Lin Mo looked at the hand Ningguang extended towards him.
He knew that Ningguang was confessing her feelings to him in front of everyone, even... proposing.
It was also an invitation for him to jointly initiate this ascension ceremony.
What more could a man ask for, when a woman was willing to go this far for him?
Lin Mo slowly took hold of that fair hand, smiling as he said, "I am willing to stand with you atop the Jade Chamber, gazing upon Liyue Harbor from the skies, witnessing the prosperity and peace of the mortal realm."
Ningguang was very satisfied with this answer.
At the same time, her gaze turned towards Shenhe, and she said with a gentle smile, "When the time comes, Shenhe will also be a central figure in the wedding ceremony. Consider this my answer to you."
Shenhe looked towards Lin Mo.
Seeing the warm smile he directed at her, she slowly nodded.
At that moment.
Ningguang, holding Lin Mo's hand, led him to the Jade Chamber's observation deck. Looking down at the long-awaiting citizens of Liyue and friends from other nations below, she announced in a clear, loud voice:
"The Ascension Ceremony, begin!"
With Ningguang's declaration.
The Jade Chamber began its slow ascent towards the skies above Liyue Harbor.
The four massive iron chains that had been securing the Jade Chamber snapped one by one with resonant cracks as the floating palace rose higher and higher.
Once again, the Jade Chamber floated at its rightful altitude.
Overlooking all of Liyue, it stood like an aerial lighthouse, illuminating and guarding Liyue Harbor.
"BOOM!!!"
Right at that moment.
A bolt from the blue.
The skies above Liyue Harbor darkened with ominous clouds.
The surface of the Sea of Clouds churned violently.
Amidst the ravaging of three towering waterspouts.
A massive whirlpool appeared in the very center of the sea.
"How can there be the aura of an Archon!?"
Lin Mo couldn't help but frown in confusion. "Which Archon seeks to obstruct the Jade Chamber's ascension?"
As soon as Lin Mo's words fell.
A serpentine, azure-blue sea beast's head erupted from the whirlpool, breaking through the sea's surface.
"ROAR!!!"
The Archon's roar shook heaven and earth.
The skies and land of Liyue Harbor instantly faced a scene of apocalyptic terror once more.
Almost identical to when the Archon Osial broke his seal before.
"So it has come after all..."
Ningguang seemed to have anticipated this. Gazing calmly at the sea beast, she stated, "The Remnant of the Vortex, 'Beisht'."
"Wh-who is that~!?"
Paimon asked nervously, floating anxiously.
Ningguang looked at the colossal sea beast emerging from the sea and said calmly, "She is Osial's wife, the last follower of the Vortex Archon."
"Does that mean Miss Ningguang knew about this all along?"
Paimon asked in surprise.
Ningguang nodded, glancing sideways at Paimon and the Traveler. "Beidou is highly perceptive of changes in the ocean. When she escorted you and the Traveler to Inazuma last time, she warned me."
"The reason for rebuilding the Jade Chamber at this time..."
"...was to use its hatred for the Jade Chamber, for Liyue, to lure it out from the depths of the sea."
"Oh~! I see now~!"
Paimon nodded, a look of confidence on her face. "We have the Diplomatic Envoy, we have Guizhong, we have Makoto and Ei... We definitely have the advantage with Makoto and Ei helping us~"
In Paimon's view.
Liyue had four Archons in residence.
What was the mere Remnant of the Vortex, 'Beisht', compared to that?
"Unnecessary."
Ningguang said flatly. "In the era of human governance, the 'people' of Liyue Harbor must rely on their own strength to overcome this crisis."
As Ningguang spoke.
She formed a single-handed seal.
Her eyes slowly closed.
At that very moment.
Behind Ningguang, the reflected light of her six-star Vision, the Astrolabe, materialized.
Simultaneously.
The entire Jade Chamber suddenly erupted with a blinding, brilliant golden radiance, like a blazing sun in the night sky.
Countless beams of dazzling, prismatic golden light formed, standing upright above the Jade Chamber like a colossal mirror.
"This... what is this? A Gate of Babylon?" Even Lin Mo.
Couldn't help but show a look of astonishment at the terrifying might erupting from the Jade Chamber.
And in the very next moment.
"Whoosh!"
"Whoosh~!!" "Whoosh whoosh~!!!"
Innumerable streams of golden light shot forth from the facets of the prismatic brilliance, streaking directly towards the rampaging sea beast surging across the sea.
