Hu Tao looked at the completely purified Fire Qilin corpse and couldn't help but laugh. "Su Han, you've got so many tricks up your sleeve."
The Dragon Veins were originally guarded by the creature, and now they had been turned into a tool to purify its body. How devious.
Su Han glanced at her and huffed. "What do you know? This is called 'reasonable application'."
The Fire Qilin was a treasure trove from head to toe. It would be a shame to let it go to waste. He was even tempted to carve out its two kidneys for a good tonic.
Ultimately, the corpse was handed over to Xiangling for processing. After it was completely butchered, it would be given to the craftsmen of the Liyue Millelith to forge into weapons.
Watching the little chef busy at work, the group began to discuss the issue of The Chasm. After all, venturing deep into that place was a problem in itself.
Keqing proactively stepped forward. "Let me go. I am one of the Liyue Qixing. With the Dragon Veins on my person, there shouldn't be a problem."
"Since you've offered, then you shall go. However, just to be safe, let Ganyu accompany you."
"Mm, okay."
Keqing understood the importance of The Chasm. Having an extra person would make things safer. At the same time, Ganyu's Observation Haki would be very useful for a trip into The Chasm.
The two of them departed together, while Su Han began to check the rewards for the mission. The previous two three-star missions had yielded great harvests; he wondered what this one's reward would be.
[Ding! Congratulations to member Ganyu for completing the 3-star mission. As the Group Leader, you have received an additional reward: 5,000 Points.]
[Ding! Congratulations to member Ganyu for completing the 3-star mission. As the Group Leader, you have received the primary mission reward: The Snow-Drinking Saber.]
Su Han was wild with joy. He never thought he would obtain this treasure!
The Snow-Drinking Saber. It was three feet and seven inches long, the coldest object in the world, said to be forged from the "White Dew" left over when the goddess Nüwa mended the heavens.
His original Hundred-Year Peachwood Sword was already very good, but he never expected the system to give him such a surprise. The only pity was that he didn't currently have a Cryo affinity, so this weapon could only be used by others.
Among those around him, the only Cryo users were Ganyu and Shenhe. But one used a bow, and the other a polearm. Neither of them used a saber.
It seems I'll have to extract the White Dew, Su Han thought. He decided to take the divine stone out of the Snow-Drinking Saber and use it to forge other weapons, or perhaps an accessory. This way, if he ever gained a Cryo affinity in the future, he could use it. The reason the Snow-Drinking Saber was so powerful was because of its extremely high bonus to Cryo abilities. In the world of Storm Riders, Duan Lang had once obtained this weapon, but because his elemental affinity did not match, he could only use it as a simple chopper, unable to activate the frosty power within the White Dew.
Soon, the Fire Qilin's corpse had been butchered. Its scales were incredibly hard; Xiangling had exhausted herself trying to cut through them. In the end, it took the combined efforts of Kaedehara Kazuha and the others to remove the scales one by one.
"Whew! This big guy was really tough. I really don't know how Sister Ganyu fought it. Just cutting it up is exhausting. If it had been me, I'm sure I would have become this big guy's dinner," Xiangling said, wiping the sweat from her forehead as she threw the blood-drained meat into a pot piece by piece.
The nearby Mona laughed. "She's an adeptibeast, and we're just humans. Of course there's a big difference! And the power of Observation Haki is just so cool." Ever since witnessing the last battle, Mona had become Ganyu's number one fan girl. That graceful dodging was like dancing on a knife's edge. So cool.
Kaedehara Kazuha smiled. "Yes, the power of Haki is very useful. If we can master the third stage of Haki, we can destroy enemies from the inside. More practice is always a good thing." Although he didn't have Ganyu's strength, with diligent training, he could always catch up. He had always believed this.
Just then, Baiwen and the others finished packing a batch of Blood Bodhi, preparing to send it to Yelan and the others. The people of the Ministry of Civil Affairs couldn't all get a taste, of course, but those who were of use to Ningguang would certainly receive this precious treasure, and Yelan was one of them.
At that moment, Keqing and Ganyu arrived before The Chasm. When Ganyu had surveyed this place before, she hadn't felt much. But this time, she could feel a great malice coming from below, like an abyss that could swallow everyone whole.
Seeing Ganyu's strange expression, Keqing stopped and asked, "What's wrong?"
"There are many voices beneath The Chasm."
"Voices?"
