The rain cleared, and the sun shone!
Under the sunlight, a massive rainbow bridge appeared on the horizon, shrouding half of the Tianheng Mountains.
In the villages at the foot of the mountain.
Although the villagers did not participate in this battle, they worried about the war every single moment.
Hoping Lord Morax could defeat the gods at sea.
Hoping the adepti could defeat the gods on land.
When the rain stopped and the warm sunlight shone upon the village once again, the villagers stepped out of their homes.
Looking toward the direction of the Tianheng Mountains!
When they saw that the Tianheng Mountains had not only not collapsed, but had actually grown hundreds of zhang taller, smiles overflowed on every villager's face.
They knew that Lord Skybracer had won!
It was Lord Skybracer who had slain the gods and forcefully propped up the mountains!
In the hearts of every citizen.
Their gratitude toward Lord Skybracer even surpassed that toward Morax.
People looked at the rainbow bridge appearing in the distance, cheering continuously:
"Lord Skybracer won!"
"Lord Skybracer is so amazing, relying on the power of a single adeptus, he actually propped up the entire mountain!"
"Thank you, Lord Skybracer!"
"I heard Lord Skybracer likes to eat strawberry cake, and I have already prepared it for him!"
"Then what are we waiting for? Let us go give him the cake together!"
"Let us go find Lord Skybracer together!"
...
The villagers gathered together, bringing out a fresh strawberry cake from a house.
Clearly, it was made while it was raining.
Amidst a wave of cheers!
People carried the fresh strawberry cake, walking toward Tianheng Pass atop the Tianheng Mountains.
But just halfway there, the villagers ran into Cloud Retainer, Moon Carver, Mountain Shaper, and the others.
The villagers said happily, "Cloud Retainer, Moon Carver, Mountain Shaper, so you are all here too!"
But the villagers were deeply puzzled in their hearts.
Since these three powerful adepti were here, why was only the Adeptus Who Guides the Heavens fighting the gods?
Why was only the Adeptus Who Guides the Heavens propping up the mountain?
Although they did not understand, the villagers still said happily:
"Cloud Retainer, Moon Carver, Mountain Shaper... have you seen Lord Skybracer?"
"We prepared a strawberry cake for him!"
"He will definitely be very happy to see the strawberry cake!"
The villagers did not yet know that the Adeptus Who Guides the Heavens had died in battle.
Hearing these words!
Moon Carver, Cloud Retainer, and Mountain Shaper fell into deep sorrow once again, all falling silent.
And Ganyu, standing nearby, could not help but cry once again:
"Lord Skybracer..."
"He... he sacrificed himself to protect Liyue, to prop up the mountain, and to slay the gods..."
The Adeptus Who Guides the Heavens had sacrificed himself!
Hearing this answer, all the villagers present instantly froze in place.
Unable to believe this answer!
The Adeptus Who Guides the Heavens, who loved to boast in front of the villagers, who often helped them build houses, and who loved eating the strawberry cakes they made the most.
Was actually dead.
Just at this moment!
The Millelith soldiers in front parted, revealing the body of the Adeptus Who Guides the Heavens being carried behind them.
Still standing, still lifelike.
But those tightly closed eyes, the lingering blood on his body, and the two holes on top of his head were still shocking to behold.
A villager walked forward, trembling.
Reaching out a hand to touch the body of the Adeptus Who Guides the Heavens, it was ice cold.
He was truly dead!
The villagers cried out in agony, "We clearly saw Skybracer defeat the gods, why did he still die?"
"Which god killed Lord Skybracer?"
"No... Lord Skybracer is so amazing, how could he possibly die at the hands of a god!"
"Where are Lord Skybracer's antlers?"
"His antlers were so powerful, how could he be defeated by a god?"
The villagers refused to believe it!
In the eyes of the villagers, Lord Skybracer, with this pair of antlers, was an existence in all of Liyue second only to Morax.
Unmatched in combat power!
How could he be slain by a god?
In fact, that was exactly the case!
If the Adeptus Who Guides the Heavens had disregarded the lives of Liyue's citizens, if he had not severed his antlers to prop up the mountain range, he would have easily defeated the last two gods.
But... the Adeptus Who Guides the Heavens did not make that choice.
Between his antlers and the citizens, the Adeptus Who Guides the Heavens chose the citizens.
And so!
The Millelith soldiers told them everything about how the Adeptus Who Guides the Heavens had severed his antlers to prop up the mountain.
After learning the truth of how Skybracer died in battle.
All the villagers present dropped to their knees, bidding farewell to Lord Skybracer.
"Lord Skybracer, rest in peace..."
"Rest in peace..."
Amidst the sounds of weeping, they saw the group depart.
After the villagers returned to the village.
They found the most skilled sculptors to carve a statue of Lord Skybracer in the village.
To be worshipped every year.
On the second day after the battle at Tianheng Pass ended.
Morax, covered in injuries, finally returned victorious from the depths of the sea, holding a spear.
He saw the body of the Adeptus Who Guides the Heavens.
The smile on Morax's face instantly froze. "How did he die?"
While crying, Ganyu poured out everything that had happened recently all at once.
Not only that!
Ganyu also cried, "Wuuu... Before Lord Skybracer died, he said, 'May it be Liyue that wins the Archon War a thousand years from now, and may the citizens of Liyue no longer be harassed by the gods a thousand years from now!'"
"He never thinks of himself!"
Although a whole day had already passed.
Ganyu still blamed herself for not bringing reinforcements in time.
Nearby!!
After Morax heard the entire sequence of events and the final words of the Adeptus Who Guides the Heavens.
He turned his head somewhat stiffly.
Looking with astonishment at the Tianheng Mountains, which had inexplicably grown hundreds of zhang taller.
The expression on his face grew increasingly grim.
He did not say a single word.
He turned around!
Picking up his spear, he walked toward the sea!
Cloud Retainer hurriedly asked, "Morax, where are you going?"
Morax only said two words: "To find the gods!"
His footsteps did not pause for a single moment.
In the blink of an eye, he had already left Liyue and returned to the sea.
Alone, he broke into the small island occupied by the gods.
Holding his spear in one hand.
Pointing it directly at the highest heavens.
He murmured in a low voice, "Heaven's mandate marches on!"
In an instant!
Beyond the vast sky, a speck of starlight suddenly appeared!
The power of the celestial star descended from the heavens.
Striking the island directly, causing the entire ground of the island to shatter with a crash.