The crowd exchanged glances, with one individual taking the lead to charge forward. Seeing this, others followed suit, surging forward.
"Brothers, charge! Take the lives of these two, and our Great Master will bestow generous rewards! Don't falter, it's merely a half-celestial beast. We have the power bestowed by our Master, why should we fear her?"
These words rallied everyone. Indeed! They possessed the power granted by their Master, so why should they fear a mere half-celestial beast? If it were a true immortal, they might concede some ground, but the crucial point was that you weren't one!
At this critical juncture, a brown-yellow stone pillar suddenly appeared, accompanied by a steady male voice. Gan Yu felt a glimmer of hope.
"As solid as stone!"
The arrival was Zhongli. He had been observing all of this, knowing Gan Yu couldn't die here. Where else would he find such a capable worker? She was a top-tier employee of Liyue, and he absolutely couldn't let her perish.
A yellowish-brown shield materialized around the two, golden chains binding it like a lock. A solemn and majestic aura, overwhelming in its presence, suppressed the opposition.
The long blades struck the shield, failing to stir even the slightest ripple, proving utterly ineffective. After all, this was the Geo Archon's shield. How could his protection be so easily breached?
"Sandstorm!"
A striking figure appeared: Guizhong, clad in a yellow gown with her thick hair piled atop her head. As the God of Dust, she possessed the power to control sandstorms.
The fine yellow sand, swirling like a tornado, blinded the black-clothed figures. Even with masks, tiny grains of sand would find their way into their eyes.
"Do not presume Liyue is unaware of your actions. Everything is within our grasp. Surrender now! I have no patience for a second warning."
The sound of high heels echoed on the street, and even the surrounding streetlights flickered on one by one. A large contingent of Millelith soldiers surged into the street like a tide. Yelan gave a slight smile; the intelligence agency had long foreseen their movements, yet these individuals were so foolish.
This would finally resolve the issue that had plagued Liyue for months. She couldn't fathom what strange power their so-called Master possessed that garnered such devotion. It was truly baffling.
Ningguang unfurled a fan, elegantly concealing her mouth, projecting an air of profound mystery.
Keqing below, who had been terrified and ready to fight to the death, was now utterly bewildered. "You're telling me this was part of the plan?! Are you playing with me? Don't you think I'll kill you with one slash, Ningguang!"
She hadn't argued with Ningguang a few days ago, had she? Did she really deserve this treatment? Her young heart had suffered irreparable damage, and compensation was definitely in order!
"Hahahaha! Did you really think you've won? Our Great Master knew of your movements long ago. I also knew there would be a raid on us tonight. Guess why we still showed up here?"
The leader chuckled heartily. Their presence here indicated they were fully prepared, capable of facing all eventualities. That's why they dared to appear.
"What do you mean by that?! Did your Master do something earth-shattering? You must understand, this is Liyue, a land protected by the Geo Archon, the birthplace of the God of War. Do not attempt to control this place with any strange, heretical arts!"
Ningguang spoke with conviction, stirring a surge of passion even in the hearts of the Millelith. Never give up, never retreat an inch, fear no enemy – this was the spirit of Liyue's warriors!
"What do I mean? You'll know soon enough. Tonight, I fear, will be another bloody spectacle! Hahahaha, brothers! Follow our Master, and let our Master cleanse this sinful land!"
With that, he forcefully slapped his chest. Then, drop by drop, blood trickled down, staining the ground. A burning heart was wrenched out.
It was still beating. The crimson heart, shrouded in a faint purple mist, then rapidly exploded with a thunderous boom, like a bomb, scattering countless mosaic-like fragments.
Those nearby were splattered, to varying degrees. As the first person acted, the others soon followed suit, and it quickly devolved into a scene of utter chaos.
This suicidal act stunned everyone. The purple mist coalesced into a sphere before vanishing.
"This... even resisting arrest shouldn't warrant such actions. To abandon one's life so readily, what meaning does life hold then?"
Keqing had never witnessed such a gruesome scene in her life. She had just eaten, and waves of nausea churned in her stomach.
She retched, vomiting up her dinner, her stomach suddenly empty.
Gan Yu, having seen such sights before, quietly supported Keqing, gently patting her back to offer some relief.
"Seal the scene, dispose of the bodies. Do not speak of today's events! Liyue is currently in a state of unrest. Further disruption could have severe consequences."
Ningguang, as the Tianquan, swiftly handled all necessary matters. Zhongli, observing from a distance, felt a sense of foreboding. This incident was unlikely to end simply.
Could Liyue withstand this crisis? Without the Geo Archon's protection, could it survive an attack comparable to that of a Seven Archons?
In that brief moment, he had sensed an old acquaintance's aura. This was likely the work of the ancient god, Aszaka, the God of Blood.
However, he could only make a rough judgment, as he also sensed other energies: a turbid aura from a higher plane, the essence of an extraterrestrial entity. Contact with it felt perilous.
"Zhongli, can Liyue weather this crisis... Should we notify the Adepti? Their assistance would lessen their burden."
Guizhong watched the busy figures, a pang of sympathy in her heart. These were merely young people born into this era, yet they were tasked with duties comparable to those of ancient times. Was this truly good for them?
"Your words hold merit. However, Liyue... is now a land ruled by humans, not a nation governed by gods. It is time for this grown child to face dangers of a similar magnitude. If they falter... then intervention can be considered."
He spoke with the characteristic resolve of Morax, the God of War. But could his strength truly avert this crisis? And was this Aszaka, the God of Blood, truly the one responsible?