'Second trial complete... Unsealing... Unsealing complete!'
Crack, crack, crack
One of the six chains binding the Jing Yuan character card suddenly developed cracks. With a series of cracking sounds, it shattered and fell to the ground.
Yun Fan, who had just returned from the consciousness space, felt a wave of clarity in his mind. His entire body felt as if it were soaking in a natural hot spring, filled with comfort.
"My current strength should at least be on par with the Sustainer of Heavenly Principles, right?" Yun Fan clenched his fist, feeling the massive increase in power, and muttered to himself. But he quickly snapped out of it.
The real Jing Yuan's Divine Sovereign could casually obliterate a planet with a single strike. At full power, it could even destroy a galaxy. His half-baked version was still far from that. What was there to be proud of?
"You said Liyue is facing a great calamity? Is the information reliable?"
In the Jade Chamber, Ningguang, who had been frowning at Keqing's late-night visit, temporarily set aside her displeasure and asked seriously.
"I swear on my title as Yuheng, the information is absolutely reliable. If anything goes wrong, I will take full responsibility," Keqing replied with a grave expression.
"Ugh, more work. Can you tell me who gave you this information?" Ningguang massaged her temples, feeling the weight of yet another crisis.
"My master," Keqing hesitated for a moment but ultimately answered.
If she refused to answer, Ningguang would still believe her, but there would always be a hint of doubt. Keqing didn't want that.
"I see," Ningguang didn't press further. If it came from an adeptus, there was no need to doubt. The adepti had protected Liyue alongside the Geo Archon for thousands of years. They would never do anything to harm Liyue.
'Looks like we need to fully arm the Jade Chamber as soon as possible.'
The next morning...
"It's only been a day, but you seem... different," Zhongli circled Yun Fan, examining him closely before finally speaking.
"How can you tell?" Yun Fan was surprised. He had already concealed his aura, so to others, he should appear no different from before. How did Zhongli notice?
"Intuition," Zhongli shook his head, answering honestly. To ordinary people, Yun Fan might seem unchanged, but Zhongli's millennia of experience told him that the man before him had undergone a profound transformation, likely reaching the level of the Sustainer of Heavenly Principles.
"Impressive as always," Yun Fan clapped his hands. Zhongli's insight was truly remarkable, as expected of an ancient being with millennia of experience..
"Your praise is too kind. I am unworthy."
"Alright, stop beating around the bush. You came to me early in the morning for a reason. Just say it. Beating around the bush isn't like you, Morax," Yun Fan spread his hands, looking directly into Zhongli's eyes.
"Very well," Zhongli nodded. "My original plan was to have the adepti pressure the Qixing while the Fatui released the ancient god. I wanted to see how Liyue and the adepti would respond under such pressure."
"But things didn't go as planned. The adepti didn't confront the Qixing. Instead, they stormed the Northland Bank and beat up your Tartaglia, right?" Yun Fan finished Zhongli's sentence.
"Exactly."
"So, what's your next move?"
Zhongli stroked his chin, thinking for a moment before speaking. "Tartaglia spent a massive amount of resources to replicate hundreds of Sigils of Permission. Although they're weaker than the originals, they're enough to release two ancient gods. So..."
"Go ahead."
"Report, Lord Harbinger! The First Fatui Vanguard is assembled and ready!"
"Report, Lord Harbinger! The Seventh Fatui Battalion is assembled and ready!"
"Report, Lord Harbinger..."
It was late at night, the moon hanging high in the sky.
At Lingju Pass, within the ruins, rows of fully armed Fatui soldiers stood in formation on a relatively intact platform, their eyes fixed on the stage... where their bandaged, crutch-wielding Harbinger stood.
"Lord Tartaglia, please address the troops," Andrei, standing beside Tartaglia, whispered in his ear.
"Ahem, warriors of Snezhnaya!" Tartaglia cleared his throat, raising his hand to begin his impassioned speech.
"You all know what we're facing on this mission," the platform was silent as the soldiers waited for Tartaglia to continue.
"Though Morax has fallen, the adepti and the Divine Sovereign still sit atop Liyue, watching over everything.
Thus, our attack on Liyue is a suicide mission. Does anyone wish to withdraw? Speak now, and I will discharge you from the Fatui, but you will keep your life!"
The platform remained deathly silent. Not a single soldier stepped forward to withdraw. They all stared at Tartaglia with fiery determination, their eyes filled with resolve.
"Good! You are true warriors of Snezhnaya! Remember, no sacrifice is in vain. They will become the foundation of a new world. When that time comes, all of you will be pioneers!"
"For the noble Tsaritsa!" Tartaglia threw away his crutch, tearing off the bandages wrapped around his body. He raised his arm and shouted with all his might.
"For the Tsaritsa!" "For the Tsaritsa!" "For the Tsaritsa!"...
The Fatui's fervent battle cries echoed through Lingju Pass, shattering the night's silence and scattering the birds and beasts that had been resting there.
"What is Tartaglia up to now?"
On a mountain not far from the Fatui, Lumine frowned as she watched the chanting Fatui army, muttering to herself.
To avoid detection, she had hidden herself hundreds of meters away from the Fatui. While this was relatively safe, the downside was that she couldn't hear Tartaglia's speech.
But with so many soldiers gathered, he was clearly planning something big. She couldn't let her guard down.
"T-Traveler, do you think they'll find us...?" Paimon, trembling beside her, looked at the sea of Fatui soldiers in the distance, tears almost welling up in her eyes.
If she had known this would happen, she wouldn't have taken this stakeout mission.
If they were discovered, there was no way they could fight off so many Fatui soldiers, right? No way, right?