"Alright then, let's go."
Seeing that none of the Adepti objected, Cloud Retainer nodded.
"As for you, Ningguang and the rest—there's no need to see us off."
Ningguang: "..."
Well then, thank you very much for that.
At that moment—
A figure came flying in rapidly from the distance.
Clang!
With a classic Iron Man landing pose, the figure landed atop the Jade Chamber.
"Who are you, and what is your purpose here?!"
Cloud Retainer hopped forward and demanded sternly.
This person's attire was extremely strange—could it be a provocation?
If so, they had chosen the wrong place!
All of Liyue's Adepti were gathered here—
This was like hanging a lantern in the restroom: courting death!
"Cloud Retainer, Lady Ningguang—didn't things escalate into a conflict, right?"
A crisp voice rang out from within the steel armor.
Then the mask opened, revealing Ganyu's cute, familiar face.
"Ganyu?"
Seeing her, everyone was taken aback.
They hadn't expected it to be her!
"Ganyu, why are you wearing such strange attire?"
Cloud Retainer circled her once, curiosity written all over her face.
"This is a reward I obtained from reading manga at Boss Han's shop.
It's called an Iron Man battle armor—it's very powerful.
I'll show you sometime when there's a chance."
Ganyu said with a smile.
"Another reward from the manga shop?"
Everyone examined it curiously.
Especially the Adepti.
Their interest in the manga shop had grown tremendously.
If the timing weren't inappropriate, they would've rushed over to see it themselves.
"Never mind that—where are you all headed?
Did negotiations already break down?"
Ganyu dismissed the armor and quickly asked.
She remembered the Adepti were preparing to leave.
Had things really fallen apart?
Was she too late?
"I'm taking them to Boss Han's manga shop to read manga!"
Cloud Retainer replied matter-of-factly.
"…Huh?"
Ganyu's face filled with question marks.
Is something wrong with me, or is something wrong with you?!
The Geo Archon had been assassinated—
And instead of handling the situation, you're heading to a manga shop?!
Even if talks with the Qixing had collapsed, she wouldn't have been surprised.
But going to read manga?!
The Geo Archon must be rolling in his grave!
"Because we believe that instead of arguing here, it's better to go to the manga shop and look for a way to save the Geo Archon."
Cloud Retainer explained.
"Looking for a way to save the Geo Archon… at a manga shop?"
Ganyu grew even more confused.
She had just read one manga.
How had the whole world gone off the rails?!
"Enough—let me merge with my clone first!"
Seeing Cloud Retainer about to continue, Ganyu raised her hand to stop her.
Her clone had been accompanying the Adepti—it should know what had happened.
With a thought, the clone floated over and merged back into Ganyu's body.
She closed her eyes, organizing the incoming memories.
After a long moment—
Ganyu opened her eyes, her expression extremely strange.
"You're planning to use the Peace Stone to save the Geo Archon?
Which genius came up with that idea?"
Everyone's gaze immediately turned toward the back—
Straight to Xiao.
"Cough, cough!"
Under so many eyes, Xiao looked slightly uncomfortable.
Wasn't that a perfectly reasonable idea?
"But… now that I think about it, this method is feasible."
Ganyu pondered for a moment, then nodded.
"Boss Han's manga shop is incredibly mysterious— there really might be a solution there."
Why hadn't she thought of this earlier?
If she had, she could've asked Boss Han back then!
"Since even Ganyu agrees, it should be fine.
Let's go now!"
Cloud Retainer said decisively.
"Honored Adepti, please wait."
Suddenly, Ningguang spoke in a low voice.
"You may not be able to leave right now."
"What is it this time?"
Cloud Retainer turned back.
Although there was now hope of reviving the Geo Archon, that didn't mean she held no grievances against the Qixing.
Once the Geo Archon was revived, she would definitely complain to him properly.
"Because…"
Ningguang looked toward Guyun Stone Forest, her grave.
"The demon god has arrived."
"…The demon god?!"
Everyone's faces changed instantly.
Damn it!
How could they forget this?!
They hurriedly followed Ningguang's gaze.
The sky above Guyun Stone Forest, once clear, was now covered in dark storm clouds.
The heavens dimmed rapidly.
Thunder flashed within the clouds.
Fierce winds howled as torrential rain poured down.
Then—
Gigantic waves rose violently across the sea.
In an instant—
Three enormous water tornadoes formed between heaven and earth.
Under the darkened sky, it looked as if the apocalypse had arrived.
Roar—
A deep, ancient roar echoed from the depths of the ocean.
...
It reverberated endlessly across the vast sea.
"It seems the Overlord of the Vortex truly is breaking free of his seal."
Xiao's expression turned solemn.
Even from afar, he could feel the ominous, ferocious aura growing stronger by the second.
"This battle… cannot be avoided."
Cloud Retainer said grimly.
In her heart, however, she was cursing Childe nonstop.
Useless trash!
If she ever met him again, she'd smash his head in!
Couldn't even secure a fake Peace Stone—what good was he?!
And he called himself a Fatui Harbinger?!
"Then we'll destroy it before it reaches shore."
Ningguang said coldly.
That way, damage to Liyue would be minimized.
Moreover, she had already instructed Keqing to prepare in advance—
There were no fishermen at sea.
Their safety was assured.
"Jade Chamber—advance toward Guyun Stone Forest!"
Ningguang commanded.
"Yes, Lady Ningguang."
The Jade Chamber responded.
Moments later—
The massive Jade Chamber began to move through the sky,
Flying swiftly toward Guyun Stone Forest.
—------------------------------
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