This time, it wasn't a dreamy, pink-and-blue halo, nor was it explosive, crimson sparks.
It was a reassuring Light—utterly pure, profound, and symbolic of the earth and contracts!
The light surged skyward, yet it wasn't blinding.
Its texture was dense and heavy, like the spine of an ancient mountain range; its luster was warm and gentle, like flawless, uncut jade.
The massive virtual display, which had just gone dark, flared back to life without warning!
This time, the screen no longer showed a cheerful idol stage but an ancient, picturesque harbor.
Majestic, grand, and ancient music thundered forth.
A distant bell toll pierced the gates of time and space, echoing from the dawn of creation and shaking the very soul.
A line of gilded characters, written in a bold, flowing script, slowly materialized in the center of the screen.
[The Thousand Rocks Stand Firm, the Layered Peaks Unmoved.]
Onscreen, an anime-style Lin Qingyue, clad in a magnificent robe woven from brown, black, and gold, stood leaning against a railing, gazing down at the bustling mortal world of the harbor.
Her voice, deep and resonant, echoed across the ages.
"Now, I am merely an ordinary citizen of Liyue. If the world were without gods, this would be a nation of mortals..."
Before she could finish, the light completely enveloped Lin Qingyue.
Her simple priest robe instantly disintegrated and reformed.
In its place appeared a perfectly tailored, dark gold long robe that exuded supreme majesty amidst its graceful elegance.
The hem and cuffs of the robe were adorned with ancient, intricate cloud patterns that shimmered with a subtle glow as Geo elemental energy flowed around her.
Her pink hair danced as if in an unseen wind, its tips dyed a brilliant, molten-gold hue.
Her originally delicate features sharpened, her facial contours becoming more defined, imbued with the detached majesty of one who overlooks the mortal realm.
However, as soon as Lin Qingyue took a moment to assess her new look, her brow furrowed slightly.
'Holy crap, this robe... it's way too tight across the chest!'
'Lord Rex, didn't you consider the needs of your female clients when you designed this?! It's practically flattening my majestic peaks into plains!'
[Ding! Detected Host is fulfilling the 'Role-Playing' Contract...]
[Detected Host's core ideology, background, and core values are highly compatible with Liyue...]
[Morax has cast a glance of approval. The Contract's terms have been updated!]
[The "Zhongli Trial Card" has been upgraded! While in use, you will temporarily wield 1% of Rex Lapis Morax's true power!]
As the System notification appeared, the majestic, male-style long robe transformed. The lines of its lapels softened, the fabric across the chest loosened slightly, the waistline cinched, and a side slit even appeared at the hem for greater mobility.
In an instant, the standard men's formal robe had become a divine, female-style outfit that perfectly fit her figure, combining majesty with a heroic aura!
Deep within Lin Qingyue's consciousness, an ancient mountain range that had slumbered for eons roared to life.
'Holy crap! So that's how it works!'
'No wonder the Venti Trial Card felt powerful but always seemed to be missing something! Turns out I was just using the slacker poet "Venti," not the Anemo Archon "Barbatos"!'
'This time is different! This is Lord Rex's personal approval! Who knew cultural affinity with my homeland came with such a bonus?!'
If "Klee" had been a walking arsenal and "Barbara" a healing idol on stage...
Then she, at this moment, was the very embodiment of Order, Contracts, and Protection!
The entire cavern's atmosphere changed completely due to her presence.
The chaotic, frenzied energy in the air was forcibly smoothed and suppressed by an invisible, weighty power.
The twisted demonic runes on the cavern walls groaned and cracked under the immense pressure, their light dimming rapidly.
The stench of blood and slaughter that filled the battlefield was wiped away by an invisible hand, replaced by the solemn, sacred atmosphere of a temple.
[Ding! The Host has used the Legendary Character Card "Zhongli Trial Card." Your aura has completely dominated the field, inflicting a psychological shock of 'Rank Suppression' on all story characters. Elation Value +2333!]
"What... What is this monster now?"
For the first time, Gyrus the Goblin's beady green eyes filled with an emotion called "fear."
Before, Lin Qingyue had been nothing more than a "dowry gift" who could perform a few strange tricks.
Now, he felt an absolute suppression originating from a higher level of existence itself!
It was like a scurrying rat suddenly looking up to find a slumbering ancient dragon opening its golden eyes.
The being didn't even need to do anything.
Its mere presence was enough to make his soul tremble!
"Sis..."
Lin Xiyue stared blankly at her sister's back, murmuring to herself.
"This form... I've seen it before, but... this time, the feeling... it's completely different!"
