On the Jade Chamber, the Liyue Qixing and the Adepti, who had been arguing moments before, simultaneously stopped their debate upon noticing the drastic changes in Liyue Harbor and went outside.
Ningguang maneuvered the Jade Chamber to the docks outside Liyue Harbor, forming the first line of defense—and likely the only one—to prevent the God Osial from entering Liyue Harbor.
"I didn't expect Osial to revive. Although it hasn't completely broken free from the seal, it's enough to cause devastating damage to Liyue Harbor, even destroying it."
Ancient Gods were no joke. Even if it only briefly broke free from the seal, no one could guarantee when the seal left on it by Rex Lapis would suppress it again.
Although it was still a considerable distance from Liyue Harbor, this distance was already causing a significant impact on the residents of Liyue Harbor. If it were to get any closer, the pressure it emitted could make people gasp for breath.
"Everyone, how are things on your end?"
At this moment, Lumine arrived at the Jade Chamber with Paimon, and seeing the Liyue Qixing and the Adepti there, she asked.
"Why are you here?" Xiao asked, somewhat surprised.
"When we just came out of the Priceless Jade, we saw the Jade Chamber flying through the sky. We wanted to help, so we found a way to get up here."
"The Priceless Jade? What were you doing at the Priceless Jade? Shouldn't there be Millelith guarding it?"
Keqing looked at Lumine in confusion. The Priceless Jade was a very important area in Liyue Harbor, usually heavily guarded. Unless permission was granted by the Liyue Qixing, ordinary people were not allowed inside.
Moreover, Rex Lapis's Exuvia was kept inside the Priceless Jade, so the security there should be even stricter than usual. They shouldn't have been able to get in.
"When we went there, we didn't see a single guard. After entering the Priceless Jade, we saw Childe (The Traveler's acquaintance) of the Fatui appear inside, trying to take something from Rex Lapis's Exuvia."
Paimon honestly told everyone what had just happened at the Priceless Jade. Hearing that Childe (The Traveler's acquaintance) had appeared at the Priceless Jade, Ningguang's brows furrowed.
Keqing asked, puzzled, "You said you didn't see a single guard? What's going on?"
Ningguang explained, "Because of the negotiations with the Adepti, a considerable number of Millelith gathered at the Jade Chamber. At the same time, to prevent the Fatui from causing trouble in Liyue Harbor, the Millelith were monitoring the Fatui within Liyue Harbor. Therefore, the defenses of the Priceless Jade were much more relaxed today than usual."
Furthermore, with the strength of the Millelith, they couldn't possibly be a match for a Fatui Harbinger. It seemed he had been searching for traces of Rex Lapis's Exuvia all this time, and also waiting for the Priceless Jade's defenses to be at their weakest.
Hmph, after this incident, none of those Fatui diplomats will escape. Don't think you can get away unscathed after doing something like this.
"What should we do now? Is there a way to stop the God from approaching Liyue Harbor?"
Put the Fatui matter aside for now. The immediate priority is dealing with the God of Vortex. If it continues to move towards Liyue Harbor, many people will die.
"Don't panic. Losing your composure serves no purpose. Since you're here, you must pull yourselves together. Besides, we are not without a way to stop Osial."
"Eh? Is there... is there a way to stop it from approaching Liyue Harbor? What is it?"
Osial's size was simply too immense. Even if more Vision bearers gathered, their power would find it very difficult to attack Osial.
Although the Adepti possessed power beyond the reach of ordinary people, the opponent was an ancient God. Facing such a being, was there really a way?
Ningguang explained, "The Guizhong Ballista you discovered outside Liyue Harbor earlier, if used to attack Osial, should be able to deliver an effective blow."
"The Guizhong Ballista? Oh~ Is that the machine we found outside when we went to help Qiqi find a Cocogoat? Can that thing really be effective against Osial?"
Wasn't that Guizhong Ballista a very simple machine? Could the attacks it launched truly be effective against an Osial formed from elements?
"Hmph! Mortals naturally don't understand the power of things made by Adepti."
As the creator of the Guizhong Ballista, Cloud Retainer looked at Paimon with slight displeasure upon hearing her question.
"To unleash the full power of the Guizhong Ballista, it naturally requires an Adeptus to operate it. You little one, what do you know?!"
"W-wah~ Paimon... Paimon was just curious, no other meaning."
Paimon, scared, hid behind Lumine, cautiously looking at Cloud Retainer, and whispered.
Cloud Retainer's words were not wrong; that object indeed could only unleash its maximum power when operated by an Adeptus.
But... could this really solve all the problems? Lumine, standing on the platform, watched Ningguang operate the Jade Chamber and conjure the prepared Guizhong Ballista in front of it, feeling somewhat uncertain.
Although the attacks released by the Guizhong Ballista under the Adepti's operation did have some effect on Osial, but... could doing this really stop Osial?
"ε=('ο｀*))) Alas~ If Miss Durandal were here, it would be great. If she were here, our pressure would be much less."
What pressure do you have? During battles, you just watch the show from behind. When have you ever lifted a finger?
However, Paimon wasn't wrong. If Miss Durandal were here, their chances would be much greater.
Hmm? Lumine noticed a certain gaze and followed it, finding that it was Ningguang, who was supporting the Guizhong Ballista, looking at her. That look seemed to be saying something.
Did she want herself to call Miss Durandal over to fight Osial together?
If it were her request, Osial should agree, but Miss Durandal had left early this morning, and she didn't know where she had gone. How could she call her over?
