I'm in the Teyvat running group

Subtly sensing that something was amiss, Yunxiu immediately departed at lightning speed, easily dodging the barrage of artillery fire from the battlefield, and quickly flew to the vicinity of the Pidamira City war fortress.

The main cannon here has clearly just undergone a full-power firing, with numerous water-generating arrays continuously spraying water and massive amounts of steam rising from the cannon barrel. Although this cannon is not necessarily designed to fire physical ammunition, since it is mainly used to clear targets with hard armor and shields, it can also choose to fire physical ammunition at an accelerated rate. In this case, it is essentially an armor-piercing shell.

Judging from what just happened, it's clear that we encountered a situation where we had to fire a physical projectile.

Yunxiu transformed into a streak of light and landed directly on the upper deck of Pidamira City, where Hu Tao was performing a ritual.

The corpses, already in coffins, were set ablaze one by one by Hu Tao's magic, leaving only pieces of Soul-Nourishing Jade that were collected and registered. These pieces still had a chance to be resurrected, but it was unknown how long the process would take.

In front of Hu Tao were seven nameplates with only their names on them. These were people who could not be resurrected, or whose Soul-Nourishing Jade had not been crushed by themselves or their teammates.

"Profound secret fire verses, homa of worldly truths, summoning and subduing, pacifying calamities and increasing blessings..."

She picked up the "Homa Staff" and quietly saw these people off.

Seeing Yunxiu arrive, she didn't happily hop over as usual, but quietly said, "One had its head gnawed off by a demon, two were vaporized by a salvo from the Returning Machine, two were dragged into a strange space by a demon, and two are missing. They may have fallen into the sea, at least the Soul Nourishing Jade can't be retrieved."

"Born at the moment of birth, die at the moment of death..."

Yunxiu pulled Hu Tao into her arms, gently stroked her hair, and sighed, "It's because I didn't do well enough..."

“You’ve done more than enough. The ancient books of the Hall of Rebirth record that, let alone the War of the Demon Gods, even five hundred years ago, a single battle could result in tens of thousands of deaths and injuries.” Hu Tao put her arm around Yun Xiu. She was much shorter than Yun Xiu, so it was like she was hugging her father’s daughter. She stood there somewhat weakly, but she still forced herself to speak: “Yesterday, four spatial anchor array plates shattered at the same time. Three mech squads were dispatched here to repair them, but a familiar-level monster still managed to break free of its restraints. Commander Falga, who came to provide support, was forty-five seconds late. More than half of a strike group was slaughtered… This was the norm in wars in the past. You really have done more than enough.”

Yunxiu nodded silently. Of course he knew all this. He had read many records from the time of the Demon God War and knew many stories from five hundred years ago. He had even seen the past events of the War of Burial Fire through Long Yunxiu's eyes.

But that's not a reason to relax now.

At least not at this moment.

Pulling Hu Tao into the command center of Pidamira City, they heard a Liyue general reprimanding his subordinates.

"Saving people is against military orders. You don't need to save anyone on the battlefield. Completing the combat mission is the top priority!"

"But……"

"No buts! We have talismans, soul-nourishing jade, and resurrection regulations. Even without resurrection regulations, there are compensations. Saving two people won't change the course of the battle, including me. But if the mission isn't completed, we could lose two hundred, two thousand people!"

"Why were we able to win this flood control battle, which was even stronger than the war against the demons? Why didn't we suffer a crushing defeat like we did five hundred years ago?"

"Because of talismans? Because of the Jade Pavilion? Because of the war fortress?"

"Let me tell you, even without these things, as long as we're willing to pay the price, we can still win! What truly secures final victory is the strength of our organization and our iron discipline! The allied forces have the same equipment and supplies, so why does Liyue have the lowest casualty rate and the highest mission completion rate? Immediately relieve yourself of all your posts, hand over your work to your deputy, and go spend a day in solitary confinement!"

"Yes……"

Yunxiu glanced at him and then silently walked away, not disturbing the general's speech. He recognized the general; he was originally Cai Xun, a commander of the Thousand Rock Army. After the promotion of the magic system, his strength increased by leaps and bounds, reaching the level of a Genshin God. Now he was a garrison officer at the Pidamira City War Fortress, mainly responsible for some protection work and clearing out some small monsters that were not covered by artillery fire.

Stepping into the innermost office, you'll find the workplace of Gan Yu and her daughter Gan Lin. They are responsible for controlling the four monitoring platforms on the entire battlefield and compiling all the information, which is then checked and adjusted after integration. Gan Lin did similar work during the Demon God War, while Gan Yu handles various information processing tasks. The two complement each other perfectly.

"You've arrived? If you want to ask about the relevant situation, you'll have to wait a moment while I summarize it." Gan Yu said as Yun Xiu walked in. Yun Xiu nodded and sat down with Hu Tao.

