Chapter 80: The Battle Begins

Qingce Village Defense Line

As time passed, strange-colored river water meandered down from upstream.

Above Qingce Village, the secret agents of the General Affairs Office began systematically releasing elemental powder from the lakebed in batches.

This operation ensured that some monsters would attack the defense line, attracting the treasure-hoarders to expose themselves. However, it also ensured that the attacking monsters wouldn't be too numerous, preventing any unexpected incidents.

Seeing the elemental colors in the water, some individuals in the adventurers' camp revealed secretive smiles. Most of them were members of inconspicuous small treasure-hoarders, all part of the treasure-hoarders that entered the defense line this time.

After accompanying each other for five full days of work, it was finally time to make a move.

Soon, the elemental aura in the flowing water attracted many nearby monsters.

Led by a huge Geovishap, a massive army of Hilichurls launched an assault on the defense line.

In the warehouse area, atop the massive main warehouse, Wang Daoyi glanced at Keqing. "Are there still such large Hilichurl tribes near Qingce Village? You didn't investigate this?"

Feeling the ridicule in Wang Daoyi's words, Keqing remained unchanged in expression. "When have you ever seen a Geovishap in Liyue? This is clearly a forced creation, probably the work of the Fatui."

Glancing at the raging Primo Geovishap and a similarly blood-red-eyed Geovishap, Wang Daoyi nodded slightly, thinking it was probably the work of the Fatui People after all. It turned out that the Fatui indeed had the technology to create Hilichurls.

In fact, Keqing and Wang Daoyi misunderstood the Fatui. They only provided a portion of the Delusion to the treasure-hoarders, and these Hilichurls were not their doing.

In the bamboo forest not far from the Qingce Village battlefield...

Several Abyss Mages floated in mid-air, communicating with hoarse voices.

"The 760th experiment on Hilichurls, using telluric energy. Successfully transformed a Primo Geovishap. Now recording the combat power of the Primo Geovishap!"

Obviously, Keqing and Wang Daoyi misunderstood the Fatui. It was the Abyss Mages who did it.

For the Abyss Mages, with so much combat power gathered, it was just a good opportunity for an experiment, with no other purpose.

On the other side...

At the Qingce Village defense line, the massive Primo Geovishap attacked the line, followed by dozens of Geovishap and hundreds of ordinary Hilichurls.

Under the dual influence of Abyssal power and elemental powder, the already limited rationality of these Hilichurls was overridden by their frenzied desire for slaughter.

Without considering the vast difference in manpower between the two sides, they directly charged at the outermost Millelith Army defense line.

"Millelith stands firm, the mountains remain unmoved!"

The Millelith soldiers on the defense line wielded their White Tassel Spears. They were all elite soldiers of the Millelith Army, facing the imposing monsters without fear.

Clashing fiercely with the monsters, not a single Millelith soldier retreated. Their White Tassel Spears thrust out, retracted, then thrust out again in rapid succession.

In the army, there was no need for sophisticated combat techniques. As long as their movements were consistent, their stamina was maintained, and their attacks were swift and efficient, they could maintain long-term effective killing power.

The monster assault had little effect, as the Millelith soldiers shouted "Millelith stands firm," delivering fierce blows to the frenzied monsters.

Meanwhile, the raging Primo Geovishap was blocked by a figure resembling a Millelith Army captain.

This person didn't use elemental power, so Wang Daoyi couldn't discern if he had the Vision.

But with his agile movements and wielding a Whithe Tessel Spear, he skillfully manipulated the Primo Geovishap, leaving numerous wounds on the massive creature without elemental power.

"What a splendid battle. I never expected to find such a master among the Millelith Army!"

The "master" Wang Daoyi referred to wasn't about combat power but rather combat technique. This person might not be able to withstand a direct punch from the Primo Geovishap, but his superior combat skills allowed him to restrain the creature, even giving him the opportunity to kill it.

"Fengshan, the son of Millelith's Chief Instructor, Fengyan!"

Keqing introduced the person fighting the Primo Geovishap.

Wang Daoyi nodded slightly, acknowledging the distinctly Liyue-style name.

Then he looked back at the battlefield.

On the battlefield, the Hilichurls following the Primo Geovishap charge were surrounded by the Millelith Army. Under the White Tassel Spears, one Hilichurl after another fell, efficient, straightforward, and orderly. From the Millelith soldiers' actions, Wang Daoyi felt the true combat power of the Millelith Army, a Liyue military force, for the first time.

He had witnessed the unwavering will of the Millelith Army in the face of attack during the Stone Gate incident. Now, he witnessed the Millelith Army operating like a precision machine under officer command.

Outside the battlefield, within the bamboo forest...

The Abyss Mages observed the situation on the battlefield.

"Record: obvious increase in physical strength, slight increase in elemental power, significant decrease in intelligence, actual combat power decreased. Need to address the issue of frenzy. These creatures without intelligence have limited value!"

The Abyss Mages recorded information on the Primo Geovishap, showing no intention to intervene. "The ordinary Hilichurls are almost dead. Initiate the Blood Sacrifice and conduct the final test."

Several Abyss Mages waved their staffs.

On the battlefield, the Primo Geovishap emitted a crimson, eerie light, and the ground was saturated with Hilichurl blood, as if summoned to life, flowing toward the Primo Geovishap confronting Fengshan.

On the other side, Fengshan also sensed something amiss. The Primo Geovishaphe had been eluding for so long not only didn't weaken but instead grew stronger. This was completely different from his understanding. He had faced Primo Geovishap many times before, and he usually dragged them to death using this method.

On top of the main warehouse, in Wang Daoyi's field of view, the Primo Geovishaps vitality was rapidly depleting, but its energy level was skyrocketing.

He turned to Keqing. "The Primo Geovishap is rampaging. Prepare to intervene!"

Keqing also noticed something was wrong. Although she didn't have Wang Daoyi's clear view, she could keenly feel the Primo Geovishap getting stronger.

With a flick of her right hand, a longsword appeared in her hand, a Thunder Soother faintly visible, ready to join the fight at any moment.

Meanwhile, in the bamboo forest outside the battlefield, the Doctor watched the Primo Geovishap with interest.

"Abyssal technology, intriguing!" Then, he turned to the leader of the treasure-hoarders beside him. "Signal your people. The monsters can't hold out any longer. It's time for you to enter the fray!"

On the battlefield, the Primo Geovishap roared, its raging thunder enveloping the entire area. Fengshan was forced to retreat continuously, sparks flying as he sustained several blackened wounds.

Seeing Fengshan pushed to the brink by the Primo Geovishap...

In the next moment, a Thunder Soother appeared behind the Primo Geovishap. Amidst the flickering lightning, a purple-clad maiden emerged, her longsword tracing an elegant arc. The thunderstorm dissipated, and the massive head of a monster fell to the ground.

Keqing, one of Liyue's Tianquan, showcased her formidable strength to everyone.

"Master Keqing!" Fengshan saluted Keqing with some embarrassment on his face.

Seeing Fengshan's discomfort, Keqing shook her head. "Don't worry about it. This Primo Geovishap was problematic from the start!"

Then she looked towards the giant fireworks rising from the distant bamboo forest, her eyes filled with killing intent. "Can they still fight? The treasure-hunting teams are coming!"

Fengshan also saw the fireworks rising and tore off a strip of cloth from his clothes to bandage his wounds casually.

"I'm not that fragile!"

(End of this chapter)