Chapter 279

This preliminary screening alone had already weeded out a vast majority of people.

With heroes and champions now gathered in Liyue Harbor, no one could say for sure how many hidden dragons were among them.

It was better to keep the numbers as low as possible.

As for those whose subordinates hadn't arrived yet, they were feeling rather melancholy.

Like Signora...

"It's over."

Signora sighed, feeling somewhat helpless.

"Indeed, it's finally over. If any more people came, I'd truly be worried."

"But speaking of which, there are countless experts in Liyue Harbor now. If it weren't for the fact that we can't afford any mishaps at the final moment, I'd really like to find someone to challenge."

Childe was clearly in a good mood; the odds of being one of the thousand chosen from over thirteen hundred people were quite low.

Yet, he remained confident.

"Her Majesty ultimately didn't make it in time; we'll just have to find another opportunity later."

As she spoke, Signora looked at Childe.

The latter naturally understood what she meant, curled his lip, and retorted:

"I know, I know. You've said that how many times these past few days? I'll find a way once I'm inside."

Having said that, Childe lay back on the sofa and added:

"How is your plan for collecting beast meat going?"

Hearing this, Signora sighed and said gloomily:

"Not very ideal. So far, I've only managed to acquire three Foundation Establishment early-stage beasts."

"How much Mora did you spend?"

Childe asked casually, making Signora even more distressed.

"Seventy-eight million..."

"Ha? You really know how to spend money!"

Childe rolled his eyes, and Signora grew somewhat annoyed.

"Then what else could I do? We're being watched; for the sake of your assessment, we can't act recklessly."

"Jueyun Karst has completely become a forbidden zone of life, where Foundation Establishment early-stage beasts are everywhere."

"Even the Millelith's innate-stage troops, thousands strong, have retreated. Do you expect the trash under your command to achieve any results?"

"How many adventurers have died in Jueyun Karst these past few days? Which one of them was weaker than the Fatui?"

"Your men were eaten clean by the outer-rim beasts before they could even enter the inner circle!"

"There are even Foundation Establishment peak-stage beasts in Jueyun Karst. Even if we went in ourselves, we'd die if we didn't use the power left by Her Majesty."

"Being able to collect three is already quite good!"

Childe curled his lip but didn't argue.

Some time ago, someone had ventured deep into Jueyun Karst and provoked a Foundation Establishment peak-stage beast.

Liyue's incomparably powerful innate-stage army was instantly wiped out, with nearly a hundred casualties.

The beast rampaged all the way, nearly reaching Mount Tianheng.

Even though countless experts were stationed in Liyue Harbor, they had indeed all taken action that day.

But what was the result?

The Grandmaster-level expert Baiwen and the other two, along with the Liyue the Liyue Qixing, were forced back after a brief stalemate; Beidou, who had once slain Haishan, joined forces with the powerful wandering swordsman from Inazuma, Kaedehara Kazuha.

They only managed to hold out for a few hundred moves before their weapons shattered, and they fled in a sorry state.

Other experts from various nations, along with renowned adventurers—

totaling nearly a thousand people—though none died, many were severely injured.

The key was that the beast was a rabbit; it wasn't large, but its speed was incredibly fast.

Baiwen used over a dozen Five-Thunder Talismans and still couldn't manage to strike it.

After all, she wasn't Ningguang; she didn't cultivate immortality.

With no other choice, Baiwen had to quickly send a message to Shushan. Keqing rushed over and took down the beast with a single sword strike.

With this, the prestige of the Foundation Establishment peak-stage beast shocked all of Liyue Harbor.

But at the same time, the power of cultivating immortality made countless people fanatical.

A beast that so many people couldn't handle couldn't even withstand a single strike from Keqing before being pierced through.

Ultimately, cultivating immortality was the end goal of everything.

Childe asked himself: he could contend with that Foundation Establishment peak-stage beast, but he couldn't defeat it.

Its speed was too fast, and its size was small, completely different from other beasts that were dozens of meters tall.

That thing was an assassin that simply couldn't be locked onto.

Because of this, the General Affairs Office was furious and reprimanded the Adventurers' Guild, demanding they keep all adventurers in check.

Anyone who dared to explore the depths of Jueyun Karst again and cause trouble would have their adventurer assessment qualifications revoked.

The defense line at Jueyun Karst was pulled back several kilometers, and more personnel were deployed, which finally allowed them to breathe a sigh of relief.

But because of this, Jueyun Karst had completely become a forbidden zone that no one dared to enter.

On this point, experts like Childe and Signora agreed.

They could run if they couldn't win a one-on-one fight against that beast.

But Jueyun Karst held more than just one Foundation Establishment peak-stage beast.

Nowadays, only cultivators could operate in Jueyun Karst.

And the beast meat Signora had collected was brought back by someone who had ventured deep into Jueyun Karst some time ago, had an encounter similar to Chongyun's, and was saved by Qiqi.

There were always people in urgent need of Mora; the Northland Bank spent a huge sum to acquire it, and the General Affairs Office wouldn't say anything.

Childe scratched his cheek and spread his hands:

"Alright, where is that beast meat?"

"We'll talk about that after Her Majesty arrives."

Signora flatly rejected Childe's intentions, and the latter curled his lip.

"Anyway, once I join Shushan, I'll have plenty of beast meat to eat."

Signora was silent for a moment, staring deeply at Childe.

"The entire Fatui has suffered enough grievances to help you join Shushan; you'd better not disappoint Her Majesty tomorrow."

Childe snorted and looked confidently out the window at Liyue Harbor, which was sinking into its final moment of peace.

"I am determined to cultivate this immortality! What others can do, I, Childe, will certainly do as well!"

Signora withdrew her gaze and sighed.

"Let's hope so. The future of Snezhnaya rests entirely on you."

In a nearby inn, Furina and Clorinde also received the news that the preliminary screening had ended, and they both breathed a sigh of relief.

However, a moment later, Furina still looked somewhat distressed:

"Choosing one thousand from over 1. million people... these odds are just too small!"

The current Furina no longer doubted whether cultivating immortality could solve Fontaine's problems.

Ever since Keqing flew over on her sword a few days ago and took down that beast with one strike, the only worry left in her heart was whether she could join Shushan.

It was said that Keqing was only a mid-stage Essence Refining cultivator, having cultivated for only about two months in total.

Yet, the feeling she gave her was actually on par with many Archons.

Then...

What about Zhongli and the others, who were in the late stage of Qi Refining and Spirit Transformation?

And what about that legendary Shushan Sect Leader who had reached the Spirit Returning to Void stage?

In novels, cultivators wielded the power of heaven and earth, with infinite creation.

Looking at this situation, if one could cultivate to the peak of Qi Refining and Spirit Transformation, it stood to reason that the problem with the Fontaine people's constitution could be easily solved.

At the very least, one could use the power of controlling heaven and earth to suppress the Primordial Seawater.

This was a perfect method that required no sacrifice.

Furina somewhat regretted not bringing Neuvillette along; otherwise, with his strength and talent,

he could definitely solve Fontaine's problems even faster after cultivating immortality.

As for the present...