Liyue in Peril! Flying Axe Severes Jade Arm, Xu Huang Crushes Chenyu Vale
Liyue is in peril! A flying axe severs a jade-like arm, as Xu Huang stomps Chenyu Vale into ruins.
Xu Huang's seven thousand Trapped Camp troops set up a bizarre formation, stirring the residual breath of ancient gods sealed beneath the Geo Archon's domain. Yae Miko's youkai power backfires; Ye Lan's water mirrors shatter. Hu Tao's Hall of Flames sends fire butterflies blazing to the heavens, yet they cannot overcome the murderous aura. In the bloody battle, Yun Jin sings her final song to protect the people, her arm cleaved off by Xu Huang's flying axe. Smoke fills the air; Liyue Harbor trembles. Ningguang, tears in her eyes, smashes the core of the Jade Chamber:
"This grudge… shall be repaid with a falling star —"
The mist of Chenyu Vale has always carried the scent of tea and the hue of jade, warm and refreshing.
On this day, however, the mist hung heavy as lead, suffocating. Beyond the valley, dark clouds pressed low, and a steel-gray torrent stood silent, the cold glint of weapons piercing the damp air — it was Xu Huang and his seven thousand Trapped Camp.
Xu Huang reined in his horse before the formation, his gaze like iron sweeping over this land fabled to overflow with wealth. There was no greed in his eyes, only a cold, unyielding indifference of one who obeys military orders. He slowly raised his mountain-splitting axe. His voice was not loud, yet it rumbled across the silent valley:
"Form up."
At the command, the Trapped Camp moved as one, their steps thundering like distant storms. Instead of charging in disarray, they shifted in an eerie, profound pattern. In groups of seven, their auras intertwined, weapons stamping the ground as they chanted obscure, ancient battle incantations. A cold, violent aura — not of this world — spread beneath their feet, seeping into the earth.
The ground trembled faintly.
Deep within the valley, the ruins of ancient battlefields sealed by Morax's supreme power, the godly remains that had slumbered for millennia, stirred into a terrifying resonance. Pitch-black murderous aura was forcefully drawn out, roaring from cracks in the rock, wrapping around the formation, turning the seven thousand warriors into ghosts risen from the underworld.
"What… is that?"
A veteran of the Millelith guarding the valley entrance shrank his pupils, his spear-hand drenched in cold sweat.
Before unrest could spread, Xu Huang's axe crashed down:
"Advance!"
The steel-gray torrent surged forward.
Carrying a tidal wave of murderous aura, it crashed into Chenyu Vale like a force of destruction. The Millelith's defenses, against the merged power of residual gods, crumbled like paper, torn apart in an instant. Roars, screams, the shattering of weapons, the rending of flesh and bone — in moments, this paradise turned to purgatory.
Word reached Liyue Harbor at the fastest speed.
Yae Miko arrived first, her pink figure a fleeting vision amid the black aura.
"Oh my, such lack of grace… shall bring retribution, you know~"
She smiled sweetly, demonic thunder surging from her fingertips, turning into raging lightning serpents that struck the formation's core. Yet the thunder, capable of splitting mountains and rivers, vanished like a stone into the sea upon hitting the aura. Not only did it fail to break the formation — it triggered a deeper backlash of resentment! With a muffled groan, blood trickled from Miko's lips. Her youkai power went haywire, and she stumbled back.
Almost simultaneously, countless deep-blue water droplets condensed at the formation's flank. Ye Lan emerged from the void, tossing her dice into the air. Water mirrors materialized, attempting to trap and refract the murderous aura. But the mirrors, once formed, whimpered under the filthiest, most corrupting force, shattering piece by piece. Ye Lan was thrown backward by the recoil, slamming into the mountain rock, her breath weakening.
Hu Tao, Director of the Wangsheng Funeral Parlor, arrived riding blazing fire butterflies.
"Bullies! Give me back Chenyu Vale's peace!"
Anger burned in her plum-blossom pupils. She swung her Staff of Homa, and countless crimson butterflies blazed toward the sky. The scorching heat temporarily repelled the aura at the front. But the formation shifted, and the roused godly remnants roared back. The cold, deathly power crept up against the fire butterflies. Hu Tao's face paled; her flames flickered, clearly strained to the limit.
The battle turned white-hot in an instant.
Sixty thousand Liyue soldiers charged wave after wave, blocking the destructive tide with flesh and blood. The valley was dyed red, corpses piling high. Under Xu Huang's command, the Trapped Camp shifted formations flawlessly, using murderous aura as their blade. Every step meant more death.
Rout was inevitable.
In one corner of the chaotic battlefield, a crowd of fleeing civilians panicked, cut off by a vanguard of Trapped Camp soldiers, their cries desperate.
"Run! To the south!"
A clear shout rang out.
Yun Jin leaped forward. Though stained with blood, her posture from Divine Maiden Splits the Heavens remained unyielding. She stood between the people and the blades, her water sleeves fluttering. With no sharp weapon, she still fended off several enemies with skillful strength. She took a deep breath — and began to sing, clear and loud, even amid the deafening clash of arms!
Her voice pierced the clouds and split the stone.
The melody was sorrowful yet stirring, carrying the familiar resilience and unyielding spirit of Liyue. For a moment, it drowned out the battlefield's noise, like an invisible barrier shielding the trembling civilians behind her. She fought and sang, her gaze resolute. Every line drained her strength; blood kept spilling from her lips, yet every word was clear, unbroken.
"Hmph. An actress meddling in state affairs."
A cold hum came from the formation.
General Xu Huang glanced this way, expressionless. He flipped a small axe from his back, did not even look, and tossed it casually.
Whoosh —!
The flying axe spun, tearing through the air, carrying murderous aura that crushed everything, crossing a hundred paces in an instant.
Yun Jin's song did not stop.
A flash of blood erupted.
One bloodstained arm — once woven with countless grace and elegance — was severed at the shoulder, still clutching the spear tassel, flying high into the air.
Her singing stopped abruptly.
Yun Jin staggered. Agony twisted her beautiful face pale as paper, yet she bit her lip so hard it nearly broke, not letting out a single cry. Only her eyes, locked onto Xu Huang, filled with shock… and unyielding defiance. Blood gushed like a spring, dyeing her blue opera robe deep crimson.
"Miss Yun!!"
In the distance, Hu Tao, barely standing, let out a heart-wrenching scream.
Yae Miko's pink eyes flared, youkai energy spilling out of control — yet the backlash in her body made her spit blood again. Ye Lan struggled to charge forward, but was pinned down by several Trapped Camp soldiers.
The battle was lost.
Yae Miko grabbed Hu Tao, who was nearly rushing to her death, and blasted a path open with forced demonic thunder. Ye Lan, enduring pain, threw her last few dice to create chaos.
"Go!" Miko's voice carried an unprecedented weakness and coldness.
The surviving Liyue soldiers escorted the severely injured adepti and Ye Lan, retreating from Chenyu Vale with endless humiliation and grief.
Smoke and thick blood hung over Chenyu Vale, lingering for a long time.
Once a misty, immortal valley, now it lay in ruins, littered with layers of corpses, wails filling the air.
When word reached Liyue Harbor, the entire port shook, and millions wept.