Hearing the Tsaritsa admit it so bluntly, Ningguang and the others were momentarily stunned.
"Elder Barnabas… why?"
Keqing frowned, confused.
The Tsaritsa sighed helplessly.
"I'm sorry for causing trouble. It wasn't my idea. Peak Lord Zhongli asked me to unseal Osial and summon Beisht."
"His intention is to use Osial and Beisht as the first trial of Liyue's new era—an era without an Archon."
Ningguang's expression grew strange.
"A trial? With Osial?"
Among the cultivators present, any one of them could probably kill Osial with only a couple of strikes.
What kind of "trial" was that supposed to be?
Was Zhongli underestimating Liyue that badly?
"In any case, the order comes from Peak Lord Zhongli. The Sect Master is aware of it as well."
The Tsaritsa shook her head; even she couldn't understand Zhongli's logic.
After thinking for a moment, she added:
"Also, Zhongli instructed me to watch over the situation. Xiao isn't allowed to intervene. No other nations are allowed to intervene either."
"This time, Liyue must face this Archon-level threat alone."
This time, Ningguang had yet to react—
but Lisa's expression collapsed instantly.
She tightened her lips, struggling.
"Elder Barnabas… we really can't intervene?"
The moment she saw Osial and Beisht appear, Lisa had already been ecstatic.
In an instant, she had planned out at least a dozen ways to recycle these two walking treasure troves.
As Archons, their souls were unimaginably powerful.
And Lisa needed souls like that.
The last time she refined the remnant spirit of the Great Wolf King of the North, she broke through directly to late Essence-Refining.
This time, two more souls of that caliber…
Wouldn't that push her straight to the peak of Essence-Refining?
Sure, Hu Tao needed souls too—but that could be negotiated!
There were two of them anyway! Split them!
Among all Mount Shu disciples, only the two of them cultivated soul arts.
Meanwhile, Childe was also looking desperately at the Tsaritsa.
His Reverse-Blood Demon Blade required the blood essence of powerful beings.
If he could strike Osial just once, the cultivation speed of his blade would skyrocket.
Osial and Beisht were perfect training dummies.
Not letting him participate… wasn't that cutting off his path to power?!
But the Tsaritsa could only shrug.
"Zhongli forbids it. This crisis must be resolved by Liyue alone."
Lisa and Childe looked utterly devastated.
A once-in-a-millennium opportunity—gone.
Two Archon-tier resources delivered on a silver platter—gone.
A wave of free advancement before the Nine Nether expedition—gone.
No one knew when they'd ever get such a perfect opportunity again.
"Where's Peak Lord Zhongli?"
Ningguang asked calmly. She wasn't worried: the outcome was set from the start.
"Peak Lord Zhongli went to free Azhdaha."
The Tsaritsa answered casually.
Ningguang blinked.
"He wants the Lord of Vishaps to participate too?"
She wasn't worried that Azhdaha would cause chaos.
Azhdaha was strong—stronger than even non-cultivating, pre-war Zhongli—but still nothing compared to cultivated Liyue.
Even if he rampaged, suppressing him would be easy.
But Azhdaha was Liyue's hero.
Unlike Osial, they couldn't just bash his head in.
Besides, Zhongli wouldn't be so reckless.
"Not an attack. He's not bringing Azhdaha to fight Liyue,"
the Tsaritsa said quickly.
"Zhongli freed him for… personal cultivation reasons."
She looked away, expression awkward.
Zhongli wanting Azhdaha to become his Celestial Hound—
that was Zhongli's business to reveal, not hers.
If she repeated it and Zhongli held a grudge?
No thank you.
But Jiang Yan seemed to understand everything, smiling mysteriously without exposing Zhongli's goal.
"In any case,"
Ningguang shook her head,
"whatever Osial plans, we should deal with him quickly."
They all knew Liyue had nothing to fear.
But the people of Liyue didn't know that.
If Osial caused no casualties, yet Liyue's own panic caused a crowd stampede—
that would be embarrassing beyond saving.
"Actually… Osial's attack is a blessing in disguise."
Ningguang smiled faintly.
"The people don't understand how strong Liyue has become. They don't understand Mount Shu's power. But they do know how terrifying Osial is."
