Just as the Hydro Abyss Herald's attack was about to strike Lumine, Qiu Bai instantly moved in front of her.
With just a single finger, he effortlessly blocked the combined strike of the Hydro Abyss Herald's dual blades!
"Who… are you?!"
"This is impossible!"
The Hydro Abyss Herald stared in shock. His attack had been stopped by a mere finger! No matter how much force he exerted, the frail-looking scholar before him remained completely unfazed.
Seeing this, Paimon hurriedly flew over.
"Hmph, you scoundrel!"
"With Qiu Bai here, let's see what you can do now!"
Hands on her hips, she taunted the stunned Hydro Abyss Herald.
Lumine, looking at Qiu Bai, couldn't help but smile.
"You really don't get it, do you?"
"I've got something good here."
Qiu Bai smirked. He extended his left hand, waving a single finger in front of the Hydro Abyss Herald, who was still straining with all his might.
Then, an eerie black aura seeped from Qiu Bai's fingertip.
The space it touched seemed to distort, filling the air with an oppressive, suffocating presence.
The Abyss Herald immediately sensed the ominous power radiating from Qiu Bai's finger.
Cold sweat dripped down his face as he instinctively leaped back. Without hesitation, he opened a portal and vanished.
"Heh, pretty quick to run."
"If I had really wanted to destroy you, you'd have been gone long ago."
Qiu Bai chuckled, stroking his chin as he watched the spot where the Hydro Abyss Herald had disappeared.
"Qiu Bai, that was incredible!"
"What was that black aura? Even from so far away, it felt like it was suffocating me."
Paimon, still shaken by the encounter, flew up to Qiu Bai, her curiosity piqued.
She hadn't felt much different from the Abyss Herald just now.
"That black aura…" Lumine murmured.
She thought back to the battle at Osial. Back then, Qiu Bai had appeared as the Immortal Lord of Yin and Yang.
Standing high in the sky, he had faced the attack of an ancient god. With just one hand, he had released a strange black aura—one that completely nullified the god's attack.
And the aura Qiu Bai had just used felt exactly the same.
"That's my divine power."
"The power of the Archon of Yin and Yang."
Qiu Bai smiled as he explained to the puzzled Lumine and Paimon.
"The divine power of the Archon of Yin and Yang?"
Paimon still looked uncertain.
Qiu Bai said nothing more. He simply pointed his finger at a massive boulder in the distance.
In an instant, the rock dissolved into tiny black specks and vanished without a trace.
"W-Whoa!"
Paimon gasped, staring wide-eyed at the now-empty spot.
Lumine, too, was momentarily stunned, her gaze fixed on the place where the boulder had been.
"Q-Qiu Bai…"
"In the future, please don't ever point your finger at me."
Paimon gave Qiu Bai a nervous look, shuddering at the thought of vanishing from Teyvat with just a careless flick of his finger.
"Hahaha!"
"Don't worry, Paimon. I have complete control over my power. You're perfectly safe."
Qiu Bai laughed, reassuring the frightened Paimon with a smile.
Then, a strange black aura emanated from Qiu Bai's palm as he reached for Paimon's head.
Terrified, Paimon shut her eyes tightly, curling up her little feet and clutching her hands against her chest.
After a moment, she felt a warm sensation on her head. Curious, she peeked open one eye and saw Qiu Bai gently patting her.
Looking down at her hands, she realized nothing had happened—she hadn't disappeared, and that eerie suffocating feeling was completely gone.
"Phew! You jerk, could you at least warn me before trying something like that?"
"That was seriously scary!"
Paimon let out a deep breath, then crossed her arms and huffed, turning her head away in frustration.
"Heh..."
"Don't worry, Paimon. Qiu Bai wouldn't hurt you," Lumine reassured her with a smile.
"But that Abyss cultist was really strong.
I didn't expect the Abyss Order to have such powerful creatures."
Paimon waved a hand dismissively, looking at Lumine with some confusion.
"We're almost at the ruins' exit.
Let's hurry—this place is way too creepy, and I don't want to stay here a second longer."
Shaking her head, Paimon urged Qiu Bai and Lumine forward.
The three of them made their way toward the ruins' exit. As soon as they stepped outside, they spotted someone.
A man stood before them, his face concealed behind a mask, a cloak draped over his shoulders, and golden hair flowing beneath his hood.
Dainsleif.
"A reunion… sooner than I expected."
Judging from your expressions, I assume you've encountered the Abyss Herald in the ruins?"
Dainsleif spoke slowly, his gaze sweeping over the group.
"But who is this?"
His eyes settled on Qiu Bai with curiosity.
"He, uh… he's—"
Paimon began to explain, but before she could continue—
"I am a guest consultant of the Wangsheng Funeral Parlor. Qiu Bai."
"Nice to meet you."
Qiu Bai waved casually, flashing a polite smile at Dainsleif.
"Yes… he's Wangsheng Funeral Parlor's guest consultant, Mr. Qiu Bai."
Paimon scratched her head, glancing at Qiu Bai, who seemed to be deliberately concealing more details.
"I see."
Dainsleif folded his arms across his chest, scrutinizing Qiu Bai before turning back to Lumine.
"Can I trust him completely?"
"Yes. I trust Qiu Bai."
Lumine placed a hand over her chest, answering without hesitation.
"Yep, yep! Qiu Bai's super strong—
A really powerful ally!"
Paimon clapped her hands, glancing at Dainsleif, who still seemed a little wary.
"…Very well. I'll continue."
Dainsleif studied Lumine and Paimon's unwavering expressions before giving Qiu Bai another curious glance.
"I'm still tracking the Abyss Herald.
I didn't expect to run into you all here."
He extended a hand as he spoke.
"There's something even stranger deeper inside the ruins."
Lumine frowned, looking at Dainsleif before recounting what they had seen—
The inverted Statue of The Seven, the unnatural way everything in the ruins seemed to have perished…
"…An upside-down statue? And the Abyssal energy in its hands?"
"No, I've never seen anything like that in my battles against the Abyss."
"But… I have a theory."
Dainsleif's expression darkened slightly as he considered their words.
"And that Abyss Herald you mentioned—
It couldn't even withstand a single finger from Mr. Qiu Bai?"
"Heh… interesting. I've never seen such a weak Herald before."
"This is a rare opportunity. Follow me—we're going after it."
Just as he was about to move, Qiu Bai, standing behind him, called out—
"Dainsleif, no need for that."
"…Hm?"
"You've already missed the best window of opportunity.
Chasing after it now is pointless."
Dainsleif frowned, displeased at this abrupt interference.
"Haha, come here and hold on to me."
"I've already found the trail you're looking for."
Qiu Bai smiled as he looked at the group.
Lumine and Paimon, without hesitation, grabbed onto Qiu Bai's sleeve.
Dainsleif, seeing the absolute trust in their expressions, hesitated for a moment.
Then, after a brief pause, he silently stepped forward—
And took hold of Qiu Bai's cloak as well.