With his Geo energy almost depleted, Lin Yi had planned to expend some of his Vision's core power to craft another magazine of bullets and teach the two men before him a lesson.
Crafting the handgun had inadvertently activated the Rich Lady Raising System's infrastructure development section.
The Heavenly Motion Ammunition he received as a reward reminded Lin Yi of the terror the demon gods and monstrous beasts of the primordial age had felt under Morax's Planet Befall...
"I hope this one bullet packs that kind of power!"
One bullet, two opponents. Taking both out with a single shot was practically impossible.
"Retrieve item!"
With that command, Lin Yi extended his hand as though reaching for something. The Rock Ring circled his palm, and in an instant, a bullet engraved with the bold, rigid patterns of Geo dropped into his hand.
Without a moment's hesitation, he loaded it into the chamber.
He aimed at the two enemies before him.
Seeing Lin Yi holding some unknown object made from an earthen shell, the two men stared.
Then the Hydro Bracer and Cryo Bracer burst out laughing.
"Hey, think this kid's lost his marbles? Everyone else uses bows and blades, but he's holding a clod of dirt. Is he planning to throw it at us until we die?"
"No idea whether he can kill us with it, but this Geo Archon doesn't seem to have any real ability. All show, nothing more."
Their words irritated Lin Yi, and a cold glint flashed in his eyes.
"Whether I deserve to be the Geo Archon isn't for two guys without even a Vision to discuss. You think I'm weak? Then watch closely as your grandpa here takes your lives with this clod of dirt!"
Being looked down on by Tartaglia was one thing. For now, the gap in their strength was overwhelming, so there was nothing to say.
But being humiliated by two guys who didn't even qualify as overworld mobs? Who could put up with that?
Liyue was under the Geo Archon's rule. On his own turf, Lin Yi's sensitivity to Geo was heightened, naturally increasing the speed at which he absorbed it.
Seeing the two opponents turn serious and advance with elemental weapons in hand, he readied himself.
Once Lin Yi calmed down, he sensed the elemental energy circulating within his body and channeled it through his arm into the handgun.
At once, the brilliant radiance of the Rock Ring enveloped the handgun.
Bold, rigid runes gradually formed across its surface.
He could clearly feel the handgun's power soaring!
In particular, the Heavenly Motion bullet within it, which contained Morax's power, grew even more restless!
A dark cloud gathered over Liyue's sky.
The natural elements in the air grew restless as well.
Venti, who had traveled to Liyue, sensed this aura and remarked in surprise, "The winds are changing in Liyue."
At the heart of the storm, the Hydro Bracer and Cryo Bracer finally sensed the threat.
Their eyes locked onto Lin Yi.
"Kid, don't make this difficult. Hand over the Gnosis and spare us all the trouble!"
"Enough talk. Today, I'm making an example of you two!"
The weapon's power reached its peak, and Geo energy suddenly burst through the surrounding space.
Sand and stones flew, and even the ground began to tremble.
"Rock-Cast Spear, Heavenly Motion Surge!"
Lin Yi had given this shot a resounding name that sounded as impressive as possible.
When Geo, the embodiment of calm and stability, erupted with earth-shattering power, its might was staggering.
Its destructive force seemed capable of crushing mountains and cleaving the heavens.
The surrounding ice walls instantly crumbled.
The Hydro Bracer watched helplessly as the torrent of Geo hurtled toward him.
"No! My legs... I can't move!"
The overwhelming speed and pressure left the two men no room to resist.
A deafening boom rang out.
Ningguang, deeply worried, could no longer hold herself back and rushed toward the commotion.
Childe followed close behind, though an odd expression appeared on his face, as if he had sensed something.
When the two stood atop a high tower and looked toward the scene, they saw what had happened.
One of the Hydro Bracer's arms had been blasted off, and some attack had torn a massive hole through the building behind him.
A closer look revealed that the attack, imbued with peerless Geo power, had left a hundred-meter-long scar across the ground. Not a blade of grass remained in its path!
"H-how did he do that? Lin Yi isn't that powerful!"
Seeing this, Ningguang panicked.
An attack of this kind, using Geo, could only have come from Lin Yi.
Despite the formidable strength he had displayed, Ningguang felt no joy whatsoever.
To her, Lin Yi had been hiding his true strength all along. Perhaps he had feigned weakness to gain her trust and then trick her into marrying him.
Taking that thought further, his talk of mutual benefit might have been nothing more than sweet lies.
How could someone truly capable of succeeding a god actually be weak, without hiding some of his strength?
"I really misjudged you. Lin Yi, you certainly know how to hide your strength."
A misty sheen gathered in Ningguang's eyes. The little goodwill she had built up toward him might well have vanished completely at that moment because of everything Lin Yi had shown her.
At the scene, Lin Yi seemed to sense something. His heart suddenly clenched, leaving an empty feeling in his chest.
But the danger had not passed. Although he could sense the Hydro fluctuations weakening and even disappearing, the Cryo energy remained unscathed!
He waited for the dust to clear.
In the fan-shaped area blasted by the Heavenly Motion power, almost nothing remained besides the Cryo Bracer, who held the gravely injured Hydro Bracer.
The Heavenly Motion Ammunition's effect was truly incredible. Unfortunately, it was consumable.
"This is the price of defying a god's authority. If you don't want to die, get lost!"
Lin Yi delivered his threat.
Yet at that moment, through the authority of his Gnosis, he sensed an absolutely overwhelming surge of Geo soaring skyward from a square somewhere in Liyue.
It stood as unshakable as a mountain, inspiring awe even from far away.
That aura could only belong to that man.
"You hurt my brother! I'll kill you today!"
The Hydro Bracer's grievous injuries did not make the Cryo Bracer retreat. Instead, he drew his weapon and rapidly closed in on Lin Yi.
Lin Yi inwardly cursed his luck. After narrowly dodging the Cryo Bracer's wild attacks, he moved.
With a clear destination in mind, he raced toward the square.
"Ningguang and the others are all tied up with the Fatui. The only one who can help me now is that guy who slacks off on the clock!"
In the square, Zhongli, who was relaxing over tea, seemed to sense something.
With a light tap of his toes, he vanished just as Lin Yi arrived, leaving only the lingering aroma of tea at the table.
"What the hell? Where is he? I definitely sensed him here!"
The Cryo Bracer pursued him relentlessly. Ice walls rose, blocking Lin Yi's path once again.
Although Ningguang was somewhat disappointed, Childe held her up before she could act.
At that moment, Lin Yi had nowhere to turn for help.
Panic seized him, and he shouted curses at the sky!
"Zhongli, get out here! If you don't help me, I'll tell everyone everything about you!"
His words met with silence, like a stone sinking into the sea without a ripple.
Just as the Cryo Bracer moved to kill him without another word, something changed.
Lin Yi suddenly noticed a tall, immovable figure standing behind the Cryo Bracer.
"Holy shit, old man Zhongli!"
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