The Calamity Queller floated in mid-air, like the center of a storm. The entire factory floor was frozen solid, and even the tools were coated in a thick layer of ice.
Su Han urged, "You should probably retrieve it. Otherwise, Old Zhang and the others won't be able to get any work done."
"Mm."
Shenhe stepped forward and took hold of her weapon.
A magical thing happened. As if sensing its master's presence, the Calamity Queller not only retracted its imposing aura but even drew all the surrounding Cryo energy back into its body. If not for the residual frost on the ground, one might have thought the chilling cold was just an illusion.
Shenhe looked at the Calamity Queller, unable to put it down. Although it was her weapon, it had changed a great deal.
First, it now possessed the ability to automatically gather the Cryo element, which could speed up her cultivation.
Secondly, Shenhe could feel a mysterious power from within the weapon flowing through her arm and into her body. It was cool and comfortable, and the fierce, restless energy within her was completely pacified.
"This weapon has become very strange, but it's very useful to me. Thank you," Shenhe said, turning to look at Su Han, her eyes full of tenderness.
Whether it was accompanying her to her parents' graves or lying in the same bed night after night, she felt as if she could no longer be without this man.
Su Han smiled. "As long as you like it. With your increased strength, future missions will be simpler."
"Mm." Shenhe nodded, a new resolve forming in her heart. If she could help Su Han, she would do it, no matter how difficult.
Just then, Old Zhang walked over from outside and said tentatively, "My lord, there's something this subordinate doesn't know how to handle. If you could please take a look…"
"Speak. What's the problem?"
"It's like this, my lord. The Qilin armor and weapons are mostly finished. However, there is still a round object left. We don't know what it is. It emits a large amount of Pyro energy, and we've tried everything, but we can't cut it. You see…" Old Zhang's face was full of embarrassment. It wasn't that he hadn't tried, but he truly couldn't forge it into a weapon. Yet, it would be a pity to throw it away, as it was a treasure from the Fire Qilin.
Su Han was puzzled. "What round object?"
"Come, my lord. You'll know once you see it."
Under Old Zhang's guidance, Su Han arrived at another factory. Compared to the icy cold of the last one, this place was like the height of summer. Waves of heat washed over them, one after another.
And when Old Zhang opened the innermost room, the very air distorted with the high temperature.
A fiery red sphere lay quietly on a stone platform.
"My lord, this is the thing that cannot be forged. Neither high temperatures, nor extreme cold, nor even swords can harm it. In fact, because of our attempts to stimulate it, the temperature has been getting higher and higher."
Old Zhang had originally thought it was a top-grade material, but it had turned out to be a hot potato.
Su Han observed it for a moment and felt that it looked like the Qilin's inner core. It had fallen dormant after the Fire Qilin's death but had been slowly reawakened by Old Zhang's attempts to forge it.
But since it's an inner core, it should be possible to absorb it, right?
Su Han drew his Tessusaiga and walked towards the inner core.
Swish. Infusing it with Haki, the Tessusaiga returned to its true form.
Shenhe asked, puzzled, "Are you going to try and cut it with the Tessusaiga?"
"No. I'm going to absorb the power of this sphere," Su Han replied without turning his head.
With such a good item, rather than forging it into a weapon, it would be better to use it to upgrade the Tessusaiga.
Crack.
The sharp blade easily pierced through the Qilin's inner core.
Thump, thump.
Soon, Su Han felt a rhythmic pulse from the Tessusaiga in his hand, as if it were drawing something in.
The pulsation lasted for a full minute, until the inner core no longer released any Pyro energy.
The originally white Tessusaiga's blade now had countless Fire Qilin scales growing from its spine. Su Han could even feel a sense of joy being transmitted from the Tessusaiga to him. It seemed that after its power had increased, its spirit had also grown stronger.
Old Zhang was dumbfounded. He had never seen such a weapon.
"M-my lord, what's going on? Did the sword absorb that sphere?"
"Yes. This is a sword that can absorb the power of its enemies. It can grow infinitely."
"Can you let me study it, my lord? This is simply too magical!" Old Zhang's eyes were filled with a fervent light. As a blacksmith, this kind of weapon was incredibly attractive to him.
Unfortunately, Su Han shook his head. "Give it up. This weapon cannot be replicated."
"Is it really not possible, my lord? Just one day of study." The old man was so anxious he was about to cry.
But Su Han explained, "Old Zhang, the Tessusaiga is a weapon from another world. The materials to make it don't exist in all of Teyvat. Give up the idea."