Hu Tao sat wearily in the chair, leaning against Yun Xiu and squinting her eyes. The girl's level of fatigue in the past few days had exceeded that of most people. If Yun Xiu hadn't prepared several magical artifacts for her in advance, she wouldn't have been able to continue to endure it.

Yunxiu sighed. Xiangling was in logistics, Shenhe was in charge of the Third Ranger Legion, Funina was fighting in outer space, and Citralina, Via, and Ayaka were in charge of logistics for their respective countries. Tsukihime and Ryouki were still holding the line in the Dead Zone, Nel was touring with her dance troupe, Yanfei was handling logistics, Ying was fighting on the front lines, and even Xiaogong had gone to the battlefield...

No one in my family has a moment to spare.

The reason why Hu Tao works so hard is mainly because there are very few people who can carry out this kind of task, and she is an exceptionally serious person when it comes to these things.

Reaching out, Yunxiu pulled Hu Tao's small body into her arms, wiped her eyes and mouth, and then pulled a blanket from her storage bag to wrap Hu Tao tightly. Nordkalai was still in its coldest time of year, and according to the schedule, it should be almost time for the Lantern Festival in Liyue...

"Yunxiu, this is the information you needed. I've compiled it all." Gan Yu handed over a prepared document and said, "Most of the operational targets are currently meeting our expectations. However, the monitoring station has been reacting with far too many high-energy signals lately. The flood discharge index is actually increasing by about 10% every day. It's already increased by 7% since this morning. At this rate, if we still have to complete the task in three days, the final flood discharge index could very well reach around 130%..."

Yunxiu took the document, flipped through it briefly, and quickly noticed the abnormal energy.

"The growth rate of god-level monsters has increased by 27%, the growth rate of familiar-level monsters has increased by 112%, the growth rate of primordial god-level and above monsters has increased by 257%... The number of energy anomaly points has increased by 78%..." After flipping through the document, Yunxiu stared intently at the last number: "Abyss concentration growth index 127%, data anomaly."

Why is the data here abnormal?

“That’s right. Even with the battlefield compressed, the current increase should be around 70%, but it’s exceeded that by so much. There’s only one explanation: the Abyss’s erosion speed has actually accelerated a lot.” Gan Yu thought carefully and gave her explanation: “This actually shows that the Abyss is also overdrawing its power. They probably think that they have a good chance of crushing us.”

"It seems that, at least in the war between the heavens, the demons were able to fight without any problems, so they are trying to defeat us from here."

Yunxiu nodded. If that's the case, then it really is good news!

Chapter 451 The Sword Immortal Returns to the World, Shadow Guardian

Compression of the battlefield is actually unavoidable.

The number of monsters is not actually the highest in the first wave, but rather the linear growth reaches a peak and then inevitably shrinks, but when this peak will arrive is a question.

To prevent the monsters from overflowing and affecting more people, or even if the monsters establish their own strongholds, and given that the large-scale battlefield involves dispersed forces, excessively long battle lines, and problematic supply lines, and considering that many monsters are intelligent and will retreat, regroup, and then return, the flood control war could easily turn into a war of attrition.

In fact, it was the same five hundred years ago. Long Yunxiu's attack to forcibly seal the gap five hundred years ago was actually a last resort. He was powerful, but after weakening to that point, he was only slightly higher than the Seven Gods. If he hadn't mastered the Karthus God Sealing Technique, he wouldn't have been able to seal the gap.

In order to turn a war of attrition into a war of annihilation, the only way is to increase the intensity of the battlefield and compress the monsters into one area.

So the reason for the several times more casualties in the past few days is this: in order to push these crazed monsters into the encirclement, it is necessary to pay the price. Although this has brought more casualties, it has also bought more opportunities for rotation and increased firepower density. The scale of casualties has now begun to decrease. However, the abnormal increase in abyssal monsters is most likely due to the great pressure that Nibelungen and the Abyss are facing from the outside, which has caused more pressure to penetrate into this area.

After all, if a breach is made on their side, the Seven Gods will definitely come to their aid, which indirectly reduces the pressure on the enemy.

“We can’t let the pressure stop, otherwise the battle between the Seven Gods of the Outer Heavens and the Witches will definitely run into problems. The current abnormal rise is still within our tolerance range. After all, our attack range is smaller after the battlefield is compressed... What is the biggest problem?” Yunxiu handed the document back to Ganyu and said, “If it is the current situation, Tianxuan should still be able to solve it.”

"It's still a logistical issue. At the current pace, our battle with the monsters will inevitably face logistical problems. The real problem lies with the personnel," Gan Yu said hesitantly. "Although the troops can rotate shifts for attacks, the mental pressure on everyone is terrifying. If a gap appears on the battlefield..."