"ROAR!!!"
Struck by wave after wave of golden light, 'Beisht' threw its head back and let out a pained, sky-rending roar.
Right then.
Lin Mo noticed Keqing and Ganyu, who had been waiting by the shore all along.
On the banks of Liyue Harbor where Ganyu and Keqing stood.
No less than twenty replica versions of the Guizhong Ballistae were positioned.
Keqing, facing the sea, raised her sword, the Lion's Roar, high and issued a cold command: "Fire!"
"Hum!!"
"HUM!!!"
One after another, the Guizhong Ballistae erupted with brilliant golden light.
Beam after beam of golden laser-like artillery fire roared forth, charging towards 'Beisht' upon the sea.
'Beisht' let out another agonized cry.
Lin Mo could clearly sense.
That in this short span of less than a minute.
'Beisht' had already sustained severe injuries.
Lin Mo couldn't help but be amazed by the combat power of Liyue Harbor's mortals.
One must remember.
Although 'Beisht' was a follower of Osial, and although somewhat weaker.
It was still a genuine Archon!
At that moment.
'Beisht' regained its senses from the pain.
"ROAR!!!"
A furious roar resounded across the entire sea.
'Beisht' was gathering a powerful surge of Hydro energy within its maw, preparing to launch an attack towards the area where Keqing, Ganyu, and the Ballistae teams were stationed.
But right then.
"BOOM!!" "BOOM!!!"
Streams of golden artillery fire shattered against 'Beisht's' face, instantly disrupting the attack it was gathering.
The "Crux," commanded by Beidou.
Had, at some unknown time, sailed into the waters where 'Beisht' was.
What surprised Lin Mo the most was.
That the "Crux" was also equipped with no less than five Guizhong Ballistae.
Now.
The Jade Chamber unleashed its dense barrage of dazzling golden strikes.
Combined with the twenty Ballistae on the shore.
And the five Ballistae on the "Crux."
They assaulted 'Beisht' from three directions, continuously inflicting heavy damage.
"ROAR!!!!"
A deafening, sky-piercing shriek erupted from 'Beisht'.
"Oh? A death throes counterattack?"
Lin Mo's eyes showed surprise.
Upon the sea where divine power ran rampant.
A hundred-meter-high, heaven-obscuring tidal wave.
Was now roaring towards Liyue Harbor, towards the Jade Chamber.
"Everyone, be careful! A tsunami is coming!!" Beidou's loud warning echoed across the sea.
The "Crux" accelerated, trying to flee the combat zone.
But the scope of the tsunami was simply too vast; the "Crux" seemed destined to be caught in it.
It wasn't just the "Crux" where Beidou was.
On the shore, Ganyu raised her Amos' Bow high, seemingly intending to use Cryo-infused arrows to freeze that hundred-meter-high, heaven-obscuring wave.
But Ganyu hesitated, not releasing the bowstring.
Because she knew.
Given her strength, she had no way to freeze this hundred-meter-high tsunami.
One must realize, even the Jade Chamber, situated a hundred meters in the air, facing this sky-blotting wave, had not immediately found a viable countermeasure.
As Lin Mo pondered.
Whether he, this adeptus possessing Archon-level power.
Should step in to help Liyue overcome this difficulty?
But right then.
Another sudden change occurred.
A figure clad in white unfurled a Wind Glider towards the sky, soaring directly towards 'Beisht'.
"Lumine! What are you trying to do!?" Lin Mo shouted anxiously.
"Inflict a critical blow on 'Beisht'! Stop the tsunami!"
The voice that came back from Lumine carried a tone of unwavering determination.
'Beisht' would not simply watch as Lumine on her Wind Glider closed in.
A stream of azure-blue light shot forth from 'Beisht's' maw, streaking directly towards the soaring figure.
"Fool! That's an Archon!"
Lin Mo leaped out in desperation, sweeping Lumine into his arms in a single motion.
In the blink of an eye.
The oncoming azure light struck Lin Mo, slamming both him and Lumine heavily against the rocky cliff face on the shore.
"BOOM!!!"
The cliff face shattered.
The two plummeted towards the coast along with the collapsing rock.
Lin Mo shielded Lumine in his embrace tightly.
Not letting her suffer the slightest harm.
And at that moment.
A graceful silhouette streaked across the sky, catching Lin Mo and Lumine as they fell.
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T/N:
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