"Everyone, are you all right?"
"We're fine. Both of its attacks struck Qingge's shield."
Yanfei stepped out from behind Qingge.
Qingge retrieved the Mystic Barrier given to her by the Geo Archon. Its luster had dimmed considerably.
According to the Geo Archon, this barrier was crafted by the Streetward Rambler. It had been frequently activated during previous encounters with Malice, and after the recent battle...
It seems more like a charging device. I'll ask the Geo Archon about it later.
The Phantom had vanished. Little Paimon ran to where it had disappeared, clenched her tiny fists, and punched the empty air.
"Die, die, die!" she muttered repeatedly.
After a brief rest, the group found the Small Fantastic Compass and traveled to the next realm.
This realm was saturated with Abyss Energy. Within it, Lumine saw Aether.
When Aether vanished, he left behind a Fantastic Compass.
Lumine could sense that Aether wasn't actually present, yet strangely, the "Aether" who had appeared here seemed to be guiding her to find this Fantastic Compass.
Not one of the previous ones, but the genuine Fantastic Compass.
After retrieving the Fantastic Compass, the group returned to the entrance of the Domain.
After organizing their gains and information, aside from the letter left by Yelan's Ancestor, they remained clueless about everything else.
When Yelan suggested her ancestor might have remained in the Domain forever, Paimon suddenly became agitated:
"I don't want to stay here! I don't want to..."
The restless Paimon accidentally knocked over the hovering Fantastic Compass.
As Xiao picked it up, the compass suddenly emitted a faint glow.
This anomaly immediately triggered Yanfei's memories.
After consulting her books, Yanfei shared her discovery with the group:
"[When the power of Adeptus and humans unite, they can shift the stars and wield the might of heaven and earth. The artifact serves as proof: coexistence between humans and Adeptus precedes harmony between heaven and man.]I am a hybrid of human and Adeptus. If my power can activate it..."
Yanfei channeled a sliver of her energy into the Fantastic Compass, and it immediately sprang to life.
As if something had been activated, a sudden hum resonated from its core.
"The might of the Yellow Heavens, the Five Cardinal Archons. The Yaksha clans, united in their duty..."
Yelan quickly recognized the source of the voice:
"It's the incantation from the sealing ritual. Bosacius and the Great Elder... they completed the final seal on this realm together."
Yanfei: "Everyone, let's head back to find Itto and Shinobu first. Then I have a suggestion."
Paimon was in low spirits, the little companion utterly exhausted by everything that had happened these past few days:
"I can't walk anymore... I don't want to stay here, waaah! I don't want to die either... Traveler, I don't want to leave you..."
Yanfei patiently comforted Paimon, while Qingge pulled out the remaining half of her biscuit from her pouch:
"Paimon, didn't you say this was your favorite? Eat it, and we'll go back. Trust us, we'll find a way out together. Once we're out, I'll treat you to a feast!"
With the combined reassurance from Yanfei and Qingge, and Lumine's comforting presence, Paimon gradually calmed down.
Upon returning to where Itto and Kuki Shinobu were, Itto remained unconscious, but Kuki Shinobu assured them he was out of immediate danger.
Compressing all his strength to unleash a single, devastating punch—a feat likely only Itto could achieve by pushing his body beyond its limits.
Yanfei proposed a method involving the combined power of Adeptus and humans to activate the Fantastic Compass, a suggestion that received unanimous approval. After all, this was their last resort.
Yelan placed her hand on the Fantastic Compass and chanted:
"Stars align, divine might descend swiftly; demonic forces crumble before Electro's thunderous judgment; spirits and demons are bound, true energy surges; by imperial decree, linger no more! Hurry, hurry, by the law of the heavens!"
In that instant, the Fantastic Compass blazed with infinite light, illuminating the entire surroundings.
"It's lit up!" Paimon exclaimed in delight.
Yanfei: "As expected, the Fantastic Compass is an amplifying Mystic Treasure. As long as we maintain this power, we still have a chance!"
Xiao: "Leave the power maintenance to me. Everyone, step back!"
