-suppress Osial under the jade spears.
"Awroo!!"
Furious, Osial heaved in the sea. A huge blue orb shot toward the Jade Chamber.
The radiant blue light lit up half the black sky, then split into streaks of light and screamed toward the Jade Chamber.
In an instant—
The Jade Chamber shook. The platform Ningguang had formed began to fracture.
Although Osial had not fully broken free, the wrath of an ancient demon god accumulated over millennia was beyond imagining.
"Good thing I watched the story…"
Lumine knew this scene would happen and had already pulled Paimon back to the Jade Chamber.
Keqing, however, was caught off guard. The sudden loss of footing made her body tremble. She couldn't make it back in time and fell toward the heavy sea.
"Careful!"
Lumine flashed over and caught Keqing.
"Thank you, Traveler."
Seeing that it was Lumine, Keqing spoke from the heart.
Lumine shook her head. "It's fine. This isn't the time to thank me. The ballista has been damaged by Osial. We don't have a better way to stop the demon god's assault."
Silence fell across the Jade Chamber.
The Jade Chamber was the last line of defense.
If they chose to leave now, Osial fully breaking free of the jade spears would be only a matter of time.
He hadn't even fully escaped, and Liyue Harbor was already thrown into chaos. If he did, all of Liyue's people would be swallowed by the sea.
The Qixing had long yearned to take over Liyue entirely, and at last had done so.
But… having just taken over, were they to abandon Liyue Harbor at the demon god's attack?
Must their generations forever depend on the Geo Archon's protection?
Ningguang's mind raced.
Her red eyes took on a resolve never before seen.
She looked at the ferocious Osial, then back at the prosperous Liyue of old. Complicated emotions wove together and finally formed an unprecedented determination. She suddenly spoke: "I will abandon the Jade Chamber."
A light statement—but it made Keqing's eyes widen.
Though Keqing didn't always agree with Ningguang's approach, she knew how important the Jade Chamber was to her.
It nearly represented the meaning of Ningguang's half a lifetime.
For those words to come from her lips meant not just sacrifice—it was an unbreakable heart to guard Liyue.
"I understand."
The taciturn Xiao slowly donned his mask.
He rarely communicated with the Qixing, but the Jade Chamber's scale reflected the effort Ningguang had poured into it.
The adeptus regarded Ningguang with newfound respect. Leaving aside the Geo Archon's "death," the current Qixing's determination to protect Liyue could not be doubted.
"Ningguang, the Jade Chamber was built by your own hands. Destroying it now… will you truly not regret it?"
Madame Ping sighed, her eyes full of helplessness.
She had lived in Liyue Harbor for many years, witnessed the Jade Chamber and Ningguang's growth, and knew what it meant to her.
To outsiders, the Tianquan loved Mora above all. In truth, her breadth of mind exceeded their imagination.
"Without Liyue, there is no me. Without me, there is no Jade Chamber."
Calm and steady, Ningguang's words spoke her resolve. She turned to Lumine. "Traveler, please lend us your strength!"
She had paid much for this palace in the sky.
To smash Osial with it was no simple feat. It would take great power to drive the Jade Chamber's plunge.
She glanced at the flourishing palace behind her; there was a hint of reluctance.
Farewell, old friend.
Unwilling as she was, her heart would not change.
But Lumine didn't act at once. She instinctively looked to the sky… Wasn't Ken going to bring Klee to fish-blast? Why was he still not making a move… Would he really watch Ningguang abandon the Jade Chamber?
If they waited, would it be too late to blast fish?
"Traveler?"
Seeing Lumine dazed, Cloud-Retainer spoke.
She acknowledged this young woman's strength.
Lumine gripped her sword, a bit at a loss.
...
Meanwhile.
No one was more excited than Osial. The thought of being fully freed and then destroying Morax's Liyue Harbor thrilled him to no end.
"Ke-ke-ke…"
He let out a hearty laugh. His grudge with Morax would finally be settled.
"You lowly ants, you dare bar the fury of a demon god? The pain Morax inflicted upon me—I shall use all of Liyue to soothe my wrath… Rise, tsunami! Let the ignorant subjects repent in the sea… Awoo!!"
Boom!
His edgy, domineering lines weren't even finished before a black bomb cut him off.
The pain made Osial roar in displeasure.
He looked skyward on reflex.
He saw a patch of dark cloud suddenly blaze with dazzling gold, lighting up half the sky, and bombs rained down as if it were a storm.
"Boom!!!"
The sudden bombing startled Osial.
He was in the middle of projecting his kingly aura, and got shelled out of nowhere. The explosions weren't that strong to him, but a sneak attack like this made Osial furious.
The sly Liyue people… attacking from the shadows!
"Lowly ants, how dare you be so impudent!"
As one bomb after another fell, Osial—already filled with hate—lost control.
Imprisoned beneath the sea for hundreds of years, finally on the verge of freedom—if the adeptus had stopped him, he could bear it. But now even lowly ants dared strike him.
Intolerable!
But as he howled, as if to answer his frenzy, even more bombs screamed down, leaving the ancient demon god covered in soot.
They weren't fatal, but deeply humiliating.
What did this mean?
These detestable Liyue people—were they treating a great ancient demon god like a fish to be blasted?
Truly as cunning as Morax.
And yet a powerful force bound him, even more suffocating than the jade spears' suppression.
He could not stir up waves to strike back at his assailants in the sky—he could only let the bombs fall, blowing him into a sorry state.
"Uh…"
Those on the Jade Chamber were shocked too—they hadn't expected such a sudden turn.
Especially Ningguang.
She had been ready to abandon the Jade Chamber, but a twist appeared at the key moment. She was elated.
Being able to keep the Jade Chamber was no small thing for her.
Only…
Who was in the sky?
The adeptus were also astonished. They looked toward the horizon and saw the clouds gradually part, a golden light illuminating half the sky, revealing two figures on the clouds.
"Mr. Ken and… a little girl?"
Keqing cried out as soon as she saw them.
She hadn't expected the one to turn the tide to be that great seer.
"He…" Ningguang's beautiful eyes rippled as she looked at that unparalleled handsome figure. A complex emotion cracked open from the depths of the cool Tianquan's heart and spread through her limbs.
It was Ken who had saved the Jade Chamber.
The adeptus watched Ken, their gazes blazing. Their senses were keener; they could clearly feel the surging power around him.
But they were puzzled by his current actions.
Ken had Osial trapped in a ring of light, but he neither killed nor re-sealed him—he simply sat on the clouds as if sipping tea, letting the little girl excitedly drop bombs into the sea.
The scene was surreal.
...