When Xiao mentioned the name of Skybracer, his expression was also deeply sorrowful.
After all...
Over a thousand years ago, Skybracer had been one of Xiao's closest friends.
Having witnessed his best friend die right in front of him.
The most important piece of land in Liyue was safely guarded in the center.
On this day!
After Morax finished making the final arrangements.
Skybracer, in his human form, sat atop the walls of Tianheng Pass, gazing at the endless mountain ranges and lush forests ahead.
It looked so beautiful!
But in just a few days, this place would become a battlefield.
Skybracer was not afraid. On the contrary, he slightly raised his most proud pair of horns.
Pointing the hard horns on his head toward the sky!
He was full of anticipation for the impending war.
He would use these horns, which had absorbed Rex Lapis's Geo power, to slay the invading gods.
Just at this moment.
A petite yaksha dressed in green, holding a Primordial Jade Winged-Spear in his hand, appeared behind Skybracer:
"Brother Skybracer, are there really that many gods this time?"
"Haven't most of the territories already been unified by our Liyue?"
The yaksha speaking was none other than Xiao!
Although Xiao had been following Morax for several years by this time and had experienced several wars during this period.
But he never had to lift a finger in any of those battles.
Either Morax would personally strike, using Planet Befall to annihilate the enemy god in a single blow.
Or yakshas like Bosacius and Menogias would swarm forward, beating the god down with a flurry of blows.
Even if the yakshas did not fight!
There were always several powerful adepti on the sidelines, cracking their knuckles as if ready to strike at any moment.
Therefore, every battle was an easy crush.
Often, the battle would be over before Xiao even had the chance to join the fray.
But this time was different!
Xiao could see the gravity of this war in everyone's eyes.
Hearing Xiao's question!
Skybracer's expression turned serious. "Xiao, you have not followed Lord Morax for long, and you do not yet fully understand this land of Liyue!"
"The enemies we faced before were merely single gods!"
"But this time, our enemy is a massive coalition of hundreds of powerful gods and tens of thousands of their divine familiars."
Among this massive coalition of gods.
The most troublesome one was likely the God of the Vortex, Osial.
Otherwise, Lord Morax would not have personally gone to the sea to intercept the main force of the gods from the deep ocean.
Hearing this answer, Xiao was instantly startled. "Hundreds of gods?"
"So many?"
Last time, Brother Primordial Jade sacrificed himself and still failed to slay a single god.
It was only when Lord Morax appeared that he saved Xiao, who was on the verge of death.
But this time.
There were actually hundreds of powerful gods and tens of thousands of powerful divine familiars sweeping toward the Tianheng Mountains.
Seeing Xiao's shocked appearance!
Skybracer smiled and said, "What's wrong, little one? Are you scared?"
Xiao hurriedly gripped the Primordial Jade Winged-Spear in his hands. "No, I must repay Lord Morax and protect Liyue for him!"
This was what Xiao had promised Morax.
And it was also a vow to Lord Morax.
Seeing Xiao's serious demeanor, Skybracer immediately laughed. "Little one, it is undeniable that you have strong combat talent!"
"But the battlefield is not child's play!"
"When the time comes, remember to hide behind me and just watch how I use these hard horns to slay the enemy!"
After absorbing Morax's Geo power, this pair of antlers on his head had become the hardest substance in all of Liyue.
And also the hardest weapon!
Relying on this proud pair of horns, Skybracer had become the strongest combatant under Morax's command.
In battle after major battle.
He had slain quite a few gods.
Even Xiao could not help but feel a bit downcast.
Hearing this news, Barbatos also sighed and said, "Your Liyue's Archon War was truly arduous!"
During the Archon War.
Across the entire continent of Teyvat, Liyue was one of the places with the highest concentration of gods.
Gods of the sea, gods of the land.
Thousands of gods had their eyes on this most fertile land, wanting to claim it as their own and become the gods of this land.
In the end, Morax won.
But the battles he experienced were unimaginably tragic and fierce for ordinary people.
Even the content told about the sixteenth life was merely one of these wars.
The next moment!
Everyone shifted their gaze back to the stage, wanting to hear Ling Mo continue the storytelling.
On the stage!
Ling Mo did not waste any time either.
Seeing that the audience below had quieted down, he immediately put down the teacup in his hand.
And continued the storytelling!
As Ling Mo spoke, the condensed Electro elements in the inn once again formed a virtual image.
The scene displayed was exactly the area around the Tianheng Mountains thousands of years ago.
At that time...
The nation of Liyue established by Morax already had vast territories.
But facing the invasion of gods from all directions.
Facing this most difficult decisive battle.
Morax made a decision that shocked everyone: to evacuate all his people to the area around the Tianheng Mountains.
With all their might!
To set up the most solid defenses around the Tianheng Mountains.
Using every ounce of strength to resist the coalition of gods and protect the safety of every single citizen.
After Morax gave the order.
All the soldiers of the Millelith Corps (the predecessor to the Millelith), all the yakshas, and the adepti one by one temporarily laid down their weapons.
And joined in the work of building the passes.
Moving mountains and crushing rocks to build towering walls.
Building the most solid fortifications between the two highest peaks of the Tianheng Mountains.
But...
Relying solely on the speed of the Millelith soldiers, the yakshas, and the adepti was still too slow.
At this rate.
Even when the gods' army arrived at the city gates, the construction might not be finished.
Just when people were worrying about this.
A group of bare-chested citizens appeared before the Millelith warriors:
"We also want to protect Liyue!"
"We also want to defeat the gods!"
"Let us join the construction, we guarantee it will be completed before the gods invade!"
...
Compared to the Millelith warriors, the strength of these ordinary citizens was very weak.
It was very difficult for them to even lift slightly larger stones.
But!
When the strength of thousands upon thousands of citizens gathered together, they could move much larger stones.
With the addition of these citizens.
The Millelith warriors built the towering Tianheng Pass in the middle of the Tianheng Mountains, right between the two highest peaks.
On the north side of the Tianheng Mountains, Tianheng North Pass was similarly established.
Added to the west and south sides, which were personally guarded by Morax.