Chapter 41

The plaza in the Core Area of the Serenitea Pot, through the spontaneous cleanup and simple repairs of the refugees, revealed a rare solemn neatness. A massive Bedrock Key stood in the center, its core flowing with unprecedentedly stable light like warm jade, free from harsh flickers or unstable energy hums. The translucent barrier walls loomed in the distance; those spiderweb-like, terrifying golden cracks had faded until they were almost invisible, leaving only a smooth, resilient energy barrier that sealed out the endless Black Tide of the outside world. A long-lost, almost luxurious sense of security quietly permeated the air. "Bedrock Key Restoration Celebration" was written in bold characters with burned charcoal on flat stone slabs by Millelith recruits. The people gathered quietly. Though their clothes were still tattered, they had washed away the dust of battle, and their faces bore the exhaustion of having survived a catastrophe, along with a glimmer of disbelieving hope. Jingyi stood in the front row, wearing a plain, modified Liyue qipao. The fabric was ordinary, but the tailoring was well-fitted, accentuating her upright posture. On her feet, her signature black thick-heeled Mary Janes were polished to a bright shine, planted firmly on the flat stone surface as if reflecting her solemn state of mind.