“I understand. Well then... it seems I must bring out my preparations as well. Come with me.”

Carrying Hu Tao all the way, Yunxiu led Gan Yu into his demiplane. He first placed the rarely sleeping Hall Master of the Hall on the bed, and then led Gan Yu to a room that he had locked tightly with magic.

"I only understood some things after I comprehended the [Huai Ke Butterfly]. Some time ago, my consciousness pierced through time and space and saw many things, so I finally understood what this book really is." Yunxiu slowly unraveled the magic array and took out the ancient book "A Study of the Ruins of the Vast Sea".

"Why does this book react with Jie Jianming? Why can it create a space? Why is there information about the origin of the sword immortal Li Qinglian in this space?" Yunxiu took out the book, tapped a spatial door, and directly opened a spatial passage to Mount Aozang.

The formation set up here by the Moon Slicer is quite easy to connect.

“I didn’t know much about it at first, but after I studied the Huai Ke butterfly and his story, I suddenly realized something.”

"What is it?" Gan Yu asked, somewhat surprised. "Do you mean..."

“That’s right. Why does Liyue’s magic include dream invocation? Why is Liyue named after the moon? Why is your father called the True Lord of Rainbow Casting and Moon Forging? Why did he leave behind this book, this inscription, and… that space?” Yunxiu smiled and placed “A Study of the Ruins of the Vast Ocean” on the inscription of the sword inscription again. Soon, the inscription shone brightly, and he was sucked into it again.

The ethereal Yunxiu stood quietly before him.

"You've arrived," the cloud-like figure said with a smile. "It seems you finally know who 'I' really am."

"The Third Descendant doesn't actually exist; it's just a phantom in time, isn't it?" Yunxiu smiled as she looked at the other Yunxiu. "However, this phantom possesses the power of destiny, and naturally, it can merge with the boy with the strange bloodline, granting him the status of a Descendant, thus becoming a force that stabilizes the world."

“Yes, so the foundation of the laws of this world already had the shadow of D&D at that time, it’s just a pity that Fanes didn’t use it.” Yunxiu said with a smile, “In the end, it’s the public face. Although resurrecting him is not a cover, I think you know why that person had to die as a human, and why this is the hidden story at this moment.”

"I don't believe Li Qinglian's talent is truly insurmountable. Even if he can't cultivate 'Severing the Three Corpses,' with his intelligence, cultivating 'Attaining Bodhi' isn't impossible. But in that era, because surpassing was impossible, becoming a demon god would be remembered by Fanes. The Huai Ke butterfly's magic had to be activated at that moment, and only when the Moon Goddess returned and Fanes was preoccupied with his own problems could humanity become the one to surpass, thus achieving true victory..."

"As expected of me, you are very clever. So, the last question is, where is Li Qinglian's soul hidden?"

“Fate is the book, the body is the monument, then his soul is naturally…” Yunxiu looked at the surrounding aura and suddenly let out a long howl: “Soul, return!”

His "Destiny" throne shone brightly, and the distorted and heavy auras in this space suddenly condensed together. A large amount of power gathered together and transformed into a dashing figure. He wore a robe, his long hair was casually draped behind his head, and a long sword was hanging at his waist. His face was as handsome as jade, and his dashing figure absorbed all the auras in the space.

Then, he opened his eyes and quietly looked at the people below.

"Gan Yu... I'm sorry..." The figure floated down, gently hugged the stunned Gan Yu, and then looked at Yun Xiu beside him and smiled, "Brother Yun, is it time?"

"The time has come, but you should talk to the other 'me' now. This time, I really can't enter this spacetime again." The woman from Yunxiu glanced at Li Qinglian, then smiled and pointed at Yunxiu, saying, "Perhaps the only unpredictable thing here is whether he'll actually bring the Sword-Unraveling Pavilion to Liyue, but I believe I'm the kind of person who occasionally becomes overly kind... so my gamble paid off."

"Father...Father?" Gan Yu, who had only just realized what was happening, stared blankly at her father in front of her, and said in disbelief, "More than two thousand years ago, you didn't die..."

“No, actually he died, or rather, he died just before he died.” Li Qinglian glanced around and said, “Your mother should know something about it. Although this matter was too dangerous, I didn’t tell her, but I think she should know something from the Jiejian Mingting Pavilion. So, I know the last two lines of the poem.”

"The poet immortal burned his soul to suppress the ruins, the auspicious unicorn guards the sword, waiting for whom? If you see the unicorn with white hair, do not forget the day the sword was unsheathed." Yunxiu softly recited: "She knew there would be a day, but she did not know 'that moment,' so the answer now is... it is at this moment!"