"This… this… alright." Materials from another world were a field he could not touch.
Looking at the dejected Old Zhang, Su Han couldn't help but shake his head. This guy was just like in the game, always in pursuit of special materials.
Upon returning to the Jade Chamber, before he could even get his bearings, Keqing came running out from inside. The two of them nearly collided.
Seeing Keqing's anxious expression, he asked, "What happened?"
"I just received intelligence that The Chasm has been attacked! I have to go and help."
"Aren't there adeptal formations there?"
If he remembered correctly, the outer perimeter of The Chasm was protected by the seals of three Adepti. How could anyone get in?
Keqing shook her head. "Not the outer perimeter, but the inside. Yelan has been guarding the Dragon Veins. But the peaceful days were shattered today. A large number of Abyss monsters appeared out of nowhere and are madly attacking us. Fortunately, the workers were not injured."
Because of the Dragon Veins and the adeptal formations, the military presence in The Chasm had been reduced. They never expected that while the outside was safe, trouble would break out on the inside.
"Then Shenhe and I will go with you! We happen to be free today anyway."
"Alright."
Keqing did not refuse. The current Su Han's combat power far surpassed her own from the past. With his and Shenhe's help, they should be able to solve the problem of The Chasm with ease.
After informing Ningguang in the group, the three of them boarded the train and departed.
When they arrived at The Chasm, many workers were standing outside, engaged in heated discussion.
"Those things are too terrifying! They're like lifeless, ruthless reaping machines!"
"Luckily, we had the Black Blade unit, or we wouldn't have escaped."
"Who could have imagined that there would be such things inside The Chasm! The black ooze is gone, but the monsters are endless."
The nearby foreman had a bitter expression. There was nothing he could do. They had only just resumed work, and now this had happened. It was too difficult.
Just then, his eyes caught sight of Keqing and Su Han, and he quickly shouted, "My lords, you're finally here!"
"Rest assured. Now that we are here, we will sweep this place clean. Don't worry."
"Yes, thank you, my lords!"
The nearby workers all let out a sigh of relief upon seeing Su Han and Keqing arrive, but their faces still held some fear.
Keqing scanned the area and said in a low voice, "If we don't solve the problem of The Chasm, these workers will not go back."
"Don't worry. I have a rough idea of the situation inside," Su Han said calmly. The "Abyss monsters" the workers had mentioned were, in fact, the Black Serpent Knights and the Shadowy Husks. However, he would still have to investigate the specific cause.
The two of them passed through the formation and arrived beneath The Chasm. The Dragon Veins were still emitting a light like the morning sun, illuminating the entire cavern.
Shenhe was surprised. "So this is that magical item? My body feels so warm." Irradiated by the light of the Dragon Veins, she felt incredibly light and comfortable, as if she were basking in the sun.
Su Han smiled. "Yes, this is the Dragon Veins. It is because of it that the power of the Abyss cannot spread. If I'm not mistaken, those Abyss monsters were provoked by it, which is why they want to destroy the Dragon Veins."
Keqing was astonished. "You mean to say that deeper within The Chasm, there is the power of the Abyss Order? You knew from the very beginning?"
"Of course," Su Han nodded. "I just didn't expect those guys to appear now."
He had originally thought that the power of the Abyss would gradually be purified, and that the monsters in The Chasm would move away through the ley lines. Now it seemed the situation was the exact opposite. Because the Dragon Veins could purify the Abyss, it had instead provoked an attack from the Abyss Order!
Keqing opened her mouth, wanting to ask him why he hadn't said anything earlier. But then she thought about it and realized it probably wouldn't have been of any use. The enemy was hidden so deep; who knew when they would appear?
Arriving at the stronghold, they found that the Abyss's forces were on the second level. Yelan was leading the Black Blade unit in battle. Su Han and Keqing exchanged a glance and quickly rushed deeper.
On the second level of The Chasm, a fierce battle was raging.
Rifthounds, Abyss Mages, Shadowy Husks—there were nearly several hundred monsters in total.
Yelan and her forces, because they were outnumbered, could only continuously defend. Fortunately, the Black Blade unit had mastered Haki and would not be easily defeated.
"Damn these monsters! There are so many of them!" Yelan drew her bowstring, Haki wrapped around her arrow, and directly pierced through a Rifthound.
But the void twisted, and another hound appeared before her. The enemy was determined to destroy the ley lines.
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