Ningguang smiled slightly upon hearing Ayato's praise, and with a snap of her fingers, countless Guizhong Ballistas rose from the Jade Chamber's structure.
As long as the Blood Demon dared to make a move, Ningguang could deliver effective strikes, covering its entire body with a rain of projectiles.
"Is Keqing ready?"
A nearby Millelith soldier immediately replied:
"She's preparing now, it shouldn't be long."
Around the Liyue Harbor, on the countless rocks nearby, Guizhong Ballistas were positioned. Keqing, holding the Lion's Roar, calmly observed everything.
She was about to become the commander here, leading countless people in attack, just as Ganyu, standing beside her, held Amos' Bow, silently drawing and nocking an arrow.
"Everyone, behind us is our home, and beyond that are our families! What is your answer?! Shout it out to me!"
Keqing shouted, and the nearby Millelith soldiers echoed her cry:
"Protect our home and country, hold the line to the death!"
"Protect our home and country, hold the line to the death!"
"Protect our home and country, hold the line to the death!"
As their shouts grew louder, even Ningguang on the Jade Chamber was moved.
"This is the true spirit of Liyue! We have many foreign friends here. Let's show them our spirit and let them see how we Liyue people protect our home and country!"
Keqing was skilled at stirring emotions, and many soldiers began to feel their blood boil.
The other two individuals on the Jade Chamber were somewhat shaken, not by the numbers or equipment, but by the morale. Morale was incredibly important for a soldier.
Without morale, any battle could end in defeat. Every instance of defeating a larger force with a smaller one in war required boosting morale, didn't it?
"The soldiers of the Tianquan Star are truly excellent. Compared to my Inazuma, we still fall short."
Ayato's heartfelt remark stemmed from his position within the Tri-Commission. He saw things more clearly; many soldiers were placed by the other two Commissions, essentially their own kinsmen.
Not only did they infiltrate the military, but when the General was about to enter seclusion, they engaged in petty schemes, engaging in corruption, extorting protection fees, gambling, and countless other illicit activities.
In comparison, the disparity was evident.
"Not at all, Inazuma's forces are certainly not inferior to ours. It's just that they still require some rectifying."
Ningguang was also aware of Inazuma's situation. After all, she once had the idea of extending the Jade Chamber's influence over all seven nations, which naturally involved investigating intelligence from other countries.
Meanwhile, Rex Lapis, Zhongli, watched silently. Why had so much time passed with no movement? It seemed he needed to verify things himself.
"I'll go take a look. If anything unexpected happens, I'll entrust Liyue's protection to you all."
With that, Zhongli took flight. His black and yellow ornate robe quickly transformed into a white divine robe. A milky-white hat covered his head, and his clothes billowed in the sea breeze.
Zhongli exposed his arms, the yellow patterns on his body signifying his identity. His braid danced in the wind, and his abdomen revealed a well-defined physique.
"It's the Lord of the Geo! Didn't Lord of the Geo pass away? Why is he still here?"
"The Lord of the Geo has returned! What do we have to fear? Let's fight with all our might!"
"Lord of the Geo will lead us to crush the enemy's ambitions!"
The appearance of Rex Lapis indeed caused great excitement among many. However, Zhongli paid them no mind, his two golden eyes gazing intently.
The closer he got, the stronger the stench of decay emanating from the Blood Demon became. Even he couldn't help but cover his nose; the smell was truly overpowering.
"Blood Demon! What business do you have in my Liyue? You break free from your seal and come straight to Liyue. Do you wish to be sealed by me once more?"
Time ticked by, but the other party remained silent. The enormous head seemed devoid of life, slightly drooping.
Zhongli frowned and approached step by step. As the two came into contact, a sense of crisis suddenly washed over him.
The previously drooping massive head instantly lifted. Its gaping maw opened, emitting an even more sickening stench, a smell caused by the corrosion of its internal organs.
But it wasn't over. The maw immediately fired a laser beam, striking Zhongli directly. However, the latter reacted swiftly, raising his right hand slightly to manifest a shield.
The laser struck the shield. Although it showed signs of fragmentation, it had no effective impact.
From afar, the people saw the fight begin and immediately cheered them on.
Ningguang also swiftly issued orders, directing countless artillery fire to aid the Geo Archon in defeating the enemy.
The Jade Chamber instantly transformed into something akin to a Gatling gun, unleashing countless laser beams. Each Guizhong Ballista operated at high speed. As wisps of heat rose, some quickly halted to cool down.
Then, another batch took over. This alternating barrage maximized their effectiveness. On the island below, the Guizhong Ballistas also attacked rapidly, launching a barrage of fire towards the Blood Demon. Immediately, the projectiles pierced its rotten skin, but even so,
The colossal corpse raised its claws and slammed them heavily onto Zhongli. Then, with a sweep of its tail, it sent Rex Lapis flying.
After being sent airborne for a considerable distance, Zhongli stopped himself. His eyes, now dim, gazed at the Blood Demon before him. Although this creature had moved, he couldn't discern any discernible patterns.
However, its aura was undeniably nonexistent. Apart from countless densely packed parasites, there were virtually no other signs of life.
"What is going on? Why is it like this?"
Before he could ponder further, the Blood Demon began to run, letting out a roar. Countless pitch-black specters emerged from its mouth.
This time, the specters covered the entire sky. It seemed this so-called Blood Demon had consumed a great deal to accumulate so many malevolent spirits.
It could even be heard commanding, leaving a few particularly powerful evil spirits to entangle their foes, while the rest rushed towards Liyue Harbor.
"As long as I am here, you shall not take a single step forward! I declare it!"
A green figure appeared on the railing, his green mask and the Vortex Vanquisher in his hand clearly identifying him.
The Conqueror of Demons, Xiao, looked at the multitude of spirits with a slight smile. It seemed he could give his comrades some practice.
As for him, he would naturally provide support, either by fighting alongside the Lord of the Geo or by heading to the Jade Chamber to understand the situation.