If You Bleed Enough, It's Not Awkward Anymore (Continued)

However, they have not fully recovered. In fact, they have already entered the protection circle of the Anqi Faction, so there is no reason for them to be exposed to danger again.

Guizhong, however, embraced Maria and said nonchalantly:

"What's there to be afraid of? I don't make a living by force! Just wait and see, I've already made plans. Once I've finished dealing with things here, I'll start researching even stronger and more powerful Super Guizhong Machine. Then I'll surround the entire Liyue region and strengthen defenses in key locations like the Chongyan Giant Abyss. In two hundred years at most, I'll turn Liyue into an impenetrable fortress!"

The former arms-mongering powerhouse stood up, proudly raising its head and chest, and recounted its plans for further strengthening its firepower.

Zhongli paused for a moment, pondered, and then took out a stack of papers, stamping his divine seal on each of the white papers one by one.

After a while, he handed the blank papers to Guizhong.

"Take it. If you need anything during the research and development process, just write it down and let Seven Stars arrange it. If it's something that mortals can't provide, then use your silver tongue to order the immortals around like you did back then."

"You're really something, Morax. Speaking of which, you're the God of Wealth now, which means Liyue is very rich, right? Wow, things have suddenly gotten so much better, I'm not used to it yet... Hey, wait a minute, what do you mean by 'three inches of rottenness'? Are you saying I'm shameless?"

"That was not my intention. I was merely praising Dust King for his eloquence and quick thinking."

Wow! You've become so eloquent, it's different from before. You've made great progress, Morax. Keep it up, keep it up!

Guizhong blinked her big eyes, clenched her fist in encouragement, and looked at Zhongli with innocent naivety.

Zhongli remained silent—involuntarily thinking of a certain equally quirky hall master. His steady, ancient rock-like nature was simply no match for this overly lively type.

Then, Zhongli looked at Maria, who was drinking tea as if nothing had happened, and his eyes suddenly lit up.

"Speaking of which, since the Salt King was able to subdue Guizhong, shouldn't he also be able to deal with Hall Master Hu with ease?"

Zhongli's mind raced, and he narrowed his eyes, vaguely forming some ideas in his mind.

A fleeting, improper thought crossed Zhongli's mind, and then, with a hint of seriousness, he said to Maria:

"I heard you recently sent Xiao to investigate the Chongyan Giant Abyss?"

"Hmm. I know Fushé's combat strength. That four-armed talent wasn't just for show. When he's conscious, very few beings below the level of Demon God can harm him. I think there might be a glimmer of hope for him."

"Well..."

Zhongli sighed deeply.

After a long while, he said with a hint of nostalgia and melancholy:

"Five hundred years ago, a change occurred in Kandria. Darkness descended from the Abyss and swept across the Seven Nations. At that time, I traveled to Kandria to fight against the source of the calamity, while the main force of the Thousand Rock Army joined forces with the three Yaksha siblings to stop the crisis erupting from the Chongyan Giant Abyss. In the end, to cut off this threat that was constantly surging with monsters and to protect the precarious Liyue Harbor, the soldiers and Yaksha fought their way into the depths of darkness to buy time. Meanwhile, the warlocks in the army took the opportunity to use the ancient artifact Taiwei Yi Pan to form an array, completely sealing off the space at the bottom of the Layered Rock Abyss... All of them went and never returned, sacrificing themselves heroically."

Zhongli recounted that history, his tone becoming somber.

The Yaksha sisters, who had experienced that moment, also had tears welling up in their eyes.

"Fushé was at the forefront of the battle. When the spatial array was activated, he used all four hands to grab the nearest soldiers, Fanan, Yingda, and several others, and threw them out of the closing space. He must have been thinking that he could save as many as he could. I think he must have been very proud to have saved so many lives at the last moment, including his two younger sisters."

"Although the situation is special, it has somewhat shaken morale, hasn't it?"

"I didn't say no. If I have the chance, I'll give him a good talking to."

Zhongli's lips curled up, and he nodded in agreement with Maria's slightly teasing comment. But his eyes were also filled with a smile, as if he could see that big Yaksha, smugly laughing at the last moment.

Zhongli sighed deeply, took a sip of tea, and continued:

"After everything settled down, in the centuries that followed, I also ventured deep into the Chongyan Giant Abyss several times."

Fanan and Yingda's eyes lit up, and they both looked at Zhongli.

Zhongli didn't give them much expectation, gently shaking his head and saying:

"But we found nothing. The formation from back then sealed off the space at the bottom, and that space was further affected by the power of the Abyss and..."

Zhongli unconsciously looked up at the sky, then continued:

"Influenced by the power of the heavens, the underground space has become ambiguous, unpredictable, and no longer resembles what it once was. I even occasionally feel that some of these spaces are consciously avoiding me. In short, without finding a direction or reason, I am powerless."

Zhongli explained very seriously.

This also explains the risks involved. If it were simply a threat of combat power, it wouldn't matter to him or Maria. But the unpredictable space is truly unmanageable; a slight misstep could lead to getting lost, and it wouldn't matter who goes there.

Maria nodded solemnly.

Space is indeed a special thing, and it's difficult for those without related abilities to deal with it. However, in the Honkai world, she's more adept at handling space than Kiana and Sirin. Just because Morax can't handle it doesn't mean she can't.