Gu Chen twirled the new spear in his hands, its silver edge cutting through the air with a crisp whistle.
He nodded in deep satisfaction.
"Now this is a weapon."
The spear, forged from the spine of the dragon Durin, transmitted his power with astonishing efficiency.
With such a weapon in hand, Gu Chen's combat ability surged dramatically.
[Tartaglia]:Alright, now that Mr. Gu Chen has a proper weapon—let's analyze this rationally. How strong is he right now?
[Zhongli]:Judging solely from the footage—his physical body alone is capable of fighting Dvalin.
However, because Dvalin was weakened by the abyssal poison and constant mental interference from the Abyss Order, he clearly wasn't in peak form.
Thus, one could estimate: Gu Chen ≈ Weakened Dvalin.
[Zhongli]:Now that he wields a weapon of great destructive potential, I would venture to say—even Dvalin at full strength might not be his equal.
[Dvalin]:So I really am a unit of measurement now?! (Amber·save me)
[Venti]:See? I wasn't mocking you earlier—it's just the truth.
[Dvalin]:Hah! Young people these days are ridiculous! I can't take this anymore! (flips table)
[Tartaglia]:This fires me up! I'd love to duel the past-life Gu Chen! @[Gu Chen]—what's your current strength? (Venti·sparkly eyes)
[Gu Chen]:Hard to say.
[Kaeya]:Then say it in detail!
[Tartaglia]:Gu Chen, send me your location. I'll come find you right now! (excited)
[Gu Chen]:My advice? Don't. I might not hold back and end up killing you. (Keqing·no way)
[Tartaglia]:You underestimate me! I'm the Eleventh Harbinger of the Fatui—I can take a hit or two!
[Kaeya]:Translation: he's durable.
[Signora]:Childe, enough. Speaking as your colleague, I advise you not to seek death. Do you really think you can fight him?
[Tartaglia]:You don't understand—the heart of a warrior burns for battle! My hands are itching! I need to hit something!
[Lynney]:Judging from Tartaglia's current position, he's already in Liyue. Gu Chen and his group have just left Albedo and are heading there—they'll probably meet soon!
[Tartaglia]:Really?! Perfect!
[Amber]:Fun fact—they're already in Liyue!
In the video—
The trio had reached Liyue.
After Paimon gave a brief introduction of the nation, they asked some locals when the Rite of Descension would begin.
Coincidentally—it was today at noon.
And this year's host among the Qixing was none other than Tianquan Xing, Ningguang.
Zhongli felt his heart skip a beat.
This is bad.
[Ningguang]:I'd anticipated I might appear, but I didn't expect it would be during the Rite of Descension.
[Keqing]:You barely speak in the group.
[Ningguang]:Judging from Lumine, Jean, and the others' reactions, along with the information I've gathered, the "past life" of Mondstadt is almost identical to the "present" one.
The process differs, but the cause and outcome are similar.
And since I'm the host this year, and Lumine is currently near Dihua Marsh… well, you know what that means.
[Keqing]:Wait—so these videos can predict the future?!
[Ningguang]:Exactly. Mondstadt's part already confirms the overlap between past and present. Now that we're approaching Liyue, we'll soon see how it aligns.
[Zhongli]:…That makes sense.
[Signora]:Hahaha!
[Tartaglia]:What's so funny?
[Signora]:Oh, just… something that really tickled me.
[Zhongli]:…
Utterly speechless.
"Can these Qixing not be this sharp?"
Most others in the group treated the video as a fun story,
but Ningguang had just publicly deduced the connection between timelines.
That single statement shattered the illusion.
Zhongli's expression darkened.
He knew there was no turning back now.
Smart people were everywhere,
and now Ningguang had all but confirmed her theory.
"My past self…
With your six thousand years of wisdom and composure,
please—handle this well."
That was all Zhongli could hope for.
Meanwhile, both the Transcendents Group and the Common Group were in total chaos.
Once the idea of "future prediction" spread, the world went wild.
[Tartaglia]:Haha! If these videos really show glimpses of the future, we can use them to verify our plans!
[Keqing]:@[Tartaglia] Don't even think about stirring up trouble in Liyue. If you do, it'll be an international incident!
[Tartaglia]:Doesn't bother me. (Zhongli·sipping tea)
[Collei]:This is crazy—like, world-shaking crazy!
[Chongyun]:It's even more exaggerated than Paimon with muscles punching Dvalin and kicking Fatui! (Paimon·shocked)
[Paimon]:I get that you mean "exaggerated," but did you have to use me as an example?! Boundaries, man! (Keqing·pouting)
[Kaeya]:Paimon, look what I found! (Paimon·leave-it-to-me)
Kaeya sent an image—
a ridiculously muscular Paimon flexing her biceps.
It was once a meme, but now, seeing it again at this timing—
Paimon nearly fainted.
[Lumine]:Paimon's dead after watching that!
[Kaeya]:Huh?
[Paimon]:I'M ALIVE! Anyway, the Rite of Descension's starting! Can you not bully me for once? Let's see if the Geo Archon actually gives you any answers!!
Lumine quickly refocused on the video.
On-screen, the trio arrived at Yujing Terrace.
At noon, Tianquan Xing Ningguang stepped forward gracefully, her presence commanding yet serene.
"The auspicious hour has arrived."
Her voice echoed as she began the ritual.
Energy poured into the censer before her—
a pillar of light shot into the heavens.
Then—dark clouds gathered, thunder crackled red across the sky.
Gasps filled the terrace.
And then—
A black shadow plummeted from the clouds, crashing into the terrace with a thunderous impact, knocking the censer aside.
When the stunned crowd finally looked—
The figure was that of a half-dragon, half-qilin creature, motionless.
Ningguang rushed forward, examined the body—
and her eyes widened in horror.
"The Archon is dead!
Seal the area!"
[Ningguang]:???
[Keqing]:???
[Cloud Retainer]:???
[Ganyu]:The Archon?!
[Xiao]:Impossible! Absolutely impossible!
[Hu Tao]:Huh?
[Raiden Ei]:?
[Furina]:What?!
[Nahida]:How could this happen?!
[Azhdaha]:Good riddance! (Venti·throwing confetti)
[Vortex God]:Good riddance! (Venti·throwing confetti)
[Tartaglia]:Wait, what—The Geo Archon just died like that?!
[Venti]:Boo-hoo-hoo~ Morax, my old friend! How could you go like this—you died so miserably!! (barely-holding-laughter voice message, 8s)
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