Among everyone present, Xiao was undoubtedly the most suitable for sustaining the energy, possessing the greatest reserves of power.
The Compass resonated with a familiar voice—Bosacius's.
"With this body, I shall protect the formation, sealing the surface..."
Xiao continued the chant:
"The Yaksha Clan must fight for this world. Golden Winged General, enter the formation!"
In an instant, the Fantastic Compass at the center activated, engulfing everything within its range. A platform materialized and shot skyward.
The stone ceiling above them vanished, replaced by an illusionary sky. Joy erupted across the faces of the assembled group.
But their elation was short-lived. From the surrounding space, countless humanoid phantoms surged forth, swarming the platform constructed by the Fantastic Compass like frenzied insects.
-
Player World.
[My heart was already pounding, but this scene has me even more terrified. What the hell are these things?!]
[The soldiers guarding this place have one duty: to prevent anyone from leaving!]
[Please, please don't let anything go wrong!]
[Mihoyo, even though I constantly criticize you, please don't take revenge at a time like this.]
-
"Be careful!" Qingge warned the group. She summoned her spear, planting its butt against the ground. Instantly, a Geo Element shield enveloped the entire platform, repelling any black shadows that struck it.
"Well done, Qingge!" Yanfei praised her, then turned to Xiao, who wore his yaksha mask. "Conqueror of Demons, I'm here to assist you!"
Since Yanfei wasn't needed outside, she focused her energy on the Fantastic Compass.
Lumine gripped her sword, ready to strike any encroaching shadows. Yelan remained vigilant, watching both the external threats and Qingge's expression.
Paimon, clutching her head, scurried about in a panic. Kuki Shinobu supported Itto, who...
...had remained unconscious ever since throwing that first punch.
The Fantastic Compass devoured energy at an alarming rate. Even with Yanfei's added power, the drain showed no sign of slowing.
At that moment, Xiao suddenly recalled the words he had spoken to the Geo Archon before coming here.
-
Player World.
[Qingge's shield is amazing! I bet in-game, it'll be on par with Zhongli's!]
[Two characters sharing one weapon? She's definitely Mihoyo's favorite child. I always said Zhongli's weapon didn't suit him—look at how powerful the Vortex is on Qingge!]
[The official description never explicitly said Vortex was the Geo Archon's weapon. They always referred to it as the Geo Spear. Vortex might just be something the Old Man forged himself!]
[Holy crap, a flashback!]
[What is Mihoyo trying to do? Stab Xiao in the heart?!]
[Zhongli, hurry!]
-
More and more dark shadows surged forward, their overwhelming assault rendering Qingge's shield utterly ineffective.
"Stop forcing it! You can't withstand the backlash!" Yelan shouted, her voice urgent. Seeing Qingge still struggling, she was about to intervene when Xiao unleashed his full power.
A cyan energy dome enveloped the entire platform, breaking through the shadows' grasp and propelling them skyward at an even greater speed.
Qingge retracted her shield, collapsing to one knee, blood trickling from the corner of her mouth.
She had no time to tend to her injuries, immediately turning her gaze to Xiao.
Even at this critical moment, the burden of maintaining the Fantastic Compass fell entirely on Xiao's shoulders. Yanfei had been drained dry and lay unconscious on the platform, supported by Lumine and Paimon.
Xiao's yaksha mask shattered, revealing his expression of strained resolve, his jaw clenched tight.
Suddenly, Xiao ceased channeling power into the Fantastic Compass. In that instant, Qingge's expression shifted. As Xiao teleported the others away, she seized him, forcibly swapping places with him.
Qingge had been watching Xiao intently. Only after seeing him vanish before her eyes did she finally relax.
Xiao couldn't teleport himself out, but if I take his place and leave a foothold here, could it work?
She had already tried it—it hadn't. But that didn't mean it couldn't work.
I just need to expend more Emotional Feedback. Neither the Geo Archon nor the Heavenly Principles will notice.
Besides, the Old Man will save us anyway. Let me just farm a bit more favor points before the curtain falls.
After all, from Qingge's perspective, everyone had been drawn into this perilous situation trying to save her.