I write novels in Liyue

However, only Paimon and Ying were included in the arrangement, not Fang Qiu. But since they came together, it's considered that they're together.

With Zhiqiong's explanation, Fang Qiu finally understood that this huge pit was just the outer edge of the layered rock abyss.

To reach the true strata abyss, you need to enter through a hole at the bottom of the pit.

The hole was temporarily sealed by the Seven Stars' seal.

To break the seal, the keystones scattered throughout the layered rock abyss must be released.

After being attacked by several groups of thieves, they began the work of disabling the key.

From near to far.

They gradually ventured deeper into the abyss of layered rocks, and one by one, the key to the rock was unlocked.

Along the way, one can feel the profound weight of history everywhere.

Fang Qiu really liked this feeling.

Even the fear of the unknown in my heart has been greatly reduced.

Just as they were halfway through undoing the key, they suddenly saw a miner worshipping a pile of stones.

"Hey, what's he doing? Why is he worshipping a pile of stones?"

Paimon was somewhat puzzled.

"Go ask around, maybe you can find some clues."

Ying said.

Fang Qiu nodded as well.

What are you worshipping?

They stepped forward, and Paimon asked in confusion.

"Oh, I'm paying homage to this memorial stone commemorating Gan Yanjun. Haha, it looks like just a pile of unremarkable stones, but it has stood here for five hundred years."

The miner paused for a moment, then turned around and explained, “The entire layered rock is protected by the Thousand Rock Army. So, every time we go down into the mine, we come here to pray for the protection of the heroic spirits of the Thousand Rock Army martyrs. They have all turned into elements and become one with our mine. So, praying for their protection is also a way of paying tribute to the Layered Rock Abyss.”

Five hundred years ago?

Paimon's eyes widened, and Fang Qiu was also somewhat shocked.

Then the miners began to tell the legend from five hundred years ago.

Five hundred years ago, a dark cataclysm engulfed the Layered Rock Abyss, and the Rock King Emperor ordered the Thousand Rock Army to guard the Layered Rock mines.

That battle was extremely fierce. Led by a Yaksha, the Thousand Rock Army fought bravely and relentlessly to stop the enemy.

Finally, a troop of Thousand Rocks soldiers lured the enemy into the depths of the Rock Abyss, bringing the chaos to an end...

"Oh, I see."

Fang Qiu looked at the low pile of stones, his eyes filled with respect.

There was a similar stone tablet in a previous life.

Although that stone tablet was much more magnificent than the low pile of stones in front of us.

But they are not ranked; they all represent heroes who are fearless and dedicated to the people.

The heroic souls who protect the people.

Green hills bury loyal bones, and blood stains the red flag.

Whether in their past or present lives, heroes and martyrs deserve to be worshipped and remembered.

Chapter 428 Protecting the Myriad Lights Behind Us (Part 2)

Humans have an immense fear of death.

Everyone is afraid of death.

These soldiers may have felt fear and dread when they went to war.

But they still donned their armor, picked up their spears, and went to the battlefield...

Because behind it are the lights of thousands of homes...

And so, they perished in the abyss of towering rocks…

Feeling the wind blowing through the towering cliffs and abyss, Fang Qiu let out a long breath.

Even before I arrived, I had heard countless legends about the Abyss of the Rocky Lair from storytellers.

Now, standing before the towering cliffs and seeing the mounds formed by these piles of stones, Fang Qiu's emotions were also stirred.

If Liyue Harbor embodies the history of prosperity created by the hard work of the people of Liyue, then this vast, rocky abyss beneath our feet embodies another side of Liyue.

The aspect of conquest and warfare.

It is not a war to conquer, but a war to protect.

It was to seal the wolf's lair and defend the northern border against the Xiongnu.

"It's an easy offense and defense situation; the enemy can go there, and so can I."

It swept across the six directions, conquered the eight wastelands, and drew all nations to pay tribute. The glorious Tang Dynasty was blessed by Heaven with all nations.