"Mm. When I came to survey before, I didn't feel anything. But now I can feel an immense pressure coming from below, and there are many voices. It's as if they're fighting, or perhaps trying to say something. In any case, it's not a good feeling," Ganyu said, explaining what she sensed.
Hearing her description, Keqing's expression turned grave. "That must be the voices you can hear with Observation Haki. It seems The Chasm is as dangerous as they say. It's a good thing we have the Dragon Veins. I hope this can pacify whatever is down there."
"Mm, I think so too. And for some reason, I find that Mr. Zhongli's words are very convincing," Ganyu said with a sweet smile, continuing forward.
There was a seal here designed by the Qixing. Ordinary people could not enter. Only they knew how to break it.
"Well, well, if it isn't Lady Ganyu and Lady Keqing. What brings you two here? Has Lady Ningguang decided to open The Chasm?"
"Something like that. We've found a treasure that should be able to suppress The Chasm."
"That would be wonderful!" the man from the Ministry of Civil Affairs said, overjoyed. It was clear that the pressure on them had been immense lately.
Ganyu and Keqing worked together to undo the seal and then walked into The Chasm. After arriving on the second level, the black ooze continuously retreated. They didn't even have to do anything. Just by carrying the Dragon Veins, the ooze was automatically dissolving. Such a magical scene left the two of them overjoyed.
"I never thought the effect of the Dragon Veins would be so astonishing."
"If it weren't, it couldn't have suppressed the fortune of the nine provinces."
Arriving at the camp, Ganyu quickly set up a defensive formation to prevent enemies from stealing the artifact. When the Dragon Veins were inserted into the ground of the camp, a clear light rose from the earth. Wherever the light passed, the entire cavern was illuminated.
Just then, the cavern began to shake. It seemed that something had been awakened. But at that moment, the Dragon Veins seemed to be enraged, and a draconic shadow slowly emerged from within! The golden dragon's shadow had a furious expression.
"ROAR!" It raised its head and roared.
The deafening sound rapidly spread throughout The Chasm, its power penetrating the rock layers and spreading continuously downward. The creatures corrupted by the black ooze were shattered by the power of the Dragon Veins before they could even react. Ganyu watched this scene, completely dumbfounded. Just a moment ago in her hands, the Dragon Veins had been so quiet. How had it changed so drastically now?
Far away in the Jade Chamber, Zhongli also sensed the presence of this power. He turned his head in the direction of The Chasm and smiled. "So it has begun? It seems my senses were not mistaken." The Dragon Veins were the spine of the Yellow Emperor. Suppressing the nine provinces was no problem for it, let alone a small area like The Chasm.
The pillar of golden light shot straight into the clouds, attracting the attention of the adepti in the city. Cloud Retainer and Madame Ping stood on a cloud, looking in the direction of The Chasm with puzzled expressions.
"Wasn't that place suppressed by a Yaksha? Could it be that trouble has stirred again?"
"Shall we go and take a look?"
As the two were discussing, a familiar voice reached them. "Do not be afraid. This is the power of the Dragon Veins, which can solve the problem of The Chasm. Tell the others there is no need to worry."
"It's the Lord Emperor!" The two of them exchanged a smile, and the tension in their hearts instantly dissipated.
Cloud Retainer's eyes glinted, and she smiled. "Do you think this is the work of that little fellow?"
"It must be. Ever since he came to Liyue, we've had one piece of good news after another," Madame Ping said with a chuckle. If the Liyue Qixing could have solved the problem of The Chasm, they wouldn't have delayed until now. Who else could it be but Su Han? This little fellow was full of surprises.
"Say," Cloud Retainer began, "should I try to matchmake Ganyu with him? That little one has worked hard for Liyue for a thousand years, yet she doesn't even have a partner. I think it would be best if she just ended up with Su Han. It would save an old woman like me from constantly worrying about her." At this point, the more Cloud Retainer looked at Su Han, the more she liked him. She wished she could marry off all her disciples to him. On one hand, it would deepen their ties with Liyue. On the other hand, that disciple of hers was indeed very tired. She had a stubborn personality and admired the Lord Emperor so much; Su Han was practically tailor-made for her.
Madame Ping was speechless. Good heavens, has my old friend given up on mechanics and decided to become a matchmaker? she thought. Fine, she wasn't going to get involved in these things. Ganyu was her disciple, after all. What could she say? Still, Xiangling, my dear, you'd better step up your game. Otherwise, if Su Han gets snatched away, you'll have nowhere to cry.
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