This time, she didn't shout, "So handsome!"
The word "handsome" felt far too shallow, utterly failing to capture what she was feeling.
It was an urge from the depths of her soul—a desire to prostrate herself in worship.
Su Wan and Xia Lian were completely dumbfounded.
They had assumed the "Idol Priest" who had one-shot the Undead Legion Commander was Lin Qingyue's ultimate trump card.
They never imagined she had an even more outrageous "Heroic Spirit" up her sleeve!
The genre shift was whiplash-inducing! Had they jumped from a fantasy comedy straight into an epic myth?
Even Aeldara and Baroque, locked in fierce combat, felt the terrifying pressure that could suppress all creation, their movements faltering for a moment.
Aeldara was shocked by Lin Qingyue's endless supply of trump cards.
But Paladin Baroque, sensing that pure, profound power brimming with the essence of protection and order, had a fanatical, almost pilgrimage-like fervor in his eyes.
This... This is the ultimate form of "Protection"!
Ilanier leaned on her staff, panting weakly.
She gazed at the figure bathed in Primordial Radiance, and a brilliant, joyous light erupted in her wine-red eyes, which had grown dim from weakness.
"So... is this what you look like when you're serious, Miss Qingyue?"
"Not a scatterbrained priest, nor a cheerful idol..."
"But a... god, wielding contracts and order?"
Lin Qingyue slowly raised her hand, feeling the immense power surging within her—a force capable of shaking mountains and rivers.
So this is just 1% of Rex Lapis's power? It's so strong! So stable! The entire world feels like building blocks in my palm, ready to be rearranged at will! This feeling of absolute control... it's incredible!
She turned her gaze to the trembling goblin, all traces of playfulness gone, replaced by the divine indifference of a god looking down upon an ant.
Then, she raised her other hand, fingers spread wide, and clenched it into a fist toward the ground!
"Gather!"
BOOM—!
A deep, muffled tremor shook everyone to their core.
It was the heartbeat of the earth itself
A massive stone pillar, forged from pure Geo element and etched with flowing golden patterns, erupted from the ground behind Gyrus!
Appearing without warning, the pillar launched the tattered remains of the "throne" skyward!
"Aaargh!"
Gyrus shrieked in terror at the sudden turn of events, scrambling and crawling to get out of the way.
But this was only the beginning.
As the pillar rose, a golden wave of energy burst outward from its center!
The energy wave was utterly harmless, gently sweeping over every allied unit on the battlefield.
From Queen Ilanier to the Elf Knights on the front lines, to Lin Xiyue, Su Wan, Xia Lian, Aldara, and Baroque—everyone was touched by the golden wave.
The next second—
Vwoom—!
A thick shield of translucent golden jade materialized around every ally on the field!
The shields bore an ancient, primal design, their surfaces faintly shimmering with dragon-scale patterns, radiating an aura of unbreakable tranquility!
Jade Shield!
The moment the shields formed, Gyrus's enraged roar echoed once more.
"Don't think a new look will scare me! Go to hell! Psychic Storm!"
He unleashed his psychic energy as an invisible torrent, sweeping it toward the three closest to him—Lin Xiyue and her companions!
However, when the Psychic Storm—powerful enough to twist souls—crashed against their Jade Shields, it was like a gentle breeze brushing against a ten-thousand-foot mountain.
It vanished silently, without stirring even a single ripple.
"What?!"
Gyrus's eyes nearly bulged out of their sockets.
His psychic attack had failed again?!
And this time, it was even more absurd than before!
Previously, they were merely immune to his personal Mental Domination. Now, even this indiscriminate area-of-effect assault was completely nullified?
Meanwhile, the Elf Soldiers who had been desperately resisting the lingering effects of Gyrus's psychic pressure felt a sudden lightness.
The invisible shackles gripping their souls had been shattered the instant the Jade Shields formed!
They touched the gleaming golden shields, feeling the reassuring weight of their power, their faces filled with the ecstatic shock of survivors.
"Is this... a miracle?" an Elven Mage murmured.
With no reason left to sustain it, Ilanier's already crumbling Silver Domain could no longer hold.
Crack.
With a soft sound, it shattered like a mirror.
Ilanier grunted, her body going limp. No longer able to support herself, she began to fall.
"Your Majesty!" the surrounding guards cried out in alarm, rushing to catch her.
But another figure was faster.
A flash of golden light.
Before the guards could react, Lin Qingyue had already crossed the space and appeared at Ilanier's side.
She extended a strong arm and swiftly caught the falling Queen, cradling her securely in a perfect, dashing princess carry.