Flying all the way from Mondstadt, Su Han finally arrived at the Sea of Clouds.
He had flown at his utmost speed for the entire journey and, at last, had arrived before the Archon was fully unsealed.
Looking at the ravaged coastline and the Archon that was taller than the mountains, Su Han's heart was incomparably calm.
In truth, he had been preparing for this all along. He had continuously fed Guoba all sorts of rare treasures, but the creature hadn't changed at all.
So, Su Han had tried another method: willpower!
He told the story of the Stove Archon, Marchosius, allowing the people to feel reverence and love for this deity.
This was what had led to the scene just now. To pacify the lands of Liyue, Marchosius had sacrificed himself, suppressing the agitated ley lines. How could the people of Liyue not be moved by such a great kindness?
And it was precisely because of this that the Stove Archon had been willing to intervene, right?
"Next, it's my turn," Su Han said to himself.
The Chains of Heaven unfurled in his hand, a golden light blooming in the sky like a sun, incomparably dazzling.
Everyone was drawn to this pure light.
Shenhe, who had just returned to the shore of Liyue Harbor, sensed that familiar aura and a faint smile appeared on her face.
Su Han is back. I can't be mistaken about that aura. It's unique to him: clear, holy, and always full of vitality.
Keqing and Sucrose also raised their heads. The dark clouds seemed unable to obscure this brilliant light.
"It's Su Han! He's back!"
"Yes, it's him! But can he really solve this, in the face of such a behemoth?" Sucrose's face was full of worry.
By this time, she had been completely drenched by the heavy rain, but her eyes were fixed deadly on the figure in the sky.
Last time, with Stormterror, she had already felt it was a close call. What were they to do this time?
How could a person defeat a deity?
The three adepti simultaneously looked in the direction of the Jade Chamber.
"That's… that little brat! He's back from Mondstadt?"
"I seemed to see someone fly over just now. I thought it was just someone who mastered the Anemo element."
"Flying on a sword. It's good that he's here, but… how is he going to stop the Vortex Archon?"
The three adepti were all puzzled.
At this moment, on a distant mountain peak, a clap of thunder tore through the sky.
"Although I don't know how you got back, you can die for me, Su Han!"
Scaramouche erupted with a full-power attack, laughing wantonly.
It must be very difficult to move while in the air, right? Let's see you dodge this!
Just as this thunderous blast was about to reach Su Han's side, a jade-green figure intercepted it, blocking the path.
With a single kick, the attack was violently sent flying back.
"You will not harm him."
The Conqueror of Demons, Xiao, had entered the stage.
Although he had agreed with the Lord Emperor not to intervene unless it was a critical moment, this was a person who had given everything for Liyue. He would not allow him to be harmed.
The people of Liyue Harbor were incomparably shocked by this scene.
"That's… that's the Conqueror of Demons!"
"Heavens! I heard that the Conqueror of Demons also appeared during the demon dragon incident! So it was true!"
"The Conqueror of Demons is here!"
The people began to cheer.
Su Han said to Xiao, "Thank you."
"Save your words. Focus," Xiao replied.
"Mm." Su Han nodded, the power within his body continuing to erupt.
So what if it's an Archon? The Chains of Heaven is a Noble Phantasm that could even bind the primordial goddess Tiamat!
Even if I'm not Enkidu, with all the powers I possess, I can at least bind this multi-headed hydra!
"Osial! Let me show you the power of our Liyue! Unfurl, Chains of Heaven!"
With a furious roar, Su Han poured all the power in his body into the Noble Phantasm in his hands.
The already scorching light erupted once more.
And on the surface of the sea near the Guyun Stone Forest, countless golden lights appeared.
Massive chains burst forth from the water.
The Chains of Heaven was a rare Anti-Divine and Anti-Demonic Noble Phantasm. The more destructive the enemy, the greater its power.
Countless chains broke through the sea, madly lunging towards Osial.
"What is this thing?" The Vortex Archon looked at the appearing chains, its face full of shock, because it discovered that this power was saturated with the power of suppression.
Countless chains directly bound the giant Vortex Archon, locking it in place and temporarily sealing its power.
The pouring rain finally stopped, the raging wind subsided, and the sea surface grew calm.
"What? He actually stopped the Vortex Archon?" The distant Tartaglia was astonished.
That was an Archon! A true existence that had fought with Rex Lapis, not some small fry. It was just that its main body was still suppressed by the stone spears and hadn't fully emerged.
"Fire!"
In the midst of the people's shock, Ningguang finally found her chance to strike.
Everyone manned the Guizhong Ballistas and launched an all-out attack on the Vortex Archon.
Terrifying beams of light shot out, surging towards the bound Archon.
