Though Guyun Stone Forest formed a series of islands thanks to the spikes of rock, it remained part of the deep ocean. Just a short distance away from the shore, the seabed dropped into darkness, its depths unseen.
After Theresa finished her dinner, Luo Qing led her to the central beach of Guyun.
The rocky formations circled the heart of the sea, and below its central depths lay the prison of the Vortex God, Osial.
Looking out at the water, the ocean under the night sky was inky black, and the distant calls of sea beasts echoed faintly through the waves.
With a thought, Luo Qing pulled out a set of rope harness equipment from his system inventory. After a few adjustments, he anchored it firmly to the ground.
"When I dive down, if you see the indicator light turn red, press this button. Understand?" Luo Qing pointed at the device's button, directing his instructions to Theresa.
Originally, this task was meant for Sergei and Igor, but having two Snezhnayans at his side would have drawn too much attention. Since Guyun had an established Fatui outpost, Luo Qing chose to delegate the task to Theresa — it would be easier for him to work alone.
"Lord Luo Qing, are you really going down there?" Theresa asked, glancing at the seemingly bottomless depths with apprehension.
"Yes."
As he spoke, Luo Qing tied the other end of the rope securely around himself, pulling out an underwater breathing mask and strapping it to his face.
"Lord Luo Qing, I swear I'll guard this spot with my life!" Theresa's eyes shone with determination as she saluted in the Fatui's military fashion, clearly moved by the trust he placed in her.
"Good spirit. Alright, I'm going in. Keep an eye on the indicator."
Luo Qing gave her a reassuring pat on the shoulder before diving into the water.
No Fatui agent had ever explored the ocean floor where Osial was sealed. Even Luo Qing couldn't predict what would happen next.
The immense pressure required a strong body, and the challenge of breathing underwater made it impossible for ordinary Fatui soldiers to venture down. Yet, testing the replicated Unsealing Talisman's effectiveness required accessing Osial's seal directly, leaving the task squarely on Luo Qing's shoulders.
The talisman's effects were still uncertain, and though it was a copy, no one knew if it might disrupt the Geo Archon's seal. Should Osial regain movement, one wrong move could mean a watery grave.
That was why he needed the rope. In an emergency, it could pull him up — at least ensuring he'd leave a body behind if things went wrong.
As he descended deeper, visibility worsened. Thankfully, his enhanced eyesight allowed him to discern faint outlines amidst the murky water.
The freezing cold and crushing pressure made Luo Qing's body tense, and he hesitated momentarily. Just as he considered resurfacing, a faint golden formation appeared below.
Without hesitation, he swam towards it.
As he approached, a powerful force pulled him into the formation.
Light enveloped his vision, and after what felt like an eternity, it faded, leaving him in darkness once more.
"Uh..."
Luo Qing blinked, finding himself atop a circular platform deep beneath the ocean. The icy waters and relentless pressure were gone, and the rope securing him had snapped.
Behind him, the same golden formation that had pulled him in shimmered gently.
Removing his mask, Luo Qing realized he could breathe normally here.
Surveying his surroundings, he saw that the bases of the stone pillars were inscribed with golden runes.
Below the platform, in the blackness, something huge and dark blue shifted, its movements barely perceptible.
"So, Old Man Zhongli left a way for Liyueans to check the seal's integrity, huh?"
He thought back to the golden teleportation circle and this breathable platform, piecing together the likely purpose of this hidden place.
His musings were interrupted as two massive lights ignited in the abyss, glowing like brass lanterns. More pairs of lights followed, all focusing on Luo Qing like the cold eyes of the deep.
He realized these weren't lanterns — they were Osial's eyes.
Each pair of eyes was a single head.
It seemed the platform was at the very heart of the seal.
Osial's heads floated around him like predators, eyeing him as if they could tear him apart if they had the chance.
Fortunately, Luo Qing wasn't prone to fearing massive creatures. Steadying himself, he regained his composure.
Pulling out the Unsealing Talisman that Ovelor had given him, he channeled the talisman's power.
The talisman floated, glowing faintly, before dissolving into pure energy that seeped into the formation at the stone pillars' bases.
He could see the seal's glow dim slightly.
"Looks like it worked," Luo Qing muttered. The talisman's test was complete, and there was no reason to linger.
Just as he prepared to leave through the golden formation, a deep, guttural voice echoed from behind him.
"Impudent human, daring to trespass into my domain."
"Hmm?"
Luo Qing turned to see the central head of Osial glaring at him, its voice echoing from the darkness.
"Are you... talking to me?"
Luo Qing inspected the surrounding seal again. Although it was weaker than before he used the talisman, it was still intact. Osial's body remained trapped.
"You've been sealed here for so long, and you still think this place is your 'domain'?"
Feeling confident that Osial couldn't lash out, Luo Qing decided to stick around for a chat.
"Vile, pathetic worm! How dare you mock me! Once I break free, I will tear you limb from limb!" Osial's voice roared with fury.
"Yeah, yeah. Talk to me when you're actually free," Luo Qing replied nonchalantly. He figured it was time for a little Snezhnayan provocation.
"It seems like you can't even move right now, huh?"
"..."
[Frustration Value from Osial +10]
"Huh? That much already?"
Luo Qing was genuinely surprised. A simple jab at Osial had given him a full ten points of frustration value!
Normally, such a high value only came from causing significant mental discomfort, making it a rare occurrence.
Of course, acts of extreme violence would yield similar results, but Luo Qing, raised with a sense of honor, preferred to avoid such actions.
But if taunting Osial earned this many points... it would be a shame to pass up the opportunity.
It seemed Osial had temporarily regained the ability to speak, possibly due to the effects of the talisman, but it was clear he couldn't move. If he could, Luo Qing would've been slapped into the depths by now.
Taking advantage of this golden opportunity, Luo Qing reached into his system inventory and pulled out a high-strength spray can. Grinning mischievously, he approached Osial's main head.
[High-Strength Spray Paint: Lasts one year, completely resistant to all forms of cleaning]
"What are you doing, human?!"
"Hold still. I'm going to write 'Loser' right across your face."
[Frustration Value from Osial +10]