"I wish to bestow upon the Emperor of the Great Tang Dynasty the title of Heavenly Khan!"

The emperor guards the nation's gates, and the monarch dies for the state.

"The sun, moon, mountains, and rivers will live on forever; the Ming Dynasty will live on forever."

This is the meaning of "a thousand cliffs are firm and a series of peaks are unmovable".

The same applies to the martyrs of the past and modern times.

Feeling the wind echoing like a Qiang flute in the towering cliffs and abyss, Fang Qiu took a long breath, put his hands together, and bowed gently.

He began to think about whether he could write such a work to spread their story throughout Liyue.

Looking at Fang Qiu, who was worshipping with the same devotion as himself, the miner couldn't help but ask a question.

"Didn't those fallen soldiers ever doubt their duty for a moment? How could mortals who didn't gain the eye of God remain loyal to a god who never watched over them, until death?"

There are two answers.

One answer is from a divine perspective: the Rock King Emperor has always been protecting them and has never left.

One answer comes from their personal perspective.

Perhaps the Rock King Emperor was indeed never far from them back then, but she thought that they were probably more like what she had just imagined.

It was to protect the lights of countless homes behind them that they bid farewell to their families and hurriedly stepped into the wind and rain.

Therefore, Fang Qiu gave a second answer.

"I think they were not fighting for the Emperor, but to protect Liyue. Even if their achievements are not remembered by future generations, they will not regret it."

That's what she said.

"So that's how it is..."

Having received Fang Qiu's reply, he murmured as he looked at the inscriptions on the piles of stones, which had been eroded by time and deepened by later generations, his eyes filled with emotion.

"At that time, Liyue will be behind us. We will fight bravely, and our soldiers will strive to be the first. We will face death without fear and not allow ourselves to move an inch. We will not fail the Emperor's trust or the people's expectations. We will remember this stone. Even if the years pass, only the thousand rocks will remain unmoved."

The wind howled, creating an exceptionally desolate atmosphere.

Paimon wanted to say something more, but upon hearing Fang Qiu's reply, he suppressed his smile and sincerely bowed with the traveler.

After a moment of silence, the miners told them about the man who erected the pile of stones. He was actually a paralyzed disabled man who, it is said, became a renowned doctor through self-study and later gained the ability to see the divine.

This stone mound memorial was erected after he obtained the Eye of God.

Moreover, he left behind a treasure in the strata abyss.

Paimon believed it when he heard the miner speaking so earnestly.

So, at Paimon's insistence, they agreed to go together to find the treasure after solving the mystery of the Hilichurls queuing to enter the Deep Rock Abyss.

The most urgent task is to solve the mystery of the giant rock abyss.

So they said goodbye to the miner and began to continue the work of breaking the seal.

During this time, after meeting some people, they began to inquire about Shen He.

But nothing was gained.

Therefore, they had no choice but to venture into the Abyss of Layered Rocks to gather more information.

After removing all the keychains, they arrived at the large hole at the bottom of the outer layer of the Rock Abyss.

Accompanying them was Jinwu, a safety technician from the Cretaceous Abyss.

She was a woman about the same age as Zhiqiong.

Because the Wings of Wind cannot be overloaded.

Therefore, they need to take a crane to enter the Abyss of Layered Rocks.

With Ying's help, Fang Qiu looked down at the bottomless abyss and shakily stood on the crane.

At this moment, Fang Qiu finally understood what a towering abyss of layered rocks truly meant...

What if you slip and fall...

If you fall, you might stay in the water for a minute...

What terror must one endure in the air during that one minute?

Thinking of this, Fang Qiu felt her legs trembling...

I suddenly regret coming to the Layered Rock Abyss.

This feeling is far more terrifying than any of those glass walkways I've experienced in my past life...

After all, glass walkways do have safety measures in place.

This crane is just a single plank...

Aren't you afraid something might happen?