The massive energy blasts directly struck Osial, causing it to shake violently, but the surrounding tornadoes did not weaken.
Hu Tao was dismayed. "Is that still not enough?"
"The power of the Guizhong Ballista is not enough to fight an Archon," Ningguang said, a flash of anxiety in her eyes.
This ancient creation… can it still not contend with this monster?
The nearby Chongyun said, "Lady Ningguang, the Guizhong Ballista can fire one more time!"
"Mm, do it! If even this doesn't work, we'll have to abandon the Jade Chamber."
Although her heart ached, for the sake of Liyue, any sacrifice was worth it. The Jade Chamber was just an external object.
The chains were shaking violently. The Vortex Archon was breaking free.
Su Han let out a muffled grunt, and a trickle of blood began to flow from the corner of his mouth.
"Are you alright?"
"I can hold on for a little longer. This guy's power is too strong," Su Han replied faintly, a trace of helplessness in his eyes.
His own power was still not enough. Even with the Chains of Heaven, trying to seal an Archon was just too unrealistic.
At this moment, three figures flew over from Liyue Harbor.
"We will lend you our strength!"
It had come to this. They could no longer sit by and watch.
The three adepti poured their power into Su Han's body. The Chains of Heaven, which had been on the verge of collapse, were once again strengthened.
"Cloud Retainer…"
"Do not be distracted, Su Han! We are also a part of Liyue. We cannot just watch while you all do the fighting! Focus on suppressing it! The Vortex Archon's power has not been fully unleashed. We can push it back!"
"Mm."
Su Han nodded, pushing all of his power into the Chains of Heaven.
At this time, the Vortex Archon's heads had stopped thrashing, and the four giant waterspouts had slowly died down.
At this moment, on the Jade Chamber, the second attack was ready.
Ningguang said to Klee, "Throw out that special bomb as well!"
"Yes, Sister Ningguang! Taste Klee's extra-large Jumpy Dumpty!"
Ningguang activated the ballistas, and Klee also threw out her special bomb.
A bomb the size of a house, following the power of the Guizhong Ballistas, struck the Vortex Archon all at once.
A world-shaking explosion erupted over the Sea of Clouds.
Although the attack had hit Osial, it had only made its body shake. It still had not fallen.
"Heh… you want to defeat me? You ants are not enough! Tell Morax to come out!"
"I am the Vortex Archon!"
The angry roar made everyone despair. Such a terrifying attack could have destroyed a small island, so why was the Vortex Archon still standing?
Su Han was also taken aback. He remembered that in the game, one shot from the Guizhong Ballista was enough to make it falter. Why was it so tough?
He quickly thought of someone.
Scaramouche!
It was him. In the original story, the Vortex Archon was released by Tartaglia alone. The degree to which the seal was unlocked was low, and the waves had not even reached Liyue Harbor. But with the addition of Scaramouche, its power would be even stronger, because the seal was unlocked to a greater degree.
Are we going to be forced to retreat? Su Han was unwilling, but his mind was still focused on sealing the Vortex Archon.
On the Jade Chamber, looking at the still-energetic Vortex Archon, Ningguang couldn't help but sigh. "It seems we can only sacrifice the Jade Chamber. Klee, are the other bombs ready?"
"Sister Ningguang, do we really have to blow up our home?" Klee asked, her eyes filled with tears, very reluctant to part with it. The Jade Chamber was her favorite place.
"It's alright, Klee. If something is broken, it can be rebuilt. But if a person is gone, they can't be brought back. If even this is not enough to suppress it, then there is nothing more I can do. Are the bombs ready?"
This was Ningguang's final trump card: to detonate the Jade Chamber and create an incomparably terrifying explosion. Only this could suppress the Vortex Archon.
Klee nodded forcefully. "This is all of my Jumpy Dumpties! It's even more and even stronger than the ones at Starfell Valley! Sister Sucrose prepared them for me. We will definitely defeat this big earthworm!"
Although the Archon was terrifying, Klee was not afraid, because there were many big brothers and sisters here to help her.
Ningguang nodded. With that many bombs, plus the power of the Jade Chamber itself, it should be enough.
Just as she was preparing to make her move, a ray of light flew in from the depths of Liyue.
The faint golden light, though not dazzling, dispersed all the evil in the vicinity.
"What is that?"
Everyone looked towards the light, only to feel the turbid power in the air be dispelled. The darkness in the sky gradually recESd.
In the Sea of Clouds, the Vortex Archon's main body was incomparably dazzling under the sunlight.
Everyone was shocked by this scene. What was that thing? Why did it have such a magical effect?
The distant Tartaglia was dumbfounded. What in the world is that? It can even disperse an Archon's power? Don't tell me Rex Lapis has made his move?