Su Ming's deduction completely stunned Lumine.
She eventually nodded and said, "Yes... it is true. The Fatui Harbinger, La Signora, has already taken the Anemo Archon's Gnosis."
"Interesting," Su Ming said with a smile. "It seems that Anemo Archon has his own schemes as well."
Paimon scratched her head. "Schemes... that drunkard bard actually has schemes? But he was clearly beaten up by La Signora before his Gnosis was snatched away."
Lumine nodded. "Venti said that because he hasn't been governing his nation, the divine power he accumulated is almost gone."
Su Ming asked, "Venti? Oh, that is the name the Anemo Archon uses in the mortal world, right?"
"I have to say, you still know too little about the Seven Archons, and far too little about Barbatos."
Su Ming smiled and looked at Lumine. "Did you know? Rex Lapis once mentioned to me that among the Seven Nations, only he and the Anemo Archon of Mondstadt have remained unchanged."
"The gods of the other nations are no longer the original ones."
Su Ming continued, "Though I do not know the exact functions of a Gnosis or what incredible uses it might have..."
"I do know that a Gnosis is a prize bestowed by the Heavenly Principles upon the seven victors of the Archon War. The original Seven did not become the Seven Archons because they had a Gnosis; they were granted a Gnosis because they were the Seven Archons, allowing them to ascend to the divine throne."
"In other words, for the original Seven, losing a Gnosis does not affect their inherent power."
Lumine realized something and widened her eyes. "You mean Venti was acting! But... why?"
Su Ming laughed. "How could I guess the thoughts of the Anemo Archon? That is why I said he might have his own plan."
"Anyway, enough of that." Su Ming put away his novel and stood up from his lounge chair. "Let's talk business."
Su Ming looked at Lumine seriously. "I have gained some new abilities and need to go into seclusion for a few days."
"During this time, I will have to trouble you to take Shenhe around Liyue Harbor."
Before Lumine could speak, Paimon patted her chest and agreed on her behalf. "Don't worry, it's a piece of cake! Right, Lumine?"
Lumine added, "It's no big deal. I have been busy ever since arriving in Liyue Harbor, so it will be a good way to relax."
Su Ming smiled. "Then I'll leave it to you."
Su Ming stepped forward, gave Lumine a gentle hug, and then quickly turned around. With a smirk that suggested his plan had worked, he disappeared into his room in the blink of an eye.
"Hey... you... you..."
Only after Su Ming had entered the room did Lumine finally react. She pointed a finger at the door, stuttering, unable to find the words.
"Wow! Lumine, your face is so red!" Paimon's ill-timed voice piped up beside her ear.
Already embarrassed and annoyed, Lumine grabbed Paimon and rubbed the little creature's head vigorously, venting her frustration.
"Ahhh! Lumine, what are you doing!"
"Let me go! Quick, let me go!"
"Waaa, my head... I'm so dizzy..."
"Gah!"
Guyun Stone Forest.
Xiao carried his Primordial Jade Winged-Spear, walking slowly. He had tracked the trail of the Abyss Order here.
Guyun Stone Forest was the place where Rex Lapis had used stone spears to suppress various gods. Each of the rising peaks here was a stone spear hurled down by Rex Lapis thousands of years ago, or even further back.
Under the wash of time and the erosion of the suppressed gods' power, the once gold-shining stone spears had turned into what they were today.
"The Abyss Order... actually hiding here. What are they planning?"
Xiao could not help but be on guard.
Beneath the seemingly calm surface of the sea at Guyun Stone Forest lay the gods suppressed by Rex Lapis. While some weaker gods had long since been worn down and died within their seals, many powerful ones remained. They harbored a bone-deep hatred for the Geo Archon and Liyue, coiled in the depths of their seals, waiting for the day they could break free and take their revenge.
The presence of the Abyss Order here suggested a terrifying possibility. They were a group of fanatics dedicated to subverting the order of the Seven Nations. Unsealing ancient gods was something they not only had a reason to do but also the capability to achieve.
Especially now, as the news of Rex Lapis's assassination had spread everywhere. The Abyss Order likely intended to use the vacancy of Liyue's divine throne to leverage the power of the suppressed gods and completely overthrow one of the Seven Nations.
Xiao continued to track the aura of the Abyss, moving forward. Soon, something unexpected appeared in his sight.
Over a dozen corpses were piled up in a small cave. Xiao stepped forward to inspect them. Rigor mortis had already set in; they had been dead for a long time. What caught Xiao's attention was the clothing they wore.
If he remembered correctly, these distinctive outfits belonged to the Fatui.
"Why would members of the Fatui be dead here?"
"From the wounds on the bodies, it seems they didn't put up any effective resistance. Most were killed in a single blow."
"Wait, this is...!"
Xiao turned over a body and saw a talisman.
"A Sigil of Permission... How is that possible? No... it looks almost identical to the real thing, but I can feel the difference."
"Is this a fake?"
Xiao's thoughts raced. Were these fake Sigils of Permission made by the Fatui or the Abyss Order? And what was their purpose?
Sigils of Permission...
Xiao suddenly remembered something and cried out, "The original Sigils of Permission were infused with Rex Lapis's Adeptal Energy. Could it be...!"
"You've guessed correctly, Conqueror of Demons, but guests are not welcome here."
Portals belonging to the Abyss opened around Xiao. Countless Abyss Heralds and Abyss Lectors stepped out, accompanied by an Iniquitous Baptist.
The suddenly appearing monsters of the Abyss surrounded Xiao completely.
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