Chapter 90

Early the next morning, the Knights of Favonius, the Fatui, and the Abyss Order all began to stir.

Departing from Mondstadt at dawn, they finally reached Starsnatch Cliff by noon.

Unlike their usual leisurely visits to admire the scenery, today they were surrounded by an atmosphere of solemnity.

"Do you think Abyss Mages might interfere while we're trying to calm Dvalin?" Jiang Ning warned.

"Or the Fatui might cause trouble?"

Diluc, gripping his claymore, said, "Don't worry, I'll keep watch."

Jean added, "Yes, we'll handle security. The purification will be up to you and the Traveler."

Jiang Ning nodded: "Leave it to us."

Truthfully, if they could resolve this without fighting, Jiang Ning would be happy.

"Well then, everyone, I shall play the song of the wind," Venti said, gently stroking the lyre's strings. The Holy Lyre immediately produced melodious sounds.

As the song rose and carried on the wind toward the distance, the surrounding breeze grew more intense.

"Careful, he's coming," Jiang Ning looked up, seeing the distant speck growing larger.

He immediately deployed a Geo shield, paying special attention to protect Venti... or rather, the Holy Lyre in his hands.

This should be foolproof, right?

When Dvalin arrived, the Abyssal power on his body was visibly more concentrated than before, the ferocity in his eyes more prominent.

Seeing the armed group, Dvalin roared: "Barbatos! Have you come with these humans to hunt me down?!"

Then he immediately entered combat mode.

Venti anxiously called out: "No, Dvalin, I—"

But Dvalin gave Venti no chance to continue, immediately beginning his elemental breath attack.

Jiang Ning: "..."

Wait, what's wrong with you? This isn't following the script at all.

Shouldn't they exchange some words first before fighting? And weren't the Abyss Mages supposed to show up and break the lyre?

"Looks like we have to fight! Venti, stop playing dead and help!"

Jiang Ning soared toward Dvalin on the wind. Dvalin had air superiority—they needed to bring him down, or Diluc, Jean, and the others would be nothing more than sitting ducks.

Venti couldn't slack off anymore. The Abyssal energy around Dvalin was far too dense, and in this berserk state, his combat power nearly rivaled his prime.

Although Jiang Ning's group was strong, they were still outmatched by the current Dvalin.

"May the thousand winds of time protect you... Fly high, and chase after your courage!"

A wind swept through, and Jean and Diluc were surprised to find they could briefly fly.

"Follow the wind's guidance!"

Jean, Acting Grand Master of the Knights of Favonius and Dandelion Knight, finally showed her prowess.

Diluc, expressionless, gripped his claymore with both hands as fire element raged along the blade.

"I hereby pass judgment!"

A phoenix constructed of raging flames shot toward Dvalin.

However, Dvalin's elemental breath easily dispersed their attacks.

"Target the base of his wings!" Jiang Ning called out.

"There seems to be Abyssal machinery there. If we can destroy it, we might force him to land."

"But he's flying so fast!" Lumine said frustratedly.

Jiang Ning replied: "Keep him distracted, I'll break it!"

Jean used Anemo elements to harass Dvalin while providing speed boosts to her teammates. Diluc's dazzling Pyro attacks continuously countered Dvalin's dragon breath while drawing his aggression.

As for Lumine... Wind Blade, Wind Blade, Wind Blade!

Mainly focused on chip damage.

Shenhe kept looking for opportunities, using Cryo to slow Dvalin while attempting to forcefully pull him to the ground.

When Diluc's elemental burst struck Dvalin's neck, the dragon howled in pain.

Seizing this chance, Jiang Ning charged forward at full speed, swinging his spear infused with Cryo and Anemo elements, striking the Khaenri'ah machinery hard.

With a crisp cracking sound, the device shattered as intended.

But before Jiang Ning could celebrate, a violent explosion and raging Anemo energy surged toward him.

His Geo shield held for a few seconds before shattering.

The massive impact force made Jiang Ning's vision go dark, his body wracked with pain. No longer able to maintain his Anemo manipulation, he plummeted straight down.

"Little junior brother!"

Shenhe's face changed drastically, panic and fear instantly filling her pupils, but her heart was consumed by unstoppable rage and fury.

"Jiang Ning!"

Jean and Diluc's faces darkened.

Lumine bit her lip—being the closest, she desperately rushed toward Jiang Ning.

In the distance, watching Jiang Ning fall helplessly with blood trailing through the sky, Aether's face remained expressionless.

"Khaenri'ah's technology, even with the Abyss's enhancement, seems unable to handle this level of mechanical stress... We really need to find the original Field Tiller..."

