Leaving the Land of Archon Remains

Bai Ye's arrow pierced through Shakoth's abdomen. An iron chain attached to its tail linked Bai Ye to Shakoth's remains.

Shakoth's remains attacked Bai Ye again.

But Bai Ye easily evaded every strike.

Bai Ye gripped the iron chain tightly.

Then, the Anemo Genshin Eye in his hand erupted.

Violent Anemo elemental power surged along the chain Bai Ye held, relentlessly striking Shakoth's mangled remains.

"Open!"

Bai Ye began channeling all of his elemental power and adeptal energy through the chain and into Shakoth's body.

As the Anemo elemental power spread, Bai Ye diffused all of his adeptal energy throughout every part of Shakoth's body.

He could not relax in the slightest when facing the remains of an Archon.

The adeptal energy within his body was completely exhausted.

Bai Ye then took out every mechanism he had on him.

Wooden kites repeatedly sliced across Shakoth's body,

while hundreds of crossbow bolts nailed it into a pincushion.

In addition, quite a few drill-like machines burrowed into Shakoth's body and wreaked havoc within.

Bai Ye unleashed every method he had, directing all of his attacks at Shakoth's body.

If Shakoth had been at his peak, Bai Ye would have stood no chance. But now, all that remained was a corpse.

At last,

under Bai Ye's full assault, Shakoth's body was completely torn apart.

"Good, that was the final blow. Bai Ye, we won. Shakoth's body has completely vanished."

Hagintos's delighted voice rang out beside Bai Ye's ear, telling him that they had won.

Throughout every step just now, Hagintos had watched carefully and directed Bai Ye's actions.

Bai Ye let out a breath of relief.

Thankfully, they had won. Otherwise, there really would not have been a drop left in him.

With the victory of the battle, Bai Ye's lost Seven Senses returned once more.

As he felt light return to his surroundings,

Bai Ye was overjoyed.

"Teacher, thanks for the effort."

"It's nothing. I'm very happy. All right, now that you've recovered, I'm going to rest too. Mmm, this took so much out of me. Bai Ye, get me a few more levitation stones later..."

With a yawn in her voice, Hagintos's voice faded away.

Bai Ye stood atop Shakoth's corpse.

At that moment, weakness washed over his body.

Bai Ye's body went limp, and he was about to fall.

Just then,

a figure appeared beside him.

It was Xiao.

After Bai Ye regained his Seven Senses, Xiao and Ganyu's senses returned as well. Seeing Bai Ye about to collapse, Xiao did not hesitate for a moment and appeared at his side, catching him.

He grabbed Bai Ye's arm, and the two descended from the Archon's remains.

"Bai Ye, how are you?"

Ganyu had already been waiting below. When she saw Xiao helping Bai Ye down, she hurried forward and supported his other arm.

"I'm fine. I just ran out of stamina."

Bai Ye explained to them.

"That's already very serious, all right?"

Ganyu said anxiously.

"Come on, let's sit here and get some proper rest first."

"This isn't a suitable place to rest. Ganyu, take Bai Ye. I'll clear the way ahead."

Xiao rejected the suggestion.

"Okay."

Bai Ye gathered up all his mechanisms. Ganyu then supported him as they left, while Xiao walked ahead to clear the way.

They followed the path they had taken before, with Ganyu supporting Bai Ye and Xiao leading the way.

There were not many minor monsters on the way back.

Moreover, with the Archon's remains no longer affecting the area, the Hilichurls saw Xiao walking at the front and immediately scattered in flight.

The three of them successfully left the Archon's burial ground.

Once they were out, the three could finally relax.

Bai Ye and Ganyu immediately found a comfortable patch of grass and lay down.

Completely drained, Bai Ye did not want to move even a finger.

Although Ganyu had not used much in the final battle, she had already worked continuously for several days. Combined with the tension from earlier, fatigue now caught up with her, and her eyelids grew heavier and heavier.

"Mmm, I can't fall asleep yet..."

Ganyu murmured drowsily.

Seeing how groggy she looked, Bai Ye smiled and said,

"Ganyu, I'll find some music to wake you up."

Hearing Bai Ye say that, Ganyu nodded.

Bai Ye took a music box from his robes.

"Here, listen to the music inside. It'll wake you up."

Ganyu began listening attentively.

Bai Ye opened the music box.

Quiet, elegant music began to play from within.

Hearing the music, Ganyu looked a little confused and was about to ask something, but the drowsiness brought by the melody sent her completely into dreamland.

Xiao watched silently from the side and said to Bai Ye,

"You should rest too. I'll keep watch here."

After a pause, Xiao softly added,

"Thank you."

His expression was extremely unnatural, as if saying those words had been difficult for him.

He was still not used to thanking others, but Xiao knew very well that without Bai Ye today, either Shakoth would have killed him, or the karmic debt within him would have erupted completely, turning him into a calamity for Liyue as well.

"It's nothing. I went in there with you. I couldn't exactly just watch myself get into trouble, could I?"

Bai Ye replied with a smile.

"Mm."

Xiao nodded and kept this kindness in his heart.

If Bai Ye encountered trouble in the future, Xiao would naturally help when the time came.

At that moment, Bai Ye sat up. After thinking for a moment, he asked Xiao, "By the way, Xiao, there's something I'm curious about. Do you have to eliminate all Archon Residue?"

"Yes. If Archon remnants aren't eliminated, they'll definitely have harmful effects on the surrounding area."

Xiao nodded firmly.

"Are there any exceptions?"

"No. At least, not among the defeated Archons who died, as far as I know."

Xiao shook his head.

Then, as if he had thought of something, he asked Bai Ye, "You seem so curious. Have you heard something about other Archon remnants?"

As he spoke, he gripped his spear, looking as though he were ready to immediately purge them.

"No, that's not it. I was just curious, that's all."

Hearing Xiao say that, Bai Ye immediately changed the subject.

"You should rest too. I'll make some guard mechanisms right away so we can get some proper sleep."

"Okay."

Xiao nodded, then sat down and leaned against his spear to rest.

Bai Ye simply made several mechanisms for keeping watch and set their guard instructions.

He too lay down on the grass and drifted into sleep.

Even battles against Archon remains were this dangerous. Bai Ye felt that he still needed to strengthen himself further.