Originally, Akio was just watching the spectacle, but when he saw Osial spewing meteors, he remembered the scene in the story where Lumine fell, and it was Xiao who saved her. Such intimacy was unacceptable!
Alright, Akio admitted he had feelings for Lumine and didn't want her to get too close to other men.
So, he teleported directly to the battlefield and rescued the two women.
"Lord Akio!" Ningguang quickly stepped forward to greet him.
"Ningguang, I never imagined my first visit to the Jade Chamber would be under such circumstances," Akio nodded with a smile.
"Your Excellency Akio, are you the deity Lord Rex Lapis spoke of?" Cloud Retainer asked.
"Indeed, I am," Akio nodded.
"The Guizhong Ballista has been destroyed! We've lost our means to counter it," Cloud Retainer said.
"But the Jade Chamber is our last line of defense! No matter what, we cannot retreat even half a step!" Ganyu stepped forward, her voice resolute.
The Adepti exchanged glances. Without the Guizhong Ballista, they were no match for the Archon!
"I…" Ningguang gritted her teeth, looked at the Jade Chamber, and took a firm step forward. "I have another plan."
Everyone turned to Ningguang. Ganyu asked, "What do you mean, Lady Ningguang?"
"I'm going to sacrifice the Jade Chamber!" Ningguang stared at the terrifying figure in the distance, her voice firm.
"What do you mean…" Cloud Retainer was puzzled for a moment, but then she understood.
"I see!" Xiao put on his mask, channeling his Adeptal energy into the Jade Chamber.
"Traveler! Please lend us your strength!" Ningguang looked at Lumine.
"Alright," Lumine nodded, her Dull Blade resonating with her elemental energy.
"Lord Akio, I'm sorry, but I may have to break our promise to let you enjoy the Jade Chamber," Ningguang said to Akio.
Akio smiled and shook his head, indicating it didn't matter.
"Farewell, old friend… Today's parting is for the chance to meet again in the future," Ningguang looked at the Jade Chamber with reluctance. This was something she had dreamed of building since she started her business! It was the culmination of all her hard work!
To give it up like this, one could only imagine the sorrow and pain in Ningguang's heart. But for Liyue, she was willing.
As Lumine's power gathered, she thrust her sword into the ground.
The energy transformed the Jade Chamber into a celestial body! It was launched!
At that moment, Akio, holding Lumine and Keqing, enveloped Ningguang with his power and disappeared. The Adepti, meanwhile, carried the mortal Millelith soldiers back to the ground.
With a terrifying explosion and violent tremors, the weather gradually cleared, and the sea calmed.
Akio appeared at the docks with Lumine, Ningguang, and Keqing, while the Adepti flew back.
They looked at the smoke-shrouded Guyun Stone Forest in the distance, their hearts unsettled. Was it really over?
"Is it really over?" Paimon asked, breaking the silence.
"Yes! Osial has been suppressed again. As long as no one deliberately stirs trouble, he shouldn't cause any more chaos," Akio said, sensing that Osial had been re-sealed and fallen into slumber.
"Congratulations, you've defeated a god with your own strength. As humans, your determination to protect Liyue has moved me," Akio said, looking at Ningguang and the others.
"It was mainly thanks to the help of the Adepti! Without them, I can't imagine what would have become of Liyue's future," Ningguang stepped forward.
"Hmph! No need to flatter us," Cloud Retainer snorted. "You know why we're here, don't you?"
"There's no need for hostility, Cloud Retainer," Madame Ping stepped forward, her kind smile soothing Cloud Retainer's temper.
"Liyue is no longer the Liyue of 3,700 years ago. The people are still grateful for everything the Adepti have done, but Liyue no longer needs the Adepti to make decisions for its development," Madame Ping sighed. "The era of Liyue's contract with the Adepti has lasted over a thousand years. Now is the era of Liyue's contract with its people."
"Ah… Just standing here at the harbor, I already feel out of place. Don't you think so, Cloud Retainer?" Mountain Shaper said.
"Why ask me? I'm not the one who led the charge… to interrogate Liyue Harbor," Cloud Retainer's voice grew softer, her confidence waning.
Akio looked at the woman and chuckled. "Mortals may be fragile, but they also possess the will to uphold contracts and the ambition to reach great heights. Morax once told me that the people of today are worthy of his trust, and they are worthy of yours as well. This incident has proven the Qixing's determination to protect Liyue. I think it's time for you to let go."
"Since Your Excellency Akio has spoken on their behalf, we'll let it go," Cloud Retainer said with a light huff.
"Let it be… It's time to return, time to return," Mountain Shaper sighed, spreading his wings and disappearing into the sky.
"Very well, if all the Adepti agree, then I won't persist either," Moon Carver said. "But after the Adepti depart, whether the Qixing will monopolize power remains to be seen. In my opinion, we must remain vigilant."
"…" Ningguang smiled faintly.
"Alright, alright, Moon Carver, you old worrywart," Madame Ping said. "In my opinion, the power of oversight should be entrusted to the people of Liyue."
With that, she and the other Adepti departed.
"Phew~ The conflict between humans and Adepti has finally been resolved peacefully," Paimon sighed, then turned to Akio with her hands on her hips. "Hey! Akio! You're actually pretty useful, huh!"
"You little thing," Akio laughed helplessly, pulling Paimon down from the air and playfully pinching her cheeks despite her struggles.
After a while, he finally let her go, and Paimon quickly hid behind Lumine, glaring at Akio. But she didn't dare provoke him, afraid he'd mess with her again.
"You've passed the test. Congratulations, you've successfully ushered in a new era of human governance," Akio said to Ningguang. "From now on, Rex Lapis will no longer protect Liyue. Everything will depend on human wisdom. Don't let Morax down."
"We won't," Ningguang shook her head earnestly, and Keqing nodded firmly.
"As for Lumine and Paimon, come with me. I know you have questions," Akio said, turning to leave.
"Huh?" Paimon looked at Lumine in confusion, but Lumine nodded and followed Akio.
"Go and attend to your duties. We have a lot to deal with after the battle," Ningguang said to the others as Akio's figure disappeared.
"Right," Keqing and the others nodded, each returning to their posts.
"Akio, where are we going?" Paimon asked curiously.
"Don't you want to meet Morax?" Akio smiled. "I'll take you to see him."