Aether said slowly.

"Your Highness is wise. Regarding the original Field Tiller, we have some leads and have dispatched more people to search," an Abyss Mage spoke.

Aether nodded: "Everything else takes a back seat. The primary mission now is finding that original Field Tiller."

"If we can find it, the Mechanical God plan can be put on schedule... The Wind God's servant, Dvalin, is useless now. He has provided us with enough data. We can cut off the Abyss's enhancement..."

"Yes, Your Highness."

The Abyss Mage respectfully replied before slowly disappearing through a portal.

Aether looked at the anxious Lumine once more and sighed.

He still feared for his sister getting hurt... After all, Dvalin enhanced by the Abyss was still too much for the current Lumine.

Meanwhile in Liyue Harbor, Zhongli, who had been enjoying tea and opera, suddenly furrowed his brow. His usually calm eyes showed a slight ripple, and Geo energy flickered at his fingertips. Then his brow relaxed, and he continued leisurely watching the opera.

At Yuehai Pavilion, Ganyu suddenly felt her heart skip a beat, as if her qilin bloodline had been pulled. Then she felt the resonance of similar adeptal power.

The one who shared her adeptal power was...

Ganyu's face immediately darkened. She took out the border pass that Madam Ping had modified and frantically infused it with adeptal energy.

"Hurry, hurry!"

Ganyu furrowed her brows.

Soon, filled with adeptal power, Ganyu vanished from her office.

A moment later, Keqing opened Ganyu's office door:

"Ganyu, I thought I felt in your office... Ganyu?"

But the office was empty, with only a cup of tea still warm.

...

"Ice... Transformation!"

Shenhe's voice was filled with rage, as biting as the winter wind.

Her eyes glowed blood-red, her body surrounded by Cryo energy and dark aura.

That instant of unleashed power turned all of Starsnatch Cliff into a world of ice and snow!

Ice shards rained toward Dvalin like a storm.

Accompanied by Dvalin's screech, poisoned blood scattered through the air.

Jean and Diluc could only retreat.

Taking this chance, Lumine caught Jiang Ning and returned to the ground with him.

Perhaps due to the earlier explosion's effect.

Dvalin crashed heavily to the ground, struggling a few times before going still.

"Dvalin!" Venti anxiously rushed forward.

Shenhe, breathing heavily and drenched in sweat, supported herself with Calamity Queller as she struggled toward Jiang Ning.

Clearly, that last attack had completely drained her.

"Little junior brother..."

Shenhe had never been so afraid before. Even when her father abandoned her in a dark cave as a child, she had been able to grip her dagger and endure until her master came.

But now...

When Shenhe reached Jiang Ning's side, her legs gave out and she fell to her knees, but one hand still reached out to caress his cheek.

"Jiang Ning is fine, just surface wounds. He was knocked unconscious by the impact," Diluc said after examining him.

Shenhe remained worried, her heart still tightly bound to Jiang Ning.

Jean glanced at them, and seeing things were temporarily stable, went to Venti's side:

"Bar... Lord Venti, is Dvalin..."

Venti shook his head: "Dvalin is alright, probably temporarily unable to continue fighting. That last hit nearly blew off his wings, he'll need quite some time to recover."

Jean said: "Then later we'll have Jiang Ning... never mind, better let Lumine handle it. Jiang Ning now..."

Venti nodded: "I understand. Let Jiang Ning rest for now."

Though it was just for an instant, Venti had clearly sensed the change in Jiang Ning's Geo shield.

The old man had stepped in.

Although it was the Geo Archon's power, strictly speaking, it counted as Jiang Ning using it, so it didn't violate the contract between gods about not actively using divine power in other nations.

"Barbatos..."

With the Abyssal power cut off, Dvalin's energy immediately weakened.

But his eyes still held anger when looking at Venti.

"Dvalin, I know, you're remembering this song..."

Venti approached Dvalin with the Holy Lyre.

But Dvalin wasn't receptive, struggling to shake his head and knocking Venti away, breaking the Holy Lyre into two pieces in the process.

Poor Holy Lyre—even without the Abyss Mages' sabotage, it was destined to be broken.

Tragic.

"Lord Venti!"

Jean quickly ran over to help Venti up.

Venti waved his hand, indicating he was fine.

"Lumine, please."

Venti said to Lumine.

Lumine looked worriedly at Jiang Ning once more, but he was now resting his head on Shenhe's lap.

Feeling somewhat dejected, Lumine could only steel herself and go to Dvalin's side.

White light emanating from her hands, she began the purification of Dvalin.

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