Li Qinglian laughed heartily. With a wave of his hand, the surrounding space collapsed layer by layer. When the group appeared in the outside world, the inscription on the stone tablet in the Sword-Unlocking Pavilion and the ancient book "A Study of the Ruins of Canghai" were also constantly being shattered. Three beams of spiritual light continuously merged into his body, and an earth-shattering aura spread out, causing the entire world to tremble!

"Heaven and earth are the inn of all things, and time is the passing guest of a hundred generations!"

A cheerful voice resonated throughout the entire world of Teyvat, and endless light surged in from all directions, making Li Qinglian's body brighter and brighter, and more and more concentrated!

As this voice resounded throughout Teyvat, all the powerful beings were shaken. The younger ones did not know who it was, but they felt the surging power and momentum within that aura. All the older generation of powerful beings, even those who did not belong to Liyue, felt the traces left by this being in this world!

"I need 100 tons of Calamity Lotus and 200 tons of Moon Lotus... If that's not possible, 250 tons of Mourning Flower will also work." Lishui, who was coordinating supplies in Sumeru, suddenly heard this voice. A strange expression appeared on his usually calm face as he stared intently in the direction of Mount Aozang: "This is... the aura of the Azure Lotus?"

"I knew it! There must have been a hidden story behind his death back then!" Fu She's expression also became excited, his face showing an indescribable emotion.

"Qinglian?" A figure looked up in the command room of the Yuheng Supersonic Sword Cannon.

“True Lord of Rainbow Cutting and Moon Casting…” Xiao froze for a moment, but quickly channeled his power back into the fight against the demon before him.

"Qinglian!" "Qinglian!" "Li Qinglian!"

One voice after another rang out from all over the battlefield, gathering into a tremendous force of will, heading straight for the figure on Mount Aozang!

But after absorbing the stream of light, that figure transformed into an incomparably brilliant sun, its light soaring straight into the sky! A figure suddenly flew out from the sky, staring intently at the powerful figure before her. However, at this moment, even as the leader of the Four Shadows of Heavenly Principle, she did not have the power to "strip" him. She could only transform into a stream of light and attack, her aura constantly rising!

"Have you not seen the sword of the vast sea, its light shooting towards the heavens, once slaying twelve dragons!" A clear and melodious chant rose from his lips, and in an instant, several sharp swords floated out from behind him, piercing straight towards the ruler of the sky!

The four swords formed a peculiar sword formation, and with a light slash, they actually pierced a wound on the face of the ruler of the sky.

"you!"

"My abilities haven't fully awakened yet, so how about we stop here?" Li Qinglian stood on the cloud with her hands behind her back, smiling as she looked at the Ruler of the Sky. "Besides, at this time, shouldn't we be most concerned about the situation outside the heavens? Such a powerful world, one more transcendent being like me won't make a difference, and one less transcendent being like me won't make a difference either, right?"

The figure gave her a cold look and then vanished in an instant.

"Still the same as before... never willing to fight to the death with anyone." The sword immortal descended from the clouds and stood beside Gan Yu, saying, "Let's go, let's go see your mother."

Gan Yu stared blankly at her father, then seemed to suddenly realize what was happening as she was pulled into the spatial portal. Although she didn't say anything more, her joy was evident.

On the other side of the door, several immortals who were fighting on this battlefield were looking at the young sword immortal with tears in their eyes.

Yunxiu did not disturb them, but quietly left. This was naturally a backup plan he had prepared for this war. As a true transcendent being, his preparations for this flood control war were excellent, and he had performed very well so far, but his foundation was still too weak. Without a few sufficiently powerful combatants, it would be impossible to truly survive.

However, if the Nibelungen were to reveal its hand too early, it would be questionable whether the Nibelungen would still be willing to fight this battle. The most appropriate time would be when the pressure of releasing the floodwaters has been largely relieved.

He smiled and looked out at the sky, where it seemed as if another pair of eyes were staring back at him. At least Yunxiu could vaguely sense the ominous, eerie, yet cunning gaze.

He knew, of course, that one was watching him... and perhaps more than one.

-----------------

"This old thing... why is it getting more and more insane?" With the mindset of a young boy, Mavica swung her greatsword wildly at the dragon's claws, quickly severing one. But the dragon simply moved, and another claw regenerated in no time, leaving Mavica somewhat helpless: "It shouldn't have been this fast before; it should have given us some breathing room..."

“Someone has surpassed him, after the Moon Goddess returned…” The Great Tree King seemed to sense something, and then he said with delight, “It’s a sword immortal who is skilled in killing. It seems that even his last wave of attacks will be neutralized.”

"Buyer, stabilize your condition and don't deteriorate any further." A golden light enveloped her, coating her with a wondrous glow, causing even the Great Tree King to tremble.

"It's that one..."

“Yes, the same state as that angel Taranis, but a different sealing method.” The Ice Queen spoke somewhat silently, “Morax, how many secrets are you and your son hiding from us?”