"If you need me, call my name. No matter where I am, as long as you call me, I will come to your side immediately."
These were words Miss Durandal had told her before. Although she wasn't sure how 'immediately' Miss Durandal meant, but... calling her over in this world should come in handy at a critical moment.
Thinking this, Lumine took a deep breath, and under everyone's gaze, shouted towards the sky, "Miss Durandal────"
"I'm here."
No sooner had the words fallen than, almost in the blink of an eye, Lumine heard Miss Durandal's voice from behind her.
Her sudden appearance startled everyone present. Many were surprised by her abrupt arrival; only those who knew her identity didn't find it a big deal.
"Miss Durandal? You really came. So fast! Where have you been all day?" Paimon asked.
"I was at the Liyue Harbor docks, organizing the residents there to evacuate with White Oriole. When I was almost done, I heard your voice, so I rushed over."
Miss Durandal briefly recounted the situation, her gaze sweeping over everyone present. Besides the people she knew, there were a few she hadn't seen before, some of whom contained a certain power within them, who must be the Adepti of Liyue Harbor.
"Oh, I see! That's good! Do you have a way to deal with that big guy?"
Paimon pointed at Osial in the sea, asking impatiently.
Miss Durandal nodded. With her power, solving Osial was naturally not a problem, but to solve Osial's trouble once and for all, she would need to take on another form, a form she was unwilling to show to others.
Seeing Miss Durandal frown, Lumine realized she must have some unspoken difficulty. She immediately covered Paimon's mouth, not letting her continue to ask.
At this moment, several teleportation portals appeared on the platform Ningguang had created, and one Fatui after another rushed out of them.
They charged towards the Guizhong Ballista, apparently realizing that the Guizhong Ballista was the only means to suppress Osial, and so they wanted to destroy it.
Lumine and Keqing were the first to rush out, followed by other Millelith. Although they were not as strong as Keqing and Lumine, they could at least buy time for the two of them.
"Let's help too. Klee, be careful!"
"Got it, Acting Grand Master Jean."
A familiar voice came, and Miss Durandal, who had been hesitating, suddenly looked behind her. She saw Acting Grand Master Jean leading Klee out of the Jade Chamber and running towards the platform.
"Klee, Acting Grand Master Jean... why are you here?"
Miss Durandal didn't understand why they would appear at the Jade Chamber at this time. Today was the day for the Liyue Qixing to negotiate with the Adepti; they shouldn't be here! Could it be... "Tianquan Star Ningguang." Miss Durandal looked at Ningguang with a gloomy expression, "Is this also within your control?"
Perhaps to avoid conflict during negotiations with the Adepti, and to have powerful helpers, Acting Grand Master Jean and Klee were invited to be guests at the Jade Chamber.
Since the two nations were preparing to form an alliance, upon seeing the Liyue Qixing in danger, Acting Grand Master Jean naturally wouldn't stand by.
She just hadn't expected to not encounter the Adepti's crisis, but instead, an ancient God, Osial, who had revived.
What cunning! Truly cunning!
"Don't misunderstand, Miss Durandal. It wasn't Miss Ningguang who asked us to come; I came to the Jade Chamber on my own initiative."
Acting Grand Master Jean saw what Miss Durandal was thinking, interrupted her thoughts, and explained.
"On your own initiative? Don't you know how dangerous it is here? And you even brought Klee with you, what on earth were you thinking?!"
She had always protected Klee's safety, yet she brought her to this place. She herself might be fine, but Klee was still a Children. What if she encountered danger? What was she thinking?
"I..."
"Sister Miss Durandal, don't blame Acting Grand Master Jean. Klee volunteered to come; it's not Acting Grand Master Jean's fault."
Seeing Miss Durandal scold Acting Grand Master Jean, Klee stood in front of Acting Grand Master Jean and explained.
"Klee? You volunteered? Why?"
"Because... Klee also wants to help. Klee has always caused trouble for Acting Grand Master Jean, and this time, Klee finally has a chance to help Acting Grand Master Jean, so Klee doesn't want to miss it."
Klee continued, "Moreover, Klee is also a member of the Knights of Favonius. As the 'Spark Knight,' Klee cannot choose to run away because of danger; that's not right."
"Klee..."
Acting Grand Master Jean looked at Klee in front of her with emotion. Although Klee usually liked to cause mischief, Klee at this moment was heartwarming.
"...You, why do you always like to cause me trouble?"
Miss Durandal looked at Klee helplessly. She really couldn't be fierce with Klee. She also understood that Klee wasn't causing trouble; she genuinely wanted to help.
But... this created a dilemma for her. Even if she reverted to that form, only the people present would be able to see it, and Acting Grand Master Jean and Klee would most likely not know about it.
But now they had both come to the Jade Chamber, which meant she had no chance to conceal this matter. They would eventually see her in that form, that hideous form.
She struggled. She didn't want Klee to see her in that state, but if it was to protect Klee, then she was willing to revert to that appearance.
She just hoped that the Adepti and the Liyue Qixing could put in more effort. If they could handle this situation, she wouldn't have to act, and could save this opportunity for next time.
But... there was no way. Although Osial had only had part of its seal broken, it was not something the Guizhong Ballista could suppress.
After a large-scale attack, the platform created by Ningguang was destroyed, the Guizhong Ballista could no longer be maintained, and the effective means of striking Osial were gone.
"I can only... act now."
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