Genshin Impact's Incense Burner Of Liyue.

Gu Sanqiu suddenly chuckled. "By the way, your medical skills must be pretty good, right?"

"Why bring that up now? Dragging this out might work to my advantage, but it certainly won't help you."

"I know. I just wanted to ask."

Albedo nodded. "I see. You're planning to go all out, aren't you? Rest assured, while alchemy strives to uncover truth through research, I am by no means lacking in the art of restoration."

"And I'm curious—given your extraordinary constitution, how terrifying your all-out efforts might be."

"Then watch closely. I only recently learned this move."

Gu Sanqiu closed his eyes, focusing his will and connecting deeply with the core of his soul.

Too dangerous to use? Seal away this power?

Impossible!

If it resides within my soul, it exists to be mine to command.

At the very least, it should pay rent!

"To keep myself alive, I'll just draw a tiny sliver. Something finer than a strand of hair."

When Gu Sanqiu opened his eyes, Albedo's heart sank. He could feel a malevolent aura, as if the embodiment of pure evil, emanating from Gu Sanqiu. His eyes were now one pitch black, the other stark white.

Even the vile criminals Albedo had once dissected and studied paled in comparison to the sheer intensity of the energy Gu Sanqiu exuded.

"Do you... still have your sanity?"

"Of course. What kind of question is that?" Gu Sanqiu forced a strained smile. "Without it, how would I fight?"

"What is this power?"

"Who knows? This is only my second time using it, but it feels... not bad."

"This power is mine to wield!"

Bang!

A shadow streaked past, and before Albedo could react, he was sent flying dozens of meters.

"My physical strength has increased significantly. For something tied to spiritual energy, it sure amplifies my body well. This power is certainly something else."

"But... I can't keep using it for too long."

"Cough... Incredible power. Is this your trump card?"

Albedo crawled out of the rubble. "Impressive. This is completely beyond human limits."

"Human limits?" Gu Sanqiu laughed loudly as he charged at Albedo. "Then let me show you where humanity's ceiling really is!"

"Power restriction lifted—thirty percent."

Golden flames of Geo energy surged from Albedo's eyes, radiating a profound, unyielding force.

Boom!

The two clashed again, their fists colliding. This time, Albedo didn't retreat. Instead, his counterpunch struck Gu Sanqiu's ribs with ferocious force.

"Seal of Fourfold Rocks!"

Gu Sanqiu's palm shot forward, manifesting a massive, ancient Geo sigil that immobilized Albedo's left hand.

Ding—

Three additional seals appeared at the center of their battle, releasing waves of gravity that locked Albedo in place.

"Advance!"

The seals transformed into four ancient Geo pillars, pressing down on Albedo's brow and shoulders.

"Exorcism Formation: Four Spines of Suppression!"

"Power restriction lifted—forty percent."

"Release!"

An overwhelmingly heavy domain materialized, its weight causing the four Geo spines to tremble.

Seizing the opportunity, Albedo delivered a heavy kick to send Gu Sanqiu flying and escaped the suppressive pillars.

"Huff... Not bad," Gu Sanqiu panted heavily. "Power restriction? You've been holding back even more strength?"

"Indeed. Since my rebirth, you're the first to force me to unlock it. Using a vocal release was a last resort."

Albedo compressed his Geo domain into a crystalline amber that enveloped him entirely.

"Heh. There must be limits to this power of yours. Or is there something you're hesitant to reveal about going all out?"

"Smart, but that won't help you now."

Before Gu Sanqiu could react, a brilliant sphere of light activated. Albedo pressed Gu Sanqiu's head into the rocky mountainside with immense force.

An endless surge of gravity and uncontrollable Geo energy overwhelmed Gu Sanqiu's body, causing significant damage as the terrain battered him.

Half a minute—if this lasts another half a minute, I'm done for!

"Heh, it's been a while since I've had such a good fight. My old rivals in Liyue always hold back their strength—never satisfying."

The pure white of Gu Sanqiu's eye was overtaken by blackness.

"Let go of me!"

With a burst of strength, Gu Sanqiu grabbed Albedo's wrist, attempting to counter with a joint lock.

"Pointless. My joints are unlike those of ordinary humans. Your strength isn't—"

Crack!

Albedo froze, then instinctively looked into Gu Sanqiu's eyes.

What he saw was an endless, pitch-black vortex.

"People say I'm insane... Maybe they're right," Gu Sanqiu muttered, breaking free of Albedo's grip. "This power needs just a touch of madness to suppress reason and unleash its full potential!"

Albedo ran his left hand over his dislocated right wrist, activating his alchemical abilities.

Unhealable?

"Snap out of it. Final move!"

Gu Sanqiu placed his hands together, summoning a massive Geo pillar. It transformed into an archaic weapon brimming with murderous intent.

"This technique comes from a manual passed down in my family. Or rather, it was custom-made for us by a certain elder."

Gu Sanqiu formed a hand seal. "Mountain Shaker: Demon-Subduing Cudgel!"

The enormous cudgel descended upon Albedo, its sheer presence causing tremors within Albedo's compressed Geo domain.

"Incredible!" Albedo exclaimed. A formation glowed across his body as numerous alchemical devices disassembled into minuscule metal fragments, fusing into his sword and forming an enormous blade capable of cleaving a ship in two.

"Power restriction lifted—sixty percent!"

"Strike!"

Both roared as their weapons clashed. The moment the blade met the cudgel, even the moonlight seemed to dim.

The Geo domain shattered. Gu Sanqiu's protective barrier broke apart. Both combatants endured immense damage as they were sent flying in opposite directions, crashing heavily into the ground.

"Sigh... You two..."

At that moment, the Holy Lyre within the Cathedral of Favonius began to glow softly. Somehow, it slipped past the knights and sisters guarding it, floating into the hands of a young man wearing high white stockings and a tilted green cap.

No, to be precise, a youthful man with a childlike face.

The man plucked the strings lightly, a gentle wind weaving a melody that felt like a sprite's song or the caress of a kind hand. It brought the unconscious Gu Sanqiu and the barely-conscious Albedo toward him.

"Who are you? Power restriction—sixty—"

"Unlock your head, why don't you?" The youth flicked Albedo's forehead hard. "Fighting in my domain is one thing, but now you want to attack me?"

Albedo froze. "You... You're... the Anemo Archon, Barbatos?"

"Who cares who I am? Sleep now, young man."

With a gentle smile, Venti knocked Albedo unconscious, then squatted by Gu Sanqiu, looking exasperated.

"Honestly, fighting without knowing your limits," he muttered.

A soft breeze entered Gu Sanqiu's body as Venti pried open his eyelids to check his condition. Satisfied that Gu Sanqiu's eyes had returned to normal, Venti released the Holy Lyre, allowing it to float back to the cathedral.

"If something big happened here, that old stiff from your home would come looking for me. And if he started competing for wine, it'd be a disaster! Do you know how hard it is for a bard to make a living?"

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T/N: VENTIIIIII AWAUGAW