"If we defeat him publicly and decisively, it will settle all anxiety caused by the Geo Archon's abdication."
Beside her, Tianheng-shushu nodded approvingly.
"Ningguang is right. It's time for Liyue—and for all of Teyvat—to witness the power of cultivation."
As his words fell—
Screams echoed across Liyue Harbor.
Osial's tsunami was already racing toward the port.
The fact that the Qixing and the Jade Chamber had yet to act only worsened the panic.
More and more people questioned whether a godless Liyue could truly protect its future.
Tianheng-shushu stood.
"Then I'll head out first. Osial and Beisht—I leave them to you."
Sword-light flared from the Jade Chamber and shot toward the sea.
Beidou snorted.
"I'd better go too. The Alcor is still docked out there—I'm not letting that idiot drown it."
"Let's all go," Ningguang said. "Time to show Liyue what cultivators can do."
She and the others exchanged a knowing glance, then looked toward Jiang Yan.
He sat calmly upon a conjured meditation cushion, gazing at the distant ocean with serene indifference.
"Go," he said gently. "There's no rush. Osial is no threat to you."
"Yes, Sect Master."
The cultivators of Liyue summoned their flying swords and soared toward the harbor.
Hu Tao was just about to follow—
but Lisa caught her by the wrist.
"Hu Tao, dear… how about we negotiate something~?"
Hu Tao blinked.
"Eh?"
Lisa leaned in, eyes gleaming like a hungry fox.
"For Osial and Beisht… leave some of their souls for me."
Hu Tao hesitated.
"But… I need complete souls…"
"That can be arranged."
Lisa gritted her teeth, then pulled out a small jade bottle.
"I have a Soul-Condensing Pill. If you leave me part of their souls, you can use the pill with another beast's spirit to forge a stronger ghost servant."
This pill—
worth fifty thousand contribution points.
Lisa had spent over a month refining pills nonstop to obtain it.
She had planned to use it in the Nine Nether Secret Realm.
But for Osial and Beisht's souls?
She'd take the risk.
Hu Tao, seeing Lisa so sincere—and seeing the Soul-Condensing Pill—finally nodded.
"Alright! I'll save half of each soul for you!"
Lisa let out a long breath, though her heart ached terribly.
Jean patted her shoulder.
"Think of it this way: these two souls are worth more than the pill. You're not losing anything."
"I know…"
Lisa sighed, then glared at Jean.
"Jean, maybe you should check Mondstadt for any leftover Archons or giant monsters. Think maybe I'll get lucky?"
"How would I know?"
Jean laughed helplessly.
Once, they hid from Archons.
Now Lisa wished she had a dozen more to harvest.
How times had changed.
"Hehe, actually, I do know of one."
Venti wiggled his eyebrows.
"In Dragonspine—Durin the Poison Dragon. Not quite an Archon, but close. Dead, though. But the remnant soul should still be around~"
Lisa's eyes lit up like lanterns.
"Venti, you treasure, thank you."
Xiao added calmly:
"Near Qingce Village is the ancient beast Chi. I don't know if the remnant soul persists, but you may try."
"And also Wuwang Hill, Qingxu Pool, Chasm, Chenyu Vale, Guyun Stone Forest…"
"These places hold beings the Peak Lord sealed long ago. Many remnants remain."
"You and Hu Tao can explore them together."
Lisa nearly vibrated with excitement.
Liyue's resources were simply unfair.
She silently committed every location to memory, then turned toward Osial with shining eyes.
Future hunting spots could wait.
Right now—
Osial was the meal on the table.
Meanwhile Childe stared at Osial like a resentful widow, full of grief and longing.
The Tsaritsa sighed.
"Once they defeat Osial, you can collect the bodies. The blood should still be fresh."
Childe's eyes lit up instantly.
"Understood! Thank you, Elder Barnabas!"
Not far away, Jiang Yan couldn't help but laugh quietly.
Osial was unleashing all his fury.
The people of Liyue trembled in fear.
But here—
everyone was discussing the best way to carve him up.
He almost pitied the poor Archon.
He burst out of his seal craving revenge—
only to be treated like livestock on a chopping block.
If Osial knew, he would certainly regret being freed.
Truly…
cultivation had changed the world.
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