Liyue.
The clear sky suddenly turned dark.
Ningguang, working in the Jade Chamber, felt a faint, oppressive sensation and couldn't help but look out the window.
"Is it going to rain?" Ningguang murmured.
This feeling made her a little uneasy.
"That direction, it seems to be Guyun Stone Forest." Ningguang's delicate brows furrowed as she looked at the horizon where the sky and water met, which was now shrouded in dark clouds.
"Something big has happened, Ningguang."
The door opened, and a blue-haired girl with Qilin horns ran in, panting.
"Ganyu?"
Ningguang was somewhat surprised; it was the first time she had seen Ganyu so flustered.
In the past, Ganyu would definitely have waited for permission before entering, and although Ningguang had never asked her to, Ganyu always adhered to the conduct of a secretary, never overstepping.
"What happened?"
"It's Osial, the seal on Osial in Guyun Stone Forest has been completely broken." Ganyu's slightly breathless voice became solemn.
"What?"
Ningguang abruptly stood up from her seat.
"Wasn't Osial's seal already confirmed to be reinforced? And what do you mean by 'completely broken'?"
Ningguang couldn't help but feel tense; even a tiny leak of power from a God had taken immense effort to seal, so if it were completely unsealed, then...
Ningguang didn't dare to think further.
"It's a message my Master sent me through a communication talisman." Ganyu said, "She and several other Adepti, along with Xiao, are currently heading to Guyun Stone Forest."
"Master said that Osial's unsealing this time is very unusual, and it's likely the work of a demon god left behind on the continent."
"Only three Adepti and Xiao, isn't that…" Ningguang suppressed the panic in her heart, her voice tinged with worry.
Hearing this, Ganyu was silent for a moment, then said, "Master said they have already contacted that person…"
"Is that so? Then I'm relieved."
Both knew well who Ganyu was referring to.
In fact, after the Osial incident ended, Ningguang had basically confirmed that the Geo Archon was not dead.
She had consulted many documents to verify her idea.
For example, after an Archon dies, it turns a large area into a dead land.
If that were the case, the impact of the Geo Archon who fell during the Rite of Descension seemed a bit insufficient in scale.
Secondly, there was the attitude of the Adepti.
Did these Adepti care about Liyue?
Not necessarily, given their high-flying, rarely-seen existence, their relationships were mostly maintained by contracts.
If the Geo Archon had truly fallen, could the Adepti still speak so amicably with the Qixing and jointly face Osial?
It seemed highly unlikely.
And today, she indirectly confirmed this from Ganyu's words.
The Geo Archon was still alive, but his reasons for retirement were unknown.
"This is bad, Miss Ningguang." A female secretary named Baishi ran in, her face quite flustered.
"What happened?" Ningguang asked, and Ganyu's gaze also fell on Baishi.
"It's, it's the Abyss Order." Baishi took a breath and said hurriedly, "The entire Liyue Harbor has been surrounded by the Abyss Order, and they only allow people to enter, not leave."
"Are there any casualties?" Ningguang pressed.
"None so far. They only throw back anyone trying to leave the city, but they don't hinder those entering."
"Surrounding Liyue…" Ganyu lowered her head in thought, "Could it be the Abyss Order that released Osial?"
"By the way, since people can come in safely, can we find out the Abyss Order's objective?" Ningguang continued to ask.
"There's a scholar from Sumeru who seems to have learned some information from the Abyss Order, but I don't know if it's true." Baishi said.
"Bring him over quickly. What's his name?"
"I think it's Enjou."
Baishi quickly left, and not long after, she brought a scholarly young man with glasses on his nose to Ningguang's presence.
"Lady Ningguang, I heard you were looking for me." Enjou performed a Sumeru greeting to Ningguang.
"Yes." Ningguang nodded, "I heard you learned from the Abyss Order what they intend to do by surrounding Liyue. You are truly bold."
Hearing this, Enjou pushed up his glasses and said, "The pursuit of knowledge is the instinct of a Sumeru scholar. As a qualified scholar, one cannot ignore the unknown due to personal fear; that would be a blasphemy against knowledge."
Ningguang: "…"
She had heard that many Sumeru scholars were stubborn, and today she had seen one for herself.
"What did you learn from the Abyss Order?"
As Ningguang spoke, she motioned for Baishi to step forward.
At this moment, Baishi brought a treasure chest and placed it in front of Enjou.
"I know scholars are often short on funds, so as long as you tell me everything you know without omission, the Mora in this chest is yours."
"However, if there is even a hint of a lie, then… I can only invite you to spend some time in the Millelith prison."
Clang!
The treasure chest opened, revealing layers of glittering Mora inside.
"That's wonderful! Only a fool wouldn't accept money, oh no, I mean, I can continue my research now." Enjou coughed lightly.
Ningguang: "…"
Ganyu: "…"
Baishi: "…"
Is this a scholar? It completely refreshed their perception of Sumeru scholars.
"Ahem."
Enjou cleared his throat and began to explain, "Those Abyss monsters said they want to block Liyue's entrances and exits, not allowing Liyue's people to leave."
"The reason seems to be related to Guyun Stone Forest; I'm not very clear on the specifics."
"I remember an Abyss Lector saying that something sealed in that place is the Abyss Order's objective."
The Abyss Order's objective?
The few people present exchanged glances.
Just then, Keqing, Yelan, and Yanfei followed them up to the Jade Chamber.
"Ningguang, what should we do next?" Keqing came before Ningguang.
"Can we ascertain the approximate strength of the Abyss Order?" Ningguang looked at Yelan.
"There are many. Not only a large number of Abyss Mages, but also more than ten Abyss Heralds and Abyss Lectors." Yelan said, "If a fight breaks out, Liyue might…"
The aura of the Abyss was a deadly poison for ordinary people.
Even Vision holders, under long-term erosion by Abyss power, would fare very poorly.
"The Abyss Order currently shows no signs of action. I've only instructed the Millelith to monitor them." Keqing also added.
After hearing Keqing and Yelan's reports, Ningguang turned her gaze to Yanfei and said, "What is the Adepti's opinion?"
The person Ningguang referred to was Madame Ping.
"I have no opinion. This old woman just came to take a look."
A sudden voice made Ningguang and the others look into the distance, only to see an old woman with white hair, holding a strange teapot in her hand, slowly walking over.
"All of you, stay away from that guest of the Abyss. Otherwise, it might be very dangerous."